Let's Get Ready to Ruuuuuuumble ...

Typing this from my hospital room; checked in around lunchtime today ahead of doing my chemotherapy tonight.  The drug of choice this evening will be Melphelan, which is categorized as a high-dose chemotherapy.  They do cryotherapy along with it as well, which is a fancy way of saying I chew on ice for 30 minutes before the infusion, during the hour-long infusion, and for 30 minutes after.  Apparently this significantly reduces the risk of developing the mouth sores common with this chemo regimen.

Said goodbye to Ariana today.  I think that will be the hardest part of this in most ways.  I can handle the pain, the illness (at least I believe strongly that I can) but missing her ... man, that's hard.  I was breaking up last night doing her bath and reading her a bedtime story as I realized it's the last time I get to do that in person until almost mid-March.  Seeing as how two nights is the longest I've ever been away from her this will be the true test of fortitude.

Jeff, my wife's step-father, got into town Saturday night.  He's so good with Ariana it's almost laughable and she loves him, so I know not only is she in good hands but that it will take a huge load off of Amy's shoulders.  We went to Fogo de Chao last night as a treat and a "last supper" sort of meal, which was awesome, and followed it up with a good breakfast this morning at Over Easy North.

Today I do a ton of testing so they can make sure I'm not infected with anything, and then off to chemo.  Wish me luck.