NOTICE: - With this update, Gloria has completed two of the planned six-treatment cycles. It's often difficult to predict if an event is a precursor to something larger or just the normal flow of the days. So generating a record "just in case" can be helpful. For that matter, even that "normal flow" is itself often documentation of traces of normalcy during abnormal times. Consequently, these ordinary times continue to be documented.

However, most "normal" days are just that - normal - and so, in retrospect, reading about them is like watching paint dry.

On February 3, we met with Dr. Koeneke and we quizzed him in detail on several points, the principal one being cycle length. Some of the chemotherapy drugs have minimum times before they can be given again. Those limits are what generate the three-week cycle. But there are also some desired overlapping effects that place an upper bound on a cycle length. That figure is six weeks.

The dexamethasone leaves her a bit "wired" during the first three days of a cycle. The drugs then drag her down, producing poor appetite, intestinal discomfort, a need to be near a toilet, and general tiredness. This bottoms out in the five-to-seven day neighborhood, followed by a generally improving quality of life until the start of the next cycle.

By picking her cycle-start date appropriately, she can be reasonably sure to be in good shape for events such as a show at the university's auditorium.

- For this reason, Cycle Three will span five weeks rather than three.

- In regard to future updates, to avoid as much as possible the paint-dry syndrome, they will be posted ONLY at the end of a cycle UNLESS something unforeseen, yet significant occurs.

So if it all progresses in the hoped-for unremarkable fashion, the next update will be posted within the week of March 11.

She has always enjoyed it ... but not like this! Even after eating something else, she'd have it for "dessert." At other times, she'd eat it just as a treat.

She also went shopping at Walmart with me, which she is normally NOT a fan of, and bought some "Boost" in an attempt to stem her weight loss. She reported it tasted better than she expected.

Oncologist Koeneke also added a 10 meq potassium tablet for daily consumption to bump up her slightly low level. Each pill is a more convenient way to eat the equivalent of 10 BANANAS.

Approximate Second Week - I'll add the last day of the previous week onto the start of the second week as this was the day that daughter Katie's visit commenced. While she had flown in the night before, she didn't arrive until 10:20 p.m. and it was cold, snowy, and windy, so I thought we’d wait for Sunday for the "reveal."

She stayed with her sister Mariya, Miriam - the two whom I frequently refer to as MnM - and DQ, so even though it was quite cold the next day and Gloria had already decided to stay home, I had Mariya call and tell her that DQ wanted her to come visit.

It worked ... no surprise there!

KJ kept DQ in her room to lure Gloria in there. But DQ did not entirely endorse this plan, prompting crocodile tears. This had the effect of amplifying the draw, so Gloria quickly headed off to DQ's room to see what was going on. There she found KJ, sitting with a bow on her head to imply that her presence was a present. Gloria just stood with her mouth open for what seemed like an eternity, then headed over to give KJ a hug.

We had some catching up to do since we hadn't seen KJ in the flesh since last September - even longer for sister Mariya.

To add to the fun, we picked up KJ the next day and the two then attended the Monday-with-Mandy regulars, Linda P., Ann F., Jackie H. and Deb S. and new member Barb D.

After, we three went to MnM's, with plans for GBF to take a nap there, but she was too wired with KJ there, so didn't sleep.

Tuesday, we picked up KJ for a Culver's lunch. Didn't see her much as it was a work-remotely day for her. I started reading to us in the evenings from the Tanat-Valley book received from friends Paul Kirk and Debi Pearce.

Wednesday was fairly monopolized with my oral surgery - which was very interesting. KJ joined us in the evening. Earlier, KJ ordered supper from McAlister's, but GBF didn't care for the soup much and so brought it home for me. That was perfect, since I needed a soft supper. We then watched KJ’s Japan photos from Matt and her three-week trip in December.

As it unfolded, that supper the night before was not quite so perfect after all. The soup was bad! GBF and KJ only had minor effects as they didn't have as much and had other things with it. In contrast, I had a goodly portion with nothing else to dilute it. So I did have a strong response! But at least it chose the lower exit rather than the upper one. But ignoring that problem, Thursday was a good day with KJ working remotely part of the day and then Gloria and KJ going to The Dusty Bookshelf to shop.

Supper followed - Miriam's wonderful chicken enchiladas with rice.

She remarked several times the following day - Friday - that she was actually beginning to feel more normal. On reflection, she felt that while Cycle Two was similar to Cycle One, the heading downward seem to start a day earlier, didn't descend as far, and didn't recover quite as quickly, but more completely.

Gloria and I ate supper at Culver's and then went to McCain Auditorium for the Fleetwood Mac show. But before, I picked up Sarah I. and brought her to MnM's so she could surprise KJ. Sarah and KJ were good friends in high school, but hadn't seen each other in more than a decade. They went out to supper together.

It was expected it would be an early Saturday as KJ was to fly back in the morning, but she was notified late Friday that her flight was cancelled and she opted to leave on Sunday instead.

Gloria spent the early part of Saturday working on "The Wreck" column and helping find photos for the medical story about her disc injury in 2011.

