Dress Up Day at School

Since they boys are going to a private school this year, they have to wear school uniforms (khaki pants and collared shirts) most days. But today they were given the option to dress up in costumes for Thanksgiving.

Entropy Boy chose to be a pilgrim. Please ignore the silly face. He's been making that one for all photos lately:



And Spiff wanted to be an Indian:



Spiff's costume isn't very historically accurate, but it was easy to make and will double as a Davy Crockett costume somewhere down the line. We already have the coon-skin cap and the rifle for that one.











The classes will be having Thanksgiving feasts today and then they are off until December. What fun!

In a Cooking/Baking Mood Lately

I'm feeling festive and ready for the holidays to begin!

Saturday was the day of the annual cookie fair at the Episcopal church down the street. Every year they put up a sign that has Sesame Street characters riding a train with peppermint wheels. Well, this year Joe didn't want to go. Oh no! Where will we get our fudge?

I hopped on the computer and pulled up some recipes from allrecipes.com. I then beknighted Spiff as our official fudge maker for the family. He did a great job! We have Peppermint Chocolate Fudge and Coffee Shop Fudge cut up and stored away for gift giving and snacking. They are both YUMMY! Click on the recipe names and you'll be directed to the recipes.

Today I made my friend Tigger's Jezebel Sauce. We had it on my weekend at Mystic and it is sooooo good! It's got that sweet/spicy thing going on and is like honey mustard on steroids. I LOVE it! I'm bringing it to the P's house for Thanksgiving.

Tiggerific Jezebel Sauce

1 c. apricot preserves (may use orange marmalade or peach jam)
2/3 c. apple jelly
5 TBSP Creole or prepared brown mustard
1/4 c. prepared horseradish sauce (I used prepared horseradish, not the sauce kind)
1 tsp (or more) freshly cracked ground pepper

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Chill in the frig for 1-2 days for best taste (although it is still good right away). Ladle 1/2 to 3/4 c. over softened cream cheese and serve with crackers.

Makes 2 cups. Would also be amazing with ham and biscuits or on sandwiches.

Eat What You Want. Go See People. Happy Thanksgiving!

I went to see my oncologist this morning for a blood draw. All my counts are good. She said "Eat what you want. Go see people. Happy Thanksgiving!"

Yaaaaaaaaaahhhhoooooooooooooooo!

I don't start up chemo again until the Thursday after Thanskgiving. It will be a welcome break.

This last round of A/C was hard--primarily due to the shot of Neulasta (sp) that I got the day after chemo. Instead of 4 Neupogen shots, I got one shot of Neulasta to boost my immune system. I was able to get the Neulasta because I was going to have 3 weeks in between chemo treatments. However, the Neulasta gave me more bone pain than the Neupogen did. I was on the couch with a heating pad on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday I battled reflux. Oy. I'm glad to be feeling better now.

I'll update more later. I've got to go pick the boys up from school and get their costumes ready for "dress up" day tomorrow--they are allowed to dress like Native Americans or Pilgrims.

Last A/C Chemo is done--I'm half way through!

My mom called and said I should update. Well, I'm tired. No news there. I'm really tired.

I'm half way through with chemo now. I'll rejoice when I have more energy. The Taxol part of the chemo comes next. It won't wear me out as much, but it will have different side effects, like my eyebrows and eyelashes falling out and my fingers and toes going numb.

I'll let Joe tell you about the flooding in the basement. [sigh]

Another Good Weekend

Cara from SL said she's been blog-stalking me (Hi Cara!) so I thought I'd give an update so she has something new to read. ;-P

Boy, did I need this off week! I have been baking for Christmas (lemon bars, strawberry cookies/candies, and cranberry oatmeal bars) and freezing everything. I made pizza for Friday Night Movie Night and we watched The Gods Must Be Crazy.

On Saturday we baked the meal given to us by the mom of one of Spiff's school friends. We also made some meatballs in marinara sauce. Between the two we had meals for the weekend and were able to just relax and have some good family time. Joe has been a little confused because he doesn't know what to do with me when I'm feeling well and up and around. Like I said, I really needed this week. It has been good to be nearly normal again.

