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Week 3

I didn't expect to have such a delay in posting out, but thankfully, this week has been so boringly consistent, I didn't feel like I needed 2 updates.  I even felt well enough to go to work Mon, Wed-Fri!

Sunday June 19 : Happy Father's Day!  Unfortunately, I had been somewhat pre-occupied so I didn't actually get any presents for the daddies at my house this year :( .  I took the kids and Grandpa to a playdate with friends on Sunday morning.  I felt ok, but by the time I got home, it was time for me to have a bit of a relax.

Tuesday 21 June : Follow up visit with the nurse.  My mouth is starting to get irritated, so I have to use a baking soda solution rinse religiously before my mouth is so sore I can't eat.  My white blood count is terribly low, so I hope that the booster shot I got to help with that kicks in before my treatment next Tuesday.  That afternoon I went wig-shopping with a friend (thanks Patti!). It was fun, but the combination of the nurse's visit and then out and about wig-shopping was very very tiring.  I was exhausted when I got home.  But now I have a wig for when the time comes.  What does it look like? I am sure I'll post out pics when I start wearing it.  True to my (boring) self, it will look like me and not something totally garish.

Going back into the office was not as terribly draining as expected.  I was very grateful to have the opportunity to be able to do that, although I start fading around 3 or 3:30 pm.  I have been having some headaches, and unfortunately they are trending up in the pain scale.  On the upside, G donated his mouthwash for me to use that he brought from Germany, specially formulated to help with gum health. Well, I can tell you I now call that the "magic mouthwash".  After just one gargle, my mouth felt so much better! I don't know what's in it, but it works!! (Its called Meridol.)  It is awesome!!

Friday 24 June :  Started having back pains on Thursday that continued to Friday - I am hopeful that these are the back pains from my booster to help my white blood cells - the ones that I was supposed to feel last week.  On the agenda - a visit with the nutritionist.  Originally supposed to be a 1:00pm appointment but the doctor was almost an hour late, we were in fact on our way out when he came out with his crying patient.  Apparently they had received news while in with the nutritionist, that the husband's cancer was terminal.  So we forgave the lateness and was thankful again for the flexiblity that both our jobs afforded.  We were very glad to have met him, he is very well respected in Austin and had some sensible dietary recommendations.
Friday was an eventful day also since my husband and I (both alums of Lancaster University), had a chance to meet with a member of the alumni program at the University who was visiting Austin. A "uni" near and dear to our hearts since that is where we met.


Saturday 25 June :  A cousin flew in from NY to visit with us (this was the weekend we were expecting to fly out to Germany), but Fredericksburg had to do instead.  Somewhat ironic? A German town as substitute for Germany?

Sunday 26 June : Idle day walking around the National Museum of the Pacific War, and also getting some atypical (for me), jewellery.  Gearing up to ensure that I can distract people from looking at my head and look at other items on my person that are not bald.  At this moment, while I am finishing this post, my husband is walking around Main Street trying to figure out just how German this German-town really is.

Health, attitude and appetite - all good.
Nausea - none.
Pain - some spikes with back pain (4 on a scale of 1-10) and generally 2 for my PAC (port-a-cath). The seatbelt runs on it even though I am using something to pad the area, I can't seem to be able to position it correctly.  Spikes to 4 if I forget and stretch too much or put too much force on my arm.
Hair fall - 2 out of 10 and trending up.
Hubby awesomeness - 10 out of 10.  The man of the house is totally the man of the house.

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