Supper was from Olive Garden, which Gloria and I picked up at 5:30 p.m. and took to MnM's. At about 7:30 p.m., Gloria, KJ, and I left for Neef as KJ spent the night with us.

Sunday, we took KJ to the airport and then Gloria and I went shopping at Walmart, mainly for groceries. We were at home well before noon. Gloria then napped. KJ made it home to Madison about 3:15 p.m.

Monday was a good example of how far Gloria had bounced back. Not only did she spend the day doing housework, she also made salmon loaf and scalloped corn for supper ... and she loved them both. She characterized it as a good day.

Tomorrow will be a 9:20 a.m. meeting with Koeneke to assess where things stand and will also mark the start of Cycle Three. The "Boost" seems to have stemmed her weight loss and she is starting to develop a let's-get-this-over-with attitude.

Details

Day 15, Tuesday, January 20
-arose at 9 a.m.
-feeling pretty good
-labs at 11 a.m.
-go to funeral home re: Jim Sharp
-wants fish sandwich at McDonald’s, but then changes to a wrap
-does washing
-has lost 15 lbs

Day 16, Wednesday, January 21
-arose about 9 a.m.
-was awake some, so not so energetic this morning
-called Koeneke about high Band Neutrafils, probably from shot
-Koeneke added 10 MEQ potassium tablet
-worked on paying bills
-slept for 90 minutes, felt better
-created spreadsheet for labs
-near traffic accident miss at park and west Walgreens

Day 17, Thursday, January 22
-arose 9:50 a.m.
-paid bills
-Culver’s for lunch
-Walmart for groceries, eye drop, Boost, potassium - she shopped
-no nap today
-loved Walmart potato salad - 2x!
-Ham and pineapple from freezer for supper
-drank Boost - not so bad
-"Morse" episode in evening
-fake Gaila tax stuff arriving

Day 18, Friday, January 23
-arose 9:40 a.m.
-breakfast of Gruel - Cream-o-Wheat - with fruit
-worked on column
-10 a.m. nap
-works on column
-ate potato salad and ham and pineapple
-watched “Morse” episode

Day 19, Saturday, January 24
-9:50 a.m. arose
-0 F outside
-good spirits
-K pill and more potato salad, finished Ham and Pineapple
-12:45 nap starts
-2 p.m. nap done
-checked WRECK website

Day 20, Sunday, January 25
-0F outside
-to MnM at noon to reveal surprise of KJ visit
-lunch was chicken noodle soup at MnM
-supper at MnM - had rice noodles and veggies
-home at 7:30 p.m.

Day 21, Monday, January 26
-up at 10 a.m.
-get KJ, then to Linda’s for “Monday with Mandy”
-GBF to MnM for day
-2 p.m. couldn’t nap as too excited
-returned home 7:30 p.m.
-good day

Day 22, Tuesday, January 27
-10 a.m. arose
-11:15 a.m. labs
-11:45 a.m. - pick up KJ
-11:55 a.m. Culver’s lunch with KJ
-1 p.m. return KJ to MnM’s
-very good day
-read Tanat Valley book at midnight

Day 23, Wednesday, January 28
-arose 9:40 a.m.
-11:20 a.m. to Implant Center
-2:20 p.m. home from Implant Center
-3:40 p.m. with KJ, MB, and DQ to shop
-7:30 p.m. GBF and KJ returned home
-looked at KJ Japan pix
-KJ stayed over

Day 24, Thursday, January 29
-GBF didn’t sleep well, perhaps because KJ with us/excited
-KJ up 7:30 a.m., worked
-GBF up 9:30 a.m., made waffles
-soup from McAlister night before bad, trots
-GBF and KJ napped for 2 hours
-4 p.m. to Aggieville to Dusty Book Shelf
-5:30 p.m. to MnM for chicken enchiladas
-8 p.m. home
-KJ stay with MnM

Day 25, Friday, January 30
-9:50 a.m. arose
-going through the Boosts shakes
-mentioned feeling somewhat like “normal” now
-left house near 5 p.m. to pick up Sarah I. to take to MnM
-ate at Culver’s
-Fleetwood Mac show at McCain
-home about 9:30 p.m.
-KJ’s flight cancelled

Day 26, Saturday, January 31
-9:50 a.m. arose
-worked on "Wreck" column
-pulled “Back”-related photos of Vermont
-worked on “Back” story
-5 p.m. to Olive Garden to pick up order and then to MnM for supper
-7:30 p.m. KJ home with us
-random TV

Day 27, Sunday, February 1
-up all at 7 a.m.
-airport at 8:30 a.m. for KJ
-9:30 a.m. to Walmart and shopping
-10:30 a.m. home
-noon GBF nap
- 1:30 p.m. arose from nap, lunch
-KJ home in MSN at 3:15 p.m.

Day 28, Monday, February 2
-arose about 10 a.m.
-Corrections to FROZEN and BACK medical stories
-work around house
-made salmon loaf and scalloped corn for supper
-watched a “Morse” episode
-good day