Health update once again

This has been  a busy week.  My brother and his wife arrived Friday afternoon from Kentucky.  So I spent the week getting ready for them, plus normal domestic stuff. 

This is Erik's week off, so I did laundry, cleaned the bathroom, and dusted the apartment.  I also cleaned out drawers for them to have a space for their clothing.  I walked 30 minutes most days and had chemo on Tuesday.  I baked cookies and made a  pasta salad.  Only walking was done on the same day as other activity. One night I had company and we went out to eat. 

Who knew baking cookies took so much energy, as did the salad.    I was worn out after baking 8 dozen cookies.  Lots of standing and walking back and forth.  And then there was the salad, standing and chopping pickles, mixing the sour cream dressing, it was so good.  I knew Ann and Henry would love it.  Well I forgot one important fact:  Ann can not eat anything with dairy.  Oops.  Then I had corn on the cob, for other reasons, she can't eat corn.  That will cause a hospital visit.  So messed up that meal. 

Back to my health, all the above activity wore me out.  I needed naps in the day time and fell asleep watching TV at night.  Every night I was exhausted.  I think part of being tired was from the accumulated chemo.  Part was the extra domestic stuff.  Each week I have been more and more tired.

This week was bad.  I felt puny and hated that feeling.  I hated that making cookies was a big tiring deal.  I couldn't ignore the fact I am sick.  Many days I can.  Not this week.  I slept long and hard during my naps.  I forced myself to walk most days.  I had to push to do normal things.  Marty said don't worry about cleaning and walking.  And I said I have to do these things to keep my strength up.  If you don't use it you lose it.  But as puny to as I felt, I am still nowhere as sick as pre-Christmas.  

That said, today we went Stanford University ( a 45 minute drive) to see the Rodin exhibit.  Absolutely wonderful.  Also overwhelming.  So much to take in, 200 pieces to view.  A lot of walking and standing.  But tonight I am not as tired.  Go figure, baking is harder on me than two hours of walking.

I still am doing well.  No pain, no awful side effects, just tired and punier.  I can live with that, and I am.  Thank you Prayer Warriors!


 

A small update

Everyday I am gaining strength.  I  can stand steadier, do my leg exercises higher, stay awake longer. I fix my breakfast and lunch by myself.  And at supper I set the table  and then do the dishes.  Baby steps are getting longer. My appetite is pretty good. I  am still having some intestinal problems, but they are less than before. 

This is the last week for the home care nurse and physical therapist.  Chemo will begin again on the 13th.  IF blood work shows I am strong enough.  Then we will see if I can tolerate the new chemo.  It will be much less than I was doing before. Side effects should be much less.  It will be an hour session instead of the 5 hour and take home chemo.  We are now going for quality of life. 

Prayers are still needed for Marty and me.  He is carrying a huge burden and is tired.  I am strong enough to be alone some for him to run errands and see clients.  But I do get nervous after a couple of hours alone.  I have been so protected the last month, that independence is scary.

Friend Kirsten still is organizing babysitters for me so Marty can work and get out of the house every now and then. I don't so much need help as knowledge it is there if needed.

I wish I could go to my book group and get back to marrying couples.  But that can't happen.  I can't be around all those strange germs.

Much love to all my prayer warriors.  I pray for all of you every night.