February 11, 2011

Friday 2/11/11:

Post Chemo Treatment Neulasta shot was scheduled for 1:30 pm and due to quite of bit of nausea all morning we arrived a little late.  

Back In The Oncology Waiting Room Feeling Nausea - But Looking Good :)

Last treatment I felt much less nausea, they say that sometimes some symptoms (side effects worsen) and this is yucky news.  I stayed on top of it with my medication and the standard stuff that usually helps me, sprite, ginger ale and crackers.  My nurse advised that I try a few different things that will help settle my stomach - she encouraged juicing and smoothies saying that this sometimes helps patients.    

This afternoon Matt was kind enough to make me a baked potato which I think helped my stomach - Matt is so good to me :)

Nausea At It's Best!!

Tonight - my neighbor Tara brought over Chicken Noodle Soup laced with Ginger :)  It was great and I think it also helped settle my stomach.  She has a friend who she cooked for through chemo and said it really helped him.  It was so sweet of her to bring over -- she told me last week that she really likes to cook and has this history of successful chemo dietary planning so I jumped all over that.  

I still feel very sleepy tonight and I was in and out of consciousness during my favorite tv show - Fringe.  

I am happy to be past my second treatment!!

Thursday 2/10/11:

2nd Chemo Treatment -- today I was more relaxed then during the first treatment.  I knew a little more about what to expect, but I also had my “Power Port” - so bring it on.  Jill - a friend from work called it “Super Power Port”, which is a name I totally prefer.  

With the appointment at 9:00 am - Matt and I showed up by about 8:30 am.  

Oncology / Infusion Waiting Room 

Since my last medical appointment was over a week ago - I required another blood draw.  If my blood levels are not acceptable - then treatment is delayed.  We were brought back to infusion at 9 am prompt - at which time I learned that I continue to gain weight (this is likely due to the steroids, and based on the nursing staff this is better then the alternative - which is weight loss).  I can’t even stand to tell you how quickly I am gaining weight -- but I definitely need to get back to the park and run off some of this chunkiness ... not today - but sometime soon.  

Still Recovering From The Bad News About Weight Gain

The “Super Power Port” was tapped for the first time and it felt just like a tac pricking my skin.  Overall, painless considering all the drama that is involved with starting an IV each time I visit the clinic / hospital.  

I got cleared for treatment at about 9:30 am - my blood levels still look good, and the Chemo Medications began after the Benadryl and Anti-nausea Medication.  With my hands free I was able to crochet during the treatment.  But this time the medication made me a lot sleepier.  

Crocheting During Chemo

Getting Chemo Through My "Super Power Port"

Eating During Chemo

Medication administration was done by 3 pm and we headed home.  I got home and changed and was ready for a nap.  I am not the best napper - so I felt pretty disoriented the entire evening.  

Back At Home - Pictured with One Of The Hats By Kathryn

Matt and I watched a movie - “The Lovely Bones”  It is an incredible movie about a young girl who is murdered and watches over her family and killer from heaven.  It is a great movie - but a bit sad.  It has a few actors I didn’t recognize:  Rachel Weisz. Saorise Ronan and last but not least Mark Wahlberg (aka:  Marky Mark) - Matt hates it when I call him that.  

The evening ended with more bathroom drama - which I will spare you from -- but seriously -- right when I thought I knew what to expect -- I had no idea!!!  

I didn’t sleep through the night -- probably from the napping and medication.  

Wednesday 2/9/11:

Another day filled with meetings and the chance to get to know one another.  I had brought the team SuperMonkey pins and we took a group photo -- Everyone but Amy V.  is pictured (by the way she refused to give me a picture later).  

My Team
Back Row (Left to Right):  Matt, Jenn, Linda, Nancy R. , Scott
Front Row (Left to Right):  Lou, Me, Bobby and Deb

As promised Kathryn brought in a couple of hats and they were amazing -- I heart Kathryn.  

Kathryn And I At The Office

My flight cut my day of meetings short -- I left the office at at 2:30 pm for my 4:30 pm flight this time to Saint Louis.  

Self Portrait During Flight to Saint Louis

Upon arriving in Saint Louis I heard that the flight to Houston was delayed due to wet weather and a frozen runway.  For anyone who doesn’t know this -- Houston is totally ill-equipped for snow and even less equipped for ice.  So I hung out at Chili’s, ate a chicken sandwich and hoped for the best.  After one gate change -- I was actually able to catch a slightly delayed flight to Houston.  During the flight I met a very nice Dietician -- I don’t remember her name -- but she was great company during the flight.  We talked about all kinds of things and like most conversations I have these days we ended up talking about cancer.  Talked about how precious life is and that in times like these you really learn to take inventory on your life and those you share it with.  I have been very lucky to have an amazing husband, supportive friends and family.  

