Chemo Week 1

We have made it through the first week of chemo. Huzzah! 

All in all its gone smoothly and we are so grateful. This whole time Dan hasn't complained at all and has been so positive. He has been so optimistic and cheerful through this whole thing even though I know it hasn't been easy for him.  Go Dan!

Although he hasn't felt completely awful, he hasn't felt super great and normal either--but it has been way better than the doctors, or we were anticipating! Yesterday and today have been his hardest days so far. They said that through the weekend and into Tuesday he might feel pretty low and crummy, but after that, he should be on the upswing.

Some side effects he has had so far:

His eyes and face are swollen--probably from the steroids. 

He has a metallic taste in his mouth and some food tastes weird.

Meals don't sound particularly great to him, but he is able to snack and eat decently.

Feels fatigued

Tender mercies this week:

*Dan has hardly felt any nausea--it mostly has hit him today and yesterday. He hasn't had to take any additional medication for anything outside of his pre-meds and actual chemo drugs until Friday. He gets anti-nausea medication with his chemo, but not having to take anything additional nearly all week has been a blessing.

*He has been able to sleep OK without the sleeping pills they prescribed.

*He has had pretty good energy and has been in pretty good spirits most of the week.

*His nurses have been so nice and so great. The infusion/cancer center is awesome and about 10 minutes from our house, which makes it easy to go back and forth.

*My parents have been here and have entertained the kids and allowed me to be with Dan. 

*After being at the clinic all week long Dan and I feel so fortunate that our stay there will be so short lived. There are people who are doing 8 or 10 or 12 rounds and are so sick. Dan and I feel guilty for having it so easy comparatively. Which I know sounds insane. I just ache for the people there. 

*I had some friends who coordinated with my mom and made some bread mix for Nova so that making her bread will be more streamlined. It was such a gift of love and service to me.

*More friends dropped by a ton of paper products and a gift card to Costco so that I won't have to do dishes. It was so kind and thoughtful.

*We have felt prayers and love from friends and family near and far with people checking in and calling and texting and emailing.

*A friend watched our kids while we went to the temple last Saturday and grabbed some lunch. It was so wonderful to be able to get to the temple and have a little date before we geared up for chemo.

*I have had energy and haven't felt tired.

The kids have been great at helping out and getting along and helping around the house, and being content with a very low key winter break.

Hardest things this week:
*Watching Dan progressively feel a little weaker and sicker each day. Its never fun to watch someone you love--let alone your best friend not feel well, knowing there isn't much you can do for them.

*Trying to balance my time as a mom and wife. Although my mom has been here, I have missed being a mom and being with my kids, and feeling torn between where I should be.

Thank you again to everyone who has been praying on our behalf and putting our names in the temple. Your prayers are being heard and answered.  The power of prayer is so real and so powerful. Dan and I have felt very strongly this week that the reason he is doing so well is because of prayers that are being said by so many. Prayer matters.

Today we attended a baptism of one of our "California cousins" and in one of the talks it talked about how those who make baptismal covenants bare one another's burdens. I have always loved the imagery of that principle, but never have I felt it so much as I have had these last few weeks. I have felt my own burdens be light because of the prayers that have been said and the service that has been done for us--both big and small. This experience does not seem as heavy because of Christ, and Christ-like friends. It has inspired me think about my own discipleship, and how I can be a better disciple of Christ. It has also made me think about how I serve and how I can better show love to those I care about so they can feel it like I have felt it these last few weeks. We have felt beyond loved and cared for--it has been overwhelming.

We love you all! Goodbye week 1 and onto week 2!

Dan after 12 hours of chemo. Maybe he was a little loopy because he posed for this picture on top of this statue at the hospital on our way out.

 Last Dan of chemo week 1