So today, I guess, was the official end of the three-day Memorial Day Weekend. I thought it went well. Anyway, here's my recap - I only have one previous chemotherapy treatment to gauge it by, and I guess I could have given myself some slack. One thing I did find out is - either I look better than I feel, or lots of people are lying to me.
Backtrack... After my first chemo (which was also on a Wednesday) I felt okay through Friday. I mean, I had a headache and was hot the first day. I was tired all three of those days. But I didn't feel horrible. And, I still had my appetite. By Saturday I was not only tired - like wiped out tired, I was feeling bad too. Flu-ish. My tummy hurt. I lost my appetite. Just
ick. And that lasted for the rest of the "chemo week". It was about Tuesday when I finally got back to something normal.
That's what you get for planning...So that's kind of what I planned for right? I mean, we had thought about taking a short weekend trip to New Mexico, just to get away. When my treatment got postponed (twice), we nixed those plans. I didn't want to be on a mini-vacation in the middle of the
icks.
What really happened...Not much more on Wednesday than what I already posted. Hot. Tired. Headache. So I rested. I felt my first symptoms of neuropathy. This is like a tingling in my fingers. Kind of like a numbness. Come Thursday I wasn't feeling too bad either. So after sleeping most of the day, I got up, got ready and went and met a friend for a bite to eat. Not bad.
Friday, fearing it was my last "
good day" before the
icks, I planned on going to my Godson's last day of school potluck. He is four years old and called to invite me "
Nina, if you'we feeling okaaaay, will you please come to my last day of schoowl? - If you'we feeling okay?" Heart melt. "
Yes buddy. I will be there." By this time my appetite was being picky enough where I munched only on some fruits and edamame. We stayed an hour and I was ready for a nap.
That evening I thought I had plans with a friend to come over and veg out with some take-home and a chick flick. I must have got my dates crossed though and honestly, wasn't really sweating it. But Mondo called and asked if I wanted to go grab a bite. He knew that one of the things I had felt like eating was Pho
- Vietnamese rice noodle soup just in case you didn't know- so he asked if I still wanted to go, and he and Eric came by to pick us up (
Darren loves Pho too). That was cool. After dinner, Mondo asked how I was feeling. "Pretty good I think. Dinner was good". So he says, "well how about dessert?". At this point, I'm up for it and I'm getting a strong feeling that Mondo and Eric must have planned to spend this time, my '"good-day-before-the-
icks-kicked-in", with me. It improved my mood tremendously. I felt very Cinderella'ish - hard to explain.
After dessert, again Mondo asked how I was feeling.
Me: I'm still good.
Mondo: Do you want to do anything?
Me: Like what?
Mondo: Go for a walk around the mall? The park? Downtown? Whatever?
See, I had told Mondo that I like to walk and at the very least would like to get out and do that. He's indulged me at his most exhausted hours to walk with me around Colorado Mills though and it's one of the many things I love him for - keeping me company. Darren was about done with us, so we dropped him off and took some time to review Westword to see if there were any art exhibits on. Too late for that, but we decided to check out the movie "21" at the Elvis Theatre. What a crazy night. It may not seem like that to you, but to me -
it was crazy and I was tired and it was fun and I was glad to have the guys take a Friday night off so that
I could have a good'un before the
icks. It made me feel really special.
Anyway, as it turns out, Saturday wasn't so bad either. Tired, I slept most of the day and since my parents went out that evening, I got my butt up and went upstairs to hang out with Darren. He let me pick the movie
- even though I fell asleep 15 minutes into it. When I woke up and noticed he had snuck into the computer room, he came back in to keep me company. He set up a target and we played with a dart gun for a bit until I said, time for bed. It was so simple,
but so nice.
Sunday, determined - I got up and got ready and went to church. I needed to catch up on my hugs. Pastor Mark talked about Thanksgiving and how it's more than just one day a year and it's more than when you're getting all of your wishes and wants. He talked about Thanking God when maybe you just feel like crying, or maybe you feel like you don't have much to be thankful about. All I wanted to say was "Amen"... but really, I don't feel like crying, and I know that have tons to be thankful for -
I guess my Amen is for just that...Sunday afternoon, we had tried to put together a barbeque. It was a last minute thing when the trip fell through, so it didn't look like many people would make it. I wasn't sure even if Mondo would. Honestly, it got me a little down and I felt like cancelling it, but mom said 'no'. I'm happy about that 'cause it turned out to be a good one. Easy, relaxing and good company.
So, to all those that said that I looked good this weekend and looked or sounded shocked when you said it (haha :o) - I thought it was funny each time. I hope to continue to surprise you, just as this weekend surprised me. While I haven't
felt great since my treatment, I still had a
great weekend - and that must be what you saw when you looked at me. I can do this, I know - and having you all around me makes it easier.
Just wanted to post a link... to Darren's blog. He just started it. Hopefully he will keep it up :o) with some prodding I'm sure...
Anyway, I found out that there was a second salon "school" just down the street and I made an appointment. Find out that this is kinda the "grad school" and my haircut will be in the hands of someone with experience. Yay! Good thing, 'cause of course the cut I want is pretty specific and a bit more technical than just a quick trim. Ryan was my stylist and seemed like a pretty cool guy. 
He asked what I wanted, I looked around and pointed to a poster on the wall. Bam! He did the doo and I walked out one happy customer. But not before taking a picture of course! Also, Ryan if you check this out - here is a photo of me with my face painted up for a Mammoth Game! And that's my brother that I told you about. I did his hair :o) 
So, back to my day - I get home and Mario and Karen came over for dinner. My Godson was so happy to see me! (Okay, he didn't want to take a picture, but he was happy to see me).
PS - I forgot to mention, Aveda is going to give us our services that were cancelled today - FREE. I love FREE.
Well, I met two more really great people. First, my nurse Laney (or maybe Lanie). She was really nice (they all are) and even talked to me about her three sons. One of them plays a big bass guitar. You know, the kind that are about as big as a small house? He is studying jazz. I think that is so cool. Makes me want to jazz out right now. The second person I met was this man who sat in a chair next to me. His name is Angelo and he is actually on the same regimen I'm on - but he got into the test group and is also taking the Cetuximab (C225) study drug. He's on his 7th treatment. Anyway, he is really nice and friendly and talked to me and my mom for a long while. He told me about his experiences so far and also about himself. He even said he would send me a recipe for mussels. mmmm.... If my WBC's behave themselves and stay on schedule, then I should see him at my next treatment. Dennis (my social worker) also stopped by to say 'hi' and meet my mom. Yep, he's still nice too :o) And Charla (nurse) showed me how to give myself shots.
I made a bright and early appointment for a haircut this morning so that I could make it in time to my chemo. (Hey Sue, what do you think of my hair all pinned up? - Sexy huh? hahaha!)
It's a bummer that this is going to throw my chemo off schedule - but I can look on the brighter side. I should be feeling okay this weekend and that means I might be able to better enjoy the stuff my family has going on - a babyshower, graduation and housewarming party. That sounds good to me. Plus, I might actually feel like combing my new d00! I got bangs - yeah.
Yesterday I finally felt better! I got up... and, I got my appetite back. Yay!
Friday, I woke up at 4:30pm, just in time to get ready to go meet some friends for dinner. Remember way back at the beginning of this roller coaster ride - when I checked myself into the ER? Well, that night I was supposed to have dinner with some friends at the Hibachi Grill to celebrate my birthday. Getting admitted to the hospital put a kink in those plans. Anyway, nothing like making up for lost time. They took me out to a belated birthday dinner at the Hibachi Grill on Friday night and it was pretty fun. 
