I'm turning into a farmer, I think I'm turning into a farmer, I really think so

Not long after my last post, I went to a conference at UC Santa Barbara. I learned a whole lot and met lots of people who do similar work as me, most of them not in my field (which is actually a good thing). If you have been there, you know that the campus is right on the water and is very beautiful. Most of the attendees stayed in the dorm and I could see the water from my window. As I write this I'm trying to figure out if there was anything about being there that reminded me of Tech or Lubbock. I guess if I squinted a little bit when it floods on campus, it might be like being in Santa Barbara. Plus SB had a nice sea breeze, we all know Lubbock can have some pretty forceful wind. Everywhere I went they bent over backwards to accommodate my diet. More than one person used the phrase, "We do this all the time. This is so normal in California." That was nothing like being in Lubbock.

When I got back we had guests and a few days later we all drove to Houston. We had several days of fun in Houston and I stayed on for my second round of the new chemo. Lois came into town to go with me and we anxiously arrived bright and early on Wednesday to get the party started. Unfortunately, my numbers are still too low to do the chemo. No amount of stairs seemed to help. And here I was beginning to think I could do anything- I guess I needed an ego check.

So the new plan is to stay in Houston and try again next Wednesday. Luckily, I brought a lot of work with me. I have a couple of papers to get back to coauthors, some service duties and administrative work to catch up on for the lab, and a course to finish prepping for. That's right, I'm teaching online in the fall. We don't feel I'm quite ready to be back in the classroom, plus I need some flexibility for treatment. Texas Tech and the Rawls College have been wonderful about helping me be flexible and it works out well that they need more online courses. Let's just hope I enjoy online teaching as much as I've enjoyed being in the classroom. Perhaps I can still get some of those experiences I get from the classroom by working with students in the lab. 

Many people have asked if there are ways to get my numbers up. Last time it was Neutrophils. This time it's neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, the whole panel. The nurse says there's not much that can be done, but the internet has suggestions, of course. Bone broth, power greens, exercise (which worked before), essential oils, meditation, you name it. I'm sure there's a tribal dance, goat slaughter ritual, and an egg ceremony I could also try. If it's on the internet, it must be correct so I've decided to try exercise, bone broth, power greens, meditation, and essential oils.

If you know me and have been reading the blog, you know that exercise and meditation are already part of my healing routine and everyone these days has an oil diffuser. Tomorrow our little family will be attempting to run a 5K in Spring, TX. I'm a little worried because the heat index has been in the 90s in the mornings and in the 107 range in the afternoons. I tried to back out but Jason said I'd laid out such a good sales pitch to him and Aidan that they really want to do it. Now I'm stuck! I've decided that if we die, we die. We've come too far to back out now.

 I found a good recipe for a bone broth soup with power greens, creme friache, and butter. The original recipe called for a few ingredients that weren't keto friendly, but I've learned to substitute well. I think it will be creamy and yummy. I've also been eating brussels sprouts and other nutrient rich complex carbs to increase my vitamins. Of course, I still get only 10 net carbs per day so that means if the carb sources are higher fiber, I get more of it and it helps to cover it with loads of fat. Sources of fat are cream, creme friache, bacon grease, butter, coconut oil, but not vegetable oils. When I look at what I've just typed I feel like I'm describing a 1950 farmer's dream diet. I've turned into a 1950's farmer. OMG! I also own a pig! I need a pitchfork and some hay!