Day 440 - Fort Mac, Anxiety, Bone Pain & Dave!

Yeesh! It’s been so long since I have traveled, I actually had anxiety today! I wasn’t really packed & I always like to be organized the night before… so I don’t have to stress the day of! There is a method to my madness! Even if it means staying up until 0300!

I had just hopped out of the shower when I heard the dogs barking like crazy. I thought it was the UPS man coming to pick up a package. It was. But then the barking continued! It was Dave! Dave is my neighbor – whom I regrettably NEVER go to see! He only lives about a 20 minute walk the way the crow flies. Granted, he tells me of bear, cougar & wolf tracks along the way of the crow! Dave was a Conservation Officer these past few summers I helped out at EVIC & now he works at the Easter Seals Children’s Camp just down the highway. It was fantastic to have a visit & catch up. He’s grown quite the beard over the course of the winter. Naturally I forgot to take a photo. I’ll have to visit him again, as he has a girlfriend I have yet to meet!

Next up was a call to Dr. Daly. I took my last neupogen shot last night & the bone pain was in full force today. I was worried that it wouldn’t go away, as I didn’t have a round of chemo to take it away this time! I didn’t want to be in Havana unable to walk due to the excruciating pain! I paged Dr. Daly & he called me back shortly thereafter. He told me the pain would dissipate & yup! You guessed it! Take a Tylenol. I also informed him that I would have to receive my scan results over the phone. (My scan was booked for 17^th February & I leave for the ship on the 21^st) He told me he didn’t like to do that. He said we’d have to wait until I was back. He then asked when I would be back. I told him, ‘July’. ‘JULY!?!’  he exclaimed. I told him he was lucky to have had me for the past 6 months. I was going to travel & see my husband now. He then informed me that we would have to bump up the scan & do it the week after Cuba. My heart sank when I heard that, as I was really hoping to have the three weeks at Hippocrates to clean up the system. Boo. I immediately started to stress about the scan & then I immediately started to try & calm myself down about the scan! Then I remembered! Flight! Cuba! Vamanos!

I packed up the rest of the car & the girls & headed into the city. I went to Mom & Dad 2’s & said my farewells to the girls & Mom2 & I headed for the airport. A quick hug & a kiss goodbye & she left me for a week.

My first flight was to Fort McMurray. Yeah, I know. Why? I have no idea. Probably because I booked it on points. I had a quick flight to Fort Mac, a 4 hour wait. A quick flight to Toronto, a 4 hour wait, and then finally, the flight to Havana with Kim.

I boarded the small aircraft & the Hostess immediately gave me hassle about my bag. I reassured her that it would fit under the seat & the backpack would zip off & fit overhead. She told me she should really check the bag & if she had to pull any bags off the plane for more space mine would be first! What gives with that? How rude & unfair?!? Just because my bag is black… Nevermind…

I got settled on the plane & found myself surrounded by Newfies. A Cleaning Supervisor on a rig, another rig fellow, a girl who wants to work in the oilpatch & several others also working on the oilpatch. I might as well have been in Newfoundland – although I’ve never been there! They carried on in their amusing accents talking about the people they now from neighbourhoods. The fellow behind me looked like a Fisherman/Trucker – tattoos, gold rings, denim clothing, hat, I think he had sideburns or a mullet or both… He was quite chatty & wondered why I was going to Fort Mac by myself, why I had no hair, etc, etc.

We were delayed leaving & the gentleman was not impressed. He had tried 4x to get to Fort Mac today & had been turned around for weather, mechanical problems & so on. The Hostess finally announced that there was one extra person on the plane & she would need to see all of our boarding passes. Turns out an old fellow in a wheelchair, whom an Air Canada Attendant checked in & wheeled onto the plane herself, checked him in for the wrong flight! We just got him off the plane, when the Hostess realized the overhead bin at the back of the plane wouldn’t stay closed. I got it to latch, but that wasn’t good enough. She had to call maintenance – more delay. Maintenance shows up & get this – DUCT TAPES the bin shut!