I took the boys in for their dental appointments (no cavities were seen) and hair cuts. Spiff got some new jeans this weekend because he is wearing holes in the knees of all of his jeans. Hopefully he won't wear holes in these until he is closer to outgrowing them.

The Keflex (antibiotic) doesn't seem to be doing much of anything for my port scar. I'm beginning to think it is just red because I started chemo so soon after it was put in. It just hasn't had the ability to heal nicely without interruption. I'll see the surgeon on Thursday morning before I have my last A/C round of chemo. I'm going to have to talk to the oncologist about my chemo schedule--my week break means that I'm supposed to start Taxol on Thansgiving Day. It would also put me on schedule to have chemo on Christmas. Maybe she'll delay an extra week between A/C and Taxol so that I won't be hitting holiday days? I don't know; we shall see.

I see the plastic surgeon tomorrow to talk more about reconstruction. I have all sorts of thoughts swirling around in my mind about it. He called me today and we spoke briefly--he said the radiologist wants me to have the surgery after radiation. That is not the impression I got from her. I will let the two of them work it out; it all has to be done at some point or another. They are the experts at when everything needs to be done.

So, those are the latest updates. All incredibly, wonderfully B O R I N G !!!

Update: No surgery, no chemo--stronger antibiotics

It's a good thing I'm a go-with-the-flow kind of girl.

I went to the surgical center directly--they wanted me there at 1:30 and the surgeon couldn't see me until 2 pm. So, they did all the intake stuff and got me in my little paper warming gown. I just needed to meet with the surgeon and the anesthesiologist before I walked down to surgery.

My surgeon walked past in the hallway (on the way to go find out where I am) and saw me waiting in my gown, so he stopped in. He looked at the port site and said he didn't think it needed to come out--no swelling, no puss, the red isn't spreading to the surrounding skin. So he called my oncologist and consulted with her on the phone.

The result: I am on a stronger antibiotic and will see him again in 7 days. I will have to reschedule chemo, but for now I have A FREE WEEKEND OF FEELING GOOD!!!

God is so good! This weekend is a gift I really needed. I was dreading feeling yucky again, so I am happy dancing here!

Change of Plans: No Chemo Today--Surgery Instead!

My port site has been looking ugly, and the antibiotics haven't been helping. So the oncologist today decided that it needs to come out and I won't be having chemo today. She called the surgeon and I am scheduled for surgery at 2:30 pm Eastern time.

While this messes with my chemo schedule, on the bright side, the recovery from the port surgery is pretty easy and I will get some extra "good" days on this cycle before I start chemo again.

I'm packing my overnight bag in case they decide to keep me at the surgical center for IV antibiotics instead of oral ones.

Please pray for quick recovery for me and no lung issues. I began to have a cough after the port was put in, so I'm hoping I can avoid a relapse of my lung issues.

We Need a Little Christmas

I've decided that on good days, I'm going to work toward getting ready for Christmas. Slow and steady makes the race, right?

Today I'm listening to a CD called Christmas Cocktails. I love hearing Lou Rawls and others belt out Christmas tunes. (Christmas Hint: I don't have the other two CDs in this series.) While I'm dancing in the kitchen, I'm making Kelly's Cheery Red Strawberries. They freeze really well and look great on a plate of cookies for gift giving.

Kelly's Cheery Red Strawberries

4 small boxes strawberry jello (not sugar free)
4 tsp red food coloring
2 tsp vanilla
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups finely chopped nuts (I'm using pecans because I have them)
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
Red and green colored sugar

Place first 4 ingredients in mixer. Mix thoroughly. Stir in nuts and coconut. Chill for at least 30 minutes or until mixture stiffens.

Scoop out mixture with small melon baller or scoop and roll into ball. Flatten one end and taper the other end to look like a strawberry. Place on wax-paper lined cookie sheet and keep forming strawberries. Roll 3/4 of strawberry in red sugar. Dip flat end in green sugar.

These freeze wonderfully! Layer them in a container with waxed paper between the layers.

Yield: about 100 strawberries.

Medical Update

My last round of A/C will be tomorrow if my MUGA scan (I had one Monday) comes out showing no heart damage. Two weeks after the last A/C treatment, I will begin Taxol, which will take 8 weeks to do 4 rounds. That is the one that will make my eyebrows and eyelashes fall out.

