A victory and a plan

*Viewer discretion advised- not all photos may be appropriate for all viewers*

Sorry to those of you who've been so patiently waiting for proof that I'm still alive and that chemo is done. YES! 

It is finished. 

I rang the bell. 

I hugged the nurses. 

I don't have to go back until June.

No more of pretending to be a rooster when I'm there with Thing One:

No more sucking down ice chips and holding bags or gloves of ice for an hour whilst wearing my compression socks:

No more hard drugs straight into my bloodstream, haha. I've been sent along the treatment road to the next thing, which will be proton radiation starting in a few weeks, every day during business weeks for the new, temporary normal of 28 days unless the machine decides to take a break, need maintenance or otherwise be uncooperative. I've already had my CT scan appointment for rads treatment planning purposes and the team stickered me up accordingly because I'll be matched to precise specs for the machine I'll be on each time. Somehow the stickers are supposed to stay on for weeks and I'm not to scrub them off. Every tiny itch I have makes me stop and think, "is that a sticker I'm scratching?" Doubly entertaining as I have an adhesive allergy but so far *knocks wood* so good, doing okay.

                                                  

It was the highlight of my appointment yesterday (my surgical follow up from September) when she asked how I was doing and I got to flash her from the nicest hospital gown I've ever worn while telling her: 

                    "I got all fancy for you!" 

She felt me up (that's part of her job) and declared me to be doing very well and that she wanted to see me again in 6 months after everything is done. I think the visit lasted 7 minutes total, but to be fair, I'd scheduled it thinking I'd already be there for radiation because I'd mistakenly assumed I'd have started already. Kind of on me- I got incorrect intel. What can you do? 

Next up will be a check in with PT to make sure I'm not developing lymphedema, which will also be a potential side effect from radiation- all kinds of good times around here- and a check in with my plastic surgeon for my 6 month follow up. In my case it's been 7 but again that's on me for scheduling the best I could with the info I had at the time. Then I have the "dry run" rads appt and it's off to the races.

Some things to pray about if you'd like: 

* that I don't develop lymphedema in my right arm or my chest

* that my brachial nerve isn't damaged by the radiation as that could lead to weakness in my right (dominant) side

* that I don't end up with any rib fractures as again everything gets exposed to the radiation and the risk for that increases. This will be my second kind of radiation and  another month of doses so my risk will be higher than other patients'.

* that the skin burns won't be too bad. Last time it didn't get bad until very close to the end, but again, I'm already compromised on that side from the previous rounds so my skin most likely will break down faster this time. I'm stocking up on the good lotion already and have been told to up my protein going in so I have plenty of stores to heal from. Why do I never get to store up on carbs? *sigh* 

I'll try to do better about keeping you posted, and I intend to blog more tomorrow, especially the storm damage photos. No worries, our home is fine, safe, snug, but we lost some trees so I have photos to share. All is well!

Life skills

 

I always knew I wanted to teach the kiddos how to do laundry before they moved off to college or wherever they head when the finally move out. What I didn't foresee was my hand being forced. 

Our washing machine died.

Off to the laundromat, which is a PERFECT opportunity to learn how to wash clothes.

Thing Two helped me load up five loads of clothes ranging from the soaking wet and heavy dog towels used to mop up mess from the uncooperative washer to the usual stuff we wear all the time which was backing up in alarmingly high piles. We lugged it downtown to one of our many laundromats (one of the multitude of perks of a college town) with our own soap and five various baskets/ bags/ hampers. Taught that kid how to look at temps, read tags, to check the machine before you put your stuff in (we found a dime, yay!), to look at the machine's directions before you get started, and that just because a machine SAYS it costs $1.50 to run doesn't mean you're not going to need that extra quarter to fill that last slot taking it to $1.75 anyway, how using vinegar can remove odors and fluff up your towels. I explained how in college it seemed like quarters were more valuable than gold because laundry took so many of them. Being the techie that he is, he loved inspecting the machines and comparing all the dials and knobs. He laughed at the pictures as we made up possible misinterpretations such as adding coffee to your final rinse instead of fabric softener. Our new washer comes tomorrow and I'm betting he will be bummed that he'll be at school instead of quizzing the installation guys. He can now cook most breakfast foods, wash clothes, and hang laundry. Check!