We finally taxi & take off. As we’re taking off, I feel water dripping on me. Yes, water is dripping from somewhere between the overhead bin & the lighting controls. Comforting feeling. A plane shouldn’t really be leaking, should it? The Newfies & I joke about the water, duct tape & Hostess, when the Newfie behind me says something I can’t really understand. He then explains that if we were in Newfoundland, I’d have to get a ‘Cark bye’ to fix the leaking roof. A what? A ‘Cark bye’. Go ahead, say it out loud – ‘CARK BYE’. That’s ‘cork’ in Newfie speak. Oh this is going to be a trip to remember!

I arrive in Fort Mac. We have to deplane & walk across hoses & an icy tarmack. I get inside the airport. I look right & see the luggage carousel. I look left & see the check-in counters. That’s the airport. Thanks for coming! Okay, fine, they had a Christmas tree & a little souvenir stand in the middle. Thank goodness there was a Subway still open! I enjoyed a veggie sub & a chai latté before venturing outside for a few snowy photos. There was about 8” of fresh snow on everything! Yuck!

I didn’t really see Fort Mac, but I saw enough. Bring on the sunshine & heat!

xxxxMaria

Some town in Alberta 

 Pretty wing

Because duct tape fixes everything! 

Lovely icy tarmack to walk across! 

It's c-c-c-cold! 

Don't you want a massive CAT Dump Truck on your wall?! 

 Check-in Counters to your left (straight ahead)

Luggage carousel to your right (straight ahead) 

 Brrrr...

 Yuck

More brr & more yuck! 

 Been there, done that...

DIDN'T buy the t-shirt! (nor did Kingston or Easton) 

 Souvenir photo

They didn't like the snow. They're already full of fluffy stuff! :oP

Day 439 - Merry Christmas! Yes, Christmas.

Tonight was our Christmas dinner. Mom & I had a big blowout last night & thankfully we 'kissed & made up'. We got started on the dinner in the morning right away. That's when my arm started to hurt. My picc site started to ache. I got a little worried, as tomorrow I'm off to Cuba. I do NOT need to get into trouble health wise while I'm out of Canada!

We finished as much as we could & Mom drove me to Black Diamond. We saw her friend, Dee Dee, who just got engaged. It was great to see her! I saw a Dr. Ray (I think!) & he was really nice - in true Black Diamond fashion. The nurse was also nice, she did my last & final (!) neupogen shot for me! Yay! I took Kingston & Easton with me so they could make an appearance at the hospital. Dr. Ray basically told me he didn't think it was a blood clot, but if my arm started to swell & turn purple below the picc site, I needed to get on a plane & head back to Canada. Comforting!

On the way to Black Diamond, I grabbed Mom's phone to call someone & saw that Al & Wilma had called. I said, 'Oh! Al & Wilma called! I wonder what they wanted...' & dialed their number before Mom could interrupt. As it was ringing, she said, 'They are probably calling for directions. I invited them for dinner tonight & was going to keep it a surprise!' Whoops! I blew it!

We stopped to pick up a few last minute groceries & headed home. We weren't home very long & the guests started arriving. (!) Mom2 & Dad2 were the first to arrive & they helped A LOT! They put all my boxes in the back of the truck & helped with the dinner preparations. We hadn't expected to be so long in Black Diamond, so we were running behind schedule! (And we're always late!)

Dinner was at 1800. I think we ate about 1930? At least everyone was hungry by the time we actually sat down to eat it! It was a great meal & we had a wonderful visit with Al & Wilma, Kevin & Roxy, Mom2 & Dad2 & of course, Mom. And thank you for all your help! We made a great team!

Speaking of teams, the guys streamed the highly disappointing Canada vs. Russia hockey game on Mom's big computer. They were happy to watch the game while the ladies whipped up a frenzy in the kitchen!

Roxy & Mom both liked their pendants that I made for them, so I was happy about that! I'm always nervous making something for someone. I don't want them to feel awkward about it if they don't like it!

