Holy Moly it has been a while! Here's all the latest.

I have finished radiation treatment on my sacrum and hip bones; and I feel much less pain in those areas. I didn't realize how bad it was until it started getting better. A couple of weeks later I was feeling so good that I asked my doctor if we couldn't postpone my new chemotherapy for a week so I could go on vacation without risking infection AND so I could keep feeling good a bit longer. She agreed :)

The next day we left for Washington DC. We stayed near the new Air Force Memorial/Arlington Cemetery. We spent most of a day at Arlington. That was a fascinating and sobering day accompanied by overcast skies, a few sprinkles, and gorgeous cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Then we went to the mall. Not the National Mall with the landmarks and Smithsonian museums ... a shopping mall. HA! Americans. They had an Apple and a Sony store right next to each other plus an enormous Nordstroms. So I renewed spiritually ;)

The next day was Mount Vernon. Very cool. Then on to Williamsburg to meet my high school friend, Tina, and her daughters. We spent a day at Busch Gardens-Europe (yeah right ~ "France" had BBQ brisket and Funnel Cakes!) and the craziest roller-coasters I've ever seen (I only rode the tamest one and that was terrifying). Then on to historic Jamestowne. WOW. Very cool. Finally, on to Virginia Beach where we saw my friend Tracy and her husband. It is inspiring to see a couple who is so in love and happy to be married. It is also nice to be around people who really like each other too. (Oh and for those of you from Virginia Beach the answer is "yes, I ate at both PIzzeria and at Pocahontas Pancakes!)

Last week I started the new regimen of chemo: Gemzar and Navelbine. I opted not to get the Neulasta right away since the pain is excruciating. This week I am feeling like I have a serious flu in the works. So my WBC must be dropping like a rock and I'll probably need some Neupogen tomorrow and Friday ... Neulasta going forward. My nurses have worked it out for me to self-inject (yah, I know, WHAT?!) on Saturdays so that I can go back to Friday treatments and quit messing up my whole schedule/routine. My mom will tell you, "From the time Jennie was little, she always fell asleep and woke up at the same times." What can I say, I've got a strong internal clock that really goes haywire if I mess with it too much. Routine people, ROUTINE!

Of course, the morning after chemo, I went to a funeral for my dad's most favorite aunt, Dorcas. She was my grandma's closest friend since my dad was pre-school aged. He described her as his second mom. When I drove Olivia to school she told me, "Dad's really sad! His eyes are red. Well his one eye is really red all over, the other one is half red-red and then the rest is sorta red." Wow. No wonder my daughter learns all the stuff I think I am not teaching her. She observes far more than what I can consciously control.

The MRI I had last week showed additional tumors that are aggressively destroying bone and putting me at risk of a dangerous fracture. The tumor on the sacrum was confirmed in addition to finding tumors in the "neck" of the hip bones on both sides.

Once my radiation records are received by my current radiation oncologist; we will schedule ten treatments, one per day. This doctor takes a more conservative approach than my others. She does not think it wise to give me the maximum allowable dose straight away. Given the prolific nature of my tumors, THEY'LL BE BAAAAACK, and she wants to be sure she can offer some treatment in the future if needed.

The truly exciting news is radiating the sacrum also requires radiating a portion of my bowel. Even after the treatments end, I may require a special Imodium and Metamucil diet. YUMMY.

Olivia took a photo of me and her biological father with her to school today to prove that she has a "Dad" in addition to her Grandpa-Dad "who does all the Dad stuff." I guess this all started when her Grandpa was helping parent and she introduced him as "Dad" then one of her classmates asked me if he was her Dad or her Grandpa. Since then the kids have been telling her she does not have a Dad. At all. Hmmmm.

So the photograph was her proof. After school she told me she had a good day and showed everyone the picture of her dad. She said her boyfriend thought he looked nice for a guy who has robbed a movie theater. I am not sure which part of that is most disturbing - that my eight year-old has a boyfriend (named Joey) or that she told him about her bio-dad having committed armed robbery. Deep, deep breath.

I met with the Radiation Oncologist this week. She is FABULOUS! We went through my history and symptoms, tests and whatnot. At the end she said she wanted to do a more detailed study of what is going on. You see, I don't hurt enough in the right places!

What we are hoping from looking more closely at my lower back, pelvis, and sacrum is to see if the PET scan results missed something.

From there we have options such as:
1. Original plan of 2-3 weeks of daily radiation
2. One high dose, highly targeted treatment - see if it helps - repeat in 2-3 months
3. No radiation (if something else is indicated or if it turns out not to be necessary)

I am also looking into Genetic Counseling where they would test my blood and examine my DNA for any known defects (no, warped sense of humor won't show in DNA).
This is mostly for Olivia's benefit since her paternal grandmother died at a young age from breast cancer, she will need to be diligent and if I can provide more data for her, that would be helpful I assume.

Since I am on the topic, last week while reading a book together, Olivia burst into tears. "I'm stupid and fat and I hate my fat legs." In my consolation to her I told her that I would have preferred inheriting my mother's legs rather than my father's too. She said, "Your legs aren't like mine." She also got her father's legs.

Last night she asked if she could call her dad. I explained that he could call her any time he wants. My number is still the same. She said, "I think he just forgot that he wants to meet me."

Oh sweet baby! No human could ever forget wanting to meet their own child. Is there any end to the damage done by his selfishness and cowardice? At the same time, I cannot say this to her since he is biologically a part of her. Advice?

After discussing with my oncologist and carefully weighing the benefits of waiting, I am now scheduled to see a radiation oncologist next week to begin daily radiation therapy. Oh joy.

My doctor also switched me from Aredia to Zometa which is not only a MUCH quicker infusion, it is also showing in trials to have anti-cancer properties. That is once per month. After I finish radiation I will begin a different chemotherapy regimen; alternating weeks of Navalbene and Gemzar.

Radiation is such a fine three-year, stage IV cancerversary gift. In case you are unaware, the side effects of radiation include: fatigue, skin changes (redness, blisters, peeling), loss of appetite, decrease in blood counts, ... and loss of sex drive. As IF!