Just Chugging Along and Staying Strong - Cycle 9 is DONE!!

Whooo hooo - cutting it close and trying to get my second blog for May in right in the nick of time!!

Recap of Cycle 8 Recovery:
My recovery this cycle has been pretty much like the previous cycles with the exception that it felt like I didn't rebound quite as quickly.  I'm not sure if it was because the chemo is finally taking it's toll or if I just tried to do more than normal that first week of recover.  But by the week 3 recovery I was feeling pretty good.  I decided to delay Cycle 9 by one week so that I could enjoy the Memorial Holiday and got to experience a week 4 recovery.  It felt really good to be able to do more around the house and to get another week where food sounds and tastes good!!

Well hello Bob Ross!!

Cool Things that Have Been Happening:

• Nathan and I spent some quality time with our nephew, Andrew - #bestbabysittersever!!  After a little adjustment time we settled in to make some Rice Krispy Treats.  After that we tried to put together a SWAT lego set but it proved to be a bit too complicated for Andrew.  Instead he found it to be more entertaining to place popcorn inside the Lego Space Shuttle and make special snack deliveries.  Check out this link for a good laugh.  Also - Nathan surprised me with the coolest Lego character by far >>>>>
• Nathan and I recently became members of the Yellowbird Foodshed - a group that partners with a network of small, sustainable farms to provide the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area with fresh, quality food.  Each Thursday we receive a box with a variety of fruits and veggies from local farmers!!  We've received 4 boxes so far and it's been AWESOME!!  It allows us to support local farmers while expanding our food palates.  I would highly suggest this service to CBus locals!!
• Had a long overdue massage from my awesome massage therapist Juli at Knead Deep Therapy - she is the best!!
• Nathan got the yard in tip top shape and put about 13 cubic yards of mulch down (shout out to Phil Bible, the best brother-in-law, for helping him with this).
• Nathan and I had an awesome visit from some of our family from that state up North!  We ate awesome food (Planks Pizza, Sammy's New York Bagels, Barcelona for the ciesta fiesta menu, Toast Bar, Asian Festival at the Franklin Park Conservatory, Poke Bros, Starliner Diner, Jeni's Ice Cream) and enjoyed some quality time with the fam!!

Cycle 9 Completed Yesterday:

My three chemo infusions went as planned - very thankful that I did not have a reaction to Carboplatin!!  Plan is to get a PET scan in two weeks and make a plan based on the results.  If the scans look good I will most likely stay on maintenance therapy with just one agent - Avastin but that is still to be decided.

Tata for now :)

Put a Check Mark Next to Cycle 8

My new blog goal is two blogs a month...  trying to get my first blog in early for May.

Recap of Cycle 7 Recovery:

GIVE IT TO YOUR WIFE

So after all the excitement with the OBI craziness I was really hoping that my recovery from chemo this cycle was consistent with the recent cycles - I just couldn't take more stress right now!!  Thankfully I can report that I actually felt like my recovery was at least the same or even a little bit easier.  Week one was pretty similar to previous cycles - a few days of feeling the side effects of the steroids followed by a few days of feeling like I was hit by a truck.  But during week 2 and 3 I tried to step it up and be more active or at least as active as I can be without really tiring myself out.  I did more of the laundry and helped out around the house  which Nathan is probably really happy about that because he is tired of hearing my complain about him messing up my delicate clothes.

Some of the fun things I've been up to since my last blog:

• I was able to rally that first weekend after chemo and Nathan and I went to a family cookout on Saturday and spend a few hours with my family celebrating my sisters birthday on Sunday.  I wasn't able to do too much but at least I made it out of the house!!  I really appreciate all the support I have from my family and how they accept me for me (hair or no hair - they don't care).
• During week two I went out to eat with the ladies from our work book club and had a really nice evening.  We meet every other month to have a nice dinner and discussion about the book that has been selected.  I am grateful for such a supportive group of women!!
• Week three was full of some therapeutic shopping - Nathan can always tell when I am feeling good because the credit card bill is higher!!  We also went to brunch at The Crest with my dad and step mother to celebrate her recent birthday and then we all four went to one of my favorite places - Columbus Architectural Salvage, a place that has tons of cool antiques that have been saved from local buildings and homes and are for sale.  I've got my eye on a few of the old claw foot bathtubs they have for the first floor bathroom remodel that will be happening this year.
• Nathan has recently started traveling back to DC for work for 3 days during my week 3 of

  

  Thanks Olga for the shawl!!

  recovery.  While I don't like to see him go, I understand that it is important for him to be on site so that he can attend important meetings and get what he calls "face time" (and not the kind you do with an IPhone) with his colleagues.  When he returned from his last trip he had a surprise for me - one of his coolest colleagues, Olga, had taken a trip to India and had brought me back a shawl.  Nathan and I will never be able to express how grateful we are for all the amazing support we receive from people all over the US!!
• On chemo eve I had a nice relaxing facial with Megan Dixon at Spa Grove in Gahanna.  She is owner and managing esthetician and is the only professional in the area that offers a special facial for oncology patients!!  I have seen her now about 3 times and every session I leave feeling really relaxed.  It's a nice treat the night before chemo, when I can sometimes feel my anxiety growing.

Cycle 8 Chemo Day:

My chemo infusions went well today.  I was really nervous that I would have a reaction to the Carboplatin but luckily did not.  The chances of me having a reaction increase with each infusion after the 6th one so I am really hoping that I am one of the lucky ones that don't have a reaction.  If I do though, most likely it will happen during the infusion and I know the signs to look for so that I can let the nurse know ASAP.  Keeping my fingers crossed!!