Hello friends and family,

Well, 4 days into this 3rd treatment, I still am not having too many bad side effects.  My teeth hurt again and my taste buds are off so things taste weird, even drinks.  My left hand has been a little numb for a couple days, but it is doing better.  Of course my face and ankles are swollen, but that is from the prednisone I have to take for 3 days after my treatment.  I also get some at my treatment.  That all goes back to normal by the second week which is when my sister arrives, on Thursday.

I finished making a crocheted blanket for my son, I finished it in a week, the fastest I have ever made one.  It is quite cold where he is in Milwaukee, so I hope it keeps him warm while he is snuggled up under it.

Now I can go back to making more chemo caps.  I have ordered some scarves to use with the scarf chemo cap.  When I get them, I will go get more yarn in colors to match them.  I am half way through my treatments now and my hair is slowly falling out, getting pretty thin.  So I will need to wear these caps and of course, I will need different colors to match my outfits.  You all know I am all about the accessories.

I had a good weekend, saw the boys on Saturday.  They were all over here as Courtney and Andrea were helping me with a couple things I needed done.  Then we had dinner at their house and a movie after.  Some Lego movie.  The boys are all into legos right now, especially Finn.

Deep cleaned my kitchen today and walked to the Post Office to mail Jake's blanket.  This was as much activity as I could stand for the day.  I get tired very easily, so will go to bed early tonight.  Am waiting for Courtney to stop by on her way home from work to give me my shot.  One last one tomorrow and I am done for this treatment.

I am having my full body scan on Wednesday, and I'm seeing my cardiologist, so I will be back then to let you know how things are going.  Probably won't know about the scan till next week, I see my oncologist on Monday and he will tell me how it came out.  Let's all pray for good news.

Well, today was the day for my third treatment.  Again, the nurse assigned to me was so awesome.  I went in yesterday to do a blood test so I wouldn't have to wait 2 hours today to start my treatment.  My blood test was good, so it went like clockwork.  In at 8:00 and out by 2:00.

Courtney dropped me off and Andrea picked me up.  Courtney is sick with some kind of yucky virus, I hope not the same one Andrea just got over.  I wore my mask in the car.  The boys are here this weekend, they come after school tomorrow.  I plan to see them, their plans aren't really made yet, it will be a chill weekend since Courtney doesn't feel good.  We are having a movie night, but not sure which day.  I probably shouldn't be around Courtney too much, I will wear my mask if I am.  Andrea and the boys may come over here on Saturday to let Courtney rest.

I wore one of my new hats today, the first time these nurses have seen any, they really liked it and they love my blanket.  A lot of comments from the patients about the hat too, they all really liked it.  If this next three weeks is anything like the previous one, I will not have much down time.  It doesn't even feel like I have just had a lot of poison pumped into my system.  Next Wednesday, I get another full body scan to see how my insides are doing after 3 treatments, half way through, yeah!!!  And on Thursday, my sister and her girls arrive at the Burbank airport.  Can't wait to see them. They are anxious to get out of that midwestern Arctic weather.  70s and sunny here. Woohoo, pack your swimming suit.  Ta Ta till next week.  Have a great weekend.  Thanks for all your comments.  I love hearing from you.

Just thought you would like to see my 

faithfull companions through all of this,

especially my cat lover friends.

Treatment 3

All I need is a blankie and a chemo cap!

And something to read.

And something to snack on.

And something to drink.

For 6 hours.

I don't know why I can't move these pics to the right and left like before.  Tempermental I guess.

Well, I finally loaded a couple pictures I have wanted to share.  No news on my health since my last blog, but I've been busy making a new hat.  That will be it for hats for a while, I have company coming so I need to do some things around the house before next Thursday, as I won't feel much like it after my treatment. My sister and her daughter and granddaughter are coming out on the 30th, I can't wait to see them.  There will be no new bits about my health till after my next treatment, so it could be a week before I post again.

I wanted to share a picture of how I spent my New Year's Eve.  It was so fun to have my boys overnight.  I am so happy to live so close to them now.  It's a little fuzzy, I don't know why, I guess my selfies don't come out clear.  Well, friends, I will talk to you in a week.  Who knows what I will be wearing next Thursday so tune in for the next fashion statement.

Chemo Cap 3

So it was a purple day for my doctor appt.
He loved it, by the way.  Purple is the Laker's color!

Happy New Year's Eve!!

Good news from the doc.  I saw him this afternoon and he said my blood is looking good and my spleen seems to be a little softer.  I am having my next treatment on the 23rd, and the following week I will be having another full body scan.  That will be the most accurate measure of how I am responding to the chemo.

Had to have yet another blood draw after my appt. and also went to the x-ray department to schedule my scan.  Everyone I sat next to and ALL the nurses I saw in the various departments loved my scarf hat.  Even the doctor said it was really awesome.  All the nurses told me I should sell them.  I was really happy to hear everyone liked it.  I will let you see how I looked today.  I'm still really tired, that seems to be the most long-lasting side effect.  On that note, I need to get to bed!  Talk to you soon.

I just realized I haven't loaded my picture on my computer, so I will do it tomorrow and will add it then.

