Well the last few days have been a real roller coaster ride, with some real lows and highs.
Friday was a good day, got into the office and was good to spend time at work, getting caught up on a few things, seeing people and just getting back into the flow. A pretty regular day, still find I lack the energy and that can be frustrating at times. But dealing with it and just listening to my body and taking time out for rest as needed, so that I can keep healing. Had a fitful nights sleep in blocks, most odd, but my mind was already thinking about Saturday.
Saturday was a very low day.. perhaps the lowest I have been in a long time. Our good friend and neighbor across the street lost her battle with Cancer earlier this week and Saturday morning was the service and funeral. Carol had lung cancer, was being seen at the same practice I go too, and had been battling this disease for over a year and half now. Carol was such an influence on how one can have dignity and be positive even in the face of this devastating disease. She leaves behind her loving husband of more than 40 years Bill, 4 children and 3 grandchildren. I really struggled to hold it together during the events that morning, I am still at a loss to explain how it has made me feel, how I still grieve for her and I try to deal with own battle.
The day took a much brighter note when my older sister flew in from Kansas. The last time I saw her was Christmas '07, so it has been great to sit, chat and spend time with her these last couple days. Our neighbors came over and we had a BBQ last night, and it just so down home, family and relaxing. Some much needed recovery/distraction after the emotionally charged events of this week, earlier in the day.
Still seem to be sleeping in about 4 hour blocks, and that held true last night. This morning we just had a late brunch, went out to the mall and did some shopping, but mainly just time out from the house! Had a nice lunch at Macaroni Grill, and came home. Marnie, Ashley and I then took the motorcycles out for a couple hours and enjoyed some much needed time in the saddle with the wind in my face! It was around 60 degrees, just right with the layers on, and was really comfortable and refreshing. My Mom made some great chili for dinner and it was again just a down home family meal. Having them around this weekend, has been so good for my spirits and I'm just thankful they were able to be here with us. My sister leaves tomorrow, but my Mom is staying through the start of my 3 round of Chemo to help around the house with the girls, things and me ;-) LOL!!
I'm pretty tired after being on the go most of the day with no nap even, so getting back to normal ( if you can ever call me normal! LOL) and hope that a good solid nights sleep is in the cards! Back to work this week as I finish Round 1 with my treatment this coming Tuesday, and then start Round 2 next week.
My thanks for all the continuing thoughts, prayers, offers and help that everyone has put forth and contributed. You continue to awe and inspire me, I am blessed by all that you do, I am in your debt.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Getting the strength back.... slowly!
Was reminded by a couple of comments by people today, that I have been a bit remiss in keeping up here, so here we go!
Monday finished out well for the most part, and Tuesday morning was good, started feeling pretty normal and was really looking forward to later that evening. Yes as an Irish man this was going to be a hard St. Patrick's Day, cause I couldn't have a wee drop! But still was looking to getting out to the club social and enjoying time spent with friends. However, it didn't turn out as expected; because the Chemo treatment that afternoon (weekly Bleomycin dosage) really whacked me hard. I was pretty much reduced to sitting in a chair feeling lethargic and ended the evening with the chills and crashed out.
Woke up on Wednesday very tired as I didn't sleep well at all, but feeling better as my body had processed out most of the Bleo. Was pretty much reduced to laying around most of the day and recovering from Tuesday's chemo. Lots of fluids during the day helped, ate well and by that evening was feeling more up to speed. Worked out well, I was able to make it to our first Softball Practice (this is the 12U team that I coach) This was just a short informational practice, and one of my assistants worked the girls, while I chatted with the parents. Have several returning players who aged up, some new players from other teams and even a girl new to playing softball. Seems like a good mix and I look forward to evaluating the girls and find them positions and getting some skills developed. Turns out one of my new parents is 2 years out from Hodgkin's Lymphoma, it's a small world, had a nice chat with her.
Was tired when I got home, but in a good way for getting out of the house and being active. Had a fantastic dinner delivered by the Cooksey's (one of my softball parents), which really hit the spot! Slept pretty good last night too. This morning felt good after a decent nights sleep and then it was off to school to watch Ashley in her 3rd Grade Musical, it was a good performance and Ashley even had a speaking role! She was excited and was good to be able to be there for her. Afterwards, Marnie and headed over to longtime friend who just opened his own CPA firm after a couple decades of working for others. So he is going to be our new accountant and we are really happy to be helping him out as he starts his own business!
Each day now seems to be building on the previous, feeling a bit better and more normal, but still tire out more easily and faster than I anticipate. Was going to try and get to the office this afternoon, but this mornings activities pretty much wiped me out, had a bit of nap, and afternoon of rest with a roaring fire while working from home. So off to work tomorrow and then hopefully will be able to put in a good week there next week too!
