Baldness Support.....

    My 15 years old nephew, Derek Couvillion, told me that he would definitely shave his head when I had to.  I was kind of sad to see him shave it because he has such awesome thick hair. I'm sure the girls loved it....lol. So I just wanted to show everyone how sweet he was to follow through with what he had promised. 

Thank you Derek!!  I love you!!! Your the best nephew ever!!!

Baldness is Sexy! (10/26)

Angie, Elizabeth, and Beth at Salon 1550 right after she got her head buzzed!

Hello everyone. It's been a while! I know that I slacked off a little - but I do have an excuse, kind of! I have been really busy at work and I went out of town for 4 days to the Orthopaedic Trauma Association's annual meeting in San Antonio. Elizabeth has been keeping everyone up to date though. The big news of the week is easily seen above! She decided that it was time to go ahead and buzz her dome! For the past few days, her scalp had been bothering her so she decided that yesterday was the time that it needed to come off. I think it was a great move...she's pretty damn sexy! I was informed of this decision around mid-day yesterday. I guess you can figure out what that meant when I got home...exactly! I certainly didn't forget that I said I would shave my head but I wasn't necessarily looking forward to it. But given the spirit of the evening and her really liberating experience - what the hell!

She didn't give me much warning. She just took a nice strip of hair right off the center of my melon. Sheesh! Give a guy a warning. It was an interesting feeling - not having any hair left. I am not sure that I love this look but I am definitely glad that I did it. Anna was so intrigued that she thought she should shave hers as well...FAT CHANCE young lady! Haha. Wouldn't that look odd - a family of 4 where the 8 month old has more hair than the other 3. Ha. We talked her off of the ledge and she reluctantly told us that she would keep her hair! She is such a doll. The final product...

At some point, we will be able to look back and laugh a lot about this experience. It has certainly been an interesting time in our lives but we just keep rolling with the punches. With winter coming, I'm not sure how this is going to feel. I know that I felt cool wind hitting my scalp this morning. Fun times.

Updating everyone on Elizabeth's condition...she did really, really well this time. Chemo was not fun but she started taking Emend this time. It is an expensive anti-nausea med from Merck. It worked much better than the last drugs. She felt really good on Saturday and just ok on Sunday. However, compared to last time, this day was light years better. She was able to eat a little and stayed up much longer than I expected. She even stayed up to watch the Saints play although the game was such a blowout that the Colts put her to sleep!!! Haha (Robbie and Christina - you guys are taking the "Suck for Luck" thing too far. You don't get bonus points for losing by 55!) Monday was a good day and Tuesday was even better. She is back in the saddle at work today so I am sure that she is enjoying work, as usual! The Neulasta shot that she has to get (because her blood counts were too low) was given Saturday morning. The nurse told us to give her Zyrtec while taking the Neulasta - I suppose that there is something in an antihistamine that mitigates the bone pain! I think it's more anecdotal than hard science but it seemed to work. She felt some pain in her back and neck but it wasn't near the horror from stories that we had read. I plan on reading more about the reason why the antihistamines work with it but for now we're just happy that it helped (or seemed to)!

I know that I speak on behalf of Elizabeth when I say that we appreciate everything that you all have done for us! It means so very much to us. I wish there was something that I could say that could properly explain it but words do this feeling no justice. We are so thankful that we have such an amazing group of friends and family. I also want to say thank you to Elizabeth's mom for staying with us for the past couple of weeks. You have been a tremendous help to us and our girls. I can't thank you enough.

Again, we love you all.

Until next time (which won't be as long as this past time),

Scott

A Good Chemo Day (Treatment 2)

This was me taking a picture of myself receiving chemo today (you can tell by the cord coming out of my chest...lol).. I can't believe I am sharing this pic with everyone. WOW, my forehead looks huge....lol. I promise my hair is not receding that much yet, just a bad camera angle.

My chemo session went as good as it could have gone today. It was a boring 2 1/2 hours. Scott was good company, but he was on his I-pad looking up LSU stuff on tigerbait.com most of the time. So I just entertained myself by writing in my journal and playing on facebook.(and I took pictures of myself as you can tell) Fun, fun.

