Sunday, August 28, 2011

Ran Away from Home--Had an Extended Blast

I haven't blogged for a while because I haven't done anything except recover from chemo.  Had a transfusion on the 16th and that perked me up a little.  Last Tuesday, that would be the 23rd, Dory picked me up around 11 and we were off for a three day stay at the Silver Legacy in Reno.  Thursday, as we were thinking about going home the next day, we decided to stay over another night and come home Saturday.  we were having such a good time.  The same thing happened on Friday.  We kept crazy hours, we ate when we felt like it, we never went outside between turning the car over to the valet and retrieving it.  We laughed most of the time.  I played many machines--Dory would find one she liked and stay there.  We each have our own code.  I don't smoke, I don't drink, I hardly ever go to the movies--slots are entertaining as hell for me.  I spent lots of time playing on house money.
We packed up this morning and left before breakfast so we couldn't change our minds again.  I really did need to come home.  We stopped at Boomtown for breakfast and a little slots.  I kept setting times that we should leave and we kept ignoring them.  We actually got into the car around 2--and decided to play just a little longer.  So we played a bit more, watched the end of the Giants game on the jumbo screen, thought about spending the night there--but I was out of clean clothes and really did need to get home.  I called Glenn just before we left so there was no turning back.  We had dinner at Lou LaBonte's just before Auburn and got home a little after nine.  Two very happy old ladies.  Now we're plotting our next trip.
I'm feeling good--still some abdominal soreness, but my energy is coming back.  Have to figure out how to be a normal person again.
xxooxx

Friday, August 5, 2011

Two good newses

Wednesday morning I got up at five to eat breakfast so that I could get to my CT scan by 8:30.  I stopped off at the fancy yarn shop after the scan and the requisite blood sucking.  I got two more sock pattern books and extra needles--socks take a lot of needles.  The message light was flashing when I got home, so I checked it--my favorite niece calling to let me know that as of her birthday, the previous day, her boy friend became her fiance!  How terribly exciting.  Her engagement ring was our Great Aunt Jessie's ring--appropriate because Aunt Jessie died shortly after she heard that Gretchen was going to have a baby--who turned out to be Miss Victoria Gabrielle.  It is a lovely diamond in an old fashioned setting and Victoria loves it.  I couldn't be happier for her,  I love weddings.  Not that they are in a rush, but chances are I will be around for it.
Which brings the other piece of good news.  Because I'm still in a great deal of abdominal pain, I was worried about the scan.  Worried to the point that I really didn't want to go to this appointment by myself.  Glenn, who has been so good about taking me to my various appointments, had to work swing and my appointment was at 3:30.  Dory had a 4 PM appointment, so she couldn't go.  This morning, I called Elaine to see if she could go with me.  She had a little rearranging to do, but yes, she could come over.  I picked her up at the BART station just after 2.  We stopped at CVS to pick up a prescription then came home so I could pick up my knitting and Elaine could see the pictures Victoria had posted to Facebook--which should now be renamed Fingerbook.  Elaine knows that Victoria is six years younger than she is, but still likes to think Victoria is 16.  She was, however, properly excited and thrilled over the ring.
We grabbed our stuff and headed to San Mateo.  in the one storey elevator on the way up to the office, Elaine gave me a hug and said "I love you, Mom."  She knew I was scared.  I didn't need to be.  The scan was good, compared with May and January scans.  There is still the collection of fluid.  Dr. Chee thinks that's what's causing the pain and is a leftover from surgery.  It is something that only time will take care of.  But everything is stable.  My blood counts are all down--to be expected from the chemo.  If I want a transfusion, I can have one, but I think I'm OK.  Red count is 9.6 and she usually transfuses when it goes below 9.  It was 8.2 for the last transfusion last month.  White count is low--stay away from sick people.  Platelets are low--be careful of sharp objects.  All of that should come out as I get through this chemo cycle and don't replace it with another one.  I made an appointment to have my port flushed in a month and to see Dr. Chee in seven weeks.  She wanted it to be six, but she's going to London.  I want to go with her.
So we were happy girls leaving the office.  We went grocery shopping so that I could take advantage of Elaine to tote them upstairs.  She stayed for dinner and we had a good time, buoyed by the news that I'm not dying tomorrow.  We laughed as silly stuff and said that I'm good a lot.  I took her to the BART station and was home in time to watch most of the Giants game.  I'm not inviting Cliff Lee to the next party.  He wasn't nice to my team.  I have faith in them and will love them no matter what.
So that's the good newses and no bad news--unless you count the Giants game.  They will turn it around for me--it's their job.  My job right now is to rest and make all sorts of blood cells.  Their job is to win and keep me happy.  What's so hard about that?
xxooxx