Half-Way There!

I'm done with number two -- I miss having a little break of feeling good between infusions, but, honestly, who cares -- let's just get through these and get it over with. Here I am, two weeks in and I'm already half-way done. I love it. Well, you know what I mean. 

We got in really fast around 1:30 today and were out of there around 4 o'clock. I love how fast it is this time around, and nice and quiet, hardly anyone in the chemo room. My numbers aren't QUITE as stellar as they were two days ago when I was still getting those daily Granix shots, but my white blood cell count was still 9-point-something -- at the high end of the "normal" range that any of you would have. Hopefully with chemo dosage reduced by 20 percent and the Neulasta injection tomorrow, they won't dip into the danger zone anytime soon. My doctor wants me to come back in for blood work again in a week (normally only done after the first one) to see how I do with round two. If it's still wiping out my counts, she can drop the chemo 5 more percent, which is the max they will drop it and still consider it effective. Let's hope I can stay out of the hospital in the meantime. However, if the same thing happens again I'll happily (well...) go back for a couple of days to keep me safe, cdiff- and other infection-free, and boost my counts. 

I felt like it made a huge difference after my last chemo in October when I went in for fluids for a few days to help me out so I would be well enough to travel to Florida. I hate the idea of taking a chair for fluids, leaving someone waiting to get their chemo, which did happen one day back then. BUT, I just want to feel good, so I asked if I could come in the day after chemo each time for fluids. Jen the PA's response was essentially, "You've been through enough -- why don't you come in Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week until you're done." OK! The nurses assured me it would be fine -- I can sit on the floor if I need to. :) 

As much as I'm sick of that place, I think it will be a huge help in my recovery and in general how I feel to get one bag of fluids every couple of days. I drink as much as I can (some days are better than others and in general I drink a lot of water anyway), but it's never enough when it comes to chemo. So, I'll start that tomorrow and go back three times next week. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, but fingers crossed it helps make for some smooth sailing from here on out.

My hair, which I continue to get both strange looks and a ton of compliments on, should start falling out any day now. Last time, it started coming out in clumps on day 15, which is now (by the time you read this). I kept checking today (couldn't help it) and it's still stuck in there tight, so we'll see if day 15 is the magic number again this time. Tonight at bedtime James ran her fingers through my hair and said, "I like your pretty pink hair, mama. Will you keep it?" She's never seemed to much care what's on my head, but somehow I birthed a girly, pink-and-purple loving little girl, so of course she likes it. I explained to her that sometime in the next few days we would be cutting it off again, which didn't much phase her. I didn't have the heart to tell her it probably will never be this color again. :) 

Mom's busy helping my sister move so James will be here this weekend. Hopefully the rain and cold will let up at some point so Daniel can get her out of the house or maybe they can walk the mall or something while I'm sleeping it off. That's about it. Now just to hydrate, rest, hopefully watch some movies and come out the other side in a few days. Thanks for all the well-wishes and texts today!