Thank you for all that participated in getting all of the pictures together, so that my wonderful friends Rhonda and Rance Little could make me a very memorable scrapbook. Looking through it made me a little teary eyed I'll have to say. Brings back alot of memories. It means the world to me that my Louisiana friends and my Memphis friends teamed up somehow to make that happen. I don't have the words to say how much it really means to me. The only thing I can say is that I FREAKIN' LOVE IT. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!

Love you all for being so sweet to me and my family,

Elizabeth Noel

I Think I'm Losing My Hair!

So I wanted everyone to see my sweet girls (and me.) Today was the first day that I figured out how to post a picture on the blog. So from now on I might be posting so more pictures of me during this journey. So get ready.....lol.

Tomorrow is going to be my second chemo. (Hopefully!) I am so ready to get this one over with.

 I am now starting to lose some hair. Every time I run my hands through it I have hair in my hands. I am really thinning out right where I part my hair, so today I parted it on the other side. Then one of my girlfriends at work today found a really thinning(balding) spot on the back of my head. As much as I have prepared for this, I'm going to really freak out when I get some big bald spots or it starts falling out in clumps. I'm thinking next week will be the week for shaving the head. I will definitely post pics of that. Scott said that he would shave his head with me, I wonder if he will go through with it though? He keeps asking me questions like, "So honey, how close will I have to shave it?" I told him BALD, and he starts making faces like he's scared...lol.  So I will make sure to post pics of the faces he makes as I am buffing and shining his really big bald head.

Well I'm sure Scott will update you all this weekend on how I am doing and feeling after my treatment.

I am going to leave you with this quote that someone (you know who you are) sent to me this week after reading my last blog.
"When you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."

Elizabeth Noel :)

2nd day of chemo......NOT!!!!

Well today didn't go exactly as planned, and if anyone really knows me I freak out when that happens.

Let me start by telling you that my brother Darren wanted to come up here this weekend to come with me to my 2nd treatment of chemo (and to see my sweet girls). So he and my nephew Derek drove up here on Thursday morning. Darren drove me to work today so that I could take care of a couple of my clients, then came back later to pick me up to accompany me to the West Clinic. I tried to schedule my chemos for after lunch on Fridays, so that I can work for a while on those mornings.
 My appointment was at 12:30pm. They called me back to draw my blood soon there after. Then we went back to another waiting room to wait to be called back for chemo. After about 15 mins, a nurse comes out to break the news to me...... She tries to explain to me in the nicest way possible that my white blood count numbers were too low to receive chemo today, and that we have to come back next Friday now. (WHAT???) Naturally, I was so upset. I couldn't hold back the tears. My poor brother didn't know what to say. I have planned and arranged my schedule now through December.(I know that sounds crazy, but my life revolves around a schedule. ) So I immediately think about my appointment book at work. This stinks!! I hate more than anything not being in control of my schedule. I just want everything to work out perfectly,(impossible right now i know) and there are many bumps along this road. Ultimately my health comes first, and my sweet clients do understand. I know I have to adjust and get used to this craziness, but it does't mean I have to like it. (ugh!!!)They are now planning to give me a blood booster shot on the days following my chemo treatments to hopefully prevent this from happening again.

I went back to work later today. Amber and I had to reschedule all of my clients that are on the weeks I am suppose to be receiving chemo now. Thank you Amber. Your the best!

This week is going to be better from now going forward. I just know it. (My hubby comes home from a conference tomorrow.)
Thank you everyone for being so supportive though this emotional time. I really appreciate all of the prayers too.

Love you all,

Elizabeth Noel

Doing Great......Thank You!!!

Well......I am now in the middle of my week off from chemo. I have been back to work this week, and I have felt completely normal. These past few days have been great. Working, taking care of the kids, running Anna here and there, all of my normal daily activities have been easy for me this week. It does feel awesome to have complete control of things, even if it is just for a short amount of time. I'm pretty sure I will be receiving chemo next Friday, so I will be living this feeling up all week. YEA!!! 


