Still turning the corner

It's been a pretty good week. I've been a little tired on my bike rides, but, all in all, I feel fine. I got another Aranesp shot on Tuesday. My red blood cells are improving, but verrrrry slooooowly. I now have a hemoglobin (or haemoglobin, if you are snooty) of 10.3. Last week, it was 10.0. It's a start. I'd actually be pleased if I was just below 12 on my next blood test, so I can get another Aranesp shot the week after. Here's the story: Medicare defines under what circumstances I can be covered by insurance to get another shot. I need to be below normal for people.

Now, the bottom end of normal for people is 12. That happens to be the low end for women. The low end for men is 14. So, there you go.

My platelets are up to 305. Granulocytes are up to 8828. Blood is good. Not running at full speed, but I'm hanging in there just fine.

I think I'll take this opportunity to send out a general thank you to the mass of love that my family has been getting through this. The meals, the babysitting, the cards, the general kindness, the landscaping, all of which are very much appreciated. Melissa and I are going to have a big Thank You/End of Cancer party at some point. We are still in the early planning.

I was told on Tuesday that I am allowed to start shaving with a blade. I now have a very smooth face and a very smooth head. I still had some splotchy fuzz on my noggin, and decided to shave it all off, so I can start from scratch when it starts coming back. I've been told it may be two months before I have any growth. I've been told I look like (fill in the name of a famous bald guy) many times.

Other family notes: Hudson is still 97th percentile on height at 35.5", and 90th percentile on weight, at 30 lb. Our little girl in the making is doing fine.

Well, we have five days until the PET/CT scan, and ten until the report. Keep praying.