Back to Houston

This has got to be a quick one because we are busy preparing to leave for Houston tomorrow!

Alright, the week has been fine. I slept most of Tuesday afternoon and all of Wednesday. The port placement went fine, as Maggie said, and it's healing well. It looks worse than it really is because the nurse who taped the bandages on after the procedure was completed was very sloppy in doing so and now I have several painful and tender welts on my skin. Owie! But I'm treating it with nice lotion and should heal up....well....someday!

Tonight we're going to Dad and Carol's for a birthday party for Carol's daughter/my friend Carrie! YAY!

Tomorrow morning, we're dropping the pups off at their favorite Pet Hotel where they get two playtimes each day that we're gone and two treats of doggie "ice cream" too! Then to the airport for an 11:30 am departure.

Monday morning, bright and early, I have a CT scan at MD Anderson.

Tuesday we plan to go visit the Positive Mental Attitude Gazebo, our pals at the Proton Radiation Treatment Center, and pick up Frank at the airport. Hopefully we'll get to have dinner with Deborah and Bill while we're in town this week, too!

Wednesday morning, bright and early again, we meet with Dr. Curley. He could say the radiation and chemo has done their job and it's time to book an operating room to get that tumor outta here! He could also say that my liver is still too swollen to determine the success of the proton radiation treatments and to come back in a month or so to look again (fun! NOT!). He could say it didn't work at all.......? That's where my mind goes blank and I rely on Pete and Frank to lead the way. They've got all sorts of options lined up for me if that's the case so I know I am in good hands no matter what!

Also, we return Thursday evening and then Friday it's back to chemo. Pete has been working with a Patient Advocate at our insurance company in his effort to get me back on the drug Avastin. Regardless of their decision between now and then, Friday we intend to get me the Avastin anyway...we are prepared to pay the bill out of pocket if need be. My intuition tells me that the Avastin was working well for me last year and that I should get right back on it as soon as possible. So that's what's happening.

I'm a nervous wreck about this trip but trying very hard to put our meeting with Curley to the back of my mind. We are flying the same airline we flew in early December...the one that mistakenly sent my baggage to Dallas instead of Houston, leaving me without clothes, toiletries and oh, ALL OF MY ESSENTIAL PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS! I've learned my lesson though! The drugs are coming with me in the carry-on. Right next to my books, magazines, DS, and laptop!

Please pump up those prayers to full force if you can for this trip. My Honey and I are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy beyond overdue for some damn GOOD NEWS!

I will try to post again from Houston.