Haircut... Barbie Doll Style

I started pulling chunks of hair out this morning, and although I had a friend coming over in the afternoon to cut it, I figured I probably wouldn't have any left by the time she got to the house. I called her and told her that Hailey and I were going to have a "hair cutting party".(If anybody wants to do this for their kid's birthday, I am available!) I know everyone has cut their Barbie's hair at one time.(It's okay guys... we know what you did with your sister's barbies). So basically, that is what I did. I took a chunk of hair and put it in a small ponytail and cut it off. It actually didn't turn out too bad considering what I did...AND I only had one gray hair! (No... I wasn't drunk)
My friend did come over and clean it up a bit. It was a little uneven... I guess it doesn't really matter since it will probably all be gone in the next few days anyway... and I did have fun.

I am heading up to Bullhead for my treatment tomorrow, at least I will stay nice and cool!

I thought I was feeling good

I had my follow-up appointment with the oncologist yesterday (Friday). I had my labs drawn on Thursday (by a "ramming vampire"). The labs are usually done in-house, but since I have BC/BS insurance, they have to be sent out, so they didn't have the results when I went in for my appointment. The doctor left the exam room to see if he could get the results faxed. After about 10 minutes of waiting, the nurse pops her head in the room and says that another Susan M Weber got her blood drawn the same day at the same lab and the results may have got mixed up, so they were just trying to get it straightened out. Luckily we don't have the same birthdate, but I guess they are similar. It isn't the first time they have got us mixed up.

So... anyway.... the physician came in with the results (that they still weren't completely sure were mine) and it showed I was slightly anemic (which is expected) and my liver enzymes were elevated (which was not expected). He asked me how much I drank. I should've said "None, but I think I am getting close to starting." He wanted me to get another blood draw just to make sure it was accurate. He called me back with the results yesterday afternoon, and the liver enzymes had gone down some, but were still slightly elevated. He said it was probably from the chemo and if it continues to stay elevated, we may have to skip a week, but for now I am going to continue with the scheduled treatments.

My next scheduled chemo is for Tuesday. I was going to have it done in Havasu, but my oncologist is going to be out of town, and with the regime that I am doing he felt more comfortable with me getting established with one of the out of town oncologists, so I have to go to Bullhead City for my treatment.

It is kind of funny, I went in to the office feeling pretty good, then he gives me my lab results and all of a sudden, I am tired and my head hurts!

Sponge Bob Square Boobs?

I was having the best day ever yesterday, and I am feeling pretty spunky today.... except for the "ball and chain" attached to my breast like a colicky baby. The coffee still tastes bad, but at least it is the first thing I can have in the morning!

I got in the water (only up to my waist) with my HSST kids yesterday. Hailey also came and helped which worked out great. We worked on the other side of the bulkhead and did some "back to basic" drills and technique work. I think the kids did great... what a wonderful feeling to see them pick it up and go from struggling to make it 10 feet to swimming 25 yards effortlessly. It doesn't seem like a lot to a seasoned swimmer, but it is a big deal to a 6 year old!

I guess I was feeling a little too good. I thought I could get out of the pool my usual way, by pulling myself up on the bulkhead... mmm not a good idea and it didn't work. I believe I pulled some scar tissue away from the expander. It continued to cause intermittent pain throughout the day, but I think it must have completely tore, because I am not having any more pain, I just have a square looking breast... very interesting!

It is time to sneak out of the house for my morning walk. I think I will wear a tight tank and see if I get any funny looks. :)

Anything but the Coffee!

I wasn't feeling so great yesterday. I did walk about 3 miles in the morning, but about an hour after I got home I started getting a little nauseated, so it was back to the oyster crackers, ginger ale and applesauce.... yum! I bet you can guess what I probably WON'T be eating next year. The nausea lasted most of the day and last night. I did get a lot of napping in.

I was JUST starting to feel a little better this morning, so after I had my ACG, (applesauce, crackers, ginger ale) I decided I better have some coffee so I don't get my caffeine withdrawal headache. My one and only bad habit (that I admit to anyway) is ruined! The coffee tastes like it was boiled with metal shavings... not fair!!! I guess I will cancel my membership to Gevalia.

I wonder how a Bud light with lime will taste................ ;)

Swim Across the Lake

Some of the kids from our swim team swam across the lake yesterday. They ALL made it, which was just awesome! Here is a link to the article in the local newspaper Lake Swim .I had wanted to swim with them this year... but I guess I will have to wait until next year when I am not attached to a vacuum. :)

I did get to have a little bit of fun... after having a moderate meltdown, I convinced Mike that I could take the Waverunner from the launch ramp to Windsor 4. One of the parents was going to use it to follow the swimmers. He was going to pick it up at the launch ramp, but I thought "why should he have all the fun?" so, I took off the VAC (I can remove it briefly... usually for a shower, but the lake is water, so that counts, right?) And I had the most fun I have had in 3 months! That short ride did my mind a lot of good!

I had planned on riding on Coach Mike's boat across the lake to cheer on the swimmers, but I had to get my Neulasta shot, so I wasn't able to go. I am hoping our "team photographer" got a lot of good photos. I know he got a great one of me coming in on the Waverunner!

I think I have Mike (husband Mike) convinced that if I wear a big hat, long sleeves, pants and put the VAC in a waterproof bag, we can take the skis out on the lake.... I will take pictures.

Here is a pic of the snake

See Previous post....

Only 7 more to go...

Well the first chemo experience was uneventful... so far. I hate television, so I brought my Zen and listened to some of my favorite music and studied Level 3 Physiology School for swimming. :) I came home and went 2.5 miles on the treadmill. I figured I better do it before I don't have the energy to do it.
I have an appointment to get my wound VAC changed this afternoon. Tomorrow I have to go in to get a shot that will boost my WBC count. My next chemo is scheduled for July 1. I will probably cut my hair sometime next week.

