The doctor put on urgent on the PET scan and lo and behold he got a call yesterday to come in and get the PET scan this morning. So he’s off to UCD at 7:30. This is important as the radioactive dye lights up the cancer and it should help locate the origin. So even though this a shit deal for Barclay to have to go through, maybe we’ll have some answers by early next week.
On a positive note, my labs came back with kappa in the NORMAL RANGE at 19.2 so exciting. My ratio was out of range though at 1.76 ( high normal is 1.65). The reason for this is if Lambda also goes down the ratio between the two goes up. But I’m grateful this is ok now since we have so much to deal with and as soon as he starts treatment there will be lots of trips to infusion. I need to be strong enough to get through this. My daughter and son can also drive him if needed. She’s taking him Friday for the colonoscopy so that’ll give me the morning home.
So we had the oncology appointment yesterday with the new doctor. She seemed nice but unfortunately, there is nothing new to report. Basically, the bottom line is there are cancer cells in the abdomen but the origin is not known so that’s the problem. Treatment can’t be figured out till that is done. It’s obviously very frustrating for us, especially Barclay, it’s his body.
So she said the colonoscopy could show something and at the same time will try and schedule an endoscopy to look at the upper GI. That could also prove important. The last piece of the puzzle is to do a PET scan as the hot spots show up and then after that would be another biopsy. He could be dead by the time all this is done. I mean it’s tough to just wait while these things are scheduled out. I’m sure we’ll soldier on but SHIT it’s not easy.
The drive down in the afternoon was awful. So much traffic!! Then parking at the cancer center is all valet because they are building a parking garage where the old parking was. So you definitely need to add time for that.
We have some smoke in the air due to the Chico fire. That’s the one where the guy pushed a burning car into a gully. He has been arrested so there’s that. But our temperatures are cool and today’s high is only in the mid 80’s.
We had a nice walk. A few other people showed up but we were leaving by then. The other day B found a dollar bill by where we parked and that was fun. He’s going to buy a lottery ticket with it. 🙂
Yesterday was very busy around here. My son came to do some things in the barn. He’s over Covid and feeling good. He helped B take the last load to the dump and also they did cardboard. I think he’s quite concerned about his Dad and wants to help here where he can. His birthday is August 7, so he’ll come over after work. We’ll have some kind of dinner and then cake.
After getting home from the pool, I started the pressure canner for black beans. I got 5 pints done. Then I had to process the tomatoes from the other day so I water bathed them and got 4 pints. So, it was a busy kitchen day.
Today, I’m trying out the Instant Pot for French Onion soup. It’s a simple recipe so we’ll see how it tastes. I didn’t have any sherry(it called for cream sherry??) so I just did the vegetable broth. I’ll make some croutons from leftover sourdough and I have some gruyere cheese.
I spent almost $200 at Costco this week. That should keep us in coffee for the month. Plus I got some stock-up things too. I bought organic crackers, Bourisan, a block of Tillamook, and lots of other things I can’t remember.
I spent $48 at Target and that was all food. I was specifically there to get their brand, Good and Gather organic milk, and half and half. I think their prices are comparable to Winco’s.
This morning I’m pressure canning chicken tortilla soup( of course, you don’t add tortillas, it’s just called that). I had bought a Costco chicken and so this was what I wanted it for. I got 4 qts in the canner right now.
Yesterday, I roasted a big tray of tomatoes to get ready to can. I used some for the soup but have enough to do a few pints in the water bath tomorrow. I think I’ll roast another pan later and then add that to the ones I can. We are getting a lot of tomatoes right now.
Finally, our weather is cooler. What a relief. The light certainly is different in the morning and evenings. We’re still walking around 5:30 but I think next week we’ll start going later. I feel like I’ve lost some mojo to get out there but maybe it’s the stress of everything.
Next week is busy as B has his first appointment with the new internal medicine oncologist. This will be at UCD and is a 1 pm appt. Definitely not my style but needs must and then he’s scheduled for the colonoscopy on Friday. I’m not sure if the new doctor thinks that he should do it or not. I suppose if there’s something in there they can remove it at least.?? Although that would be polyps so not sure his cancer is in the colon. From the radiologist’s report, it is abdominal. I did read about 2 drugs that shrink tumors so maybe that’s what will happen. I guess we’ll know soon enough one way or the other.
My first set of labs, CBC and CMP came in all looked good. Nothing unusual except it said at the bottom, I didn’t have an account and that’s why it was late. HUH??? I’ve been using Quest for 20 years. I think it was the new kid who put it in wrong but I’ll check next month. Now to get the kappa/lambda numbers and ratio.
