Chemo limbo

So I'm still waiting to hear when I can get in the IV transfusion rotation. Maybe it was smart of the doctors to keep me waiting like this because now in my mind it's gone from "this sucks" to the anticipation of "I hope they'll take me!"
Kind of feels like I'm trying to get into college or something.

Anyway in the meantime it's been a couple weeks now of the daily pills. So far it hasn't been too bad. It's only been in the last couple of days that I've started to feel the effects. Thankfully I still have something of an appetite so when Ammon and Drew (and Bonzai) made a delicious family Sunday dinner last night (and Evan set the table very nicely - I was the only one who laid on the couch in the fetal position like a loser) I was able to partake and even enjoy! I'm usually okay to eat - it's only afterward that I feel less than stellar.

But you know a good way to feel better? Play card games after dinner and win. Muah-ha-ha-ha-ha! (Okay it doesn't really help with the sickness feeling but it does help with the ego)

This last Saturday (subject change) I got to see most of my family (Dad and sister #2 were out of state and thus out of attendance) at a rockin' pool party. I myself didn't do any swimming; I've decided that though my bag friend SHOULD be okay in the water I just don't really want to test it unless I really really really want to swim. And the only time I want to swim that badly is when it's over 100 degrees outside. Which it wasn't this last weekend. So I laid poolside (and by "laid" I mean "sat in a chair in the shade") and enjoyed snacks, family bonding, and the antics of nieces and nephews. Those kids are hilarious.

The moral of the story is, I haven't gotten to REALLY start my last 18 weeks of chemo (I'm only counting the start from whenever I get the first IV dose since I don't get to stop until I've survived 18 weeks of that), but things have still been pretty good.

Hannah Got Married!

So this week, on a Monday, Hannah took the proverbial plunge and got married. It was awesome. And I think she was smart to get married on a Monday - then you can see who your REAL friends are if they come to witness your nuptials. ;)

I would've taken more pictures but my camera died. But hey, you get the idea.

Easily the highlight of the evening. Alex and Hannah sang "Alone" by Heart. Trust me, if my camera would've zoomed without dying I'd have a better picture than this. I feel kind of sad for anyone who didn't get to witness it in person. Hilarious.

Of course there was a pre-cake cutting battle with knives. Pretty sure Hannah won.

Sorry Amy that I mostly cut your head off in this....

The bride in all her glory. Love the dress!

Congratulations you guys!

Let the chemo begin

It's been awhile and I don't really have a good excuse for that. And I know that's true because whenever someone asks me what I've been up to I think about it for a minute and have to conclude..."nothing really." And when they respond "Nothing? So what does that entail?" I have to explain that it really means...nothing. I don't know. I cannot account for my time. Although I was thinking about it this morning and I decided that the best explanation for it is to say that whatever it is you do every night when you get home from work - that's what I do, only I do it in the daytime. And then in the night time I talk to my roommates (the actual one and the psuedo one), watch SYTYCD, occasionally go out, debate what to eat for dinner, etc. Not much to report on, you know?

Anyway it's time to catch everyone up on the treatment plan! What? You thought it was all over because they took the tumor out? Oh-ho-ho-ho-no. No, we're only MOSTLY done. And by "mostly" I mean...just over halfway.

So I got my little bag buddy (he's been much better lately, thank you for asking) and we're just starting to embark on Chemo part II. This time around I don't have to do radiation again (yay!) but instead we'll be doubling up on the chemo (boo). So basically I'll have to take the pills every day (six a day - eww), and then every few weeks I'll go in and have them stick an IV in my handy little port (which is in my chest right under my skin - feels like a little knob in there) and shoot me up with more chemicals for a few hours. Sounds like a party, right?

I've already started the pills again, but due to an unfortunate snafu in my doctor's office's scheduling abilities they didn't get me in the rotation as I had hoped. I was supposed to start the IV chemo last Tuesday but that didn't happen. I'm still waiting to hear when my start date for that will be. On the one hand I don't mind having a few more days of not feeling TOO sick, but on the other hand I'd really really like to get this thing started so that I can get it over with and get rid of this bag! I've got a total of 18 weeks to get through from the start of the first IV, so...the sooner it starts the better. If I can get through that then it's just one more month of healing up and then I get to have my LAST SURGERY (fingers crossed) and get my small intestine put back inside me where it belongs! As much fun as the bag has been, I'll be oh-so-happy to see it go.

I hear (from my doctor) that once I start doubling up on the chemo the side effects are going to intensify. Can't wait to see what THAT'S going to be like. Don't worry - when it happens I'll tell you all about it. :)