May 10, 2022 Tuesday--noon

 Whoohoo!  

I have good news to share this week!  I'll make it short and sweet.  ;)  

First of all I did the coconut oil and Band-Aid treatment and my finger was all better in two days!

Dagan took a few days off last week (he has accumulated so many he needs to use some, I guess) so he brought me to my appointment again last Thursday.  My port was acting up.  She tried to flush it four times but it wouldn't work.  Had to shoot some heparin in there and leave it for half an hour.  Which meant they sent someone down from the lab to draw my blood for the tests.  We were thinking--oh no!  This isn't a good sign.  

But--tada!  This time my ANC number went from the .7 to 1.3 and I was finally close enough to be able to get my infusion!  And after the heprin treatment the port worked fine.  Whew!

The not so good news was that the only doctor there at all for my next visit in three weeks is Dr. Kobrossy.  Since he's the only full-time oncologist it was bound to happen at some point...but I am not looking forward to it.  And I plan to more or less demand he keep his (blankety-blank) mask on. 

Dagan came in afterwards to do the helper tasks (trash, vacuum, spot bot, water plants, etc).  But this time he swept up the accumulated seed shells since we had snow again a few times.  I have not put out any seed on the patio since then.  I want my patio back for the summer--LOL!  (If I do put any out I will toss it out on the grass.)  Dagan and I had another nice visit--albeit with masks on--LOL!

This whole cancer adventure has been such a total roller coaster ride, as you all know.  I was so thoroughly exhausted that after Dagan left I took a "nap"...for 5 1/2 hours!  Still slept 7 1/2 hours that night, too.  I think it all wears on me more than I ever think it does, you know? 

I had a pajama weekend, believe me!

Yesterday...CTscan.

I suggested to Leah that since it usually doesn't take long and she just has to sit in the waiting room at the hospital that she could just wait in the car.  Less exposure for her, you know?  She agreed...and it was busy.  Always busier at the hospital, it seems.  I was in and out pretty quickly, though.  I know the routine and dress with no metal whatsoever so I can just jump straight on the table.  

Leah came in afterwards when I got home.  We went through my vitamins and supplements.  (She knows more than I do on that score and maybe they have been helping, right?).  I had a list of questions and things to chat about.  Hadn't seen her for so long!  :) :)

Oh, and BTW--was me that didn't want Leah cooking for me after I had started to feel better.  Like I have said, I usually think I am doing better than I am or can handle more than I actually can.  I have truly learned this about myself going through all of this--LOL!  But--on the other hand--the optimism keeps me going.  Even when it is probably ridiculous sometimes.  Like I just ordered a couple of stamps to use making cards...for when I am better.  Even if I haven't been feeling well enough to work on anything much for all this time since I was diagnosed last June...and I probably wouldn't have finished the first set of bookcards even yet if Leah hadn't helped me with them...watching the Wanderlust videos every week and ordering a little something here and there for when I am better...makes life feel more normal, you know?  I will be working on bookcards again...and other cards.  I will get out my art stuff to play again.  I just know I will.  :) :)

AND--

drumroll!!!

--the results of the CTscan online:  

The 1.2cm tumor has shrunk to .8cm.

The 8mm tumor has shrunk to 4mm.

No other signs of cancer anywhere.

TaDa!!

I was so happy I couldn't sleep last night till almost 4am--ROFL!  Just so grateful for everything and everybody...and so very glad to have so much good news this week.  Finger better, got my infusion, and tumors are still shrinking!  (I am happy dancing in my mind right now--LOL!)

Oh! Oh!  And how could I forget Miss Annie!  She's been doing a little better!  She's even started jumping up on my chair via the footrest now fairly regularly.  Nothing beats finding a purring cat sleeping with you in the middle of the night.

Oh, and I also forgot to show you my Mother's Day card.  This year Ian and Liam made them.  Mine was made by Liam...and has he ever improved on writing his name and drawing since last year!

McFamily all signed it.

Leah wrote who made the card on the back.

I do miss those little guys!

Well, Katie asked to switch to Thursday afternoon to come to clean and I am just as glad to have a quiet day of rest today anyways.  So that change worked out just fine.  Nice!

It has suddenly gotten so warm that I need to finish going through winter clothes for donations (many of them are too big now since I've lost 40 pounds) and get the summer clothes bins in from the garage.  It is 68F (20C) right now!  Crazy for early May.  I need to get my chair back out on the patio for the summer--soon!  Won't be long and we'll be planting flowers.  Leah and I discussed the plan for the planters when she was here.  Fun!  :)

That's it.  About as short and sweet as I get--LOL! 

Happy-dancing, grateful thoughts from Fargo.

Till next week...