Tag Archives: labs

Sunny and cold!

Posted in Blood test, cancer, husband, MDS, Uncategorized, Walking by

It was 32 degrees this morning when I walked. Everything was frosty. B felt good enough to come along and it was a lovely romantic walk in the moonlight. Jupiter and Venus? are aligned and quite a sight. I think Mars was there too but not as bright.

Yesterday we drove to Sacramento for a follow up with the transplant doctor. It was an informative appt but there’s no real difference yet in numbers. But it’s still early in the cycle and it would be next week things could start to show something.  For the actual transplant the hospital stay will be a month and then we will need to be in a hotel nearby as he will be having to visit the hospital daily for a month.  Not sure how that’s all going to work out but when we talk with the nurse coordinator we will know more.

Today is a gym day and B gets labs. We’re still trying to figure out the SDI and we’re waiting on a call from HR. They have NOT been helpful so we need more info. Also tomorrow we will call EDD to see if we can get the claim going.

Tonight is Taco Tuesday and I’m making tamales not tacos but hey it’s Mexican.

My son started back at Sac State this morning. He’s still trying to get credit for his internship which would allow him to drop one class and make his load a little easier.  My daughter has a day off due to MLK day she gets a comp day.

All in all, things are going along.

 

Still in a holding pattern……

Posted in Blood test, cooking, Uncategorized by

No news yet, but I imagine it will be in the next day or two.

B just had his last infusion today and it went very well. We’ve had so many appts though it’s hard to keep up. Tomorrow is the medical oncologist  and then he’ll know if he needs another transfusion. It looks like he’ll be getting a port on Friday so that’s going to be almost all day. Oh well, we will get thru this one way or the other.

I had my labs this morning so I’ll be getting my results by Thursday.

I ran some errands this morning including going to the bank and I used their Coinstar to do our annual sealed pot of change. It was Sue over in Wales that stated this on her blog. She doesn’t have that blog anymore but I did always enjoy her stories. The idea is you put all your change in a jar for a year and then cash it in and use that for something.  I think we’ll just save it for something special when we can travel again.  I’m hoping B can do some short trips once this drug kicks in. (fingers crossed).

I went into Goodwill and got a small stainless steel bowl to put water in for the wood stove. I kinda was looking for something cast iron but that was probably a long shot. So I added some cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange essential oil to the water. The bowl was $2.19.

I also took B’s Santa Fe to the car wash. I need to do my VW next as it is really dirty.

Last night I made a crock pot chicken with mushrooms and then at the end you top with swiss cheese and bacon crumbles. It was delicious.

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Then and early Christmas present to myself was these really cool La Parfait jars. A vlogger I follow uses these for all sorts of things and I really like the look.

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I did carrots, olives, and the top one is left over cream cheese. I’m definitely ordering the next size up for other things.  I love the look of food in jars like this.

I’ve also been putting together glass type bento boxes for B when he’s in the infusion center.

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Mostly some cottage cheese, apple slices, olives, and nuts. This way he can eat something while there.

This week the Flylady zone is the bathroom. Since out bathroom is so small it doesn’t take long to do the whole thing even wiping all the shelves, and doing the window.  I’ve had a heck of a time getting the right shower curtains though. Target has had some great liners we’ve used in the past but they’ve discontinued them so I bought another kind that was similar but they just weren’t drying.  So then I went and bought clear plastic liners to go on the inside of these but it was all too heavy and kinda claustrophobic. So I went back yesterday and spent 20 minutes looking at my choices and finally got a liner that is light weight. I think it will do the trick. I still need to trim the bottom as they hang down in the tub to much and then would just stay wet. Our tub is an old , very old clawfoot tub we put in when we first moved in. So the shower curtain rod is a ring around the top. So I always need 2 curtains or liners.  When we remodel the bathroom next year the big decision is the tub going??? It’s a big step up into the tub which is doable now but age has a way of catching up to us.

Anyway…….

