Tag Archives: zometa

Simple Sunday

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Well, it’s been a longish week.  Hot, Hot, more hot!!

There’s not much change for the coming week either.  I’m so glad we have an Intex pool. That was one of our better purchases since we both love the water so much. BTW, this newer model came with a sand filter so if you’re ever in the market for a pool that doesn’t cost a fortune these are a great value. This pump has kept the water crystal clear with some additions of shock but that’s expected.

I went to the gym and did weights.This morning  we walked one round in the park. I wore the boot and my foot felt ok. I won’t try and push to do it tomorrow. I was just happy to go and walk around once.  It has been discouraging not to be able to walk everyday but well life happens and it’s best to go with the flow.Healing my foot is top priority.  My other foot also feels like maybe something is tweaked. I do have a bone spur and osteoarthritis in both feet and that can be a cause of foot stress fractures. I hope that’s not whats going on.. I was going to check with my oncologist next time about whether the Zometa that I use to get for bone strength could help here.

A super fun find at the Goodwill was an Atlas 150 pasta maker. I got it for $5.00.  I’ve been looking for one forever. It wasn’t till I got home though and realized it didn’t have the clamp.  But I went to the hardware store and got a C clamp and that worked. I can get a replacement on Amazon for $20 so I might do that. Then this morning, viola!!! I made pasta.  So tonight I’m making the homemade pasta and then zoodles as we have some lovely zucchini in the garden.  I’m going to use a yellow and green zucchini.  Then I thought I’d made a garlic olive oil sauce and throw in a few shrimp.

So we will see how it turns out. Since it’s the first time making the pasta, I’m sure there’s a learning curve.  I’d like to try a lasagna with the home made noodles.

I decided to order Courtney Carver’s ‘ Soulful Simplicity’

and I have to say, I’m enjoying it. It’s way better that ‘ The year of Less’ and ‘Frugalwoods’.  So if you’re looking for some inspiration for minimalizing this is a good one. She does mention ‘God ‘ a few times so far but I’m okay with that as she does qualify it with ‘spirit’ or ‘heart’.  I also like Dave Ramsey and of course he does use lots of christian things but I overlook that for the content that’s being given.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all the men and women who have made our country safe!

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Veterans Day is a day to remember the brave people who have defended our country in some way or another. My brother is a veteran. And my other brother died in Vietnam . I protested that war in the early 70’s and still feel it was a terrible waste of human life. But that doesn’t take away from that all who have served deserve respect and honor. They have earned it.

its quite cold here, but at least sunny. I walked this morning it was probably 30! I’m kinda thinking of breaking the JKWP and only go when I feel like it. I never seem to get ahead with feeling like I can do anymore than a mile and lately I just don’t have it in me it seems. Since I havent broken it by a day yet, I suppose that’ll be monumental. Plus now with this new development of the rib pain ,who knows what’s going on. I see my doctor in 2 weeks and get zometa. Maybe I should have had the zometa sooner?? It’s a bit of a guessing game I suppose.

Yesterday I did some town chores and made pulled pork on the crockpot. I added blackberry sauce at the end which is really good. Our local bbq place did that and we loved it. Today is just a home day,vacuuming, tidying and I’m going to pull out the christmas wrap . We got another load of gravel for the driveway too. So after this its a NO SPEND everything. Except food and basics.

Tomorrow I’m going to whole foods for a turkey breast and world Market to look for some little gifts for my sister.(she loved the mushroom measuring spoons,I got there!)

Well, I’m trying not to be depressed but sometimes it’s just hard to keep it together…. My typical MO is to just hide. Read or just sit and think, or not think as it may be. Oh, well…

Wednesday stuff

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imageWell, so far its been a nice week off pomalyst. I’ve felt pretty good. I e messaged my doctor and he said not to worry, I was only mildly neutophrenic. So, since I feel good, I haven’t worried. I’ll start Pom on Friday.

We’ve been quite busy at the library since out main branch is closed for re carpeting. Lots of new people picking up holds etc. tomorrow I have a FOL meeting and we’ll be voting on officers and summer reading budget. That is if we have a quorum. We should as most members know it’s an important meeting.

We’ve had quite cool weather but still very nice. Low 70’s, and a little breezy.

My husband put together the Poang chair and the little side table from Ikea and both are quite nice. So I have decide if I’ll get another Poang chair so there’s two. I’ll wait and see. I haven’t put the new slip covers on and maybe later today.

So today is my doctors appointment and my zometa infusion. This is my first one in almost a year. Maybe it’s 10 months. So, I’m taking Gatorade and Tylenol. I usually spike a little fever the first night for a few hours. Also, you generally feel a little dragged out. I don’t have much to go over with him except, my low ANC, and hopefully my FLC and Spep test results are there. But usually it’s 3 days. I’m still not sure about getting the paper work for the second opinion going. I’m in resistance for some reason.

Then I thought we might stop at Costco, but usually I’m too wiped out after zometa so I’ll have to plan that another day unless I feel good.

Here’s the really exciting news. Today my Mac Air is showing up. Finally after saying I was going to get one for the last 3 years ,I did it. Plus, my daughter , in graduate school, all of a sudden thought she’d like to use one too.  So…… I’m very excited. Not sure what I’ll do with it yet that’s different from my iPad but it will have a keyboard and a bigger screen. So exciting!!!!

I still haven’t figured out how to insert the pictures here, where I want them. Maybe with my new MacAir I can figure it out.

The calm before the storm!!!

