It's been one hectic year. All of it seems to be condensed into the months from July to December. I am unaware of things prior to having cancer. Cancer changes you, or you change because of the cancer. Things are different. 2007 will be different. I am different. I am cancer free. I am Me.

Pretty much the same story here. Achy, tired, cranky.

Mostly been laying on the couch watching TV and resting. I'm starting to notice slight aches creeping into my joints, my fingertips and tongue are tingling, and I am tired. The hiccups are starting to dissipate, they should be gone by tomorrow. The coming days will be filled with side effects and plenty of rest.

Lounging about today, just taking it easy. Going through all my gifts and finding homes for them throughout the apartment. Kind of fun. Tomorrow will be an organization day, cleaning day. I got my Neulasta shot today, so I'm set for the week. Here on out it's going to be resting and taking care of myself. As the side effects appear, hiccups have joined me for the day, I have to work with them, tolerate them, get through them. The worst days will be Saturday and Sunday (New Years Eve). This year I plan on ringing in 2007 by watching some new DVDs and snacking. Nothing too exciting, but since I'm going to be spending it on the couch, it's a good plan. I might run out to Borders and pick up a book to read, even though I have several here I could start. You can never have enough things to read.

I hope everybody had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. After all, spending time with those you love is the best thing in the world. I got an amazing array of gifts, Thanks so much to everyone. Today I had my eleventh treatment. All my counts were good. The platelets were up, but are still low. I do need to have them monitored. I have to get a shot of Neulasta tomorrow, a check up next week, the last treatment the following week, a check up and CT Scan and Pet Scan the next week, and one last check up the week after that. This has been one hell of a journey.

Christmas is upon us, so let the celebrations begin. I'm looking forward to spending time with family and friends. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Feeling better this morning. The headache has finally gone away. Last night I laid on the couch with a damp dish rag across my forehead. That helped very much. So did the Excedrin. The tylenol was just not working. I am doing some laundry, wrapping presents, just hanging out today. Going over by Mom and Dad's for lunch. I'm getting excited about Christmas, just a couple of days away!

Today I am in a bah humbug mood. Still dealing with the ever present headache. I did manage to get out and finish my christmas shopping. Surprisingly, the mall wasn't too crowded. Now to wrap everything. I sure hope my demeanor changes in the coming days, don't want to be a crabass on Christmas. I got a few days to lighten up.

Not a good day for me. I still have a miserable headache. The weather is dreary, adding to my glum mood. Slept most of the day and haven't done anything I need to get done. Tomorrow, I have no choice but to get going on things. I just wish the headacher would go away. Thanks Kim for the wonderful tin of cookies and snacks!

Moving slow today. Not feeling all that great, have a whopping headache and worn out. I have been sleeping on and off throughout the day. There's so much I want to get working on, but just can't motivate myself. There's always tomorrow because nothings happening today. At my check up on Monday everything was good except the platelets which fell to 70 from 103. That is a considerable drop, the normal range is 130-140. I have to be careful not to injure myself so there is no shaving this week. Hopefully the platelets will rise by my next treatment, because if they are low, I will not have treatment. Last night I went to celebrate my mom's birthday with my family. It was a really nice time, enjoyed getting together with everyone. I wasn't moving slow then!

Today I am feeling all right, the aches and pains have gone for now. I am a little tired out, but nothing a nap can't take care of. I have a check up this afternoon. I am going to go over to Mom and Dad's for dinner. Keeping myself busy, but not too busy. I do need to rest.

I got my haircut today! Something as simple as that really makes a difference. I feel human.

Aches and pains have been dulled with medication, today seems to be the peak. I took a shower, went out to lunch with Mom and Dad (had a really nice time with them today), came home and napped. By tomorrow, I should be able to function better.

My day is going to be spent on the couch. The aches are amping up and I am tired. Not complaining, just going through the next level of side effects until they fade, hopefully sometime between Friday night and Saturday. I am going to read, watch TV, sleep. It's a slow day for me.

Feeling completely different today than I did yesterday. The nausea has gone, the hiccups have returned, and the aches are slowly creeping upwards from the ankles. It seems I am back on track with the side effects. I plan on pretty much lounging about for the next few days, going to run up to the grocery store for some essentials, a few snacks. I'm doing all right, still have presents to wrap, cards to write, books to read, shows to watch, and couch to nap on. I'm doing good!

