Tomorrow is the beginning. :) Woot.

Yup. Tomorrow starts a great adventure. We are off to the clinic first thing in the morning to have a Hickman Catheter "installed". Ha ha... Yup, installed. To be honest, this surgery tomorrow is the ONLY thing in this whole process that has me worried. I don't even know why, but there it is. I THINK it might be as simple as they actually have to cut me open. It could also be the "conscious sedation" situation. They say that I will not be able to remember much, at least that is how it normally goes, but just the fact that you are awakeish and can talk during the procedure. Then the doc cracks a joke about it being a truth serum as well and I will have no control over what I say. My mother thought that might be fun. Um, no.

 Speaking of my mother, she arrived today. Woooohooo. I feel bad that she just has to dive in right when things are gonna get crazy!! But I'm pretty sure that she can handle it. :)

Today was a pretty chill day. I had a blood draw then came back to greet my madre. Then we returned for a meeting with my docs to go over all the tests that I went through the last two weeks. Apparently I am an extremely healthy person. Minus the cancer of course. But I am in optimum condition to have a transplant. Things will go well. Since that meeting we have just been chillin' at the homestead and getting my mums settled. :) She brought me cupcakes. Wasn't that the best things ever? :)

Anyhoo... I need to go to bed to have heaps o' sleep before the slicing tomorrow. So, adios and I will fill you in on my fun filled weekend latas. :)

Yes yes, I skipped two days.

We are gonna blame it on the fact that my mom isn't here yet to write for me. :) Just kidding. Really, the truth is, Tuesday yes, I would have had her write cause I felt awful. I was put on new medications on Monday and they make me uber queasy. After my appointments, I couldn't focus on anything let alone type so I had to just go to be at like 3pm. No joke. It was actually kinda nice. Then yesterday I was just SO tired, I fell asleep and completely forgot. Sorry.

So, Tuesday. Like I said, pretty blah day. I only had two appointments thank goodness. One class on nutrition and food safety post transplant. Wow. Can I just say there are so many restrictions. Pretty much any deli is completely out of the question, so no Subway or Blimpie. Tears. Actually, for that matter, basically eating out is so difficult because of what you can and can't eat, ya might as well just stay home. That's ok though cause I'm uber broke so no going out anyway. :) After the food safety class there was another class about managing care at home. Mostly about the care giver's responsibility. My mother will be my caregiver as most of you know, but I told her last night on the phone that I officially feel bad that I'm putting her through this. There is SO much more to it than I think either of us thought. Then, as stated, I went home and slept. The End. :)

Yesterday was a different day altogether. Start out the morning with a bright and early blood draw. A fasting blood draw. Ugh. Those are the worst. I am always STARVING right when I wake up, so not eating was a rough one for me. But, thankfully they scheduled it bright and early in the morning so it wasn't TOO horrible. One thing that was both good and bad was the fact that they schedule my appointments a little spaced out. It was good so I could go home and eat meals between appointments, but bad because it just made the day that much longer. :/

So, after my blood draw and a trip home for breakfast I had to run back to the clinic for an Ultrasound. such good times. All my organs are still there. :) Whew. :) I do have to say though, I love the fact that they heat the jelly stuff that they put on your belly. So much better then COLD jelly on the belly. hee hee I totally didn't MEAN to make that rhyme, but that's fantastic. After the ultrasound, another excursion home for a couple hours to have lunch and chill a bit. Then back to the clinic. I finished my day out with three back to back appointments. One of those being a meeting with my Pharmacist. Ok, now, there are SO many kinda freaky drugs that I will be taking. It's so interesting to me that they give you a med, then they have to give you four more just to counteract the side effects of the first drug. Yah, whatever. :) Another appointments was just a consultation with the attending physician which was just a nice chat, but at the very end of it, I'm informed that they have to take some cultures. OK, stick a swab up my nose, maybe in my mouth.  Yes, well, I got the nose one right. But there were two. The other, and I'm being excruciatingly candid right now. The other, a renal swab. No, I'm not kidding. I think it was just a precursor to the last appointment I had. The last appointment was a gynecological exam. Really? All in one day? I felt uber invaded. It didn't help that they told me that there would be more of the like as this process went on. Right after transplant, throughout the months that I will be here and right before I am released to go back to Boise. Seriously??? I was feeling all confident and calm, not so much after that. :) just kidding, they are just trying to make sure that I'm healthy and come through this healthy. I get that, but yeesh. :/ Sorry guys if those last few lines made you uncomfortable, but hey, I'm all in on letting people know what's going on. :) So, after severe awkward, all meetings were over. Yay.

