Beware: Shocking Photos

Okay, I've had some pretty shocking photos on this blog. Some have made you wince, some have made you laugh, and some have made you cry. This posting's photos should make you gasp.

Why? Because I'm holding a baby!! I'm generally too frightened to do this until about the age when the baby can actually ask to be picked up. I'm always convinced their heads will fall off when I'm holding them. Yeah, you could say I have natural instincts. As a lawyer.

Jayden (he's my assistant Michelle's baby--born March 7th) doesn't really know this, but I challenged him to a hair growing competition. And since I haven't done a hair update in a bit (yeah, it's been all about Chris's spectacular hair) I figured he could help me model the progress. Seems Jayden has me on length--well, where he actually has hair. But I think I've got more "coverage." (And have I mentioned I have eyebrows now? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I do.)

Jayden didn't really care whether he was winning or not. He cared only that his mother was nearby and food was available shortly. And to emphasize that he spit up in a very projectile manner shortly after the photo session. The kid's got personality.

Really, the challenge should have been which one of us would cover the red irritated mark at the base of the skull first. I understand on babies they call this mark a "stork bite." But Jayden's mark looks just like mine and no stork has been near me in, uh, um, well...let's just say many (many) years. And I'm telling you that pictures of chemo haired women all show this mark. So what is it about the back of the head in this lower spot that it gets all read and irritated? Check out our "stork bites":
Okay, those are maybe a little hard to see--especially Jayden who definitely wins the "neck rolls" competition (thank goodness!!). Take my word for it, we both have this rash looking thing in the same spot.

My far simpler hair update is just that, simple. The hair is making a valiant effert--it's getting there, it's way darker, my eyebrows are pretty much in and my eyelashes are trying--they just aren't long enough so that mascara really matters yet. I'm still a little scary looking, so the magic super scarves will still be in action for probably a few more months. We go to Chicago in August...it be nice if I didn't have to pack scarves and wigs. Oh, and now I know I have a weird cowlick on the back of my head. Huh.

Three in A Row

Three good days. In a row. I hesitate to even say it, especially with the danger zone days 10 to 14 starting tomorrow. But, it's 8pm on Friday and it's been three good days in a row.

Thursday was a busy day. My secretary Michelle dropped by with baby Jayden (aka The Hair Competition). Seems Jayden hasn't really hit a hair growth spurt just yet, so we're still about even. You can see for yourself.

We also went back to see Dr. Karam at UCLA. I'm officially doing good. Dr. Karam is unofficially doing very well himself (mine is not a professional opinion in the same way his is). The even better news is that it will be Dr. Karam who stays in charge of me (well, me medically/cancer-ly speaking) for the years to come post-chemo and post-radiation. I'll go back and see Dr. Glaspy, the UCLA oncologist, from time to time as well, but mostly it will be Dr. Karam. And he's going to call and check out the radiation place he found that is nearby my office. If it gets his approval, I'll go check out the actual facility. Seems I need to do that soon, since I now know (from the great and good Dr. Karam--not from my tight-lipped oncologist) that there is a lot of prep time for radiation treatments. I also now know it's my entire breast that gets radiated. Owww. So Chris and I have begun plans for a mini 5-day vacation down in San Diego and La Jolla for an extra long Memorial Day weekend--that will be right between chemo and radiation. I should be sufficiently recovered to sit on a balcony overlooking the beach watching the sunset with a couple of glasses of wine. Repeatedly. And it's not that far away.

Anyway, here's the reunion photo. Dr. Karam looking like himself, and me in a hippie version of the Britney, bitch look.
Our next appointment with Dr. Karam is April 25th--when we're treating him to dinner at Omakase (he's curious, since they beat him out on the Break-out blog star poll). And yeah, that means he makes hotel calls and drives all the way to Riverside...for fine dining.

We then went over to the Century Plaza hotel to meet up with our friend JANE GIDEON who was in town with her two kids on a little mini-vacation herself. The kids played in the pool while we hung out at the poolside bar (of course we did). In LA, this look of mine doesn't get a second glance. See how we blended?
Jane is a busy mom of two who runs her own successful PR company, so she doesn't read the blog daily (shocking, I know). No worries though, I filled her in on the cancer experience. Turns out, my cancer is damn funny. Who knew? Well, maybe it was the wine. (And Jane, really, it's okay that you laughed at my cancer. No, really. I do too.)

Speaking of wine...I have sadly, tragically discovered that the wine does indeed exacerbate the hives. I may not be able to have any more wine for the next 5 weeks (watch as the blog posts get nastier and bitchier...which is actually possible. Trust me.). I had no wine or alcohol at all at the hotel, or when we went over to Houston's for dinner. (Where I did have to pause for a moment when the waiter asked if I wanted anchovies on my Caesar salad. Normally, yes, of course. But are anchovies on the "no eat" list like sushi? I don't know. I hope not, because I told the waiter yes.) On the upside, this meant Chris was free to wine away, since I was the obvious designated driver. I had a latte' for dessert and that helped me make it home and through the day without a nap. We got home at 9:30. And now you know why there was no blog post last night. Sleepy, sleepy, sleepy.

