Whose Chicken?

Went to Iowa City yesterday. I have to admit, the trips are getting tiring. Craig and I do try to change things up by trying out new restaurants to us and yesterday was a good one. I was hungry for Mexican and so we went to a place called Eldorado (Not sure on the name) and it was very good. We will go there again.

So my appointment was the usual. My blood draw they only drew three vials instead of the 5-7. Everything looked good. We had Sue this time for the PA. Hadn't had her for quite awhile. Enjoyed having her again. Karen the test drug rep came in and gave me two months worth of my pills and took my old bottles. I have to always remember now to bring what I have back to her to her and she gives me more. I need to have another blood draw later on that I can do in Waterloo which will be nice and I don't have to go back to Iowa City for 7 weeks. Saw Dr. Gingrich of course too. Talked to him about my itchy skin, mostly my chest, back and head. He said the head he wasn't sure about but asked if I had chicken skin. We just looked at him a bit strange. He preceded to ask if my skin looked like chicken skin when their feathers are plucked. Raise some around like a hair follicle. We still looked at him a bit strange and so he lifted up my shirt and looked at my back and rubbed over my skin with his hand. I could tell imediately he had found a "spot"on my left should blade with his finger that he had found something. That was "the Spot". I wanted to say itch it please. He showed Craig what it looked like. Craig says he will never be able to find it again. He said if it gets worse to let him know. It is my head that bugs me the most. We will see what happend the next 7 weeks with that. He or Karen said I could take some Benadryl at night if it keeps me up. I may try some Cortizone 10 on my scalp and shampoo with some T-Tree shampoo. That stuff stinks though.

I have also had some constipation problems but trying to work that out my self with Metamucil and eatting more fiber. Didn't have that problem on the Gleevex cause it cause me to have soft stools several times a day. Ok, enough about my poop.

Just to keep you all informed also, we have found a house in Johnston. Our bid has been excepted and are waiting the little stuff inspection and what ever else. It is an older home, 1969 in an older neighborhood, which is hard to find in Johnston with it being such a newer community. It is on a culdasac so not much traffic through. The previous owners worked with woodwork and so there is lovely wood work through out. Especially the Brazillian Cherry wood floors in the kitchen, dining and living area upstairs. It is a split level home with 5 bedrooms, lots of open space. The kids have there rooms picked out. There really isn't much that has to be done to the house. Huge back yard and big driveway to go along with the huge two plus car garage. We are excited about it. If all goes well, we will close the 26th of May. Then we can take a day and sign papers, and get the kids registered for school. The schools are fairly close too.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Being a Good Girl

Did you know that being a good girl can get you in trouble? Well, it happen to me today. Craig and I got on the road headed to Iowa City for my third appointment in a row when I thought, "I need to take my pills." So like a good girl I took them. About 15 minutes later I was getting a call on my cell phone but I was having trouble getting it out of my pocket therefore I missed the call. I tried calling it back and found that it was from the hospital in Iowa City but I couldn't get the person who called beings they were on an extension. I assumed it was Karen calling to talk to me. About 30 minutes from Iowa City Craig says, " Were you suppose to take your pills today before your testing?" Ah Crud! That was it.

When we got to the hospital and the nurse called me back I told I had taken my pills and she would have to call Karen to find out what she wanted to do. I lucked out. I it was fine. See I was suppose to not take my pills so they could do three EKG's and then take my pills, wait two hours and do three more EKG's. Oops. Karen said we will just do the blood draw and the post EKG's, not a problem. I told her I was just trying to be a good girl and get my pills taken. Actually, it wasn't even her that called earlier on my phone. I still don"t know who it was. God I guess. He was a little late though.

I am still working on a schedule to get those darn things taken. Fasting two hours before taking the pills and one hour after taking them, the night times have been my struggle. We eat so late especially now with kids in soccer till 6:30 at night and meetings starting at 6:30 or 7:00. I take my pills at like 9:00 then I cant have a snack before going to bed cause 10 is just too late and by then I am going to bed. The strange thing is, that I didn't really have snacks before going to bed anyways but it is just knowing that I can't if it is going to be that late. It should be a good thing. I just wont eat breakfast or supper, I need to loose weight for the summer anyway. (Just kidding mom. I wont really do that!)

So it was a shorter day then we expected which was nice. I had asked the nurse if there was a Good Will store close by and she told me about the one close to Coralville Mall. The back of the van had 8 bags of stuff so we dropped them off. Actually, we dropped them off and I picked up one. Meaning, I ended up buying some clothes. Then we had a coupon for Red Lobster and ate lunch and headed home.

On the way home it started raining and there was some lightning too so called the school when we got close and found out that Hanna's soccer was canceled so told them to ride the bus home. It was nice to be home an hour before the kids got home. I got a few things done.

Now I don't have to go back to Iowa City till April 26th to see Dr Gingrich. Things have been going well with this drug so far. No nausea after taking the pills and my puffy eyes aren't nearly as bad either. One thing that has changed...actually two things that are kind of embarrassing. First, my bowels... well, let's just say I could go to the bathroom about 30 minutes after every meal on my Gleevec and I really didn't mind that. But this last week that has changed quite a bit. I do believe this drug has a tendency to cause constipation so that could be a problem. Second, (sorry guys there is no nice way to say this) my boobs have been more sore. I did mention that to Karen this morning and that was a new one to her. It is just mild I guess but I will be...uhmm... monitoring this until my appointment with Gingrich. It could just be the change and that will all settle as time goes on. Remember, shortly after starting Gleevec my periods were much heavier so who know. Ok, embarrassing stuff done.

The big basketball game is on and Nathan wants me to watch it with him. I don't really care who wins since the UNI Panthers didn't make it but it is time with my son.
I will keep you posted if things change. Until next appoint. So long.


(Picture of me as "Good Girl")
(Ok, Maybe not?)