Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I had a good visit with my doctor today.  Check this out:  my white blood cell count was 3.0, neutrophils 1.8, hemoglobin 11.4!!, hematocrit 32.7!! and platelets 210,000.  Those are the best hemoglobin/hematocrit and platelet numbers that I’ve had (at least, that I can remember!).  I did a lot of visualization this week so that must be it.  :)  I need to work harder on the white cell/neutrophil counts, but they’re not bad.

I was very excited that my blood pressure was back to normal.  I believe it was the Prednisone that increased my blood pressure, and today it was back to 95/something…I’m usually under 100 so I was quite happy.  I wonder what my cholesterol count is now, because that too had increased with the Prednisone.  I’m guessing it too has gone down, but I guess we’ll have to wait until they test it to know for sure.

My magnesium level was good the past few weeks, and I’m down to eight 400 mg pills a day (I originally took twelve a day, which is considered a lot).  Also, several people say my cheeks are less puffy…hey, it’s a step in the right direction!  I should hopefully stop taking the Cyclosporin April 6, and I’m really looking forward to that because then my facial hair issues should gradually disappear…woohoooooo!!!!

Let’s see…what else.  My left knee still gets achy, especially when I lift it or stand on it after sitting for a while.  We’re not sure if it’s from the Prednisone taper (because I didn’t have the aching previously), but the taper ended a while ago.  I think I’m going to look up some knee exercises on-line to see what I can do to help it.  I can still walk for a couple miles, but it’s sore later on, when I’m not being as active.  I guess I should spend some time visualizing a healthier knee, huh?

I left a message for my social worker here today, because I know I have to get some of my worries out (she is also a cancer survivor, which makes it easy to relate).  I don’t hold many worries in, but speaking with a professional AND a survivor is reassuring (I guess it makes her seem more qualified, you know what I mean?).  She also makes me laugh, which is important when you’re discussing something so serious.

Now I’m sitting here watching the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships for the ski jump.  I am really good at that sport on the Wii, but I am pretty sure I’ll never be trying this in real life!  Actually, I’m absolutely positive I won’t, not just “pretty sure”.  I love watching the ski events; they scare the crap out of me, but I love watching them!  For a while during the ski jump, I thought “there are an awful lot of people named “Jack Wolfskin”, then I looked it up and realized it’s a popular European brand for outdoorsy clothes.  :)  To get back to the skiing part though, I haven’t been in years, and I was never very good, but I could (pretty much) make it down the slopes without falling.  Now I’m scared of it ’cause I don’t want to break anything, but I bet someday I could make it out on a bunny slope somewhere.  Don’t think I need to prove anything to myself by trying to do anything much more difficult than that!  I also watched speed skating tonight, and that was exciting.  I’m constantly surprised when these races don’t end up in a domino effect because everyone is so close.  I would love to be able to skate like that, but again, it’s something I can go without learning.  I’m not a good skater either, but I’ll still get out there and give it a go (but I admit that I do like to stay pretty close to the sides of the rink, you know, just in cases).  Watching these events makes me superexcited for the Winter Olympics next year.  They’re so much more fun than the summer ones.

OK, I realize I’m being quite verbose again, and I would like to end on a fun note.  Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkHvRCp3z5A Aunt Nancy sent it to me a couple weeks ago, and I’m just getting to my e-mails.  You have to watch the whole thing…it’s very impressive and quite inspiring!  Before it’s over, I bet you’ll find yourself moving along to the beat and smiling.

I better head to bed now…I actually have to be up before 7 AM!  Yup, can you believe it?  I’m taking the dogs to the vet to have their teeth cleaned, and then I have my hearing test later in the morning.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!

Lots of love,

Julie