Tonight’s dinner is unknown, but I may do leftovers or something from the freezer.

 

 

Are we confused yet???

Posted in Blood test, Myeloma, Uncategorized by

What a strange couple of days it has been. I have taken most of it in stride but that doesn’t mean I’m not pissed off about it.

So first, on Tuesday I head down for my appointment with the Legal Help at the Santucci Justice system. I’m optimistic I’ll get the answers I need. So I get in and start explaining to the legal aid about my birth certificate etc.  So I have booked marked where my questions are on the pages and …so this is where my birth name goes….yes….well and this is what it’s changing to…yes…. oh wait, I better go check on that. .. . !0 minutes later she returns and says the person upstairs’ says “you cannot change a name on a birth certificate except for adoption or paternity”…….Whoa, I say that is not correct. ….. Back up she goes with my paper work.Down she comes in 10 minutes no wiser.  The lady behind me starts chiming in that yes, I can change my name but what are the legal implications for SS, drivers license etc. So I am at that point totally confused. They are both confused. So the one says, ” you better go see a lawyer” JFC*** Really?  So I leave muttering under my breath.

 

So now, I’m just thinking about it. I can see changing the birth name. But how does that affect my other things? It shouldn’t. But I’d still like to talk to an attorney just to be sure. So I’m going to wait till next week and then see if I can get a consultation with one in Auburn. This is really turning into a 3 ring circus.

I went down to Sacramento for my oncology appointment. All looked good and I asked if I could do labs in 6 weeks and then in 6 more weeks and see him right after Christmas. I really didn’t need to go today but I felt obligated to keep the appointment. Plus I was dring the old van so that makes me a little nervous in all that traffic.

So then I’m talking to him about the patient portal. He says it looks like you haven’t signed up. So I say that I have. Hmmm, something is not right. So I get home sign in and it’s the same one I did sign up for but my records aren’t there except for 2015. Which is what I saw last week.  So I decide to call the help number and finally after waiting 15 minutes, the rep says. Oh, that’s for hospital records( so in 2015 is when I had my sedated bone marrow biopsy). The other patient portal is for the doctor’s office. God damn, how come they didn’t know that at the office there.  So now I need to call them and make sure it’s clear that there is a difference and I still want my labs.  I still feel something is off about it but till I know more there’s nothing to do.

So overall, it’s kinda been a stressful week.  Or at least weird.

We had incredible thunder and lightning and heavy rain last night. It was quite a show. The ground is saturated. But at least we won’t have to do anymore watering. Our bill went down to $99. But that’s still more than I’d like it to be in September.

 

OMG….

Posted in Blood test, Multiple myeloma, Uncategorized by

Such good news!!!!

My kappa light chains went down almost 2 points.

Lambda light chains stayed just about the same.

The ratio went down to 1.18.  The ratio is a very important piece of the whole equation.

So all in all, I am beyond thrilled. This is now month 25 after stopping Velcade.

It is so amazing and I am so grateful and happy.

Time to celebrate!!!

Simple Sunday​

Posted in Blood test, cooking, minimalism, simple foods, simplicity, Uncategorized by

It’s a little cooler at 93 degrees. I’m still running the window coolers so I can only imagine how high the electric bill will be especially since there’s an excessive heat warning for the middle of the week.

I went to the gym and it was nice and mostly empty.

This week is my 2-month labs. I know my oncologist is in Europe for 2 weeks so he won’t get my labs back to me so I’ll need to call his nurse for the results or wait.  I don’t have any particular sense which way it will go. They have been creeping up so I guess there’s that. I’m not sure one ever gets over the anxiety of labs once you’ve had cancer.  You wait for them with bated breath.  But in the end, there’s not much you can do but accept what the results are. I feel pretty good so there’s that.

My son fixed the AC in my old van so it’s blowing cold again. He didn’t fill the thing all the way with the R 124?? so I’ll buy another can of that tomorrow.

