C-R4-D11

16,22,30...my first three picks for the next mega-millions drawing or how many minutes into my 4-mile jog I can make before I start walking.  I still have hopes that I'll make the whole thing before round 5 next Wednesday, but it's debatable.  If I had a less hilly course I could probably do it but the up-slopes are challenging with chemo residual effects riding on my shoulders.  Once I clear the next hill I can start jogging again so most of the 4-miles is jogging which gives me a mental boost.  I probably walked the last five hills this morning so I'm doing pretty well.  That means I jogged 8-9.  Yeah!  That also means that now that I've tried to remember them, I'll probably have to count them just so I have some other markers for my physical recovery.  All in all this has been a pretty good week.  My stomach seemed to recovery faster than usual but I had sore wisdome teeth for most of the week.  Did you know that your jaws and tongue don't function as  well when your wisdom teeth are sore?   That's mostly gone today as well.  I finally got some flowers planted and the yard looks really well right now.  I'm currently being lazy and watching a St. Louis Cardinal baseball game which doesn't happen often in KC.  I'm heading out to re-sand the patio later.  Get out today and gets some fresh air and exercise....any movement will work.  :)

C-R4-D5

It was a great Easter Sunday, hair or no hair, my stomach or the one on loan for the next few days.  I had brunch with a great group of friends with my contribution being an egg casserole that I had never made before.  Considering all of the embellishments, I was just hoping for edible and got "yummy" instead.  Now I've got my own recipe that works.  Round four chemo is in the past along with the half-way point of  this leg of the journey.  Friday was its usuall nasty self with the day of rain just making my trek from chair to chair to sofa to chair to bed with blanket in tow a day of passage.  Let's just get it over with and move on is my motto for this phase of chemo.  I did get in a thirty-minute plod around the hood just to remind the chemo cancer-zappers that I'm still in control.   I still believe in the old Nike slogan "Just Do It".  I used to have a key chain with that slogan that got me through my stint as a middle-school administrative type so it can certainly get me through chemo as well.   I was going to do a little more patio work this afternoon but nap-time settled in and took that time slot.  The patio is officially done and looks pretty good but I just found out that the sand I so meticulously swept into the cracks will need to be replaced every time it rains until it packs itself down into the crevices.  It did indeed disappear last Friday after a day of rain, but I was expecting that.
My landscaping consultant gave me the news about frequency of replacement.  Oh well, I don't have any current projects under advisement other than getting some flowers in the pots for the front porch, deck and now the new patio.  Sounds like a slow week.  Good for building white blood count.  I've got a new drug coming up next time that can take you down a little in that department but supposedly less stomach problems.  We shall see.  Take a walk today before the sun goes down. 

C-R3-D13

What a great weekend.  I got my own stomach back and traded in fatigue for my regular energy level.  I noticed that the ever-present knot in my stomach was actually gone Saturday evening.  It wasn't a disabling kind of thing of course but just that presence of things not being quite right.  The Pac-troops are getting a much needed rest and gearing up for round four in a few days.  Sunday morning I got to jog my whole 4-mile route without a let-down and that was physcially and mentally satisfying.  I later put in some work on my patio project and have only to "sand the cracks between paving stones" to finish the job.   That job is somewhat tedious and takes more effort than one might think.  Today I'm going to do some touch-up painting on my "kitty litter" buckets so that I can get some petunias and marigolds growing to cheer up the steps leading to my front door.  A few of those on my new patio wouldn't be bad either.  Recycling kitty litter buckets into planters has been one of my better ideas.  At least I think so.  Well it's time to get into my toning routine for this morning.  Hope you have some movement going on today as well. 

C-R3-D10

Fatigue is a very isidious enemy.  My first month of activities went on as usual with no noticeable loss of energy.  However, this last week has been a different entity.  From the literature, I got the impression that fatigue would drop on you like a ton of bricks and you wouldn't want to get out of bed or take an interest in regular activities.  Not so.  Fatigue creeps in when you least expect.  My last four efforts at my usual 4-mile jog have been sabotagued.  One turned into walking after the first mile.  My legs felt like they weighed fifty. pounds apiece and that was on the slight incline as I left my driveway.   Because my route is somewhat hilly, I just gave in to a walk after the first mile and made it home a few minutes later (my jog isn't actually that much faster than my walk :)).  At the next attempt, I made it to the two-mile mark and yesterday, I made it about three and a half miles before giving myself permission to walk the rest of the way.  I hope to make the full jaunt tomorrow, mind willing.  The other interesting note is that I don't feel the need to sleep or nap extra to make up for the loss of energy.  That's probably a good thing.  I don't not want to exercise so that's a good thing as well.  My patio project is coming along nicely as well, a little slower than I might ordinarily go at it but going just the same.  All in all, the Pac-troops are doing a great job and I have one more treatment of this drug combo, before moving on to another drug.  So exercise duty calls inside on this rainy day and you do the same.   