I did my best to pack my bags for Cuba after everyone left, but it was late & I was quite tired... The bone pain was also settling in again. For one last time!

xxxxMaria, Valentina, Oceana, & Adios

 Kingston & Easton help make the stuffing

Mom hard at work already! 

 Tweet Pea & her gingerbread man.

 Kingston & Easton in the hospital with me.

 Al, Wilma, Mom & I

 Roxy, er, Britney

 Rihanna

Kevin & Roxy - thanks again for your help!

Day 426 - The Eve of The Last Round & Christmas Eve

Can you believe it? It's finally here. 6 months of what I thought would be pure torture & it wasn't! And it's finally coming to an end!

I spent most of the day trying to tidy, pack, organize & get things ready for tomorrow evening. I packed my 'chemo bag' for the last time. I packed the pills for the last time, the neupogen bag for the last time, the 'chemo blanket' for the last time...

Looking back, I packed books, journals, laptop, ipod, food, etc, etc. the first few rounds. It was so heavy, no one wanted to carry the bag! I never used any of it! Now I just take my pill & put on the headphones & sleep! Happy day!

Valentina & I played this evening, then she tried her best to send me to bed. I have a hard time sleeping the night before chemo. I know if I stay up late, I'll most likely sleep through treatment the next day.

I want to say THANK YOU to all of the amazing people who helped me through this roller coaster ride - Jaco, Mom, Mom2, Al, Wilma, Jenn, Trisha, Roxy, Kevin, Collet, Dave, Laura, Sylvia, Janis, Kerry, Bronwen, Jessica, Fawna, Lara, Zoe, Marc, Joanne, Ross, Krystle, Dr. Daly, Dr. Castillo, Dr. Dowdall, the INCREDIBLE Nurses at PLC - Sam, Iny, Deana, Marilyn & the others whose names have slipped my mind, Julie, and all the friends who have commented on the blog or Facebook, wrote emails & called the house. It has meant the WORLD to me. Those of you who showed up at the house, attended the head shaving party, said prayers (!), I thank you from the bottom of my heart to the top of my bald head!

It has been quite the journey, with plenty of lessons learned. I'm anxious to remember what 'living' feels like again. To be active, eating healthy, thinking healthy & being healthy. I can't wait for 2011 to begin. A fresh slate!

On that note, I'm off to bed, for tomorrow, the hardest part will finally be over! AMEN!!!!

xxxxMVO&A

Mama! Come to bed!

Day 353 - Finally! We Saw It!

Last night Jaco gave me my Neupogen shot & this morning found me with plenty o' bone pain. I wasn't moving too swiftly, as any up/down movements would send me over the edge! Jaco cleaned the pantry, vacuumed the bedroom, swept the kitchen & folded the laundry. I washed/dried the clothes & edited the rest of the Stirr photos. 


We decided to go to Cochrane & attempt to see Life As We Know It for the 3rd time. We tried on Saturday evening, but the show was sold out at Chinook & the only 2 seats together were in the very front row. We couldn't even see the screen properly! We asked for a refund & left for home. We tried again last night on the way home from Ken's, but we had missed the first 12 minutes of the movie. 


We were going to go this afternoon to a matinée, which I thought started at 1620, but as it turned out, it started at 1530! We finally decided to go to the 1920 show. We left a little late, got stuck behind a big fuel truck & lo & behold, the movie started at 1930! We were actually early!! Mark it on the wall! 


We both really enjoyed the movie. It was funny - the audience was chuckling the entire way through - and it was sad & it was lovey-dovey. All the necessary items to have you leave the theatre feeling good about life. It's worth the money & buttery fingers!


We fuelled up at Safeway, picked up a few things for tomorrow & headed home. I had bathed both dogs before we left for the movie, so they were dry by the time we arrived home. And they smelled a lot better, too! 


Tomorrow is round 7. I am so NOT excited about it. I hope the day flies by & the night too. I wish they could just give me a drug to induce a 24 hr coma. I pray this ends soon. 


xxxxMJV&O

Day 337 - And That's More Like It!!!