Also, just wanted to thank everyone for keeping us fed so well. We appreciate all of the meals we have been receiving. I tell you what, I am getting very spoiled having dinner brought to us every night. I don't know what I'm going to do when I actually have to cook a meal again.  No but for real, it has been so nice not having to think of whats for dinner every night. So thank you to everyone that has pitched in for our meals. 


And one more thing..... Thank you to all that have been sending me all of the sweet texts and thoughtful emails. I have not been able to respond to all of them, so just know that I am getting them and they do all make me smile and lift my spirits when I receive them. So keep'em comin!!! 


Love ya'll bunches,


Elizabeth Noel

Creatures of habit (10/5)

For the past few weeks, our lives have been semi-chaotic. Between the doctors' visits, treatments, tests, family coming up to see us, etc., it seems as though we have been going 90 miles an hour. By going all out for the past few weeks, it has made them seem to drag on - like we've known about this for months. It just feels like we were on a runaway train for a while. That has all changed this week. I've gotten back to a normal routine at work and so has Elizabeth. She has been feeling great and has enjoyed both days at work so far. She came home last night with a huge smile on her face - which immediately told me that she was back to normal. Other than a little residual pain in her left shoulder from the portacath, I think that she is all healed up.

The girls seem to have slid right back into their routine as well. Lyla is doing great - great at causing us to lose sleep. Not sure why but she sure has chosen a really ideal time to get at twice a night. *Sigh* Anna is being a fantastic big sister. She helps out around the house and more than anything, she entertains Miss Lyla when we are busy. She has taken baths on her own and just acted a heck of a lot more mature than I thought she would. She is pretty amazing.

I named this entry "Creatures of habit" mainly because I think that is what makes us tick. Throw anyone into a situation that isn't routine and there will be an adjustment period needed - one that some deal with better than others. This little curveball has been anything but routine and has forced us to deviate from the norm...from the comfortable. That's why these past few days have been so great - we have slipped back into a little routine. A comfortable routine. I like this routine - I like this comfort, especially at a time like this. I know that things will be a little chaotic next week - I leave for a conference in San Antonio next Wednesday and Elizabeth has round 2 of chemo on Friday - but I am confident that we can get back to our comfort zone fairly quickly. We've done it so far and will do it again next time. At least that is the goal.

I want to thank everyone again for the kind thoughts and words. I know that Elizabeth has been anxious about getting back to work and getting back to her element. She loves her job so much...an almost-scary type of love. But I am glad that it makes her happy and keeps her mind focused on things other than her illness. I am sure that the rest of the week will sail by and she'll be tired from overextending herself. Haha. That's her M.O. - who am I to argue? I'll lose that battle anyway so I'll just sit it out!

Lastly, here's a quote from Yogi Berra, the undisputed king of ridiculous quips:

"If you come to a fork in the road, take it!"

Ummm, huh? Which way should we go Yogi? Lol. Ahhh, he doesn't know! Anyway, it's Wednesday..so I need to feed and bathe the girls before Elizabeth gets home! Creature of habit, ya know?!?


Until we meet again,

Scott

Can't sleep tonight...(10/3)

I was just laying in bed watching Elizabeth sleep (and the end of the Tigers/Yankees baseball game). Ok, so my eyes were mainly watching tv but it didn't stop me from peaking over a few times to see her resting comfortably in bed. I wanted to go to sleep but I just couldn't. Tried but no luck. When I am sitting there quietly, my mind starts to wander all over the place and start thinking of random things. Tonight though, my focus is more on Elizabeth. What is it that makes her so special - so special that God has asked her to bear this burden of cancer? Certainly He knows that she is of superhuman strength, right? Of course. (*see end of message for little known fact about Elizabeth) Certainly He knows that she is a fantastic mom that loves her two kids more than anything in this world, right? Of course. Certainly He knows that she is the consummate professional - one that would do whatever it takes to be the best hair stylist that she can be, right? Of course. And lastly, He knows that she is the best soul mate that anyone could ever ask for, right? Undoubtedly so.

