Almost March!

Can you believe that February is practically gone? Geez, how the days, weeks and months seem to fly by. More so as I get older. *pouting*

We had a great Mardi Gras. As I posted, Saturday was an absolute blast.

Tuesday, it was just the two of us..... lazy day watching the parades (and reports of many shootings on the St. Charles parade route), drinking beer and nibbling on snack foods all day.

Today, it was a beautiful sunny 78 degrees.... we managed to put a couple hundred miles on the Corvette, top down, cruising country roads. Very pleasant. Stopped for a Chinese lunch, then to the L&C for two beers. Fun, fun, fun!

Happy Lundi Gras, Y'All!

Hi gang.....

Man, we had a fun weekend. Chris got here Sat. morning, and we were picked up by a driver that we hired to take us into Bogalusa for the festivities.

The L&C was jumping!

Had an absolute blast. I was a dancing fool! (which RARELY happens)

It was great fun to rock-out and not be worried about driving. We had originally lined up a cab, but Richard McM turned us onto a new father with one on the way who doesn't drink and needed to make some money. We felt better about hiring him than a taxi.

Chris left around 9am on Sunday. Dom and I just laid around moaning and groaning. *smiling*

(Notice the Purple, Green and Gold!)

Joke of the Week (Thanks Cousin Jack!)

A gynecologist had become fed up with malpractice insurance and HMO paperwork and was burned out. Hoping to try another career where skillful hands would be beneficial, he decided to become a mechanic. He went to the Nashville Auto Diesel College, signed up for evening classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could. When the time for the practical exam approached, the gynecologist prepared carefully for weeks and completed the exam with tremendous skill. When the results came back, he was surprised to find that he had obtained a score of 150%. Fearing an error, he called the instructor, saying, "I don't want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but I wonder if there is an error in the grade." The instructor said, "During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark. "You put the engine back together again perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark." After a pause, the instructor added, "I gave you an extra 50% because you did it all through the muffler, which I've never seen done in my entire career."

It's Carnival Time!

Hi gang-

Mardi Gras is in full swing around here. Fat Tuesday is next week. Serious parading and partying.

Bogalusa celebrates Mardi Gras this Saturday. We've got fun, fun plans-

Chris B. is coming over on Sat. morning. A cab is coming from Bogalusa to pick us up for the day....fifty bucks round-trip.

We'll spend the day at the L & C with Richard McM, Skeet and the gang. Really looking forward to it! It'll be a fun change from our normal 2 beers when we visit.

THALIDOMIDE IS OUR FRIEND!!!!!

The CALL just came in. YAY FOR US!!!!! The Thalidomide is doing its' thing-

In theory, the Thalidomide is supposed to kill M Cells. It's working!

September: 4.76%
January: .81 (This was the "lost" test)
February: .71 (This was the test taken just 7 days later)

When we hit ZERO, we'll start talking STEM CELL TRANSPLANT!

*clapping my hands and grinning maniacally*

Not much to report, but some positive stuff....

Not a whole lot new, but a couple of neat things:

Firstly-

Dom and I had to go visit the VA's Oncologist today. Had a very pleasant drive along the Gulf of Mexico into Biloxi. Although she (nor we) have gotten the "big results" back yet, she had been faxed Dom's latest bloodwork from Tulane last week.

She was very happy that #1: His Hemoglobin is UP. (I haven't googled this, so have no idea what Hemoglobin is, but nevermind!) This was a positive thing- an improvement from September's numbers.

She was also happy that #2: His Protein levels were back to normal.... another improvement since September.

After poking him, prodding him, listening to his heart, etc., she said, "I think that you're going to get some good news from Tulane!".

I thanked her sincerely, telling her that this had been the very FIRST feedback that we've gotten since the Thalidomide/Aredia treatment began 4 months ago.

Don't have to go back to her (Ginger Rogers, MD) for another four months...... so that's out of the way.
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Mrs. M. is being sprung from the old folks home tomorrow. This is a great relief for Dom, and will give him a break from driving back and forth to Slidell constantly.

(My original thought was that it would be a "good thing" to have her in a nursing home for awhile so Dom could concentrate on himself. Sadly, it did just the opposite.... he was back and forth nonstop.)

He'll be meeting with the social worker, physical therapists and home health broad tomorrow....it'll be good to have her back home.
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I went to my new Rheumatologist yesterday. (Christ, it's been a long week, and it's only WED!) Looking at my bloodwork from a couple of weeks ago, she's shocked that I'm not in horrible pain. Said that my antibodies are all over the place.... way out of wack. Even said that I might be a "LUPUS CARRIER".

Said I'm awfully lucky to not experiencing any symptoms that would normally have manifested themselves.

Oh great.... Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus.... a couple of Auto-Immune diseases. *rolling my eyes*

I feel like a million bucks, so no big deal. She suggested that I "not look for them". (She's a Pakastani gal who I love). Reminded me of Dr. C's "don't look in the ditch" mentality. It works for me.

I'll update as soon as I hear about Dom's latest results.

It's Time to Replace Your "W" Sticker!

It is time to get rid of those "W" bumper stickers you've seen for the past 8 years.
That administration is done and the remnants of it are, quite frankly, passe'.
Get used to the idea of a new president and the new administration!!

Here's the bumper sticker you'll need for at least 4 years.

Frustrating Tulane Visit Yesterday

Well, gang.... yesterday was SO DISAPPOINTING!

We arrived for our appointment with Dr. Safah with great anticipation. This was the day that we'd FINALLY learn something after 4 months of Thalidomide treatment.

