jenny's belly

Swimming on the Vineyard

I actually went swimming yesterday! As soon as I was released from the hospital I've been waiting... and that's only because once I was told I COULD NOT submerge the incision area I desperately needed to. :) It was so beautiful to be in sea, even if it was a bit cold and I didn't dare do much actual swimming. I figured I'd either cramp up or exhaust myself. I didn't cramp up, but I will tell you I slept like a rock last night. It's only the second time I have slept completely through the night since surgery. I don't always post in the middle of the night/before the crack of dawn, but I'm awake and wandering around the house!

I went to Brigham & Womens this morning for a CT scan which is needed for the chemo study I signed up for. I then went to Dana Farber to have an EKG, blood taken (Hey, I was just *given* blood a month ago!!) and meet with Colleen who is the research nurse in charge of the chemo study. She is different from my oncologist's nurse, Nina, who I will meet with October 3. ANYWAY-- I learned that the treatment schedule will differ depending on if I end up with "standard" treatment or "standard plus" treatment. (The "plus" means 2 additional drugs and many additional side effects.) If I have standard treatment I'll probably be in the hospital each day Oct 3-6 and off the rest of the month, but if I have "plus" they're going to hook me up to the continuous pump and set me free into the great wide unknown (no, actually I'd just go back once a week to meet with Dr. Bhargava, my oncologist).

Sooooo the short version of events is that tomorrow I have another dentist appointment (wheee!) and Monday I'm getting the Port-a-cath "installed". There are a lot more things planned but I seriously can't think beyond Monday.

I'm going to my card-making class tonight which is great because last month I was still in the hospital and couldn't go. :) I really hate the night-time things because I'm most uncomfortable at night, but I'm always so glad when I get there. :)

I think I'm going to take pictures of the charms as I receive them, since that's the best way to share them with everyone! I will have to do that later this evening. I'm so overwhelmed. I was talking to my mother last night about how I love getting them but the whole "I have cancer" thing makes me awkward, like I'm soliciting. (You know I'm not, right? RIGHT?!?!?!) She said to consider instead that my friends and family are gathering together to "wrap their arms around me." It's an image with so much love, comfort and safety...

I haven't written it here in a while though it is always, always on my mind: Thanks from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done for me. For your prayers, your cards, your gifts, your emails, and many times for just BEING there for me. I'm surrounded by phenomenal and caring people, and consider myself extremely blessed.

Thank you!!!!

posted by Jen at 5:16 PM