Blog time! Round 4 is…almost history and on the way up. Chemo is getting pretty predictable, which is a good thing – I don’t like surprises! I spiked a temp to 102.2 on day 3 which had me pretty worried. I was started on antibiotics quickly. The fever broke after about 8 hours and never returned. I’m so blessed with a caring medical team. They quickly return my calls, call me the next day to see how I am doing, and express genuine concern for me. I’m a blessed girl.

In the last two weeks I have enjoyed some great family time. Our annual Mother’s Day gathering was great. Our house was a florist shop for a week with a beautiful variety of floral arrangements. We had our monthly sisters’ dinner and evening of Pinochle with my two sisters and their husbands. The only down side to that evening is that the girls’ team fell 3 games behind the boys. We also celebrated our youngest granddaughter’s 1^st birthday. Daryn and Catie (well mostly Catie) gave her a wonderful flamingo themed party that was enjoyed by everyone. The flamingo piñata was a huge hit with the kids. My neighbor taught me how to crochet cute flowers for the knit hats Emily and I have made. They are adorable. I look a little like a 1920’s flapper with them on!

I was checking out the progress of hair growth on my head and was thrilled to find one random hair that had a curl to it! Dare I hope for curly hair? My hair does seem to be growing though it is pretty sparse. It will eventually come in, but then that means I’ll have to fuss with it. I think things are best as they are for now.

So, what have I learned with this round of chemo? I have had many priesthood blessings since this journey began. Except for some reason (forgetfulness, maybe cockiness that “I can do this myself,” or whatever) I didn’t get one before round 3. Round 3 was hard, so I was sure to ask Devon and Erron to give me a blessing prior to round 4. There is no doubt that round 4, though not a walk in the park, has been easier than round 3, and I seem to be rebounding quicker than round 3. So yes, “I can do this myself,” but it is so much easier when the powers of heaven are petitioned. It's a lesson I'll not forget.

Again…thank you to my sweetheart for his tender, constant care. And thank you to all of you for your prayers, love, and support. Without you this journey would be much harder.

Round 3 came and went – thankfully about the same as round 2. Usually the first day of chemo I feel really good because of the Zofran and steroid they give me. This time it seemed that the side effects hit harder and faster the first day, but after that it leveled out to similar round 2 experiences. I think some of the side effects are lingering longer – cold sensitivity in my fingers, pain in my jaw when I take my first bite of anything, and yucky metallic taste in my mouth. I did “up chuck” twice, but in the world of chemo that’s not bad at all.  Each day from now on I should get stronger and feel better, and then we start all over again. It’s good to know what to expect.

I was so worried. Chemo was Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But Friday, oh Friday! We had 2 wonderful events scheduled for Friday, neither of which I wanted to miss but didn’t know how I would have the strength to attend. A grandson of Devon’s sister was getting married in the Oquirrh Temple at 11:00 am followed by a family luncheon. And, the biggest and most anticipated event was our granddaughter’s graduation from UVU. Ashley-Kate (David’s daughter) is graduating with both her high school diploma and her Associate Degree! This is a big deal, and attending her graduation was beyond important to me. Shame on me for doubting. Somehow (actually I know how) I not only made it to everything, but also enjoyed every minute. 

Devon has been pushing me to ask for a handicap placard, and I have been resisting. I just tell him to drop me at the door and then wait for him to park and come help me get to where I need to be. Well, I guess he was tired of the drill and at my last oncologist appointment HE asked for the placard. So, yep…I now have a temporary handicap parking placard. Not sure who likes it the most!

Marianne and Tony came for the weekend. Daryn and Catie came over for a visit on Sunday. We had a nice visit with Lori and her little ones on Friday, and wonderful visits with extended family here for the wedding. I’ve had phone calls and texts from many other family members and friends. Each one lifts my spirits and reminds me of how blessed I am. It has been a wonderful and exhausting weekend!

A good friend dropped by for a visit on Saturday and asked me an interesting question – “What have you learned from all this?” The answer is - God loves me, sustains me, and always provides exactly what I need when I need it. He is mindful of me every minute of every day. I am so grateful for my friend’s question. I’ve thought about it a lot these last 24 hours and realize how important it is to look for the blessings and tender mercies from God. Sometimes they are subtle and easy to miss. And if we miss them, then we miss the opportunity to express gratitude and bear testimony of God and His goodness. Not a day goes by that we are not blessed by God’s tender mercies. So my question to you and myself, “What have you learned today?”