we're done til next year!

Mom's finished with her treatments for the year!!!  She doesn't have to go back until next year....well Monday, but it sounds better if you put it the other way!  She is doing really well and we are so, so, soooo grateful for the "good" days she's had these past couple of days.  She had her treatment this morning, and then got a wonderful surprise visit from some friends back home.  Wish I had snapped a picture, but Ms. Monty, Katie, Ms. Judy, Chelsi, Greer, Stacey, Cason, and Avery - We LOVED our time vising with you today.  Thanks for making the long drive up to spend some time with us.  We love you all!  Mom is really looking forward to spending the next few days away from the hospital and at their new "home" resting.  We love you all and are soooo thankful for all of your kind words and prayers.  Below are some pictures of their apartment.  Lots of you have asked, so I will also post the address. 
 

Peggy Culverhouse

Cityville Block 121

2000 2nd Avenue South

Suite #401

Birmingham, Alabama  35233

just resting after treatment...

War D*** Radiation!

Another good day so far!  We are at radiation, waiting for her to get her daily dose of goodness.  She had a really good day yesterday.  Only got that sick feeling a few times yesterday and rested really well.  She even went out to dinner for the 1st time in forever!  We had mexican, at her request!  They are going to be moving over to an apartment today, so will post pics of their new home away from home later on.  We love you all and are thankful for all of your prayers.  War Eagle!

xoxo,
C

What a difference a day makes...

Sorry everyone I didn't have a chance to update yesterday.  Mom was sick ALL day yesterday!  We made the LONG, her being sick along the way made it seem that much longer, trip back to Birmingham for this week's treatments.  When we got to radiation late yesterday afternoon, the doctor saw her and gave her something for her sickness.  She started to feel a little better last night and woke up a new woman this morning!  They just called her back for her treatment today.  Praise God the sickness is gone and she is feeling better!  Now, if we could just find something that tasted good to her, we would be making real progress!  Everything the she eats and drinks tastes awful, she says.  She can tolerate milk and seems to like hot/spicy and tart foods over everything else we have tried.  Nita packed some lemonade drops that she tried this morning, and said they tasted really good - YAY! :) Below are pictures from yesterday and one I snapped a few seconds ago while she was waiting to go back for treatment.  I think you will be able to see a difference.  As always, we are thankful for all of the prayers.  Be back again tomorrow!

xoxo,
C

 yesterday 12/27/10 - happy 30th wedding anniversary mom and dad!

 i'm sure she would much rather be celebrating some other way!

feeling much better today - 12/28/10

resting comfortably...

Since we have been at home, Mom has been resting comfortably, with little to no pain.  She sleeps a lot and hasn't been complaining of pain, just really tired and weak.  We appreciate ALL the phone calls, visits, cards, and posts that we have received over the past few days.  We were especially grateful to get to spend Christmas with her at home!  We head back to Birmingham in the morning for her treatments this week.  She will receive one a day, Monday - Friday.  I will be updating each day.  We pray her pain medicines continue to work and that she tolerates her treatments well.  Below are some pictures of family and friends visiting.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you have done.  "Thank you" will never be enough! We love you all so very, very much! 

xoxo,
C

 uncle glenn and mom

 nana and mom

 aunt charlotte and mom

 nita and mom

 donna and mom

monty, katie, and mom

home sweet home!

Mom was able to check-out of the hospital today and, although we are all a little nervous about being so far away from her doctors, is now at HOME!!!!  We are all so excited and, most of all, thankful for God answering our prayers to take her pain away.  She is resting comfortably as I am typing this.  She even surprised Pop and Nana by stopping by for Christmas Eve dinner.  I will update again tomorrow.  I'm especially grateful for me being able to celebrate Christmas at home, with my Momma, as a family.  We love you all!  My heart is overwhelmed with joy and gratitude tonight!!!!

comments...