My white blood cell counts rose from 1.7 on Friday to 6.1 Monday. That means I didn't have to take Neupogen shots this week.

I'm fighting some sort of infection. I was on Cipro over the weekend, but it was switched to Keflex Monday because my port incision is looking unhappy. It is itchy too. The Keflex is a better abx for skin stuff, so I'll take it for a while to help my body with whatever is going on.

After my weekend away (and a few days of Cipro) I am feeling really good today. Too bad I have to have chemo again on Thursday. I like having good days!

I Had the Most Amazing Weekend

I have had the most amazing weekend with some of the best friends a girl could have. Tigger came to pick me up on Saturday and she, her husband and I chatted the whole way back to her house. We arrived about 5 minutes before MA'AM pulled in with Java Junky and Lizzytish in her car. MA'AM had left Maryland at 5:30 am for our weekend away.

Tig had her home set up like a B&B. She had gone to the Lindt factory store and bought a HUGE assortment of chocolate bars. (Chili/Pomegranate was wonderful, as was the one with creme brulee filling.)

She had sent her men off to a hotel for the weekend and it was an all women's event, with the exception of Dulce the cat. We talked and laughed and laughed and talked. And drank lots of coffee and tea. And ate lots of chocolate.

We went to Mystic Pizza (of movie fame) and had a great lunch. Then we walked around Mystic and saw the sights, watched the boats on the river, and ate homemade ice cream at a shop by the drawbridge (because the Sandys wanted ice cream). Oh, and we visited a yarn shop and they saw me pet the yarn. I did refrain from drooling too obviously.

Back at Tig's house we ate some *more* and tried to build a fire. We talked and talked and talked some more. Then we slept and got up and drank more coffee and talked some more while we knitted or cross stitched or just hung out.

When it was time to leave (all too soon) we prayed and parted ways. Tig and her dh drove me back to my house, but Beastie Girl (Tigger's SUV) wanted to make a detour to the LL Bean Outlet and Trader Joe's first. Tig and her husband came in and met my husband and boys and Hank the Cowcat quickly before they had to head home with their purchases.

It was a wonderful weekend. I feel refreshed and energetic and the best I have felt in more than a month.

Good friends are God's gifts to us. Cherish them.

(Sigh) How LOW Can it GO???

I got my white blood cell count checked today. I am at 1.7; that is LOW. I had my third shot of the week to try and kick my bone marrow into production. I have another round of antibiotics to take to try and help my immune system. I have to take *another* Neupogen shot tomorrow. If it works, I will have bone pain.

I am allowed to go to Tigger's house and meet up with MA'AM, Lizzytish, and Java Junky. I am NOT allowed to eat any fresh fruits or vegetables. :tears: Everything must be well cooked; no cold cuts or soft cheeses either.

Death by deli meat. Suicide by salad.

I'm tired. And I'm not even half way through yet. At least Pad Thai is cooked through.

Getting Ready for the Weekend

I'm taking longer between updates. I'm sure you all are just hanging on my every word, huh? [grin]

Joe was gone this week for a conference in Gulf Shores, Alabama. He left on Monday and returns tonight. I have been "single parenting" this week, including taking Spiff to the doctor on Tuesday. The doctor spent a lot of time listening to his chest; I think he got my bronchitis. He was home from school on Tuesday and Wednesday, and returned today. He has been on antibiotics (the Z one--he's allergic to amoxicillan) since Tuesday and the cough seems to be getting better quickly now that he is taking them.

RP stopped by on Tuesday with a meal (amazing pork medallions with cranberry chutney and some yummy roasted potatoes) and LH brought Entropy Boy home from school for me that day. Then LH brought fresh bread and split pea soup to our house today. Add that to the great chicken tetrazinni that MB handed to Joe on Sunday, and I have been well taken care of in the food department this week. And I am so glad--I have been tired this week.

There really wasn't anything else that people could help *do* this week. Spiff couldn't go to Kid's Club at church because he was sick, so we had to turn down offers to drive the boys there. The things that were wearing me out this week were just life things: emptying the dishwasher, making sure the boys' backpacks were ready for school, trying to keep a handle on the mail and the steady supply of paper that the boys bring home. On top of that, Spiff was sick and sometimes needed help in the night because he was coughing. I just don't have the energy I had at the beginning of this.

