Saturday AM Routine

This is more of an pre-update to what we anticipate will be an action packed week ahead.  And, if you wondered what Lynn goes through on weekends with a sports fan in the house, you'll probably get a good sense of that as well.

Right now, its 9:30 am and I have some British friends to thank for my interest in the Premier League games that get rolling on the weekends. It's Europe's answer to all of the talking heads telling us why the college football national championship is the only thing that matters (obviously, I am against a playoff or that thing they do now with 6 bowl games after January 1).

But I digress...

Speaking of digressing, we seem to have one of those motivation problems with my white blood cells.  They are not multiplying which meant that I had to have a day worth of transfusions, two pints, and NOT Guinness.
While that does nothing for the white cells, it returns my hemo to a level where I can stay home and recover.  The Doctors don't know why the WBC's aren't regenerating and that appears to be the focus for the short term.  As is the case, I had another bone marrow biopsy as well on Thursday which should shed some light on the situation with the white cell count and whether the blasts have made any progress (hopefully not) against the healthy cells.  Those results won't be available until Monday when we have  follow up appointment.

Until we know what the blast count is in the WBC's, the timing of my next treatment is in question. It will be chemo, either the same level as I went through initially or a slightly modified version if the blast count is considered low enough to proceed.

We are reminded what the Doctor said back in August about the treatment being very intense followed by periods of boredom, and he stressed boredom.  Of course, I thought there is no way to get bored if you get to watch what you want when you want and we were entering a busy part of the sports season with baseball playoffs, college and pro football, as well as the aforementioned soccer on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  Cable can be a wonderful thing at all times of the day....  but there really isn't that much on unless you are into hoarding, New Jersey, little people documentaries, near death experiences and spoiled housewives.

I had never been a "follower" of the soccer outside of the World Cup (typical American!) until I got to know a few of the boys at Gus O'Connors (a respectable pub located too close to home).  If you think our fans get worked up for football games, you have to watch a game with 2 or 3 soccer fans who know their sh*t.  Each one is equivalent to about 10 US football fans.  As an obsessed sports fan, I can absolutely appreciate their passion for the sport.  They don't lack opinions on players, teams, countries or referee's, yet they put up with my infant knowledge and half ass viewpoints.  As a comparison to our passion in the US, just once in your life, find an English or Irish pub when a big international/club game is taking place, and take a seat for a couple hours.  Granted, you will have to make it before noon for many, but the beer is still cold.  Given our propensity for 3 1/2 to 4 hour football and baseball games, there is a beauty in having a game last 2 hours and no commercials.

On the US front, I'm over the Reds loss in the playoffs and have focused on praying the Yankees's go away.  While not a big fan of the Phillies, watching teams hand games to the Yankee's and the media gush over them makes you want to puke.

Today, its just waiting on the Buckeyes and Wisconsin tonight.  I may be an Ohio homer, but without some crazy special teams breakdowns, I think the Bucks take care of the Badgers pretty easily on the road.  Quick prediction:  28-16.

Yes, there is more than just sports, and I'm sure we all watched the Chilean rescue this week, truly amazing.  But in our jaded society, this too shall pass and we will read how many of them squandered their fame and new found (as the reports suggest) wealth.  I couldn't help but think, 'this is really cool, but what is going on in Haiti?'  We sure let that news fade away once the Saints won the Super Bowl....  but I digress (again).

I guess this is a segue way to my final thoughts this morning.  I can't stress it enough, the support from everyone reading and emailing has been overwhelming.  As our nature seems and as as busy as we all are managing our lives in these times, please consider taking a couple hours soon and give blood.  Facing adversity heightens our awareness, and mine is no exception.  But, as I go through this process, getting transfusions, etc...  my appreciation for those whose blood I am receiving has made me a tremendous advocate.  It's easy, fairly painless and they give you some juice and a cookie at the end.  And you will be helping sustain or save someones life.

Give Blood