Going to Denver

We're frantically cleaning our house getting ready for my Danish family to visit us. They are flying in to Denver tonight and we are going up to meet them so they don't get lost/overwhelmed. It sucks for timing, I have to get my port fixed tomorrow so we won't get to hang out with them during the day tomorrow. The surgery is at 12pm but I won't get to eat all day, I hate that! I hope they can get this fixed and chemo will be much easier. Next chemo is on Wednesday. Family leaves Wednesday morning so hopefully Tuesday we can hang out. Do I actually have a job? I haven't worked in a week and hopefully I'll be in to work on Friday! I'm going to have soooo much to do.

I'm bald!

My hair was coming out in huge chunks so on Wednesday night we got out the razor and shaved it off. Matt actually was the one that did it for me. I just couldn't do it. I was going to do a mohawk just for fun but decided that it would look pretty funny to have my hair fall out of a mohawk!

Harper was so funny the next day when she saw me after school (I was asleep when she left). She kept saying, Tada! Look at Mommy's hair! Tada!!!

Met with the radiation oncologist this afternoon. He seems really smart (and McDreamy). I'll start radiation one month after I am done with chemo and will have 33 radiation treatments. That is also the number of chemo treatments that I will have had when you combine the last ones and these ones. I hate odd numbers but then if you add them together and just think of 66 treatments that is a bit better (although a whole lot). I was going to ask him if I could have 32 or 34 radiation treatments but it seems like oncologists don't like changing a whole plan just cause you don't like a certain number. So I added them to get the even number. (ok, it's not just me, I know that Matthew and Dad are reading this thinking "oh, 33, that's an odd number, too bad).

No work for me

My fever is gone and I called work to tell them that I was on my way in but they said No Go. I guess someone at work might have something contagious so they want me to stay home the rest of the week and get better. I guess that is good and it is great that they care but I really wanted to go to work. I'm a bit bored at home. So we're off to the library and farmer's market. And I guess I can get some knitting done. I have lots and lots of baby hats to make.

Here is the score right now: cancer 1 work 0

Isolation is really boring

I made it home from the hospital on Monday night which was a good suprise. I really thought I was going to be in until today. I was in isolation so everyone that came to visit me had to wear a mask and gloves and they had to keep my door closed. My friend was down the hall having a baby and I couldn't even go see her! But I am home now although I do still have a fever. I was given huge doses of very strong antibiotics so hopefully they will keep working.

I'm home from work today and trying to figure out what I need to do to stay healthy and able to go to work and do normal things. I wish the doctor's office would call me back.

Hospital Time

(Matt writing for Jessica)

Jessica came home Friday from work completely drained and with a bit of a fever. By Saturday afternoon, the fever hadn't gone away and her oncologist told her to go in to the hospital to have things checked out. Her white blood cell count came back really low and she was admitted to the hospital. They've been giving her IV antibiotics and checking her counts. We hope that she'll be able to come home on Tuesday.

Been busy...sleeping

I feel like I slept all weekend but I actually ended up doing quite a bit. On Friday I ended up leaving work early and going home and sleeping. Saturday was the annual Orchard of Hope Walk www.orchardofhope.org and walked there with the other "champions". What a nice event, some many different companies/organizations in Fremont county set up and sell things and raise money in addition to the walk. We don't have American Cancer Society in Fremont County so this kinda takes their place. They helped us out last year and we will be going back to them this year. It was nice to be able to help them out for a change. My work set up a booth and we raised a lot more money this year than last although as a whole the Orchard was down about $20,000 from last year.

Saturday afternoon we got to hang out with some friends and watch Harper swim in the kiddie pool. Then we all met up at the Holy Smoke BBQ contest and watched a Weiner Dog costume contest and race and then listened to Martini Shot. What a fun night. Harper had so much fun dancing and playing. It was great to see her see friends from school and talk to them and dance with them. And it was nice to just hang out with friends and listen to music and not think about cancer (although I had such horrible heartburn it was hard to forget I had just had chemo).

Sunday Harper and went to Pueblo and bought a few essentials and then slept the most of the day.

And today....drumroll please, I biked 4.5 miles tonight. Uphill (halfway), pulling a 35 pound kid in a bike trailer. I have had way way way too much energy today. I figured it would be a good way to get it out and get some exercise and Harper loves to ride. Matt's got a wobbly tire so he couldn't go. Now I realize 4.5 miles doesn't sound like much to the bikers who go all century and such but think that I just had chemo 5 days ago! And it was my 28th chemo threatment in the past year and a half! Now 4.5 miles seems a bit more impressive (at least to me).

Tomorrow it is an early morning to Denver for a work meeting.

Thursday giving blood for my new port to be put in on Monday. They said I would be out of work for a few days but I doubt it. Maybe Tuesday but that is it.

So far so good

After sleeping 12 1/2 hours last night I feel pretty decent today. I'm just taking it easy and taking the meds as often as possible to prevent any puking. I'm hoping it stays like this although my immune system will be at it's low point for 7-14 days after the infusion so we'll see how next week goes.

Chemo today

They tried to get my port to access today but it wouldn't draw back blood but they said to go ahead and then the only way it would work is if my head was some random angle so the alarm kept going off. So they decided to do my wrist for the IV which I hate but they actually got it on the first try which is amazing. They also found out that my port is not working correctly, when they put in the saline and heperin it "gurggled", sounding like a garden hose going through my neck. Very strange. So they are going to see if it can be fixed but they doubt it so they are going to try and get one put into my arm. I really hope it can be done in the office, I don't want another surgery.

But I did make it to knitting tonight and now I am exhausted so I am going to get some ice cream and go to bed.

Hoping to go back to work on Friday, my boss said I could come in tomorrow if I get a surge of energy but that seems pretty doubtful. I think Harper is getting farmed out to Kara for the second day in a row for at least part of the day! Kara is saving the day for me!

chemo tomorrow

I think the title says it all.

Dreading chemo

I think it is worse this time since I know what is coming. Last time I only thought I knew how bad it would be. Also got an appointment at the radiation oncologist for the end of June so I can be ready to go when chemo is over. Yippee. Did get a call from the MA at the oncologist's office and she said she would come over and say hello while I'm getting chemo. Seems nice.

chemo chemo chemo and drugs

I have to get special approval for one of my nausea drugs. That is so stupid of the insurance. I think if anything is for chemo then it should be automatically approved. It's a secondary one that I used last time that is fast acting so it works great if all the sudden you feel pukey. It is a generic and costs $137 for 15 pills! So I need the insurance to cover it. What a pain. At least the other ones are covered and some are even the $4 ones which is great!

Chemo Plan

I'll start chemo next week on Wednesday. I'll do 4-6 sessions of chemo. Each session will be 3 weeks apart so I will be done in 12-18 weeks, which is better than the 27 last time. After chemo it will be 4-6 weeks of radiation every Monday through Friday.

I did get my new tattoo today. It hurt, it's still a bit bloody but I really like it.

Chemo Plan Announced Tomorrow

Stay tuned, we'll find out the plan tomorrow.

Getting inked

I really hate getting needles put in my arms or hands. Why then am I going to get a tattoo on my foot? I got the ok from the oncologist so it will be happening on Thursday. Going to get a pink ribbon on my right foot. I think it will be cute and it will be just to the side of where my flip flop goes. Perfect.