It's been an up and down day for me. I was woken up about 12:30am this morning by a wave of nausea and vomitting. The first time that has happened. Not pretty. I remained up until about 2:00am, I did take the additional prescribe nausea medicine that did seem to settle my stomach. I slept until 6:00am, got up, took some more medicine and tried to lay back down. I fell asleep about an hour later and slept until 9:30am. I got up, felt okay, showered, dressed, ate cream of wheat and yogurt for breakfast. Went to my appointment for my Neulasta shot, then finally to the DMV for emissions. There were absolutely no cars when I arrived, pulled right in to the stall, and was on my way within 10 minutes. That has never happened before in all the years I have been driving. Oh yeah, I passed. Currently I'm feeling all right. Not sure what to make for dinner, something not too spicy or heavy. I don't want to push it. The hiccups haven't shown up yet. Hmmmm. Oh the joys of chemotherapy and varying side effects. More writing out christmas cards tonight and TV of course. Right now I think I'm back to the couch and a nap. Considering the events of the early morning, I'm actually in quite a good mood.

The insolence continues . . .yet all my numbers were good, normal levels except those darn platelets, which were at 108, below normal by standards, but good for me. The treatment went well, getting jabbed by the needles didn't hurt this time around and my vein didn't collapse. I did enjoy my animal crackers and juice and actually read a couple of chapters of my latest book, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, a good vampire novel. While it is nice to have my tenth treatment out of the way, I still have two more to go. Right now my mindset is I just want it to be over with. I know it'll be done four weeks from now (getting treatments). It's going to be a long four weeks. Then perpetual recovery. I think I'm going to join a gym, 30 minute work out at lunch time, to gain strength and endurance. That will help with the archery. Right now, I'm smiling. Each day brings me closer to the finish line and my trip to Disney. Now I'm really smiling. I tried to lay down and take a nap after I got home from the clinic, but my mind is working. I am tired, will try again in a little while. Tonight I plan on writing out christmas cards. I keep procrastinating but I need to get them out. It'll be a fun exercise. (Trying to convince myself.) Time to escape to the couch. Have a good day/night everyone :)

I couldn't get myself motivated today. I slept on and off until well after noon. I finally broke out of my lethargy around 2:00pm. I ran up to the gas station and filled my tank, I was running low and wanted to have enough to get me to my appointment in the morning. It's an early one. For some reason, I am dreading it. I am getting close to the end, want it to be over. I know that after this treatment, I only have two more to go. I just am not looking forward to battling the side effects again and dealing with the weariness. I can have my animal crackers and cranberry juice snack while getting chemo, that I'm looking forward to. I'm being insolent, I know. Whatever it takes to get through the day. I had dinner with Mom and Dad last night, which was nice. As always, the food was delicious. Tonight I made myself a crab stuffed chicken breast, which was very tasty and mashed potatos, which didn't exactly turn out the way I wanted. I'll have to stick with instant mashed potatos, they never disappoint. Well that's about it for now, I'm ready to lounge on the couch, read and catch some TV before I drift off to sleep again.

Did some running around today, had lunch with Christine at Wendy's, and got some prescriptions refilled. Came home and took a nap. Feeling good, still tire easily. I notice it more when I am sitting still rather than moving about. I am trying to figure out a good balance of activity and rest. Much of the weekend I plan on staying home, cleaning, wrapping presents, addressing cards, reading, watching TV, Christmas DVDs, and resting. Keeping myself busy, but not too busy.

Brrrr. Cold. I keep waiting for the temperature to warm up and it's not happening. Brrrr. I'm feeling good, most of the effects from chemo have faded except the fatigue. I do what I can, then take a nap when I can. I plan on hibernating this weekend and rest up for my next treatment on Monday. I'm going to meet Kim, Jody, and Gail for lunch today, then take the car for emissions and get some refills on prescriptions. That will keep me occupied for a couple of hours. I plan on watching TV tonight and hanging out on the couch.

Everything's in check. All the levels are good, stats are good, will have my next treatment a week from now. I like hearing good news. I will be returning to work on January 29, 2007. I finally have an official ending point. Of course I will have to go in for follow ups and check ups, nothing I can't handle. I'm doing some laundry, going to go grocery shopping and rest. I have plenty of reading materials to catch up on.

Feeling better today, the aches are lessening, even though I am still tired. About 5:00pm Fireworks started going off down the street. I had a clear view of them from my living room, dining room, and kitchen windows. They were being fired off by the police station a block and a half away. They were loud, colorful, and spectacular. It must have been the tree lighting ceremony by city hall. I watched them with a huge smile on my face, I love fireworks! Tomorrow I have my weekly follow up at the doctor's office, then a week of rest and christmas shopping until my next chemotherapy treatment. I also need to get my vehicle into the DMV for emissions testing. That's going to be fun.

Fighting to stay awake today. It seems like for every ten minutes up, I'm sleeping twenty. Fatigue has set in and I ache from toe to fingertip. Right on schedule. I've been reading a page at a time, catching glimpses of TV shows, mostly dreaming. Not too productive of a day for me. Time for a nap.

Absolute blizzard conditions outside. I've been up since around 3:00am and have been watching the storm grow since. The storm of aches and fatigue is starting to rage inside now, so I'll be heading off to the couch shortly. Every time a car drives past, I wonder why would they be out in the storm. I am home and don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon.