It's Monday & I'm sitting here waiting to get an email from my favorite missionary, so I thought I'd write a quick update on life & the new chemo. After receiving 4 treatments in a row, & receiving the word that it was working well, Dr. Prystas decided to back off a little bit & let me do it every other week. I saw her last week for my check-up & chemo, & told her that the 5 days previous to that was the best I'd felt since November. When they called me the next day to give me my CA-125 update, Jeri said it was not wonder I felt so good--my numbers had gone from 160 down to 58 with only 2 treatments! The week I get chemo I feel so crummy, but I feel so great the week I have off! My kidneys & other organs seem to be tolerating the medications well so far. The only problem is my white blood counts haven't been as high as they'd like, so Dr. Prystas had to adjust the dosage down a little bit last week. Apparently, my bone marrow has been suppressed a bit with all the chemo I've done over the past 2 1/2 years, so this is my "new normal".
On the Mondays I'm not doing chemo, I try to stay home to chat with Jarett in CA. Today, while I was waiting, I deep cleaned my bathroom--whoohoo! When I was deep cleaning a couple of weeks ago, Heidi told me I should be having Stella (my fabulous housecleaning friend) do that for me when she comes every other week. I said "no way"--cleaning out drawers & cabinets is a job you can only do yourself. Can I just say that I loooove cleaning? I know--I'm weird. I've decided that I got that gene from my Mama Enid. I think she was in her 80's on a ladder cleaning out her rain gutters. Anyway, I just loved cleaning my bathroom today & it looks fabulous. Anyone could come & have dinner tonight in my master bath--it is that clean. I did alot of thinking while I was working, & I thought how much I just love the springtime & deep cleaning! As much as I love my fresh bathroom, I love that we will soon be getting a fresh start outside, too. Pretty soon all that dirty snow will be gone, & green grass & my tulips & daffodils will start to bloom. I love that it'll soon be Easter. As I worked, I thought about the Savior & how He has made it possible for all of us to get "fresh starts" in our lives. I wish that I could get rid of my bad habits & favorite sins as easily as I could get rid of the old make-up & lotions in my drawers. Sometimes I feel as if I'm a completely different person 2 1/2 years later, & at other times I feel as if I'm never going to overcome my weaknesses & sins. I am grateful that the Savior is patient with me, as I continue to learn & grow towards becoming what He knows I can be. I am continually thankful for the faith & prayers on my behalf, & the dear friends & family who are always supportive. This month will mark 30 months since my diagnosis--I could never imagine that I would be blessed to still be here. All my love, Kim
