Round 5 Day 3

I've had worse Day 3's but I've had better too.

One great thing about Day 3 is that I get my bottle removed. 
This however requires leaving the house and going to hospital. Which means getting up, showered and dressed. Its quite an effort, but its good that it gets me up. No walking in today though!

So mostly today was spent sleeping. But I did pick another flower (as I walked from the car to the front door).

And I took a photo of some pretty clouds from the balcony.

I haven't done any crochet today, but I did take a picture of the square I finished yesterday.

And I've written my blog!
And I ate 3 meals.

These are all achievements on a day like this.

Round 5 Day 2

I had one of those strange nights of sleep. I have no memory or sensation that I have slept at all. But I guess I must have as surely I would have checked the time more often...

Then I sleep more normally in the morning. And the afternoon.

This was a good Saturday for me. Lots of side effects, but mostly mild. 

I got showered a dressed, so big tick there.

I can read and write OK in short bursts. I even managed another crochet square.

Mostly I've just sat or slept on the sofa today. My fit-bit report looks pretty pathetic!

I did go outside and pick a flower though! I didn't think I would manage today, but then I realized I can reach one geranium bush from halfway down the stairs. Its a great moral booster for me to at least step outside. And to do that on a chemo Saturday is very good for round 5.

Flowers from the garden. The geraniums are so easy as you don't have to remember to take secateurs - they break off neatly.

Round 5 Started Today

Last night I had trouble getting to sleep. My rule is if I'm still struggling after midnight I play a sleep meditation on my phone. I tried out a new one. I found it funny! It was kind of cheesy! Well it made me laugh and helped a little but I don't think I'll use it again.

The appointment was at 9am. We walked in to town. This required what is now considered an early start for me and I slept a bit later than I'd planned.
I always love walking to town. It's a busy time of day to walk in. Life everywhere. And spring too. How lovely.

Then the usual workout - 8 flights of stairs up to the oncology day ward. The hallway was full of people waiting outside and this notice on the door.

Shortly after that someone came out and said it would be another 15 mins. Dave made some phone calls, I sat on a windowsill and waited.  It wasn't that long.

Selfie before Chemo begins

I got hit with a bit of mild fatigue pretty soon. A sort of 'fuzzy head' feeling. And reactions to cold temperatures. I spent most of the time just sitting. I usually get up and walk around a lot more.

We didn't have any paperwork to catch up today (hooray) but I took phone calls from my Superfund and Centrelink, and the dietitian came and had a chat with us. We fine-tuned some details around sugar in fruit juices and the GI levels in bread and rice.

I even played some Sudoku's on my phone - I think I stuffed up the last one and now I can't finish it without mucking up my winning streak - oops, chemo brain!

And I drank a lot of tea and coffee.

The nurses come and go, saline flushes, glucose flushes, chemo drugs, and finally my bottle to go home with.

We walked home. Slower. And with me looking very silly with my gloves and scarf over my mouth and nose. My face and hands were going numb in the fresh air.

Chemo Fashion. Its not the best look.

I popped in at work and said hi at work before we went home, as it is so close to the hospital - always nice to see the guys - I'm not there often enough now.

On a Chemo Friday, sometimes it feels like a race against time, doing the last things I can before I go splat.

Also on a Chemo Friday, Dave and I try to treat ourselves somehow, as a bit of a moral boost. This is how we ended up at Bunnings this afternoon.

We bought Sunflower seeds and tomato plants for our balcony. I am ridiculously excited about this. In spirit. Obviously. I'm not actually jumping up and down at the moment.  

But then we got carried away with the treats. Not at Bunnings. 

We heard the news that Joanna Newsom is doing some dates in Australia in Jan 2016. This is not an opportunity to be missed. So we bought tickets! Now we will have to buy flights and accommodation. This is what I call 'frivolousness leading to more frivolousness'. Oops. But I'm even more excited about this than the sunflowers! 

We played some Joanna Newsom records to celebrate the purchase of our Joanna Newsom tickets

Next round we will skip the treat! The fact that is the last one will be a big moral booster anyway.

Round 4 Day 14

The day before Round 5. The day I feel healthiest, and most stressed.

Went to the Creative Expression Workshop again today. It took me to some dark places, but also gave me some good visualizations. I pictured this whole cancer thing as a tornado, sucking me and everything I know and love up, chucking it around and dumping it. And I just have to try and hold on.

In the afternoon more appointments, and blood tests. The lady who did my blood test today was a total ninja - she had 2 vials of blood from me before I knew it.

Then more rushing around - I drove Dave to work - it was good to drive again.

Today's the day I 'launch' my blog - I'm a bit nervous about that, but glad to get it out there before round 5 starts.

I've got all my little household chores done that I like to do before each round starts, so after feeling behind for most of the week, I feel as prepared as I can now.

Its Mums birthday today so we're having a takeaway and watching a movie tonight.

My tights matched the construction site at the hospital today - I got a kick out of this.

Round 4 Day 13

I had an appointment at 9am today. It felt like an early start. I used to start work at 8.15am on Wednesdays. Dave drove me in to town. Its been a beautiful day. I see people walking to work or riding bikes in and remember I used to be one of them.

I feel like there is a shift happening in my perception. What I think of as my 'normal' life, I am also starting to think of as my 'past' life. That scares me a bit.

After my appointment I worked from 11am onwards. A long shift for me now. Its always nice being at work. I started to fade a little late in the afternoon. I think I could have made it until 6.15pm, but then I remembered how much I have to do when I get home, and how much I have to do tomorrow. I decided I needed to pace myself a bit. I tried to go home at 5.45pm but ended up there until nearly 6 anyway. I got a lift home.

It got a bit smokey as the evening wore on and the sunset was spectacular. I love the view from our flat.

Round 4 Day 12

After such a busy few days, I was really worn out this morning, and slept in late. And I could have slept in later but I made myself get up.
I caught up on emails and phone calls, and drank lots of caffeinated drinks.

I worked today from 1.45pm to 6.15pm. For the first time since all this nonsense started, I felt nervous about going in, like I've lost some confidence or something. But it was fine, as always. 
Dave drove me in, and Mum picked me up. I miss walking. I miss driving too. I prefer to drive myself if travelling by car.

Round 4 Day 11

Today Dave and I went to Hastings Cave. It's nearly a 2 hour drive but a scenic one and we always enjoy the sights and the music we put on.
The cave was great. The hot springs and walks were closed but we've decided to come back another time for that.

We then headed all the way down to Cockle Creek - that's the furthest south you can get by road in Australia. It's very beautiful. We ate our packed lunch on a beach, then had a short walk before heading home.

I was pretty worn out by then! But I love our day's out. By the time we got home I felt like we were returning from a holiday.

I'm starting to feel 'normal'. With that comes a sort of franticness, trying to get as much done as I can in that short space of time before I'm wiped out again.

Pictures of Hastings Cave and Cockle Creek