Time at home always means....

.....doctors and blood tests and scans and MRIs (this week anyway), patches and physical therapists AND RESULTS

So, out of all that, the news is sweet and sour. The sweet is VERY sweet as the blood test shows that the tumour markers have gone down again. And the liver function has improved. Yeah!

The sour is that the pain is not going away and not really being masked by all the medication and patches that are being used. CT scan and MRI both show that the tumour in the (psoas) back muscle is impinging on the nerves at L2 and L3 (for those in the know) ie lower back.

So... I have more medication than you can poke a stick at, and than I've ever had in my life before, with instructions for consumption that I need to make notes on - to be sure I'm taking the right one at the right time. Phew! It's more than a full-time job.

And I have them in bulk, because on 31st October I am flying to Durban, South Africa to stay with Nikki and her family until 7 December. I'll need a whole separate bag just for the drugs and the herbs :-). And, of course, letters from relevant medicos explaining why I'm carrying such a stash of drugs.

And now to move totally away from all that drama....... the sweet, exciting news is that Tim's 40th birthday party is on tomorrow night. Big celebrations for the family and his friends.

Yes! I have a 40 year-old son, and a 41 year-old daughter. I must have been a child bride :-)

And Nikki is flying in tomorrow morning in time for her brother's party and a week catching up with family in QLD. She and I arrive in SA on the same day but on different airlines. She's using frequent flyer points on Cathay Pacific and I'm using hard-earned $$$$ on QANTAS.

The Hopemobile is about to be put into hibernation until at least after Christmas.

As soon as I return from SA, my sister arrives from Canada to stay until March. So, it's busy, busy, busy.

I hope your life has the sweetness in it that mine does.

Friday 21 October @ 4pm

on the road home

The pain is just the same - still can't get rid of the burning feeling in my left upper leg

The road is just the same - although there have been some improvements to the Pacific Highway since I last traveled it

The scenery is just the same - brilliantly green since all the winter rain, and the sea is azure blue - as always

The Hopemobile is just the same - a reliable friend who starts first time every time and carries me smoothly along the highways and byways

The weather - well, could be better, but at least it's not raining.

Home tomorrow



Thursday 13 October @ 9.45pm

Going along nicely

Since I wrote last life has been pretty OK.

The wedding on Sunday went well - beautiful sunshine, gentle breeze, beautiful bride, handsome groom, proud parents, happy friends. It was the first day of daylight saving and everyone managed to arrive at the right time. There was some concern about the Queenslanders - but they all managed to work it out.

We were in the Zig Zag Garden at Mantra Resort, Kingscliff on the Tweed Coast.There were fluffy brown rabbits and spiky water dragons hopping and running across the lawn duirng the ceremony. And a persistent bee that wanted to be part of my fashion accessories. Fortunately there was a brave, handsome, young man (my cousin's son) who gave the bee the message that it wasn't wanted and the ceremony went on without a sting. Phew!

The bride is my cousin's daughter so, once the formalities were over, I was able to spend some time with relatives I don't see often.  It was fun.

And then the drive to Mooloolaba. It was motorway all the way, almost 3 hours, and I arrived safely. Carole was already settled into the studio apartment on the beach front and had brought in an evening meal for the tired driver. Lovely.

We spent the next couple of days visitng the local sites - Ginger Factory, The Spirit House for lunch, Noosa, Australia Zoo - as well as enjoying the window shopping and walking along the beach at Mooloolaba.

On Wednesday we drove to Brisbane airport where I left Carole to catch her flight home and I carried on to the Gold Coast and back to Tim and Debs' home at Southport. Debs has just moved in and there are still bags and boxes waiting to be unpacked and lots of things to be sorted. So, the last few days have been exactly that and organising the linen cupboard and the pantry cupboard and rearranging furniture until it looks 'just right'.

And if there's anything that might distract me from the pain, it is the wonderful news that they are expecting a baby next April!! Wow! Another grandchild. I honestly didn't think there would be any more. Very special and exciting news. Scans and blood tests all show that mother and baby are very healthy. They are so happy - and so am I.

It's nice to be sharing news about scan and blood test results that are not related to my own health issues :)

The pain is the same as reported last time - manageable.

I plan to hit the road in the Hopemobile on Monday and make it back to the Gong by the weekend - taking it slowly.

Saturday 8 October (my father is 91 today) @ 9am Queensland time.

Briefly

OK. Not really in the mood for writing, so here goes - briefly

•  CT scan showed tumour in back muscle is torturing the muscle but not impacting on spine or major nerves - that's good
• It means that radiation is not required but that pain management is required
• so, I have pain patches and several pain killing drugs of varying strength - all of which are to be used/taken simultaneously, along with the oral chemotherapy, the Chinese herbal tablets, the tablets for my restless legs (which haven't managed to get a mention in all this until now) - OH! and the Vitamin C powder and the anti-constipation stuff!! Not much time for anything else in my day, really :)

And how's the pain? - you may well ask. It has dissipated somewhat but not entirely. I am managing to sleep through the night and get through the day as long as I don't spend too much time on my feet. The most comfortable position for me is sitting.

