Today I got the treat of all treats.  My friend Linda, from Vegas, visited with me for a few hours.  I’ve known her since we were 13.  It’s a long time.  There’s something that happens when Linda and I get together.  It’s a sort of ease and understanding.  I love this girl, more than I [...]

Here I am, here we are, back at home.  Good to be here.  Got up, after having slept really well, had my usual Cheerios with ATRA and some tea, took a shower to wash off the poison that’s now, once again, leaching out of me, watched some TV, Karen went to the store between her [...]

Karen and I got sprung from the hospital today, not long after my last push was completed.  We just got a call from Nancy letting us know what my blood counts were from yesterdays draw.  They only drew me once while we were there and those numbers are stable and still up.  Nancy told us [...]

Here we are…. day three.  It’s quarter to three and I’ve had breakfast and the morning ATRA, I took a shower, Karen has been working like a fiend with meeting and after meeting this morning (so nice though that she can work from here), we scored another ONC verizon internet portable modem for her so [...]

Day two… We didn’t get more than four hours of sleep. A bummer. The adjustment and all of coming back into the hospital I think. Otherwise though it’s been a pretty good day. The push was a little bit of an event. Nothing big really, just mostly my anxiety because the site was tender and [...]

Ida is back. She was a caustic visitor last we saw her, though she promises to be gentler this time around. We shall see if she keeps her promise. We are back in the hospital for consolidation round one. Karen’s air mattress is blown up, we walked what we think might be a mile around [...]

We went in and met with my oncologist today.  It went really well.  We aren’t messing around starting the consolidation round, I go into the hospital tomorrow, a day we chose.  I have to be there at 8:00 a.m. at admitting and then I’m back on the oncology floor for 4 days, if everything goes [...]

Today has been a good day.  Soak in the hot tub, shower, a visit from Mom (she came so she could go to the oncologist appointment tomorrow with us), a trip into the city to do my bi-weekly blood draw, and a stop at the Farmer’s Market on 23rd.  It was great to wander around [...]

Here I am, still sitting in the family room, but things have changed.  I feel myself starting to relax (a soak in the hot tub this afternoon helped that a bit).  I’m still tense, and think that the tension will take a while to fully leave me, but it’s starting to ease.  I walked on [...]

I just got the phone call from my chemotherapy case manager.  My marrow shows no signs of leukemia.  I am now in remission!!!  Karen was out in the shop on the exercise bike when the call came in.  Kev was in the family room with me.  He went out and tried to get Karen to [...]

So today we decided we would go in and go to the farmer’s market near PSU.  We drove in, finally found parking, and then, after we bought parking of course, started to walk to the market.  We got about half a block and were pretty darn cold.  It hadn’t warmed up yet today and we [...]

Just got back from the lab and the pharmacy. Seems my fasting cholesterol test yesterday, the one I had along with the usual tests, revealed high cholesterol and a triglyceride level five times the highest healthy level. Not great. I haven’t been on my cholesterol meds since the day before I went into the hospital. [.

Well… I had my bi-weekly blood draw today, Mom drove me in the this morning with a stop at Starbucks on the way home so we could get our drinks and a chai for my honey, and just got the results.  Seems all my numbers are now in the normal range.  Yes folks… I said [...]

It’s Wednesday.  Today I hung out at home, ice bag on my hip since 4:00 today.  The bone marrow biopsy site isn’t that painful, just a bit swollen and a tad sore. I hung out with Mom most of the day.  Karen had to go into the city for a training this afternoon, so Mom [...]

Well today was THE day folks.  The biopsy is done.  I’ve had, over the last few days, increasing levels of anxiety waiting waiting waiting for this day.  Building up, making me so tense I can’t even tell you.  This morning I was doing deep breathing exercises almost constantly. We went into Sunnyside Hospita

Had a blood draw this morning.  We went in fairly early, after cheerios and ATRA, to fit with Karen’s work schedule.  A quick trip in and a quick trip, with a stop at Starbucks for chai and a black tea latte of course, home.  We happened to see Steph jogging on our way and stopped [...]

Today we are hanging out at home.  It’s nice… watching movies (currently Men in Black), staying cool, etc.  Karen went to get plants for some of our flower pots earlier today (after watering the flower beds and finding the rubber boa) and Kev went to get stain applicators (they are going to stain the front [..

Today we went out for the first time… other than clinic visits and such that is.  We went to see the movie Eclipse at the local cinema.  It was great.  Yes, not only did I like going out, I liked the movie too.  I know there are doubters and naysayers out there about the whole [...]

It’s Friday.  What else?  It’s the 9th of July… so big happy birthdays have to go out to two of my favorite guys…  Arnold and Eric.  Happy birthday gents…  you are spectacular men and I love you both.  What else does it being the 9th mean?  It’s the 9th… Karen and my 7 year a

Wowie zowie (had to say it), it’s hot out there.  Luckily it stays fairly cool in our family room.  A fan, closed blinds, and loads of cement keep it that way.  Since it’s my main hang out, I’m feelin’ lucky.  I’m also enjoying the air conditioner we got for the bedroom.  We used it for [.

Today I, we, meet with my oncologist for the first time on an outpatient basis.  We have a list of questions.  Will be interesting to see what he has to say.  What we know is that my blood work, from the draw on Monday, looked pretty good.  I have to get blood drawn every Monday [...]

I’m sitting here in our family room typing on my new laptop (thanks honey!).  My sweetie is sitting out in back at our little table, under the umbrella, working.  Nice place to work.  Mom just took the dogs for a walk.  It’s supposed to be hot-ish today.  Near 90.  I’m having a decent day. My [...]

June 1 I went into Sunnyside Hospital and July 1 I was finally able to leave.  It was a very rough last couple of weeks there.  I think the chemo finally caught up with me and my system.  My GI tract totally got wiped out.  Meaning…  loads of bad things happening.  I felt terrible and [...]

I haven’t posted in a few days. Couldn’t muster up the strength to even hold the laptop let alone blog anything of significance.. Now though, well now I am having a moment. Not to say this day is going to be awesome. But… this moment is a better moment than it was even this morning. [...]

Oh my! This whole process has been fraught with adventure. As one might expect. Today… no exception. I woke up thinking… yay, no push. My 8 day cycle is over for now, and it’s all just a two or three week waiting period to see how the counts go and then move to the next [...]

A quickie post to say I am now typing on my new laptop. So much easier to blog, Facebook, email, and surf. Thank you my honey. You are always so sweet to me. This thing rocks!!! Filed under: LiFe

Unpack my bags, I’m staying awhile. There had been talk about the possibility of my leaving the hospital in the next couple of days. Initially my first oncologist told me I would be here a month or so…. Go through the first cycle, give my body time to recover from the cycle, make sure I’m [...]

This place is really quite amazing. The staff… Stellar. My cast of characters has been varied and impressive. Here are a few of them… Water fighting bow tie wearing nerdy Doctor Bigler. Relaxed and calm Dr. Trubowitz. Colleen, Brenda, Meg, and Ann… Amazing oncology nurses who have all taken the time to edu

Today is Karen and my 7 year 2 month anniversary. When you are with THAT person, the one, you know it. It’s like getting your first honest deep breath. Filling up, bringing relaxation, life, and a depth of spirit and soul that was not possible or even imagined before. I have this. There couldn’t be [...]

Visits from friends tonight…. They brought love in abundance, good cheer, humor, FOOD (Stacia your pecan pie, I’m sure, is literally mana of the gods!), excellent softball watching companionship, and more love. I was not feeling great today, but these lovely people made me feel better. Thank you Stacia, Sandy, E