Nope.

We were met with a blank stare when we asked about last week's blood work. "HUH? What blood work?". *pouting*

She and her nurse went to investigate, returned and said that the results weren't in yet. I don't believe that for a moment. They do the work right there at the Cancer Center. I think that they lost his results. So.......... back to the lab for more blood work. She promised to call us next week when she got the results.

Dom's forearm has been hurting him, so she sent him across the walkway to Tulane Hospital for xrays. (we do NOT want another lesion/tumor.... that would screw things up) She banged the hell out of the bone, and Dom didn't feel any pain..... it's just an occasional thing.... she's confident that it's not cancer, but wanted to be sure.

Then came the monthly Aredia infusion. Went by quickly. As expected, today, our patient is in bed with the drapes shut. He's not nearly as bad as he was previous months. Perhaps his body is adjusting to these flu-like side effects.
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Something kind of creepy. We've heard it before, but it's difficult to hear it verbalized. I asked the doctor about "stages" of this disease. I read about stage 1, 2 and 3. She said that upon his diagnosis 4 months ago, he was almost a ZERO. Smiling, she went on to say that without the transplant, Dom would survive another FOUR YEARS. (as if this was good news). Both of us cringed, then she apologized, but said that she wanted to answer/explain everything honestly.

This really sucks, you guys. He feels good. Looks good. Hasn't lost anymore weight. The thought that his health could deteriorate within 4 years literally makes me cry.

But, as Dr. Culasso says, "Don't look in the ditch" ( keep your eyes forward..... continue towards your destination without looking at fiery car crashes in the ditch, thinking that it could have been YOU! Don't fuck around with what COULD happen..... just keep on going)

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So, will hopefully know something within the week. Already have next month's doctors appointment and Aredia transfusion scheduled. *sighing*

Joke of the Week (Thanks, Lin!)

Two Ladies Talking in Heaven

1st woman: Hi! My name is Sherry.
2nd woman: Hi! I'm Sylvia. How'd you die?

1st woman: I froze to death.
2nd woman: How horrible!

1st woman: It wasn't so bad. After I quit shaking from the cold, I began to get warm & sleepy, & finally died a peaceful death. What about you?

2nd woman: I died of a massive heart attack. I suspected that my husband was cheating, so I came home early to catch him in the act. But instead, I found him all by himself in the den watching TV.

1st woman: So, what happened?

2nd woman: I was so sure there was another woman there somewhere that I started running all over the house looking. I ran up into the attic & searched, & down into the basement. Then I went through every closet & checked under all the beds. I kept this up until I had looked everywhere, & finally I became so exhausted that I just keeled over with a heart attack & died.

1st woman: Too bad you didn't look in the freezer---we'd both still be alive.

Today, Tuesday-

I'd woken up with post nasal drip last Wed..... must have picked up some kind of crud in the French Quarter last weekend.... by Thursday, it was my full-blown upper-respiratory/bronchitis crap.

Went to visit handsome Dr. Culasso today. Got a shot in the fanny, antibiotics, steroids and cough suppressants. As well as his annual warning to "cool it" on the cigarettes.... that's what gets me into trouble around once per year.... sometimes leading to hospitalizations. *sighing*

Meanwhile, Dom spent a couple of hours with ma. Talked to her nurses..... they basically said that they don't want to rush anything, and rather than the 2 weeks her doc mentioned, it'll be closer to a total of 6 weeks for rehab. (Which is fine with me, but I hate Dom driving back and forth constantly.... an hour each way to Slidell, then a couple hours at the facility....that makes for a long, tiring day for him).

We're looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow, then getting "the news" on Thursday.

Anyway...... cross your fingers for us on Thursday. Love you guys....

Nan and Dom

We had a fun, fun weekend!

On Saturday, "cousin Joe" from Pensacola blew into town and spent a few hours with his Aunt. Took her outside for awhile.... spent some nice quality time. As you can tell, I've grown quite fond of our Joe..... crazy about the guy.

Afterwards, he came here. We had a lovely time. I cooked him a corned beef and cabbage, we sipped on beer, switched to Sweet Tea Vodka/Water on the rocks, then ended up with martinis. Did I tell you guys that he's "not much of a drinker"? *rolling my eyes and grinning*

Dom made breakfast on Sunday morning, Joe took off noonish, I dusted off my TERRIBLE TOWEL and we snacked all day. Dom has perfected his Buffalo Wings.... if any of you out there are interested in deep frying the little guys, let me know. Geez! They were the ultimate.

Was very much into the game..... and proud of my STEELERS!

Last Thursday

OK- let me catch up with y'all.....

Last Thursday was our "big day". Went to the Tulane Cancer Center for bloodwork. Dom's been on the Thalidomide treatment for 4 months..... this is the first time that they're testing it. We have an appt. with Dr. Safah THIS Thursday. Christ, we want this to be OVER. Kill these plasma cells, do the transplant, and return to normalcy. Dominic is TIRED.

We were in and out of Tulane in a half an hour..... then shot across Rampart to the Port of Call. Had a fabulous lunch. Got it out of my system, now that Dom's been there. I'll be OK until we have an out of town visitor...... or family member..... CHRISTINE!!!!!!!!!!!!! MONSOONS for us! *grinning*

Left there and spent a couple of hours at the nursing home. Wheeled ma around, checked out the "neighborhood", what's there to say about a nursing facility. It's a drag, and I wish they'd get her strong enough to go home.

GO STEELERS!!!!!!!