Wow! What a stunner of a day today was! I was so shocked when I stepped out onto the deck & was blasted with warm air! What a concept! I can't believe it! It's almost like, *gasp* summer! Whoo hoo! Bring it on!


I took the dogs for a walk to EVIC to see Joe, as it's been awhile. We chit chatted about this & that. Hard to believe next weekend is one year since their wedding! Time is flying by! The girls are becoming quite the guard dogs. They would give a little growl at every person who walked into the centre! 


However, the best part of my day was when we walked back & found a few cows & calves in front of the house. Valentina spots them & goes charging over, barking the entire way. She was running around one of the cows like it was on fire. It was the funniest thing I think I've ever seen. Do wiener dogs generally herd cattle when given the chance? That poor cow didn't know what was going on. It couldn't keep track of Valentina as she ran circles around it... I'm still chuckling! What a dog...


I took the recycling (finally Mom & Jaco are saying) & forgot to take the back way into Bragg Creek. On weekends when the weather is wonderful, the traffic can get pretty ridiculous at the 4-way stop. It took me about 15 minutes to get through the intersection! Crazy! 


I'm hoping tomorrow will be just as stunning. The Fall foliage is at it's peak right now... I just love the look of bright yellow poplar leaves dancing in the wind, the white bark of the trees & the perfect blue skies sitting as a backdrop. If only it would hold on... Another month of Fall & one less of winter would suit me just fine. 


I managed to do my injection myself today, but I'm starting to feel some bone pain, so I'm off to bed... Have a great rest of the weekend & get some Vitamin D while the gettin's good!


xxxxMJV&O

 Oceana & Papa passed out for the night...

Papa in his jeans - what a looker!

Day 319 - The Would Be Round of Chemo That Wasn't

Yup. You guessed it. Blood work was too low. Come back in a week. Great. 


We waited 2 hours for the Doctor. Dr. Daly wasn't in today, so I was supposed to see Dr. Lategan. Apparently Dr. Lategan was booked solid, so I was pawned off on Dr. Blahey (bleh-HAY). I had read not so cool things about Dr. Blahey on RateMDs.com (check out your Doctor &/or leave them some feedback!), so I wasn't too thrilled to be seeing him. I had a dreadful feeling in my stomach all morning, partially because I was scared I was going to be sick again & that was NOT fun, and partially because, well, let's face it, chemo sucks. 


Dr. Blahey wasn't too bad. I was expecting someone like Dr. House, only without the sarcasm I've grown to love, however, Dr. Blahey was just cool. He wasn't rude or offensive, he was just to the point. He told me to go home & take a shot of Neupogen & come back next week. 


Well, I guess we have the rest of the day off! Jaco & I stopped at Costco & Community Natural Foods, then it was on our way home. Looks like we'll have a few days off!


At one point in the morning, while we were waiting, an older gentleman walked into the hallway. He looked a little disheveled & his clothes were a little bit dated. Corduroy jacket, pants hiked up WAY past his navel & those big old metal framed glasses from the 1980s. Jaco commented on the gentleman saying he surely couldn't be a Doctor. When the gentleman walked into the clerical room & came out carrying a stethoscope, well, he just proved us wrong! A few moments later, the gentleman came & stood at the counter, talking to the receptionist. As he was standing there, Jaco & I noticed the length of the gentleman's pants. They were short. Very short. Jaco said, 'Hmm. Must've grown some.' It was funny at the time, but Jaco found it hilarious. I've never seen my husband in tears of laughter before. We were giggling like two kids in math class who just pranked the teacher. Maybe you had to be there, but it was a pretty good case of flood pants!


It feels good to have no plans for the next few days... We'll be hanging out with the dogs & trying to do as little as possible... Waiting for these neutrophils to pop back up...


xxxx MJV&O

Oceana sucks up to Papa

Looks like it's working!

Off in La-La Land

Someone else is in La-La Land!

