What a week!!! It was a long hard week of chemo this week and it caused several pity parties!!! Mon. was chemo and then already Mon. night I was extremely sick to my stomach and tired. This is very unusual. Typically it is the next day or Wed. before things get rough. Tues. I layed around all day and then went to get the Neulasta shot and talked to my nurse and asked her why I was feeling so terrible this time. She said that the doctor upped the chemo dosage. I guess he did this because I was handling chemo so well. Bummer for me!!! The good news thru all this is that he could hardly feel the original lump that I found but he could still feel the lymph nodes. Friday we met with the surgeon again and she sent me for another ultrasound to check everything out. I was hoping to have official news from this already but no luck. The ultrasound technician said that the radiologist said that the mass wasn't a lot smaller but the density of it was much different. This is the first day that I have actually accomplished anything and I'm suppossed to be going camping to Pentwater next week. I HAVE A LOT TO DO!!!!

I LOVE the 2nd week after chemo!!! I feel like normal me. I went to have my blood checked again on Monday and took Anna and Rachel with me so they could meet my nurse and see where I've been going all the time. They weren't really interested in driving all the way out there but when they got there we found out that it was patient apprecation day and they got a rootbeer float. It was now definitely worth the trip!! Anyways, my blood work came back GREAT!!! It showed all normal levels again which mean my body is bouncing back from chemo very well. GOOD NEWS!!! I am praying that it continues this way. I have had a busy week helping my younger sister with wedding plans and doing a lot of last minute projects for her wedding on Friday. It was a lot of fun and I finally felt like a contributer since for the last month it seems like everything revolved around me. I hope that everyone has a great weekend and enjoys the nice weather. Julie

It's me again - I just wanted to let you know that I survived the head shaving experience. Unfortunately the first lady that we had at the wig shop wasn't working yesterday and the lady that shaved my head was a little different so I think that I need to go back on Mon. again to see the first lady. My girls said that I looked really different but that they will get used to it. Grace, of course, just keeps telling my that I look weird and then she rubs my head. God loves Grace - she will definitely keep it real!!!! I told her that she was lucky because everytime she has a scratch she can rub my head. How much luckier can she be. Well, my emotional state is much better today and I am feeling better too. Thanks for the prayers!!!

Hi everyone - I just wanted to give everyone a quick update that this week has been long and challenging. I was more queasy this week than the first time, but I was still able to go to the parade, hang out at my sisters house, and see the awesome Grandville fireworks. Thursday I was very tired and extremely emotional because my biggest fear was coming true. My hair is falling out and FAST!!! Today, I am going to have my head shaved and then have Molly and Aubrey fitted. My mother, sister and sister-in-law are going with my so depending on my emotional state we may need some more RETAIL THERAPY (Poor Ron!!) Please continue praying for my and my family. Thank you, Julie

Today was the second of the chemo treatments, so we're officially 20% done with chemo already. Julie is doing fairly well, but very tired and somewhat nauseous. The good news we received today is that the PET scan showed no signs of any other cancer. According to the RN who gave Julie the results, there are two lumps in the lymph nodes... one is 4cm and the other is 2cm. My understanding is that there will likely be another PET scan after the chemo treatments to see if they have shrunk, and if so, by how much. Julie also discussed the timing of the lumpectomy/mastectomy with the nurse. It sounds like they may do the surgery after the first 6 chemo treatments, or they may wait until all of the treatments are done.

Thanks everyone for all the help, food, cards, etc. They are all greatly appreciated.

Ron