My off week

On Sunday, March 4 Brody came to spend some time with me, and also to do some work.  His school is collecting money during Lent for a homeless shelter, and instead of people just giving money to the kids, they were encouraging the kids to work for it.  So we did some dusting and some window cleaning, etc.  Then when we got done, Papa and I took him back home and Jill had fixed supper for all of us - roast, potatoes, carrots, pasta salad and no crust pumpkin pie for dessert!  On Monday, March 5 I went in to get my bloodwork done and they told me that I would only have to do bloodwork on the days that I do the infusions, not on the off weeks (which would only be March 19 since I'm so close to the end).  I had the option of doing bloodwork on the 5th, but I did just because I was curious as to where the white blood cell count was.  The count was pretty good, and since we're not doing the one chemo drug now, the white blood cell count is not going down like it was before - that's why I am no longer having to do the neupegen shots too.  My friend Cyndy came into church that afternoon, and as she always does when she comes in, really made my day!  On the 6th I was feeling like I had lots of energy - so I went grocery shopping at Food 4 Less (I haven't gone to the grocery store, unless it's just to grab one item) for quite some time.  Also ran into an old friend, Judy, while I was shopping and we had a wonderful time catching up!  After I got done there I went to our neighborhood Dollar General to pick up a few things.  (That is where I have been doing my shopping, picking up the things I can there - and John has been going to the grocery store.)  On Wednesday, March 7 I had my regular three month checkup with Dr. S.  He thought things were coming along fine - confirmed what Dr. B had told me about the hernia, but also gave me a couple of other things to watch for.  I had done my A1C at the last checkup, so he said it was up to me whether we did bloodwork (cholesterol checking) at this appt or the next - I told him we should wait until the next.  Besides taking a simvastatin pill every day, the Welchol that I was taking also started out being a cholesterol drug, so I'm thinking the cholesterol level should be good!
One night for supper Carrie had brought in some of her world famous broccoli cheese soup and equally famous banana bread.  Our friends Spence & Michele dropped off a black cherry pie - it was to die for, I love cherry pie, but this was the best pie I have ever had!  Rachel and Jake (part of our extended family) dropped off some casseroles for us - Rachel had also done this when I was doing the radiation and chemo treatments in March and April - and believe me Rachel is a great cook!  I really have to be thankful to my kids and also to the Rehder's for watching out for us.  It really means a lot and I hope that I will be able to do that for someone else when I am once again able!
Saturday was such a beautiful day that I had hoped to get some things done - I did get a couple of plants transplanted and spent some time outside too!  I unloaded the dishwasher and worked on some laundry.  On Sunday I did some more laundry and also ran the dishwasher.  This is what my life has evolved to - trying to get as much done as I can at the end of the "off weeks", because usually I don't have the strength to do any of it during the week of chemo.
One thing I have been watching is my temp, as usually I would have a temp in the evening on my off  week - I can NOT let it get up above 100.5 or otherwise I'll end back up in the ER - and I definitely don't want to do that.