I drive the boys to school and come home and take a nap. I get up and do a bit around the house and then go and get them from school. I monitor homework and then take another nap while the boys watch a movie or play on the Wii. Then it is time to make dinner, get stuff together for school the next day, and herd the boys into bed. Once they are quieted down, I go to bed myself. The next day, it starts all over again. I miss having Joe around to help. I'm glad he's coming home tonight.

Saturday Update

I made it through without a migraine on Thursday. Hooray! I've been napping a lot more this round. I've been a slug all day today, and plan on doing the same tomorrow, in the hopes I will have more energy on Monday and Tuesday.

I've been taking the Compazine (anti-nausea med) more this time around. That helps make me sleepy as well. I've found that while I can't knit in my sleep, I can do it while I'm half asleep. I got the base portion of a BrainMonster hat done in about 4 hours today. I just have to put on the teeth and the ear flaps.

It was drizzly outside for most of the day today, so we all had a lazy day. Entropy Boy carved a pumpkin that he got on a field trip at the beginning of the month. We roasted the pumpkin seeds at EB's request. They were good! It was the first time I've made them that they turned out right.

Spiff found that the Pumpkin Fairy (aka Mr. Mike from across the street) dropped off a few wee pumpkins on our front steps. They will be decorations because they are too small to carve. I love having pumpkins around the house. I love autumn. I wish you all could see what we see when we drive around town. The colors are just stunning and the views around every corner are just incredible. I feel so blessed to live here!

Third Chemo is Done

My counts were 13 today, which is a good number. I was good to go for my scheduled chemo. When my oncologist told me the number, I said "Yeah! I get to eat a salad today!" She responded "It's the little joys in life that keep us going, isn't it?"

I have been getting migraines the night after chemo. The doc offered to give me a 1/2 dose of something like Valium to see if that would help. (I can't remember the name of the actual drug right now.) So far, so good! It makes me pretty sleepy. Joe asked as we were leaving if I was "able to operate feet." I could walk, but driving was out of the question.

We got home, and a short time later LH delivered the boys and some dinner for us. She is an amazing friend, and I appreciate her as a gift from God. I made sure that all homework was done and put into backpacks for tomorrow, and then I went and took a nap.

So, round three of the poisonings is over. I finished a hat I was knitting (not for me this time--a Christmas present) and then played Word Jong on the DS.

Woot! Ka-ching!

My counts white blood cell counts were 2.4 again yesterday. And I have bronchitis. My voice sounds like Kathleen Turner's. I'm on Avelox for the bronchitis, and had to have a 4th Neupogen shot today.

Good news on the shot front though! I asked the nurse if I could administer them myself. We pay a $45 co-pay each time I walk in for a 5 minute shot. Ouch! The nurse checked with the doctor and left me a voice mail saying my prescription for Neupogen is waiting for me at my local pharmacy. They called it in already! It will be a $30 co-pay for a box of 10 shots. Compare that to $450 I would be paying for 10 office visits to have them give me the shots. They'll walk me through administering myself the first one, but don't anticipate me having any problems at all with doing it myself.

I saw the radiologist for the first time today. It was mainly a meet and greet, but I was there for nearly 2 hours. It sounds like they are thinking 5 weeks of radiation treatment instead of the 8 weeks I had initially heard. Three weeks less sounds great to me! The doctor also wants me to have the reconstruction surgery before the radiation. I need to meet with my plastic surgeon and discuss all the options with him. I'm beginning to toy with the idea of not having implants at all. . .

I Saw a Couple of Double-Takes on Friday

When I go to pick the boys up from school, I don't wait in the "van line." Entropy Boy is in K and gets out about 10-15 minutes before Spiff is released. I park the van (not an easy feat--the parking lot is packed!) and go get EB. We get some time to quietly talk about his day before his big brother comes bursting out of the building, talking a mile a minute.

On Friday, for the first time, I did not wear a hat. I had on black boots, blue jeans, a red turtleneck, and my black leather jacket. On my head, I wore a black bandanna, biker-style. It is pretty obvious when I wear a bandanna that I have no hair underneath. I thought it was pretty funny the number of double-takes I saw. A bald woman in leather is not something one sees every day at school!