So, home I went and stayed. I don't have any more appointments until Monday when we have my results meeting. Oh, wait, I forgot. I did get my results back from my bone marrow biopsy I had last Friday. Yep, I still have cancer. Schucks. I asked the doctor that and she gave me a look like I was a crazy person then asked, "Did you think that it just disappeared on its own?" I answered that there was no harm in hoping and wishing for that right? She still just looked at me like I was crazy. Ah well. I guess they have figured me out. :)

Anyhooooo... so, today I think I will make some chocolate chip cookies. Yum. That's all for now.

Best Monday ever.. :)

It's true. This was a great Monday. Even though the morning started out feeling like any other Monday even with the lack of going to work, it turned out to be so fantastic. :) Of course we began the day with the visiting of the SCCA Clinic. I started my week out with a dental exam. Hence why it still felt like a Monday. :) But all in all it went well, the Dentist here said that I am cleared to have a transplant. Whew. There was one FANTASTIC part of the dental exam. When they lit up the x-ray that they had taken last Friday, I totally looked like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle! I almost took a picture of the x-ray cause it was so cool, but I thought the Hygienist might think I'm a crazy person and we can't have them figure that one out yet. But, hey, I got to see what I would look like as DANItello the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Fab. Then I picked up my new prescriptions. Woot, yay for new drugs???? whatev. I guess I had better get used to taking a brazillion pills a day. (And yes, I meant to type Brazillion). After that I had a very interesting appointment with my Social Worker. She was very impressed with my attitude. Yay me. :)

Following said triumph I had one small vial o' blood removed from me and even had the opportunity to share the whole water in a jug keeps cats away theory. How often does THAT subject come up. It was classic. :) Then I met with a nurse who explained all about my Hickman Central Line and gave me a thermometer so I can practice checking my temperature before it becomes uber important. I'm kinda excited. It's a new toy. Now, just watch, I will probably start checking my temp like every three minutes and telling everyone who I see. Like when a child gets their first watch. You NEVER have to wonder what time it is. :)

Then last but not least of the clinic was a quick survey about how I feel and what's going on with me. Easy Peasy Mac and Cheesy. :) Upon completion I promptly returned home and took a well deserved nap. Besides, I had evening plans and needed to stock up on energy.

Now, the evening was what made this day amazing! Yesterday I went to church right??? Well, come to find out, this ward that I am going to is a mixed ward that has both families and singles. Yay for fun! So, I quickly met a group of about 20 30-somethings. Fun stuff. All nice people. So, tonight, we all went down to the beach at the sound and had a bonfire will hotty dogs and s'mores. What fun! One, it was gorgeous. Two, so are some of the fellas! Ha ha.... no really. It is SUCH a fun group of people and all really nice and welcoming. I had a ball!!!! Now, besides the great people, the view!!!!!! My goodness!!! Here are two pics, but let's be honest, there's nothing like the real thing.

There were a million sailboats when we first got there and wow did I want to join in on THAT fun. Then as the evening went on, the sky got more gorgeous with the sun setting. Wow, I sat down on the sand and just stared at the water and the waves... It was breathtaking. So, ending this day with great new friends, a beautiful place and a wonderful sunset. Totally perfect day. :) So, come visit me sometime and we will go fly kites on the beach. That's sounds way fun. :)

Saturday and Sunday

Sorry that there was no post yesterday, I really did try. I was having some Internet connectivity issues. All is fixed though so here I am nice and early. :) Alrighty. Yesterday was a long, but fabulous day. :) I think I will start out with Friday night. After B&B took me to Pete Gross to drop off my "shtuff" then off to Chandler's Crabshack for dinner. Can I just say delicious?! Seriously. It was crazy good. But, unfortunately, due to my eventful day at SCCA I was so toast by the time we got home that I pretty much passed out. 

Then Saturday morning my bro and I went down to Tacoma to visit my sis and her fam. I heart that family heaps. So, B stayed for a while, but had a lunch appointment up North so off he went leaving me with M and the chillen'. It was really nice to just sit and chat with M and her kidsen. Then we hauled off to go hang in the neighbors poolish thing toy. It was one of those huge blow up things, but with water, a large water slide and a wading pool at the bottom. Actually really cool and the kids definitely enjoyed it. :) It was nice to sit in the shade and chat with M. Yesterday was actually way hot and sunny for this side of the country, but it was really nice to be outside a bit. :)
After the kids were thoroughly soaked and sun burnt, we went home and yes, M and I started a puzzle. :) I heart puzzles SO much. Especially hard ones. It's a good thing that my mom enjoys puzzles as well. We will be doing a few of' 'em. :)

Well, even though we did not complete the puzzle, we had to run off to the grocery. Moving into a brand new place it's quite the undertaking to get food. It's weird to buy EVERYTHING like flour, sugar, butter, spices, brown sugar, olive oil, etc. all at the same time. And to say the least expensive, but we don't want to think about that now do we. :) So, grocery store and then a long excursion back up to Seattle to put all my foodstuffs away. :) I'm so grateful to my bro and my sis this week for housing me and lending me their cars and taking me to dinner and to the grocery... I mean really, I know that they are family, but they have gone above and beyond to help me out and I'm really grateful. :)

So, last night after all the groceries were away and PART of my clothes were hung up, I crashed. Pure and simple. It was much later than I was used to and I was tuckered out. :) Oh, I forgot to mention that there is a WONDERFUL roof top garden on my building that is beautiful! My sis and her two daughters and I went up there last night and it is so nice! Very beautiful views, beautiful little gardens and some nice seating, including a swing. Love it! :) I think I may just spend as much time as I can up there. I will take a picture or two for ya'll.