Monday finished out well for the most part, and Tuesday morning was good, started feeling pretty normal and was really looking forward to later that evening. Yes as an Irish man this was going to be a hard St. Patrick's Day, cause I couldn't have a wee drop! But still was looking to getting out to the club social and enjoying time spent with friends. However, it didn't turn out as expected; because the Chemo treatment that afternoon (weekly Bleomycin dosage) really whacked me hard. I was pretty much reduced to sitting in a chair feeling lethargic and ended the evening with the chills and crashed out.
Woke up on Wednesday very tired as I didn't sleep well at all, but feeling better as my body had processed out most of the Bleo. Was pretty much reduced to laying around most of the day and recovering from Tuesday's chemo. Lots of fluids during the day helped, ate well and by that evening was feeling more up to speed. Worked out well, I was able to make it to our first Softball Practice (this is the 12U team that I coach) This was just a short informational practice, and one of my assistants worked the girls, while I chatted with the parents. Have several returning players who aged up, some new players from other teams and even a girl new to playing softball. Seems like a good mix and I look forward to evaluating the girls and find them positions and getting some skills developed. Turns out one of my new parents is 2 years out from Hodgkin's Lymphoma, it's a small world, had a nice chat with her.
Was tired when I got home, but in a good way for getting out of the house and being active. Had a fantastic dinner delivered by the Cooksey's (one of my softball parents), which really hit the spot! Slept pretty good last night too. This morning felt good after a decent nights sleep and then it was off to school to watch Ashley in her 3rd Grade Musical, it was a good performance and Ashley even had a speaking role! She was excited and was good to be able to be there for her. Afterwards, Marnie and headed over to longtime friend who just opened his own CPA firm after a couple decades of working for others. So he is going to be our new accountant and we are really happy to be helping him out as he starts his own business!
Each day now seems to be building on the previous, feeling a bit better and more normal, but still tire out more easily and faster than I anticipate. Was going to try and get to the office this afternoon, but this mornings activities pretty much wiped me out, had a bit of nap, and afternoon of rest with a roaring fire while working from home. So off to work tomorrow and then hopefully will be able to put in a good week there next week too!
Monday, March 16, 2009
What a weekend!
Well it has been a long weekend, and still feeling the effects of everything.
The combo of 5 days of drugs finally starting doing their job on Friday evening and the first area that they attacked was the GI tract (digestive) due to the fact that these fast growing cells are thinner/smaller, they are more quickly affected by the drugs. No real nausea, just felt like someone was constantly punching, kicking and trying to rip my whole abdominal area out from the inside! The upside to all this misery is that the drugs are also attacking the cancer, so while the gut hurts and aches, it will pass, leaving me cleansed.
Was pretty miserable most of Friday afternoon, all day Saturday and into Sunday morning. Started feeling better on Sunday. Course I imagine being able to eat substantially (hard to do when your stomach and gut are in turmoil!) would help things, been doing ok with small snacks every couple hours. And a few hours of real REM sleep would be nice too! Still feel the chemicals in my brain/head and that bothers me. I can feel my concentration go in and out at times. Or if I sit with my head unsupported for a bit.. can feel myself get dizzy and have to lean back.
Overall though, doing ok, pumping the fluids through me, my spirits are up, my mind is strong and willing, just need to get the strength back physically. Softball is starting up now and will be the Head Coach again for Shannon's team, I'm so lucky to have some great Assistants who are really picking up the slack while I solider through this ordeal. Can't wait to get back on the field, the bike, running, working out again!
People continue to amaze us, one of the families from Shannon's Girl Scout troop, heard about things and pop over on Friday with full blown meal out of the blue! Rice, nan, and a great Somalian dish that smelled lovely! Another friend was out yesterday and just stopped by, sat and chatted about various things for a hour or two, was a very welcomed break! We can't thank everyone enough who has supported us through thoughts, prayers, food, rides, offers, etc... You are all integral in making what could be a very trying time, more bearable and easier to navigate through, my thoughts and THANKS go out to everyone!
Finally got the REM sleep last night, slept almost 5 hours straight for the first time in over a week. WOO HOO! Had a nice couple pancakes this morning, and now sitting here trying to catch back up from this weekends haze.
The combo of 5 days of drugs finally starting doing their job on Friday evening and the first area that they attacked was the GI tract (digestive) due to the fact that these fast growing cells are thinner/smaller, they are more quickly affected by the drugs. No real nausea, just felt like someone was constantly punching, kicking and trying to rip my whole abdominal area out from the inside! The upside to all this misery is that the drugs are also attacking the cancer, so while the gut hurts and aches, it will pass, leaving me cleansed.