Spiff was not phased at all. My head was covered and that is his only concern. He is getting used to seeing me without a hat or bandanna at home. My baldness doesn't embarrass me and I hold my head high.

I wonder what will happen if I wear my red wig? [grin]

Hooray for Cheap Gas!

On the way to get some Mucinex to quiet Sandy's cough I found gas for $2.65 at BJ's. Compared to the peak prices of about $4.25 we were paying earlier this year, this will save me about $26 per fill on the van and about $16 on my car. That's enough for a copay or two :-). I'm hoping these prices continue for a while because it takes about a gallon of gas to take the van to YNHH, so we'd have been looking at about $45 a week in gas alone to go for radiation this winter.

This is the Cough That Never Ends, It Just Go On and On, My Friends

Well, I'm feeling much better than I did on Tuesday. If I go to bed when the boys do, I can go the entire day without a nap. I'm not doing a whole lot during the day, but at least I don't *have* to take a nap.

But this lingering cough is driving me crazy! Between the Neupogen shots that lower my resistance (in order to kick my bone marrow in to high gear producing white blood cells) and my yearly fall allergy extravaganza, I have a lovely hacking cough. Robitussin is my friend today.

I'm thinking today will be filled with Jane Austen movies, lots of tea, and knitting. My boys are getting tired of Jane Austen. "Are you watching Miss Woodhouse again?" It is a good thing for them that the weather is fine, if a bit brisk, and they can play outside. They both also have some homework to do for the weekend, so it will be easy to keep them busy.

I have been doing a lot of knitting lately and will likely be making many of our Christmas gifts for extended family. Since everyone else lives in Minnesota, hats and scarves are always in good order. I have some angora in my yarn stash, so they won't be scratchy, ugly things either. We'll see how many I get done!

Good heavens, the town's 9 am whistle just blew. My boys have been up for 2 hours and haven't had breakfast yet. It's time to go be Mommy again.

I've Come to the Conclusion that Tuesdays Stink

At least the Tuesdays after chemo stink. Badly.

Yesterday was a bad day. A "I want to hide under the covers and never come out again" day. I got the boys to school, came home, and took a nap. The housecleaner came (God bless L and her mom!) and I napped while she was here. I picked the boys up from school and napped again. And then I went to bed at 7 pm after taking migraine medicine.

Next time, I'm having someone pick up the boys from school on the Tuesday after chemo. I just can't do it. The whole day is a mess of neurological craziness (tingling, numbness, etc.), fatigue, and acid reflux. I've been taking Prilosec, but it doesn't really start to work until day 7 post-chemo. Day 6 (Tuesday) is the worst. I am now dubbing it "Stay in Bed Day."

I had my shot of Neupogen today at 8:30 am. Karen, my favorite nurse, gave me a hug when I said I'm tired of having a good attitude. I'm sure I'll rally again, but for now? Cancer sucks.

Whew! I'm tired!

Well, I'm much more tired this round.

On Saturday, a New York friend texted me that she was in our town picking apples. Entropy Boy and I met with S and her family to pick apples. We got some *great* apples, had a wonderful time, and then I went home and took a nap for two hours. ::yawn::

I still ended up in bed by 9 pm and slept straight through for 8 hours. Hank the Cowcat curled up by my legs and kept me warm all night. He's a good buddy.

Today Joe and the boys went to church and then to IKEA for lunch. I stayed home and rested. Today has been a work for 10 minutes, rest for 20 minutes kind of day. I've gotten some laundry done, some dishes washed, and a bit of decluttering in. But really, I'm not good for much right now.

Joe says he can tell I'm on steroids because I'm showing signs of 'roid rage. My temper is a bit shorter. I'm trying to be patient, but it is hard! Stupid drugs. Tomorrow is the last day for the steroid pill, and then they will be leaving my system again until the 23rd. I should even out again soon.

Tomorrow the boys have the day off of school for Columbus Day. Spiff has a book report and a diorama to keep him busy, and Entropy Boy and I will play UNO or Monster Maker card games. If I have the energy, we may make it over to the pumpkin patch.

What Was That Again?

It is the second day after the second chemo treatment.

