Plan of Attack

Tom and I met with my oncologist today to go over the new plan. Here's the scoop:
- two new chemotherapy drugs to try (new to me... these are established chemo drugs)
- the good news: I can be treated as an out-patient!!! YIPEE! No more hospital stays. Just a few hours in the Chemo Clinic and then back home.
- Drug A is to be administered on Day 1 and Day 8 (ie a week apart)
- Drug B is administered on Day 8
- then 2 weeks off. It's a 3-week cycle again.
- I go in on Thursday for the first treatment
- more good news (we pray): these drugs are much less emetic (nausea/vomiting producing). My oncologist says that most people don't even get sick at all and don't need anti-emetics. However, because of the strong reactions I have experienced and how sick I get, she's going to give me anti-nausea drugs anyways. But I should need a lot less.
- these drugs do have some different possible side effects but nothing major
- blood counts (and consequently, fatigue) will continue to be an issue, but that's nothing new.

Kurtis is thrilled that I won't have to stay in the hospital anymore - I can't argue with him there!

And, I have to share how thrilled with Kathy I am (our new babysitter). She truly was an answer to a prayer! She is so incredibly patient with my kids and handles them extremely well. She is mature beyond her years and the kids love her because she continually plays with them and organizes activities. But, she is also very helpful around the house. For example, we have a clothing armoire that we use to store games/crafts/etc. It was a bit of a mess and you had to search for everything. I showed it to her to let her know what was in there. I came home at night and she had organized everything in there. All neatly stacked and organized by activity and all the painting gear was put back in the painting container. You can actually find stuff now! Ryan is still getting used to all the activity. I must confess that since I've been sick (in mid-December), the kids have watched way, way, way too much TV. And Ryan more than Kurtis, just because he's only in school 2 or 3 days a week. So Ryan is used to watching his Sesame Street pretty much when he wants. He's having some trouble adjusting to less TV and more activity - let's just say he's ready to sleep when bedtime comes! But, it is so much better for him and it's already better than the first few times she was here.