Need a laugh?

Since there's not much happening on the cancer front I thought I'd share with all of you what I did this weekend in case you are in need of a good laugh.

Many of you know that Trent signed up for the Running Club at his elementary school. The club meets for a hour twice an week after school to exercise, play games, and work on stamina and endurance. The club also set as goals to have the kids participate in a couple of local running events with activities geared toward children. The first was the "Veggie Chase" held this past Sunday. The focus of the event was to motivate families to get moving and learn about healthy eating and lifestyles. There was a 5K run/walk, a 1 mile run/walk, and a variety of kids races of varying lengths by age group.

I signed Bill up for the 5K (he'll thank me later) and thought that Trent would probably not be able to complete that distance with me (walk/running) so I signed us up for the 1 mile. All the while thinking we might jog a bit, but, remembering how he handled the Race for the Cure in the spring, figured we would mostly walk.

Well, we're at the starting line and Trent is super excited. I'm worried about the mass of people (think the running of the bulls) and wondering how many small children might get trampled at the start. At the sound of the word "Go" i start jogging with the mob and Trent takes off! Mind you he's much shorter than I and so has an easier time weaving in and out of the crowd. I figure as long as I can see him I'm okay.

He keeps getting further and further ahead and I'm starting to remember that I stopped exercising long before this cancer thing came up! I round the corner to where Bill and some other friends are waiting to cheer us on. They still seem to be in shock from seeing Trent go flying by without me. I toss them Trent's sweatshirt with a look of "I'm not really sure what's going on here!" and keep on going.

Shortly after that I dropped down to a walk, cheered for the 7 and 10 year old sons of our friends as they pass me on their way back from the turn-around and finally see Trent again as he has made the turn and is heading for home. I cut the corner a few yards short to head back with him and start jogging again to try and keep up.

Didn't work. I gave up not long after, made an effort to be running when I passed by Bill again and then again crossing the finish line, but there was no salvaging the fact that I had just been soundly whooped by a not-quite-5-year-old!

Hope you're having a good laugh at my expense! I head back in for my next treatment on Tuesday and then a CT scan a week later. Depending on just how good that scan looks, the doctors are strongly leaning toward stopping at 6 cycles of chemo. That means I could be completely done with treatment, including radiation, by the end of the year. Whoopeeeeeee!

Friendly Reminder

Nothing new to report on the cancer front, just slogging through the yucky days of the latest treatment cycle.

This is your friendly reminder that if you want to have your very own limited edition "A-Team" t-shirt you need to email me quantity and sizes as soon as possible. You can hand-deliver a check ($16/shirt) or drop it in the mail. Let me know if you need the snail-mail address. My email is over on the left in case you need that.

In other news, the mighty, mighty Hornets are still undefeated following their latest 4-0 victory over the Wildcats. Trent scored another goal and has taken on the nickname "Bruiser". The nickname came from the lump on his head he got from his run in with my sewing table, but it works for soccer too!

Round #3 Underway

Hello to everyone in cyberland.

I am right now sitting in a comfy chair in the Adult Infusion Center getting round #3 of my chemotherapy treatment. We were delayed a bit in getting started this morning because my bloodwork from Friday did not reach the minimum necessary to get the juice. Since the specific things they are looking for can rise rapidly, they did a blood draw first and had the results back quickly. My white blood cells (WBC)were just good enough and the most important WBCs, Neutrophils were even better so I was able to get started. The other good news is that because I tolerated the Rituxin so well last time I was able to start at a higher rate of infusion (100 mL/hr instead of 50) and advance at a faster rate (100 vs. 50) which boils down to getting out of here sooner. Hooray!

In other matters, you can see be the poll results that design #1 was the favorite. I have asked the designer if he can tweak the font of the work "Team" to more closely match the "A" and should be getting the final art for approval today or tomorrow. The final price is $16 including shipping. So, if you want a shirt, please email me with how many and what sizes. Sizes available are Youth XS to XL and Adult SM to 5X. I would like to submit the final order by Oct. 13th ensure they arrive in time for the Lymphomathon so the deadline to order is 12:00AM PST on Sunday, Oct 12th!