Was pretty miserable most of Friday afternoon, all day Saturday and into Sunday morning. Started feeling better on Sunday. Course I imagine being able to eat substantially (hard to do when your stomach and gut are in turmoil!) would help things, been doing ok with small snacks every couple hours. And a few hours of real REM sleep would be nice too! Still feel the chemicals in my brain/head and that bothers me. I can feel my concentration go in and out at times. Or if I sit with my head unsupported for a bit.. can feel myself get dizzy and have to lean back.
Overall though, doing ok, pumping the fluids through me, my spirits are up, my mind is strong and willing, just need to get the strength back physically. Softball is starting up now and will be the Head Coach again for Shannon's team, I'm so lucky to have some great Assistants who are really picking up the slack while I solider through this ordeal. Can't wait to get back on the field, the bike, running, working out again!
People continue to amaze us, one of the families from Shannon's Girl Scout troop, heard about things and pop over on Friday with full blown meal out of the blue! Rice, nan, and a great Somalian dish that smelled lovely! Another friend was out yesterday and just stopped by, sat and chatted about various things for a hour or two, was a very welcomed break! We can't thank everyone enough who has supported us through thoughts, prayers, food, rides, offers, etc... You are all integral in making what could be a very trying time, more bearable and easier to navigate through, my thoughts and THANKS go out to everyone!
Finally got the REM sleep last night, slept almost 5 hours straight for the first time in over a week. WOO HOO! Had a nice couple pancakes this morning, and now sitting here trying to catch back up from this weekends haze.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Well the best intentions succumbed to the drugs...
I was trying to write daily, but man the Chemotherapy is sure sapping my energy. The other thing that I have really noticed is that my mental agility is diminished. I find it hard to focus on things for a period of time and that is frustrating. Feels like I have layers of fog to navigate through and it just hurts at time when I try to run things through my mind.
Ok so it's now Friday morning, last day of this first miserable week. Can we just say I have a greater sympathy for the pregnant ladies out there, I'm so tired of peeing every hour to two! So looking forward to next week, when I'm not on the diuretic and able to sleep through the night!
Have had some ups and downs, just finding what works for me during the days, with food to eat, how much, beverages, etc. It has been such a unique thing, as what works for others, some if it transfers, and other parts just are just vastly different.
Overall doing ok, though, my body is tired from this stuff that has been pumped into it all week long, and my mind is still numb. The biggest impact thus far besides the tiredness, has been my digestive tract and just controling the nauesa.
It has been a long week, looking forward to some good down time and recovery this weekend.
All the meals, thoughts and prayers have been so welcomed! It has truly been a god send and we really appreciate what everyone near and far has/is doing for us. You are in our thoughts
Ok so it's now Friday morning, last day of this first miserable week. Can we just say I have a greater sympathy for the pregnant ladies out there, I'm so tired of peeing every hour to two! So looking forward to next week, when I'm not on the diuretic and able to sleep through the night!
Have had some ups and downs, just finding what works for me during the days, with food to eat, how much, beverages, etc. It has been such a unique thing, as what works for others, some if it transfers, and other parts just are just vastly different.
Overall doing ok, though, my body is tired from this stuff that has been pumped into it all week long, and my mind is still numb. The biggest impact thus far besides the tiredness, has been my digestive tract and just controling the nauesa.
It has been a long week, looking forward to some good down time and recovery this weekend.
All the meals, thoughts and prayers have been so welcomed! It has truly been a god send and we really appreciate what everyone near and far has/is doing for us. You are in our thoughts
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Day Two of Chemo
Well it has been an interesting time these last 24 hours.
This morning started off good, have noticed that I feel better in the mornings after my body has had a chance to process the drugs. I had a decent sleep last night, up and down with having to pee so much from the diuretic, but getting 2-3 hours of decent sleep in between bathroom trips. Marnie was off to work today, with Mom playing chauffeur today. We got there a bit early and by 9am I was hooked up and taking on fluids.
Today I got all 3 drugs for the first time during the treatment (this only happens twice more) and let's just say that adding that 3rd drug really kicked my ass! Don't know if it was the combo of the Bleomycin with the Cisplatin & Etoposide or what but I was feeling pretty miserable by this afternoon when we got home. Chills and some nausea (more than Monday, but not severe enough to take the additional meds.. YET!) This got better as the evening went along, and we had another great dinner delivered by Lydia. Top that off with a good friend who moved to Baltimore stopping by for a bit this evening and it was really a good evening.
Realized that while I ate smaller meals today, I didn't get a lot of protein in my diet, mainly carbs and wasn't as good on the water intake early in the day and later in the evening. Need to work on those things in the coming days/weeks, and try to get a bit more fruit in there too, been doing good with salads, so that's working. Also with feeling so miserable I didn't get any exercise in yesterday, it's going to be hard this week, but something to focus on during the two 'down' weeks of the cycle.
