CT Scan

There's not much to report. I think it's largely due to my not wanting to report. I had a ct scan on Thursday. I now am tattooed but not in a fun way. I have two small black dots on my body. That's for aiming the radiation stuff. My first appointment is on October 23. I will go Monday through Friday for five weeks! It's only short sessions but hauling downtown and oh yeah working and oh yeah mothering two boys are the issues. It'll work. I wasn't given a list of options when this plan was put into place.

I've been into work a few times. Essentially I marvel at all there is to do and wonder who will do it. Then I realize that it's me and remember that I have no idea how to do the job. I hope I remember soon. Work officially starts on Wednesday.

Isaac and Toby will be with a sitter for the days I go into work this week. Toby will also have a sitter for two days next week. Isaac starts school the day after Labor Day. I think he'll be fine. I hope the school and the before and after school care program are okay.

I'm sad to let the summer go as it was such a sucky one. I don't know where to put in for a do-over. On the other hand, letting it go, means welcoming a better one soon. I also am looking forward to so much. There's a lot that's been missing. I realize that so much when I get bits back. I'm getting more back all the time.

Thanks to everyone who even gave me a kind thought. I hope when this is all over I properly thank everyone. I'm sure I won't but I promise to try.

I'm feeling verbose but perhaps less is more.

Another Chemo Down!

I went in for my first non-yucky chemo yesterday. So far, that medical description of "non-yucky" is accurate. I feel much more like myself and no hints of nausea or extra fatigue.

I had a rough go with the last chemo treatment. I had every symptom under the sun throughout the two weeks. I ended up losing five pounds over the two weeks and was dehydrated when I went in for chemo yesterday. It wasn't a huge deal as they hydrated me but that tacked an extra hour onto the chemo experience.

Barbara came for the first part of the experience and Mary stayed until the bitter end. It really does make time pass faster with somebody nice there. I ended up there from 10:30 to slightly after 4. Not what I had planned!

I think today since I'm feeling physically better than I've felt in some time, I just feel like this is all truly at some point going to come to an end. Psychologically, it's hard to separate chemo symptoms from cancer even though my cancer had no physical symptoms. I don't know if that makes any sense.

I went into work last week. There's a legal situation so it's a bit hairy but on the other hand, not really. It'll take a lot of extra work as will every case I have this coming year it seems, but that's okay. I was glad that I had the energy and the knowledge to compose a letter to an attorney. At least on my job, the missions are all so very worth it. It's going to be a wild school year but I'll be up for it. My principal has my back in professional matters and health matters so I'm good. I start work for real a week from Wednesday. I'm going in again on Friday though.

I saw Jennifer, Cathy and my mother last week. I wasn't 100% while they were here but we didn't do too much. I was very touched especially that Cathy came as she quickly returned to the Virgin Islands. Jennifer also helped so very much by hauling up here with my mother as I didn't foresee leaving Skokie anytime soon but did wish to see her.

I feel even better than on my good days with the other chemo. I think that junk is just out of me. I'm glad.

Reminder: Toby's birthday is in October. It's the 20th but we don't know when we'll be celebrating yet. It'll be at the house with some cake creation. We're discussing trains. Anyone reading this is invited.

Having read this, I realize, it's not all about chemo. My life is getting to be less and less about getting through this cancer treatment so while it's unrelated, I'm going to leave it. Maybe soon my posts about cancer will be single sentences.

No More Yucky Ones

I finished my last yucky chemo treatment yesterday. So, they say. The next four are supposed to be much easier with the nausea and fatigue elements removed.

I had a rough go yesterday with general fatigue, muscly stuff and crabbiness due to the duration of this. I felt better in the middle of the night so got up at 3:30. I thought it'd be okay to indulge as the boys were going to be out during the day. I had to take a nap today which turned out to be longer than I'd hoped and I'm still tired. I feel much better than yesterday though and tomorrow promises to be better than today.

My house is in dire straits and my mother and cousin(s) are coming on Sunday!! Whenever I think about getting to it, it doesn't happen due to fatigue. Today I went grocery shopping, did laundry and that's it. Scene.

I'm glad we have a/c and selfishly glad for the heat as it removes the guilt of taking the boys outside.

Last night, wonderful neighbors who don't have a disastrous house inside, took Isaac over for dinner and an attempted sleepover. He came back home at 10 p.m. which is what I was hoping for. So, it was a good night. We have the best neighbors across the street. They have a seven year old boy and a five year old girl. I hate that I met them at this time of my life but they'll see the real me soon.

I'm scheduled for the next four treatments. It'll all get interesting as three interfere with work. My principal has been kind and as I'm a union gal, she doesn't really have a choice. Still, she could make it difficult and really hasn't. I can't imagine working again but by the time it rolls around, I'll be much more myself.

We had a very good time in NH although the snob meter was up pretty high there. Don't get me wrong, I like to do the snob thing but I reserve it to pretending I know about wine, cuisine and the arts. This snob thing pervaded even grocery shopping and attitude at a beach! In my opinion, snobbery has its place here and there but not everywhere. So, the folk outsnobbed me. I guess when you have multi-million dollar summer homes in the east in the oldest resort town in the country, these things happen. It was beautiful though.

Ted's co-worker's husband, took my boys, his girls and me out for a couple of day trips. It was quite kind as it took navigating off of my shoulders. We would not have made the day trip to Maine on our own. So, kindnesses are always appearing and always appreciated.

I'm still me. I think more hair is going but at this point, whatever. I still have eyebrows and am hoping they hang on to the end. I'm still ahead of the game with hairloss but again, who cares?