Cycle 2 going strong

Dan and I both headed into cycle 2 kinda depressed and not looking forward to what we knew was coming right back at us. I am glad to report that so far cycle 2 is going a bit better. We know what drugs work (no compazine!!) and between the cycles we added in Nexium(for heartburn) and Ambien(sleeping). These 2 drugs seemed to have helped alot. They have allowed Dan to tolerate a few more foods and get at least 4 hours sleep a night. While there is still alot of discomfort and fatigue going on, its not as bad as I feared. This being said the begining of cycle 1 wasnt bad either, it kinda built up and was at its worst the entire 2nd week. Most of that was from the chemo constipation and insomnia that went on. Dan is trying everything to prevent that this go around. He is on a stool softener from day 1 of this cycle and is eating bananas and yogurt every day to help keep his bowels at a steady crawl and hopefuly they wont completely stop like they did last time.

Another big positive this go around, in my opinion, is Dan is doing something during his treatments. Last cycle he just laid there staring at the walls or trying to sleep or being a parkinsons patient with his compazine reaction. This time around he is writing thank you notes, helping the nurses with a computer problem that was stumping them and watching "Firefly" on a portable DVD player. Just taking your mind off the IV's and beeps and other patients around you is helping keep the mental side going stronger this go around.

This Friday Debbie & Joe (and Maggie and Jake!) will be in town to visit all the way from Maryland. Cant wait to see them again and eat some of Debbie's home cooking! Hopefully Dan's counts will be good and we will be able to do a few things outside of the house.

And as a side note - Congrats to my good friend Holly. Last night (2/19) at around 4 a.m., Holly delivered a baby boy (7#7oz and 18 3/4 long). Rowan Lucas Miller is his name.