Skyrat (Gina)’s blog

Day 925

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:59:02 -0800

I could probably count on my fingers the number of people I remember from last two years of high school. The picture is a retake from a pose in 1975. :-)

Not much news going on around here. My son is on his way to deployment. My daughter is looking for a job. Barney and the better half are doing very well with very little input from me these days. The cancer may have found my liver which would explain the loss of appetite and weight loss. I still spend a good deal of life in bed - not doing much reading though.

The weather has been very cooperative for staying in bed. I managed to get a cup of hot cocoa down last night and it sure tasted good. It's hard to believe that it is about 925 days since my first chemo, and that we are moving up on the third Thanksgiving with cancer treatments. Just shows that all is good.

Just in case I don't get back on here before, I wish you all a very happy and filling Thanksgiving.

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Day 916

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:58:36 -0800

Parentsgrandkidsme

I had a really good day today after so many not so good days. Spent the time since my vacation pretty much sleeping, having to force a bite of something down at least once a day and forcing the water down. Apparently, things improved enough to have some energy today. I got up at 7 and took Barney out, then put us back to bed until 8, when I got up.

We went to the casino for lunch, and I did eat! Had Brazilian stew, finger potatoes, little tomatoes, a chicken burrito, melon, cantaloupe, grapes and oranges, followed by a chocolate brownie for dessert. Later this afternoon, I had to get up and have a couple pecan sandie cookies. :-) Now, I am overstuffed after a glass of cranapple juice. I am going to have to find room to put the pills and water tonight.

Laid down and actually got some reading done! It has been awhile since I have been able to read - I have been sleeping so much.

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Day 910

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:33:39 -0800

Grandkidsandme

I had a quick but great trip back home. It is always amazing to see how big the grandkids are getting, but there has been some major growth spirts going on! haha Everybody was doing well, and even got to see a couple of old friends that I hadn't seen in forever! Grannyj - you are lookin' good! We didn't go anywhere or do much of anything other than one trip north to see a couple of my aunts and an uncle. Sure felt good to visit through my eyelids on the couch.

The trip was supposed to have been over my dad's birthday, but due to treatments, needed to get back. The day after getting back, it was back to the hospital for a CT Scan and the oncologist for my 8th different chemo - Xeloda by pill. The cancer has continued to spread through the bones and there is now a possibility that it is in the liver.

Dad had his birthday (Happy Birthday), then went in for a heart check today. They put a stent in an artery and will be sending him home tomorrow. He's doing great.

Barney was sure glad to see me - almost as glad as the better half was. hehehe The weather has been damp, windy and cold since I've been home.

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Day 890

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:42:14 -0700

Duck in flught

Time is moving and I'm struggling to keep up with it. LOL I leave Saturday to head back home for a couple of weeks, and am having to get things taken care of in between naps. Fortunately, I don't have a lot to take care of - just my appointment tomorrow for chemo, pick up my scripts, then pack my bag, and I'll be ready.

Looking forward to seeing everybody back there.

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Day 886

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:16:12 -0700

Sparrow

It has been raining pretty hard here all day. That's okay though - I was running a bit of a temp this morning, got up and took Barney out, then went back to bed. It was so warm and snuggly and felt so good to sleep longer. Cancer robbed me of aging naturally - so I don't know if the pains I have are just your basic old-age in the damp chill pains or what.

Ever since Barney accidentally walked through a mud puddle, he no longer minds getting his feet wet. This rain that used to encourage him to get out and get his business done and back in the house, no longer bothers him. Now, he likes to stand sentrey at the top of the drive - ears perked, scanning his neighborhood - while I, at the other end of the leash, stand with my back to the wind trying to hurry him.

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Day 885

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:48:10 -0700

Horse

I do feel so much better today than I have been. Stayed up the biggest part of yesterday and today - a real treat. LOL I went in for my infusion of Zometa and found out that my tumor markers have stayed the same. That was good news. The better half and I went out for supper at the bowling alley. (Do you get the impression that the food is good there? hehehe) I had a burger and hashbrowns, and managed to eat it all.

Today the neighbor and I went out for lunch. An enjoyable lunch, and the time really flew by. She was interested in the Medicare business since it will soon be her turn to apply. I will at least be able to answer a few questions she may have.

The weather turned off chilly and rainy - also quite windy. Some of the gusts are so strong, that Barney has to fight hard to stay upright.

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Day 882

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:01:54 -0700

Dragonfly

Not going to do anything today except hang around the house. I still have a mess of good books to read and that heavy quilt just feels way too good. I think back to several years ago - sleeping in a water bed. Ugh! I could not imagine doing that now, and the mattress we got is so comfortable. Perhaps if it weren't, I wouldn't want to stay in it so often. LOL

Barney is feeling very important. He has been sleeping with me during the day and this morning. Of course, a little terrier that feels important is also a very demanding little terror. hehehe

I am feeling better today so far and do want to keep it that way. It is funny how fast things can go from being really good to being really bad. So, I grab the feeling good and hang on to it, then sleep through the bad parts.

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Day 881

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:45:44 -0700

River otter

It looks like our winter may be moving in soon. Three storms are headed this way. Thought it was a little odd, but very nice, to have the chilly weather with the sun shining. hehehe This is October after all.

Haven't been feeling real well the past few days - but I think it is the side effects of the Neulasta shot. They shoot that e. coli in you, and it heads straight for the bones. It was thanks to the Neupogen (same as Neulasta) shots in 2007 that I got my handicap sticker due to the intense bone pain. But have to keep those white cell counts up, so there's the tradeoff. LOL One of the lessons I tried to teach my kids was that nothing in life is free.

I did manage to get up long enough this morning to have lunch with the better half and his buddy. We went to the casino where I couldn't eat much, but the grapes were delicious.

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Day 879

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:05:26 -0700

Rock pigeon

I had lunch with neighbor yesterday - finally found a place that has some outstanding chili and it's a pizza parlor. LOL After a very enjoyable conversation, I took off to get my shot. One of the side effects of these white cell building shots is bone pain in the legs, which can be pretty extreme. I had hoped to hear about my tumor markers, but that test hadnt come back yet. The cultures for bacterial infections came back negative, so it was pretty good news.

Having been up early and spending so much time up the past couple of days has just exhausted me. Heading back to bed! LOL At least until Barney wants to get up again.

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Day 878

nobody@vox.com(Skyrat (Gina)) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:21:00 -0700

Horsetail fern

Yesterday's chemo visit went fine. They did take some blood to culture for infection in the port. Said it's not uncommon after this long for a bacteria to set up a colony. I also have to go back this afternoon for my shot of e. coli for my white cell count. I should be able to find out then what my tumor markers are.

Going to go to lunch with the neighbor then the shot. I am reading John Lutz's book 'Urge to Kill'. While predictable, it is a good read.

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