Help Leaving Comments

Hello friends & family,

Thanks so much for your interest in my Mom’s life and blog.  A few people have expressed frustrations in trying to leave comments.  I have done what I can to help with a tutorial.  Reading her journey on her sight is really the best part anyway, so please don’t feel frustrated or stuck if leaving comments aren't working out for you.  Just send her an email.  They’re more personal anyway.  So here you go.  I hope this helps.  I think the main point to understand in leaving comments is that you have to set up a google account and be signed-in to leave comments on blogspot websites.

Love,

Cheryl’s Daughter Rebecca

If You Already Have a Google Account

Step 1 – Go to http://cherylower.blogspot.com/

Step 2 – Select “comment” at the bottom of the post that you would like to leave a comment on.  It may say “1 comment” or “2 comments,” but that is the correct button to select.

Step 3 – Enter your comment in the comment box.  Underneath the comment box where it says “Comment as/select profile,” select “google account”  from the drop down menu.  Then select "post comment."

Step 4 – It will bring you to the google login. (Don’t worry, your comment won’t be lost)

Step 5 –Enter your google email & password.

Step 6 - Your comment will appear again.  A verification box also may appear.  Go ahead and type the letters it prompts you to.  Then select “post comment.” 

Now you’re done J

To Sign Up For an Account:

Step 1 – Go to http://cherylower.blogspot.com/ and select “sign in” at the top right corner of the page. It will take you to the google login page.  You can also get to this spot from blogger.com or blogspot.com.

Step 2 – Click “Get Started” just below where it says “Don’t have a google account” and follow the steps to sign up for a google account.

Step 3 – You will now be signed into your blogspot account.  It opens up your “Dashboard,” which is just a fancy word for your home page.  You can choose to do one of two things.

You can go back to the browser and type in http://cherylower.blogspot.com/ once again.  This will take you to the full blog and show all the posts at once, but this time you'll be signed in.

                                OR

You can choose to “Follow” the blog and automatically get updates when you’re logged in to your blogspot account.  From your “Dashboard” select “add” under the “Blogs I’m Following” tab.  After you select “add” you just type in cherylower.blogspot.com. This will allow any new posts to automatically be listed in your Dashboard.  Just click on whichever post you would like to look at and leave a comment on.

Step 4 – Select “comment” at the bottom of the post that you would like to leave a comment on.  It may say “1 comment” or “2 comments,” but that is the correct button to select.

Step 5 - Type your comment.  There will be a box next to the comment that should have your “name (Google).”  That means that you are logged-in on your google account.  Once you select to “post” your comment, a verification box may appear.  Go ahead and type the letters it prompts you to.  Then select “post comment.” 

Now you’re done J

FAMILY LIFE FUN

Playtime with Ben

Getting some lunch after a doctors appointment

My kids & grandkids making homemade ice cream

They rolled a coffee can inside a popcorn tin

Bowling Night

INTO EVERY LIFE A LITTLE RAIN MUST FALL

HI ALL!  THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT MY WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT POPPED BACK UP INTO THE NORMAL RANGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! THE BAD NEWS IS I AM ANEMIC & STILL FIGHTING A SINUS INFECTION, FEVER, & RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS THAT STARTED BEFORE THE CHEMO BEGAN. MY ONCOLOGIST DOES NOT LIKE TO DELAY REGULAR CHEMO FOR ANY REASON, BUT BECAUSE I WAS FEELING SO MUCH WORSE ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, DECIDED TO POSTPONE MY SECOND CHEMO FOR ONE MORE WEEK TO GIVE MY BODY A CHANCE TO RECOUP. HE WAS A LITTLE EXASPERATED WITH ME FOR OVERUSING MY ASTHMA INHALER, MOUTH WASH, & IBUPROFEN IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE MY PROBLEM AREAS FEEL BETTER. MEDICAL PEOPLE TEND TO MAKE THE WORST PATIENTS, YOU KNOW. THEY HAVE ENOUGH EXTRA KNOWLEDGE TO BE DANGEROUS & THINK THEY KNOW ENOUGH TO SAFELY PRESCRIBE FOR THEMSELVES. THAT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA! YOU CAN CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN YOU STARTED WITH, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T NEED THAT. ADD IN A LARGE DOSE OF TIREDNESS, BRAIN FOG, & LIGHTHEADEDNESS AFTER MY BLOOD DRAW AND YOU HAVE A TEMPORARY BASKET CASE. I HAVE BEEN PROPERLY CHASTISED & WILL NOT BE DOING THAT AGAIN. MAYBE I NEED TO HAND OVER THE REINS OF MY MEDICATIONS & THEIR TIMING TO MY SWEET  BUT ALSO EXASPERATED HUSBAND, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE "FOGG" SETS IN. LAST NIGHT I HAD TO PUT INTO PRACTICE WHAT I HAVE BEEN LEARNING IN BIBLE STUDY TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD & FOCUS MY SCATTERED ANXIOUS THOUGHTS ON WHAT IS GOOD & TRUE & RIGHT. THE FEARFUL ANXIOUS THOUGHTS CEASED. MY BODY WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RELAX, AND A SWEET NIGHT OF PEACFUL SLEEP ENSUED. THANK YOU JESUS!
I WOKE UP TO A BRIGHT SUNNY MORNING & A NEW DAY. GOD IS SO GOOD & KNOWS JUST WHAT WE NEED. WE JUST NEED TO REMEMBER TO DO OUR PART & HE'LL TAKE CARE OF THE REST. MY DAUGHTER & GRANDKIDS TOOK OFF AFTER BREAKFAST FOR A MUCH NEEDED FEW DAYS OFF. PRAY GOD'S REST, REFRESHMENT, & TRAVELING MERCIES ON THEM AS THEY COME & GO. PRAY THAT THE SINUS & RESPIRATORY ISSUES I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WILL RESOLVE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS & THAT I CAN FACE THE NEXT ROUND OF CHEMO WITH MY HEAD HELD HIGH. LOVE & BLESSINGS.

