Another week of chemo is done! No other news, which in this situation, is good news.
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Henry David Thoreau
Friday, May 13, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Live from Prairie du Sac
Hello from Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin!
I decided to take advantage of the time off of treatment and drive out to Ross's. I needed the little getaway. Ross is out conquering the waste disposal world. I am happy here. I really am. This makes me even more excited to plan weekend trips for us. We are thinking of Galena, Geneva, Door County... our criteria is relaxing and scenic.
Since the "du Sac" is a small town, I was able to go to the grocery store yesterday. (A trip to the store is not recommended in normal towns due to the volume of people.) I made stuffed shells for dinner last night and then picked up ingredients for stuffed peppers on Saturday. Just call me Mrs. Cleaver.
We hope to hike around Devil's Lake state park tomorrow. Last time we rented a canoe and just lazed about the lake. It was perfect.
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?
- Alice in Disney's Alice in Wonderland
Off I go to get lost in a daydream!
I decided to take advantage of the time off of treatment and drive out to Ross's. I needed the little getaway. Ross is out conquering the waste disposal world. I am happy here. I really am. This makes me even more excited to plan weekend trips for us. We are thinking of Galena, Geneva, Door County... our criteria is relaxing and scenic.
Since the "du Sac" is a small town, I was able to go to the grocery store yesterday. (A trip to the store is not recommended in normal towns due to the volume of people.) I made stuffed shells for dinner last night and then picked up ingredients for stuffed peppers on Saturday. Just call me Mrs. Cleaver.
(Isn't this cool? It's a vintage dress pattern.)
We hope to hike around Devil's Lake state park tomorrow. Last time we rented a canoe and just lazed about the lake. It was perfect.
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?
- Alice in Disney's Alice in Wonderland
Off I go to get lost in a daydream!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Today Will Be A Good Day
Some days I wake up wondering why to even get out of bed. I know that sounds depressing (and a bit emo) but I don't have work, school or anyone depending on me right now. I hope to be in Milwaukee this fall so that I can return part time to the land of cubicles.
Each morning I tell myself it would be a good day. Sometimes I am right, sometimes I am wrong. I do wish the weather would improve (I know you agree!). When the sun is hidden in the clouds, it's really easy to couch surf the day away. I need someone to kick me off the couch - any walking buddies in the area?
I didn't pass the lab test to continue chemo this week. The protocol that I am on has a check halfway through the session. I almost had the required levels to continue. A pause in treatment was anticipated; a majority of the patients fail the levels as well. So this week I have nothing. Next Tuesday we will retry. I hope I pass. I want to keep trucking through this. I have four more weeks of this session of chemo. Then onto the next...
When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable. Walt Disney
I believe.
Each morning I tell myself it would be a good day. Sometimes I am right, sometimes I am wrong. I do wish the weather would improve (I know you agree!). When the sun is hidden in the clouds, it's really easy to couch surf the day away. I need someone to kick me off the couch - any walking buddies in the area?
I didn't pass the lab test to continue chemo this week. The protocol that I am on has a check halfway through the session. I almost had the required levels to continue. A pause in treatment was anticipated; a majority of the patients fail the levels as well. So this week I have nothing. Next Tuesday we will retry. I hope I pass. I want to keep trucking through this. I have four more weeks of this session of chemo. Then onto the next...
When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable. Walt Disney
I believe.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Beauty of Friendships
A group of my girlfriends from Marquette are running the 17th Annual ABC 7 5K Traffic Jam. They have set up a Web site with information regarding the run and donations; please check it out.
http://www.active.com/donate/lrf2011/navigatetheroad
I try to not name drop on here since readers don't know each other, but here's a shout out to Becca, Kaitlynn, Cathy, Michela, Angie, Alanna, Kim and Sher; they're the current 5K runners! And anyone's welcome to join me in in the cheering section.
http://www.active.com/donate/lrf2011/navigatetheroad
I try to not name drop on here since readers don't know each other, but here's a shout out to Becca, Kaitlynn, Cathy, Michela, Angie, Alanna, Kim and Sher; they're the current 5K runners! And anyone's welcome to join me in in the cheering section.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday Night Blues
Happy Easter blogosphere!!
