Half way through the Joy and Rapture!

Yep it's true...I'm technically half way finished with Chemo--thank goodness because my white blood cell count just isn't up to snuff these days...so I'm just hoping to keep somewhat to the original schedule and get finished up! Last round was almost cancelled due to my low count--but I batted my eyelashes and flashed my braceless smile and they let me go ahead with the scheduled infusion and my schedule Swedish Weave lesson ala my personal instructor, Jonelle Champion, aka date for the day.

This time they even let me sit on the opposite side of the room in a green recliner with a view of the snow flying outside--yipee! And thanks to Pat for my new description of what I get to say during my visit to the infusion room--"oh joy, oh rapture--I get to have my infusion of Cytoxan, methotrexate, and fluorouracil!!" So the good news is that they let me go ahead with infusion # 3--and the other good/bad news is that I have to/get to wait 4 weeks until infusion #4. That gives me two weeks to feel good instead of one...but bumps my finishing date by 3 weeks if I have to stick to the 4 week schedule. I think I better let them know that I'm on a time schedule--I have a family reunion to attend at the end of June and I realllllly need to stay on schedule to make that deadline!! Do they realize how many nieces and nephews are counting on their favorite crazy aunt to show up at "the lodge" for creek swimming and woodsy path exploring?? Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating the favorite aunt thing because MaurLo is really the favorite...but I'm trying to get a little sympathy and support with this scheduling thing.

I already highlighted my calendar, had Ken arrange his work schedule and everything...and now my calendar looks all messy and confusing (like usual!). I guess I should be grateful because the chemo fatigue has hit me with a really big stick this time. I was really enjoying getting off easy--4 days down and then by Saturday I felt good enough to get out of the house a bit...but this time I managed to stay down and out until Monday and then any escapes out of the house have been mostly to take kids to doctor and dentist appointments which means that I'm ready to crawl into bed for good by 5 pm--not such a hot plan when the kids want something to eat for dinner other than top ramen.

--so I must be better--because it is 11 and I'm still awake--truthfully that is only because another angel came to my house and got the kids ready for school while I stayed in bed and slept through the whole process and another angel showed up with a warm dinner to feed the hungry kids....the reality is that I only look like I'm keeping everything together because I repeatedly have people who are letting me rest while they take care of some of the basics of life! My kids are thinking that there are some great moms out there other than me and they are basking in all the yummy cooked goods and extra love and attention--and to be honest--so am I!

So--thanks to all of you for your help, phone calls, emails, cards, and love and prayers! Now I just need a magic recipe for boosting my white blood cells--although my Nurse Practicioner, Janet, assures me that there really isn't a magic potion other than time! In the last 2 weeks I've managed to avoid Ryan's flu, cold and ear infections, Rachel's bout with shingles, Andria's cough and cold and Ken's addiction to biking...okay I've avoided most of that--but managed to pick up some mild congestion, a cough and I have found myself craving the ability to pedal on a stationary bike now that it is sooo cold outside.

I say craving the ability because I have found myself sitting on the bike, pedaling...it just doesn't seem to be quality exercise these days because just a gentle push on the pedals makes my heart rate sore and my muscles are looking a bit soft these days--I'm wondering if my trek to Logan to ride in the Red Riding Hood Ride for Breast Cancer this June will be a ride or a chance to use a tag-along bike while Cathryn pulls me! Those days of enjoying a good sweat on the bike or eliptical seem like ancient history--now things like using a blowdryer long enough to dry my hair in one session or carrying the laundry up the stairs seem more like olympic events than everyday tasks. So I guess for now I'll have to learn to excell in the sport of relaxation, resting, and recuperating--this could prove to be the hardest part of surviving Cancer treatment yet! I'm off to bed--I mean, off to train for the triple R Olympics!!