Hip Hip Hooray, It's Chemo day

We found out yesterday that my cancer marker is going down.  It is currently lower than ever.  It measures a protien made by cancer cells so my understanding is that it going down means that the number of those cancer cells is going down.  Way to go Army of Minions fighting my cancer!! And also the doc and nurses and prayers and wishes from everywhere!

We have upped the ante of being here for the day and now come with a rolling suitcase.  We can never figure out what we are going to want to do or eat so we just bring everything, including Sue's pillows.  Rita was willing to pose for a picture today, she has been my chemo nurse for the last three times and keeps me going with her great sense of humor.  I had low blood pressure this morning so they are pumping me with fluids.  I have 3 jobs, eating, drinking and exercising.  I lost 5 pounds so this next week I have to drink and eat even more....and I can't eat ice cream because of my cold sensitivity, maybe chocolate.

Had a fantastic weekend with my family--a weekend of hugs, laughs, talk, tears, smiles, games, puzzles, coloring, watching soccer games on TV and cold weather.  We had a great group of people together who enjoy being together.

Groups began arriving Friday afternoon, Casey (nephew) and Jess (his wife) from Seattle.  Next Scott and Debbie (Brother and sister in law), Will and Drew, their other two sons.  Jamie (niece), her husband Tim and two boys, Brien and Jason from West Chester PA arrived next and then Scott (nephew) and fiancee Leslie arrived from West Chester PA.

Nancy, Scott W, Sue, Jay, Brien, Jamie and Tim

Saturday was Mall of America day for the under 50 crowd and Debbie.  She represented the rest of us over 60.  Some rides and shopping but unfortunately a busy busy day at the mall and lines were long. The very cold weather outside might have had something to do with it.  Home in time to help with the turkey dinner which the boys announced was just like Thanksgiving.  Sunday was game day, puzzle day and coloring book day.  Everyone got into it and just enjoyed hanging around moving from activity to another and one conversation to another.  Casey and Jess had to go back Sunday so we sent them off and missed having them around for the evening.  Scott and Debbie left early Monday with Jamie, Tim and the boys not far behind.  Scott W. and Leslie stayed till Tuesday.  They headed off to REI and the Mall for the afternoon and then joined us at the Gopher Women's basketball game that night.  Started out bad for the gophers and I was worried they would not even be able to make it a good game, not only did they do that, but they caught up and won with the buzzer beater.  Great fun was had by all.

We stopped at the Mall to walk after dropping Scott and Leslie at the airport.  We tried to go to the movies but finally admitted to ourselves that we were beat--naps and TV time in the office were totally in order.

Last week was lunch week--Monday we ate at our "go to" Newport restaurant down the hill with Gerrie, Tuesday we met Lisa and Diane and thoroughly enjoyed the Woodbury Cafe which is a nice new find.  Wednesday Suzi Hagen and Mary Pickard met us the "Day by Day Cafe"  an old favorite in St Paul.  Nice meals and good visits with friends on all three days.  And of course there was a basketball game--we won 101-73, quite a score for a college game!  We had hoped to go to Tech week for the MJTC play but the cold weather kept Nancy inside.  We have not heard about opening weekend but hope it went well and we are looking forward to seeing the play later in the week.  This weekend we see Gypsy at Theater Latte Da, another of our favorite local theater groups.

Typing from my chemo bed so it's time to succumb to drowsiness.  Please know that overall I feeling quite good and plan to keep it that way.  Sending hugs to everyone.

Life is a wild ride.  Enjoy!

Leslie, Scott W., Debbie Back Row

Jess, Casey, Drew and Will

Life is getting pretty routine, with a few quirks along the way.  Chemo makes for strange eating habits.  The other morning it was mac and cheese with hot chocolate for breakfast.  I could probably go on a mac and cheese diet for a while but am trying to get a variety of foods in.  I can eat something at lunchtime and at dinner it doesn't taste good, same happens with drinks.  It is all weird.  Mac and cheese for lunch today-worked perfectly.

We went to a basketball game the other night with Mary and Co, the night after chemo so my cold sensitivity was high.  Sue dropped me off and picked me up as close as possible to the door but by the time I got to the car the cold had gotten into my eyes.  We spent the car ride home thinking of ways to keep my eyes covered.  Ski mask, scuba mask, swim goggles.  We kept coming back to the scuba mask and periodically scuba sound effects could be heard from the back seat.   Lots of good laughter.

Friends Nancy and Liz came out from Connecticut for a few days.  Nancy is a colon cancer survivor so they know the drill.  They were anxious to have a walleye dinner so we went to Tavern on Grand for dinner.  We left them home on chemo day and around 11:00 got a text--"we found the other candy and cookie drawer!"  They seemed to do fine on their own.  The big snow came on Tuesday, Sue and I tried to go to a doc and lab appointment but  turned around and went to the lab close to home and talked to the doc by phone--she was sitting in the dark at her clinic where the power was out--good thing we didn't try to get there.  We had planned to go to the movies but rented the Bridge of Spies instead and had a cozy night in.  It was a nice visit and they were very comfortable being here and going with the flow and non flow of chemo days.  Thanks for good company, conversation,
laughs and hugs.

Sue says the big world news this week is Brett Farve getting into the hall of fame.  Superbowl Sunday is upon us.  We have a neighborhood open house this afternoon to say goodbye to neighbors moving to Denver.  Then Mary and Co will come over for stir fry and Superbowl watching.  Snow may be on it's way, we will wait to see.

The doc says I do not look like a patient on Fulfirinox.  It can be a pretty toxic chemo and I am so far being spared the worst of it.  Prickly fingers and cold sensitivity are the worst for me and steroid ups and downs are confusing.  A little more tired, but I said that last time and then recovered.  Chemo took 5 hours this time,  I slept for about 3 hours.  Sue came armed with pillows to make her chair more comfortable, I don't think it worked.  She watches videos, makes my future appointments, feeds me lunch, plays solitaire and sympathizes with me.  The doc says there is no correlation between the toxicity of the chemo side effects and it's ability to do it's work.  I am keeping all my positive forces engaged to help the chemo do it's thing.

We have a few lunches planned for this week, maybe a visit to tech week for our play--depending on the weather.  My family arrives Friday, there will be 14 of us here, only 4 will stay at the house.  Looking forward to a fun valentines day weekend.  And speaking of Valentines Day a bit early, it is a day about love.  I send you all special love--you have kept me in your thoughts and prayers, sent hugs, pictures, emails and texts. I can feel the energy of friends and family as we navigate this journey.  In return, I send you my love, hugs and good positive energy as you navigate your journey.