Speechless
I was very, very sad yesterday. My best friend's mom passed away early yesterday morning, after her very courageous battle with cancer. I've known her and her family since elementary school and think of her as one of my sisters and her mom was a great, kind, woman. I feel so bad for my friend; her mom who suffered; and her family and friends who lost a good lady/friend/mother. Her mom was diagnosed just a short time before me so her suffering wasn't too prolonged.

I can so understand what her mom went through... but still don't know what to say.

Bring on the weekend
Topic: September 2005
So, now I'm thinking about food and not feeling too bad... that's a good sign. Oh, I asked the doc about the rash and he didn't think it was chemo related, whatever... it's just strange that it occurs about 10 days after infusion... but since he didn't seemed concerned; I won't either.

As I was driving into work this morning, I was thinking how my life seems to be sounding like a bizzare soap opera, with the fire and all... well at least I haven't experienced any multiple personalities or found any dead people that came back to life. My mom, dad and I were at a picnic thingy a week or 2 ago and we each won a prize at the raffle, so we figured that we are now on a winning streak. Although I can't see how winning a $19 knife set; a 1/2 set of golf balls (can you believe they didn't even include the entire set in the box); or a gift certificate to a pizza parlor that hasn't even opened yet a "prize". Maybe that was the end to the bad luck -- kinda like the bad-luck booby prize.

Working my way back to "normal"
Topic: September 2005
Yesterday I was feeling barfy, so I left work at noon and went home and slept. Ah.... DH (that would be "darling husband") brought me some soup. I don't worry too much about eating anymore because I know after about a week my appetite comes back and I eat. So the cycle is: chemo week: don't eat much; week after chemo: eat things that don't give me heartburn (i.e., stay away from tomatoe based stuff and spicy foods - so that means ice cream is good); week before chemo: eat and drink anything.

It's really cold not having hair! I don't know how bald guys stand it. I guess they get used to it becuase it probably is a more gradual loss. I think I'm gonna start wearing those sweater "gangsta" beanies! As far as the hairloss bit, I'm keeping my eye on the end game - thinking about new hair and if it will be different. I can't wait... only 3 more months of this.

Still haven't had any progress on the house fire restoration.... the government must be involved in some way, nothing's happening; just a bunch of finger pointing! I'm glad I got my sister's house to camp out at!

Three down; Five to go
Topic: September 2005
Yesterday was treatment no. 3. Nothing unpredictable. Saw the doc, said my blood work ws great. what I did learn is that my blood count goes back to normal between each treatment; so it is not like it is "bad" all the time, just for a period of about a week between treatments. So, it starts out normal, then slowly goes down to low, then crawls it's way back up to normal, then they infuse me. It takes about 3 hours for the infusion because they do each drug one at a time. My sister came along and did some homework and visited, then and DH came too. Afterwards we went to dinner, but I didn't eat too much; but wanted to eat something before the nausea and drrrrrrrrrry mouth set in. So, today, I'm tired, my mouth is dry and oh, aunt flo showed up with her luggage, so there's probably some PMS mixed in.... oh great!

This past weekend, my sister cindy and I went to Palm Springs and shopped until we ran out of money and ate until we had to unzip our jeans. It was a good weekend.

Oh, I almost forgot, I stopped at the LA County fair to check on my entries, and well.... drumroll... I got first place on each item. My jacket, shirt and purse (which I trew together and used an old belt for a handle) all won a blue ribbon. I was very excited. But, I was most excited for my friend who's entry won three ribbons, Blue/First, Best of Show and a Special Award from a local Quilt Shop. She wasn't with me and didn't want me to spill the beans and tell her and I could hardly contain myself. Here's a picture of her quilt which was hand and machine quilted with trupunto









here's a picture of my jacket, taken with my cellphone, so it is not a good quality, but you get an idea. It was all tailored and lined.










I can't wait to get it back, since it's the only jacket I have since everything was packed up until they fix the upstairs. Which, still hasn't had any progress, but I won't ruin my good mood with THAT story.

MIA - Aunt Flo
So, this is the first time since puberty that Aunt Flo has not shown up on her monthly visit. I was told she might skip town during the chemo, but didn't thing she'd bail out so quickly. Boy, what a useless visitor she has been anyway, so I suppose it's about time that freeloader checked out.
Now, that I mentioned her name however, she'll probably show up on my doorstep tomorrow with a huge suitcase. um.....

I also got a itchy rash on my chest and upper back. I think it's from the chemo because I had it about 10 days after last treatment too, although i couldn't find anything specific about it when I googled. I'll have to check with the doc when I go next Monday. Other then that, i'm doing good. The next infusion is Monday... so next week should be predictable. Tired, cranky, waves of nausea, and heartburn.

The fire cleanup is going slooooooooooooowly. [FEMA must be in charge] Yesterday they scraped the popcorn off the ceilings. Abestos abatement for $5,000 -- what a rip! I'm trying to find out the next step, but you know those contractors, can't pin them down... so I keep nagging; but I'm about ready to find a new one. but, in the end, I am grateful not to be in the South, having lost everything. Can't even imagine what that would be like.

well, if you don't hear from me for the next few days, don't panic. I am taking tomorrow off... going to the Fair to see if I won any ribbons on my sewing items; then heading out of town with my sister. And besides, no computer at home -- it's packed up until the clean up is done.