Making it a habit

They say you have to do things repeatedly to make them a habit so I am going to try and write a little bit each day to try and get in the habit of writing things down.

Food has started going down again which makes me very happy.  I was getting sick of ensure as the only food source.  I've been thinking more about the idea of a drug trial and while I would be open to one I don't really think I will qualify.  Jeff didn't know if they were taking people with ascites and he isn't sure if they will allow people to be on other medications. I have no idea what my platelet count is and whether or not it will have a limit to start the trial. 

I have been trying to clip Lacey myself to save money.  :)   Oh my oh my, what a job this is.  I am afraid for starters as I don't want to hurt her.  I had one false start and ended up taking her in to be groomed and cut really short to fix my mess.  The worst to do is her face and her "lady parts" but this last time I bit the bullet and got out the clippers and stood her on a table and just started shaving it down.  She looks like a bit of a ragamuffin and her face and feet still need some work but overall I can live with the results and that is $60 saving every six weeks!  Lacey did quite well and stood like a very good girl.  No restraints and I let her down every so often to get a break and we were both happy!

The last time I got the clippers out and tried to entice Lacey into the whole scenario she was not having anything to do with it.  Nemo on the other hand thought the clippers were great!  The cat has never had a matt in his life or a bath and he is a sparkling long haired white cat but he presented himself and asked for a trim.  So.........I gave him a bit of a thinning which actually took off a lot of hair which i regretted.  This time he stayed clear, smart boy that he is.  :)

The girls and I (J & L) are planning on a trip to Hawaii this next winter.   Some excellent prices out there right now if you book early. We would fly out of Bellingham (just half a hour across the border) which is way cheaper for us than flying out of Vancouver.  How sad is that!!!   Anyway we would probably go for 2 weeks.  Man that is something wonderful to look forward too.  Nice warm breezes off the ocean, hot sun and sand.  What could be better?

Hmmm blog........what blog.......

OK so I'm a lousy blogger and it has been 7 months since I've blogged.  A lot has happened starting with the last apartment.  I was there a month and then had to move again.  I am now in my new place and have been for 6 months.  I am really happy in this apartment and signed a years lease when I moved in.  Hopefully I won't be moving again any time soon.  I've had to do things a bit differently but so far I am really happy with things.  The kitchen was the one drawback to the apartment because of cupboard space so I ended up putting up too bookcases to hold dishes etc and that is working well. It has a dishwasher, fridge and stove.

My money situation is finally clear and I know how much money I have to live on each month and what bills I can afford.  So far I have managed to keep my car and that is a very good thing. :)  Summer is coming on and I am looking forward to the warmer weather and being able to get out more and walk.  This winter has been wet and cold and I really haven't gotten out as often as I would have liked.

The animals love the new place and the big balcony with the huge big doors.  Nemo scratches at the door like a dog bugs and bugs until I open up for him and let him out there.  He can't get down as we on the second floor and there is nothing out there except trees and blackberry bushes.  Full of birds the come and go all day long.  Lacey also likes the balcony and there is a squirrel that sits in the tree and shouts insults at her.  They will love it when the weather is warm and I can just open the doors for them all day long.

Josh and David went to Thailand last September and had a great time.  It was the second trip in two years for them and they are already talking about new places to go.  I love seeing them travel like this and hope they continue to see the world as often as they can. 

Dave's Christina is wanting a trip to Thailand with Daddy and Uncle Josh but she needs to be a bit older yet for that kind of a trip. 

She is 9 years old now and a real little beauty.  She is a big sister to a brand new baby brother and she is thrilled.  She loves Dax and that is the first thing she wants to do when she gets to my place is see if Dax can come and visit too.  Dax is now 14 months old and he is such a sweet little lovie. 



My health, well let's just say I am maintaining.  I see the doctor's regularly and do as I am supposed to.  My doctor is happy with me and that is a good thing.  I had my regular visit to VGH for the follow up of the last drug trial I was on.  While I was there the guys (Jeff and Kirby) decided to do a fibroscan on me since it has been 5 years since I had a biopsy.  The results showed that I do have cirrhosis but we already know that.  I have ascites which we are controlling with diuretics so far and I have esophageal varices which I have been having banded regularly.  The last time was on last Thursday and I am still not feeling great from that.  Having a hard time getting food down but the Ensure is taking up the slack and I am doing ok.  I am 125 lbs right now and really don't want to fall below that.

Jeff did mention that there could be another drug trial coming up this summer.  It is for relapsers like me but he did not have the criteria yet and did not know if they will take patients with ascites and varices but he will stay in touch with me and let me know if anything comes up.  Really until they can kill the virus or at least get the virus to stop killing my liver the damage will just continue until my liver fails. So I am open to any and all drug trials as they appear.  This one will be a 4 drug cocktail which would include the interferon and the ribaviran along with the two other drugs. Probably a protease inhibitor and another drug.  Guaranteed to make me very sick.  The problem is can I stay strong enough and maintain well enough to manage a drug trial.  One thing at a time and one day at a time.  In the meantime I maintain. 

Well I am going to try and keep this up now as a record of appointments and such as well.  Josh I know you are my only reader so no nasty comments or I will ban you!!   :)

March 15 - Ultrasound at Valley Imaging

March 22  - Endoscopy and banding at MSA with Dr. V

March 27 - Drug trial follow up at VGH  Fibroscan and bloodwork (Fibroscan 16.5)