Feeling Better Everyday

Today I am feeling better than I have all week. I'm not at my regular energy level yet, but I don't have to talk myself into getting up and doing something. I just do it. That's a big improvement. This week I have put down mulch film and a drip irrigation system at my mom's front flowerbed. I have run errands in town almost every day, and I went visiting teaching yesterday. So I've been busy during the day, except for my nap, of course.

In the evenings, Jerry and I have watched a movie or looked at houses in Las Vegas on the internet. We are getting serious about wintering in Vegas when Jerry retires next year. The thought of driving in the snow and ice doesn't appeal to us after we are retired. We have one more year of it, and then we will kiss it goodbye.

I am having fun being home alone. I have sorted through some pictures, but mostly just done things that were priorities. This afternoon, Pat and Don are coming from California. She is Jerry's aunt's good friend and we will have a memorial service for Diane (his aunt) while they are visiting. I talked them into staying an extra day!

Thanks for checking on me. I appreciate your concern and kindness. I don't know how much longer to keep this as an update blog, but at some point, I will want to change it to a Grandma Brag Book format. Watch out!!

My Last Chemo!!

My last chemo is behind me. Today I'm not feeling so swift. The last few days have been slow. Although, I got the urge to go to garage sales on Friday morning. I haven't been to one all summer! That wore me out. After I had a nap that afternoon, I went to Joanna Baird's and sat in her cool basement and made cards. Things could be a lot worse.

When I went to my last chemo, I told my oncologist that maybe the chemo wasn't working because I didn't have many side effects. He counted seven cutting-edge medications I get with the chemo that offset the side effects. He offered to give me the chemo without the other medications. Even with chemo brain, I got the point. No thanks. I figured it out really quickly. Thank goodness for modern medicine!

It was Jerry's first day of school with his students, and Dusty hadn't started school yet, so Megann came to my infusion session. It was fun to talk to her and have her see what goes on. She took some pictures which turned out so much better than the ones I took.










Here I am with Megann.











These are two of the infusion recliners.













This is the whole view of the nurses' station and the windows looking out on the landscaping.


















This is one of the views of the landscaping outside the windows of the infusion center. It's beautiful and serene. The round stone balls on the planters are actually fountains with water flowing over them!

I danced when I was done with my last infusion!
What a wonderful relief!

This Week is Better

This week has been so much better than last week. I really turned a corner...and ended up in Las Vegas on a vacation with Jerry. I am trying to keep up and he is trying to slow down for me. We have seen several shows, including Alan Jackson. This place is hopping! We ate at a buffet in "The Paris" resort. It was delicious!



We have a nice condo with a very comfortable bed.
I'm catching up on my sleep.
I've finished one book and started another.
Jerry has been hanging
out on the computer a lot.



I'm including some pictures of the infusion center where I get my treatments in Pocatello. I wish the pictures were better, but you might get an idea.

There are about 5 or 6 areas in a semi-circle with recliners. The circular nurses' station is behind me. Here I am with my infusion going. There are two IV bags. One is the chemo, the other is just a saline flush between doses.








Of course, Jerry doesn't get a recliner, just a regular chair. Poor man. The recliners all face large picture windows that look out on the beautiful landscaping. It's very nice. Jerry's back is to the beautiful view, so he reads a book instead. Boo hoo.


Here is a picture of one of the nurses walking by. They are all very kind and cheerful. You would think they would hate their jobs, but they say they meet some really nice people and are happy to be of help. Jerry and I take miniature Heath candy bars and put them at the nurses' station to thank them for all they do for me and the other patients.

The door to the right of the nurse is a private room for chemo. I was in there last time, but I prefer the recliners. I guess I don't feel so ill if I'm not in a bed.

So now you have seen the area I have been hanging out for four hours every three weeks. After the chemo, I am a little dizzy, but I feel good. After this chemo, Jerry and I went out to eat, then saw "Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince." We enjoyed ourselves. It's the day after that might be bad, so we take advantage of the chemo day. It gives us something to look forward to.

Thanks for checking in. I appreciate your support. If you have questions, put them in the comments and I will try to answer them.

Third Chemo Not as Good as Second

I had my third chemotherapy infusion on Wednesday, July 29. My last one will be on August 19. I am not feeling too well, unfortunately, but that is to be expected. I am tired but not nauseous, which is all right with me. I can do a few things, but at my slowest speed. I have been able to walk, garden, nap, read, and do a little housework. Hopefully, things will improve and I will get some energy.

Jerry and I decided a condominium week would be a good vacation. If I don't feel well, we can "veg." If I do feel well, we can go to a movie or a show. We got a week in the Las Vegas suburbs. It's off the gaudy "strip," which will be nice as long as we stay in the air conditioning. I'm looking forward to a week with my very supportive, kind, cheerful, and loving husband.

I enjoyed the time Heidi, my daughter, spent here in July. We went to West Yellowstone and rendezvoused with Dusty and Megann and their girls, and Byron and Jemayla. We saw three musicals at the Playmill Theater, ate good food, walked in the woods, and I got to see all three IMAX shows! What a plus! Any IMAX day is a good day! The next week, Jerry and I went to Salt Lake City and stayed at a condo right downtown. We got a year-long pass to the Clark Planetarium and IMAX theater there. So...I got to see three more IMAX shows and two planetarium shows. I loved it!

Jerry kindly consented to go with me to the "Days of '47" parade celebrating the pioneers coming into the Salt Lake Valley. It was two blocks from our condo, so we could go home anytime we wanted. We got a place in the shade and ended up staying the whole time. It was a great parade. We did genealogy at the huge library there, went to the temple, hiked up to Ensign Peak above the city, and saw friends and family. What a great time we had!

I may add pictures another time, but don't hold your breath. I'm going from day to day right now. I appreciate your support and concern. Thank you for all the kind thoughts and prayers. It means so much to me.