Weekend Recap!

After Chemo #4 took me down for the count for five days, I had a lot of catching up to do this weekend. Rob and I definitely made up for all that time I spent couching surfing and then some!

Kristen and Ryan drove all the way from CT to spend the day with us. So we invited Anna over and grilled enough food to feed a small army.

And then we had a baby! Or maybe I just watched one-too-many I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant episodes last week. What actually happened was... we went to visit Andrew and Candice (you may remember them from such posts as this one) and their brand new baby girl, Lia Marie.

And then we went to the fair!

Where Mom and I participated in the world's smallest barn-raising...

...I had some corn (mmmm fair food)...

...and Rob had a moderately portioned plate of ribbon potatoes.

Chemo Fog Has Lifted!

The chemo fog has finallly lifted! A day behind schedule... but, hey, I'll take it.

Never underestimate the restorative powers of an Up All Night marathon courtesy of hulu.

Christina Applegate: fellow breast cancer ass-kicker.

And! The most exciting news... my shoes fit! C'mon... that's about as good as it's going to get for a Wednesday.

There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.

Pity: Party of One!

That's right, I've been feeling pretty pitiful here on Day 5 of Chemo 4. Fortunately, I've had my faithful sidekick along for all the daytime-TV-watching-goodness.

Seriously, lady? 8 hours, 3 naps, and 2 loads of laundry to show for your day?

Moxie is a fantastic motivator (well, her, and the I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant marathon on TLC), so here is something ever-so-slightly more productive... catching up on some Thank You's!

First, for these beautiful flowers from Rob. The perfect pick-me-up today!

And for the awesome dinner we had with Alyssa and Chris this weekend.

And for the delicious meal Alyssa's parents brought over the other week. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Verner!

And for the yummy edible arrangement Estera had delivered.

And of course for all of the texts, emails, cards, and messages - really appreciate them all. Have a great week!

Chemo Day 4: Beat it!

Chemo Day 4 is in the bag. Can I get a HELL YEAH!? I slipped up on my photo-journalism and forgot to get a pic of me and Dad while he was with me for the breakfast shift. But I did get a photo of me and Rob as I was finishing up for the day.

I just noticed that my dress looks a lot like a hospital gown in this photo. And it's much cuter than that in person. You'll have to take my word for it.

Today's theme song is also brought to you by Rob's submission. 

What's that you say? We have a sick sense o' humor in this household. Yea... not the first time we've heard that.

Count down to Chemo #4

Today was pre-chemo check-up day... woohoo! Here's the run down on my top 3 gripes ... err uh side effects from this last treatment cycle. 

1. Edema. I already took you on an adventure into Fat Footville, so I won't rehash all the glorious details here. But I will tell  you what the oncologist had to say about it: It's a normal side effect of Taxotere. Expect it to get worse with these upcoming treatments. And it will go away. Thaaaaaanks.
2. Shortness of breath and muscle fatigue. As in, one flight of stairs is do-able. Two flights of stairs - and throw in a basket of laundry for good measure - and my lungs and quads feel like I'm half-way through a Metabolic Effect class. The doc's take on this: I have my good friend anemia to thank. 
3. Weight gain. Now I'm more inclined to blame this on attribute this to side effect number 2, which has lead to an increased lack of physical activity. Well, that, and the overall general fatigue, and the swamp monkey butt heat and humidity that is a Virginia summer. But what's the doc say? You're not gaining weight, you're retaining water. So stay away from the scale. Also, that dress looks fabulous on you. (Maybe I made that last one up, but it was a pretty fabulous dress.) My response to her: Try telling that to all of the clothes and shoes that don't fit at the moment.

All in all, it was a good check up. I'm still doing well with treatment and my hemoglobin is still low, but not transfusion low so it was a good day. The doc also cleared me to go back to grad school for the Fall semester... which Rob and I are still deciding on. If I do, it will just be one class (Issues in International Social Development - jealous much?) instead of two.

And now I'm all set for Chemo Day 4 tomorrow. Dad has got the breakfast shift, so he'll be picking me up bright 'n' early. Then Rob will come up for the lunch shift. There's just one thing I'm missing... my theme song!

What should it be? I haven't heard anything really inspiring this week, so leave me a comment with what you think Theme Song #4 should be.

To help you along, here's a recap from previous treatments:

Chemo Day 1: Pat Benatar - Hit Me with Your Best Shot
Chemo Day 2: David Guetta - Titanium
Chemo Day 3: Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer

You be the judge

Here's a brief update on the hair situation. For those of you playing along at home, you may remember that this is what Day 8 of Chemo 2 looked like...

I make this look good

 And here's Day 21 of Chemo 3...

I know it doesn't look that different, but look closely. See it? Peach fuzz? Or the down feather-ey stuff that covers little baby chickens.

So which is it... produce or poultry? You be the judge.

Confession time

Okay, I have a confession to make to you all. Yesterday, I broke down and got one of these...

This is the temporary Temporary Placard. The permanent Temporary Placard (good for 6 months) should arrive in the mail next week.

Now, before anyone freaks out, I have NOT taken a turn for the worse. I repeat, I have NOT taken a turn for the worse. I do, however, have what we in my office refer to as heart healthy parking.

See the structure vaguely off in the distance? Just there on the horizon? That's my office.

And this is the view of the parking lot as I leave my office every afternoon.

It's not terribly obvious in either of these photos, but our parking lot is not only large, it's also on an incline. Let's do a little math, shall we? Steep hill + anemia + 100 degree weather + good ol' Virginia swamp monkey butt humidty = potential for a face plant on the sidewalk.

Another disclaimer: I have NOT face planted on the sidewalk. Or anywhere else, for that matter. But my motivation for requesting special people parking came from three places.

First, it was in the name of research and making myself smart on available resources. Love me some resources - can't help it, it's the social worker in me. For anyone who's curious, obtaining a Temporary Disabled placard in Virginia is very simple.

Step 1 - complete VA DMV form MED 10.
Step 2 - ask your medical provider to sign page 2 under the LICENSED PHYSICIAN / PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT / NURSE PRACTITIONER MEDICAL CERTIFICATION section.
Step 3 - Bring the form, along with a valid ID, and $5 to your nearest VA DMV branch (I believe you can also mail it in.)

Second, Rob told me a very compelling story of someone from his early days in our beloved Corps who locked his knees in formation (rookie mistake) and face planted the parade deck. Then something about biting through his own cheek... busting out a whole bunch of teeth... and general visage disfigurment. So I thought meh, why risk it? 

And third, special people parking really could come in handy this holiday season.