February 15 – February 22

I’ve been updating my original blog with information and will get more here eventually. But I want to share for now the surprise that my very dear friend, Ruth, came up with. She thought it would be cool to have Frank ride home in style from the rehab facility. She has a spanking new Lexus SUV and he hadn’t been in it yet and was just aching to do so.

We planned it so that when Frank was being wheeled to the elevator by the friends he thought were bringing him home, I would pretend like I needed to go to the bathroom or forgot something. In actuality, I was racing down the stairs to beat them to the exit so I could get pictures of him coming out.

Outside was Ruth wearing a black suit, holding a sign with Frank’s name on it, standing in front of her SUV. Included was a small red throw rug that acted as his ‘red carpet’. Oh, and don’t forget about her cool shades.

I have to say – the smile on Frank’s face was just so huge. You couldn’t hear him very well but he said, and I quote “You’ve got to be f-ing kidding me!”. He wouldn’t stop smiling. It’s tough to pull a fast one him and the fact we were able to just filled me with joy.

Here are a couple of the photos:

We’re home now and still adjusting with the bed and other equipment. Last night was kind of scary. Using a sliding board my two neighbors and I should have been able to slide him down on to the bed from the wheelchair. But we realized that the bed was higher than the wheelchair and the bed wouldn’t go any lower. Well, you can’t use gravity in your favor if it doesn’t exist. We almost dropped him – as it is we bumped his leg and today it’s sore. I felt horrible about that.

The nurse came today and after a lengthy discussion, said we need a different bed, a different wheelchair, and a different mattress. That should help us transfer him easier. Those have been ordered and are coming this afternoon.

I’ll want to express some other thoughts on different things that have occurred in the last few days, but I want to gather my thoughts to get them down properly, plus I don’t want to ruin this post by having bummer things in it. I just want to enjoy the face and the big smile I see in the photo of Frank. Because it’s a mighty darn cool smile.

 

December 17 – December 22

Mike has been in an unbelievable mood over the last 5 days or so…I’ve not not wanted to jinx anything by mentioning it here, but I’m feeling pretty safe now in doing so.

I think it’s due to his being rehydrated (he had a one hour-long drip of saline on the 15th at the oncologist office), drinking more water on his own, stopping one of his Oxy meds (the day-time sustain pill, but not the night-time one), increasing the time between dosages of the other Oxy’s he takes to 4-5 hours rather than a rigid 3 hour time.

Check out what’s been going on with Mike (and me!).

• He’s eating.
• He’s having decent BM’s (not ‘bricks’ as he’s described them).
• He’s more alert.
• He’s in a good mood.
• He was tickled he could fit into a motorcycle jacket that he hasn’t been able to wear in 20 years. There’s a picture at the end of the post for you to see. He says, ‘Pardon the two front teeth, they’ve become stained over the years but I’m going to get them taken care of next year! Because the ‘kid’ is back!”
• He’s shopped for Christmas presents with his friends for me, including one gift that for some reason, needs to be kept in the living room closet where it’s about 20 degrees cooler than the rest of the upper level of the house. I’m baffled by this – though I’m starting to suspect he’s pulling my leg and just being mysterious.
• He’s doing very well with physical therapy, using a cane while walking with the therapist, his range of motion for his knee being bent is two degrees from what they call perfect (117 degrees is his range, the perfect they refer to is 119 degrees), he’s willing to do more exercises when the physical therapist isn’t here.
• We’re both looking forward to Christmas Eve when we’ll have filet mignon, asparagus, potatoes and some kind of dessert and then we’ll open some gifts (hopefully the one from the closet for me!!) and have a fire in the fireplace, listen to Christmas songs.
• We’re both also looking forward to Christmas Day because a couple of friends are going to come over, we’ll watch football, eat lasagna that my good buddy BW made for us (love you, B!), and have a grand time shooting the breeze. Maybe I’ll actually get some knitting done – I’m making a pair of felted wool mittens for myself and it would be nice to have them done soon so I can wear them.
• I finished making a quilt for my mom who also has cancer (non-terminal) and it’s BEAUTIFUL. I’m so happy that it’s done and I’m excited for her to receive it and use it. There’s a picture at the end of the post of this too.
• I’ve been a holiday shopping/gift wrapping/cookie baking queen.

So that’s what we’ve been up to. We’re happy.