Early to bed tonight and would love to get a good nights sleep, but I know as long they are giving me the diuretic, I'll be up every 2-3 hours making head calls!
Thanks everyone for the continuing thoughts..you are in my thoughts as well!
p.s. well I apparently hit 'save now' instead of 'publish post' last night. So here it is at 5:30 am and I was right up a couple times to make head calls! Top that off with the battery in one of the kids toys on my dresser started dying and both Marnie and I were up at 3:00 am pulling the battery. She feel back to sleep around 4:30 I dozed a bit, but never got back to sleep. So here's yesterday's blog!
This morning started off good, have noticed that I feel better in the mornings after my body has had a chance to process the drugs. I had a decent sleep last night, up and down with having to pee so much from the diuretic, but getting 2-3 hours of decent sleep in between bathroom trips. Marnie was off to work today, with Mom playing chauffeur today. We got there a bit early and by 9am I was hooked up and taking on fluids.
Today I got all 3 drugs for the first time during the treatment (this only happens twice more) and let's just say that adding that 3rd drug really kicked my ass! Don't know if it was the combo of the Bleomycin with the Cisplatin & Etoposide or what but I was feeling pretty miserable by this afternoon when we got home. Chills and some nausea (more than Monday, but not severe enough to take the additional meds.. YET!) This got better as the evening went along, and we had another great dinner delivered by Lydia. Top that off with a good friend who moved to Baltimore stopping by for a bit this evening and it was really a good evening.
Realized that while I ate smaller meals today, I didn't get a lot of protein in my diet, mainly carbs and wasn't as good on the water intake early in the day and later in the evening. Need to work on those things in the coming days/weeks, and try to get a bit more fruit in there too, been doing good with salads, so that's working. Also with feeling so miserable I didn't get any exercise in yesterday, it's going to be hard this week, but something to focus on during the two 'down' weeks of the cycle.
Early to bed tonight and would love to get a good nights sleep, but I know as long they are giving me the diuretic, I'll be up every 2-3 hours making head calls!
Thanks everyone for the continuing thoughts..you are in my thoughts as well!
p.s. well I apparently hit 'save now' instead of 'publish post' last night. So here it is at 5:30 am and I was right up a couple times to make head calls! Top that off with the battery in one of the kids toys on my dresser started dying and both Marnie and I were up at 3:00 am pulling the battery. She feel back to sleep around 4:30 I dozed a bit, but never got back to sleep. So here's yesterday's blog!
Monday, March 9, 2009
First day of Chemotherapy
Well Day One of Chemotherapy is coming to a crashing close.. but wanted to get some thoughts down before I sacked out. First is thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, emails, food, offers, etc that have poured out, especially the last couple days! Have tried to respond to them and I'm sure I missed some.... sorry! All of this concern, support and prayers continue to be highly appreciated, welcomed and desired.
Had a great full regular day on Sunday, a friend from out of town was visiting, so picked her up from the airport and she spent most of the day with us, before heading down to her hotel for training this coming week. We all went and met some people for an early Motorcycle planning breakfast at Amphora's, yummy food. Then the girls went bike riding with our good friends from softball that afternoon, my Mom flew in later in the afternoon and whew! It was a good day, just on the go and tired last night, slept in fits upstairs, but decent sleep.
This morning was a usual Monday rush to get the girls to school and me to Chemo. It was a long day of sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing! The staff was all very friendly, helpful and making the best of a challenging situation. They started me around 9am with the anti-nausea medication and we left around 4pm, this is due to them pushing a lot of fluids IV along with the chemo drugs, to avoid an kidney issues. Combine that with a diuretic, they gave me and I have been making frequent trips to the restroom all day long! LOL
Had a great dinner delivered tonight by the Rider's but dang if I didn't experience one of the general dealing with Cancer issues. They say to eat more smaller meals rather than the traditional 2-3 large ones. Well now know why.. felt like I had a brick in my gut from the large delicious meal. Forced me to get out and walk in the fresh air, to keep dinner down! So a good thing, everyone went walking, but I feel like I ran a 10K now! LOL In the future will have to make sure I eat smaller portions spread out to avoid a repeat, especially as the level of drugs increases over the course of treatment.
So all in all not a bad day.. very different, boring, tiring (even though I was just sitting around!) but the first major chemo day in the coming 9 weeks down and only 14 more to go! Tomorrow will be interesting with getting all 3 drugs.. so will try and write tomorrow night.
