Grandkids make for a happy 2010

Dylan and Christine with Tyler and Dylan with Jenna.

Oma with her 3-year old grandson Tyler.

A Happy New 2010

Christmas Eve Eve (12/23) I had Avastin treatment #7. Needed magnesium so was given 4 grams (2 hours) as well as the Avastin (1/2 hour). CA125 came back 9.9 pts higher than 12/3 so it's now 56.3. Bummer. Terri scheduled a CT scan for 1/6/10 to see what's going on. She said it could be a result of infection of arthritis and or the cold/sore throat/cough that I've been getting over. Whatever. I'll think about that tomorrow. Meantime I've gotten dug out of the 20+ inches of snow that fell last weekend which left the dogs and me house bound several days. The wide overhang of my roof allowed dogs outside and not have to do their business in shoulder-high snow. Nephew Jeff White walked in Monday and helped clear behind my car. Plows cleared the street Monday night so Dylan was able to get his low-riding car to the house and finish the driveway so we can get both our cars into the carport. Looking forward to Christmas day with brunch at the Campbells and dinner at friends of Dylan and Christine in the evening in Severna Park. May the new year be happy and healthy for everyone.

No Christmas Gift

No vacation this Christmas according to Dr. Im. I continue my Avastin treatments into 2010 with #7 scheduled for Dec. 23 as OPC and Drs offices are all closed on Christmas eve day. I'll have #8 Jan. 14 and #9 Feb. 4 before Dr. determines whether to continue on Avastin or not. My CA125 went up 1.9 points to 46.4 since the last treatment but Nurse Madeline said this isn't much of a variance. It's still not too far above the 0-35 normal range. My finger and toe nails continue to recover from not having chemo toxins pumped into my body. Hair is baby-fine, white and still not long enough to comb on top. I have more hair than 6-month granddaughter Jenna, but she's got me beat on eye lashes. She, like Tyler, is going to have killer lashes.

Got H1N1 flu shot when I had blood drawn

Monday wasn't a good day. A right click with my mouse helped overwrite a 26-page file I had been working on for months. Fortunately I had last year's version and a hard copy of what the file included. In a bummed out mood, I drove thru pouring rain and dark to get to Weinberg OPC to have my blood drawn. Luckily the H1N1 flu shot was available (I qualify in the impaired immune system category) so I got the vaccine. Combination of work, BCBS crap and shot kept me from sleeping last night so am operating on 2 hours' sleep. Received my 25-year pin at work today. As of Oct. 25, I have worked at USNA 25 years. Too bad I gapped from '86-99 or I'd have 38 years of federal service. Oh, well, at least I'm vested and have health insurance into retirement. Finished re-creating the lost file pages. Amazingly I think the new ones look better that the original s. It was a lot of work. Ugh. I hate when computers (and I hiccup). Thanksgiving will be at M&A's with a ham I'm par-boiling then baking while M, A and Dylan do the rest. A blessed holiday to all.

CA125 inching down

Had Avastin #5 Nov. 12. My CA125 measured 44.5 which is down 2.4 points from Oct. 22 but still higher than the "normal" range of 0-35. But down is good. My magnesium level was once again 1.5 which meant I didn't need to get mag by IV this treatment. That saves time. Nurse Franca put lines in both lumens of my port in case I needed mag in one line, but only needed to have the Avastin. Thus, I wrapped up everything and was on my way home by 2 p.m. Yeah!

On the way home stopped by the framers to help JoAnne pick out matting and framing for my mother's photograph which was taken by my grandfather in 1906 when my mom was 4 years old. Wearing a middie dress and stockings, Mom's holding a beautiful porcelin-faced doll whose dress and bonnet my grandfather tinted blue. The portrait will be hung in my back bedroom which I hope to use as a guest bedroom. I had Hugh paint the back bedroom a light blue to coordinate with the doll. Slowly Dylan and I are getting the house purged of basement excess and trying to put things back together. Megan is supposed to come and help decide what photos/art are hung where.

CA125 going down with Avastin

Forgot to mention that my CA125 went down 12 points to 46.9 (normal is between zero and 35) last time I went for my Avastin treatment Oct. 22. With good results from CT scan and CA125 I should be feeling good, right? Wrong. I have been hurting. My right knee was giving me a lot of pain and from the knee on down to my ankle was aching all the time. I popped Naproxen (muscle relaxer) and Tylenol with codeine (for pain) but felt like an old lady when I tried to get up from a sitting position. Even dug out my step-mom's uncle's cane.

Monday I went to Weinberg to have my blood drawn for labs (to keep tabs on how the Avastin is working on my blood). Nurse Karin asked me if I had an Ibuprofen. I had some at home but not with me. She gave me a 400mg Ibuprofen and by the time I got home, I felt much better. Last Ibuprofen I had prescribed from Dr. Im was in 2007 so e-mailed Nurse Terri for a new prescription for 800mg pills. Took one before I went to bed and slept like a baby. Yes, an old baby with creaky joints, but not waking numerous times thru the night to find a comfortable position! Yeah. Won't be running any marathons or running up and down stairs, but can walk more comfortably.

Good CT scan results

The 10/12/09 CT scan showed "stable exam with no evidence for metastatic disease." It noted a 2.3x1.7cm low density lesion adjacent to intrathoracic inferior vena cava is stable. Talking to Dr. Im yesterday at the OPC (outpatient clinic) he said that after the 4th Avastin treatment I had yesterday, I should plan on two more (the power of 3s) before he determines whether or not I can have a "vacation" from treatment. It might be a Christmas present.

Hair is veerrryy slowly growing back but is baby-fine. Jenna and I are matching baldies. I can see teeny-tiny eyelashes on me. Hers are longer and colored. The Avastin is letting my fingernails alone so they are looking better. Went to foot doctor to have my toenails "debrided."

On the home side, my kids and their spouses/significant other had an intervention. Cleared my house of excess papers, furniture, clothes, etc. after many trips to the dump with trash and recycling and to the Salvation Army for things to donate. SIL Hugh has painted the rooms in my house in colors determined by Megan and Deborah (with my ok). The white doors, trim and ceilings just pop! Am getting dark handscraped hardwood floors installed next week in place of wall-to-wall carpeting. Perhaps we'll put up the Christmas tree this year.