Day Before Round Three

In my mind, I try to get a lot done on this day, knowing that I'll be down and out for the next few days. I think the steroids help cuz I don't seem to get as tired as other days in this cycle. I guess that's why I have trouble sleeping on those days. I believe that's listed as a side effect. Along with heartburn, which, yeah, I get. But I haven't had the whirlies since the first time. Must have gotten used to that!

The day before and after chemo I'm required to take steroids, which are also administered the day of. I've been given lorazepam to help me sleep, which I confirmed is OK to take the night before chemo. Learned that the hard way, after getting no sleep the night before round 2. Round 1 also, but I attributed that to nerves. Turns out it was probably the roids.

So I'm sitting up in bed, watching the power slowing drain, waiting for the lorazepam to take effect, listening to Gaby breathing beside me, missing Marc some 7000 miles away in Tokyo, and so very thankful that my Mom and Dad travelled here to day to be with us during round 3.

Just as soon as it was confirmed that I would be undergoing chemo, they offered to come here, anytime, if we needed them. That's very comforting and reassuring. All of my life I've always been able to count on my parents and this is no different. Love you guys, so much!!

Their flight out of Winnipeg left late, so they missed their connection in Minneapolis. Instead of arriving here at 1:45, the flight they had to take was scheduled to arrive at 5:48. Now, it was early, which was a good thing. Normally, they take the train and I'm picking them up at Glenside at 4. Instead, it was 7:30. But they heerrreeeee -- that's all that matters. And they got to know that Twin Cities airport pretty well!!

Grandma and Grandpa travelled with one suitcase and a carry on. Good thing, cuz good ole Delta charged them $25 to check that bag.

If it wasn't for all of the goodies they bring whenever they visit, they could probably just get away with a carry on, or at least checking one bag and not having to deal with much of a carry on. Check this out!!

You cannot get Dad's Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies here. Nor can you get Caramilks. We've recently seen Aero Bars at Fresh Market but they cost a fortune. And you most certainly can't get Tenderloin Kube here. Nothing close! In Canada, or at least in Winnipeg, we call it kubasa, or kobassa, whether you're Ukrainian or not. It's known as kielbasa here, and I've yet to find anything that tastes as good as Tenderloin's. It's so lean and garlicky and yummy .Nothing like it! And because it's made of pork, and vacuum sealed, there's no problem bringing it across the border. Notice how we don't ask them to shop the duty free for us -- just chocolate and kube!

(Not pictured is a giant bag of dill pickle sun flower seeds for Gaby to share with Grandpa. They didn't waste any time getting their respective 'spitz' containers out and cracking a few dozen after dinner!)

Last but not least is my Mom's fruit cake. There have been countless jokes made about fruitcakes. Regifting, door stops, heard 'em all. But those people have never tasted my  Mom's light (white) fruit cake. Give me a cuppa tea, Earl Grey with milk and a touch of sugar, a couple of slices of Mom's fruit cake and I'm in heaven.

You might be wondering about the date on the cake. When she makes the cakes in early fall for Christmas, the recipe calls for rum to be poured over the baked loaves. She then puts them inside a crock in the basement and they sit, and moisten til Christmas. Can't taste the rum, but it must both add moisture and act as a preservative, because we often eat them into the following summer and they fine.

Me, I think I'll have some for breakfast. During chemo, if it appeals to you, you eat it. And fruit cake for breakfast appeals to me!

But what I'm looking forward to even more is sharing breakfast with my Mom and Dad, even if they're not on board with the fruit cake idea themselves. Did I mention how much I love you guys?! XO