I am just too busy.

I have too many things I want to get done. Simple as that. Busiest part of the school year. Family coming in this weekend for eldest daughter's First Communion. Yardwork. Bike rides; long bike rides; really long bike rides. World Cup starts in 44 days. Then the Tour De France. Pool will open soon. I don't even have time to blog properly. Therefore, I have decided to put brain cancer on hiatus. Sorry cancer but you were taking up too much of my time. I'll send you a postcard.

BTW: It's chemo week! Ummm...Temodar. Is it me or do the pink ones taste better than the blue ones?

Whew!

This week was filled with anxiousness waiting to have my quarterly MRI. Today, Marcie and I went to get the results. We heard again some good words. "Great" is the exact word the Doctor used! What a relief. "Great" is the word they use when the brain tumor is NOT growing. I can live with that. Literally. I would prefer that it is shrinking or gone but I will take "not growing". Growing would be bad.

What happens now? First, I go about life trying to live as fully as possible. (A good motto for everyone. Don't forget your vegetables ;-) Medically, I will still be taking chemotherapy pills every fourth week and some other medicine. I will get monthly blood tests and in June another MRI. Yay.

Now, I deserve a reward. Suggestions? New bike? A trip to Europe? A pony?

Marcie, for all that she has done and for being right next to me through all of this deserves a bigger reward. Maybe I'll get her a pony.

Keep fighting Coach Karl!

Been there and I know how it feels. George Karl, coach of the Nuggets and former Cavs coach has a different kind of cancer but the treatments are similar. The pictures bring back a lot of memories.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4997277

How the strange becomes normal

It is amazing how quickly pills, doctor's appointments, and head shaving becomes routine. I am three cycles into the chemo pills with no ill effects. My hair is coming back unevenly so I cut my hair every Sunday. I visit my oncologist and have the same blood draws and answer the same questions. "How do you feel?" "Really good!" Working full time again and into the school routine. That is my normal.

This week will be a little different. I will visit NIH on Thursday for another MRI. The plan is that I will have MRIs on a quarterly basis. No change in them is good. Smaller is even better. Will find out the results for this week's MRI on Friday. Keep the prayers and karma and good wishes coming! The more Mojo, the better!

Mmmmm....chemo

Third round of this chemo cycle. With the chemo, I have to take an anti-nausea pill. But for that I also have to take a laxative. Just can't win for losing. ;-)

Hair is still growing in slowly. I have gotten pretty good at clipping my own hair, now a Sunday ritual. Have not shaved it completely bald though.

I have been back teaching full-time for over a month but it has been weird. Last week was the first week of five full days. We have had the normal days off plus seven snow days and four delays. I really enjoyed the "snow week" with the girls, but boy, am I ready for Spring.

The Dentist made me laugh

Went to the dentist this week for a check-up. I laughed out loud when they put the lead vest on me before they took the bite wing x-rays. It struck me as very funny that the dental staff was worried about my exposure to radiation. Ha!

Month #2 of the chemo only regimen

This is a happy package to receive. Meh. A box arrives on my front porch once a month now with just 20 pills, 5 days worth. These are the pills that should...no, ARE killing the bad cells in my brain.

I am now a month further away from the radiation. Will this chemo make me as tired as last time? (which was not too bad). I expect to not be as tired.

Prescription rant: I am prescribed to take 440mg of the medicine nightly. They do not make a pill that size. I have to take 3x100mg pills and 1x140mg = 440mg. Since it is two different size pills, it is considered two different prescriptions and two separate co-pays: 2 x$50 = $100 = $5 per pill. $5 = pint of beer. I'd rather be prescribed pints ;-)

Actually, I am not really annoyed because when this does its work, it is a bargain at twice the price.