HAPPY PEACEFUL DAY

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVE, PRAYERS, & CONCERN. I'VE HAD A VERY HAPPY & PEACEFUL DAY. MY BACK FEELS SO MUCH BETTER TODAY. HURRAY! ALSO, I WAS ABLE TO EAT DINNER TONIGHT, WHICH MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT IT REALLY WAS. I COULDN'T MANAGE MY LUNCH AT ALL. MY DAUGHTER COOKED HER HEART OUT & MADE YUMMY CHICKEN CHILE VERDE TACOS. THEY WERE JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SPICY.  THAT COMBINED WITH AN ICY DRINK SEEMED TO NUMB MY MOUTH SORES ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO PIG OUT. THE CHOCOLATE PUDDING & PEANUT BUTTER COOL WHIP PARFAIT DESSERT, LIKE SHE USED TO LIKE TO MAKE AS A KID, DIDN'T HURT EITHER. I'M FULL FOR A CHANGE & GETTING SO SPOILED! I'VE TALKED TO NEW FRIENDS, OLD FRIENDS, WORK FRIENDS, & FAMILY.  I EVEN GOT 2 AWESOME HEARTFELT CARDS & A GIFT IN THE MAIL TODAY FROM A SWEET OLD FRIEND OF MINE (SHE'S SWEET NOT OLD/ WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS A LONG TIME).. THROUGH "MY CANCER ADVENTURES," I AM RECONNECTING WITH DEAR PEOPLE I'D LOST TOUCH WITH OVER TIME. I ALSO HAVE GOTTEN HELPFUL HINTS ON HOW TO PREVENT FURTHER MOUTH SORES WITH MY NEXT TREATMENT TOMORROW AND THINGS I CAN DO CURRENTLY TO HELP DEAL WITH THOSE I'VE GOTTEN. I EVEN FOUND THE ENERGY TO DO SOME PAPER PUNCH CRAFTING WITH THE GRAND KIDS. WHAT A GREAT DAY! I WAS READING IN OUR DAILY BREAD & FOUND THESE LITTLE HELPFUL EXCERPTS:

--"GOD WANTS TO LOOSEN THE THINGS THAT CAN CHOKE OUR LIVES AND THAT PREVENT US FROM RADIATING JOY. TO DO THIS, HE SOMETIMES HAS TO ALLOW PAIN AND TROUBLE.."--C.P.HIA

--"ALL GOD'S TESTINGS HAVE A PURPOSE--SOMEDAY YOU WILL SEE THE LIGHT; ALL HE ASKS IS THAT YOU TRUST HIM, WALK BY FAITH & NOT BY SIGHT."--ZOLLER

I THINK I'M RADIATING A LITTLE.

LET THE FALLOUT BEGIN

I'M TOLD THAT FOR MOST PEOPLE, YOUR HAIR STARTS TO FALL OUT BY YOUR SECOND CHEMO TREATMENT. I'M DUE FOR CHEMO THIS THURSDAY THE 24th, PROVIDING MY WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT, ETC. IS BACK UP, BUT MY HAIR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN.  IT DOES THAT A LOT, YOU KNOW. I NOTICED A LITTLE EXTRA IN MY BRUSH ON SUNDAY.  WHEN I LEANED OVER MY HOT CEREAL BOWL ON MONDAY, SOME STRAY HAIRS COMMITTED HARI KARI IN MY CREAM OF WHEAT. EACH DAY IT GETS PROGRESSIVELY MORE. JUST CHECK OUT MY TRASH CAN.