I’ve prepped a big salad for dinner and I’m going to grill some salmon.  I might add in a carb but not sure what yet. This week with B gone to Minnesota, I’ll keep the menus easy especially since my daughter doesn’t get home till 7.  Maybe sandwiches, tacos, pancakes?? We’ll see. Nothing too heavy as it’s too hot to eat heavy foods.

I gave away 2 sets of Fiesta ware to my brother, so that’s more out the door. I gave him the peacock blue color and the dark blue. I wasn’t in love with either color although the dark blue is pretty.  I still have plenty of other colors to use. I was going to give them to the Cancerthrift but then realized I had given him 2 sets a few years ago so this would make 4.

This week I might do a little more reorganizing the pantry.  I was thinking of taking everything off the stainless steel restaurant shelves and reorganize that way. We’ll see.

 

This week is the bedroom zone in Flylady, so I’ll work on tidying the closet. Plus it does hold my pantry back up items.

Overall, it should be a quiet week except hot!!!

 

Five on Friday

Posted in Blood test, budgeting, Credit cards, decluttering, Lake tahoe, Myeloma, plants, Uncategorized by

Let’s see, my labs came in but I had to call the nurse to get the results. My doctor is on call for other doctors this week so he is slammed. My CBC is all the same and normal, Kappa light chains went up to 15.0, Lambda was the same at 11.1, the ratio went up just slightly to 1.30 ( from 1.27).  So not bad but I’d rather the ratio be a little lower. But still all in the normal range.  June marks 2 years of being off all chemo.  What a lovely time it has been and I am grateful every day.

We zipped down to Costco at 9am to get a few things. Mostly coffee. Last week I had to go buy a pound at Starbucks and that was a rude awakening. So off we went. We filled up the Santa Fe, and then got thru Costco fairly quickly. I didn’t need a whole lot so it went quick. We also paid our membership which was due June 1st.

Tonight is a pizza night and I gave my son cash to get a Round Table. I had a coupon for a speciality pizza for $19.99 and we love their gourmet veggie. So a good deal.

We were going to go to the nursery and get some pots for me to re-pot some of my house plant friends but it’s raining so we nixed that. I guess we saved money by not going but I’ll still need to get some at Home Depot in the next week or so.

Yesterday I went out to the barn and declutter more magazines, some kitchen things I had put in a box for my son when he was going to live at SFSU( which he didn’t do), and other misc. It’s the start of a small thrift store run.

I worked on the budget and June looks okay. Still working on finishing the CC that we put Z’s tuition on. I’m okay with that. I’d like to target end of July to have it done.

I think that’s all I can think of.

We did feel bad for all the campers heading up to Tahoe for Memorial day weekend. It was pouring down rain and I’m sure it’s worse up there.

 

 

 

Midweek Musings

Posted in Blood test, simple foods, simplicity, Uncategorized by

I still haven’t gotten my lab results so I’ll e-message my doctor today. My CBC and CMP should have been there yesterday and the light chains today. I can’t remember if this is when he was on vacation. But I’ll check in later.

It’s a cloudy sort of morning but no rain. It is supposed to rain on Friday but I guess we’ll see.  Our gardens would like the drink of water.

I’m just staying home today and doing some house chores and tidying. Yesterday I did more meal prep and made polenta to fry up and a black bean and corn salad. Both are our favorites. I’m cleaning out the freezer so there will be some interesting meals. Last night though we had chicken enchiladas I froze a few weeks ago.  I have a lot of bread that I’ll either give to the geese or do something with.  A fellow park walker gives us free loaves of Truckee Sourdough. So we end up with quite a bit frozen.

My daughter has always an extremely talented artist. From sculptor to watercolors to this cool rock art that everyone is wanting to buy from her.

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Well, off to start my morning routine.

 

 

 

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, cooking, Flylady, plants, Uncategorized by

It looks to be a lovely day in Northern California.

Our yard looks amazing with roses and flowers all around. This is one of the prettiest springs I can remember. Of course, we’re only a month away from the start of summer.