Had a great full regular day on Sunday, a friend from out of town was visiting, so picked her up from the airport and she spent most of the day with us, before heading down to her hotel for training this coming week. We all went and met some people for an early Motorcycle planning breakfast at Amphora's, yummy food. Then the girls went bike riding with our good friends from softball that afternoon, my Mom flew in later in the afternoon and whew! It was a good day, just on the go and tired last night, slept in fits upstairs, but decent sleep.
This morning was a usual Monday rush to get the girls to school and me to Chemo. It was a long day of sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing! The staff was all very friendly, helpful and making the best of a challenging situation. They started me around 9am with the anti-nausea medication and we left around 4pm, this is due to them pushing a lot of fluids IV along with the chemo drugs, to avoid an kidney issues. Combine that with a diuretic, they gave me and I have been making frequent trips to the restroom all day long! LOL
Had a great dinner delivered tonight by the Rider's but dang if I didn't experience one of the general dealing with Cancer issues. They say to eat more smaller meals rather than the traditional 2-3 large ones. Well now know why.. felt like I had a brick in my gut from the large delicious meal. Forced me to get out and walk in the fresh air, to keep dinner down! So a good thing, everyone went walking, but I feel like I ran a 10K now! LOL In the future will have to make sure I eat smaller portions spread out to avoid a repeat, especially as the level of drugs increases over the course of treatment.
So all in all not a bad day.. very different, boring, tiring (even though I was just sitting around!) but the first major chemo day in the coming 9 weeks down and only 14 more to go! Tomorrow will be interesting with getting all 3 drugs.. so will try and write tomorrow night.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Impending start
Well we are down the point were I can start counting hours, not days until the start of Chemo on Monday morning. It has been a whirlwind of the last few days, so let me try and get you caught up.
Still sporting the Mr. Clean look, and getting lots of compliments! Thursday was good, only took Ibuprofen (have to switch to Tylenol this weekend, as Ibuprofen can lower your platlet count) for the pain from the Medi-port insertion and managed to have a pretty functional day at work. This was the one day this week that I didn't have any appointments, procedures or anything, so was an oddball day. Top that off with no evening activities and it was different, yet a much needed calm before the storm. Thursday evening, we had a great steak and potato dinner courtesy of the Bednarek's, have to make sure we the recipe for that peppercorn sauce it was fabulous! Thursday night was another night of fitful sleep, that's two nights in a row that I have slept like crap, think it's due to the medi-port.
Friday was up and getting things done for work before heading down to Fairfax Hospital for the Pulmonary Function test. Because one of the drugs that I will receive (Bleomycin) has a very known side effect of diminishing lung fuction, they wanted a baseline of pulmonary capabilities. It was a funky test, and reminded me of trying to teach students diving, as there is always a percentage who want to breath through their nose! LOL So this was all through mouth breathing, and the test went well. I will repeat this at the end of treatment to determine how the Bleomycin has affect my lungs (possibly another data point during treatment as well, will see how things go). Meet some friends at Sweetwater for a couple beers that afternoon and then came home. Marnie had been out with her girl friend for a drink too and we arrived home to a friend who just stopped by to say HI.. how cool was that?! Marnie was off to a Girl Scout PJ party with the girls and our neighbor came over to see my new look and ended up staying for a while. Diana and I just sat around talking and drinking for a while that evening and had a fabulous time.
For some reason Ashley was having bad dreams and ended up in bed with us Friday night, woke a couple hours later around midnight and got her into her own bed, but was awake. So not wanting to wake Marnie up, I went down to the trusty ole recliner and watched TV for a little bit, turned it off and got the best night sleep I've had in a couple days. Should have probably been sleeping in the recliner the last couple nights since they put the medi-port in!! Not only does it keep me from rolling over on my shoulder, but keeps my chest slightly elevated and that seems just right. Will be sacking out in the recliner again in just a bit! LOL
So after a great nights sleep was feeling my oats and with the weather cooperating, we decided to take advantage of the warm spring day and rode the motorcycles out to have breakfast this morning. Felt the vibrations in my shoulder, and am sore now from it, but dang it was great to be back on the bike! We split up after breakfast, as Marn & Ashley went to do cookie booth sales for Ashley's Girl Scout troop, Shannon and I went to try and get a new visor for her helmet (no luck!) but then enjoyed a longer ride home. Then it was over to Herndon High for softball skills for Shannon (thanks Courtney for taking her!) and I came along a bit later for a brief coaches meeting, ended up staying and working with some of the pitchers.
