RUTHIE -- Word for the Day -- Monday, January 19, 2009

RUTHIE -- As in Winner of the Top Three Questions from yesterday's blog. Here are the answers:

"Hey there Pepper and ChemoSabe….the answer is “When the WBC goes below 2; the MM guys and dolls are considered nutropenic…..they wear those lovely masks and you are locked in the RV; your house, or apt with the patient not being able to stand the sight, smell, or thought of food and don’t care if they have on underwear or not! The “care partner” then eats canned soup, chili, peanut butter and crackers and drinks whiskey and tries to stay sober just in case you have to make a quick run to the hospital!! Now, where is that picture!

Take care of Chemo-Sabe….hey ear plugs come in really handy too during those knock out days when the intense snoring sets in. Also, as always, remember to take care of yourself and remember “laughter is an instant vacation.”

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Yes -- I emailed her the photo.

Counts are still coming down. It was an IN day today for him. Running out of gas. Appetite and mood is shifting. Grumpy has begun to visit again. Not to mention, Mr. Negative. So, I fixed a good supper, ate, washed dishes and went to see mom. Got back home and getting ready for the rack.

Stomach shots the Infusion is giving him makes his gut look like black golf balls. Guess I need to go up there and teach them a few things about his shot giving. His legs have bruises and looks like massive vercos veins. That is a result of the blood thinner. We are hoping his poor little legs (use to be shapely and muscular) will get back to normal after this week. He should have his last blood thinner tomorrow as his platelets will be way below the 50 mark.

We have a follow up doctor's visit on Wednesday. I believe it will just be to see if he has been sick, nauseated or had any more problems with his legs hurting because of blood clots. He doesn't have those anymore. He is totally off the Thalidomide. He calls it Formaldehyde. I guess it is a good comparison for the MM patients.

Please don't get me wrong when I share about his mood swings. We get through it and we laugh about it. We do not argue about it, because they are expected. As I sit here now I have a grin on my face because you really would have to go through it to appreciate it. Right, Ruthie? (as I scratch and shake my head). ChemoSabe adn I call them his "chemo moments". When he got off his chemo bag last week the Infusion Center gave him a button --- "No Mo Chemo"!

Well, Kids... It is 9:00 p.m. I am going to call it a night.

Good night and Love -- Pepper ---- Sorry the rest of you missed the deadline and answers... Better luck next time. You will teach you to study! ha