Myrmidon -- Word for the Day -- Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Myrmidon • \MER-muh-dahn\ • noun

Definition: a loyal follower; especially: a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously

Happy New Year to all you Myrmidon's. This will be the first writing of 2010.

ChemoSabe received labs the day after Christmas and everything looked good. We had a nice two weeks off and will start up with Dex and Velcade on Tuesday, January 12. I know he can't wait! ha.

The last week has seen some crabbiness. I have seen a lot of time spent in the recliner sleeping through movies we rented and then afterward I had claims that he had watched the whole movie. Hmmmm...I didn't know the background effects were sounds of snoring.

We spent our New Year's Eve with Stretch and Rainman. We waited for an hour to get a table at a nearby restaurant. The food was fabulous, but the prices were enormous. We all really wanted steak, but we all got chicken and pasta. If we had ordered a steak, it was just that... No potato, veggies or salad. That was extra. The cheapest steak was $25.00. Call me cheap, but I ain't paying that for someone to cook me a small piece of meat.

I fixed a turkey with all the trimmings for ChemoSabe and me on New Year's Day. My older brother showed up for the weekend. We all three stuffed ourselves. I made apple dumplings every night through Sunday. We are really needing a diet fix.

Back in December I wrote you about the 2nd year maintenance schedule beginning in March. It would be weekly Velcade injections and one day a week Dex. Well, I got a call New Year's Eve that the schedule has been pushed back to June. ChemoSabe was not a happy camper. He wanted to get the show on the road. June will be the six month interval for all the tests and doctor's appointment so I don't know why we were set up with the March dates to begin with.

The two weeks on and off will give him enough time to do some business stuff. He has some new jobs starting up so the Dex will give him plenty of energy to do late night responsibilities. I will just have to rent more movies for the weekends he is down and in that damn recliner. That is when I cook so much, too. I see 20 more pounds coming on.

There is a MM patient staying in the house behind the church that had a stem cell transplant last week. His WBC is 0.04... How low can you go? He has been very weak this week, but his attitude remains positive. He came over to visit last week and I tried to prepare him for the worse, BUT, I also told him it would be a "Rewarding" experience. His wife visited yesterday... They are Stan and Susan from Florida.

Please pray for them as they go through this process. He is having mood swings this week and she is experiencing something in their relationship that she never has before.

My friend and boss, the interim pastor, has received notice he will not be continuing on in the church. The pastor search team is getting close to a decision. I believe in his heart he really wanted to stay, but I also feel the other side of him is ready to go. What does this bring for me? Dunno...

It is just too cold for me... It is currently 29 deg. I don't like it. I want to ride. I see visions of us getting on the bikes and just heading out for the weekend. I need it... ChemoSabe needs it.. Stretch and Rainman need it.. With that, we will probably get out too early in the year and freeze our buns off, just to get out.

Well, I am rambling. Just wanted to touch base with you and let you know all is well. ChemoSabe still has his sense of humor and good health. We are happy and content.

Thank you all for giving us encouragement and keeping us in your prayers throughout 2009. In four months it will be two years. Next month will be a year since my mother passed away. I just can't believe time has passed so quickly.

Good Afternoon, Dear Myrmidons and Love -- Pepper