Today was a nice productive day. Chris went into the office and I worked from home. I also got my hairs cut. And by that I mean my wigs. I gave up and asked my hairstylist to come by and cut and style the wigs. We practiced on the Sienna/ meth-maven blond wig (the short one I only wear with a scarf or hat) and gave it bangs. It now has a definite 60s vibe. Then she trimmed up Britney so it doesn't have those straggly uneven ends. With that practice, we went ahead and cut bangs into the red one. I really can't stand all that hair in my face and it will just be a lot more comfortable now. I like it a lot. (Pictures will be produced eventually).

Tonight , I may test the martini tolerance. We were debating whether gin (my preference) or vodka would be less likely to exacerbate the hives. Chris thinks vodka is the way to go (something about what gin is made from vs. vodka...there was a berry involved somewhere. I really should concentrate harder).

And speaking of Chris...the best part of Friday was an email from him. See the photo of the two turtles on the rock up there? That's the pond in front of my office, which they've been cleaning and repairing for the last week. Today the turtles were returned. Chris sent me this photo with an email that said "This is how we should be spending our days." I have to admit, I teared up.

My Quest Fulfilled!

You guessed it--things went well at Quest today! I feel like I found a secret little lab that functions well and no one knows about. Seriously, I'm afraid to tell you which one I went to since so many of you are Riversiders also. Then you'll all start going there and suddenly my little oasis will be...well, it will be like the Raincross one. Oh, wait. You all don't have to have your blood drawn weekly. Okay, so you can know. 6926 Brockton. Don't blink or you'll miss it. It took me longer to find parking than it did to get in and get my blood drawn. And yes, I made my appointment online. 11:50a.m. And I was in my car finished up and heading to Starbucks before noon (yes, coffee tastes good again; and is necessary again). Halleleujah! Something went right with healthcare in Riverside. Gosh, I wish I could just quit now.

Of course, I can't quit this cancer ride. It just keeps going. I'm getting ready for chemo #2 on Thursday. This time I take less anti-nausea/ less steroid medication (before the chemo starts and the morning of) and I'm wondering why that is. It seemed to work great last time, so why change? I have to trust in the doctor...but uh, yeah, that's hard (is she even back from Switzerland??). And then there will be this new medication to help avoid the whole white blood cell count crash. The new medication causes mild to severe bone pain in 30% of patients. Great. Is this a good trade? Well, yes, I suppose (105 temperature is decidedly not a good thing). And of course we have big plans for this weekend. Involving lots of dogs and people. Sound familiar? No, not Beaglefest. It's the Riverside Humane Society Walk with the Animals at Fairmount Park on Saturday. If I'm feeling good (um, no bone pain please) we'll stop by. Me, Chris and Seamus of course. But only if I am up for it. Seems like I can't really get used to one thing before the next obstacle gets thrown up. It's like it's a journey or something?!

But the obstacle I'm currently working on is this hair thing. So the red wig. I'm not sure I like it as much now (notice no picture postings). And I really can't handle the hair falling in my face all the time (the wig has no real "part"). If I'm feeling okay on Friday I'll be taking the wig and my newly bald head to Diane the wig lady to see if she can style it. I may need bangs cut--which is scary because of course, they don't grow back. Oh, and on the bald thing--not quite totally yet. But close. It's really strange how much hair can fall out without being bald. And the weirdest part is the hairline up front. That's holding strong. Odd.

So here's my competition. This is Jayden Pierce. My assistant Michelle had her baby on March 7th and she brought him by to visit. See how much hair he has? I have just about that much now. Only I'm just a lot less cute. And my head is a lot bigger. But he's the one I'm having the hair race with--whether he knows it or not. Who will have a full head of hair first? It's good for a baby to be involved in a competiton before he's even a month old isn't it? I like to think I'm inspirational like that. Or, that is just another reason it's a good thing I don't have children. (As though the stellar job I've done with Seamus wasn't proof enough). Chris also points out that the baby also probably has more white blood cells than I do. The photo on the right? Yeah, that's how I feel about the bald thing too.

Another fun surprise today--Stacey Aldstadt sent me flowers. Another beautiful creation from Flowerloft. She knew I was having a bit of a tough week. Thanks, Stacey! I also got a card in the mail at work (thanks Ricki!) and then another at home (Thanks Trudi!). Seems I get about one or two a day...and that's really nice too. It's good when the cards outnumber the meds....not all of you can say that.