Today I have been moving photos from and old computer to a new one. I've been looking at what I have shot in the past and found that I used be pretty good with flowers. Maybe I should do more.

I stayed home from work today because of upper respiratory issues. It seems that cold can get me going with coughing and wheezing and I cannot catch my breath. Asthma like symptoms and I have never had asthma. I went to see Dr. Ha today and he has ordered an inhaler, a pulmonary function test, and an x-ray. We shall see what is going on. Sharon thinks this may be bleomycin related. Perhaps.

Ice on our kitchen storm window. Boy it is cold outside and my body does not like cold anymore.

What's happened since my last post? A week ago Wednesday, December 8 I started the day with a visit to Central DuPage Hospital Physician Treatment Center. Dr. Tomasik removed my cath-port. A simple process - poke, slice, pull - but I was very nervous. Sharon held my hands while I was on the table! The port is gone, the wicked port is gone! Later in the day I had my last visit with Dr. Kozuh. I took bottles of Champagne for the Infusion Center Staff, Pat, Jean, and Kristin. Sharon made a chocolate cake for the downstairs staff. My next Oncologist visit is March 7th with Dr. Eisner in Lombard. Months without a doctor visit and NO MORE CHEMO!

This Tuesday will make four weeks since my last chemo and I am slowly getting better. A little more energy, less gagging, fingernails falling off, and some hair starting to grow! The neuropathy is still there in my fingers, palms, soles of my feet and toes. I will take months for that to improve. I'll take the slow improvement because it is improvement.

I am drinking a little red wine now and enjoying it more. And my taste buds are slowly coming back. I can almost enjoy food! I take acidophilus daily which helps my stomach. I suspect I am still trying to regrow stomach lining and intestinal flora and the supplements help.

Back to the cold... I wear some sort of head covering most of the time. I've been getting lots of wear out of my beret lately and speaking more French as a result. I do like to switch head coverings regularly to keep everyone guessing - I hate to be predictable.

Red wine! I can drink red wine! I must be getting better.

Sharon baked bread today and roasted turkey thighs and legs. I made cranberry sauce. We are having Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner.

I am felling better. The nausea is down to a couple of gagging sessions a day and I was able to work 30 hours this week. I've got a bit more feeling in my fingers and the taste buds are slowly returning. My fingernails are in the process of falling off - yuck.

Pete Deckinga came to visit on Monday. I was not a great host, but we had a nice visit and caught up on the comings and goings of the Deckingas and the Jordans.

Time for Turkey!