Well, today, I'm off to church. I arranged for a ride, which will ease my brother's mind. He was a little freaked out when I shrugged and told him that I was just going to take the bus. So, I am off to church in a while and then I will finish unpacking after. Ugh. I was really hoping that little elves would show up last night a finish that for me :) Ah well. So, there's me yesterday and today.I don't think that I will be writing another entry today unless something crazy amazing happens sometime today. Like meeting my future husband, So possible. :/ just kidding. So, peace out girl and boy scouts and I will write more tomorrow. :)

Bone Marrow Biopsy Bliss

I have to say one thing to start. These lovely people up here in Seattle at the SCCA, certainly know what they are doing. :) Today's Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy were so easy that I didn't believe the nurse when she said I could go. Seriously, I walked in and was out within about ten minutes. Crazy! Especially, due to my type of cancer, I have VERY hard bones.  She didn't even have to try very hard. I felt like I should have challenged her more. All in all though, I gave her a gigantic BRAVA at the close of our session. :) All others that I have met have also been VERY good, efficient and kind. I get more and more confident and comfortable every time I go to an appointment.

Today was a relatively easy day. Granted it started out at a stinkin' early time of leaving the house about 6:00 in order to make a 7:15 blood draw appointment. From the lab I went upstairs to the Bone Marrow Biopsy, next to a consultation with my dietitian then off to an x-ray of my mouth.

The chat with the dietitian was very informational and made me hungry. And the x-ray of my mouth made me feel like I was about to become part of a video game. There is this big machine that you step into and it spins around your head to take pictures. Kinda cool. :)

All in all a pleasant day at the SCCA. My hip is a bit sore and tender, but that will go away in a couple days. :)Only two or three more biopsies will be needed in this process hopefully. :) Oh, PS, totally forgot. I found out that my donor is actually 19! What a stellar young person. I'm not sure that I even knew what Bone Marrow was at 19, let alone what a transplant was.  19. This means that I will get younger right? That would be fabulous.

Right after my appointments were done I went and signed all my papers to live in the Pete Gross House. I am officially moving in tonight. :) The fella that I have been working with to get my apartment there arranged, greeted me today with a wonderful phrase, "I got you the BEST apartment in the building." hee hee... No really he did. He said that I seemed really nice the first time I came in to take a tour a couple months ago, so he thought he would do me a favor. :) Well, a favor he did..... We are on the top floor, corner unit with beautiful views of both Lake Union and the Space Needle. There's a cute little balcony patio and only one floor down from the rooftop gardens. So wonderful. I promised to make him cookies as a thank you. :) Anyhooooo... my new address is thus: 525 Minor Avenue North, Apt. 601, Seattle, WA 98109. I love to hear from anyone who has the desire to regress to the early 1900s and write a real letter.:) I promise to write back.

Well, tomorrow I will be spending the day with my sister M in Tacoma and her fam. Yay for fun. Heart them. So, I will be off now and hope to have many more adventures come from my appointments next week. :) Thanks again to all of you for your kind words and support, this would be a completely different experience without you. :) Hearts.

Day dos. Not to be confused with Dosday.

Another full blown adventure was had today. I'm currently way past exhausted, so if I misspell or say goofy things, then well, all is normal. :/ Anyhooo. My day today started out with my brother insisting I eat an egg. Never a good way to start the day, but I appreciate his need to get some protein in me. It was rather a delicious breakfast with some yummy toast wrapped around some turkey bacon and that egg. yes, it was well appreciated. :) Thanks Bean. :)

But then it was off to the clinic. I had a full day on my schedule. :) To start it all off - a pulmonary function exam.  And no kidding, my nurse called herself Pulmonary Pat. Love it. Pulmonary Pat walked me through the clinic to a small room that held a chair, a computer, a fake fish tank and a small glass cage like thing. Of course, the first thing Pat does is put me in the glass cage. As I step into this phone-booth reminiscent box, I wonder aloud if the nurses and docs have ever tried to see how many people they could fit in it.

