Pushing 30...

Hey Folks,
Well, I'm finally back to my old self again - just in time to go for blood work on Wednesday and chemo #30 on Thursday. As mentioned in my last post, I ended up getting chemo the Friday I got back from Saskatoon. They have switched me from FOLFOX and Avastin to FOLFIRI, a combination of 5-FU, Leucovorin (both of which are also part of FOLFOX) and Irinotecan. The only portion of this cocktail that is new to me is the Irinotecan portion and I was told that the primary side effect of this combination "could" be "immediate and emergent diarrhea." Wow, sounds like fun. Luckily, they gave me an injection to prevent that little bit of hell on earth but it left me absolutely stoned. The nurses got nervous because they had never seen anybody react so strongly to it, but after consulting with the pharmacist they decided that it was likely because of my diminutive stature. How's that for some big words from old chemo-brain??? So, long story short (no pun intended) I will request a lower dose of the anti-diarrheal med next time and pray to the Gods that it still works. 

I guess I underestimated how this new chemo cocktail would affect me because I mistakenly assumed that since I dodged the diarrhea bullet, I was home-free. Silly, silly girl. I still battled extreme fatigue, lots of nose bleeds, mouth sores and this time I had a great deal of back and abdominal pain - which I immediately attributed to tumor growth and had a minor breakdown or two as a result. Tim managed to remind me and convince me that often the killing of the bad tissue can cause pain too, so I have been focusing on that as much as possible. 

And today was the first day I was able to say I actually felt normal. YAY!

To update everyone on us - Tim and I are getting very excited about our impending trip to Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica - 19 days and counting. I have been feverishly shopping for bikinis that will camouflage my scar and have finally found some in which I can feel good about my skinny-ass-self. Wahoo!

I need to thank a few people today as well - BINK! I received your package a few weeks ago and all I can say is that Truffle Pig makes Ghirardelli and Godiva look like amateurs. Wow - amazing! Thank you so much for thinking of me, you are so, so sweet. And Michelle...I JUST got the skin cream this afternoon and it couldn't have possibly come at a better time - the skin on my knuckles and between my fingers is so dry that just bending my fingers can cause them to crack and bleed. Thank you my Dear.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Team James, 
Better news today! I once again had blood work and thank the Gods, my platelets have rebounded to the point that I will be getting chemo tomorrow! Yay! I NEVER thought I would ever say THAT, but whatever. My platelets are at 82, still low, but not too low to do chemo. My nurse today suggested that it could just be a difference between labs, which is what I had been thinking. It's a good thing I don't know for sure that that is in fact the case, or you would be able to hear me SNAP all the way in Saskatchewan. 

I had a lovely day today with Tim and the kids. He really is the best, most thoughtful man on the planet. 

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you and your sweethearts.
XOXO

29...and Holding

Well Folks,

Wish I had better news, but unfortunately today's chemo has been pre-empted by too few platelets hanging out in the old bloodstream. I did my very best to welcome them back with open arms, but due to being mis-informed as to when platelets tend to disappear (which turns out to be Day 10-14, exactly the OPPOSITE of what I was told by one of my chemo nurses), I am currently sitting in my condo in Saskatoon as opposed to sitting in a chemo chair with a needle in my arm. Sigh.

It's a long story, but really - what else do I have to do but tell you about it? A couple of weeks ago Tim and I FINALLY booked a trip to Sandals Jamaica. And wouldn't you know it? The very next day I spoke to Dr. Sami in Saskatoon and he expressed concern about my platelet count. SO, in an effort to NOT fly all the way to Saskatoon and be told they wouldn't do chemo, he and I came up with a plan to get bloodwork last week in Cambridge to see how my counts were. And they were fine - 82, and the cut-off to treatment is 75. After speaking to TWO chemo nurses, they told me that I should be fine to go to Saskatoon. Now, to be honest - my gut told me not to come, but I just chalked that up to the winter storm that was happening in Southern Ontario. WHEN WILL I LEARN TO TRUST MY INSTINCTS? Being a Pisces, I am supposed to be very in-tune with my instincts but I ALWAYS ignore them. Lesson learned. Now, the biggest problem with all this (besides spending money on a flight to come in for chemo that I didn't get and not seeing my Dad b/c Dorothy fell and is in the hospital in Humboldt this week) is that this will mean that my chemo schedule will be thrown out of whack and potentially ruin our vacation plans. Awesome. After a year of never having a problem, this is very poor timing to say the least. And needless to say, I spent most of the evening in tears last night after O got the call.

However, today is a new day. And luckily, I spoke to the Cambridge Canser Clinic today and they have squeezed me in on Friday morning. So, as long as the old platelets have bounced back, I will remain on the same weekly schedule and we may not have to make any changes to our vacation plans. I am hoping with every fiber of my being that it works out because due to the Family Day holiday, they have absolutely no room for me next week. And waiting 3 days or a week extra is bad enough, but two weeks will drive me batty. Just warning you now.

So, onto some good stuff. I came in to Saskatoon early for Kristie's baby shower that she was throwing for Lincoln and I have to say, I had a hoot. It was so good to see all those girls again and I got some great quality time with Linc and Soph. He is so damn cute and responsive, that he spent at least a half an hour on my lap just laughing and cooing. So fun. Also, in an effort to keep Sophie happy when her "Baby Bwudda" was getting showered with gifts, Chantelle and I decided to bring her some tiaras and princess shoes. Seemed like a great idea at the time, but the plastic shoes on Kristie and Scott's tile floors were not such a good match. She loved it but her parents were not thrilled with the noise.

Lincoln

A couple of princesses enjoying the limelight.

Other than not getting to see my Dad and Mike, and missing chemo  -it has been a great few days. I got to spend lots of time with Chantelle and Kelly and Kristie, and had lunch with Mar and Parchy. Thanks to Kris and Chantelle for running me to all my appointments and making sure I was well-fed this week. You girls rock!

Let me back track for a minute. Last Saturday morning was Riley's last day of soccer and because his coach was away, Daddy got to be interim coach. It was also the last day of soccer so Riley picked up this trophy and was absolutely THRILLED about it.

He looks so grown up with his hair cut short. (Riley, I mean)

After soccer, we headed over to the Butterfly Conservatory for a little toot around and I have to say, I the red shirt did a great job of attracting my little flutterby friends.

That's right, that's my bum with a Rice Paper butterfly on it...

And my shoulder...

And Avery's bum...

In fact, I had some pretty ones land on my face and hair but the pictures of me are terrible, so I won't be sharing them.

I am heading back to Ontario and Tim and the kids and Bailey tomorrow - I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really excited to see them. I hope everyone is happy and healthy and enjoying the recent warm spell. Take care and good night!