…in the eye area, that is. So it’s a good thing. I still can’t get over the fact that my brows aren’t as they should be because I have to shave them with a nose-hair clipper instead of pluck them or have them waxed…just another fun side effect of treatment!! (I can’t pluck or wax because I don’t yet have enough platelets, and platelets are what clot your blood). Mmmm…now there’s a really pretty image of me with bleeding eyebrows…gross!!!!

Anyhoo, it’s Tuesday evening right now, and we’re all doing well. My mom’s watching one more “Frasier” before bed, Katie’s reading, and I’m just attempting to get some info to you via blog! Everyone is doing well, and we LOVED spending the last week with Aunt Barbie and Aunt Nancy, Kristin (and, of course, Katie, who arrived Saturday). Paulina gets here tomorrow, Laura’s coming back, Maya and her mom will be here, Lori and Tim…I just feel so blessed to have such an amazing network. I say it all the time, but I just want to make sure you ALL understand that even though I’m lazy with e-mails and I haven’t written one “thank you” note, I look around and I marvel at my apartment here, and think about how fast the time has gone. I think this is because you are all flooding me with good wishes…generally, I don’t have much time to sit around and feel sorry for myself (just the perfect, healthy amount)!

We’re still out searching for the cutest dogs in Seattle, and we came upon Abby again!! Remember her? The Border Collie who looks exactly like Jameson? We got pictures too, so you can all compare and see for yourselves how similar they are. Unfortunately, you can’t hear Abby’s little whimpers of happiness through the photos, but that too is what my buddy Jamie does!!! It was actually an interesting experience. My mom, Aunt Nancy, Aunt Barbie, Katie and I went for a walk yesterday, and as we crossed the street not too far from my place, there she was! I pointed her out to my mom and my mom wasted no time in getting the owner’s attention (a young, handsome guy, by the way ). I don’t even know what stories she was telling him because I concentrated on petting Jamie…er, Abby. Then, from out of nowhere comes this crazy stranger (probably one of my neighbor’s from across the street) and he’s yelling, “Border Collie! Australian Shepherd!” naming the types of dogs the owner had. He walks up to the outside of our awkward huddle and yells a phrase that is not really appropriate to publish on-line. We all try to ignore him, but Katie and I are already stifling giggles. I don’t think my mom and aunts heard, but the guy with the dogs definitely did. Anyway, to sum things up, it made an awkward situation even more awkward, and needless to say, I wouldn’t be surprised if the man with the dogs avoids us from here on out. Oh well, at least we got a picture, right?!! Speaking of dogs, I discovered a wonderful quote in a calendar Aunt Barbie gave me. It reads: “If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience” (Woodrow Wilson). At least I know having Laura’s cells didn’t change my “dog whisperer”esque talents with animals. hahahaha One look at Jamie and Guinny and you know they’re not trained but they’re full of love, and one day they will be trained!!! In the meantime, I’ll continue to make my neighborhood rounds and visit Carlo (down by the Irish pub–an Australian Shepherd), Abby (and her buddy, I forget his name ’cause he’s not as interested in humans–he seems to want to walk around and check out flowers, trees, sidewalks, buildings), and many other cute little four-leggers we pass during our walks and visits around the city.

Speaking of awkward situations again….do things like this happen to you? We went to a couple restaurants with my aunts and Katie on the off hours, so I didn’t have to be in crowds. One of these places is an old favorite my mom, dad and I have (can it be old if we’ve only been here 2 1/2 months?). Anyway, the waitress comes over and takes our order, and I’m looking up at her, as one generally does, when giving my order…and I noticed, well, let’s just say it, a booger in her nose. Of course I tried to see if it was actually a nose ring but unfortunately, I believe it was the former. I didn’t want to bring it up at the table, but I was constantly aware of that booger all throughout the meal. I was a little distracted because I kept asking myself throughout the meal if I wanted her to come back and have the booger be gone, or did I want it to stay in there so I would be aware of its location at all times. Lori, I’m glad you feel my pain with this…it really was quite the quandary!!! It’s fun to be concentrating on silly things like that instead of centering my existence around the clinic and cancer treatment.

Although all is going well there too. I go in tomorrow for a blood-draw at 9:15 AM, and I go back around 2 PM to get a couple units of blood. My nutritionist and my team (doc, PA, nurse) will all come down and visit me while I’m getting the blood. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, the fact that my platelets and hemoglobin have gone down. Just keep thinking of Andrew’s analogy of a garden. They may all be Laura cells now, but they are not mature. We need to keep giving them the healthy atmosphere they require to grow, and we definitely want to kick out any darn weeds that try to show their ugly faces! I’ve got my boxing gloves, and I’m always ready for a good fight.

Well, it’s about 11:20 here now, and I’m getting a little tired, so I’ll be finishing this either tomorrow or soon thereafter. Unfortunately, our internet service has been extremely slow, so we’re waiting for them to have it fixed. I have a bunch of photos to share with you, so hopefully tomorrow we’ll be up and running!!! Good night. I’ll write more tomorrow. Luv, Julie

I lied. It’s now Friday and I’m writing. This is like the blog to beat all blogs in length and photos—-hey! Don’t run off just because there’s a lot—this is important stuff to read about!!!

Let’s see…the docs think I may have a manifestation of GVHD (Graft Versus Host Disease), which means my body is fighting Laura’s cells a little bit. It’s not necessarily a bad thing because they say a little Graft Versus Host is good…it means any possible leukemia cells lurking around are fighting with Laura’s cells, and Laura’s are taking over once and for all!!! It’s showing up in the form of a rash, which is worst by my arms, but it’s also on my neck, chest, arms, back legs and feet….definitely itching and annoying, but they put me on prednisone yesterday. I’m visualizing a quick clearing up of the rash, and no further bumps (no pun intended) along the road! They did a skin biopsy yesterday, so we should find out tomorrow what the results were…whether it’s GVHD or another reaction to some medication…I’ll let you know what they say! They also ordered weekly blood cultures and chest x-rays because steroids (the hydrocortisone) can bring down my immune system and make me prone to colds, bactera, etc…since I’m already compromised immune-wise, I have to be extra careful.

Anyhoo, it is what it is and I’ll deal with it day by day. I know, the pics are gross, but I thought you’d like to have an idea of what it looks like…you know, the honest blog and all. By the way, which is worse–my arms or Laura’s arm? And speaking of Laura and her gift of life, I got a card the other day you would all love. On the front it read “What I (the ‘you’ was scratched out) did was amazing, beyond generous and kind. I (yes, the ‘you’ was scratched out again) started a miracle. I (’you’ scratched out) gave the gift of life, with a handwritten smiley attached, as well as a few underlines making sure to acknowledge the ‘gift of life’ part). On the inside it read “How can anyone thank me (’you’ scratched out) enough for that?!!” I couldn’t stop lauging. Inside she wrote a beautiful note, but I knew you would all appreciate the card.

Oh, before I forget, here’s a link to Katie’s book (featured in one of the photos below)…check the website out to preview the first few pages (or you can order your own!): http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/398436 Hope you enjoy it!!!!!

Well, this is quiiite the long one, isn’t it?!! It has been a while since I’ve written, and I’ve been a busy girl, so I had a lot to say, so that’s that!

Mom sends her hello from Seattle too! Now I better get off to bed! It’s 11:30 here!!!

Love from Seattle,

Julie