I want to describe Elizabeth to those that may not know how remarkable she is. She is always there for our family...no matter the time or effort required, she will go above and beyond what should be done. She makes and takes time to take care of our girls and to attend all the functions that go along with them. She teaches, nurtures, listens, corrects, and loves our girls with hesitation. And she ain't a half-bad cook either. :-)  Does this sound familiar? Does your spouse do this for you? I bet the men that read this will more than likely agree knowing a lot of the ladies that read this blog. So I ask myself if I am doing enough to help her - not just right now, but always. She doesn't complain (to anyone but me and occasionally those at work, haha)...hell, she hasn't complained one bit about getting cancer. It's just not in her DNA. I guess what I am ultimately trying to say is that this whole experience (the little that we've gone through up to this point) has taught me that I need to be a better husband and father. I wasn't bad (at least I hope not) but I can strive to be better. She deserves it. I bet most moms and spouses deserve it. 

Moving on - I guess that I am going to have do to something BIG to be a bigger inspiration to my girls! How can I top a rock-star, cancer-survivor mom? Ha. I think that being a cancer patient and survivor is about as cool as it can get. You went toe-to-toe with an illness that should take your life. You suffer through toxic treatments only to come back for more. This, just a couple of weeks after you swore off chemo. Then you patiently sit around and do scan after scan, test after test...all the while praying that there was a reduction in your tumor size. Guess what, next round! Lose your hair, hate food, lose weight, feel weak! All of these things make a cancer patient an unbelievable human being...one that can conquer any battle that life throws at them. For so long, I had hoped that Elizabeth would look to me for leadership and inspiration...but it is I that now turns to her for those same things. She is quite the woman - quite a wife, quite a mom, quite a friend! The best friend that I could ever hope for. 

Thanks for all the love and support. Again, it means the world to us! 

Scott

P.S. - She had a good day in case anyone was wondering :-D. She felt great - like normal. She'll be back at work tomorrow slicing and dicing hair. I know that she is excited to see everyone. 

As for the * earlier - many do not know that this little lady was a powerlifter in high school! I wasn't kidding when I said she was strong...like really strong. She was a Louisiana state and national powerlifting champion in the 97lb weight class (and 112lb or 114lb - something like that). I know, I was quite surprised myself. Her mom still has all the trophies and stuff. She's part loving, part ferocious beast! Haha. 

Saturday and Sunday (10/2)

After a nice few days with my mom in town, I guess it's back to reality around here. Ha. She has been a big help and hopefully we won't need her for the time being. The family visits have been great so far and have really helped us try and get through the early parts of this treatment plan with as little difficulty as possible. As far as Elizabeth goes, she is feeling much better today. Yesterday was better than Friday - as Friday was a BEAR! I know that she felt bad all day and it just stinks watching someone you care so much about feel that way. She ate really well yesterday evening and had a nice night of sleep. She woke up in a good mood this morning and for that I am thankful. Anna even got to sleep with mommy last night as I took the couch. Anna was playing "loving mother" last night and she seemed like she needed to be there for Elizabeth. At least that's how she perceives things. Love that kid!

I know we wish things could have been different and we could have gotten to go to Josh and Rachel's wedding last night. Looked like a great time and we are both upset that we missed it. I hope that they had a great evening. Elizabeth and I wish them all the best in the world.

Elizabeth is off today and tomorrow and should be really rested for work this week. The future Friday treatments may present a bit more of a challenge but I think having Sunday-Tuesday off will be manageable. We'll just keep doing what we're doing...taking this thing one day at a time. I guess that what everyone has to do with a situation like this.

On another note...that LSU - Alabama game on November 5th is going to be EPIC. Man, these two teams are good. We are hoping for a nice cap to the football weekend here as the Saints kick off in a little while against the Jags.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Kiss your kids (or significant others) and tell them you love them. It means more than you could ever know.

'Til next time,

Scott