Friday, June 22, 2007 10:03 AM, CDT

Hello all,
Again, it’s been awhile since I’ve written so I have much to fill you in on. These last few weeks have been so crazy with doctor’s appointments, dentist appointments and school activities that I just haven’t made the time!
The last time I wrote it was all about Memorial Day and I was due to get treatment that Wednesday (May 30th). However, when I went in, my counts were still too low so I had to wait until the following Monday. Which counts were too low? My white blood cell count still had not rebounded from the time I spent in the hospital. I was a little worried that I couldn’t get treatment but I did get to enjoy more chemo-free time (more cold drinks and more ice cream!)
Just a bit more about white blood cell counts: And I must admit that I’m still a little fuzzy about the whole white blood cell thing so it really might be literally “just a bit more.” From what I understand there are immature and mature white blood cells. In order to receive chemotherapy, the doctors like the immature white blood cell count to be at least 1500. I’m not sure if there is a threshold for mature white blood cells. I promise, if I can figure this out, I’ll try to explain it a little better. I can’t remember what exactly my immature count was but I think it was 1300. So, they sent me home.
Then on Saturday, June 2nd, we bought a dog!!! Yes a dog. He’s a 17 week old black lab mix. We’re not sure what the “mix” is but he looks like a black lab with a little bit of white under his chin and on his paws. His name is Jackson and we love him (well I’m not sure if Greg loves him yet but I’m sure when he’s completely house trained Greg will like him a lot more!!). The kids absolutely adore him.
On June 4th I went back in for more chemo and my white blood cell count was still low! My immature cells were at 1300 ( I know for a fact that they were at 1300 when I went on 6/4—I just don’t remember the 5/30 numbers) However, I felt great and my overall count was high enough so we went for it.
The round went well. I didn’t feel nauseas and I didn’t feel exhausted. I had a weird thing happen when I was at home with my fanny pack. One of my lines came disconnected and I didn’t realize it. All of a sudden my shirt felt wet and I couldn’t figure out why…well blood was streaming out of the open line. Remember, the port goes directly into one of my major veins (I can’t recall it right now) so if you’re going to bleed, you’re going to really bleed!!! After a few frantic calls to the doctor on call and my chemo nurse (Faith) we were able to reconnect the lines and all went well. I stopped bleeding and the chemo started pumping back into my body!
One June 18th I had my eight round of chemo. Yay!!! My counts were great because I had a Neulasta shot on June 7th. I may have mentioned before but the Neulasta helps generate white blood cell growth. If it works, which I’m pretty sure it did based on my numbers, then you reduce the risk of getting infections and having your counts too low for treatment.
So I’ve had my chemo for this week and I got my shot. So, let’s hope we’re full steam ahead for my 9th round on July 3rd. I have another CT scan scheduled for July 8th…so let’s hope I can continue to get treatment and we will continue to see progress!
The kids are out for the summer….can you believe it??? The last day for school for me is bittersweet. I am SO done with homework, catching the bus, making lunches…etc…but when it’s over..it’s over. Katie is done with Kindergarten which is just so weird. She’ll be in first grade next year and that to me is just so strange. Plus Steven will be in Fourth grade in the fall. We had such a great year with much thanks to Mrs. Zinkus, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Munger and Miss D’Ambra.
I had a book club meeting in the beginning of June and we read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. What a great book!!! I highly recommend it. Right now I’m reading a pretty funny book: Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster. It’s an easy read and pretty funny. If you’re looking for a funny, light, easy read I cannot recommend enough: Sammy’s Hill by Kristen Gore. There were times when I read that book that I was laughing so hard I had to put it down. I’d collect myself, pick it back up and just start cracking up all over again!! It’s a great, quick, fun read! If you haven’t read it, give it a try!
Now you’re all caught up EXCEPT for the Relay for Life on June 8th. I’m going to write about that all by itself so it won’t get lost in the shuffle because it was a very important day for me.
Jenn Scott: Thanks for the message and YES I remember the freaky man that tried to get us in his car—wasn’t he dressed as a woman??…which just makes him that much freakier!!!