Iraq and #6

My sweet hubby made it from Hungary to Iraq.   I got a few texts from him.   British Guards picked him up at the airport in a armoured car that was guarded.   He had 3 other cars and 6 guards protecting him (1 man)  from the airport to the work site compound.    All with serious gun power.   All he saw was sand and burnt out towns and mortar holes.  He is pretty far out in the desert and close to the border.    Security was tight and he said he felt safe.  They checked the whole car/underneath t for any explosive devices and at every check point   (several a long the way)   He was also required to wear full protective gear.   He made it to the location,  or compound which is guarded to the max .  British commandos are on guard at all time......it pays to have friends from around the globe.    He will be running data aquisitions tests  to see what the well is doing and make suggestions on what needs to be done and sending in reports back to the companys main corporate office......basically 24/7.   He tells me the Iraq people and government WANT them in the country to help them rebuid and get their oild fields up and running again.  So they are also very protective about their oil fields and the people frome across the globe who are working to get them up and running.     He was going to to go take a nap and eat as he had been traveling for 2 full days.   When I asked him about the food he said it was authentic. What ever that means.   A good friend told him to take plenty of immodium when he goes.   He does have good internet so at least we can skype. The accomodations are good and he has a roomate...(he sounded Australian...but I could not be sure)     It was nice to see his happy face on Skype this morning and it made me feel better to know he is safe.

As for me...I took treatment # 6 or Thursday ...so I have two more to go.  I am so looking forward to feeling better and having some feel good days ahead.   I can even think about the future now and I starting to  plan a party  for Gracies Senior Graducation    - Did I brag that she has a 4.0 and has been accepted into several colleges. She has also been taking good care of me since Allen has been gone. Work is going good for her and she got some major tips over the holidays.  I am so proud of the young adult she is becoming.   She is looking way beyond those high school years and is so ready to let all the drama of high school go and move on to college.

I put on my big girl pantys and DROVE MYSELF to my #6 treatment.  I hate asking others to do this for me and sit with me because it is such a long boring treatment.   I was in the chemo chair  from 8:30 - 2:00.  I had to have a few extra IVS....I was very nauseated yesterday so they gave me two bags of the meds and that  helped  and a extra dose of steriods (which will make me red and swollen today) - and something to help my red blood cell count - which is bordeline right now.  This explains the extreme fatigue I have been having.   I will go back in today to check it and if it is still low I will need to get blood/plasma.  BUT   the good news is my white blood cell count is up, which means so is  my immunity..this is a FIRST....so I am glad.   It mean that my immunity is on the rebound....so I still need to stay away from sick people to keep this count up.  I was smart this time and packed a lunch so I felt better during  the treatment  They do have an array of snacks and juice they offer you...but they dont appeal to me - you loose a certain taste of foods when you are on chemo as they remind you of being sick or hurling during a previous treatment.


Anyway I am still on a steriod high today....but really swollen and red from them..looks like I have a bad sunburn and my eyes are swollen shut...and I  really tired and I can feel the bone pain starting to sneak in again.  The weekends will be the worst...so I plan on resting and laying low...so I can be back at work next need.

Time to have something for breakfest before my taste buds go dead again. This will last about a week..nothing taste good and it is easy to get dehydrated and start feeling sick.  So you have to eat a good meal when you can and are able.

Have a great weekend..I am grateful for three days to recover from this treatment.  I hope to head back to work part time on Tuesday if I am feeling well.  I have been pushing it with work, but is makes me feel so good mentally/emotionally  and my work friends have been so supportive.  And I really enjoy what I am doing with the people that are around me.  So in a way, it is good cheap therpy  and thebest support group I could ever ask for.   Love my Whit people !

Tammy