I'm still not 100% sure they haven't, but I received no direct answer, just a story about how PP (Pulmonary Pat) once saw 62 people exit a VW Bug...... What? Hmmmmm..... I'm not so sure about that, but it did the job of distracting me from getting an answer and on we went with the exam. This test was easy peasy mac and cheesy due to my years of singing lessons. Who knew they would prepare me for this, but hey, sweet! I breathed and turned red in the face etc. It was great. There was ONE silly number that was a little too low and so I had to take some meds through an inhaler and try again. Can I just say, I'm not a fan. These meds made me all shaky and dizzy. I asked if I would continue to have to take this inhaler and when PP said no, I didn't even have any air to sigh in relief. Rude. But then, thankfully, the Pulmonary Function was over. :)

On to the Chest X-ray. Only thing I can say about this is thus, and I'm blaming the inhaler meds. As the X-ray tech asked me to turn to my left side, I promptly turned to my right and stood there with a goofy grin on my face like all was right with the world. (Literally) He even had to use the phrase, "Your OTHER left." I thought I turned red in the face during the breathing tests, yah no, this one time won. :) Wow.

So, once that embarrassing moment was over, off to lunch and then an EKG exam. No real excitement there, just ten seconds of sticky circles all over. No biggie, passed with flying colors. :)

Then off to a financial chat. Oy Vey, and last but not least, a chat with another doctor. Fantastic. As he walked in he explained that it was his job today to tell me all the possible "bads" that could happen in and from a transplant. (Oh Goody). So, he proceeded to tell me things that took up a good hour. yup. Then I signed my life away (actually signed my blood and bone marrow away) by agreeing to a bunch of research projects. (Just call me lab rat.) Once my head was full and almost ready to explode, I left feeling dizzy, nauseous and mostly still curious about the phone booth.

But, I am home now, going to go to bed. I have to get up around 5 tomorrow. 715 blood draw followed by another bone marrow biopsy!!! Dunh Dunh DUnh. yes yes. Although this one should be a piece of cake., (Chocolate cake with Cherries) Last time I had a bone marrow biopsy, I went back to work and worked a full day followed directly with a performance of White Christmas. So, to say the least, this one will be easy easy!

So, fare ye all well, and I will chat with you tomorrow.

Oh, wait... just thought that I would share the view from the 6th floor waiting room. It sure is nice. :)

First day down, many to go.

Yup, that's right. The first day of poking and prodding is finito. Whew. :) To tell you the truth though, it wasn't so bad.  My first appointment was at 11:15 and I actually showed up a little early. I checked in and was sent off to get my blood drawn. To say the least, I don't think that I have any blood left. No really, they took something about 15 HUGE vials o' blood. Next to where I and the technician were sitting, there was this little blue button on the wall, all innocent looking. :) It had two simple little words.... Code Blue. Of course we all know what that means, yes? So, me being the innocent gal that I am, simply ask... "What would happen if I pushed that button?" After a very nervous look from the technician, he answered... "You would VERY quickly become the most important person in this room." After me explaining that I'm already the most important person in the room, I promised not to touch it as long as he promised not to take ALL my blood. A mutual agreement was made and the rest of the blood work experience was quite pleasant. :) 

Following blood work, due to my slightly earlier arrival, I had about an hour and a half before I needed to be on the 6th floor for a chat with the physician. So, off to the Bistro went I. Yummmmmmm. Once I was through enjoying my food, I went up to the 6th floor, with still about an hour to spare, checked in and sat down. Now, to explain what this 6th floor lobby is like.  One whole wall is made up of huge picture windows overlooking Lake Union. Um, can I just say.. Gorgeous. Really, I was so excited to sit there and just soak in the view and read. Yes, of course I was reading. Sense and Sensibility to be exact. Love it! Oh, and to top it all off, this is not some normal waiting room where the chairs are all same and boring... no no, these chairs, RECLINE,, yes, that just happened.

Well, once my viewing pleasure was interrupted by someone hollering my last name, I was led to a little exam room to meet my team nurse and physician. Both very nice ladies. I was informed that I am on team LIME and following my request for a team T-shirt, handed two binders FULL of information and forms that I have until tomorrow to read and sign. Can we say I wasn't expecting the homework? Yes. AND I was firmly denied my TEAM LIME t-shirt. Bummer. Maybe I will make my own. :)

Following the minimal poking, prodding we chatted and I learned two things that both quell thoughts and provoke more. One, my donor is an early twenties gal from the US. Awesome! No future beard for me. :) Two, due to my type of cancer and the state that my bone marrow is currently in, spongy, there is a big possibility that this will be a rougher transition for my new stem cells to adapt to my body. It will take longer and there is a higher possibility of rejection. Woot. :/ Ah well, at least they are aware of that and will do everything in their power to minimize problems. :)

Alright, I think that is enough for today. Yup. More tomorrow! :)