C-R3-D7

No news is good news.  Chemo round three progressing as previous rounds.  Friday was another crummy day but weather was great.  Weekend brought guest appearances of family from Springfield, MO, so things to do and people to see.  Stomach slowly returning to normal whatever that is from day to day.  More good weather doesn't hurt with much time spent  in my new sunroom.  The cats love that room as well with lots of outside activity to monitor.  My patio pavers have been delievered so I can take a couple of days to resume that project before the rains return.  I'm looking forward to this somewhat creative endeavor.  No rush means I can take my time and do and redo as needed.  I have somewhat neglected my exercise routine so I need to give that a better effort.  Oh yeah, and those state taxes need to get in the mail as well.  Get out there and enjoy this weather with some good movement. 

C-R3-D2

Round three done and done.  Day two is going well.  Just had my protein breakfast of eggs, ham and muffin.  Going to go heavier on the protein these next few days and see if I can get a better stomach back faster.  Also need to keep the liquids flowing to get the drugs and other "crap" of my system.  It is amazing how little there is to do to get ready for the day now with no hair to tame, no bead head, no big decisions about when to color up those gray roots.  My scalp has stopped itching as well.  It is different sleeping though but I sure I'll get use to that.  Well I have to head in to the dr. for my white blood cell booster shot so I better get going.  Looks like rain today, but plan to get my outdoor walk in sometime.  Do the same. 

C-R2-14

Another milestone successfully left in the dust today.  I had my head shaved and it was indeed time.   It took me a few days to prepare my mind but after looking at myself in the mirror these last couple of days, it was no longer a major hurdle.  I could not possibly look or feel any worse about the image returning my gaze in the mirror.  My hairdresser has been through this before with other clients and we laughed our way through the experience.  It was actually good to see those finally wispy strands hitting the floor so that I didn't have to catch them in my hairbrush.  The Pac troops are doing their job and that's one more symptom I can forget about for now.  It took her about 5 minutes to complete the job.  She said she was looking foward to seeing what color and texture my hair would reveal upon its return.  She gave me a hug and accepted no payment though I did tip well.  There were very few people in the shop but most noticed and were kind of wide-eyed.  I'm sure at least one may have asked about it after I left.  Kay got a laugh out of my wardrobe selection fo the occasion, a purple scarf and purple polo...."when I am fighting cancer, I shall wear purple"...practice for when I am old.  (If you do not know the poem 'When I am old, I shall wear purple" it's worth a read.  So on to round number three of chemo tomorrow.  Get out there and move around in the sun.  It feels great. 

C-R2-D11

If you haven't been outside yet, stick your head out the door.  It's a great day out there and it smells like spring...at least where I am.  I've had a pretty good week for someone who's hair is fallling to the ground faster than a spring thunderstorm.  I took a shower recently and thought upon exiting the shower that I must surely be bald, but alas, I still had more hair than many people I see out on the street and that includes some woman.  Good hair genes no doubt or maybe the B12 or CoQ10 who really knows.  I've taken to wearing a scarf full time now though I could still do reasonably good comb-overs for the balding spots.  It's just too much of a nuisance for the "hair, hair, everywhere" syndrome.  Going out in public with the scarf or usually a scarf and hat, still takes some time getting used to.  Going to the grocery store isn't bad but sitting in a restaurant will take some getting used to.  I  took my jog this morning with just the scarf and just assumed it looked "pretty cool".  Well I'm out to work on my patio project and probably give the yard a quick cut.
The St. Louis Cardinals play baseball on a local channel later this afternoon, so I can catch a game with my still favorite team.  The Royals might actually be watchable this summer.  They do have soom great prospects coming up and are even 1-1 at the moment, which is more than the Cardinals can say.  Also seems a good night to grill some burgers and watch a little basketball.  Go Butler.  Get outside and move around today.