Justin’s PET scan was Friday.  We’re really looking forward to the results, hoping that we’ll find out that he’ll need four more chemo treatments rather than eight. A good report would mean that he is halfway through treatment!

Justin is doing great so far.  His fourth treatment went smoothly and he actually experienced fewer

Mother’s Day 2013

side-effects than the third.  This is likely because we weren’t traveling this time; however, he also did a much better job of balancing rest with activity.  He has come down with a cold over the past week, but he’s hanging in there.  Managing all of the side-effects and other issues that come along is the name of the game...

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind for Team Mistretta.  It’s been awhile since our last post, so we have a lot to catch you up on!

Two weeks ago Adalyn’s Nana and Papa Jones came for a visit.  They played with her while Justin and I went out to lunch then went into work for a few hours.  We’re both so behind at work that we were thankful for the time to get caught up.  On our way into town we picked up this old wooden high chair at a yard sale.  My goal is to paint it for Adalyn’s first birthday.  I have dreams of her looking so sweet with her smash cake smeared all of her face in this high chair that matches her birthday party theme perfectly (and then I become an overnight Pinterest sensation!) “Dream” is the keyword, but miracles do happen!

On Sunday, we received word that J...

So, Tuesday began with my normal routine, part of which is my morning shower.  During the shower I noticed a good amount of hair quietly circling then disappearing down the drain.  When I was done, I got out, dried off and stared at myself in the mirror for a moment.  After a slow sigh, I rubbed my head vigorously, the amount of hair accumulating in the sink verified my time had come.  I’ve had an ever growing forehead since not long after college and in recent years the top has begun to thin.  I haven’t had a very good time adapting to this and have clutched my vanity tightly and dearly, but alas, man has hastened what nature had started.  I thought I was going to be ok with it, but at that moment… was not...

Nana, Adalyn and Tucker on their daily walk

Adalyn’s Nana Mistretta stayed for a visit last week.  Adalyn had fun with her.  She got to stay home from daycare and they went on daily walks to enjoy the beautiful weather.  Justin and I got regular photo updates throughout each day, Nanas are so high-tech these days!  We were afraid that Adalyn would become a bit spoiled, but Nana did a great job keeping her  in a routine.  Justin and I took advantage of the in-home childcare and went on a date to The Melting Pot in Reston on Tuesday.  It was so much fun.  The night was a big splurge for us, but it was really nice to spend some time together just the two of us.  He even brought me flowers when he picked me up from work...

Justin had his second chemo treatment yesterday.  In oncology vocabulary, he has completed his first cycle. Each cycle has two treatments and we’re hoping for four total cycles.  If we’re talking in football terms, we’ve finished the first quarter and are hoping to finish the game without overtime.  At halftime (after 4 treatments or 2 cycles), Justin will have a PET scan to determine how well we’re winning the game.  In the treatment of Hodgkin’s, the PET scan (according to the oncologist) is uniquely helpful in effectively predicting  how many cycles Justin will need to reach cure.  Let’s hope that our season is more like the Steelers of ’08 and less like the Steelers of ’12.

Since Justin’s mom is here with us for the week, she went with him for chemo...

The Do + The Dress = Good lookin lady

As promised, The new do… and new dress.

*Disclaimer: This photo was not approved and/or is not endorsed by Elizabeth Mistretta.  If you have viewed this photo you may be contacted by her lawyers.

Eleven days down after my first treatment and things couldn’t be much better.  I experienced no nausea in the days following.  Took Rx one every 12 hours for 3 days and never needed Rx two, which was prescribed for random flareups of nausea at any point.  I felt only minor “fatigue” last weekend, and I even hesitate to call it that.  I didn’t feel 100% but by no means would I classify it as fatigue.  If I had to put a number on it , I’d say Easter Sunday was the lowest the bar went and I only dipped to maybe 75%.  By Tuesday I felt perfectly fine again and have been that way since.  Yes, high fives all around.

My appetite has remained constant so far and I’ve been eating as I normally do, if only a bit more health conscious now...

The time leading up to the first treatment can be full of many emotions, but it is overall a very uneventful day.  Here’s how it went down…

Our day started at Justin’s chiropractic appointment just before 8 a.m.  After an adjustment, we dropped Adalyn off at daycare, then headed to the oncologist’s office where Justin would have his first chemotherapy treatment.   Before going into the office, I gave Justin the photobook that I made for him.  It included photos and messages from his family and friends, even Tucker had a message for him.

He was really surprised ...