Thanks to all!

News from the Follow-up Visit

The news on the tumor front is that the sucker is less than half it's original size. Bill estimates more like 20% of original size, but since he has PhD and not MD after his name I'm going to stick with what the doc said. The even better news is that we MIGHT be able to stop chemo after 6 cycles and then move to radiation for the mop up phase, but that's still to be determined. I'll get another CT scan after round #4.

The CT scan also provided a little extra information including that this little cough of mine is really pneumonia and that I also have a cracked rib, most likely because of all the coughing since I don't recall getting beaten. They can't do anything about the rib, but they don't mess around when it comes to pneumonia. I went straight a 3rd line antibiotic similar to Cipro (what you get when you have Anthrax) and I will take it for 10 days instead of the usual 14. This just makes me even more shocked that my White Blood Cell count was well within normal range right before the last chemo round!

In other news, the Hornets won another game on Friday night. Trent scored 2 goals! Also, this weekend was time to press the wine and put it to sleep in the barrels. Turns out Cab Franc is a VERY juicy grape. We yielded over 300 gallons of wine, our highest production since we got in on this gig. It's tasting great, but I have NO idea where we will put our share after we bottle it next year.

Don't forget to vote in the latest polls and check out the post from Wednesday if you don't understand.

Take care!

Ok, ok, ok

Well, my inbox has sure been taking some abuse. I have long planned on joining Abbey and Trent with their new hairdos. However, after struggling to cut Trent's hair with a beard trimmer, I decided that I would use a professional. On Sunday I finally got to the shop and here we go...

I'm available to rent out for Soccer hooliganism and Pirate-themed events...

Bill

Feedback Needed!!!

Hi Everyone!


Things have been going well this week, just the usual 1 week post-chemo, run-down feeling. I seem to be back on the upswing now and may have finally kicked the cold I got from Typhoid Trent.

I need feedback from all of you in cyberland to know if my latest crazy idea is a good one. I have been trowing around the idea of getting t-shirts for the A-team to wear in November's Lymphomathon and thought that there may be others of you who can't participate, but would like to show your support and feel part of the team. I found a great website that does custom tie-dyes and I came up with what I think is a very cool design. The company has provided a couple options for a back design and so now the fun begins.


First, I need to know how many people would be willing to shell out $16 for this totally awesome t-shirt!

Front Design


The price could go down the more commitments we get so act now!


And second, which design does everyone like best for the back?

Back Design #1









Back Design #2









Polls are on the left so get voting!

I will come up with some way of letting me what you would like to order (# and sizes) and then coordinate shipping. I think I'll need to know final decisions by mid-October so they will be ready in time for the Lymphomathon.

Thanks in advance!

Round 2 Down

Well, chemo round #2 is in the bag. I much prefer getting the juice as an outpatient. I just show up in the morning, get hooked up to the IV, and then sit for the next 6 hours. So far the after effects have been the same as the first go-round (except that this time I'm taking the anti-nausea meds on schedule so no surprises!). I'm being careful to take it easy and not work too hard this week and hopefully that will help when the bad days hit.


I have to say apologies up front to all my friends with children, but I have decided that I have the best kid ever! Check out what Trent asked to do all on his own. He is just totally awesome. It also makes him look like quite the hooligan on the soccer field. The Hornets had their first official game on Friday. Trent was great in goal again for 1 quarter and although they don't keep score at his level the "goal jar" was stuffed on by the end of the game.


The great grape crush was successful this past Saturday. We plowed our way through a heavy 2 tons of Cabernet Franc in about 2 hours. We're VERY excited about this vintage and look forward to the pressing stage in 2 weeks.

Not much else going on around here. The "A-Team" is doing a phenomenal job raising money for the Orange County Lymphomathon in November. If you'd like to help them out there is a link under the "Links to Great Stuff" over on the left.

Take care!