Random Quotes

Finish every day and be done with it. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~ Herm Albright 1995

I can handle reality in small doses, but as a lifestyle, it's much too confining. ~ Lili Tomlin

Parting your soup is not a miracle. It's a magic trick. A single mom who is working two jobs and still finds time to take her kid to soccer practice...that's a miracle. A teenager that says no to drugs and yes to an education...that's a miracle. What people don't realize is...they have the power. You want to see a miracle? Be the miracle. ~ God (from Bruce Almighty)

The biggest disservice you can do your kids is to give up who you are to raise them. ~ Susan Sarandon

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~ Elizabeth Stone

Update

After I got this all updated (August 10), I went out to the screened porch and sat down to call Susan, looked down and discovered a bad case of petechiae on my feet and lower legs. That prompted a phone call to Dr. Weeks which landed me in the hospital over-night and 12 buttons platelets, 2 units of blood and a bag of neupogen. sigh. Back to the doc the 12th and my numbers were up so they said, "If no problems - be here Monday to check numbers and go in for round 4." I had my numbers checked Monday (the 18th) and, alas, they were low (I had a feeling) so we put it off until the 25th. That's where we are now...waiting for the 25th. Jane, on the other hand, went in on the 18th (without me) and had her other hip replacement surgery. All went well and now she is enjoying her percocet. Way to go, Goldie!

now that I'm caught up...

...let's talk about blood. In just my first stay at the hospital I was given 8 bags of Red and 13 bags of Platelets. I can't give it back. I would if I could. They don't want my blood. go figure. So here I am asking all of my friends and family to help me and others like me by donating blood. I'm not gonna go on and on about it, I'll just say, it would mean a lot to me (and others) for you to do what I'd like to but can't. For those of you that are local:
Germantown
2095 Exeter
901.756.8585

Collierville
875 West Poplar
901.850.9291

Bartlett
7505 Hwy. 64, Suite 109
901.384.9898

East Memphis
920 Estate
901.767.8585

Tennessee Medical Center
Paul W. Barret, Jr. Center
1045 Madison Ave.
Memphis
901.522.9198

give blood. give life.
http://www.lifeblood.org/

Upcoming events...

Goldie goes into the hospital on 8/18 for her other hip replacement.
I go back the same day for Round 4 (and hopefully final). I should (hopefully) come home on the 21st.
Marty turns 55 September 28th.
Hannah turns 21 (Lord help the world!) on October 8th.
Goldie has a birthday (see how nice I am not telling which one?) on October 9.
Poosie has a birthday (see above) on October 10.

And here it is...August

I spent the first 2 days of August asleep. Doesn't get any better than that. = ) I felt perdy good on the 3rd and came out of the cave. Hannah left for Pensacola for a few days of rest with Moo. Thinking this one's a breeze! Had to start neupogen shots on the 6th thanks to a low WBC. Felt really good until the 7th. Platelets dropped and had to go back to the hospital for a transfusion. Not too bad. Platelets only take about 15 minutes! (Once they get started!) Was there in Same Day Surgery for 4 hours. Thanks to the premeds, I slept the rest of the day. Ms. Peggy wanted me to get blood, too, but there is such a shortage here they wouldn't give me any until my number reached 21. More about blood later. Okay so 3 days of neupogen shots, platelet transfusion, felt a little dizzy, tired, a little nausea, all in all, not too bad this round. My numbers (except WBC) were up on the 8th. Felt about the same today. Tired, but not enuff to sleep, a little dizzy, a little shaky, a little nausea. For the type chemo I'm on, this is really good! That brings us up to date! (finally!)

the rest of July...

Went home the next day 7/9. Beth had to go home on the 12th. Of course I started feeling tons better after. = l The following 3 weeks were absolutly the BEST! I almost felt normal. Had energy! So, I did what I would normally do, I painted the screened porch! = ) I love it! I'll post pics here when....ahhh you know the story.On the 28th, back for Round 3. It was kinda hard to go after feeling so good for the last 2 weeks! But I removed myself, as usual, and did it. This time I was a little more coherent and spent most of the time doing research on AML INV (16). Any questions? Just ask! haha! Since I ODed on chemo last time, Dr. Weeks cut my chemo back to 6 bags over 3 days. What a difference that made! Went home on the 31st feeling pretty good...just tired.

Annie...

