Double duty chemo/scan

Since both Dr. Im (chemo) and Dr. Polito (pulmonary) requested CT scans, Terri arranged that I get blood drawn for labs in Outpatient Chemotherapy (OPC) on my regularly scheduled Thursday (5/28) and then head to Mercy's CT scan unit. I had to drink contrast in orange juice, 4 cups spaced 20 minutes apart, before the scan which took from 11 am to 1 pm. When I got back to OPC, nurse Joanne had my Taxol (chemo) and magnesium bags waiting for me. Massage therapist Mia Harper treated me to a foot massage. Knowledgeable in massage for chemo patients, she lives in not too far from me so plan to avail myself of her services outside the OPC. Lunch arrived at 2 pm and I was out of Weinberg before Baltimore's rush hour traffic. Looking forward to a 3/4 hour massage scheduled with Mia in Annapolis during lunch on Monday.

Started series 10 of Taxol Thursday

My heart rate was lower this week, probably a result of destressing while holding my new grand child. Dr. Im ordered a new round of three treatments (10, 11, and 12) as they always like to do things in 3s. I was given 2 grams of magnesium along with the Taxol this Thursday. But my CA125, which had been 39.9 of 4/16, went up 12.8 points to 52.7. Bummer. Am scheduled for a CT scan next Thursday. Hopefully that will tell us what's going on. Meanwhile I'm going to enjoy Jenna.

Dylan will make a great uncle

While I babysat Tyler over the weekend, Dylan came by to take Tyler and Daisy to the playground on Saturday. He wore Tyler out playing soccer and then brought him back home where he was glad to take a nap. Dylan went to the hospital to meet Jenna. He held her for hours. What a great uncle!

The Campbell Family of 4

Tyler, 2.5 yrs, loves to kiss her hands and plans to be a great big brother. When Alex and Megan brought her home Tuesday, he got a new red, blue and yellow tricycle to ride with Daddy's help when Megan pushes Jenna to the playground in a stroller.

Jenna Marie arrived 5/15/09

A belated Mother's Day present, Jenna Marie Campbell, arrived 5/15 at 3:28 pm in Columbia, MD. She was 7.5 lbs and 19.5 inches long. She's got long slendar fingers and toes and I think she looks like Megan did when she was born. She has very light eyebrows and hair so it may be blonde, whereas Megan's was auburn. But both Daddy (Alex) and Dylan (Megan's brother) were blondes so anything is possible. .

Megan's "Sprinkle"

Megan's friends, Teresa Gillespie and Stacy Howes, hosted a surprise "sprinkle" for Megan Saturday at the Olive Garden restaurant in Columbia. Due to Megan's suspicious nature (where does she get it?) I doubt it was a total surprise but fun all the same. This may be the last you see Megan pregnant as her C-section is scheduled for this Friday, May 15.

Finished 9th Taxol series

Wrapped up the 9th treatment of Taxol yesterday. Nurse Gale Sherman had trouble getting blood from both lumens of my port. Nurse Jack got them to work but both had to have TPA (a cleanser) for 20 minutes before they'd give blood. Labs showed I needed magnesium so had mag going into one lumen while pre-meds were started on the other. Because I was double-dipping, my chemo wrapped up mid-afternoon. I'm due for a CT scan this month which will help determine what my chemo plans are for the future. In the meantime, I set up my dates for chemo series #10.

Granddaughter Jenna Marie has proved a true Campbell and last weekend flipped to the breach position, the same as her older brother Tyler and father Alex. So Megan is scheduled for a C-section May 15, a day after the birthday of my mother, Marie Geneva born in 1902, after whom Jenna is named. Looking forward to a belated Mother's Day present in a new grand baby.

Continuing Taxol

The outpatient chemo ward wasn't too busy yesterday. Holly put in one lumen in my port and it turned out a wise move because my blood labs showed my magnesium level was nearly normal so I didn't need any mag. So I only got my pre-meds to prevent nausea and then Taxol (part B of my 9th treatment). Also got a aranesp shot (a red cell booster) so am feeling OK. Got home from Balto mid-afternoon. Good thing because there's a water main break in downtown Balto that I'm sure is driving rush hour traffic mad. While still tired, getting over pneumonia has given me more energy at long last. Megan is due May 17. Can't believe it's so close!!