End of Round 2

Spent almost all day at NIH--11 am til 4:45 pm. Apparently you have to be really hydrated for the Cytoxin--so a bag of IV fluids first, then the Cytoxin, then another bag of IV, then the PICC line was removed and we're home. Maureen brought over dinner (yum, thanks, Maureen) and sat with us as we watched President Obama's press conference on his first 100 days. Except for spending a lot of time in and out of the john getting rid of those fluids (and hopefully cancer cells as well), Jim had a very good day. Thanks to Young Jim (AKA YJ) for bringing over those two darling children last evening! Nan (AKA Barbara)

Cycle 2, Day 3 and Day 4

The past two days have been pretty uneventful--just going in to NIH to have a new IV bag hung. They each run for 24 hours by an infusion pump that Jim wears as a fanny pack. Tomorrow, the fifth and last day of Cycle #2, we go in early because he'll need IV fluids before the final infusion of Cytoxin--that's the one which irritates the bladder so his instructions are to "drink and pee, drink and pee". After that infusion the PICC line will be removed and then home. Thanks for all the cards and prayers--they really help. Barbara and Jim

Happy Sunday

Forgot to post anything yesterday. Sunday started out great with a visit from Father Jack O'Hara (the Young Seminarian, as Jim calls him). Jack administered the Sacrament of the Sick to Jim and gave us Holy Communion during a brief prayer service. (Does this count one may ask????) Most assuredly is our answer.
Then Fred Beck came over to take Jim to NIH to have the next IV bag hung. Thanks, Fred. Then in the afternoon Erin, Mike and girls came over for a lovely visit--Jim had been missing seeing the grandkids since they had to stay away while he was neutropenic (his present neutrophil count is over 3000--normal). We know his Neutophils will go down after this second round of Chemo so we seized the moment! Then, in the evening, Joe came over and while he was here rewired our TVs with the new converter boxes so we won't be cut off from our "viewing pleasure".
We are so, so blessed with wonderful family and friends. Thank you God. Barbara

First Day, Second Cycle

"I had a lovely visit with Kathleen," says Jim when he returns from NIH for the start of his second cycle of chemotherapy. After a big bowl of ice cream and a piece of homemade chocolate cake (shades of the Old Jim!) he is now fast asleep for his power nap. Barb got some planting and pruning done, a little shopping, and visits with Willie in the morning and Ellen and Andrew at noontime. All in all a good day. Love, Barbara

Two Units of Blood

Jim received 2 units of blood today with no reactions so that's good--it should boost him up before the chemo knocks it down again. It was a long day--left home at 9:00 am and returned at 5:00 pm. We kind of feel like NIH is our second home! Tomorrow Kathleen will drive her Dad and visit with him while the Rituxan drips in (should take about 3 1/2 hrs). I'm going to do some gardening as the weather is supposed to be nice. Thanks again for all the support. Carol your dinner was delicious! Thanks and love to all, Barbara

Clinic Appt. Today

Hi all, looks like it's still a go for Saturday to start cycle #2. Everyone was very pleased with the decrease in the size of Jim's lymph node, saying that he has gotten a very good response to the chemo so far. However, they want him to come in for a blood transfusion tomorrow since his hemoglobin was 9.3. I know that number isn't terrible, but the thinking goes that the next round will knock it down some more so they want him to start a little higher. Plus he does have this profound fatigue. The PICC line was put in today also so he's ready to go. Tuesday's ANC (absolute neutrophil count) was 1700 plus, but we don't have today's value yet (that part of the CBC, the differential, takes about 4 hours so we didn't wait around for it), but the nurse is positive it will come up since I give him the Neupogen shot every night. Let's all hope this cycle will be easier on him. Love, Barbara

A Good Day

Yes, a good day, but Jim is soooooooo tired. We enjoyed visits from Sarah and 6 month old Andrew, Kathleen, and Phil. Tomorrow the clinic appt. when Jim sees the whole team. Barb