Off on a tangent... let me tell you about my morning! I went to a friend's house to watch her daughter while she went swimming. She has a nice entryway with some large plants. When I knocked on the door, I heard what sounded like the sprinklers starting, kind of a sputtering sound. I looked over at the planter, and saw some movement under the tree, then realized it wasn't the watering system, it was a rattle snake just a couple feet away from me! As she opened the door, I jumped (literally) in the house and slammed the door, saying "Oh crap, it's a rattle snake!" She locked the door just to be on the safe side (you never know, those snakes can be pretty smart). She called animal control and they came and captured the snake. It bothered me just a little when the guy told the lady helping him, get the bucket ready he is mad and he is slipping out. He got him in the bucket without a problem. Mike asked what they do with them once they are caught. My theory is they put them in the vehicle of somebody they dislike a lot!

Feeling Groovy!

Except for the suction cup attached to my breast, I am feeling really good! I even went rollerblading this morning. I just went around Rotary Park and down to the bridge. I do fairly well except on the downhills I sometimes go a little faster than I would like and have a bit of a problem stopping.... if you see an elderly lady with Rollerblade tracks across her forehead, could you please tell her I am sorry!

I am also back to coaching. It is good to be back! Instead of the kids whining after I give them a set, I am conditioning them to say "Thank you Coach Susan, we would LOVE to swim that set!" So far, I just get grunts, but they will get better. :)

I really miss swimming in the mornings, but I am staying active with walking, running and blading. I might try the bike, but since my mountain bike is built a little different than a normal upright bike it may pull too much on my chest... I guess there is one way to find out.

Throwing away the "Lucky" underwear....

My lucky underwear haven't been doing so good.... somebody suggested after 7 office visits in 7 days, maybe they just need to be washed! I don't know about that, the physicians seem to keep a comfortable distance from me....

(Yes, I AM joking)

I had an appointment to get my incision checked on Tuesday. I have to keep the VAC on. The surgeon talked with the oncologist, and they decided it would be okay to start the chemo. I will be getting my first treatment next Tuesday, June 17. I knew that it would have to start sometime, it just makes it more concrete when they set the date.

I bought a wig, I was going to go blonde, but I was laughing so hard when I put it on, I figured I best not.... I am DEFINITELY NOT a blonde! (I was just trying it on for the cut, but it was hard to get past the color.) The color I got is very close to mine (not as pretty) and longer... but I figured I had to have a little bit of fun. I am expecting that Hailey will want to wear it more than me. :)

Little road trip

Mike and I are heading up to Vegas to take Hailey to the airport. She is flying to Minnesota by herself to go see Grandma Gen. We will be spending the night up there and picking Brittney up tomorrow. She is coming back from visiting her dad in Washington.

Tina gets to have a sleepover with Aunt Norma. I hope she isn't too spoiled when we get back.

I find that I have become very inventive! I didn't want to look like a sickly oxygen toting granny... so I pulled the bladder from my Camelbak (it isn't as painful as it sounds- I did it quickly) and I replaced it with my portable vacuum. It fits perfectly and the tubing is the same size as the Camelbak tubing, so it fits neatly through the guides and is very inconspicuous. :) Now I just look like a thirsty granny. This morning Hailey asked if she could have a drink of my "water". Mike said it sounded like a percolator, and thought I decided to have fresh coffee at all times without waiting in line at Starbucks.... now THERE'S an idea!

This REALLY does suck...

I went in for my follow-up with the plastic surgeon yesterday. The wound was not healing as fast as he had hoped, so he decided to hook me up to the portable VAC. It is a lovely little machine that weighs about 5 pounds and sounds like a dying fish tank pump. It has about eight feet of tubing and is permanently attached with a clear adaptic type dressing and a "nipple" (looks a lot like the suction cup things that you use to hang decorations on windows) that surrounds the foam packed wound.

The VAC is supposed to promote and speed healing so that I can get started with my chemo. It kind of reminds me of the experiment that they do in school with the "baby", which is really a bag of flour. This "baby" only has to be changed every three days, and somebody else does it for you.

I had my appointment with the LHC oncologist today.... I was in and out of the office before I even finished my paperwork... now that is a first! No surprises, basically it was just to meet the oncologist and get things going. He asked me what protocol was given to me from Palm Springs, I told him, he agreed and said that we would start as soon as I am healed. I didn't even have to take my shirt off.

I bought my very first cute hat. It is pink camouflage... do you think it will camouflage a bald head?

Beer Anyone?

After close to ten years, I finally went in for my "Annual Exam" on Monday. When I set up the appointment, I asked the receptionist what it consisted of (I really couldn't remember).

"Well," she said "It is more than just a Pabst Beer." (You mean I get Beer!) "He does a breast exam,"I stopped her right there and asked what if I don't have any.

"Breasts?" she asked,

"Yes," I answered, pausing before I gave an explanation and imagining what she could possibly be thinking about this crazy woman on the phone. I gave her the explanation and she continued to give me the rundown of the exam. Okay, I was thinking, as long as I get a beer. I haven't had one of those.... well I don't remember, probably since my last "Annual Exam".

The exam room was very warm, and I had to sit on the exam table with the paper covering in my pretty pink paper gown, which by the way, is not very absorbent when you are sweating. All I could think of was, "bring me my Pabst Beer!" Which I came to find out was like no other Pabst Beer I had ever had before.

Overall the exam went well and was uneventful. The physician did remind me that 'annual' meant one, not ten years.

I woke up yesterday feeling extremely light headed and dizzy. I surmised that it was a hangover from the previous days "Pabst Beer". I am glad I only have to do that once every... how many years?