Monthly Archives: December 2013

M spike!

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Well, still not the news I was hoping for. Back to .6

so, one can surmise 2 things, one the revlimid isn’t working anymore, or it’s holding everything in place but not dropping my numbers.

This is cycle 5, I’ll know if it creeps up even a .01 that it’s not working or if it stays the same at least it’s not going up. So far this is how it looks:

start

.6

.4(good)

.5 ok

.5 ok but?

.6 not good

so, we shall wait and see.:(

in the big picture, this is a small monoclonial  protein. But, it doesn’t matter as it still for me shows that the myeloma cells are active.

Ill try and just be positive, I feel good and it is what it is.

Goals for 2014

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I don’t want to put down lofty goals, or unrealistic, so I’m going to keep it fairly simple.

1. Keep walking. I’m on week 29 ,day 194, I think. I’ve walked everyday including rain and this recent ice/ snow. I’m going to be realistic , a walk is a walk, and if it’s only 1/2 a mile then it’s still walking. My backs a little sore from walking on the uneven snow/ ice, so today I’ll take it easy.

2. Save money. We’ve done great with the 401k, only because it’s automatic. But it’s still saving and in a few months the last of the old 401 loan will be paid and then we can add it. I’m thinking to go to 10 % of gross . If we don’t have it in hand it doesn’t get spent. Well never catch up for retirement.  But we are trying to do something at least.

3. Save more money, in our regular savings for sinking funds. This is what gets us, taxes, house ins, etc, repairs. So I’m hoping we can get $5000 in there this year. Of course as some goes in, some will come out for the expenses but still it’s there.

4. This summer I will apply for social security. It’s not much under $300 but since I do live with an incurable disease, I want this as soon as possible. Also, if I can continue to work my little job, that would be a bonus.

5. Keep working. If I have to change treatments to a weekly shot, I’m not sure how this will play out with work. If my numbers go up then for sure I’ll be starting this, probably spring. We’re giving it 2 more cycles to see what’s going on. This is my third time on revlimid and sometimes it just stops working and you need to switch it up. I do tolerate these drugs fairly well, but working? I’m not sure.

6. Continue to declutter till it’s as minimalist as I can get it. I still have some to do in our barn. The house is pretty much done, although I’d still like to change some furniture and streamline things more.

7. Go to Santa Barbara with B.

8. Streamline our budget as much as possible.

I think that’s all I can think of now., oh, keep up with $5 savings challenge, the 52 week savings challenge. And I’ve added the coin one too.

Menu planning

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I’m working on a new concept for menus. A 12 week menu. So far it’s looking good and it’s on one page and I can scan it too see what I need to buy. Also it will help with left over meals, such as if I have roast chicken on Sunday, I can make chicken pot pie later in the week or chicken tacos or something.

also I’m trying to do themes. so Sunday will be a roast or something like that. Monday will be a pasta night or egg night, think quiche.

tuesday a chicken/ tofu night, Wednesday , some sort of ethnic meal, Italian, Mexican Indian, ? Thursday, crock pot night Friday, pizza or taco night. Saturday, soup, and sandwiche or salad. So I’ll do this for 3 months and then write up a spring menu for 12 weeks. 

I know with my freezer I’ve save money grocery shopping. I think I’m @ $500 so that is so good. Here’s how the week looks now.

sunday: we had beef stew and green chile tamales

monday: quiche with Gruyere and red peppers, onion, maybe some broccoli.

tuesday: chicken stir fry with jasmine rice

wednesday: leftovers or?

thursday : not crock pot as my son will be home, so we will have steak and potatoes 

friday: home made pizza marguerite

saturday: broccoli cheddar soup maybe in bread bowls

 

I’m excited about even saving more money this money even with Christmas coming up.

 

Sunday night chit chat

It still freezing here, and the low is 22 or some horrible number. The high is only suppose to be 40. It’s tough to get the house warm, and I’m sure our electric bill will be ginormous. I’m holding off walking till it’s light so I can see the path and ice. It’s still freezing but at least I can see.

so here some of what’s going on thanks to Carla at halfdozendaily.typepad.com

  • Reading: Robert Parker’s , Trouble in Paradise, pretty good fast read.
  • Listening to: nothing, the fire place crackling
  • Watching: we’re going to rematch The girl with the dragon tattoo. I love these movies, the Swedish version is the best.
  • Cooking/Baking:beef  stew is in the crock pot and cheese tamales.
  • Happy you accomplished this week: it seems like not a lot but I did all my regular Flylady stuff. My Christmas shopping is done except for 2 gift cards for co workers.
  • Looking forward to next week: walking, the temperature going up some.
  • Thankful for today: I’m always grateful to feel pretty good and live a quality life. I’m so grateful for my family, and life itself.
  • Bonus question: What is your favourite Christmas carol?gee, I like so many but probably John Lennon’s ” and so this is Christmas”, not sure of exact tilte

Snow!

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image

Well, I am working as B got my van down the driveway at 6:30 this morning to take my son to work. Our driveway was ok to go down but couldn’t come back up.  My daughter got her vw out to go to work. Then B took me to the library. And later will pick me up and then Z. Also the power went out for about an hour,so I wasn’t sure I wanted to stay here in the cold and dark. But, it just came on.

So, the update on my doctor visit. I started revlimid last night  so I’m on for 21 days, dex tonight. So, he said if my number goes up ( monoclonal protein) then at some point well do a BMB which I haven’t had in about 4 years to see where my plasma cells are. If they stay the same , ok. If it goes down even better. I’m not sure how I feel with this, but it does see, like we’d need to get another diagnostic in here. I’m hoping ,of course , it goes down , but this is my 5 cycle and I haven’t really seen any change. 😦

well, onward. just walk , and keep going.image

Our Christmas trees!

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Well, hanukkha is over and I’m glad. It’s fun with little gifts and latkes, but then by the 8 th night it’s a candle wax mess and and who cares if they get candy?.. Remember , I’m not Jewish so maybe thats it. 🙂

ok, over to our Christmas decorations. I have downsized a lot but still have quite a few small fake trees I love for decorating in themes. So here’s our snoopy tree,image

okay, I can’t get them to load. But there’s the snoopy tree, the small hallmark ornament tree, my favorite is the bird tree. imageThe extra ornament tree, the special needs ornament tree, and one that just has some crappy ornaments, that I’m probably going to get rid of. Most of these are the little 3 or 4 foot trees so not too much. My real Frazier tree is showing up today. I had a groupon for more than half off so I thought I’d try one. This is the last year if a real tree. Next year will be all fake trees. I guess it’s just easier.

im off to the library and then tonight is snow. So I’m not going to drive to my branch since I won’t make it, but I can walk to this branch near my house , so I’ll open that. Fun!

And yes, I walked at 6 am and it was 22 degrees. So did my sweetie who is always supportive.

I’ll check in tomorrow with my doctor updates and weather too!

It is freezing!

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We are in for some artic weather. Believe me , in California , where we live ,we just don’t get days of only a high of 44 and lows in the twenties. Once in awhile maybe a night or two, but we are in for an extended period. Also, I saw snow for Saturday. Did I mention I hate the cold.?  Also, I came home from work at 2, and immediately my sinuses were drippig and I felt off. I’d better not be getting something, as I have a doctors appt on Thursday. rescheduling isn’t an option ,unless, I’m really really sick, as I have to start my revlimid on Friday, and I need my blood work done. Ahhhhh , did I mention ,I hate the cold??