As multiple friends pointed out, Monday was my penultimate treatment!  Last one will be April 16. 

So far, about the same as last time. I tried posting this update before but kept falling asleep mid sentence. I’m still recovering from the sleep disruption that seems to come from the infusion day combo of steroids and Benadryl. As of yesterday the paclitaxel body aches hit, so I’m back on the pain killers. Today, other than placing a grocery order and eating lunch,  I have spent the day on the sofa sleeping. Wake up, go back to sleep, wake up, eat a piece of Easter candy, go back to sleep, and repeat. I haven’t even turned the TV on (yet!)[...]

Have I mentioned the hot flashes?  I think I've neglected to give sufficient attention to this quite unpleasant side effect.  It's one of the main reasons why I don't wear hats more often and let the world enjoy my shiny bald head.  At home, I've been keeping a light bamboo fabric hat with me at all times, but tend to put it on and take it over at least a dozen times per day. [...]

I would tell you how things are going, but I’m busy putting my sweatshirt on and taking it off again with every hot flash. Which is more challenging when you can’t feel your fingers due to peripheral neuropathy and your fingernails are separating from the nailbeds. Mental clarity is declined as well, thanks to the Percocet that dulls the joint and muscle aches. But chemo is not supposed to be fun, is it?[...]

That’s the best way I can think of to describe how I feel. Body aches all over as if I had a fever, but I don’t.  Plus, my hands and feet are numb and tingly as if I just came in from a day of skiing. So I’m spending my time mostly horizontal and dosed with Percocet. [...]

I spoke too soon. Body aches galore. Boo. Ugh. Groan. Here’s hoping I can figure out how to control this side effect because it sucks. 

Silver lining: Season 2 of Jessica Jones is now streaming on Netflix.  Maybe after a nap.[...]

My brain is not feeling creative or very competent this week.  So I'm trying to compose a pretty simple update - before I fall asleep - forgive the typos!  This week was my first paclitaxel treatment.  The protocol is a little different - different meds the day before, different drugs before the main treatment med, and then, particularly the first time, they watch closely for an allergic reaction.  Fortunately, all went smoothly on Monday.  Thanks to a 4:00am wake-up and then the Benadryl they gave me, I took a nice nap during my treatment.  [...]

Halfway through the chemo stage of treatment and FINISHED with the dreaded "red devil" chemo drug (doxorubicin)!

Next up: Taxol.[...]

Nothing major happening, just little things keeping me at limited functionality for now. Last week’s chemo had me tired through the week but really hit me hard on Friday through Sunday. And then I started having lower back spasms. So I’ve been enjoying medication, sleep, medication and more sleep. [...]

After treatment 2, I basically just slept all week. I gradually came out of the fog and was feeling pretty good the last few days, allowing me to get out for a running group “Galentine’s” party, a meal out with the family, a Sunday at church, and a six-year-old nephew’s Star Wars birthday party. I played with my Instant Pot, making a one-pot pasta and sausage dinner. I experimented with scarves to cover my cold bald head. And did a lot of snuggling under my anonymously gifted fleece cat blanket. [...]

This has nothing to do with the subject of this site, except that you can't beat proud kid moments to keep your spirits up during chemo wipe-out.  This is Henry's new scheme.  I recorded a video of him reading a library book yesterday morning and it was too long to text to the grandparents.  Therefore, he decided we should put it on YouTube and he would start a YouTube series titled Reading With Henry.  Due to the good work of his school librarians, he is familiar with the Caldecott sticker on books and declared that he would only read Caldecott award-winning books.  (I have since referenced the winner lists and confirmed that we own 22 Caldecott medal or honor winners to get us started!)[...]