Checking in on Amy

This round of chemo has definitely been my most difficult. I was basically a zombie for the last three days, very tired and feeling pretty useless. I haven't had the ability to concentrate on anything much. Eating has been really difficult because everything tastes wrong/bad to a greater extent than it has before. The act of taking bites and chewing is a big chore when tastes and textures are 'off.' My mom recommended a milkshake yesterday, which still didn't taste quite right but was far and away the best thing I had tasted in three days. Today I went to have my chemo port incision assessed. It's healing VERY SLOWLY. The nurse and doctor advised that the best thing to do right now to help it heal is to leave it open. I am still processing this information. (skip the next bit, queasy friends) Being told to walk around the world with an open wound is a new thing for me. I have a sizeable, juicy hole in the skin on my chest. It looks like I've been very recently s...

* * * * * * I published this post yesterday with the title "Send Good Vibes to My Platelets!" and have since learned that I 'passed' my bloodwork today and will be able to get my 4th treatment tomorrow, so THANK YOU, because your good vibes helped me believe that I would pass this test that I had very little control over. :)   * * * * * * As I suspected, it has been a lovely week full of long walks and time to enjoy my last few quiet days before summer break without any bad chemo side effects. I do have some growing anxiety about my blood test tomorrow; I have no way of knowing how much my platelets have recovered (or not recovered) and do not enjoy that feeling of helplessness. Finding the bright side of the situation helps, but that doesn't mean there isn't also worry. The delay in my treatment means that if my platelets have recovered and I get the green light for Thursday I will be at my pinnacle of shittiness for Miriam's graduation. It is not somethi...

This weekend Rick and I are up at the cottage and our kids are not! We have never been up here alone except when doing big jobs like installing kitchen cabinets, so it's kind of weird but also VERY NICE. We are so thankful to our chosen Barrie family for kidnapping our kiddos and taking them camping this weekend. It's cool this weekend - single digits at night - but beautiful and sunny. These beauties were blooming at the point and I could not resist taking a picture: I'm definitely more tired this week than I was 3 weeks ago. We just got back from a post-dinner dog walk and I can feel how tired I am even though it wasn't far or fast. My taste buds continue to be dull and I'm noticing more of a metallic taste in my mouth this week. Sensations of being hungry or full are not normal either, so the desire to eat or not eat isn't normal. No nausea though, so I'll continue to be grateful for that. Thank you to Fiona for another wonderful walk in the w...

After a crappy chemo-drenched Sunday and Monday my body and brain bounced some of the way back yesterday. This is very good, since I was sort of counting on it. :) My mom had been here for the weekend and left yesterday morning, so she was here for the worst of my exhaustion and brain fog. Her presence helped me take more (or better) naps and I am so grateful that she can be a rock for me when I need her. Sadly, not all of my 'chemo round 3 wishes' have been granted. On the 'wish not granted' list: I still have a smattering of ridiculous white hairs hanging on to my noggin. To all of the little hairs that keep hanging on: I love you, but you are FREE TO GO.  Upon careful assessment in the last day, I believe my finger numbness has gotten worse, and I am also noticing numbness in my feet that hadn't been really been obvious to me before. The numbness isn't enough to limit any of my activities, but it is a strange sensation. On my 'wish granted' list: Eyeb...