My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer

Goldens, that is one adorable puppy! So glad you're getting to see your kids and grandkids...and grand dogs!

Candy and Cowgirl - sorry the vaccine had you feeling so crappy. Hope you're feeling better now and the next one is not so bad. My first dose of the Moderna vaccine was completely uneventful, but I'm a little worried about the second one. I think it's good my dh and I are not getting them at the same time; we'll be able to take care of each other.

Tanya - hugs for the generally crappy week

Moth, I wish I'd had your more relaxed outlook on adult kids at home. I only had one child and I remember the day I knew she had to go, or one of us was going to die. She was not an easy person. What an understatement. That's like saying, don't mind this large shark, he likes to nibble on people. WRONG! To this very day she's what you might call ...complicated. She has yet another BF and he likes to needle and irritate her. I think he has a death wish. I have asked him several times as I listen to him rile her up , "are you stupid? Were your brains sucked out? You do know she can pound the shit out of you, right?"  He's not a very big guy and she is a sturdy girl who buys bucking horses off rodeo stock breeders and breaks them to ride. She is used to being flung around and battered by big animals and knows how to hold her own. Skinny, lippy boyfriend is asking for it. She is an interesting person but would I ever want her to move back home? Oh hell no! My home is fairly neat, orderly, peaceful and sane and I like it that way. Love to have her come visit, love it when she leaves. She swoops in like a cyclone, coat and muddy boots dropped on the floor, she's usually covered in horse hair and mud. First thing she does is open the fridge and anything she sees, she eats. She flops on the sofa, feet up on coffee table, texting and grinding animal hair into the upholstery. She drinks a Coke, leaves the can on the table, belches then announces she's heading home. I love her. But I love that she doesn't live here anymore. I know I'm going to hell for saying that but there it is. I love my space. I cannot function in her happy level of chaos. I just can't. It kills my soul.

Micmel....I feel your pain. You want them forever and know they have to leave too and you want them to leave but you want them to stay and you ask yourself, am I crazy? Yes. Yes you are. It's a mom thing. 

Friends :

So great to hug grandkids and play with all the dogs. That puppy is the BEST puppy I have ever seen. Smart as a whip and pretty chill. Believe it or not, we were able to get a pic of all of them:

The pup and the one in the upper right corner are my daughter’s

Awww! Great pic of the doggies.

Goldens- Love the pics !!! The puppy is precious.

Anyone wondering about getting the vaccine and the side effects, it was rough, but I would do it again. (Don't have to as I had both shots, but if they say we need a booster I would do it) The worst lasted 36 hours-- fever up to 102, chills, nausea, pounding headache. Then another 12 hours of recovery-- weak, tired. Now back to my "normal", haha the aches and hot flashes.

I am thinking of all of you. Boo and her DH issues, Mel and her DS issues, all going thru treatments and progression and changes to treatments. The last few days I have been concentrated on the Covid vaccine effects, but the cancer is still there. All your issues are still there. The scanning, biopsies, treatments, appointments are still there. I wish it were not so, for me and for you all.

Boo- Glad to read your post. Praying for you.

Chicagoan- I got my second shot at 1:30pm and started feeling bad around 5pm-- so 3 1/2 hours. So, for you, that may be pushing it. But this is your 1st vaccine, right? With my first, all I had was a sore arm, nothing else. Do you have someone that can drive you for the second one? In case you get to feeling bad. They say not to take Tylenol beforehand to prevent the side effects, but just after the fact if you need it. I would hate to face that drive feeling like I did. The chills were the kind that I was shaking when I was trying to text a friend. Behind the wheel fighting traffic would not be good. Are you sure that going to Carbondale they will accept you? I hear some counties are making people show residency in that county. I don't know about the one you have the appointment with.

I am PM'ing you.