I had a great weekend. The weather allowed for a walk through the forest preserve. I went on a date with Ross. Erin was in town. I saw my girlfriends from high school. Although it was tough to head home so early from the girls' night, but my body doesn't seem enjoy too much fun.
Sunday nights tend to be downer nights. In a way they are for most people. The weekend is over and work starts up again. Growing up my dad called them the "Sunday Night Blues." Now I am pouty because Ross leaves and I know that the following week will be treatments and clinic visits. The Hawks tying up the playoffs helped to lift my spirits!
This week I only have treatment on Tuesday and it's a lower-key day (yay!). However, I'm highly monitored for the chemo that I received last week so my treatment comes with a side of blood draws over the course of the next few weeks. Sometimes the order is super-sized and I have transfusions as well. The chemo last week has been one of the most monitored in out patient. I felt uneasy after the nurse's explanation. The possible side effects are daunting. It made me think of the commercials on TV where at the end of the commercial you turn to your fellow viewer and say, "Who would take that??" Now I know whom - me - but it's not for seasonal allergy relief so I feel my argument is a winner. The entire transfusion I stared at the IV bag through my Benadryl hazy eyes curious as to how such a vial poison fits into that Kool-Aid jammer-sized bag. Then the rest of the conscious transfusion, I craved a blue Kool-Aid jammer. The remainder of the time was spent studying my eyelids. Benadryl won the battle (it makes you super sleepy).
Well, it's bedtime. Talking about Benadryl and all the activities of the weekend reminded me of how much I need my rest.
I will leave you with a quote my girlfriend Alex shared with me:
I had a great weekend. The weather allowed for a walk through the forest preserve. I went on a date with Ross. Erin was in town. I saw my girlfriends from high school. Although it was tough to head home so early from the girls' night, but my body doesn't seem enjoy too much fun.
Sunday nights tend to be downer nights. In a way they are for most people. The weekend is over and work starts up again. Growing up my dad called them the "Sunday Night Blues." Now I am pouty because Ross leaves and I know that the following week will be treatments and clinic visits. The Hawks tying up the playoffs helped to lift my spirits!
This week I only have treatment on Tuesday and it's a lower-key day (yay!). However, I'm highly monitored for the chemo that I received last week so my treatment comes with a side of blood draws over the course of the next few weeks. Sometimes the order is super-sized and I have transfusions as well. The chemo last week has been one of the most monitored in out patient. I felt uneasy after the nurse's explanation. The possible side effects are daunting. It made me think of the commercials on TV where at the end of the commercial you turn to your fellow viewer and say, "Who would take that??" Now I know whom - me - but it's not for seasonal allergy relief so I feel my argument is a winner. The entire transfusion I stared at the IV bag through my Benadryl hazy eyes curious as to how such a vial poison fits into that Kool-Aid jammer-sized bag. Then the rest of the conscious transfusion, I craved a blue Kool-Aid jammer. The remainder of the time was spent studying my eyelids. Benadryl won the battle (it makes you super sleepy).
Well, it's bedtime. Talking about Benadryl and all the activities of the weekend reminded me of how much I need my rest.
I will leave you with a quote my girlfriend Alex shared with me:
"Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway."
Keep defying those odds!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Friday... I'm in Love
I'm very excited for this weekend. Tonight a group of my girlfriends are coming over to make Mexican! I love Mexican food & all the girls.
Ross is back to health so he'll be coming into town too! I love him.
Then Saturday, Ashli is hosting a Scream movie marathon. I don't love slasher movies, but I do love the company that I can talk to during the movies. Ashli loves that (that's a lie. She'll most likely hit me with pillows throughout the night. We're a married couple in that way. We have had this bit going on for years.)
