beach vacation :)

Hello from Ocean City, NJ!

We got wireless internet for the house this year, so I'll be able to keep up with my blog while I'm down here. The temperature has been a little bit chilly for the past few days, but today is perfect beach weather, so I'm headed out there after I finish this entry.

Physically I'm feeling better, although not 100%. It seems like every medicine I take to correct one thing causes another problem which I need another medicine for. That's frustrating. I hope that aspect of the treatment gets easier. I'm gradually learning how to lessen my symptoms and understanding how my body reacts to different dosage levels, but it is a tedious process of trial and error.

Tomorrow I return to Wilmington for my second round of chemo. This time I'll be getting all 5 drugs in one day, so it will be a long one. Last time the Rituxan alone took about 6 hours to administer, and I was knocked out for most of that time because I got so sick from it. I am pretty nervous about that happening again tomorrow. I doubt that they'll slow the drip since I have to finish the Rituxan and then the 3+ hours of CHOP. But we'll see. I'll let you know how it goes. I am looking forward to getting it over with.

In happier news, our vacation has been wonderful so far. Dad and I arrived early on Saturday and unpacked the car. We ran some errands and got cheese steaks at Voltaco's. It's great to be eating solid, delicious food again after 5 days of hospital meals and at least 3 days of straight liquids once I got home. Mom and Keen arrived later that night with Winky, our new cat. This is his first year at the beach, and so far he seems to be enjoying it.

I also debuted my wig in public. I was nervous that people would know it was a wig immediately, but so far I haven't gotten any weird looks. Sometimes I'm tempted to whip it off just to see if anyone would be really surprised that it isn't my real hair. haha As for my real hair, it's really falling out now. I wake up with my pillow covered. Handfuls come out in the shower. It's very strange. I think I will have Lucy shave whatever is left off once we get back from vacation.

On Sunday we went to mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel, which is always fun. The guy that plays the electric organ seems to think he's the next Yani. We always get a kick out of his new age renditions of songs like "How Great Thou Art." He loves to add in a lot of synthesized timpani drums and really over-dramatizes the music. I have a hard time keeping a straight face.

After mass I passed out for about 4 hours. It's bizarre how exhausted the chemo drugs make me. I couldn't believe how late it was when I woke up. Mom made corn on the cob and hot dogs for dinner and then Dad, Keen and I went to the boardwalk. I bought a cute red dress and we got ice cream and fudge to bring home.

We ran into Mr. and Mrs. Burns, who own the house across the street from us here. They have been close with our family since my grandparents bought this house, and Mr. Burns is on the board of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Mr. Burns was good friends with my grandfather who passed away from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 1999. My grandfather was a great man and Mr. Burns shared some funny memories of their years at the beach with me. It was so nice to talk with them.

Anyway, it's time for me to head over to the beach. Bye for now :)

Love,
Lauren