WE ARE STILL HERE

FRIENDS & FAMILY
How on Earth do people keep up on this blog thing on a daily or even weekly basis? Most of my time is spent being crazy and the fact that I am actually awake right now is astounding considering I am usually passed out COLD by 8:30 every night!
I wish I could keep everyone updated more regularily and I am vowing to do just that right now. I will update weekly so that I can keep you up to speed.
So, a few weeks ago we hit some seriously shakey ground with Gary and he began to slide into a depression filled with self doubt, low self worth and just plain miserable. I was very concerned with his outlook. I know you are all probably asking yourself why in the world would he feel this way when his cancer is gone and he is 5 weeks post op and he should be on the upswing. Well................
Gary has been through a lot. He has been sick since the beginning of the year and now is recovering from a ginormous procedure. He still does not have complete control of his bladder, when he eats he feels miserable afterward (from the intestinal resection) and he is out of work. They have removed his prostate and this has caused some temporary pain for him as well. His new bladder is working he just does not know how to work it completely yet.
He is struggling with being out of work. Gary is a man who enjoys leaving everyday as much as he enjoys coming home. Much of his identity and self worth (like most men) is wrapped up in what he does for a living and the kind of provider he is.
Back to the depression - I got a hold of him, slapped him across his face and told him to stop whining like a little sissy girl and get off his butt and do something about the way he feels dangit! He is such a baby!
OMG - I am totally kidding. I did however tell him something like that but I did not say those things exactly to him!
Basically, we explored getting him some help or I told him that I would work with him to help him get through it. I explained that it would take complete honesty and that working through some of what he is going through was going to be rough but I am in it with him for the long haul. So, he agreed and we have made progress (lots of progress) over the past 2 weeks.
Friends from church came over last Friday night to play Texas Hold Em with Gary. He had a great time. Dave and Zach have the killer poker tables! The Elders from our church have been visiting Gary and calling him and checking on him which has been HUGE! Ren meets with Gary once a week and Gary got to go to Mollies for breakfast this morning!
Todd has been great about getting updates from us and our friends, family and church family (ALL OF YOU) have been super supportive.
I am working on getting thank you cards out to everyone who have been a part of our journey. It is so hard to do everything! My heart goes out to the single parent! God Bless you!
Gary has been getting out a little more each week. I wish his discomfort would go away for him so that he could make it through a day without feeling cruddy. I know his will happen in time.
The boys are really well. Zach and Nate will be Mad Scientists for Halloween and Jax is going to be a Whoopie Cushion complete with a real life fart machine! That is so fitting for Jax!
I am actually going out to dinner this weekend with Stacy and Julie for the first time in months. I am really excited to have a night out!
Okay, Grey's is on and I am ready to call it a night. I promise to keep everyone in the know!
Love and Smiles,
L