 

December 8, 2009

I missed class yesterday, but for a good reason. I even sent my instructor an e-mail today to explain why. This particular instructor has been wonderfully supportive all year along (I have her for multiple classes each semester and she’s aware of Mike’s health situation), and I respect her too much to fib and say I was out ill. This is what I sent – our names have been changed to protect the innocent and the not-so-innocent.

Eve,

I have a confession for you. I sort of, accidentally on purpose missed class yesterday (Medical Office Procedures). My husband had an unusually good day – we sat around and talked about this, that and the other thing, ate some apple pie and ice cream, watched really stupid TV, watched football, and all in all had just what most people would call a normal day. But for us, we haven’t had anything like that in months. I sincerely could not get myself to leave for school, because it felt so good to just be here with him and enjoy that normalcy.

I would completely understand if you needed to dock points for this because students are not supposed to play hooky! Especially when they’re adults and they know better. But I simply had to do what I felt was right yesterday. Obviously, if I had a job I would have had to go to work no matter what, but I’m fortunate that until next spring I don’t have to work, so I felt I could indulge a little bit yesterday, and hopefully, you’ll excuse my absence.

I promise to not make this a habit moving forward and I hope you’re having a wonderful day – see you in Terminology tonight.

Jane

 

December 7, 2009

Mike had a physical therapy visit from a wonderful woman today, who offered a lot of great ideas and tips for us for doing therapy in between her visits.

Though I have to admit he wasn’t happy when I had him up and on the couch at 10:30 when the physical therapist wasn’t due to arrive until 12:30, but he admitted later that it was a good idea.

Naturally, I knew this ahead of time because experience has shown that it can literally take a half hour to get him to take his morning pills – he keeps falling back asleep. Once he is in sitting position and has coffee in front of him, and I’m quiet for a while (I’ve been up for hours by the time he gets up so I’m raring to go when he finally wakes up), then HE is ready to face the day.

We had a wonderfully calm, normal day. I’m talking normal for people who don’t have cancer in the forefront of their lives. In fact, it was so great that I literally couldn’t make myself go to school this afternoon.

All afternoon we hung out in the living room, chatting about this, that and the other thing. Nothing terribly specific at all. At one point Mike said he’d sure love some pie and maybe I would think about picking one up later in the week.

Even though it was 26 degrees at the time (with the windchill it actually felt about 14 degrees), I got bundled up, hopped on my bike and went to the grocery store for an apple pie and some butter pecan ice cream to go with it. Mike laughed because I was crazy enough to do this when it was so cold, but if an idea gets planted in my head…I have to do something about it.

When I got back I had Mike elevate his leg (it’s swollen from the surgery still but that’s normal, however, we need to reduce that swelling as it will make Mike more comfortable, not to mention it’s better FOR him no matter what) and ice it while the pie baked. He dozed off while doing so and when the pie finished baking I put it on the cutting board to cool. Then I went into the bedroom to read a while and promptly fell asleep myself.

When I woke up I thought – oooh, pie, I want some! So I had a piece and some ice cream, Mike woke up shortly thereafter and had the same. Then we watched some idiotic TV shows (though we talked through much of them) and later his friend came over to watch football with him. When his buddy left Mike went to bed and now I’m heading there myself.

I’ll take any day that comes along like this – even if it means missing a class, and remember it forever. It’s so unbelievably worth it.

 

December 5, 2009

Scrambled eggs. Thick sliced bacon – cooked crisp. Orange juice. Toast.

He ate that today, in addition to a couple of protein drinks, cookies, and milk.

He ate all that today.

Think that’s good?

He’s sleeping in the bedroom tonight.

He’s not on the couch.

I love today.

I love Mike even more.

 

December 3, 2009

All in all – a great day. I can prove it:

• My very good friend, BW, brought over some homemade tomato soup and homemade creme fraiche for Mike (well, me too but we’re really trying to get calories into Mr. Mike and he really likes this soup). Yowza…so yummy.
• I ended up getting an A after all in the exam I thought I got less than that in. Go me!
• Mike not only went to a an x-ray appointment today, he did a quick shop at the local mall for Christmas presents for me with a friend, AND did a number of walk-abouts in the house on his walker. Wore him out – but in a good way.
• I finished the Christmas decorations.
• I’ve connected up with 4 more people from high school on FB, totally unexpected, strangely gratifying.

Time for bed. I feel extremely content right now and will spend some time enjoying that feeling and reading the book I recently picked up. It’s called The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I’m already so moved by it and I’m only on page 71.