It's "Back To ________" Time!!

Insert your "Back To" item - I kinda started this a few days ago, but technical difficulties interfered... So,for the kids, this week was back to school. All three of them are in one school again, for the first time since we were back in Fremont. It's still hard to believe that Anna's in high school, for everyone, including her! I still wonder where that not-quite-seven year-old went when I look at this gorgeous young woman in front of me. She's not 100% sure how she likes high school yet, but, it was only the first day. One very positive note, in her opinion, is that not a single one of her teachers did the "you must be Conner and Trevor's sister" bit on her. That is a sure way to make a very negative first impression with her!

For me, its "Back To Chemo" time. I feel like it's been forever since I've been there, because I've had so few treatments this summer. Stupid white blood cells!! Let's hope after these 3-4 weeks I've taken off as my "chemo vacation" that all my cells of all types have had time to build themselves back up to the right levels and I can get back on track. The sad thing is, I hate not going to chemo more than going - actually, I don't dislike going at all, because then I feel like I'm doing something to fight this fucker instead of just sitting there and letting it eat me.

SOOOO, I'm sitting here jumping out of my skin when the phone rngs, afraid it's the cancer center telling me not to bother coming. Today is my pre-chemo doctor's appointment, and I really need it. My doctor is an Oncologist/Hematologist, and unless I miss my guess, that second part means "blood doctor," and I could really use one of those today. Thanks to my least-favorite phlebotomy technician, I have THIS

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decorating my arm!

Since this picture was first taken, the blood has welled up in a lump, then started to pool out further into my arm, just as my PA, Roni, said it would. Right now, it's about 4" long x 2" wide at the longest/widest points.

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It hurts like the giant bruise it is, but at least I know that too is normal, in order for the blood to slowly resorb into the tissues. My wonderful chemo nurse were suitably horrified at the sight of this booger and told me not to go back to that tech! I'm going to have to see if that's at all possible.

What a wonderful beginning to my return to chemo! Now, just wait - my next blood test will show I'm low on RED cells because half of them bled out into my arm from the last test. Surprise, surprise, surprise...