josigirl13
josigirl13's Cancer Blog
September 24, 2007
In the immortal words of Jon Bon Jovi (shoutout to Mara and Graig in Jersey), “whoa we’re halfway there!” I am officially halfway done with my chemo treatments and will start with round 1 again on October 3rd. With some slight modifications, I will start the same chemo drugs that I had in June/July, only this time I don’t have to be admitted to the hospital. I start with 3 days of Daunorubicin and will have the first of 3 (not 4) Vincristine treatments (the one that makes my fingers numb). I will also be on prednisone pills during the whole month and probably continuing into November. This is the drug that stopped my rash in August so I think the plan is to just keep taking it to try to prevent the rash this time. I will also have the Asparaginase shots (an enzyme treatment) but will only have half the injections I had before. So I will have 6 shots over 2 weeks, which basically means every other day for 2 weeks. The plan is to be finished with this round on October 19th, take a break for a week and then start November’s drugs early so that hopefully I will be well by Thanksgiving. I’m gettin’ me some turkey, mouth sores be damned!
I am really enjoying my month of feeling well! My brother was here 2 weeks ago for a night and a day. We had a really nice walk along the river beginning at Discovery Park. It was just as the sun was setting so we made sure to watch out for the “pervs”! Just as he was leaving Joanna came in for the weekend. It was great to see her and just chill out. We were pretty low-key, watched football and baseball, went to Mulvaney’s for a fabulous meal AND she cooked for me, which was great. It seemed like old times, like when we lived together, minus the studying hanging over our heads. I think I am starting to win her over in my efforts to get her to move here! Although I can’t imagine anyone wanting to leave beautiful San Diego.
My dad and Louise were here this weekend. Dad came in early on Friday and we had a mellow day, reading magazines and taking naps. I cooked him dinner, stuffed chicken breasts with mushrooms and parsley in puff pastry, one of my standards from the Jamie Oliver cookbook. It felt good to be cooking again and for a very appreciative audience! Louise came in late Friday. I haven’t seen her since my diagnosis, so I think it was good for her to see that her big sister is not dying and that I’m still myself. I took her driving at Cal Expo in a big empty parking lot to teach her to drive a stick. She actually got the hang of it pretty easily, not like me when I was 16. There was no yelling or crying or cursing! Then we went shopping, of course, the best thing to do with your lil’ sis when its raining! We had dinner at Tapa the World, and of course she knew exactly what to order, having spent half the summer in Spain. What a charmed life she leads! She had to go very early on Sunday so it was a short trip, but dad stayed until Monday. We watched football all day Sunday and had dinner with mom. It was a nice weekend.
Since I have been feeling so well this month, and I will have a repeat of this chemo in December I have been planning trips left and right! Sadly, I had to cancel my ticket to Nicaragua for Christmas, but I booked a ticket to Minneapolis for the holidays. I am excited to hopefully have a white Christmas and I am really looking forward to seeing family including my aunts, uncles, and cousins. This will be our first Christmas since my Grandmother passed away and I know she will be sorely missed, but we will also have a new baby in the family; my cousin Jenn is due at the beginning of October. I hope they will be coming home for the holiday. I am also planning a trip to Key West in January to celebrate the end of my chemo. My aunt Kathy and uncle Jim have generously offered me the use of their place down there, so it should be a fabulous trip! I am hoping to get right back to work after I get back from Key West. It seems like forever since I have done anything productive and it’s driving me nuts. I know it sounds crazy to most people, but I love my job and I miss it. I can’t wait to get back.
Well, that is the whole update I think. I have a little trip to the beach planned for this weekend that I am looking forward to. Something about the water feeds the soul; what better way to get geared up for the second half of this battle.
Peace, love, and soul nourishment to you all,
Josi
Thanks for your support - 
I had a bunch to say then i got distracted by the news of your key west trip. I LOVE key west. i’ve spent a lot of time there and keep going back. You’ll have so much fun!
Hope to see you tomorrow night…I’ll call you when I land!
E
Just a GREAT BIG HUG!
Sherri
It is good to read your update. You sound in good spirits. I am really proud of you. Key West sounds lovely…
can’t wait for you to get your butt down here. Woo woo! In furtherance of my ongoing and seemingly successful effort to strongarm you into becoming a part of Red Sox Nation may have to drag you to a bar to watch the red sox – we have 6 games to go (including the one currently going on NOW and tied at 1-1) and only two games up over you know who.
silly rabbit…since when have you ever had to DRAG me to a bar…
So, one of my new supervisors at work reminds me soooo much of you (she looks nothing like you) but she just has so many mannerisms that make me think of you. Any time I can be around her its like I’m standing next to you too. Its one of my special telepathic ways I have quality time with you during my days.
And what’s this baseball smack talk I detect from Joanna?!
Keep rockin’ woman – take no prisoners.
Oh – almost forgot. When you are at the beach…make sure you hit the water in your jeans and think of our special night. Those moments are ones I will never forget and think of often.
Hey, Girl. Happy you had some time with your brother, dad and little sis. Hugs and kisses to all of you from me. And, you are looking forward to a few nice trips, tho I must say if I had a choice it would be definitely more time in Key West than in Minnesota! I had some raspberries recently and remembered the time you and I made a pie in your dad’s little apartment in Bennington. Wow…how long ago was that????
Much love, Josi.
Pauline
Wow, Pauline, I can’t believe you remember that! I vividly remember that and I couldn’t have been more than 7 years old! That was a great place, even though it was small. Good times. What I remember is watching the Cowboys on Sunday morning and you made these baked clam things that were so good. I have been wanting that recipe for years. Hope all is well with you and your kids too!
mara, I wore the jeans, but we did not go in the water.. in the triumphant return to mission beach at the end of deal court. I am waiting for you.. because without you with us, it wouldn’t feel right..
amen to that. thinking of you…
Everyone (here and at the Public Defender’s Office) has been asking about you! We all miss you! You look good and I can only imagine how good Jo’s nummy food was. Glad you got to see the family and you are in my prayers girl.
Hey Josi,
So the big hike is only 3 days away! Can you believe how quickly time has passed and that it is already the middle of Oct! I hope that you are doing well and I will be thinking of you all weekend. I will sending out photos from the hike and the Grand Canyon as soon as I get back. Take care!
Love,
Alia
Good luck and have a great time on your hike, Alia! I’ll be rooting for you. The Leukemia Lymphoma Society is lucky to have such a dedicated fundraiser in you.
Much love
Hey girl! Hope things are going well. I was checking in on your blog and just wanted to say that I was thinking of you. Michael and I are doing the American Cancer Society walk this weekend- I raised a bunch of money so we can kick this things ass! Keep rockin it out girlie!