One down, five to go.

First order of business. You are the mushiest group of people ever. Keep it up - I love the attention. After every post I can’t wait to hear what you will all say about it. I have to admit this is much more therapeutic then I originally thought it would be.

Onto today’s news. I had my first round of chemo. I have to say…it sucked. This is not a pleasant experience. It took four hours for the first “pre-chemo” drug and then another hour for the actual chemo. As unpleasant as it was, it probably could have gone worse.

I didn’t really sleep well last night (surprise, surprise) and we got up early to head to Valhalla. I rode with Amy because I think Mom and I are a little sick of each other at the moment. Amy gave me the heads up on what to expect from the CHOP (the chemo part of the treatment) but she never had my pre-chemo. She also never had a port so we weren’t sure if I would react the same way she did. The ride there seemed so much longer than it should have. I think that we hit every pothole on the Taconic. Not normally a horrible experience, but currently my chest is being held together by glue and tape. Yup, you heard me – glue and tape. No more messy stitches that will have to come out, instead 6 little strips of tape that will “fall off on their own” and a thin layer of antibiotic glue on top. I feel so much more secure. Every time we hit a bump I thought I was going to spring a leak.

When we got to the medical complex we looked like we were going for an outing. All three of us had a backpack and mom had a cooler case of food for lunch. I was taken almost right away. I want to say that I probably got started at around 9:15. However, I became a little distracted when they removed the gauze from my chest and I saw exactly what was holding me together. Did I mention that it is just glue and tape? …I did? …Ok. I actually think that once the port heals up it will be the best decision, but in the mean time today hurt like hell. I feel black and blue and in order for the attendant to get the needle into the port, she had to feel around the entire thing to find the hole. Have to say…that hurt like a bitch. Not as painful as the bone marrow biopsy, but still pretty darn awful.

Once the needle was in the port, the rest of the day went pretty smooth. I had one bad reaction to the meds that required them to stop the drip and give me a steroid shot, but besides that it was just tiring. My mom and Amy watched a movie on Amy’s portable DVD while I got the pre-chemo. I slept because the stuff pretty much knocked me out. The best was listening to Amy and Mom. They both were wearing headphones to avoid disturbing the other patients, but they continued to try and talk to each other – loudly, very loudly. Not to mention I have no idea what kind of a movie they watched, but they were both very confused by it.

Of course I probably gave them just as much to laugh about. During the times that I wasn’t focused on them, I was sleeping. However, the chair I was in did not recline all the way back and because of the glue, tape and IV, I had limited mobility and few options for how to lie down. In the end my head went straight back. Then I started channeling my father. Yup! I snored. So loud, that I woke my self up. Three times. Next time I think I am going to steal one of my nephews’ airplane pillows. Those things have got to be more comfortable than the rolled up shirt I was using. The last couple of hours were talking or playing cards. Not really eventful. Just long and tiring. I’m really sleepy now, but as my doctor predicted, the stuff he has me on has me wired. In a minute I’m going to go take some sleep meds and attempted to nod off. Apparently the worst of the side effects are still to come. (Oh Joy!) On the other hand I’m thinking of getting a bell and torturing my family into doing things for me. Yesss. That sounds like fun. (Pauses for a pleasant day dream about family doing her bidding….A very long day dream…lots of bidding to be done…OK I’m back)

So to wrap this up. It sucked, but it could have been worse. Amy kept Mom fairly well distracted as well as giving me a heads up to the side effects I was going to be experiencing. The staff was wonderful and very comforting, taking the time to walk through any problems or questions I might have. And one of the best parts was coming home to find so many comments on the blog. Support from friends and family can’t be beat. From those who I speak to everyday (siblings) to those who I have never spoken to, but feel very close to experience wise. (Nate) It means an awful lot just to know that others are going through this with me. Huh…that was sappy…uh oh…the mushiness of the comments section is rubbing off on me. Ugh. Now I need a shower. Enough of that. Tomorrow I go for a shot to bring up my white blood cell count and hopefully that is it for the next two weeks. Ok. I think I’m done for the night, and I need to go medicate. I’ll let you all know how I am feeling tomorrow. - Elizabeth