Day 279 - The Jameses Arrive!

Wheeeeee! I haven't been this excited to see somebody in, well, I can't remember when!!!! The Jameses arrived around 1300 & they were as handsome as ever! I was giddy to have them here! Finally!!! I hadn't seen them for 53 weeks! It's about time!


Big James & I worked on a few ships together & spent my best & 2nd last contract sailing around Europe. He is one-in-a-million & I am so happy that he has found his one-in-a-million to spend the rest of his days with! Little James is an incredible Dancer & actually calls Grand Prairie home! He is one of those people that you feel like you've known them forever from the first time you meet them. 


Additionally, Big James' Dad, who is also named James (!), was the Pastor at our wedding in South Africa! I met Jim when he turned 60 & visited his son on the ship for our Egypt cruise. I know where Big James gets his wonderful personality & kind heartedness from! 


The Jameses are on the next leg of their honeymoon, as they just got married in Vancouver! I'm very happy that they will be in Canada more often - hopefully we'll have more get togethers! 


We visited for a bit in the house & then I took them down to Elbow Falls & Forget-Me-Not Pond. The weather was stunning, so it was great for taking a few snaps & showing off the beauty of Eastern Kananaskis. We sat on one of the benches at Forget-Me-Not & caught up on all the happenings in their life for the past year or so. 


One of my favourite things about working on ships is meeting up with people you are never quite sure exactly when you will see them again. It makes the times extra special. They have no idea what their stay means to me! Truly 2 of my most cherished friends. 


After our visit to the tourist attractions, we headed for town. I was treating them to ice cream. Of course, our drive to down was rather wet & cold! It hailed half way & POURED rain the other half of the drive! They were quite excited to see the ice cream choices & I'm pleased to say we all enjoyed a scoop of chocolate peanut butter, among other flavours. Big James is enjoying the truly Canadian flavour of Tiger. :o) Btw, if you're in Bragg Creek, the little ice cream shop on Whyte Ave gives the biggest & best scoops in town! 


We headed home to find Mom whipping up a storm for dinner. We were barbecuing some big ol' steaks, corn on the cob, greek salad, pear & blue cheese salad, mint potatoes, and of course, baked brie with pecans for an appetizer. Oooh & blueberry crisp for dessert! It was a feast! 


The Jameses & I walked down to the barn before dinner to bring the truck back, but as we were driving back, Jim (also a James & owner of the ranch) asked us to give him a hand with some panels to stop the cattle from the park crawling through the fence. We drove out to the field & loaded up the panels. Oh my word. The mosquitos are out in FULL FORCE! I haven't seen them this bad for a VERY LONG TIME! We were all swinging & swatting & itching like crazy! I think I had about 12 new bites in a matter of a few minutes! They are thirsty little critters! UGH! We were moving as quickly as we could! Jim commented on finding a dead calf the other day. I asked him what happened to the calf. Jim replied, 'He stopped living.' He's a funny guy for 86 years of age! I also admired his bailer twine suspenders! :o) Still practical after all these years!


We enjoyed a hearty meal & more wonderful visits. I was surprised to hear about Little James' Champion Mutton Buster & Steer Riding past! I guess I thought I was a rarity in working on ships with a 'western' background! I knew something was up when he was so prompt to get the gates & knew which way to swing it! 


They plan to work a while longer on ships, as Big James has recently been made Manager of the Photo Department. I'm so proud of him! It's difficult for the two of them to snag the same ship together, so say a little prayer they both end up on the same ship. I know what it's like to be away from the one you love & it's NOT FUN. 


Today was also my first Neupogen shot. I was feeling a little rusty, as it's been a month or more since all the fertility shots. But, I managed to get it all in my leg & didn't keel over. I took a Tylenol straight away to keep any bone pain at bay. I didn't feel anything until about 0500 the next morning. I felt like I'd been riding a Clydesdale all day. My hips & lower back ached like crazy! UGH. I hope it passes soon!