I might go to the pool tomorrow but undecided right now. I guess it’s just been a hard summer and I’m feeling it and it’s not even over yet. The best thing for me is usually just keep to the plan and then I do ok.
Still no biopsy results. My guess is someone dropped the ball as to who was going to call. Tomorrow is his NP video appt so we’ll know then. Still, I hate to go into the things uninformed. Because he doesn’t have the oncologist yet, and his PC didn’t do anything, I’m guessing the results are just sitting there waiting for someone to release them.PITA>
I’m grateful at least he has the appt tomorrow. I’ll sit in and hear what is being said.
My doctor is on his way to Croatia so I think my labs are going to be stuck in cyber space too. He’s gone for 2 weeks. I may call down there and ask that another doctor release the labs.
I’m thankful our temperatures are finally dropping out of the 100’s. since we just had the 2 hottest days on record, I think heat waves like this will be the norm:( But wait, Republicans think climate change is a hoax. Remember the movie ‘Day after tomorrow’, when it’s too late, it’ll be too late.
I’m grateful my sourdough starter is working perfectly. I had made at least 3 loaves that didn’t bake right and looked up why. First, the starter needs to be robust and second, the bulk fermentation phase is the most important. So I was underproofing the dough. I’m quite pleased with the loaves I’m getting.
I am thankful I had a good swim yesterday. I got there a little later than usual, and it was mellow. I still shared a lane but that’s ok.
I’m grateful my daughter loves gardening and right now I’m processing another pan of tomatoes for sauce. Since this is a water bath process, I don’t worry too much about exact quantities because it’s just tomatoes. If this was a meat sauce or a pressure canned recipe exact measurements are necessary. I like the baking of the tomatoes as the skins come right off.
I’m grateful to be walking in the park. It’s been almost a year since my torn ACL and meniscus. So I’m really happy to just be walking. It’s still not a lot but that’s ok. On any given day I do between 2-3 miles. So I’m good with that. If I could do more I would.
Here’s giant Gus and his momma, Ciri.
Finally, I’M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT KAMALA HARRIS IS THE NOMINEE. I THINK WE CAN BEAT THE ORANGE GUY, WHO NOW IS THE OLD MAN:)
Update: B called the NP and she said it could take up to 2 weeks to get results. I kind of doubt that especially if there are cancer cells. So maybe soon. I don’t think that there’s going to be any surprise as it seems to be peritoneal cancer which basically is cancer masses in the abdomen. Hopefully, chemo and maybe some surgery will help and extend life. Who knows,? right?
So I opted to not go into the Auburn gym so I could do my first batch of salsa.
I only got 3 pints. The recipe called for 3 lbs cored tomatoes which I did but I think after baking they shrunk down so next time I’ll make more and then weigh the 3 lbs.
Then I got the bread going.
All in all, I started at 7 and I’m done now at 10. So, a good start to the week.
Tomorrow I have my labs and then I’ll go to the Roseville gym. So I’ll get my weights done for the week.
I just finished this book. It was good and I think by him writing stuff that was so emotional will help others. Worth reading.
The next book was about Judith Jones. What an amazing woman and what an amazing life she had.
There were so many books she helped get published including”Diary of Ann Frank”.
Truly a remarkable life.
Here’s a Gus picture;
I think that’s Cherry Ratski under the chair.
Well, I’m off to read or collapse one or the other. Probably read.
B will call today since it’s day 6 waiting for the biopsy results. He may or may not get any answers but he’ll try. What a PITA.
I’m on dex 8 mg and it’s really manageable. My BP went up some but nothing outrageous and after taking my lisinopril it went down to 134/86 so that’s very good. Today I’ll do the 4mg and see how that goes. I actually slept well last night without Ativain so that’s also good.
Today I’m doing the usual Dex stuff which is when I see little jobs around the house I’ve either ignored or didn’t see that dust before:)
I’m also making another boule and this one looks good so far. I’ve mostly stuck to my menu plan this week which is good. Tonight I’m not sure what I’m doing. I have some pork in the crock pot for pulled pork but I may not have that tonight. I’m not sure I have any buns for it. I went out to the farm yesterday and did buy some salad stuff. I haven’t been going there weekly because it’s just too expensive for us. I bought radishes, 2 small zucchini and a bag of spring mix and it was $11. That’s rich people’s lettuce. Still, I wanted to go and support them but probably won’t be back for a while now.
I went to Costco on Wednesday after swimming mostly because I needed HP printer ink. But then I added some fruit, shrimp, olive oil and, a few other things. This new Costco is so great. No one was hardly in there and all the registers were empty. How is that even possible???
