Today we are traveling over to Universal Studios. It has been quite a long time since I have been there. Looking forward to taking on Jaws, as the last time he won, sinking our boat. I am having a blast, I will be talking about this vacation for quite a long time.

My leg is doing all right considering the amount of walking I've been doing. No pain, just swelling. I put it up as much as possible and when I can't push anymore, it's time to get back to the hotel. Today we plan on going to EPCOT. Disney has been good for me. Thanks to Pat, Toni, and Chris for getting me here.

Here are all the characters who greeted us in Toon Town. I think this has to be one of the high points of my life, I am so grateful to share it with Pat, Toni, Chris, Aunt Christine and Uncle Doug. I wish everyone of my family and friends could have been here too!

Trip of a lifetime no doubt about it. I got to open the Magic Kingdom on Saturday. Aunt Christine and Uncle Doug picked Pat, Toni, Chris, and I up at 7:20am. We arrived at the park shortly before 8:00am. We waited by the train station. Around 8:00am, our ride arrived. It was an old fashioned fire truck. We got to cruise Main Street back to Toon Town. We were to ride on the train, along with Mickey Mouse and other characters, into the Main Station at the entrance of the park, welcome all guests, and throw pixie dust. I expected several characters. Pluto came and I was excited. All at once, there were characters coming down the street towards us. It was incredible. Mickey, Daisy, Chip, Dale, Alice, Mad Hatter, Stitch, Horace, Clarabelle and more all greeted us. What great photo opportunities we had. I couldn't believe it. I still can't. It was wonderful. I can not thank Aunt Christine enough for getting me the chance of a lifetime. Pictures will follow, my trip has been amazing

All packed and ready to go! Now the long wait until I get to the airport, then the adventure begins. I have been looking forward to this trip for so long and here it is. If I can, I will post, if not, I will have plenty to say when I get back. Enjoy your week everyone! I know I will.

getting ready for lunch. at least I am ready for something. tonight I have to pack. fortunately most of my shorts still fit, so I don't need to wonder what I'm going to wear for eight days. I have to get my Pro-Time checked today. I am also picking up a suit case from Mom and Dad. It looks to be a busy night. Keeps me occupied and distracted so I don't go stir crazy waiting to get picked up to go to the airport. Oh yeah, my leg feels fine, the compression sock is wonderful.

Disney here I come . . .

Picture taken September 2004. I need some new pictures.

Leaving for Florida in two days and I am not prepared. Tonight is going to be a night of frantic activity. Laundry, then cramming clean clothes into my luggage. Last night I had dinner by Mom and Dad. Mike, Erin, and Justin were there. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting around talking with them, dining together. Family is important. Talked with Dr Kaiser, my Pro-Time level is good, been maintaining around 3. The trip is a go. Stopped at Target, got a pair of shorts, Walgreens provided inflight snacks and a compression sock. I am wearing it today to see how it feels. There is definite support. I have to wear it on the flight. (Between you and me, I am psyched about going to Disney.)

I had a very enjoyable weekend in the Dells. Spent most of the time reclining, legs up, relaxing. It was nice to spend time with Kim, Sarah, Nicholas, Jody, Janet, Steve, Traci, Ryan, Gail, Harry, Leah, John, Croix, Mary, Abby, Mark, Sandy, Breanna, Marki, John, Cindy, Kyle, Kayla, and Karly. Lots of activities and adventures. I did go in the hot tub. The leg held up pretty good, the pain has lessened, the medicine working. Disney in four days. I need to pack. Tomorrow, laundry.

Keep your fingers crossed. I'm going to have my Pro-Time checked in an hour. Hopefully I will be in the ballpark of 3-3.5, maintaining the right level of blood thinner in my veins. I have noticed a considerable change in the pain through my leg. It now feels like a charley horse, compared to the biting pain it was on Monday. Hopefully the clot is beginning to dissipate. I am going to a "practice" vacation this weekend, up to the Dells. My plan to hang out, walk some, wade some, lazy river it, and possibly hot tub the weekend away. All this in preparation for Disney! As long as the Doctor is cool with it. Cross them fingers now!!!!

I am clinging to this upcoming trip to Disney with all my might. I know that if I have to cancel it, I will, but it will destroy me. Part of all that I have been going through has been mental. Cancer manages to play games, treatment tests, complications wrestle your body and mind. The body seems to be slowly getting better, despite the setback of having blood clots. Disney has been the strength of the mind, the escape to something good, something wonderful after so many months of enduring. I know my limitations and wouldn't jeopardize my health for frivolity. This trip is therapeutic.

I reached the level of 3.1 Pro-Time with the increased medicine. I have been removed from those and am back on the previously established schedule. I will have my blood tested again Friday, then Monday to check to see if I maintain my levels. More blood work! I've stopped imagining going more than seven days without having it drawn. At least for now.

