Today I woke up and felt much better. It's Easter Sunday and there is no better day to feel so good. I stayed home today while Donna and Katherine went to church to teach our little ones. Donna made up little Easter treat bags for the kids, and reported when she got home that they were quite pleased. Who wouldn't be for a bag of chocolate candy!!
I felt good enough today to try and get some of the things I couldn't do for Donna yesterday done today. I made dinner....slow cooked ribs, fresh green beans with potatoes.... While on this subject, there is one thing that really frustrates me about being on chemo...(well, there are alot, but here's one) I can't pick up anything cold!! I took the ribs from the refrigerator and tried to cut them up, but the meat was cold and my hands just couldn't touch the meat!! The pain is unreal...hard to describe. Part of the recipe for the green beans was to cut up bacon into small pieces...I couldn't hold down the cold bacon!!! I had to wrap my hand with a paper towel so I could hold it...I had to snap the green beans...they had been in the fridge all night....COULDN'T TOUCH THEM!!!! Frustrating!!
Working in the kitchen....I can't walk on the tile floor barefoot. I have to wear socks, slippers, or flip flops. The cold tile hurt the bottoms of my feet!! I have to brush my teeth with warm water!!
I know this is only temporary and everything will go back to normal after I finish the treatments. But oh my gosh, it really gets to you when you cannot do simple tasks. I am encouraged that I feel good on Sunday and looking forward to having a good Monday and productive week! We have a very important meetings later in the week and then Donna and I go to Virginia for Chloe's graduation and then their move back here to Houston. So here's to my off week. See you in 10 days...
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
April 23, 2011 - Round 4, Saturday....go away
It started Friday afternoon...made it until about 4:00 at work and I had to go. It didn't get any better into the evening. I tried to plan ahead, remembering each previous Friday/Saturday ordeals. But each 'after treatment' has its own challenges. I haven't figured it out yet.
Saturday, ugh... Got up early to tinker a bit with my car. I didn't feel like doing anything to it, just getting outside and walking around, planning for its restoration... Today, our cul-de-sac had its annual Easter Egg hunt for all the kids. We don't have any little ones anymore, but it was fun to watch the kids. We have such awesome parents that take the time to make this so much fun for the kids. We are the 'old couple' on the block, but that's okay, I got a grandson on the way!!
Much of today has been pretty lousy...not terrible....just lousy. I feel bad that Donna has been doing so much today getting ready for our son and his wife coming home next week, and I can't get out of my chair without feeling sick.
8:00 pm - Ate a light dinner earlier and that seems to be going okay, maybe it'll be a quieter evening. I really have to get this routine figured out as I start travelling again for my job. Many thanks out to my friends for the support and encouragement. It's my OFF WEEK!! WOOO HOOO! ugh...'don't get cocky kid!'...
Saturday, ugh... Got up early to tinker a bit with my car. I didn't feel like doing anything to it, just getting outside and walking around, planning for its restoration... Today, our cul-de-sac had its annual Easter Egg hunt for all the kids. We don't have any little ones anymore, but it was fun to watch the kids. We have such awesome parents that take the time to make this so much fun for the kids. We are the 'old couple' on the block, but that's okay, I got a grandson on the way!!
Much of today has been pretty lousy...not terrible....just lousy. I feel bad that Donna has been doing so much today getting ready for our son and his wife coming home next week, and I can't get out of my chair without feeling sick.
8:00 pm - Ate a light dinner earlier and that seems to be going okay, maybe it'll be a quieter evening. I really have to get this routine figured out as I start travelling again for my job. Many thanks out to my friends for the support and encouragement. It's my OFF WEEK!! WOOO HOOO! ugh...'don't get cocky kid!'...
Thursday, April 21, 2011
April 21, 2011 - Round 4, A Good Day...really
Wednesday, 9:30 am - I rehearsed all night how to handle Wendy driving the foot-long lance through my chest....okay, I'm a baby...it wasn't that bad this time. Still, I took the deep breath...it still hurt. I made sure the night before I got lots of rest and it made a difference starting out the treatments feeling good. Have to admit I did doze off several times in the comfy chair. Before I knew it, 3 hours were gone and I was done....well, except for taking my 'buddy' home. He looked so happy to see me. He started with an enthusiastic 'whirrr click!'.
I decided not to go back in to work after the treatment and went home. What a difference!! When I got home I actually took a nap! Several in fact. And yes, I did peek at some emails. So it was a quiet day...
Thursday - A great day! Well...a very good day...its never a great day when you're wearing a fanny pack. I was surprised at the energy I had all day. No nausea and reasonable energy level. I am extremely fortunate. I am also grateful for the great friends and loving family that keep me going. I had a bout of depression last round but I am vowing to not let that happen again. Looking forward to a quiet evening then taking my 'buddy' back in the morning. I'll wrap up tomorrow...
I decided not to go back in to work after the treatment and went home. What a difference!! When I got home I actually took a nap! Several in fact. And yes, I did peek at some emails. So it was a quiet day...
Thursday - A great day! Well...a very good day...its never a great day when you're wearing a fanny pack. I was surprised at the energy I had all day. No nausea and reasonable energy level. I am extremely fortunate. I am also grateful for the great friends and loving family that keep me going. I had a bout of depression last round but I am vowing to not let that happen again. Looking forward to a quiet evening then taking my 'buddy' back in the morning. I'll wrap up tomorrow...
Sunday, April 17, 2011
April 17, 2011 - Round 4 Into the first turn....
Sunday, April 17 - The weather has been beautiful this week. A little breezy, but fabulously mild. Tomorrow is 'little lab' day. Bloodwork just to check the WBC count and make sure I am bouncing back after the previous treatment. So far I had good numbers and I can move on to the next Round. Last week was my off week and maybe I overdid it at work. Although I loved it. I was super busy with my two major development projects. We've been waiting a while to get going on them and I guess the inactivity along with going through the treatments was starting to get to me. I actually told a friend of mine at work that going through these treatments was really getting me down and I could really understand how someone with a long chronic illness could think that the easy way to ease the pain was to just check out early...
But, you know what? It's not going to get me down. So, I'm heading to Round 4. Round 4 means I'm a third of the way through this. Two more and I'm halfway there! I have alot going on this summer that will make the time fly. I'm going to start travelling again for work and THAT will be a big thing. They are really understanding at work regarding my travel restrictions (treatments every other week means I have to be in Houston). My boss said "we'll just work within that schedule. These are your projects and you go when you can, we won't go without you." Do you know how that made me feel? Great, that's how I felt.
So, its on to Round 4 on Wednesday. Chin up, take that first turn. Before I know it, it will be the home stretch and I'll be grabbing the checkered flag. Everyday is a learning experience for me. I can do this, I know I can. Talk to you all on Wednesday. Cheers.
But, you know what? It's not going to get me down. So, I'm heading to Round 4. Round 4 means I'm a third of the way through this. Two more and I'm halfway there! I have alot going on this summer that will make the time fly. I'm going to start travelling again for work and THAT will be a big thing. They are really understanding at work regarding my travel restrictions (treatments every other week means I have to be in Houston). My boss said "we'll just work within that schedule. These are your projects and you go when you can, we won't go without you." Do you know how that made me feel? Great, that's how I felt.
So, its on to Round 4 on Wednesday. Chin up, take that first turn. Before I know it, it will be the home stretch and I'll be grabbing the checkered flag. Everyday is a learning experience for me. I can do this, I know I can. Talk to you all on Wednesday. Cheers.
Friday, April 8, 2011
April 8, 2011 - End of Round 3
9:00 am - Made it in early to see Wendy and get rid of my "buddy". I am beginning to get an attitude with him. Thursday was a long day and the prospects of 9 more treatments is beginning to wear on me.
9:15 am - Untethered....finally! Nausea and fatigue a little more noticeable this time around, kind of worries me. Not that I think anything is wrong, its just feeling constantly 'lousy' wears on you. I went back into the office for awhile but I just had no energy today. I only made it to 2 pm and I had to go home and lay down. I know this is temporary and I'll be better by Monday, but I hate these weekends that I know what is coming.
10:45 pm - Trying to get past the queasy feelings so I can lay down and sleep. I'm tired and have a headache. I need a vacation.
9:15 am - Untethered....finally! Nausea and fatigue a little more noticeable this time around, kind of worries me. Not that I think anything is wrong, its just feeling constantly 'lousy' wears on you. I went back into the office for awhile but I just had no energy today. I only made it to 2 pm and I had to go home and lay down. I know this is temporary and I'll be better by Monday, but I hate these weekends that I know what is coming.
10:45 pm - Trying to get past the queasy feelings so I can lay down and sleep. I'm tired and have a headache. I need a vacation.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
April 6, 2011 - Round 3 "Are we there yet?"