Then Sunday, the Machurick's will be visiting! I love seeing the family :)
I have lots to love!
Ross is back to health so he'll be coming into town too! I love him.
Then Saturday, Ashli is hosting a Scream movie marathon. I don't love slasher movies, but I do love the company that I can talk to during the movies. Ashli loves that (that's a lie. She'll most likely hit me with pillows throughout the night. We're a married couple in that way. We have had this bit going on for years.)
Then Sunday, the Machurick's will be visiting! I love seeing the family :)
I have lots to love!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
It's been a while
Bonjour!
Not much to report from the home front. I had a busy week since I was at the clinic/hospital every day. The weekend has been very relaxing (in other words, I slept A LOT). I was warned that one of the chemo cocktails I am on will especially make me sleepy. The nurse was not lying.
I have another busy week next week. Tuesday thru Friday I'll be visiting the clinic for some more b!tch juice, blood draws, and spinal chemo. But if sleeping is the worst of the effects, I'll take it.
As always, thanks for all of the support throughout this!
Not much to report from the home front. I had a busy week since I was at the clinic/hospital every day. The weekend has been very relaxing (in other words, I slept A LOT). I was warned that one of the chemo cocktails I am on will especially make me sleepy. The nurse was not lying.
I have another busy week next week. Tuesday thru Friday I'll be visiting the clinic for some more b!tch juice, blood draws, and spinal chemo. But if sleeping is the worst of the effects, I'll take it.
As always, thanks for all of the support throughout this!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Peter Pan Syndrome
Hi everyone!
I wanted to follow up with you all about the port surgery since I made a stink about it in my last blog. It went very well. They didn't "put me under" as I had assumed, but instead used "relaxation" drugs. They call it a "twilight" anesthesia. Naturally, Edward Cullen came to mind at that point as did the barely legal yet scrumdiddlyumptious Jacob. I felt more relaxed already. Anywho, the drugs did their magic because I slept a majority of the pain-free procedure. The doctor, tech and nurse must have all done their jobs very well while I was dreaming away.
Everything went so well that when my mom mentioned that a coffee shop that serves Lavazza nearby, I said "Let's go!" I have a soft spot for Lavazza from my semester abroad in London. Here is a taste of why I love it so:
(so much more fun than the Starbuck's mermaid and bland style.)
While we were waiting for our cappuccinos, my mom mentioned that H&M is within walking distance. Due to the time of day, it wouldn't be busy. Let's go! We went shopping and it was so wonderful to do something normal. We both walked out with some great finds. Afterwards, our stomachs were grumbling. While we were both looking down at our singing stomachs, my mom mentioned that there's a great happy hour deal at a bar/restaurant nearby. Same story; it shouldn't be crowded. Let's go! We had mussels and calamari for dinner. It seemed like the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." If you take Katrina for coffee, she will want to go shopping...
All in all, we both had a really great day.
The point of the title of this post is in relation to the good news I received from the Doctor today. Great lady. She told me in analyzing the chemistry of my chromosomes she found that my body produces more of something-that-I-can't- pronounce-let-alone spell (the what is not important). She said that children also produce more of the whatchamacallits which is a great sign for my prognosis since I am on the pediatric regimen! It also gives me an excuse for any immaturities that I have. I can't help it, I'm chemically still a kid!
I apologize for the long post - I leave you with this:
"If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell."
Lance Armstrong, my new idol (Thanks Uncle Johnny - I love the book!)
I wanted to follow up with you all about the port surgery since I made a stink about it in my last blog. It went very well. They didn't "put me under" as I had assumed, but instead used "relaxation" drugs. They call it a "twilight" anesthesia. Naturally, Edward Cullen came to mind at that point as did the barely legal yet scrumdiddlyumptious Jacob. I felt more relaxed already. Anywho, the drugs did their magic because I slept a majority of the pain-free procedure. The doctor, tech and nurse must have all done their jobs very well while I was dreaming away.