While i was in the hospital the most unbelievable thing happened. Annie turned 15 on 7/8!!!! I have never had a pet live so long! Nice to break the curse!

Beth...

Beth came on 7/5! Was suppose to be home for this planned visit = ( but it was good to have the company at the hospital and she cooked for my family. = )

the rest of June...

Back in the hospital on 6/23. Round 2. I know I said I was clear. My leukemia is in remission. There are 2 phases to the chemo. The first (3 weeks in the hospital with chemo 24/7) is call the induction. Then you have 3 more rounds to make sure none of those little bad cells are hiding and those 3 rounds are called consolidation. Dayum I've learned a lot = ) This time I get 2 bags of chemo a day for 4 days. On the 24th I get the surprise of another bone marrow biopsy! My favorite! My third one. great. I can't remember why, don't want to.Went home on the 27th. Sick as a dog on the 28th, 29th, 30th, 7/1.No wonder! I need more transfusions! Yeah! Do that on the 2nd. Was at the hospital 6 1/2 hours.But! There's more! I get readmitted on the 3rd! So sick. When your White Blood Count is low, you're prone to infection becuz the white is what fights it off. Apparently, I got infected with some random germ. Lots of antibiotics. Who knew?

Poosie...

Poosie came up (drove straight thru from Orlando) on 6/12. I felt pretty good (just grumpy due to hives from being allergic to one of my meds) the week she was here so we did quite a bit of shopping. = ) Didn't buy alot but it was fun getting out and hanging with her.
Found out which med I was allergic to & the hives finally cleared up.

The horses are coming!

In all my glory (see photo below) Marty & I went to the Germantown Charity Horse Show on 6/10. Had a wonderful time! Was there with Gary, Tina, Mir & Robert. So nice to be out of the house (& hospital!) not to mention all the horses on display painted by such talented artists! Mir & Gary both were chosen to paint a horse. How cool is that?? Only 20something artists were chosen! There are some links to the right. I'll also be posting some pictures here when I get around to retrieving them from the hard drive disk of my last comp. = ) Or (becuz we all know how slow I am) maybe I could get Mir & Gary to email pics of their horses to me. = ) (hint)

On and on and on...

I've had a break (and stemed veggies from Wei Chwen!) and I'm back at it. I thought you guys might like to see a picture of me after chemo, steroids, hives and tons of other intrusive things.

Lovely, eh?

To pick up where I left off...

I was admitted to Germantown Methodist on 5/12/08. Due to a few PICC problems and low platelet count, I didn't start chemo until 5/13. I got chemo (Cytarabine) 24/7 (literally) and finished up on the 20th. Before I go any further just let me say...the nurses on 3South ROCK! Samantha was my nurse that first night and she was incredible! Let me tell ya folks, that first night's perdy scary.
During my initial 3 week stay at the hospital I found out how blessed I was. Marty, Ian, Hannah & Wayne, Moo, unbelievible friends - Mir (came by with tulle and other things and decorated my room with color), Gary, Tina, Fran, Jeff, Allison, Lisa, Mir's Dad, Karen, Jeff, Carol, my sisters, the nurses, Doc Gina, Dr. Weeks, Jan, Chaplin Jack.
The initial 3 weeks also consisted of lots of platelet & blood transfusions, balloons, lots of blood tests, flowers, lots of drugs, lots of cards, lots of sleep, lots of hot flashes, lots of prayers, lots of heartburn, bone marrow biopsies, hairloss.
Goldie came on 5/27! So excited! Loved her being here!
Also on 5/27 I got the results of my 2nd bone marrow biopsy - CLEAN! It took about half the day for that to sink in.
May 30th was Hannah's recital. Needless to say, I couldn't go and I think that was the first time I cried since this adventure began. I was so glad Moo and Goldie were here to go! Hannah dedicated her solo to me = l
Went home on 6/3!

still coloring...

So here i am again, almost 2 months later. I had such good intentions of posting and keeping everyone informed but, my definition of chemotherapy is a "drug induced temporary lobotomy". So there you have it. It's a good thing I never got around to sending the blog to anyone! haha! So now that this whole leukemia adventure is drawing to a close, I'll give it another go and try to catch up.

A few things I'd like to hit on...

I missed the Family Reunion in May and didn't realize just how bad until now.

My best friend from childhood, Debbie, turned 50 on May 30th. = )