Well, I’m off to vacuum and whatever else. I’ll update if we get any results:(
No reports back on the biopsy. I thought for sure, we’d hear something yesterday. So waiting, waiting. Not that I’m expecting anything but bad news but at least we’ll know what the official diagnosis is. 😦
After that, no doctor appts until next Friday and that’s with his NP from his transplant team so I’m not sure how that will play out. The new oncologist appt isn’t until the week after that so it’s definitely a waiting game. Wait, Wait, Wait.
Things to be thankful for though:
We are getting LOTS of tomatoes and I plan on having my favorite tomato and mayonnaise sandwich later today.
I have Velcade this morning and I am always thankful for efficient and knowledgeable nurses. After that, I will go down to the library and pick up my hold.
I’m thankful we had some days of cooler weather but we’re on an upward swing again. It was nice and cool this morning walking. There were LOTS of people walking even at 6am. I guess it’s the summer crowd.
I’m thankful my son has a nice apartment and is staying cool especially since he just down with covid. It’s the first time he’s had it. I miss him being here so I can hover over him!!!:) But he’s a grown man and knows what to do.
I’m thankful the sourdough boule I made yesterday came out perfect. The last two were dismal and I had to throw them out. I read on the problem and I wasn’t letting my starter mature enough. So I’ve been feeding twice a day and it’s very active now. I plan on doing another one soon. Also, with the heat, proofing time and bulk fermentation are different because it’s warm, so that was a factor as well.
Now that this week is going to be cooler, I’ll try and plan a regular menu.
When I do menu planning, I don’t always do them in order or as listed for a day. I might switch Taco Tuesday to Wednesday but the dinner is still the same.
Monday- I’m going to make a pie crust and do a quiche. I have spinach to use and gruyere cheese to add.
Tuesday- I have beans, RG, in the freezer so I’m going to pull them and do nachos. I still have 2 avocados from Costco in the fridge. Did you know that as soon as they are almost ripe( slightly press on them) if you put them in the fridge they will literally last for weeks. The ones I have in there are close to 3 weeks from when I bought them.
Wednesday- I have a piece of steak to use for the meat eaters and I’ll do tofu for B. A big salad too and maybe something else on the side. Corn on the cob would be good.
Thursday- I think I’ll try an IP recipe of some sort. I saw a lasagna that looked interesting. I’d have to go buy the cheese but have noodles and the sauce.
Friday- pizza of some sort. I’ll either make one or we’ll do takeout.
Saturday- If the weather stays coolish, I’ll use Weber for a BBQ night. I’d probably do chicken and more tofu. Plus salad of some sort.
Sunday- Unknown at this point. I’d like to go through the chest freezer and use something that’s been in there a while. I know I have a piece of pork roast lingering in there so maybe that. Pulled pork sandwiches would work.
Today is a pool day and then home. I don’t think I’ll go over to the library today but probably soon.
It’s not so hot but there’s more humidity because of some cloud cover. Still, it’s not going to be over a 100 so that’s something. I think the rest of the week is in the 90’s.
I went to the gym and did some weights and then headed over to Target to get a few things. It wasn’t very busy which is odd.
This coming week is not too filled with appts. I have Velcade on Thursday and that’s it. I do plan to swim at least one time maybe two. I have a hold to pick up at the library so I’ll do that too.
I made some Instant Pot polenta yesterday and it was yummy. I love polenta. The recipe called for 4 1/2 c water but it was too much so 4 c. is what I’ll do next time. It was one of the reasons I wanted the IP again was to make polenta. So easy.
Not sure what the rest of the day holds. Maybe a quick tidy. I used the steam mop yesterday after vacuuming so that’s done. Flylady zone is the bathroom so I will mop the floor with my microfiber mop, not the steam mop.
Other than that, not much! It’s somewhat depressing around here with the impending diagnosis out there. I guess we’ll just carry on. After all, what choice do you have really?
On the political front, I’m hoping Republicans don’t start in with this assassination attempt being somehow from Democrats. I believe the shooter was registered as Republican. Also, trump was fist pumping and saying fight, fight, as he was escorted away. So where’s that going? Still, violence is not the answer but banning A-15 rifles just might be.
I've been married for nearly 20 years to a wonderful husband and I'm a mom to three great kids ages 17, 16 and 14. Oh, and I just happen to have cancer. Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the blood that is currently incurable but IS considered highly treatable! My goal is to make people laugh, cry or feel a little less alone whether you are a mom, cancer patient or BOTH!
Tahoe Girl 