Thanks Boo. I am back to my normal. Kind of weird that I didn't think of the cancer as I was dealing with the side effects of the vaccine. Now, back to the cancer reality. I hear that one should accept whatever vaccine is offered them at the time. It would have been nice to have the J&J one since it is only 1 shot, but I was offered the opportunity of getting the vaccine easier than most people so I took it.

Booboo, yes tattoos hurt but the location makes a big difference. The dog tattoos on my back were a totally manageable dull pain. I zone out to music, like meditation. But the feet, wow! I had asked around and prepared myself for pain but some spots felt like the paper cuts that nearly make you cry. I did wince under my mask at times but as I watched the progress, they were too pretty to quit.

HG got a job and has been working almost every day, which is great since he’ll need to get an apartment soon as we continue packing up the house. I cook dinner most nights, healthy and tasty meals, he eats them but buys a mind boggling amount of twinkies and frozen pizzas, weird.

Grocery shopping was a big one and I had to make room in the fridge, so I’m finishing off the margarita bucket I made last week, you know, to make space, lol.

Tanya- I agree that when we get responses on here it makes us feel "warm and fuzzy". It shows that someone out there cares and understands. We all need that.

Glad you have an appointment for your 1st shot. Looks like several on here are slowly getting turns.

That is one reason I wanted to share my experience with the vaccine--- to help others. I am glad I have been off the Ibrance 1 week before and for 1 week after. That is what my MO recommended with my continuous issues with low counts. I feel much safer doing it that way. Especially with how I reacted to the vaccine. The Tylenol advise is actually a combo of what I have read and what the nurse told me when I got my 1st Covid shot. To not take Tylenol beforehand, but only after, if needed. I also read not to take Claritan, etc beforehand. I guess we do not want to hinder the body's normal immune response to the vaccine.

Pocket duty this week to Mel on Thursday. Anyone else? I have monthly labs, Lupron, Port Flush this week. Will restart Ibrance on Thurs after the week off post vaccine. Back to business with the cancer meds back on duty.

Tanya,I am glad it makes you feel good to be mentioned and knowing we all care. Sometimes that is all we need to lift us from a bad or sad mood.

Candy, glad you re feeling better from the SE of the vaccine. I am sure part of the reason you were hit so hard is that it was a new drug and dead virus being put in and if your numbers are low, it can definitely bring any other bug to the surface since this would most likely have lowered some of that immunity to fight it. I find with flu shots, I come out of it with a cold or general malaise myself even though it is a dead virus. Guess I will find out if I am right in about September.

I walked on my treadmill this morning, decided to do 10 songs instead of watching the time which was better for me. I figure if sitting around home, can do the treadmill and elliptical that way. Less boring as well. If I don't feel like 10 songs, could do five songs after eating which would still be 20 mins.

I have a grocery order from Walmart coming from instacart. Mostly fabric softener but also some beans and tortilla chips. Saved 20.00 dollars which is good. Did not feel like navigating the crowd. May do a trip to the dollar tree as well to get some more laundry detergent as well. Found out my black beans that I love are probably part of the weight gain problem, I wrongly assumed they were not high carb but apparently they are, I am still going to have them but shrink the portions a bit as I like them multiple times a day. The protein and lack of anemia take precedence over the carb count.

Goind to DB for dinner, guess he feels better now that we are not in lockdown. Not sure what scale of reopening we are at but will find out I guess it does not matter. I still don<t typically shop non essential stores unless needed and price is too expensive online. Amazon is good for some prices but gouge on other prices.

Mae..you crack me up.

Same. In your pocket Mel and Candy for your upcoming scans, etc.

I have one more tx and then I’ve finished 2 cycles of Abraxane. I get scanned after 3 cycles. My tumor markers are coming down, so I’m hopeful.

Hope you are all enjoying your Sunday.

Boy I wish I could get scheduled for the vaccine. It turns out I’m on a 6 week Ibrance break until I see MO on 3/15. My luck is that my age group will open up right after I get back on it.

Pocket duty for Mel.

Happy Birthday, BevJen!