We headed home collected Marnie & Ashley and then headed down to Alli's Birthday Party in Manassas. Ok so was a bit sore from riding and working with the girls pitching, but got into the SUV, was moving the seat belt and it slipped from my hand coming smack across my shoulder full force! Let's just say that I won't repeat the words that poured from my lips! Quickly hit the bottle of ibuprofen and by the time we got to Alli's they were starting to kick in. Poor Greg forgot about my shoulder and gave me a good thump as a welcome that had me grabbing the counter for support! The ever ingenous ladies made up a name tag for me that said, "Don't hug me here!" or something like that, if you look closely in the pictures on FB, you can see it! LOL We had a good time hanging out, some great food, friends, drinks and then back home to get every one to bed. Got most of the clocks reset just a few moments ago (did you adjust your clocks? spring forward one hour!) and now I think it's time to succumb to the bliss of sleep!
Thank you all for the continuing thoughts and prayers, not looking forward to Monday, but will be good to finally get started. The meals, the visits, the thoughts, the calls, the notes, everything that you are all doing, it is just so great to have so much support from so many different people, across all aspects of our lives. We are truly blessed and thank you for everything!
Still sporting the Mr. Clean look, and getting lots of compliments! Thursday was good, only took Ibuprofen (have to switch to Tylenol this weekend, as Ibuprofen can lower your platlet count) for the pain from the Medi-port insertion and managed to have a pretty functional day at work. This was the one day this week that I didn't have any appointments, procedures or anything, so was an oddball day. Top that off with no evening activities and it was different, yet a much needed calm before the storm. Thursday evening, we had a great steak and potato dinner courtesy of the Bednarek's, have to make sure we the recipe for that peppercorn sauce it was fabulous! Thursday night was another night of fitful sleep, that's two nights in a row that I have slept like crap, think it's due to the medi-port.
Friday was up and getting things done for work before heading down to Fairfax Hospital for the Pulmonary Function test. Because one of the drugs that I will receive (Bleomycin) has a very known side effect of diminishing lung fuction, they wanted a baseline of pulmonary capabilities. It was a funky test, and reminded me of trying to teach students diving, as there is always a percentage who want to breath through their nose! LOL So this was all through mouth breathing, and the test went well. I will repeat this at the end of treatment to determine how the Bleomycin has affect my lungs (possibly another data point during treatment as well, will see how things go). Meet some friends at Sweetwater for a couple beers that afternoon and then came home. Marnie had been out with her girl friend for a drink too and we arrived home to a friend who just stopped by to say HI.. how cool was that?! Marnie was off to a Girl Scout PJ party with the girls and our neighbor came over to see my new look and ended up staying for a while. Diana and I just sat around talking and drinking for a while that evening and had a fabulous time.
For some reason Ashley was having bad dreams and ended up in bed with us Friday night, woke a couple hours later around midnight and got her into her own bed, but was awake. So not wanting to wake Marnie up, I went down to the trusty ole recliner and watched TV for a little bit, turned it off and got the best night sleep I've had in a couple days. Should have probably been sleeping in the recliner the last couple nights since they put the medi-port in!! Not only does it keep me from rolling over on my shoulder, but keeps my chest slightly elevated and that seems just right. Will be sacking out in the recliner again in just a bit! LOL
So after a great nights sleep was feeling my oats and with the weather cooperating, we decided to take advantage of the warm spring day and rode the motorcycles out to have breakfast this morning. Felt the vibrations in my shoulder, and am sore now from it, but dang it was great to be back on the bike! We split up after breakfast, as Marn & Ashley went to do cookie booth sales for Ashley's Girl Scout troop, Shannon and I went to try and get a new visor for her helmet (no luck!) but then enjoyed a longer ride home. Then it was over to Herndon High for softball skills for Shannon (thanks Courtney for taking her!) and I came along a bit later for a brief coaches meeting, ended up staying and working with some of the pitchers.
We headed home collected Marnie & Ashley and then headed down to Alli's Birthday Party in Manassas. Ok so was a bit sore from riding and working with the girls pitching, but got into the SUV, was moving the seat belt and it slipped from my hand coming smack across my shoulder full force! Let's just say that I won't repeat the words that poured from my lips! Quickly hit the bottle of ibuprofen and by the time we got to Alli's they were starting to kick in. Poor Greg forgot about my shoulder and gave me a good thump as a welcome that had me grabbing the counter for support! The ever ingenous ladies made up a name tag for me that said, "Don't hug me here!" or something like that, if you look closely in the pictures on FB, you can see it! LOL We had a good time hanging out, some great food, friends, drinks and then back home to get every one to bed. Got most of the clocks reset just a few moments ago (did you adjust your clocks? spring forward one hour!) and now I think it's time to succumb to the bliss of sleep!
Thank you all for the continuing thoughts and prayers, not looking forward to Monday, but will be good to finally get started. The meals, the visits, the thoughts, the calls, the notes, everything that you are all doing, it is just so great to have so much support from so many different people, across all aspects of our lives. We are truly blessed and thank you for everything!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Chrome dome...