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Today is a gym day and then just doing whatever. I really enjoyed my meal prep yesterday and our dinner was delicious. We heated up the lentil salad which was an excellent recipe from David Lebowitz’s ‘My Paris Kitchen’, and then had some of the wild salmon.

I go get my labs this coming week. I think this is the longest I’ve gone, almost 8 weeks, so I’m a little anxious but, heck, it’ll be whatever it’ll be with worry or not.

I’m in the bedroom zone this upcoming week. Pretty easy since we don’t have much stuff in there. What’s in your bedroom??? Try and kept it simple; a bed, dresser, maybe a plant or two. I do have a nightstand that I have to have to hold my pills I take at night and a glass of water.

Dinner will be the chickpea curry with rice.

a few more pictures I took…

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Rainy Monday

Posted in Blood test, cooking, Flylady, Uncategorized by

I went for my walk, as usual, but in the rain. It wasn’t too bad as I do have rain gear I wear. ( Frogg Toggs).  If you’re equipped it’s okay. My North Face hiking shoes are gore-tex so my feet stay dry. If the wind is blowing then it’s harder but it wasn’t too bad this morning.  We are 90 days away from hitting the 5-year mark of the JKW project.

The rest of the week still looks rainy and cold with more snow forecast for the end of the week. WTF, this is not normal. We always have some cold weather but this just seems like its going on and on. Oh well, I guess just enjoy it as much as you can.

Today is a relaxed puttering day. I’ve made some turkey chili for tonight and it’s simmering away. I hardboiled some eggs for snacks or lunches. Then yesterday I made hummus in my old Waring Blender. I got this blender back in the 80’s. So I thought gee, I wonder if this would make the hummus as creamy as the pictures from the Vitamix blender. And I ‘m happy to say it did.  I’m still going to check out the Vitamix as I think making nut butter would be cool. Any recommendations a model?? Costco has a few models so I’ll look there first.

Then I’m doing 1x laundry and a few Monday chores around the house.

I have gotten back some Labs and they look good. My CBC panel looked great and the SPEP test came back normal but I had to e-message the doctor as I pretty sure the light chains got lost somewhere. Maybe today.

Five on Friday

Posted in Blood test, cancer, cooking, simple foods, Uncategorized by
  1.  I think I overdid the gym last week and so this week my ankle has been giving me some trouble and then I had a bad cramp in my hamstring so now I’m hobbling from that pull. It seems better today and I know, from experience, this too shall pass. In the meantime, I only walked a mile this morning and very slow at that. Hopefully, it’ll be better for Santa Barbara next week.   I love walking on the beach trail right by the ocean. The weather looks nice but not as warm as I was hoping for.
  2.          Late next week I go for my 6-week labs. There’s always a little anxiety. I think once a cancer patient, going for labs or any tests just brings up past emotions.  I am way better than when I first was diagnosed and would have meltdowns. Now I just think about it some and don’t dwell on it. I’m sure, if I was back in the thick of treatment, it’d be different.
  3. Finished out taxes with Turbo tax and surprisingly we’re getting a small refund. I would have been happy to break even but those Goodwill etc donations do add up.
  4. Finished paying for my son’s full time semester at CSU Sacramento. We put it on a card to get the reward points. I’ll pay it off next month. He’s doing very well and started a new paid internship.  Traveling to Sac State is costing him quite a bit more in gas and food so his money is going there.
  5.  Made a new recipe from one of the cookbooks I bought for a dollar. It is Cooks Illustrated best Skillet recipes. This one was pasta with peas and prosciutto. I had one last pack of prosciutto in the freezer that B got as a sample. You don’t cook the pasta first but do it in the skillet. My son LOVED it and requested it as a rotating dish.

So today I’m going to the gym and just do some upper body weights and then to Tractor Supply store as last week I saw a T-shirt I liked that was inexpensive and made in Viet Nam so hopefully isn’t made in a bad factory.

I don’t need anything from the store so that’s nice.

Dinner is homemade pizza!!