SECOND INFUSION

Good morning. I didn't update my blog yesterday like I thought I would be able to do. I forgot I would have only one arm available and the drugs made me so sleepy I couldn't keep my eyes open very long. The second infusion went a whole lot better. My blood pressure was a little low but held steady the whole day. The worst part was the nurses trying to get the IV line in. My veins are little tiny ones and my nurse popped two veins trying to thread the needle in. Ouch! Finally a second nurse was able to get it in. It took an hour just to get through that process but after that it was smooth sailing and I slept through most of it. I was out of there by 2:45. Because of my experience with the first infusion last Monday and then the trouble with the IV as we were trying to get started, I was pretty nervous by the time they were ready to give me the Rituxin but fortunately it all worked out well. Today I feel really good mainly due to the steroids. They give me an energy boost for a couple of days so I took advantage of that and hopped in my car to come see the babies. That is the beauty of having really horrible days - when I have days I feel good it is awesome. When my blood pressure fell to 66/33 at the beginning of the first infusion I felt so bad I just closed my eyes and left it in God's hands. But today when I was able to get in my car and drive myself to see my Grandbabies I was gloriously happy. The sky, the sunshine, the trees, everything just seems so glorious and I was just so excited and happy to be driving myself with the windows down and the music loud. And these babies are just gifts from God. They are so cute, so happy, just absolutely adorable. It is just so awesome to have a good day and I am happy. Days like today make all that I have been through in the last couple of months worth it and I appreciate every minute of feeling good. It's nice to have two hands to type with too. This week is my 7 days off my Revlimid pill so I plan on having a great week and I will see my doctor on Friday morning for another checkup. I am not sure I mentioned it, but at my checkup with him last Tuesday he was very pleased with my progress and the tumors he could feel from the surface were definitely smaller. My liver enzymes are up a little, but I get my labs done every Thursday morning so hopefully they will be back to normal this week. I refused the Tylenol they give as part of the premeds yesterday because I know that is hard on the liver especially with all the other meds I have to take. They are monitoring my blood counts carefully and they don't really want me out in public right now or around anyone who is sick. If my white blood count falls I will have a really hard time fighting an infection or virus and at that point I would be fairly isolated, no restaurant food, and no raw vegetables, etc. So hopefully my blood counts stay good and I have finish the next two infusions without any trouble. Babies are waking so I am going to close for now but I will post after my doctor appointment on Friday. Thank you again everyone for all of your prayers and support. I read my cards over and over and I am still enjoying the basket full of goodies I got from my friends at work on my last day there. Enjoy your week and all of the blessings around you! Love, Vicki