Part 4

Time to get down to business!

Sher and Joy had to leave on Wednesday morning to get back home.
So, my sister, Lisa stayed with my girls at the hotel for 2 nights.  We decided while I was in the hospital, that the girls would probably be more comfortable and would be more at ease in their own beds, with all of their toys.  So, on Friday, Lisa took them back to our house and stayed with them until Sunday when my friend, Christina took them to church and stayed in our home with our girls, for the week. 
Am I blessed with some amazing people in my life, or what!?  How many people, sister or not, would drop their work, husbands and kids to go take care of someone else's family?  I don't know many...Well, I know of a few, for sure.  So, from then on out the girls pretty much stayed in the same place {except for the occasional night spent at Christina's house} while Lisa and Christina swapped places. 

Chemo started on a Thursday and it was 7 days, all day.  I didn't have a break, except for the 5 minutes while the nurses changed my poison bags out.  They gave me some fantastic pre-meds, so I only experienced a little nausea.  But, I was really weak and worn out. ALL.the.TIME.
I was also on an antibiotic drip.
This may be TMI for some people, but the story is too funny not to share.  I had a little abscess on my thigh, I informed my nurses about 3 days into my chemo, because I am just that observant. Not really.
So my doctors came in and looked at it.  Yes, I said, Doctors.  Begin Rabbit Trail:  Being at a hospital on a college campus, obviously it is going to be a TEACHING school.  So, they have doctors at every stage: student, intern, resident, fellow and attending.  All those people came in first thing in the morning.  It was like the 1st season of Grey's Anatomy. end rabbit trail 
So, they came in to look at it.  They said I would need to get an ultrasound on it, so THAT professional came in to look at it and then they wheeled me down to get a ultrasound.
After that, it seemed like every 5 minutes someone was coming in asking to take a look at it.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Elwart, I heard about your abscess.  Can I take a look at it!?" As they snap the blue, latex-free gloves on.
"Sure! Why not!  You are lucky number 17!! "
Jackie and I joked one time, it was going to be the person that delivers the food, to ask to see the abscess.  It was getting a little ridiculous.  But, really funny. We also contemplated charging a fee.
I doubt it would have worked, but it would have been worth a shot.
At least we had a little entertainment.

My week on chemo was filled with walking the unit, hospital professionals: ranging from nurses to therapists, taking meds, family and friends!

The SC Elwarts : Scott, Lauren, Ryan and Susan

{it'sthe only group picture I took of them, and I didn't tell them I was taking it! }

Plus, I am pretty sure they were trying to get celebs tweet them back for me! haha

So, it's okay.

 

My Grandma and Aunt Lori

 

The Hamtramck GIRL Elwarts: Liz, Sabrina, Abigail and Isabelle

{Jason and Zach were there, too}

 

My sister, Lisa.

I had a few more visitors, but I didn't get pictures of everyone

The Elwart family {both "locations"} were very kind in bringing me crafty things to do and pictures to decorate my room with!!  Also, a zebra blanket and some socks and slippers.  It felt like Christmas!  I was being spoiled.  I am not complaining one bit!

Liz hung up yarn in front of the window {picture above..} so I could hang all the cards I was blessed with! 
I can't remember who brought the clothespins, but, I used mod podge and scrapbook paper to decorate them with :

It made the room a little more festive and less like a hospital room.  Everyone loved it! I even had two nurses come in that were not MY nurses, just to see what all the other nurses were talking about!


I knew the girls were in good hands with Lisa and Christina, respectively, but, I knew they missed us.  So, I thought it would be good for Jackie, the girls AND me if he went home for the weekend to be with them. He didn't want to leave me, especially since I was getting off chemo that weekend.  I talked him into it, but he didn't want to leave me alone, so we asked Lisa if she could stay with me instead of the girls for the weekend.  Thursday, Lisa brought the girls up for a visit {and to bring the vehicle for Jackie to get back home}  They stayed about an hour or so, when the girls started getting cranky, they left.

We named my IV machine : Pablo

 

 

Thursday, I was taken off of chemotherapy.

 

 

 I still had to take antibiotics, so Pablo and I were still attached 2 times a day for 2 hours at a time. But, I was FREE for most of the day!!