Where Did the Week Go?

Where did the week go? I meant to post Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and am finally getting around to it on Thursday. It's May, you know, and there are so many "end of year" or "end of season" things going on. That's my excuse for not writing, and I'm stickin' with it.

So way, way back on Monday was treatment day as usual. Vicki Worthen was kind enough to drive me, and we were nearly on time even though the appointment was extra early. As an added bonus Vicki was able to visit Jami Griffith, who she visit teaches, over at St. Luke's while I was doing the boring stuff like getting my blood drawn. Jami has been there with an infection that's caused her to have a lot of seizures, but Vicki found her doing well when she visited.

My port was accessed on the first try again--that's becoming a total non-issue, obviously--and I was able to get right back out to my puzzle pieces. The worst part is being pulled back to see the doctor and having to wait for him in the examining room when I could be waiting happily in the big waiting room with the light, and windows, and people and puzzles. I don't like waiting in the little dark room with the three never changing magazines. But wait I did, and then the doctor came and did his minimalist routine of a grunted greeting, laptop scrutinizing, stethoscope listening, and the see you next week, but he did give me one interesting piece of information. I found out that he had ordered a reduction in the amount of chemo I received last week (which explains why my stomach felt better) and I found out that he planned on slightly increasing the dosage this week because my symptoms were better. I'm feeling that silly little extra 4 milligrams this week. My hands and feet are irritated again and my stomach is much more upset--just 4 little milligrams!

I found Vicki waiting for me when I was done, and we were soon settled in the infusion room receiving the poison that's making me better. We talked book club books and chatted with my little volunteer who gets the bagels and warm blankets. We found out more about his interesting past as an English teacher at Capital High, as a Russian language expert in the service, and about some of his favorite authors and books. (I'll have to have Vicki remind me what they were because she was smart enough to write them down.) Otherwise the infusion went just as usual, and Vicki and I were able to pick up new meds at the pharmacy and get to lunch with great efficiency.

We went to Moon's again since it was so good when I went with Karla, and this time we got the best table in place right in the bay window. Just as I was telling Vicki how much Boise had changed since I was a kid, we glanced out the window and saw a vivid illustration. A guy had just stepped off the bus with a cut-off t-shirt and some extremely low riding shorts, revealing a large mid-section to me and a good portion of bottom to Vicki as he passed. I think she got the worst of it! Thank you to Vicki for being my companion and thanks to Cindy Whiting for taking excellent care of Tadman while I was away.

Tuesday was a good example of how crazy May can get. Kate had a field trip to the YMCA, I had to leave it early to pick up Parker for a doctor's appointment that started at 3:00, I got home just in time to pick up a vegetable tray for Kate's soccer party at 6:00, which we had to leave early so we could get to Rachel's orchestra concert at 7:00, then leave it as soon as Rachel's chamber orchestra had played in order to get to Hunter's big important semi-final AAU basketball game. (His team pulled out a 3-point victory.) Then we went home for a little dinner, homework, practicing, and bed. In addition to all this activity Rachel, poor girl, has all her end of the year projects and tests to work on and study for.

After such a busy Tuesday I had a hard time getting out of bed at all on Wednesday. I had to get up eventually when my sister and mom came to put away laundry. Taddy, I'm sure, was glad to have a little variety to his morning. After shaking off the cobwebs I had to at last get my stinkin' bills paid (I'd been attempting to pay them for several days but been distracted). Now that I have a 4-inch stack of statements from my insurance company and another 4-inch stack of bills from Saint Luke's, paying the bills is a much longer process than it used to be. Seriously, it took until the evening to finish up. Thank goodness they are safely sealed and sent today.

There were some other things Wednesday--grocery shopping and a football spaghetti feed--and another late night.

I'm finally getting a chance to catch my breath long enough to write a few things down today. I'm sure I would have spent today in bed if Karla hadn't rousted me out and encouraged me to go to book club. We walked so I even got a little movement in and she was kind enough to eat with me so I wouldn't have to think of something to eat. Eating out is always easier for me.

Thanks to all my family and friends for hanging in there with me. This is going to be a long treatment and you all will have put a lot of service in, made a lot of meals, and done a lot of laundry before it's over--and that's just the chemo! You'll have had it with me by the time I'm doing surgery and radiation! I hope each of you know how sincerely I appreciate your help. Right now about one day every week is very hard and stressful at our house. Without all the help our family is accepting that stress would fill 2 or 3 days of each week. I hope you know how much of a difference you're making in my life. Each little act of kindness pushes me that much closer to the finish line!