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Well, we are in for a pretty nasty storm Wednesday night and on into Thursday. Wind, lots of rain, flooding Predicted and very high winds. So, in that light I cancelled my doctor visit and zometa on Thursday. It’s just too much to drive an hour in that kind of weather. My numbers are stable and zometa can wait a few weeks. I’ll get my blood work and wait to hear from him. I asked him to let me know when to start my next cycle. Plus, I’ve felt awful all day and I’ve definitely got a sore throat. If it’s not better tomorrow I’ll call my co worker. I just don’t get paid enough to suffer thru at work. She’ll have to find someone or come over herself. I’ll wait till the morning to decide.

Other than that not much new…

Sunday thoughts

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Well, I guess I spoke to soon about feeling good on Thursday. That night around 2 or so I knew I had a small fever, a reaction tho the zometa. It wasn’t full blown like last time but still I didn’t feel well in the morning. The fever was gone in a few hours but I still had to work my 4 hour shift. Fridays are usually pretty slow so I knew I was ok.

Saturday I felt fine and I had a good day overall. My son made dinner so it was. Nice not to cook. It rained all day and everything is very wet. That’s a good thing. Today is dex Sunday so, I’m going to do a few Flylady things, make some bread and maybe a soup. Oh, and yogurt.

Well, I’m back, many hours later, made soup and bread but no yogurt. It seems I’ve been going since 7 am which I have, but the house still needs a little more putting together. Geez, how many hours is that, it’s 11:30 now.?.?

Zometa infusion

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Well, I’m sitting on an IV with zometa dripping into me. It’s not so bad except we had to wait for insurance authorization as I haven’t had a treatment here. It’s a nice treatment room. It’s been almost 6 months so I’m ok with that as along as I don’t have any bone problems. 

My blood work all looked good and… Yeah…. My m protein is at .38 . So I’m ok with it staying in this range…. Very happy….

it was pouring down rain when we left the house but now it’s not so bad. 

Next month we will try the other cancer center that’s closer to us. I’m not sure we will like it better. But it will save probably 20 minutes driving.

So we’re going to stop at Costco and pick up chicken for dinner and I’ll throw in some baked potatoes. Usually , I get wiped out by coming down here so that will take care of dinner.

Starting the garden

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So, this was suppose to be yesterday’s blog, but here it is. We are working to get some garden areas ready to plant. On the side , which is really where our front door is, it’s just the house faces this way and the driveway is  parallel to the kitchen window and my daughters room. Yes, confusing. Try feng shui ing that.

so it’s an herb garden mostly with some flowers so I want add to that and frame it with some boards. We have some things coming up and with the weather nice for a few days more should start coming up. We do expect rain on Wednesday.

This week is my monthly blood test and doctors appt. next month I’ll need my zometa infusion as it’s been  5 months.

Tree day!

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Well, it’s an exciting day around here. We are getting the first very large tee(ponderosa pine) taken down. Plus ,a very large oak branch that sits over the driveway where my daughter parks her vw. We won’t be here to see the action with a crane and crew as I’m heading down to Sacramento to the oncology office . I see the doctor and get zometa. So well be gone for all of the morning. Zometa,an IV, takes about an hour. But it’s getting in there, getting started etc, that can take a while. So I’m planning we’ll be home by 1pm. I am very excited, well not about the IV, but the tree!

Yesterday was also busy. we went to trader joes, and Winco.  I haven’t separated out food and non food, but it wasn’t too bad of a shop and I got a ton of things.

last night we had a yummy broccoli cheddar soup with cheese toast.  Tonight is spaghetti with a meat sauce, and marinara for the non meat eaters, salad and maybe I’ll pick up some garlic bread, or make it at least. 

We are both up early so I can  get my walk in before the crew shows up and we need to leave by 8am to get to Sacramento.

Zometa treatment

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So, here I am in the treatment center. Appointment with Dr. L went well. He always takes the time to listen. Since I feel good , it’s an easy appt. I am not having any problems, except my m-protein. So we’ll know next week, start revlimid or wait. He reminded me to watch out for shingles, and that relatively speaking my m protein is small.Imageso, this treatment is to strengthen bones. Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects the plasma,so bones get damaged, either with fractures for what’s called lytic lesions . Here’s the hubby who’s come with me every single time for 8 years. This is a relatively easy treatment, IV, and about 1 hour.ImageImageImage

July mini goals

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imageHopefully we’ll be back on track with the budget. We had to B’ s tires to the tune of $584, and his car service at$393. But that’s done and was part of what we budgeted his bonus for. We also had to propane at $300. So, the bonus covered those things but not too much savings. We managed $50 to Santa fund which is good because you can’t touch it.

I think it’s just being realistic with what we can do. There’s only so much money and so many bills. We have everything to basics so there’s not  much to trim. I will ask Z to pay his cell phone$40, now that he’s working. S will need to start paying once she gets a pay check again.

So mini goals financial and otherwise :

  • Keep walking everyday, (I’m on day 36)
  • Put another$50 in Santa
  • Pay another $100 to the dentist, almost done!
  • Put $300 in sinking funds
  • Send off my LLS form for insurance refund. This is the fantastic leukemia and lymphoma society grant program. It is a wonderful organization, I get my portion of my husbands insurance paid by them.
  • Go to a museum with B
  • go to a new restaurant with B
  • Camping in Tahoe for 2 nights to make up for the rained out trip. I think it’s just going to end up the 2 of us, as both S and Z have work.
  • Be emotionally prepared to have to go back on chemo drugs. I get my zometa infusion this month( a bone strengthener that all myeloma patients do). Also, after my blood tests I’ve decided if it goes up even .01 I will tell him in August we’ll start. I think it helps to write this as a goal, as less of an impact when it happens.
  • Keep doing menus.
  • cook some batch cooking for freezer( this has been great)!
  • Be okay with budget being less than what I hoped it would be, in other words, I thought we’d have saved more money 😦

so, that’s it for now !