Remember me writing in the beginning that I was born in Puerto Rico and lived there for about 3 years and then my Dad was tranferred to a military base in the States? Well, maybe I didn't, but that's what happened. Anyway, we were shipped off the island out to Ft. Bliss, TX. For those unfamiliar, Ft. Bliss is located in El Paso, TX. Sitting from where I am now in, or around, the Houston area, looking West, El Paso is about as far west as you can go before you are either in Old Mexico or New Mexico. Our nearest relatives, on my Dad's side, lived in Donaldson, Arkansas (my Mom, being from Japan, you figured her family's a bit farther :-))
So every year (yes, every year)our summer vacation was driving to see my Aunts and Uncles and cousins in Arkansas. Google maps tells me its approximately 930 miles from our house to my Aunt's house. The hard part is that about 885 miles of that distance is all in Texas. So why this interesting tidbit of about my childhood starts off my blog on Round 3. Well, I remember those long,'scenic' trips between El Paso and almost to the Dallas area, there is absolutely nothing between the two points that I found interesting as a child. So we (my brother Bob and I) asked the inevitable question to my Dad "Are we there yet?". That's exactly how I felt yesterday as I sat down in the comfy leather recliner in the doctor's office waiting for Wendy to impale me with the IV hook-up. I said to myself, Round 3....9 to go. If I look at each Round as a segment of our travel to Arkansas, we go about 77 1/2 miles per round. Which is pretty pitiful. If my calculations are right, from El Paso, we are only about 20 miles east of Pecos, TX. (My El Paso friends know well how far I have to go to get across Texas!!...."Are we there yet???"
Wednesday 8:45 am - Just realizing my appointment is at 9:00am and not
9:30am, I rush Donna out the door. We get there about 9:15, so I'm not really that late, besides, I have a short consult with Dr. Baltz before the flogging begins. He said all of my labs look great, my tolerance of the treatments is great, he is overall pleased. "Now go get hooked up...."
9:50 am - Wendy, bright smiling face no matter the time of day or the deed she must complete...brings out her weapon of choice and..."take a deep breath" plunges in. I swear it snagged the recliner leather under me, but maybe I am overreacting.
12:45 pm - Overall, uneventful 3 hours of bliss. This time around it was better than Round 2 I must admit. I was very hungry afterward and enjoyed a sandwich. No tongue numbness this time. Before going back to work I had to drop by the Lab to extract a vial of blood for some other test...its getting routine...no big deal. Back to work.
5:20 pm - Heading home....I am out of steam...by the time I get home, changed, and ready for a light dinner, I am beat. BUT, I still feel better than last Round.
7:45 pm - I'm in bed and ZONKED. Guess I was tired. That's why anything about the rest of today is missing....I was OUT...until 3:18 am...wide awake...so, more later tonight about today's adventures.
So every year (yes, every year)our summer vacation was driving to see my Aunts and Uncles and cousins in Arkansas. Google maps tells me its approximately 930 miles from our house to my Aunt's house. The hard part is that about 885 miles of that distance is all in Texas. So why this interesting tidbit of about my childhood starts off my blog on Round 3. Well, I remember those long,'scenic' trips between El Paso and almost to the Dallas area, there is absolutely nothing between the two points that I found interesting as a child. So we (my brother Bob and I) asked the inevitable question to my Dad "Are we there yet?". That's exactly how I felt yesterday as I sat down in the comfy leather recliner in the doctor's office waiting for Wendy to impale me with the IV hook-up. I said to myself, Round 3....9 to go. If I look at each Round as a segment of our travel to Arkansas, we go about 77 1/2 miles per round. Which is pretty pitiful. If my calculations are right, from El Paso, we are only about 20 miles east of Pecos, TX. (My El Paso friends know well how far I have to go to get across Texas!!...."Are we there yet???"
Wednesday 8:45 am - Just realizing my appointment is at 9:00am and not
9:30am, I rush Donna out the door. We get there about 9:15, so I'm not really that late, besides, I have a short consult with Dr. Baltz before the flogging begins. He said all of my labs look great, my tolerance of the treatments is great, he is overall pleased. "Now go get hooked up...."
9:50 am - Wendy, bright smiling face no matter the time of day or the deed she must complete...brings out her weapon of choice and..."take a deep breath" plunges in. I swear it snagged the recliner leather under me, but maybe I am overreacting.
12:45 pm - Overall, uneventful 3 hours of bliss. This time around it was better than Round 2 I must admit. I was very hungry afterward and enjoyed a sandwich. No tongue numbness this time. Before going back to work I had to drop by the Lab to extract a vial of blood for some other test...its getting routine...no big deal. Back to work.
5:20 pm - Heading home....I am out of steam...by the time I get home, changed, and ready for a light dinner, I am beat. BUT, I still feel better than last Round.
7:45 pm - I'm in bed and ZONKED. Guess I was tired. That's why anything about the rest of today is missing....I was OUT...until 3:18 am...wide awake...so, more later tonight about today's adventures.
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