Well if this doesn't make sense, I'll can fully lay the blame on the vicadin and scotch!
What a fantastic last couple of days, really feeling the support!
Yesterday we (whole family including the girls) met with Melanie (Dr. Heyer's nurse practitioner) and went over the drugs they would be using, some resources, answered questions, etc. She was really good with the girls, answering their questions and showing them the medi-port and even let Ashley put the needle into it. Was great for the girls (and us!) all around. Got a tour of the facility, and met some of the staff, so have a better idea of what Monday holds in store. Turns out Melanie also rides and we talked motorcycles and then SCUBA diving too! LOL
It was an early morning woke at 4 am and was wide awake, my mind going about getting the medi-port installed. We got out of here on time and things went very quickly at the hospital. Very smooth registration, right into the Radiology area, great nurses and staff. Dr. Grimmm was the one who inserted the medi-port and he was good about talking with me before and then while he was doing the installation. Marnie got me home were I was looped a little, fed me and I zonked out for 3 or 4 hours. By the time I awoke the lidocaine had worn off and I was hurting something fierce! The girls had just gotten home from school and got me some vicadin.. that helped take the edge off.
We had a great early dinner .. Thanks to Stephanie who not only made the food and brought it, but served us as well! We all sat and talked for a bit, then it was get ready to head over to the motorcycle club meeting. Moving my head or movement of my right arm pulled on the incision site for the medi-port so was like a really bad sunburn even with the pain killers! At the meeting it was great seeing my friends and feeling the support. Then things got wild with Shannon shaving my head! She did a good job of giving me a mohawk, before it all was gone, then Alli shaved me to a smooth chrome dome! Several other guys shaved as well as we raised at least $1200 through generous donations from club members who couldn't/wouldn't shave, and one member donated $100 for each person who did shave! What a great night, even hurting as I was, was really worth it to see everyone supporting me during this time! That money will go to American Cancer Society. There are lots of photos on my Facebook account from tonight's activities, and you can see the whole thing there.
Fading out from the drugs and scotch combo.. so calling it a night.. a reprieve tomorrow before more stuff on Friday. Thanks again for all the thoughts, prayers and continued support!
What a fantastic last couple of days, really feeling the support!
Yesterday we (whole family including the girls) met with Melanie (Dr. Heyer's nurse practitioner) and went over the drugs they would be using, some resources, answered questions, etc. She was really good with the girls, answering their questions and showing them the medi-port and even let Ashley put the needle into it. Was great for the girls (and us!) all around. Got a tour of the facility, and met some of the staff, so have a better idea of what Monday holds in store. Turns out Melanie also rides and we talked motorcycles and then SCUBA diving too! LOL
It was an early morning woke at 4 am and was wide awake, my mind going about getting the medi-port installed. We got out of here on time and things went very quickly at the hospital. Very smooth registration, right into the Radiology area, great nurses and staff. Dr. Grimmm was the one who inserted the medi-port and he was good about talking with me before and then while he was doing the installation. Marnie got me home were I was looped a little, fed me and I zonked out for 3 or 4 hours. By the time I awoke the lidocaine had worn off and I was hurting something fierce! The girls had just gotten home from school and got me some vicadin.. that helped take the edge off.
We had a great early dinner .. Thanks to Stephanie who not only made the food and brought it, but served us as well! We all sat and talked for a bit, then it was get ready to head over to the motorcycle club meeting. Moving my head or movement of my right arm pulled on the incision site for the medi-port so was like a really bad sunburn even with the pain killers! At the meeting it was great seeing my friends and feeling the support. Then things got wild with Shannon shaving my head! She did a good job of giving me a mohawk, before it all was gone, then Alli shaved me to a smooth chrome dome! Several other guys shaved as well as we raised at least $1200 through generous donations from club members who couldn't/wouldn't shave, and one member donated $100 for each person who did shave! What a great night, even hurting as I was, was really worth it to see everyone supporting me during this time! That money will go to American Cancer Society. There are lots of photos on my Facebook account from tonight's activities, and you can see the whole thing there.
Fading out from the drugs and scotch combo.. so calling it a night.. a reprieve tomorrow before more stuff on Friday. Thanks again for all the thoughts, prayers and continued support!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sorry...
Well damn, this Cancer is sure affecting me in ways that I'm still coming to terms with!
Yesterday, managed to hurt some people, cause I shut down, didn't communicate and treated them poorly as I struggled with what is going on. I know they were helping, and I know what I did was wrong, but still feel like crap that I hurt people, that is something that I have to live with and make sure doesn't happen again.
