First day of Chemotherapy

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY - TODAY IS MY DAD'S 45TH BIRTHDAY!!! Happy Birthday to the most Amazing man I know; I love you so much Dad and really hope today is special for you... actually I want for every day to be special for you.
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Apparently I am scheduled to start chemotherapy today. This will be done on the ward, so I don't have to go anywhere, but I have been hooked up to a drip all day waiting for them to start putting something through the line which isn't saline. I am either going to be a very patient person by the time this is all finished, or slowly rocking in a corner somewhere having gone completely insane! I'm a little cross at myself for not having a camera here today - I must make sure I get a pic of myself with all these lines in at some point; it seems to be the kind of pic everyone has to have, right? lol... will ask someone to bring a camera in soon. I have also discovered a littl espot on this computer that allows me to insert an SD card direct into the computer so I can start uploading pics.
I won't type much today - the action is quite uncomfortable when you have a needle into the top of your hand, but I wanted to report that all my blood counts are up, which is a VERY GOOD THING, so I have been approved to start chemo.
Basic stats on the chemo for those who are interested; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacarbazine I do apologise for using wikipedia as a source of information for you, but I did say basic stats, and it saves me typing out what little I know.
Will report back tomorrow with a progress report, but for now I am really quite drowsy, so I might have a little nap while I wait.

Loving you all, and really looking forward to getting home and sharing some time with all of the people who are supporting me. Definitely missing all you beautiful SS girls, but you will be proud to know that I have been spending time today getting all finances in order for dh so that he can continue living the SS way while I am in hospital or even at home unwell. The next plan is to get started on making some Christmas presents, so I have had some stuff brought in from home so that I can get to work on a bit of that. Hard becuase of limited energy levels, but little by little I'll get there - and now I know how to share pics, I'll show you all what I am creating.

Still in hospital

I must figure out some way of uploading pictures to this computer - have got to get someone to find the relevant cables and software so that I can do that. For now I am still at Peter Mac. I had another blood transfusion yesterday, two more units to try to bring up my blood levels, particularly the haemoglobins (Hbs) which had dropped below 80 again. For those who don't know the Hbs are the red blood cells, and they carry the oxygen around your body. They should be around 150 (I think) but my levels are not unsafe, just not ideal for someone who wants to start chemo. They can certainly drop a whole lot lower before it starts to be a problem, so yesterday's transfusion, as I understand it, was more of a preventative than a 'oh gosh we have to fix this' thing.
Had my radiotherapy planning session yesterday. I'll be having one dose directly to the left hip to help strengthen the bones and erradicate the cancer that is weakening them around that break. I'll also be having a dose to my L2, while we're down there ;) to help annihilate that growth, and certainly to prevent that from growing any bigger and becoming symptomatic. Then I have five intensive sessions of radiotherapy to my brain; a total of 20 grade radio. This is all set to start on Thursday, with sessions booked for Friday and Saturday, so that could POSSIBLY be finished by Tuesday. I have no idea if I'll be doing chemo before or after that, but because today is a public holiday in Victoria (Melbourne Cup Day) I would think chemo will start late next week. I was not happy about delaying chemo yet again, but if we're starting then I'm okay with that. I'll certainly be trying to find out what I can today.
Off to go check out the pretty horses for Cup Day, sending this with my love and thanks for all your support.
(Oh, and on a side note - THIS time I have a tote in here and have actually been scrappping. It's the first time I have brought supplies into the hospital because I haven't really had stuff packed in the past, but at least I get to play a little. I don't have to the photos I really want, but I an scrap with whatever if I must ;)