Can't have a bad hair day...

If you don't have hair. Yesterday Peg decided she was done with being the Johnny Appleseed of hair follicles-- strands scattered over the pillowcase, clumped like a small mammal at the shower drain, carpeting the bathroom floor. So our friend Trish, who did Peg's hair for 15 years, came out to the house and undid it. Peg is now buzzed, and we're not talking about cocktails.

Trish thought that with some really big hoop earrings and a black dress Peg could come across as the editor of a Euro fashion magazine or a New York film critic. If she doesn't want to go that route, she does have a cute wig.

She feels a lot better today. The key seems to be staying hydrated, so she's tracking her liquid intake-- miso soup, bouillon, juice, water. She's got an appointment to get tapped again Monday morning (paracentesis to remove abdominal fluid), so we're going to make sure her tank is topped off all weekend.

2 liters out; 2 days later, 2 liters back in

Last night Peg was running on all eight cylinders and we were able to make a stir-fry dinner together for the first time in six weeks. Today... not so much.

This morning Peg awoke to really bad chills and a slight fever. It took an hour just to get her to stop shaking. She had an existing appointment at 10:30 for a blood analysis at Dr. B's, and they determined she was dehydrated and put her on a two liter IV drip.

What happened was that her fluid intake couldn't keep up with the amount drawn from her abdomen the day before yesterday.

We used the wheelchair I bought a month ago for the first time to get her from the car, across the parking lot and down a long hallway to the office. But she was able to walk all the way back three hours later. Right now (5pm) she's thoroughly poohed. Lotta stuff to go through today.

By the way, it was Peg's idea to have the upside down liter bottles on this entry. We both had a much-needed laugh at the thought.

Many of you have wondered how Zoë's doing. She's staying busy, which we really encourage. Peg's sister Jeanette took her out to see a movie yesterday, some dear friends took her out kayaking on Lake Natoma today, another dear friend is taking her ice skating tomorrow afternoon. In between social engagements she piles through library books; we get 8 at a time or she quickly runs out of stuff to read. In three weeks or so she starts high school (!) which she's really looking forward to. Her nature is basically cheerful, and she's not a complainer, but I can tell she's restless sometimes and wishes we could play more often than we have lately.

When Peg feels good, she loves playing card games or snuggling with Zoë. She looks forward to those days, and tries to make the most of the other days. As those of you who know her well, Zoë is very considerate and kind. That helps all of us.

Tappin' the Peg keg

Sometime soon the chemo will start knocking back the amount of fluid being generated in Peg's abdomen. For the short term, she's been filling back up. Today she got some relief, 2.6 liters worth-- my estimate was just .2 liters off (Reminder to self, start a betting pool).

Her energy has been picking up, but she's really still just good for short spurts of activity. Even reading or watching TV for extended periods is enough to send her back to the sofa. Peg's a big fan of her iPod and the Radio Shack iPod speaker thingy it plugs into. If you want to do something for Peg, a great thing would be to burn a CD of something you think she'd like and drop it by the house. Spoken word stuff welcome as well.

Tomorrow is wig shopping day with Zoë, Peg's sister and two dear friends. For some reason she's resistant to my suggestions for either a mullet or a huge, Angela Davis afro. With a pick.
Sooooo tempted to Photoshop that one up for your amusement... but I'd like to stay married, so that's not gonna happen, cap'n.