So what if I take two nights off, right? Isn’t all that matters that I’m doing well? I certainly am doing well…better than well, in fact. I don’t have a complaint or a worry in the world. I’m looking forward to a Red Sox-Orioles matinee tomorrow…to the patriotic weekend ahead…to a summer of rest and relaxation. I just don’t feel like blogging. It’s plain and simple. I’m not losing steam, but taking a mental health break of sorts. This time I mean it…I’ll be back in business tomorrow.
Other
I am entitled to a night off every once in awhile, right? This blog has become so much more than I ever imagined it would be. Who knew how many people are there in loving support? Who knew that I’d enjoy communicating in this fashion so much? Who knew that I’d be able to conjure up something somewhat relevant to share night in and night out for so long? Tonight the well has run dry. Am I entitled to a night off to refresh? Call it writer’s block, I guess. I had a great day…just not a blog worthy day, I suppose. I hope to be back in full force tomorrow.
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After a memorable day capped an unforgettable weekend with my parents at our Northern, Virginia condo, it’s time for me to catch up on some of the rest that I didn’t stockpile this weekend. Ordinarily (particularly on the weekends that include an IV treatment on Friday), I sleep for the majority of the possible chances…day and night. I suppose I had too good of a time this weekend though, as I was late to bed and early and rise (by my standards anyway). It’s time to call it a night though. I hope to begin next week with a similarly good start.
Other
With Jessie out of town at her little sister’s graduation - (Congratulations Emily. I’m sorry I can’t be there too) - I have my parents and little sister Chrissy here to keep me company and prevent me from eating nothing but dessert in between bouts of nausea. I’m kidding, slightly, but I am fortunate both to have their company, and that my nausea didn’t manifest itself today like it did yesterday. Like clockwork yesterday, an hour into my hour-and-a-half long Irinotecan drip, I became ill.
All is well today, though I did sleep for the majority of the day. I also failed to exercise today for the second time in three days, meaning that I won’t allow myself any days off next week. I don’t deserve it. Tomorrow I’ll make my way outside again, into the DC summer heat. Despite the high 80’s temps, the outdoors will bring a welcome respite from the cooped-up quarters of our condo, even with the company that I’m enjoying.
Today marks Day Two of Cycle Six of my treatment protocol, which would mean that I’m nearing the end of treatment if I don’t elect to endure another six cycles. Re-enrolling in the study is an option, of course, and as we now stand a likely option considering the success I’ve had with this go-around. I can handle it if need be. Stay tuned for details on that. Ultimately on my next trip to Duke in late July my decision will be made.
GBM
I’m typically hesitant to pass along Internet rumors as truth. For that reason, I don’t forward emails, and I give my Mom a hard time each time that she forwards me an email that swears “this actually works” or “this happened to my best friend’s brother, and it’s true.” So with that disclaimer, you know that if I’m telling you that it worked for me then there actually is some merit to it. Yes, this worked for me…not for my sister’s mechanic, my Dad’s hairdresser, or my Mom’s third grade teacher. I’ll always remember June 27, 2009 as the day that I defeated hiccups.
I had a bad case of hiccups this morning that showed no signs of relenting. As I began to annoy myself, as well as my visiting Mom, Dad and sister, my Mom scoured the Internet (the thing that brings her the most joy aside from her children) for help for her baby boy. This is what she unearthed…
With a glass of water handy, say “hiccups I have got.” Now take a good size sip (not a gulp) of water, and say “hiccups I don’t want.” Take another sip and say “hiccups go away”, then another sip and say “hiccups gone.”
As ridiculous as it sounds, by God’s honest truth it worked perfectly for me. Evidently, it is the swallowing action and the rhythm of it that gets your diaphragm back in order. The actual words aren’t relevant other than to provide the correct pace and rhythm. It’s important to take just enough water for it to be effective, but not so much that you hurt your throat should you hiccup in the middle of swallowing.
You may have to repeat these steps for a particularly bad bout of hiccups, but it worked for me after just one try. Consider yourselves cured.
(UPDATE: Eight hours later, they’re back. Back to the drawing board…and it worked again!)
Other
Let me issue a disclaimer. This is Jessica typing, not Brian. Brian would never refer to himself in the third person. He has asked me to type the following. Brian has been in bed since 5:00, and is currently trying to summon the energy to get out of bed to brush his teeth. I’m sure he’s being half-dramatic. Anyway, he promises to check in twice tomorrow to make up for today’s poor blog performance. Thanks for sticking with us.
GBM
Fortunately for me, chemo isn’t scheduled on Friday until 1:30 in the afternoon. As it stands now at 12:07 am, I’m typing from my office on the 4th floor of Verizon Center. NBA Draft night is a great night, but a late night. I love it, but I’m happy that it only happens once a year. As I prepare to leave for the night, I’ll also begin mental preparations for tomorrow afternoon. My nightly meditation awaits.
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Along with learning something new every day, I think each day is filled with new experiences. For me anyway, I had a day of firsts today.
At my blood check this morning I had a woman draw my blood that I’ve never previously seen there. She must be a magician. My neutrophils that stood at a sagging 1.1 last week, soared to a whopping 2.2 this morning. This marked the first time that my neutrophils doubled between checks. I’m happily no longer neutropenic.
Tonight we took in some action on the baseball diamond at Nationals Park, and I enjoyed a turkey burger in the sixth inning. As I watched the Red Sox defeat the Nats - the first time I’ve ever seen those particular teams play each other live - I realized that I’d also never before ordered a turkey burger…anywhere.
Perhaps most astoundingly though, my most shocking ‘first’ happened when I called home to tell my parents the good news about my blood counts. When my Dad answered the phone, he soon uttered into the distance, “Chrissy, it’s Brian. I’ll have to call you back.” I nearly drove off the road. Never before has my Dad preempted Chrissy for anybody. She’s the undisputed (and well deserved) favorite in my family. What a day. That was definitely the first time that my Dad abruptly ended a call from Chrissy.
My day of firsts was a special one.
Other
Never before have I been on the stationary bike and blogged via BlackBerry at the same time…until now. Tonight that unique feat has become necessary due to a busy day at work that kept me there until nearly 8:00 pm…and working from home thereafter. Tomorrow promises to be yet another busy one, not just at work, but on several fronts. I’ll have my all-important blood counts checked on Wednesday morning to gauge my readiness for Friday’s scheduled infusion. Then I anticipate a busy but exciting day in the office. Finally I’ll cap the night with a trip to Nationals Park to see the team of my boyhood take on the team that I follow most closely nowadays, as the Red Sox and Nats, respectively, meet on the diamond. Oh, I’ll also try to sneak in a morning workout before the action begins. Wish me luck.
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I’m too captivated by the news coverage of today’s horrific Metro accident to think about myself. All I can say about me today is that I’m one of the lucky ones. Jessie too. We arrived home safely together. On the worst day in Metro’s history, we’re fortunate that we weren’t riding. May God be with the family and friends of the departed, and may nobody that is reading this think that they had a bad day at work today. You could have been on that Metro train in DC.
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