I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE SUGGEST I CUT IT SHORT BEFORE IT BECOMES A NUISANCE, OR BUZZ IT OFF COMPLETELY, BUT I'M NOT QUITE READY TO DO THAT YET. MAYBE TOMORROW WILL BE THE DAY. I'LL LET YOU KNOW. BECOMING A CUE BALL TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO. I'M DOING OK WITH IT, BUT THAT REALLY CHANGES YOUR APPEARANCE. FOR NOW, EACH TIME I BRUSH THROUGH IT & THROW AWAY ANOTHER WAD OF HAIR, IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'VE CARED FOR IT FONDLY FOR MOST OF MY LIFE & NOW I CAN BID IT A FOND FAREWELL.  I KNOW THAT THE LORD WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE ME THE GRACE TO HANDLE EACH CHANGE AS IT COMES.  HE'S PROVED IT TO ME OVER & OVER AGAIN. I CAN REALLY FEEL THE DIFFERENCE WHEN PEOPLE ARE PRAYING FOR ME.  IT'S SO GREAT!         I FEEL SURROUNDED BY A LITTLE COCOON OF LOVE. I FEEL HIS ARMS WRAPPED AROUND ME WITH ALL THE LOVE, CONCERN, HELP & SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS, CHURCH FAMILY, MEDICAL TEAM, AND MANY PRAYING FRIENDS THAT I HAVEN'T EVEN MET YET. GOD'S ASSIGNMENT FOR ME IS TO REST & RECOVER. THAT IS SOMETHING I CAN DO. MY PRAYER NEEDS ARE SIMPLE: 1.) HELP WITH THE PAIN FROM MY MULTIPLE MOUTH SORES. THEY MAKE IT TOUGH TO EAT & BRUSH MY TEETH  2.) CONTINUED GOOD ATTITUDE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF EACH NEW DAY. 3.) LOWER BACK PAIN (NEW SYMPTOM). HELPED BY MY CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT & MASSAGE EARLIER TODAY, BUT STILL WITH ME. 4.) THAT MY WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT WILL IMPROVE & NOT DROP SO LOW WITH EACH TREATMENT.

Current Status Report

I had my first chemo on March 10th.  I had to give myself a shot in the stomach for 5 days after the chemo to build my white blood cell count back up.  Not as bad as I thought it would be.  Some days were better than others.  Some days I had more energy and some I was shaky.  I notice that my mind wavers a bit between being all there and being kind of foggy.  Little by little my fever has gone up and my sinus infection problems sky rocketed for a day or two.  I usually struggle with sinus problems and the chemo drastically increased those problems.  The allergy doctor gave me stronger antibiotics.  I'm still fighting off those problems, but they've lessened some.  I have really bad sores in my mouth from the chemo and it makes eating very unpleasant. I had my weekly checkup and blood work done the first Thursday after the chemo and found out that, even with the shots, my white blood cell count is practically non-existent.  Which is why I've been getting sicker and weaker.  So they told me to give myself the remaining 5 shots I have over the next 5 days, and we may have to schedule my 7 remaining chemos to every 3 weeks instead of every other week.

The bright side is that I feel very cared for by my family.  I know I'm in the Lord's hands and I've had a very peaceful time.  The only time I really panicked was when I felt like there was fluid in my lungs and it was extremely hard to breathe.  But the Lord used that to show me that it was time for me to concentrate on me and to rest my body.  I had asked Him to make it really clear to me if I should try to work or not.  I'm glad I serve a God who directs my paths and answers my prayers.  I've notified my work that I am taking a medical leave of absence and I'm in the process of applying for disability.  This takes a big weight off my shoulders and now I'm all set to rest up, do what I need to do to take care of myself, and let my family take care of me.  Blessings on you.

Current Status Report

I just got some great results back from my P.E.T. scan.  The cancer has not spread to any part of my body & it has not gone into my lymph nodes. This is really unusual because I have a very large mass that is stage 3, fast growing, and aggressive cancer. So, praise God for that! My treatment plan is also unusual. They normally do an immediate mastectomy in a case like mine, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. For me they're doing chemotherapy first to reduce the size, then surgery, and then radiation. I pray that I only have to get a lumpectomy or nothing! That would be so much better! The doctors have said that's not an option, but we'll see...God is good, God is big, and God is amazing at doing the “unusual”!