# 20 --- Only 8 more to go!

What a relief to have radiation 20 of 28 out of the way today! I am really pink, but I put on the silver cream that Wendy prescribed for me at bedtime and am hoping for great relief from it.

Ever since I started radiation, I've had issues with keeping the little clear tape circles on my skin that they use to cover over the blue x's that they use for markers each day. They had to replace more today and now tonight 2 more are coming off. I really figure it's because I use so much goop on the area, but I'm not stopping.

I laid down on the couch at 8 and took a nap. I got up at 10 and went to bed.

# 18 Radiation

#18 radiation today---Nurse Wendy gave me some gel packs to put over the pink area. It really feels good and cool when you first put it on, then it warms up just like my skin temp.

Pooped Out

#17

Got home today and rode the bicycle for my 5 miles, ate supper, sat down and then got up and went to bed at 8:30 and slept until the alarm went off at 6 a.m. I was just pooped.

Radiation #16

OK, I've had 16 radiation treatments, with last week being 5 full days and I can tell it. I am really pink and hurting a good bit. I'm slathering on the Radiagel cream, the hydrocortizone cream and the aloe vera gel.

I started taking my hair dryer to treatments with me so that the goop stays on my skin instead of getting all over my bra and blouse.

Breast Surgeon Appt

We saw Dr. Laidley at 2 p.m. today. This was a 6 week checkup. Stretching them out every time we see her, which is a great thing!

I had had radiation treatment #14 at 11:20 a.m., so she got to see the effects of it.

She told me to schedule a mammogram on my left breast for November. I asked about the need for a pap test and she said no.

Herceptin Treatment

I had radiation at 11:20 a.m.

I had my Herceptin treatment at 3 p.m. David didn't go with me, I didn't see the point. But both Dr. Brooks, his nurse and the chemo nurse asked where my husband was. This was the first treatment he hadn't attended and it was noticed.

Trip to Rotan & Dickens for Grandmother

We left Tuesday, the 14th after my radiation treatment #9 to make the trip home. Both Kelly and Tony and their families came up fo the services for Grandmother.

The memorial service was at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church Rotan. Vada called David & I up to the front to sit with the sons and daughters, which was touching. I had offered to sing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" since Grandmother wanted that song. It was the first time I had sang in over 9 months and I thought at first the voice wasn't going to make it, but it did enough to get through it. Another lady from Rotan sang "It is Well with my Soul" and "His Eye is on the Sparrow." Then when I went back to sit with David, that's when the tears came.

Pastor Corky Wills did a wonderful job. He used "Are you hungry?" as his theme because Grandmother had said that to Vada one night as she was sitting with her. The women of the church put out a terrific lunch for us. We all then drove to Spur.

The graveside services were at 2 p.m. at Red Mud cemetery out southwest of Spur. We had to walk through grass burrs to get to the graveside. When the service was over, we all started looking at the grave markers. David's mom and dad are just south of Grandmother and Granddad. I was looking at them, when Kelly walked up and then Tony. They didn't know that their other grandparents were buried there. It was so touching to see them both tear up. Daddy and Tommy and Peggy came to the graveside services. Mama was at home with ALL the grandkids! I asked Daddy if he had a hoe in his pickup. He did and I started cleaning up the weeds and grass around Monroe and Catherine's grave markers. Tony asked me to trade his umbrella for the hoe and he finished cleaning up around them.

Kelly and Tami left the morning of the 16th and we left that afternoon about 1:30. It was a good trip.

Grandmother

A little after midnight, Grandmother passed away last night. She had been struggling for breath and had been in the hospital and was allowed to come home. They were afraid they were going to have to put her back in the hospital. But that night Vada told her that it was OK with the kids for her to go. She told Vada that she knew that they didn't want her to, but Vada told her it was OK and shortly after that, she started breathing calmer and calmer until she just faded off.

Naomi Lucille Collins Smith, "Grandmother" as everyone called her, was a strong woman, the only mother-in-law I ever knew. She was always a joy to be around and accepted me just like I was her own. We always were kindred spirits because she was a worker and so was I when family get-togethers happened.

David had called her on Friday, the 10th, and talked to Don. Grandmother pulled herself together enough that she told Don she wanted to talk to David. What a blessing that was! She looked forward to his weekly phone calls. In fact several times when he didn't call her, she called that weekend to see what was wrong!

She will be missed greatly. Grandmother was born on September 13, 1911 at Big Spring, Texas. She died on August 11, 2007 at Rotan, Texas at the age of 95 years young. She was still just as sharp mentally as she ever was.

Congratulations to Kelly & Tami!

Fourteen years ago on August 7 in Odessa, Texas, Kelly Ray Smith and Tamara Christine Cagle were married at Second Baptist Church. Congratulations to you both and blessings on the next 14 years! We love you.

Grandchild #8

Kelly called tonight to tell us that Tami is expecting again! We are so tickled and so not surprised. They just found out this morning.

This picture is of the crew in 2006. Except for the twins, Brynna and Nikita (born April 16 and April 26 of 2001) they are just perfect stair steps.

So now we'll have:

Kora Brianne

Aubrey Blair

Brynna Nicole

Nikita Antonovich

Hailey Christine

Anastasiya Antonovna

Lauryn Skylar

and ___________ __________

# 1 of 28

I had my first radiation treatment today--only 27 to go! It really has no effect on you at this point. They are very fast at getting you in and out. In fact it takes longer for me to take my blouse and bra off and get the gown on and then reverse those steps, than it does for them to do all the zapping.

It sure is a pain in the right shoulder and arm though. My muscle that is so tight on that side gets stretched a lot because you have to lay with your arm in a sling and then your hand is grasping a pole back behind your head. You have to lay v-e-r-y still while the radiation rays are happening.