So, that's not too bad, I guess. And it means that driving the Hopemobile is not going to cause me any more discomfort than the usual stiffness and needing to stretch after a couple of hours behind the wheel. And as I don't do long hauls, all will be OK.

I'm back on the Gold Coast spending time with family - Tim and Oscar and Debs and with friends - Carolyn and Warren.

Also managing to catch up with other friends, Judith and Morton.

Wedding at Kingscliff on Sunday and then off to Mooloolaba in the afternoon to spend a few days with Carole in an apartment on the beach.

All for now. This is more than I thought I'd write :)

Thursday 29 September @ 10pm

Crash!

It's nice to be back home in The Gong - to catch up with family and friends, to enjoy the beautiful place that it is and to catch up with 'things' that need to be done. Took this pic when I was having a cuppa with a friend at a beach cafe, just a short walk from home.

Among the 'things' that have to be done while back at home are blood tests, doctors' appointments and scans. Unfortunately the result of the blood test was not good - the tumour markers have increased in the 2 months since I last had chemo treatment. So.................... I'm back on the chemo tablets with strict instructions to take the correct dose as advised and to call immediately should I have any concerns. And to come back in a month, have another blood test and see the oncologist. News like this certainly causes the spirits to crash! I've been there before :)

I also consulted my GP about the pain in my left leg and side. She referred me for a CT scan on my spine and lumbar area to see if the tumours are tangling with nerves. Had the scan yesterday (Friday) and will see her again on Monday for the results. If her thoughts are correct then radiation is the only option. I'll worry about that when I get the verdict.

In the meantime, tomorrow I will conduct a wedding at Mt. Keira Lookout and get back on a plane on Tuesday afternoon to return to the Gold Coast, so that I can be prepared for my October 2 wedding, which will be held at a resort at Kingscliff.

The trip home last Wednesday was eventful. The 9am flight I was to catch was cancelled at 8.45am and I was lucky enough to get a seat on the 10am flight. As this change destroyed the arrangements I had for my arrival in Sydney, and my mind was busy with thoughts of calls to cancel stuff, I was delighted to find a special friend was also on the same flight. Her car was at the airport and she was happy to drive me home via the places I needed to visit on the way. We encountered a massive traffic snag due to a truck accident, so our trip together was much longer than it should have been.

My friends are amazing and I am continually grateful for the way they and the universe look after me when I'm in a bit of a pickle :) Thank you, Carol. It was an amazing day, with a magnificent friend.

Thank you to all my friends who make this life journey, which could be totally revolting, as eventful and happily serendipidous as it is.

Saturday 24 September @ 3.16pm

The Gold Coast

How lovely it has been spending time with my son and my grandson. Walking on the beach, playing at the park, jumping on the jumping pillow, reading bedtime stories and having lovely conversations - most of which I can understand :) - and talking with Tim about his work and his life and his dreams. It's been a very special time. Oscar really loves his 'Lifesaver' outfit - can't you tell?

And now Tim has gone off to Auckland with mates to watch the rugby, Oscar has gone to stay with his Mum and Nanna, and I am at Currumbin staying with my very dear friends, Carolyn and Warren. They have a lovely home in a quiet spot on Currumbin Creek. I feel very relaxed here and WARM!!!

The SWELL Sculpture Festival is held in September at Currumbin Beach - 'getting art out there'. A series of sculptures are installed along the beachfront - similar to 'Sculptures by the Sea' in Sydney in November. This one below is called The Gathering.


We went to see the sculptures late in the afternoon, as the sun was sinking. Sunset below over The Alley where Currumbin Creek meets the Pacific Ocean.



And this morning we drove to the fishing harbour at Tweed Heads to buy prawns. No prawns, but there were plenty of spanner crabs.

Carolyn and I go back a long way - as teenagers we trained as Physical Education teachers together and I was the bridesmaid at her wedding in 1968. Our time together is so easy and comfortable and I'm really looking forward to the next couple of days together before I head back home on Wednesday.

The pain I mentioned earlier has got worse, so I'm keen to see my GP on Thursday morning. Meantime the pain patches are playing their part. But before that I will see Dr. Chen shortly after I fly into Sydney on Wednesday. If you wish to see his website, just click on his name.

I've had an inquiry from someone about Dr Chen, through this blog. Angela, I hope this helps. Please feel free to mention my name (Terrie Baxter) if you are making contact with his rooms. You will see a testimonial from me on his website. Lot of water under the bridge since then, but I'm still battling on :)

Jannie Annie, are you Jan LeM from SA?

Today, Sunday 18 September, is my granddaughter, Willow's, 5th birthday. She celebrated yesterday with family and friends, but without her mother, who is on her return journey from her successful ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I'm very proud of them both.

It's late. Time for bed @ 10pm. G'night.

Pics

And this morning the blog WILL allow me to load photos :) Oscar and Tim cooking together



Sharing the road from Killarney to Boona with a farmer and her herd


Driving east at sunset - towards Killarney


Having a cuppa in Texas with cycling mate, John



Casuarinas and willows beside the weir on the Macintyre River at Inverell