Anyhow, what a great day. I can't sing the Jameses praises enough... I love them to bits & can't wait until our next visit... Travel safe & enjoy what's left of you holidays... Sending you love & hugs...


OH! I forgot to mention... Big James' little brother is a professional Wrestler - Leo Kruger. He's just started in the US, but next season he'll be on the reality tv show, NXT. If you're into that scene, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for him!


Maria & Valentina
xxxxxxx

There were a bunch of artists painting at the falls today.

Always time for a touristy pic!

A James Sandwich

Forget-Me-Not Pond with Nihahi Ridge in the background. Apparently it's the ridge that Christopher Reeves flies over in Superman.

Forget-Me-Not's famous reflections

I'm so happy you guys made it here!

Uh-oh! Storm clouds are coming!

Oceana gets a lift!

Shufly & the Jameses.

The old truck in evening light.

Day 265 - False Alarm & False Labour!

And what a day it was. 


Collet & Dave & Ezra went to the zoo today. They had a fabulous day & Ezra loved seeing the animals. I think Collet was little wiped from all the walking & the extra 'luggage' she's toting these days! The arrived home around 2100. 


I, on the other hand, arrived home much earlier than planned. 


I was up at 0530 & in the shower shortly after. When I was out of the shower & getting ready, Mom poked her head in the door to see if Valentina wanted out. There's the Princess, lying in my bed, head on the pillow, covers up to her neck. She lazily looks over at Mom & then looks away. Apparently she didn't want outside! What a little turkey!


We made it to Peter Lougheed in 57 minutes. I went straight to the lab for blood work. Mom2 met me there. We both needed blood work done & she was also having some other tests done today, so we met up. They took my blood straight away & I headed back to the outpatient waiting area. 


There were about 12 patients called in the 1/2 hr while I waited to see Dr. Lategan. He is one busy Doc! Wow! When I was finally called in to see him, Vivian took my vitals & wrote a few notes. She was cute. She totally didn't recognize or remember me. I joked with her, thinking she couldn't have forgotten me so easily... I then remembered that I had a lot more hair the last time she saw me! :o) 


Dr. Lategan came in & check out the lumps. We went over my CT scan, he asked how I had been feeling & then checked my blood work. My CBC wasn't included in the write up, so he phoned. Hmpf. My WBC was 2.8 & my Neutrophils were 0.70. Too low for chemo. I need Neupogen. It's $1200/mo. Come back in one week. Great. 


I waltzed out to where the Mom's were sitting & said, 'Okay, we're done. My WBC is in the sink hole, so I'm back in a week. Let's go.' They both sat there stunned, not knowing what to say. I stopped by the pharmacy to apply for the Victory program, which helps supplement the Neupogen. The Pharmacist was very pleasant & most helpful. He said I should here from them by Friday for sure. Fingers crossed they will help me out with this drug! 


So, with no chemo, we decided to have lunch. We stopped at a nearby place & they weren't open until 1100. It was 1015. The gal opened the door for us & let us in! How nice was that??!! We had a lovely meal & then Mom2 had to go back to work & Mom had to do a few errands before we headed home. We made our way to Fort Calgary, where Lynyrd Skynyrd was apparently playing, as his semi-trailer was parked behind the fence & security was tight. A white stretch limo pulled up behind Mom & I was we walked across 9th Ave. Fun stuff! 


After she was finished dropping off a few batches of day planners, we made our way home. I was mentally exhausted & went straight to bed. I enjoyed a nice nap & a relaxing evening. I had been hoping that Collet would be back in time to do the belly photos, but no such luck. Looks like tomorrow will have to be a good day to do it!


We visited for a while this evening & then it was bed time for all of us! Here's to a productive day tomorrow & a fun, fabulous photo shoot! 


Love & hugs,
Maria & Valentina
xxxxxxx

I think Mom was snoring 2 minutes before this photo!

That's the white stretch limo behind us... Maybe my pal, Lyn, was in there...

Sweet Home Alabama...

Rock on Sista!!!