Torchlight Parade at White Pine Ski AreaAs I first write 2008, I think of all the checks and forms to remember to get the right date on.
So this morning will write about our trip to Jackson yesterday. It's another long one. If you don't want all the details like some do, just skim.
Remember Gina and I had decided we should cancel the trip because of the storm we had, figuring the roads wouldn't be very good for traveling.
Didn't sleep well the night before and then was awake at 6 a.m. but laid back down and really zonked out until 9. I opened my eyes and saw the sunlight streaming in and went "BOING". Had to call Oncology and ask if I could come in another day. They are closed New Years Day of course, so Wednesday was the first possibility and I would miss having my checkup with the Huntsman doctor. Nurse Carol nearly insisted that I come to keep the doctor appointment, and they could do the chemo after. She said Wednesday was too busy to include me anyway. I said we'd be there in about 3 hours, then called Gina and she was still able to go along with me. I said I'll be there in an hour.
It was so sunny and beautiful here that Joe kept saying "You're missing a good day". In fact, even after the storm yesterday he was saying I'd still be able to drive out. I dressed warm, washed up and took my yogurt and hot tea with me. Joe had taken the chains back off the car and got it out for me. Then drove ahead of me out the lane to break the snowdrifts. The snowplows hadn't cleared the county (dirt) road yet, but it was quite good and other vehicles had been through the drifts so I did just fine. After the horrid storm we had I was surprised the roads were as good as they were. (The drift in the corral is about to my hips.)
Picked up Gina about 10 and we were on our way. I asked her for a bottle of water because mine I keep in the car was frozen (who woulda thunk?) and I needed to keep hydrating so my veins would be good. Had been drinking all night
The highways were sometimes dry to good on up to the Rim where they began to be snowpacked, but weren't as slick and icy as last time. Going along next to the river it was snowing lightly and pretty misty so the visibility was an issue there, but everyone was going more slowly and being careful. I also had smeary glasses, probably dog kisses, that needed to be cleaned and had to keep shifting my head to get a seeable angle through them.
Was kind of up in the air about the sudden shift in the plans, so seemed to be having small feelings of being nervous/anxious/stressed/distracted. It seemed I couldn't relax and enjoy the scenery as much as last time, although so much of it was spectacularly beautiful. I especially love when the hills disappear back into the mists, like a watercolor painting. The river had more solid ice on it than the last time. Starting down into Jackson the roads were clear.
The drive with Gina was so enjoyable and she kept me entertained with stories from her past, and history of the area. She was raised on a remote mountain ranch that got very snowed in in the winters. When she was born her mom's water broke 2 months early, and so she the birth was unexpected. They had to take her mom as far as Cora with a team hooked to the front bobs of the hay rack sled, since it wasn't all put together yet, getting down there in the middle of the night. Then had to get the vehicle warm enough to start, they built a fire under it (under the engine- that was common then - why they didn't catch on fire or blow up I don't know), and pulled it with the team til it started. They got to Jackson and the hospital about 7 and she was born at 7:30 a.m. Can you imagine? There's lots more to the whole story, and lots more adventures. I hope we get to read the book soon.
We arrived at the hospital a little before noon. It wasn't nearly as busy as the last times and when I got into my chair I was the only one, a couple of others had just finished. We saw people we know from Pinedale again. I am always so grateful that one thing I can be thankful for is I'm not near as sick as most of the other people who are there. We all need to pray for ones who are ill that way.
My visit with Dr. Buys from the Huntsman went fine. She really seems knowledgable, which I expected. Everyone from there is on the cutting edge of all the info and research. My bloodwork this time came back improved again, with the liver enzymes down. They took blood for the tumor markers and that will be back in a few days.
Next they started my chemo drip and Gina went over to KMart to get my new more powerful anti nausea pill prescription filled. That was good - and thank you Gina - because it saved us some time on the way home. When she came back and told me it was for 5 pills and cost $250 I was speechless. The insurance part D paid for all but $22. I will boycott those next time even if the insurance pays it. (I just don't believe that price can/should be possible) ...and after these are gone will just keep taking the cheap ones I already have since the nausea wasn't that bad - esp. if I would take the blankety blank pills like they tell me to. That's another thing that gets procrastinated.
We ordered grilled ortega turkey sandwiches on sourdough from the hospital restaurant menu which was good and ate lunch while I got my treatment. I also had a cup of beef barley soup that was very good. Carol gave me a flyer about a support group that is starting on Wednesday Jan. 9 afternoons in Pinedale. I think I should try to go to that, even if just for a reason to start getting out of the house more than only going to chemo. We were finished about 3 p.m. and started on home.