I'm lucky that I have some great friends who aren't shy about calling a spade a spade and got me to talk about it. One said the following and it really rings true, "you my dear friend - will need those people in the coming weeks and I am sure they will understand that you are not really fighting with them but with yourself!"
Can't change what happened, but damned if I'm going to let this Cancer have any victories on any fronts! It's a war and I aim to win it physically, mentally and emotionally!
Yesterday, managed to hurt some people, cause I shut down, didn't communicate and treated them poorly as I struggled with what is going on. I know they were helping, and I know what I did was wrong, but still feel like crap that I hurt people, that is something that I have to live with and make sure doesn't happen again.
I'm lucky that I have some great friends who aren't shy about calling a spade a spade and got me to talk about it. One said the following and it really rings true, "you my dear friend - will need those people in the coming weeks and I am sure they will understand that you are not really fighting with them but with yourself!"
Can't change what happened, but damned if I'm going to let this Cancer have any victories on any fronts! It's a war and I aim to win it physically, mentally and emotionally!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Let it snow!
First of all a huge thank you to everyone for all the thoughts, prayers and sharing about themselves and others in the last week. It has been much appreciated with some real help for me and have really felt the caring pouring out.
So today was a stark reminder that while I feel better.. I'm not! We got over 5" of snow last night and this morning, and dang it looks pretty! Went out and got the snow blower out of the shed and cleared the driveway and sidewalk (also did our neighbors who's wife is battling lung cancer) and then headed into work for a while. Tonight is the first night that people start bring dinners over, and with everything filling up this week, that works out real well.
Felt great to get out and do something, though. Yesterday was likewise productive, had been having computer issues, so I rebuilt one of our machines and fix that problem. Amazing how that accomplishing something trivial like that, really made me feel good. Been a bit since I felt like I was able to contribute some how around the household. And doing that along with clearing the snow today, really felt good. I have to tell you though I'm beat, I ache and thinking after I write this that it might be nap time for a wee bit.
Found out last week that in addition to all the other pre-chemo tests, appointments, etc. That I am having a pulmonary function test this coming Friday. That will give them a baseline to see just how much (if any?!) lung function is impaired/damaged by the Bleomycin during my treatments. Am really hoping that there is none to minimal loss of lung function and that I am still able to dive (maybe not technical diving but at least recreational diving!)
Also discovered over the weekend that people in my Motorcycle Club have been talking and we are going to be doing a little something to raise some money for Cancer Research! I had talked about having the girls shave my head, to give them some buy-in and help me take some control of when I lose my hair. Well several people in the motorcycle club have offered to become chrome domes with me! To top that off, one guy who can't do shave his head because of his job, is going to donate $100 for the first 25 people in the club who do shave their hair. Logan's in Sterling were we hold our monthly meetings on Wednesday is going to allow us to do this in their side room were we meet. It was a spur of the moment thing that is just coming together and going further than I had ever imagined. Am truly amazed and will be cool to see how many people we get who shed their locks!
So today was a stark reminder that while I feel better.. I'm not! We got over 5" of snow last night and this morning, and dang it looks pretty! Went out and got the snow blower out of the shed and cleared the driveway and sidewalk (also did our neighbors who's wife is battling lung cancer) and then headed into work for a while. Tonight is the first night that people start bring dinners over, and with everything filling up this week, that works out real well.
Felt great to get out and do something, though. Yesterday was likewise productive, had been having computer issues, so I rebuilt one of our machines and fix that problem. Amazing how that accomplishing something trivial like that, really made me feel good. Been a bit since I felt like I was able to contribute some how around the household. And doing that along with clearing the snow today, really felt good. I have to tell you though I'm beat, I ache and thinking after I write this that it might be nap time for a wee bit.
Found out last week that in addition to all the other pre-chemo tests, appointments, etc. That I am having a pulmonary function test this coming Friday. That will give them a baseline to see just how much (if any?!) lung function is impaired/damaged by the Bleomycin during my treatments. Am really hoping that there is none to minimal loss of lung function and that I am still able to dive (maybe not technical diving but at least recreational diving!)
Also discovered over the weekend that people in my Motorcycle Club have been talking and we are going to be doing a little something to raise some money for Cancer Research! I had talked about having the girls shave my head, to give them some buy-in and help me take some control of when I lose my hair. Well several people in the motorcycle club have offered to become chrome domes with me! To top that off, one guy who can't do shave his head because of his job, is going to donate $100 for the first 25 people in the club who do shave their hair. Logan's in Sterling were we hold our monthly meetings on Wednesday is going to allow us to do this in their side room were we meet. It was a spur of the moment thing that is just coming together and going further than I had ever imagined. Am truly amazed and will be cool to see how many people we get who shed their locks!
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