Managing the balancing act...

A rare sunny day in Portland and Mom took advantage of it to sit in big chair by the window and soak in some of the warmth and rays.

That was a rare highlight for her though in a day when the big IL-2 side effects were all starting to make their presence felt. Her blood pressure and electrolyte levels were all over the place (mostly way too low) and took a lot of managing by the nursing staff. And this evening Mom reported that the less pleasant digestive side effects had all started to kick in in all their misery.

Despite this she was 7/7 on doses as of this evening and expected to be able to get her 8th dose tonight at 11. If she does she'll only be one short of where she made it the past two cycles. So mostly likely she is very close to being done with receiving doses (unless her body is able to absorb a lot more punishment this time) and will spend the remainder of the time in the hospital trying to re-stabilize her systems so that she is well enough to be released.

Alex and I will probably go spend some time at the hospital tomorrow so I'll be able to give a first-hand report on how she's doing on what (in the past) has been one of her rougher days of the cycle.

2 Days Down, 3 to Go

End of Day 2 and Mom is hanging in there. As of now she's 4/4 on doses and I don't think there's any reason to think she wouldn't be getting her 5th dose at 11 tonight. That will make her (likely) more than halfway through her treatment as both of the previous cycles she ended up with 9 of the 14 possible doses. But we'll see...

It wasn't too bad of a day today. Mostly so far the side effects have just been bone-crushing tiredness/lack of energy with an accompanying drop in blood pressure/disruption of electrolytes. But so far (and we're all enjoying it while we can) no diarrhea or vomiting.

Though she was tied to a an IV pole for the majority of the day, she did manage to take a nice walk around the floor in the morning, and was able to enjoy visits from Jon, the Davis family four (with double grandchild bonding), and her sister Sue. Meanwhile, Phyllis has been great company and taken really good care of her.

She's very frustrated being (mostly) locked in a bed (which has been a consistent issue for her to deal with over the 3 treatments) but she's taking to heart the comment from one of her friends that there must be a 'jet stream' of healing energy being sent her way and she's planning on riding it as far as she can.

And so it begins again...

So Becca here at the end of Day 1.

By cycle 3 you start to get into a real routine. Brian got Mom to the hospital bright and early this morning and she set about setting up her mattress pad and healing altar and fleece throw and the other little touches that make the hospital room seem a little more homey and bearable.

It was a long morning though: there were a number of delays getting the central line put in (including the seemingly inevitable laying on gurney in a hallway for 20-30 minutes waiting for transportation to arrive) so Mom wasn't back up in the room and able to order lunch and get settled until 1 pm.

The Davis family four were there at that point and Mom got to have a little bit of baby bonding time and then some great chatting and interacting with Kai during which time Kai took full advantage of Mom's last real meal for a week to pilfer as many french fries as she could get away with.

Phyllis, who will be with Mom this week (thank you thank you thank you), arrived in the early afternoon in time for dose #1. One of the things you learn about IL-2 treatment is that the body starts recognizing it and reacting more quickly as you go through more cycles. It says...ah yes, I remember you...WHAM!

Evidently that's what's happening/going to happen this time (though it didn't so much on cycle #2 when we had been expecting it) as it only took that first dose this afternoon for Mom to be hit hard and have the wind taken out of her sails. Though not nauseous yet, she is already exhausted and feeling flu-y. The positive way to take that is that is certainly seems to indicate that her immune system is on the case and primed and ready to go.

Mom had a good visit in the early evening with the Bloomfield-Townzen family four including some nice Dashiell bonding.

Keep/Start sending healing and energy-filled thoughts up this way. Looks like Mom is definitely going to need them this cycle.

I'll do my best to keep things updated.

Ready to tackle cycle 3!

What a marvelous weekend to get me psychologically and emotionally ready to begin my next cycle of treatment on Monday morning. Saturday morning 23 friends gathered to share wonderful food and gifts of special traits with me. The room was filled with love and healing energy that will carry me through the next two cycles of treatment. Any time I feel down or need encouragement, I can reach into my beautiful bag and pull out a message of support from the healing circle breakfasts that I have had.

This morning my children and grandchildren got together for an early Mothers day brunch. They gave me flowers and loads of hugs. The day was beautiful so we made the most of it by being outside and taking walks around the neighborhood. Just the thing I needed before being locked in a hospital bed for the week.

Even though I know what to expect, it takes a great deal of courage to enter another cycle of this treatment. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers and I will imagine being held by your supportive hands and surrounded by healing blue energy.

Big High

I played pickleball today for two hours. Hadn't lost much of my touch and played really well. What a lift it gave me to be out there and to be able to compete. If I was able to play well just six weeks after treatment, it gives me hope that I will be on the golf course and the pickleball court later this summer!!

Just had to share more photos

Dash and his great aunt Laura and I had a wonderful morning at the Portland children's museum and then at the playground in Washington Park. Came home to find his parents home with Finny. I am wearing a track in the sidewalk between the two houses helping out with both babies and their older siblings. What a joy!!! So glad that the hospital didn't have room for me next week so that I have another week to enjoy before I am really unable to do much for a month again.

Two Grandbabies in Two Days!!

Got a call this morning at 6 am to come right over to my son Jon's as Lori's water had broken. Finley Adelaide Bloomfield was born at 7:57 am weighing 7 lb 9 oz and 21.25 inches long. She is a beautiful little girl with reddish hair. I took care of Dash all day and am exhausted. He is just like his Daddy: a bundle of energy..fun and creative but always on the go. There is a reason that one has little boys when you are 30 rather than 60! It is going to be a wonderful weekend with both little ones home with their families and I am able to walk between the two houses to visit everyone.