The boys got off to school after Spiff made sure a hat was firmly on my head before we left the house. I did get him to concede that I can go hatless in the house. This is the same boy that cried and hid from me when I got my hair cut short when he was 15 months old. Mom is supposed to be unchanging, so I'm sure this rocks his world a little bit.

Chemo brain is in full force today. I have brain fog. I nearly forgot to shut off the stove top. The clicking of the heat element reminded me to shut off the oven. I guess I'll be sticking to the crock pot for a while if I can remember to turn it on and plug it in.

I'm more tired this time than I was last time. But I think that is because they only gave me 1/2 dose of the steroids. I didn't eat like a horse today and had no hummus at all. I'll put up with more tired if it doesn't make me gain 20 lbs. and stay up half the night.

Today I made chicken wild rice soup for dinner and apple crisp for dessert. The boys, of course, won't eat the apple crisp. They prefer their fruit raw and won't eat it cooked. All the more for me! It is wonderful with vanilla yogurt on top.

With my hair only 1/8 of an inch long, I can't really tell how much is falling out now. I don't have any big bald patches yet. Entropy Boy likes to pet my head. He rubs against the grain and giggles that it is prickly. Then he rubs with the grain and says it is soft like the cat. He is dealing with it well.

[yawn] I think I need to get ready for bed. It is nearly 9 pm and I'm beat.

I Scratched My Head This Morning and a Bunch of Hair Came Out

The nurse told me that my hair would start to fall out in week 3. Today is the first day of week 3 and guess what! The fallout started today.

I went to my chemo appt and everything went well there. The doctor told me the red sunburned look I got last time is from the steroids. They only hit me with a 1/2 dose of steroids today, and she is having me ramp down instead of just stopping them on day 4. Hopefully that will help the raving hungries, the sunburned look, and the sleepless nights.

We got home about 15 minutes before the boys did--LH picked them up from school and brought us dinner as well. I asked her if she had ever run a clippers before. She had, but had been banned from ever doing so again after she cut her son's hair. Since my hair is going to fall out, it doesn't have to look perfect and she agreed to cut it. Want to see the pictures? (Of course you do!)











You can still see my little round bandaid from my port access today. Spiff says my face looks fatter without hair. Gee, thanks sweetie!

Oh, and my oncologist has heard of the henna tattoos, but has never seen it. She's ok with it since we are getting the henna off a site where other chemo patients have used it. She said to make sure to let her see it when it is done because she thinks it is a cool idea. [grin]

Neupogen Aftermath

I've had three shots of Neupogen in five days. My long bones ached last night, and Advil wasn't touching it. I took a Vicodin and went to bed at 9 pm. I dreamed I was being chased by giant syringes with hypodermic needles for heads. [shudder] I'm glad I'm done with Neupogen for the rest of the week.

The Cost of Cancer: Part 1- Pre-Mastectomy Care

It looks like all the bills from the period before the surgery are now finalized with our insurer, Connecticare. I should now be able to give a reliable total of the costs of medical are from the time Sandy was diagnosed on July 3, 2008 until the surgery on August 27, 2008.

So far, here's what the billing looks like:

A few notes:

• The physician's billed charges are high because the biopsy was done during an office visit to the surgeon. All of the Doctors' visits are "specialist" visits and subject to a $45 copay with Connecticare.
• Lab costs include blood work and pathology on the biopsy tissue. Connecticare covers them without a copay.
• Radiology and imaging costs included all the scans and imaging, they have a $75 copay.
  Pharmacy costs are mainly the prescriptions we picked up before the surgery. They're high because there's one $315 bill for a chemo-related drug (it's over $100 a pill).

So far we've had absolutely no problems with the processing of our claims by Connecticare and all of the institutional billing has been correct.

I'm Beginning to Feel Like a Pincushion

I had another shot of to boost my white blood cells yesterday. But my counts were only 2.4 before the shot. (No, I don't know what 2.4 means, other than it is a low number.) So, I had to go back today for another shot. Today's white blood cell count was 6.1 before the Neupogen, so I am now in good enough shape for my second dose of chemo on Thursday. I didn't think I would be so antsy to make sure I got that next dose, but I have a life to live and plans already made for my "good" weekends. I want to LIVE with cancer, not merely exist with it.