Hi there friends and family!  What a gorgeous day it was in

 Iowa today!  One of those days when you wish you didn't have to work or sit in a recliner with fluids dripping in your arm for an hour and a half.  But, now I'm sitting at my computer in front of an open window with a lovely breeze wafting in and loving every second of it!

Only three more days of this round of chemo and then I have 18 days off before my next 10-day session.  I really don't mind it at all.  I just wish I didn't have to miss so much work.  Having said that, Candace, Dr. Begum's (Dr. B) most awesome nurse has the whole next set of appointments set up as late in the day as possible.  I tell ya, your prayers are working for sure.  I feel great, the care team I have is extraordinary - including the chemo nurses and I'm a happy camper.

Was one little glitch today - but I wouldn't be me if there wasn't.  Had two perfect stick sites for the new hep-lock today.  Lisa found a wonderful fat little vein; needle/catheter went in fine, good return and then nothing on the first stick.  Then Crystal tried another spot up higher on that same fat vein - again, went right in, great return and then it blew.  Shazbot!  No good reason, just me being me!  So, they called in the reserves. Before Crystal went to get Wendy, she wrapped my arm back up in the heating pad and I sat and cooked for a while.  It took Wendy a little while to decide where she was going to go hunting worms - oh, I mean veins - but she found one she really liked - it's just kind of in an unusual place.  It's on the lower back side of my left arm.  But, it's really comfy now that it's wrapped up and it's in a place where Dr. B said it could stay for the 4th day if my neutrophils look good tomorrow. 

Megan just let me know that she will be joining me when I see Dr. B.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful children.  I can't begin to tell you how much they mean to me - and always have.  It is especially comforting to have her there because of her nursing background.  She is so very smart and understands what Dr. B is saying and can ask the right questions that I probably wouldn't even think of at the time.  I'm even more excited because she is bringing Maddy and Jack as well.  Dr. B will love to meet them and I know they will be angels.  I've been with Maddy when we accompanied Megan on a prenatal visit.  She was soooooo good.

I was up late last night visiting with Matt and finishing my blog which took me forever because I couldn't find it on my desktop - so, okay - so I have too many gmail accounts and I couldn't remember which account Pr. Erika and I used to set up my blog.  Gee Whiz - I was getting two units of packed red cells that day.  That meant my hemoglobin was low, people. That means there is less oxygen in my blood and that means there is less oxygen going to my brain and that means I have momentary brain lapses.  THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT!

On an unpleasant note, I received some EOB's from my insurance company today.  I tell ya, even though I worked with insurance companies at several medical and mental health facilities, and have dealt with them for years with our families insurance and helped with Rick's Dad's huge bills at Mayo, they just never cease to amaze me.  Well, "amaze" may not exactly be the word I'm thinking of but it's the one I'll use in print!  Mr. Wellmark of Blue Cross and Blue Shield shall be hearing from me tomorrow about his crazy way of calculating my co-pay.  Listen fella, we play the game the same way all of the time, not one way one time and another way another time.  They don't want to mess with me right now.  Remember, I'm stupid intolerant at the present time!  Kind of like lactose intolerant only much worse!

On that note, family and friends I bid you a fond good night.

Please continue to keep me in your prayers.  I can truly feel them surrounding me - especially today during an office meeting.  Thank you for that.  I needed those prayers and your provided them.

May God provide you with restful sleep this evening and may He bless your activities tomorrow resting in the blessed assurance of eternal life.

I'm now going to go to bed to truly rest "In His Loving Arms"