It's May already?!

     It has been awhile since I have been able to post an update here.  I am happy to report it is because I have been busy with visitors and not from being too ill.  The month of February brought all of my kids home for a visit. So fun to have everyone here!  Some were able to stay longer than others and, of course, Jeremy's family lives close by. What a blessing it is to enjoy my 5 grandchildren, all of whom have been born since my diagnosis. That's a lot of energy and activity under one roof!  March brought various friends from Canada who stopped by during their travels.  My friend from Belgium, who used to live here, also arrived in March for an extended visit and will be returning home soon.
     Treatment continues for one more cycle then another bone marrow biopsy the middle of May.  Appointment the first week of June with doc at UCSF for assessment and decisions regarding ongoing treatment.  Weekly blood tests also continue and am thankful veins in my arms are holding up.  I try to rotate which arm I offer the Lab Tech so one arm doesn't get used more than the other.  However, my right arm is beginning to show signs of wear and is not always dependable so I sometimes get multiple "sticks".  Neuropathy in my feet, lower legs and fingers has increased, but am hoping it will improve a little during this next break in treatment.
     The results of my sleep study did show a mild case of sleep apnea and shallow breathing.  I went back for a second study to try various C-PAP masks and see if I was able to sleep for a longer period of time. Now the ongoing process of meeting with the medical equipment provider and trying to get the right mask and the machine adjusted properly for my comfort has been challenging.  Also, I still struggle with the challenges of medications that interfere with good sleep.  But we are beginning to make some progress and a few nights a week I am getting better quality of sleep; although, I still wake up frequently during the night.  Once in a while I have actually slept for 4 or 5 hours.  Consequently, there are days that I am beginning to feel more rested, more alert and a little less shaky.
      My new challenge has been my skin.  Three trips to the dermatologist so far to monitor suspicious appearing spots.  She suspects they are reactions to all the chemo drugs over so many years, but biopsies cannot be done while I'm on chemo.  So, May will not only bring a short break in treatment and a bone marrow biopsy, but also some skin biopsies. 
     Challenges have also continued with all of the new computer programs at medical facilities, but seem to be getting somewhat resolved in recent weeks.  At one place, someone entered into my profile that I was a smoker, so now every time I go there they have to talk to me about whether I still smoke or have I done a smoke cessation program or need to do a program!  Since I've never been a smoker this has been a little frustrating and no one seems to be able to correct it.
     We had Ty with us the weekend before Easter.  Mimi's special waffles are always on the menu for breakfast when he is here. Our friend, Kim, had her grandson the same weekend, so we all went to the show, the boys fished in the pond, had a bbq at our place followed by s'mores, went to the carnival at the Mall.  We didn't color Easter eggs, but I did introduce him to pickled eggs.  Any of my cousins remember those?  I always make some at Easter and share them with another friend who also likes them and his wife doesn't make them for him.  So it's our little Easter tradition. 
     Easter was a quiet day of reflection for us.  Church was too crowded so we "churched" on the TV with some of our favorite pastors, as we do many Sundays due to my blood counts and treatment schedules.  We met Jeremy & family for late morning brunch and enjoyed a long nap in the afternoon.
     We pray that Easter was also a day of reflection for you as we remember how He gave his life that we might have life eternal.