I see the oncologist tomorrow.  Hope to hear good news about how it is going so far.  Will then set up appt. for my next treatment.

A couple days ago on Facebook, one of my friends posted pictures of "chemo hats."  I thought "how cute."  I don't know if I will ever need them, hopefully not.  But it gave me something to do on these days between treatments.  And if I don't need them, I can donate them to the oncology dept. at my hospital.  Someone will need them.  I will post pictures of the ones I have completed in the last two days.  One a day, maybe I should start a business.  Will let you know what the doc says tomorrow.

Crochet chemo cap with scarf tie in purple

Gulf Shores in navy

Week 2 of 2nd treatment.

I've been feeling slightly achy all over the past couple of days.  Weird that I didn't start feeling any side effects till the second week.  I had lunch at Courtney's today with the boys, who are here until Sunday night.  It's the end of their holiday break.  I will be going over tomorrow to help Camden make dinner (his request).
I came home early today because I get tired easily.  Afternoon naps are becoming the norm.  And it has been so lovely outside, I kinda feel bad that I miss enjoying the day.  Yesterday, I got a burst of energy and baked chocolate chip cookies.  I try to make something homemade for the boys when they are here.

My friend Loni called today and invited me to Mesa, AZ in April.  She and her sister are going out to their mom's home as it will be empty of renters after March.  It is in a lovely, huge mobile home park with lots of things to do to keep busy.  I will just be finishing my last treatment a week before they are going, so I will have to see how well I am doing.  It would be a fabulous way to celebrate the end of my treatments.

Well, that is it for tonight.  I will be back after the weekend.

Day 5 of 2nd treatment.

Had to go to hospital for another blood test.  Doctor said all is looking good.  Have a little discomfort today, teeth hurt a little and joints are achy.  I am very tired today.  Probably overdid it as I went to Target and Costco to get some things, including heavy cases of water and heavy cat litter box.  I have been feeling so good this time that I forget that I had a chemo treatment five days ago.  My hair is starting to fall out a little, I like to think it is just normal hair loss, but I think I am really kidding myself.

The weather was lovely today but the wind was horrible.  I feel so bad for all my friends in the midwest who are having such cold temps and so much snow.  That makes me so happy that I moved here.  LOL.

Courtney will be stopping over soon to give me my shot.  One more tomorrow, then I am done until the next treatment.  These shots are supposed to help build up my white blood cells.  Last nite when Courtney came over to give me my shot, she brought two jars of freshly squeezed veggie juice.  This juice is really helping to kick start my blood renewal.  I also drink one glass of coconut water a day, also supposed to be good for me.  It's an acquired taste but I can get down 8 oz. in a whole day.  Have switched from coffee to green tea, which I don't really mind.  I guess that is it for now.  

Day 2 of second chemo 21 day schedule.

I haven't had any side effects show up today.  I had to go to the hospital to have blood drawn and then had to wait for the results to make sure all my levels were OK.  Blood platelets were good and red and white blood cells were OK for this point of my treatment.  I go again on the 6th.  Andrea took a picture of me in my chair.  I was so happy to have my blanket that the boys made for me for Christmas "so you can take it to your chemo and stay warm, because the hospital is cold."  Gotta love those boys.  It really was cold too.

Chemo Session #2

Andrea picked me up at 7:30 this morning  to take me to my 8:00 appt.  We arrived and got checked in then I had blood drawn.  Was brought into the "chemo room" which was a room with 8 or 9 reclining chairs, IV post on one side, blood pressure machine on the other.  Had to wait about 2 hours for my blood test results, then the nurse started the pre-chemo drugs through the IV.  Had to wait about another hour to get the chemo from the pharmacy and actually got started around 11:30.  Courtney stopped up around 2:00 to bring me some lunch.  I was expecting to go home at noon, but I should have known that was never going to happen. Finished up at 5:00 and Courtney came back to pick me up and now I am home.  She brought a yummy salad with things I am able to eat during the first four days after and a container of her homemade broccoli soup.  So I ate well tonight because the rest of this week, not so much.  Loss of appetite lasts about a week.  The plus side to that is I lose weight, yippee.

Today is the first day of a brand new year.  I wanted to start a blog so I could keep all my friends and family updated on my journey through my cancer diagnosis.  Maybe a few posts about my failing heart. This is not how I planned to start my year, but this is the hand I have been dealt, so I will deal with it in good spirits.  I have a lot of prayers and good wishes coming my way, so I feel blessed.   

On this day 21 after my first chemo, I am physically feeling OK.  However, tomorrow, Jan. 2, is my second chemo treatment, so the 21 day cycle will start again.  I go in at 8:00 A.M., and the dr. said I should be able to go home by noon. Knowing how long things take at this hospital, I think that was being pretty optimistic. It took much longer the first time around, and the dr. explained that the chemo was set on a slow drip so they could monitor my reaction. Tomorrow it will be flowing much faster.  I hope that doesn't mean the side effects will be worse. 

I will be taking my fleece blanket along to keep me warm.  My grandsons made it for me for Christmas especially to take along to my treatments, as the hospital is chilly.  I do love those boys! Happy New Year!