Everything went so well that when my mom mentioned that a coffee shop that serves Lavazza nearby, I said "Let's go!" I have a soft spot for Lavazza from my semester abroad in London. Here is a taste of why I love it so:
(so much more fun than the Starbuck's mermaid and bland style.)
While we were waiting for our cappuccinos, my mom mentioned that H&M is within walking distance. Due to the time of day, it wouldn't be busy. Let's go! We went shopping and it was so wonderful to do something normal. We both walked out with some great finds. Afterwards, our stomachs were grumbling. While we were both looking down at our singing stomachs, my mom mentioned that there's a great happy hour deal at a bar/restaurant nearby. Same story; it shouldn't be crowded. Let's go! We had mussels and calamari for dinner. It seemed like the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." If you take Katrina for coffee, she will want to go shopping...
All in all, we both had a really great day.
The point of the title of this post is in relation to the good news I received from the Doctor today. Great lady. She told me in analyzing the chemistry of my chromosomes she found that my body produces more of something-that-I-can't- pronounce-let-alone spell (the what is not important). She said that children also produce more of the whatchamacallits which is a great sign for my prognosis since I am on the pediatric regimen! It also gives me an excuse for any immaturities that I have. I can't help it, I'm chemically still a kid!
I apologize for the long post - I leave you with this:
"If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell."
Lance Armstrong, my new idol (Thanks Uncle Johnny - I love the book!)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Makeover
What gives a girl
Power and punch?
Is it charm, is it poise?
No, it's hairspray!
Power and punch?
Is it charm, is it poise?
No, it's hairspray!
Here's the BIG unveiling... when you see me out and about town this will be my new hairdo!
Friday, April 1, 2011
a whole lotta nothing
Happy Friday! I may not have a work day, but I can still appreciate weekends! The only differences are that I do not have the house to myself and I get more visitors!
I am a wee bit nervous about Monday's port surgery. My only experience with surgery is from my wisdom teeth removal. The port is only a minor surgery. I was told the procedure is about 15 minutes with the majority of time being prep and recovery monitoring. I will be given anesthesia and from experience my mom will be getting some laughs. It makes me think of the youtube sensation "David after the Dentist." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs) Good news for me, bad for you all, is that we will forget to bring a video camera on Monday. (yes, you can plan to forget things. hehe)
Dad's off to Vegas with his brothers. The trio of Uncle Phil, Uncle Johnny, and my Dad is a lot like the three stooges. He promised to call in the late hours of the night. This will be gooooood. I am so glad he went. My boys are gone for the weekend... what is a girl to do?
Call Elle Woods! It's time for a MAKE OVER! That's right, I'll be picking out my new do' this weekend. Pictures to come.
Sidebar: My mom told me a story when she got back from work. During her lunch walk thru Water Tower, she made an astute observation. Her and co-workers decided that I am very vogue for this season. All of the mannequins wearing the latest trends are bald!
Cheers!
I am a wee bit nervous about Monday's port surgery. My only experience with surgery is from my wisdom teeth removal. The port is only a minor surgery. I was told the procedure is about 15 minutes with the majority of time being prep and recovery monitoring. I will be given anesthesia and from experience my mom will be getting some laughs. It makes me think of the youtube sensation "David after the Dentist." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs) Good news for me, bad for you all, is that we will forget to bring a video camera on Monday. (yes, you can plan to forget things. hehe)
Dad's off to Vegas with his brothers. The trio of Uncle Phil, Uncle Johnny, and my Dad is a lot like the three stooges. He promised to call in the late hours of the night. This will be gooooood. I am so glad he went. My boys are gone for the weekend... what is a girl to do?
Call Elle Woods! It's time for a MAKE OVER! That's right, I'll be picking out my new do' this weekend. Pictures to come.
Sidebar: My mom told me a story when she got back from work. During her lunch walk thru Water Tower, she made an astute observation. Her and co-workers decided that I am very vogue for this season. All of the mannequins wearing the latest trends are bald!
Cheers!
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