Oncology Alliance continues to make such good impressions on me. I requested that I would like a Radiation Oncologist from the 74th and Rawson office instead of the Mayfair one. I was contacted this morning by Michael, the assistant to Dr Kwon to set up the appointment. He rattled off February 27th. I explained I would be out of town until March 1st and would like the appointment around March 6th, like previously scheduled with the Mayfair clinic. Michael, gave an audible huff, then silence. Silence that lasted a while. I had to say "hello, hello?", just to make sure he was still on the phone. The response ~ "March 6th 9:30, Thank you" in a harsh tone followed by a swift disconnection. Nice.

The blood clot has increased in size. It is located behind my right knee. It is extending downward into my calf. I have a second clot on the inner right thigh also. The doctor has increased my medicines. I'm giving myself Lovenox shots again. The goal is to get my Pro-Time (INR) to 3 or above. As of yesterday, I was at 1.8.

I didn't think I would get to work this morning. On Tenth and Drexel there was a bad accident and the entire intersection was closed, traffic rerouted through an industrial park back to Rawson Avenue. The left lane was completely backed up so I went right back to Howell, then to Puetz. Of course there was a train crossing. I turned around back to Howell up to Ryan Rd. Everything went smoothly from that point.

not one of my better days. slept late, forgot my lunch, took an hour to drive in to work, and my leg is killing me. I have to contact the doctors office today. I am so afraid they are going to put me on complete bed rest. But I also don't like the pain either. It is snowing and the roads are slippery, I saw numerous accidents along the way. I made it in no problem, just one hour on the road for a normal twenty minute drive.

Still waiting on warm weather. Guess it'll be waiting for me in Florida. I am getting more excited as the trip gets closer. I have been on my feet too much, my leg is swollen, stiff, and sore. I am going to have an elevate my leg day tomorrow, rest it up. Disney on Ice was very entertaining, I saw Peter Pan, 101 dalmations, the little mermaid, and Lilo and Stitch. A good primer for the real thing. Tinker Bell was a flashing light, I was a little disappointed. Oh well, I'll see her fly from the castle when I'm in Florida! I'm off to the couch to elevate my leg.

Blood tests are done to check the prothrombin time. The prothrombin time is reported in a standardized form called the international normalized ratio (INR). The goal is to keep the INR within a certain range, usually between 2-3 by adjusting your dose of Coumadin. My test results came back 1.5. The doctor has increased my dosage to 7.5mg three days a week, 5mg the rest. I don't have to go have my blood drawn until the 19th. That makes it the first time since July I have gone over one week between blood tests. To me that is a big deal.

The doctor wants me to have my blood drawn at least once a week to monitor the Coumadin levels. I love getting jabbed with needles on a weekly basis. It is lunch time, I have a Stouffer's Spaghetti and Meatball frozen dinner, that is pretty darn good, I will have to get it again. For a snack, a banana nut muffin. Tonight I plan on lounging on the couch, watching Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, and ER. Two weeks 'til I go to Disney!!!

I can't go longer than seven days without getting my blood drawn. I have the latest Doctors appointment this afternoon. Yay. I went to Scott and Barb's last night, turned into an impromptu dinner with Erin and Mike. The roads were kind of bad last night, I got to slide through the intersection of 76th and Rawson, and fish tail around the same corner on the way home. It was nerve racking, jittery fun.

I was able to get to work this cold cold cold morning in my Jeep without any issues. Thanks Dad for getting the Jeep up and running yesterday. Once again, I don't know what I'd do without him. Work is going fine, I am taking a quick break to eat lunch. Tonight I am going to drive around, keep the Jeep running. Tomorrow I have a follow up for the blood clot and blood thinners. More blood tests. Fun.

It's too damn cold to be going to work. I am irritated, the Jeep wouldn't start this morning. It would turn over but not catch. I didn't want to drain the battery so I gave up after a couple of tries. Thanks to my Dad for getting me to work this morning. The car ran fine all weekend. Lots of coffee, laughs, junk food. I had a great weekend. Hopefully this week will be good despite how it began. Grrrrrrrr.

What a week it's been. I am glad I went back to work. It's good to have a distraction. I feel good, almost better than when I first started getting sick. That is a big statement to make. It's true though. I am noticing the improvement. After six months of dragging, I feel full of energy. The soreness in my leg is slowly subsiding, it's not as tight and achy as it has been. The blood thinners must be working. It's getting cold outside. Brrrr. Arctic. Good time to hibernate.

Getting back to work has been incredible. It has given me a boost of energy. I need this. It has been a good week despite the blood clot and the news of radiation treatments. Yesterday I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, a setback, I want this to be finished. I just have to push through several weeks in March. The support of family, friends, and coworkers has really helped. I get a break for February, a trip to Disney with Pat, Toni, and Chris, before I go through the remaining treatments. This is the time to rest, enjoy my time, and reclaim my livelyhood. I plan on doing that. Physically, I feel great, despite how the leg hurts from the blood clot, it's not the pains and aches from chemotherapy. Now, if only I could win Powerball . . .