Tag Archives: infusion

Menu Monday

Posted in Blood test, California, meal planning, Uncategorized by

Using my master one month plan, this is what I have for the upcoming week.

Sunday ( last night ), was egg salad sandwiches. Easy and I didn’t feel like cooking anything.

Monday- I plan on a quiche using a store-bought pastry. I’ll do Swiss cheese, a few veggies, and I have some cream to use up too.

Tuesday- I’ll probably do black Beans. Either black bean soup or chili.

Wednesday- Homemade mac and cheese with salad. We’re still getting the romaine lettuce from the garden.

Thursday- I think a tofu scramble with potatoes. I still have half a bag of Costco’s Yukon gold potatoes so I want to use them up.

Friday- pizza of some sort

Saturday- TBD

Today, I have my labs and then I’ll head down to Roseville to get gas at Costco and go into Winco for a few things. I need some fresh produce, and I’d like to get the stuff for the Christmas lasagna. Then I’ll head up to infusion. B should be done by 10 am.

After we’re home, I’ll work on the kitchen zone and get some of that done. I’m planning on being home on Tuesday, so I can finish it then.

I also want to sit down and write up some goals for 2025. At this point, we have NO RV reservations as we don’t know how long B’s recovery will be. I’m hoping that we can at least plan a couple of trips starting in June. or maybe one longer trip. I guess it’s a wait-and-see situation.

Frugal Friday

Posted in Blood test, budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, frugalism, meal planning, Political things by

We got home around 5:30 p.m. after B’s infusion. It was raining and dark, so driving was a bit of a challenge. I had made some beet soup in the IP, so dinner was done. Overall, it went well down there, and he got the 2 bags. So today, he’ll get labs and see how much it improved the platelets.

He does have an appt for tomorrow back down in Rocklin, but my son or daughter will do that. It’d be great if he doesn’t need them but that’s not too likely.

This morning is still cloudy but no rain. I considered driving to the pool, but honestly, I’m just tired of driving this week. This morning, I’ll do some house things and read. I’ll also check the pantry for menu ideas. Tonight is pizza night but we may not do that. I guess I’ll see what everyone want to eat.

I went to Safeway on Tuesday after my labs. I think I spent @$90. This month’s food is over budget but I’m ok with that as some of that was stocking up stuff from Costco. I still need to go get a few things from the Holiday market and there is Thanksgiving. Some months are just like that.

We have spent more on gas than normal, driving back and forth to Sacramento, Rocklin, etc. The Santa Fe needs windshield wipers so B will take the car maintenance envelope and get those when he can.

I’ve only got a few things left to buy for Christmas. I need to order /send my BIL (Heidi’s husband) his annual cheese from Point Reyes. I’ll do that soon. And I need to get 2 GC’s for my daughter. One for the garden center and the other for Gap. She pretty much buys whatever she needs so gifts are a challenge. And besides, she told me she dislikes Christmas so there’s that.

I’m still not reading any news, and I feel better for it. I do catch a headline here and there and then freak out( like Kennedy as head of Health. I mean he’s a fu**king anti-vaccer. It’s all too much and somewhat feels like an alternate reality. Maybe I should read Carlos Castenada again.

Simple Sunday

Posted in bread, California, cancer, cooking, Halloween, peritoneal mesothelomia, Walking by

We got home yesterday around 2:30. Everything went well and now we just have to see what his hemoglobin is with tomorrow’s labs. Especially if he has the chemo on Wednesday, his hemo has to be up. What we discovered though is the infusion is open on Sunday. No one has told us this and it would have saved us from going to the ER.:(

Yesterday I walked over 3 miles at the UCD campus so I was pretty achy this morning so I only walked a little over a mile. Also, I’m not going to the gym as I need to do my morning house reset. I’m also planning on going to the Roseville gym tomorrow so it’ll cover doing weights.