The strange part about this entire SuperMonkey Kick Butt adventure is that I was preparing for this way before I even knew it.  I have met so many amazing people and have been lucky enough to retain so many of those friendships!!  I really appreciate all the relationships in my life and have learned to value the small things in life on a completely different level.  

I landed at about 10:15 pm and Matt was waiting for me at the airport -- I picked up my luggage and made it home about 11 pm.  Just in time to grab a bite to eat -- load up on medications and prep for my second round of Chemo.  As always -- it is good to be home!!

Tuesday 2/8/11:

Team Meeting - Day One.  Side note:  it has been getting cooler in Houston and the weekend held 30 degree weather.  But Tuesday in Minnesota started at 15 below zero, with the high expected to reach 6 degrees and let me tell you this is pretty cold!!!  I met my fellow team travelers in the lobby and we all headed over to the office together.  Whoever said chivalry is dead -- has not met Scott Strain -- the entire time he chauffeur us around he warmed up the car in the morning and dropped us off at the door in order to avoid us walking in the cold -- which was very sweet!!  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a people person -- I enjoyed spending the time with my team, problem solving and getting to know everyone a little better.  My company has embraced a very virtual  world and trips like this make me miss the in person interaction.  The day ended with appetizers at Lou’s House (she is my boss).  She was a fabulous hostess to all of us!!  It was nice to relax with everyone after a full day of hard work.  

The ride back to the hotel was just as cold as the ride to the office in the morning -- Nancy R. my co-worker felt a little queasy on the way home and ended up opening the window.  Remember how I said it was super cold -- well the window was stuck open and she was unable to get it to go back up.  While I hope this doesn’t make me sound totally mean -- this moment was completely hysterical.  Nancy R. started laughing and I couldn’t control myself and I laughed so hard my stomach hurt and my eyes were watering -- I think Nancy R. hates me now.  By the time we made it back to the hotel Scott was able to get the window back up and Nancy R. did not lose her cookies.. I would give you more details to the story -- but I think Nancy would stop speaking to me - she was a great sport during this entire fiasco.  

  

Monday 2/7/11: 

This week I went to Minnesota for a Team Meeting.  While I was completely anticipating traveling with a mask on.  I unfortunately packed the mask in my checked luggage instead of my carry on - so no mask in the airport.  The day started with a cab ride to the airport that ended with me losing my breakfast right as we pulled up to the airport.  I felt it coming on but there was nothing I could do to stop it - the only good news is that I was able to lose it outside of the cab.  I checked in and dropped off my luggage to start my day of travel.  The route I took with Southwest made no sense -- Houston to Phoenix, Phoenix to Minneapolis.  I arrived in Minneapolis after 3 pm.  Surprisingly enough I didn’t get sick at all during the flight -- below you see a picture of the full meal served now a-days via a flight during meal time.  While these plane crackers look as though they would only fill up a nabisco elf -- they helped settle my stomach.  

Southwest Plane Meal

I spent most of the time on the plane sleeping -- hoping that this would eliminate my potential for losing any more of my cookies.  I ate some chicken nuggets while in Phoenix, but didn’t have much of an appetite.  I arrived in Minneapolis and was happy to see my luggage - I cabbed it to my hotel and caught up on a little work.  I had made plans to have dinner with Kathryn Panos a friend who lives in Minneapolis.  We had dinner at a restaurant close to the hotel followed by a trip to look at yarn (Kathryn is also a “happy hooker”).  Kathryn also gave me a beautiful crocheted and knitted wrap / throw blanket that is totally awesome!!  She had lots of patterns for hats and asked that I pick out something I liked.  She actually made these later in the week and gave me a couple before I left Minneapolis -- Kathryn is AMAZING!!  She made me feel very special and loved.  

She also shared with me that she has a recent found love for “How I Met Your Mother” and there happened to be a photo opportunity that we couldn’t pass up as we left dinner that evening.  

Kathryn and I In With "How I Met Your Mother Poster"

Settled In Back At The Hotel

Stay tuned for more SuperMonkey Adventures, 

Nancy 

Aka:  SuperMonkey

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever.” 

- Gandhiji