Tuesday, May 26, 2009
A Shorty Uppie!
I've been released from the hospital - YaY!!! Counts are up, spirits are up, motivation is up and running. More in a bit -- I'm actually eating solid(ish) food. :oD
Monday, May 11, 2009
Quickie
This entry is short -- I will write more this evening. I am being release early because I had a BAD reaction to chemo. So if you are planning to visit me today we will have to take a raincheck. Love to you all!!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Separation
Being separated during this period in my life is R-O-U-G-H. I miss seeing Max on a time scale that isn’t measured by minutes or hours and ends with “See you later, have fun with Daddy! Remember I love you”… Ukghhh – just thinking about having to say that again makes my stomach turn. I can’t imagine what it’s like for Chris, being Daddy & Mommy. Having to do all the structure of dropping Max off and picking him up from daycare, making sure he’s clothed and fed while learning how to do the details of building a relationship with the daycare teacher, playing rag ball during bath time and snuggling in bed while unwinding to Max’s somewhat undecipherable ramblings about his day... it’s got to be Rough.
Keep in mind Chris has been through this three other times in the last 5-6 years. There was his Aunt Lizzie, Grandma, and then Grand Will. All of whom died. I am going to turn his cancer related karma around though. I will survive this. But what I need is Chris to survive this so I am turning to my Austinite friends… Please help! What Chris needs is some home-cooked meals. If any of you can cook, please drop off some food to Chris and Max. Chris usually gets home around 6pm-ish during the weekday or just give him a buzz to coordinate a time on the weekend. Also, those of you who live or work up North, if you could pick up Max from daycare which is located off Dessau Rd/Howard (close to Howard/IH 35) it would really help Chris out. Those are the only two things Chris has relayed to me as things he needs help with, though if you can think of anything else, take the initiative! I’m sure his feelings will not be hurt. Help is always welcomed and very much appreciated.
Things I am learning through this experience are anyone with a positive attitude and a strong support system can make it through cancer, even if that cancer is coupled with a separation. Like I said, this period is Rough. There are nights I cry myself to sleep, days I wish I were in someone else’s shoes and day dreams where I am on an island somewhere living a completely organic lifestyle (even when it comes to shoes!) while giving Western Medicine the finger. R-O-U-G-H, but Chris, Max and I will make it through to see greener pastures.
Keep in mind Chris has been through this three other times in the last 5-6 years. There was his Aunt Lizzie, Grandma, and then Grand Will. All of whom died. I am going to turn his cancer related karma around though. I will survive this. But what I need is Chris to survive this so I am turning to my Austinite friends… Please help! What Chris needs is some home-cooked meals. If any of you can cook, please drop off some food to Chris and Max. Chris usually gets home around 6pm-ish during the weekday or just give him a buzz to coordinate a time on the weekend. Also, those of you who live or work up North, if you could pick up Max from daycare which is located off Dessau Rd/Howard (close to Howard/IH 35) it would really help Chris out. Those are the only two things Chris has relayed to me as things he needs help with, though if you can think of anything else, take the initiative! I’m sure his feelings will not be hurt. Help is always welcomed and very much appreciated.
Things I am learning through this experience are anyone with a positive attitude and a strong support system can make it through cancer, even if that cancer is coupled with a separation. Like I said, this period is Rough. There are nights I cry myself to sleep, days I wish I were in someone else’s shoes and day dreams where I am on an island somewhere living a completely organic lifestyle (even when it comes to shoes!) while giving Western Medicine the finger. R-O-U-G-H, but Chris, Max and I will make it through to see greener pastures.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Breaking Free Bald
In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, I was released from the hospital!! Well… perhaps it was more due to my progress toward overall health. At any rate I went “home” with my mom, whom I will be living with here in Austin while I recover. The second round of chemo begins Monday, May 11th. Same gig as before… 9 hour infusion at TX Oncology Center followed by 3 days of the continuous chemo drip via my take-home pump. Please keep me in your thoughts/prayers as I enter my next round. I am staying positive this round will be “easier” than the last as I am entering it with a much stronger body and a functioning digestive system.
Apparently my digestive system hasn’t worked for a while which left me malnourished long before the first round of chemo. Now I have a feeding tube, I no longer dread every meal. I was very leery at first, because – c’mon! Who wants a tube coming out of their stomach?? Thankfully I can still eat orally, but now I don’t have to rely on my struggle to eat. Whatever I have via mouth is just a bonus that goes toward me gaining weight which we all know I desperately need to do… I guess in a way I’m lucky – I can eat desserts all day and know that I’m still getting all the nutrition I need!
Those of you who are in Austin, please feel free to come visit me Monday during the infusion. It gets pretty boring sitting there for 9 hours. I start the drip at 8:45a at the Texas Oncology building which is located at 6204 Balcones Drive – 78731. Take the Far West exit and head South on the feeder. It eventually turns into Balcones Drive; just another strip of pavement which has more than one name here in Austin. Honestly, I don’t know how new comers ever make it around in this town. Be forewarned I have no hair… I have noticed from hospital visitors I should warn people before they see me.
So there you have it, my release information, my peg tube nutrition, and my bald head. What an update!!
Apparently my digestive system hasn’t worked for a while which left me malnourished long before the first round of chemo. Now I have a feeding tube, I no longer dread every meal. I was very leery at first, because – c’mon! Who wants a tube coming out of their stomach?? Thankfully I can still eat orally, but now I don’t have to rely on my struggle to eat. Whatever I have via mouth is just a bonus that goes toward me gaining weight which we all know I desperately need to do… I guess in a way I’m lucky – I can eat desserts all day and know that I’m still getting all the nutrition I need!
Those of you who are in Austin, please feel free to come visit me Monday during the infusion. It gets pretty boring sitting there for 9 hours. I start the drip at 8:45a at the Texas Oncology building which is located at 6204 Balcones Drive – 78731. Take the Far West exit and head South on the feeder. It eventually turns into Balcones Drive; just another strip of pavement which has more than one name here in Austin. Honestly, I don’t know how new comers ever make it around in this town. Be forewarned I have no hair… I have noticed from hospital visitors I should warn people before they see me.
So there you have it, my release information, my peg tube nutrition, and my bald head. What an update!!
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