So far, I’ve got the sourdough in the oven, swished the bathroom, and checked what I need to wrap the few presents I have for Christmas. Next is dusting and then steam mop. I’ve slowly finished the garden shed except for that box of extra jars which I’ll go out and do today.

This is one of our resident bucks. quite handsome!!!

a few Halloween things. I don’t put out all my vintage Halloween anymore, just a few pieces.

This jack-o-lantern is probably 1950s.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in bread, budgeting, budgets, California, cash envelopes, cooking, Gratitude, library, meal planning, swimming, Uncategorized by

I was grateful to the nurses at Oncology for being so nice, friendly, and efficient. My nurse noticed the uptick in my kappa numbers and mentioned it. I said I was quite disappointed but maybe the dosing just needs to be adjusted( which is what I think will happen). I also asked about Darlazex Fastpro and she said that is a once-a-month shot so maybe that’s what I’ll need to go to after trying the other options.

The huge storm is moving in and although we seem to be forecast not to have terrible wind it still will be gusting and lots of rain. I’m grateful that I got whatever I needed to get done yesterday. The Sierras and Tahoe are bracing for blizzard conditions and Cal Trans is warning people to stay home.

We continue to enjoy the free DVDs of Longmire from the library. A great series. I’m very excited about the new Shogun coming out. Shogun, the book, was a huge influence on me and Japanese culture. I loved the first miniseries with Richard Chamberlain. The Japanese did have some pretty horrific tortures and deaths ( heads rolling) but the beauty of the honor is somehow still infused, well, unless you were an enemy and then that wasn’t pleasant.

Today I’m grateful to feel good enough to make sourdough again, and I’m prepping lasagna to go in the freezer and I plan on making a soup for dinner. I took my dex at 5 pm last night and I think I like that better than taking it when I get home from infusion. It gives me time in the afternoon to do some stuff.

I’m grateful I got the March budget done. We have 2 cars to pay registration for and smog. I’ve saved enough in envelopes for one and the other I’ll need to figure out. My goal of course is that for next year these are fully funded.

I’m thankful I went to the pool Tuesday because I won’t be able to get back till next week with the storm and dex days. The Coast Guard kids were using 3 lanes which I was not thrilled about but otherwise, it was mellow.

This is about half in bloom. It’s cloudy so it doesn’t show how pretty it is in the sun.

Some happy daffodils from the yard. The pink tree is almost full out so with our weather turning for the worst, I’m not sure the flowers will make it. Next year I plan to buy 2 more bags of assorted daffodils to start filling in a few more places.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in California, Myeloma by

I am glad to be alive after driving in the weirdest traffic I have ever driven in. First, the drive to infusion went fine. (almost, and this is #1) I could see an older truck merging from the on-ramp behind me right at the exit to Infusion. He pulled up very close to me as I approached the 4 way stop there. He sped through the stop sign and just shook my head in disbelief.. But the best is still to come. I was in and out of infusion in 30 minutes. And the nurse had said she always takes the back road back to Auburn, and since I wasn’t in any hurry I decided to do it. Big mistake. The #2 incident was right after I took the exit which is called Twelve oaks, another older truck with some Maga looking guy comes up and is tailing me, mind you I’m doing 60. He crosses the double yellow line and speeds ahead. I get to the stop sign and there he is behind 2 people. huh?? Really?? #3 I’m on a very windy road now up to Newcastle and 2 white cars are tailing me, mind you, I’m doing 45 and it’s a windy road. There are 2 construction stops and the white Civic behind almost runs into me as she is looking at her phone. Then after the 2 stops the white Lexus behind the Honda zooms out crosses the yellow lines and goes screeching down the one straight part of the road at least going 65. Then the Civic is still tailing me and #4 is she screeches out and passes on a double yellow line and speeds away thru a school zone doing 60 at least. #5,Finally, I get up to Newcastle and decide to get back on 80. So I’m coming up to the next on-ramp and I see this older red sedan about to merge but they don’t see the truck right there and just about runs into it( mind you this is all in front of me happening), and he tries to overcorrect and almost flips over. Then #6 the work truck that almost took him out merges into the middle lane and is swerving back and forth. Believe by this time, the atheist in me is going ‘prayers’ ???? No, I just kept on with some very fine JFC’s the rest of the way home. I think there was one other but by this point I was frazzled. So weird, I don’t think I’ve ever had such weird driving incidents like that.

I’m thankful this was my last shot in cycle 2. It does seem to catch up to me by this 4th shot. My neuropathy is a little worse, my taste buds are shot, I have styes, and I’m sure there’s more. I have next week off and I’m very glad of that.

I’m grateful November has been a good month and am looking forward to December. We really had beautiful weather in November. Now it seems we’re in for cooler days and cloudy too.

I’m done with most Christmas things. I still have a few GC’s to get, my brother, and Heidi’s husband Richard. I’m not planning anything for Hannukha except lighting the last of the beeswax candles I have.

Today is my home Dex day so I’m just doing a few things and then just reading or something.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in cancer, Gratitude, Myeloma, Walking by

We had quite a bit of rain the other night and I’m pretty sure that ends fire season. So that’s a huge relief.

Our walks have been starlite and so beautiful. I walked this morning and had some Dex breathing issues. It makes lung capacity a bit of a struggle but it does pass. Also, my heart rate is up some from Dex so that’s something to watch. I usually have a higher heart rate but this was a little more elevated.

Yesterday’s appointments went well and I left the infusion center by 12. I left Sacramento by 10:15 so I got up to Roseville with plenty of time to get a sandwich at Nugget. Traffic also wasn’t too bad.

I’m grateful for all the meal prep I do, so last night’s dinner was ready, and my daughter just had to put together the salad and boil some egg noodles. I had made honey mustard chicken the day before, so it was ready.

Tonight, I’m making crepes with spinach and mushrooms I need to use up. I’ll make a mornay sauce to cover. I’ll have it prepped so someone can just heat it up.

I’m so grateful for my LLS grant. My UHC premium was paid and it helps a lot.

Anyone have some thankfuls to share?

Friday Stuff

Posted in Blood test, budgeting, MDS, Uncategorized by

We’re still in the storm pattern here and I 80 is closed again. This kind of snow and weather hasn’t happened in years. I think the last time I remember snow like this was 1988 or so. Truly amazing amounts of snow have fallen in the Tahoe area.

My daughter still hasn’t been able to get there. Yesterday she got 1/2 way and had to turn around because cars were sliding all over. Too dangerous.  I told her if the library director complains take it to the CEO of Nevada City and say if it’s too dangerous to drive then it’s just too dangerous.

We’re off to infusion this morning for Barclay to get platelets. Good news is that his hemoglobin is at 10.6. That is very good news. So he does not need a transfusion.

Also good news, the nurse coordinator is calling his brothers today and the donor kits will be sent out Overnight express. So we are moving forward and should know if they are a match in about a month. So very good news there too.

I’m going to the gym and then pick a few groceries at Safeway for pizza tonight. I thought I’d get mushrooms, olives and maybe artichokes.  I have the pizza dough rising right now and will put in the fridge before we leave.

Our very old neighbor left with his son late yesterday. Someone came and boarded up the broken window. But there’s still no power and if the roof was leaking it’s probably a mess in there. But at least he’s safe. We’re looking at taking down maybe 2 or more trees but it really does depend on money. We will need to be very careful as we still need to cover the $6000 deductible for the transplant and lodging is our responsibility and donor costs such as the flights and hotel while getting the marrow. So lots on our plate financially.   But I know from what we felt in the past when we removed the huge trees, I think this next set of trees will also feel great. I mean there’s always a chance some random tree could fall but at least we would have done what we thought was the most likely.  The way our neighbor’s tree fell was really unpredictable. So who knows?

A weird week really.  Really weird….