Some of you have had trouble posting comments.  I think I have figured out the key.  You must first create a google or gmail account.  It's free - just choose a username and password.  Then, when you get ready to post your comment, select "google account" in the drop down box by "comment as" and you should be able to get it to post.  We love you all and the encouragement that you share with us daily!

Friday morning...

Mom is feeling MUCH, much better this morning.  She has been awake, eating breakfast and, best of all, almost pain free!  Doctors have talked about letting her check-out.  Not sure if she will actually get to come home yet, or just rest in Birmingham until her next treatment on Monday.  We are certainly thankful and praising Him this morning for Mom's good spirits and reports from her doctors.  Will update you all again this evening.  Enjoy this day with your families!

xoxo,
c

tonight...

Mom is resting well tonight.  She had her 2nd radiation treatment late this afternoon.  Her pain has been significantly less today than it was yesterday, so praise God for that!  However, her doctors are taking her off of her pain pump and IV meds tonight and transitioning her to oral pain meds, so hopefully she will soon be able to check-out of the hospital.  I pray specifically tonight that they will suffice her pain and not cause that horrific pain to come back to her body.  I pray for wisdom and patience for her doctors to be able to know what medicine and specific dose to prescribe to her to keep the pain away from her.  Here is a pic of where we have to go to receive treatment.  Super nice place filled with super nice people!  Will update again tomorrow.

xoxo,
c
*thank you, thank you, thank you to Sherri and Julia for making the trip today to visit.  Mom still remembers you coming today!  We love you both so much.  Also, thanks to Aunt Susi and Uncle Chuck for coming up.  Now Momma has her own personal nurse! We love you 2 very much too! :)

and the treatment begins...

Good morning everyone!  Mom just went back for her 1st radiation treatment.  She will have another one this afternoon, and continue again on Monday, with 1 a day for 5 days out of the week, for the next 6 weeks.  Hope that makes sense!  Doctors are hoping to start shrinking the tumor that is pressing down on nerves, to try and relieve her from her pain.  In addition to radiation, she may also have to have some chemotherapy, but for right now, she is on a chemo pill, not the actual therapy itself.  She was really nervous this morning about her treatment, but praise the Lord in no pain!  The doctors were even kind enough to allow her to take her pain pump back with her so she wouldn't get in a tight like yesterday.  We pray that we don't ever have to face another painful day like it!  We are especially thankful this morning for her not being in any pain, the beautiful day that He has blessed us with, and for the family members who are on their way to be with us as I type this.  We love you all, and I will update again this evening.  Here are a few pictures from us making the trip over to oncology and waiting for her to go back.  Sorry for the poor quality - I left my camera at home and these were from my phone.  Praying for a successful day...

xoxo,
c

Special Visit on Tuesday

We love you two more than words can say!  Thanks for making the trip up....and thanks to your driver!

xoxo,

c 

Our Hearts are Full

Thank you so much for taking time to visit this blog. This is the easiest, fastest way to keep everyone informed on our 2nd breast cancer journey. Mom battled breast cancer 5 years ago and just a few days ago, was diagnosed with this disease again. This time, her cancer is back in her chest wall and lymphnodes. She has a large tumor that is growing and pressing/pinching down on nerves, which is causing a tremendous amount of pain for her. She also has smaller spots that are around the tumor, but the cancer is confined to her chest wall. This is a HUGE blessing from God!!!! Earlier in the week, doctors suspected that her cancer had spread to her ribs and even into her bones. With the help of all of your prayers, the doctors were proven wrong! Praise Him!! We go again tomorrow for more doctors appointments and should know more about the treatment she will be receiving. She is in some pain tonight, so keep those prayers going up.

I am going to be updating this blog regularly as a way for friends and family members to keep up with the latest with Mom. She loves reading all of your sweet comments, so feel free to post as you wish. We love you all and thanks again for all of your prayers. Thanks for coming along on our journey as we kick cancer for good!

xoxo,
C