Day -3

We arrived at 7:30 am Friday morning (day -6). I got my first round of chemo, Fludarabine, and after many long hours without food or drink later, I finally had the trifusion catheter placed in my chest. There was some vomiting, and pain pills over night, and more vomiting, but by the next day, I felt alright. I'm given Klonopin at regular intervals as an anti-seizure precaution, so that keeps me sleepy and/or loopy for good parts of the day. On Saturday, (day -5) I received another dose of Fludarabine, and another chemo called Busulfan. Same thing, Fludarabine and Busulfan, on Sunday (day -4). Now it's Monday, day -3, and I've had my Fludarabine, stool softeners, Klonopins, blood-thinner shots to the tummy, and Lazix to drain off the many pounds of fluids my body's accumulated. Feeling much lighter now, for sure!

So. Some pros I've found to doing this chunk of the journey inpatient:

*Super nice nurses and aides that come to help at the push of a button. This includes bringing chocolate pudding. Happy Sara.
*Food that is ordered by phone and delivered to your bed. Awesome.
*And the best part? A kindly female aide comes and covers my boob/trifusion catheter with tagaderm adhesive,  so I don't have to awkwardly tape saran wrap to my chest every day!

Tomorrow is more chemo, the next day is the "rest day," and then Thursday, April 10th, is day zero, when I receive Laura's stem cells, and we all think happy thoughts of engraftment and new healthy immune systems and sloths and a cancer-free future.

Sorry folks. Klonopin's kicking in.

Bonus day

A few changes in the schedule, for those still following along. I will be checking in on Friday, April 4th, moving the rest of our schedule forward one day. So my "re-birthday" will be April 10th. The consent conference is tomorrow morning, where we'll go over everything and sign papers and whatnot. I also decided to go ahead and get my catheter put in my chest again, instead of getting a PICC line in my arm. As annoying as it is to shower, and as creepy and uncomfortable as a central line is, it seems to be the easier to hide and the sturdier of the choices. Both good ideas when eventually dealing with a snuggly and energetic toddler. So, you know. Ugh. Anyhoo.

Jazz and I had one last play date with my best friend Kelsey and her son. She's due to have her second baby any day now, and I'm sad that I won't be here for her. But I know she'll send pictures and text me randomly. I'll miss our play dates so much.

So I have tomorrow afternoon and all of Thursday with my boys. A bonus day! Maybe we'll go to the zoo if the weather is nice, or maybe we'll just snuggle up on the couch and eat snacks and watch Curious George. I'll cherish my time, and as usual, try not to think too much of the future.

See you in  few days, folks.