Joe gave me specific orders to call him when we left Jackson and again when we left Pinedale, but from the time we left the hospital all I got was a busy signal. I have to tell you, although trying to assure myself everything was o.k. at home, I was a little worried. You know how you can envision all kinds of terrible things. Gina offered to drive me home in case something had happened to Joe today, but they had a nice evening planned and I told her then I'd have to drive her back home. And besides, just like he's always done all these years that he never called home, I'd just tell him, "No news is good news". Since they had got the new phone equipment in I don't know why its having a problem - but when I got here the phone was dead. Told Gina if anything was wrong I'd call 911. But if I'd had to, I don't know how I'd have called 911.
We got to Gina's about 4:30. She had told me about a thing called Bear Bread that they had gotten on their trip to Alaska. I wish you could see it because describing it isn't easy. If you think of a fungus growing on the tree, which Gina said it's not, that would be a place to start. There are small and large ones. She showed me both sizes. The shape generally is a thick "L" shape. The side that faces down is pure white and flat. The rest of it is about tree colored. She had one about 18" across and she said when they got it from the forest it weighed about 80 pounds and when it dried out, I lifted it with one hand, it weighs maybe under 10 pounds. She is painting pictures on the white side and gave me a small one she had done, it's a landscape with mountains and a river. I am just enthralled by the whole idea of it, and that she made it and gave it to me. It is sitting on a special spot in the bookcase where I can see it easy.
Gina and Charm and their husbands went to the torchlight ski parade tonight and then had dinner up at White Pine. Charm and Jim skied and Gina and Bob will watch. Charm said the wind was blowing hard and it was cold skiing.
Got home fine, saw only a few deer and they were not in the road, just close. Got here about 5:40 - glad to see still a twilight in the west instead of darkness. They had plowed the co. road and it was quite nice. Our Richie Road was better than it was this morning with a little traffic having gone in since I went out. Joe said Norm and Jep had come over to visit, kind of surprised him while he was vacuuming. When I got here everything was fine and Joe didn't know the phone was not working, just said it never rang all day. And that was fine with him. Of course it would have to be on a holiday again. Fixed us some scrambled eggs for dinner so that was easy and good.
With the way the day all came about, I ended up just a little more stressed by the time I got home, starting with leaving late, etc etc. But sat quietly for a while, read the email and felt better. Later I worked some on my photos to get them ready for catching up onto the blog. Was tired. In a while I realized that this is the same symptoms I've had each time as night comes on. The same headache, dry nose and eyes and pain in the neck. Took my first $50 pill!!! I ought to feel really great for the next couple of days. Anyway better!!!!
Could not get to sleep, until finally by 1 a.m. felt like laying down and dozed until about 3. Then got a snack, watched several programs on TV, made tea, up and down getting my bean bag hot repeatedly in the microwave to put on my neck, etc, etc. Finally after Joe got up, I could sleep and it was 10 a.m. when I woke up. I did not get the bad shoulder pain.
As I sat awake I had several very good positive thoughts and insights. First was what I'd already told Gina on the way home, that I was ready to start getting back out and socializing more. And perhaps that should be my No. 1 New Year's Resolution. I have really managed to cut off seeing and visiting with people, but the quiet and recuperating has been good. So I must be feeling better. I believe riding with Gina and talking with her - and the time being right - gave me insights about the point I'm at in the illness. Everything I hear that someone else is doing that is fun, I wish I could be there or do that. Beverly said they had family night with her wonderful potato salad and chicken fingers and I wished I could have been there. I wished I could have gone to the torchlight parade. I'm thinking about wanting to do things again - travel, or go to lunch and meetings with friends. If I could pick one thing strive for I'd like to take that train trip across Canada that we've talked about and go up into the parks - Jasper and Banff. Just be a tourist. Or something like that to look forward to. Maybe by spring I'll be well enough to do that, though that is an unknown. I also feel like getting back to writing the book. That is part of what I've been doing by organizing the files.
Edis and Nancy are traveling here from Bozeman today and will be here tonight for a visit. Edis is bringing her guitar. They will leave on Friday. I'll let you know more about their stay the next few days, but Joe and I are looking forward to seeing them very much.
Well this was a good thing to do today, just sit and write.
Thank you all my special friends. I cherish your friendship and support more than you know. You don't know how much that means to me. The best ever New Year to you all. What ever it brings 2008 has to be better than last year was for us. Much love and hugs.
