Monday Funday

I often ask myself - Are we having fun yet? I mean really. 4 hours a day at the Oncology office. The drive down Newport Blvd. everyday. Surrounded by people who are suffering and living with cancer. Watching my husband suffer with the effects of chemo and radiation. Almost having to go to wound care at the burn center today but narrowly escaping that adventure - for now. Parking at the Cancer Center- OMG! What's up with that?

I know some of you are thinking and you might be asking why we are at the docs office everyday. Here is the reason - Gary is very dehydrated. So many people have asked me why he just doesn't drink more. Sounds sensible and easy. Come on Gary - JUST DRINK and make it about 80 ounces every day! Hah! I can hardly get him to drink 20 ounces a day! The only thing I can say is that it sounds easy but believe me when I tell you that it is soooooooooo incredibly far from easy. It is also hard for Gary to eat much of anything. He is sick and weak and miserable right now. He told me that he is sick and tired of being sick and tired. Who could blame him? Frankly I am surprised it took him this long to feel that way.

Who are we kidding? If I were in his position I would be bitching and moaning and whining and complaining. Over and over and over again and I would not care who had to listen to me over and over and over again! Would it get me anywhere? WHO CARES! I would just want to make sure everyone understood how bad it sucked to be me! Thank God Gary is not me for my sake! I guess my statement makes me super selfish and proves my point further that Gary is a saint!

We have an appointment with Dr. Barth tomorrow during Gary's hydration. I am certain he wants to check in with Gary and we will be seeing him every week to do just that.

Guys, I had no idea how many people in this world are affected by cancer. I truly admire all of the people who are fighting this ugly disease and I also admire the nurses who are dedicated to taking care of these people who endure so much suffering. It is truly a privilege for me to talk to all of the "regulars" we meet in both of the oncology offices each day. Everyone has a story and everyone is so so incredibly courageous and it is during these very conversations I learn that we are truly not alone and do not have to go through this without other cancer patients supporting both Gary and me.

Geez, I am so serious. Sorry. I will stop that right this second.
Do I have any funny kid stories? Nope
Any way I could possibly make fun of Gary? YES. Can I point out that Gary SNORES beyond anything acceptable! So, just because he has cancer I am supposed to be nice to him? Whatever. You don't have to try to sleep next to him and deal with it! It is soooooooo annoying. I have been smacking him and firmly and loudly saying his name to get him to stop. It works temporarily. Better than not at all!

Gary has been struggling terribly with short-term memory loss. It is getting better but I am thinking about installing a large chalkboard on the wall of the bedroom so that I can write everything down that I tell him and then I would have to get pissed at him when I have to tell him again and again and again. I am kinda exaggerating but not really. He is getting better as he is taking far less medication than before. I could really mess with him right now while I have the opportunity. But, I will not do that to him - just yet.

So far Gary has not lost a folicle of hair. Go figure. He has threatened me several times that he is going to bic his head. I refuse to let him do that. If he is not losing his hair then there is not one good reason for him to shave his head BALD! For those of you who have not seen him Gary is sporting a beard and moustache and I must say that it is not as grey as I thought it would be. I am fairly used to it now and he would probably look funny without it.

The boys are going to Disneyland tomorrow after school and Gary's parents are going home for about 3 weeks. I will be leaning on all of our friends to help me while family is away. My hands are getting fuller with 3 demanding boys, homework for all three (gotta love that) and laundry for all 5 of us (I hate folding laundry), 9X at the baseball fields per week (not so bad), Gary and his daily "things"(toooooo many to list), managing medication(too many to discuss), my ministry work (love all my kids!) , cooking (only when I have time) and cleaning (I love Petra - the lovely Czech girl who cleans our home - she is super cute and very single! ), taxi cabbing(have I told all of you how much I despise driving? Now you know), snackbaring (love it), text messaging(much better than talking on the phone), E-mailing (love it), blogging( hard but necessary and definitely theraputic), jogging(going nowhere fast), and everything else! I will try to fit a shower or two in there as well for myself! :)

Hey, things could be worse and I honestly am doing really well. All kidding aside I am just tackling each day as it comes and not going ahead. Every day is different and challenging and I look forward to each new one. I hope some of my positive attitude can help Gary to get through the really rough spots. I am really super happy despite everything we are experiencing.

As you can see it is late and I am kinda tired. I have so much to do but need to get some shut eye before I set out to rule the world!

Please continue to pray that God heals Gary by taking his cancer away. I have no intention of trying to stand in God's way and I fully understand that He will carry out His plans regardless of what we desire. But, we can still ask and He still wants us to come to Him in prayer.

Pray that Gary feels better and that he gets well enough to withstand chemo again next Monday. His platelets sharply dropped over the weekend and he needs to get stronger. He feels like he has the worst case of the flu complete with stomach cramps and extreme fatigue. Poor Gary.

Love our baseball friends and home group friends and family friends and school friends and personal friends and church friends and all the other friends we have. Wow, either we have loads of friends or everyone just feels sorry for us and pretends to like us just because Gary has cancer! The lengths we go to just to surround ourselves with people! Pathetic :) !

Love to all and keep praying because prayer Works and Prayer Changes Things!

A prayer for all of you that was sent to me by my friend Tyra...............................

"May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

Love,
L