So I realized that I hadn't done a journal post in quite a while, so here it is...
Life without hubby and daughter is surreal, kinda lonely and VERY quiet. I'm definitely busy with work so when I come home I pretty much just veg out in front of the TV or on Facebook or something brainless like that.
It's funny how much longer it takes the dishwasher or laundry basket to fill up and it's SO much easier to keep the house clean (especially when nobody is living in it). It helps that my parents and Kolbey did a major house cleaning while we were in TX so I came back to a sparkling pad (thanks).
I have really appreciated all of the kind words and support that have come to me through emails, facebook updates, folks stopping in at romp n' roll, etc. I've had invites out and meals cooked for me (thanks, Beth!) and I am really feeling nurtured and supported. That is great. I think I am also (finally) accepting the fact that it is OK for me to take some time to do NOTHING on occasion. That's not a natural way for me to live my life but constant stress will help you realize how important a break from work and daily activities can be. I'm learning how to "treat" myself and put myself first every once in a while. As any mom can tell you, that's not an easy thing to do.
Yes, I'm still sad. The news of the week was definitely not a morale booster. This cancer keeps hanging heavily over our heads and our hearts and it still makes my heart (and body) ache. I am convinced that we are in the right place and I think of all of the fortuitous events that got us here:
If Charlotte had been older, we would have started radiation immediately (rather than waiting and starting chemo first). If that were the case, we would most certainly have stayed at MCV and probably would never have explored the option of proton beam radiation. It probably wouldn't have even hopped up on our radar (yes, pun intended!). By going the chemo route first, we have been able to see how aggressive and mean this tumor is but it has enabled us to connect with the amazing doctors at MD Anderson. I am grateful to Dr. Khan for his knowledge, experience, and connections to such a fabulous facility. I don't think we would be in Texas right now if it weren't for him. Also, while it's hard to be away from each other right now, I think Roger and I have now developed a better rhythm in terms of how we are dealing and coping with this event on our lives and that makes the separation a little easier right now (as opposed to six months ago). Yes. Tomorrow will be SIX MONTHS since her diagnosis. We have reached the half year mark.
I just want to segue for a moment and brag about my husband. Yes, he is a GREAT DAD. You all know that and helped to get him the recognition he so deserves. He is also my partner, my teammate. We've been married for almost 12 years and we've been together for almost 15 years. That's a long time. We don't always agree and we frequently drive each other crazy but I could never imagine my life without him and we wouldn't be dealing with all of this as well as we are without that strong bond. I just wanted to take a moment to get "mushy" (as Roger would say) and acknowledge what a great person he is and what a great team we are.
Ok, collective: AWWWWWWWW....
I must switch gears, close up shop, and get ready to go to work. My next "day off" from romp n' roll will be in a week. When I will be in Texas. Crazy life we lead....
Rachel
Showing posts with label TX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TX. Show all posts
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
We're in Houston!
Well, the flights were good, the weather is hot and humid, and the family putting us up for the time being is amazing. Thanks Meredith for this connection.
Charlotte was a dream and we couldn't have asked for a more well behaved girl.
We're currently staying in an area northwest of Houston called Jersey Village. Nice little neighbourhood, but oh, is Texas flat!
After we dropped off our bags at the house, we went to get some Italian food nearby. Then back to the house and some crashing.
I hate to admit it but I'm feeling a scratchyness in my throat that usually means a cold coming on. Great. There's also a gauntlet of pioson ivy just outside. Why are some of the coolest plants so dangerous?
As I said, our hosts have been wonderful, not letting us pay for any food or the Italian lunch. They also informed us that an "anonymous donor" heard our story and arranged a $1000 donation to the cause. WOW!
We had a great dinner of rotisserie (sp?) chicken (YUM!), fruit, and angelfood cake. Charlotte finally got to see the Tinkerbell Movie. Twice. It's actually moderately funny in places with some adult humor and good "bad" puns. CJ was glued to the TV for both viewings. Then she came into the bedroom, read several books we brought along and then zonked for the night.
Tomorrow looks like a Houston Astros-Washington Nationals game is in the works for us. Whether or not I cover it officially, we'll be there.
Thanks for everyone who came to the party last night. "Successful" is an understatement.
More positive vibes and supportive energy need to go out to another of the families I follow on CB. Zac Talley passed this week. Those DIPG tumors are wreaking havoc among the CB community. His site is www.caringbridge.org/visit/zactalley
Time for bed for me. Need my strength.
Rog
Charlotte was a dream and we couldn't have asked for a more well behaved girl.
We're currently staying in an area northwest of Houston called Jersey Village. Nice little neighbourhood, but oh, is Texas flat!
After we dropped off our bags at the house, we went to get some Italian food nearby. Then back to the house and some crashing.
I hate to admit it but I'm feeling a scratchyness in my throat that usually means a cold coming on. Great. There's also a gauntlet of pioson ivy just outside. Why are some of the coolest plants so dangerous?
As I said, our hosts have been wonderful, not letting us pay for any food or the Italian lunch. They also informed us that an "anonymous donor" heard our story and arranged a $1000 donation to the cause. WOW!
We had a great dinner of rotisserie (sp?) chicken (YUM!), fruit, and angelfood cake. Charlotte finally got to see the Tinkerbell Movie. Twice. It's actually moderately funny in places with some adult humor and good "bad" puns. CJ was glued to the TV for both viewings. Then she came into the bedroom, read several books we brought along and then zonked for the night.
Tomorrow looks like a Houston Astros-Washington Nationals game is in the works for us. Whether or not I cover it officially, we'll be there.
Thanks for everyone who came to the party last night. "Successful" is an understatement.
More positive vibes and supportive energy need to go out to another of the families I follow on CB. Zac Talley passed this week. Those DIPG tumors are wreaking havoc among the CB community. His site is www.caringbridge.org/visit/zactalley
Time for bed for me. Need my strength.
Rog
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A Really Good Day
Today was a really good day for everyone, I think. We made it to church and then spent the afternoon catching up on various projects. I worked on some RNR stuff and even wrote a few thank you notes. Roger watched some tennis and golf and caught up on some emails, and Charlotte pretty much entertained herself with books, drawing, and (her new favorite) toting around daddy's shoelaces which she removes from his shoes. At least it's good OT practice.
We had a lovely dinner at the Smokey Pig (thanks to Gramps) and just got back.
We asked Dr. Khan if it would be possible to postpone the TX trip so that our first day in clinic (even though it wouldn't be the first day of radiation) would be the 13th. This would make coordination on all our parts much easier. He did email me back to say that would be fine. SOOOOO....here's the plan:
We WILL have the Rompy's Summer Concert Series on July 9th at 5:30 in the Chick-Fil-A parking lot. Give blood at the bloodmobile in Charlotte's honor (if you can...they'll be there from 3-8 PM), bring some non-perishable food for the food bank, or just come out for a good time. The weather and the music should be GREAT.
We WILL have her birthday party on July 10th at 6 PM as originally planned. Tinkerbell theme. NO presents. Everyone come to romp n' roll and wear pink and/or purple. This will be her big sendoff.
We will plan to leave for TX sometime on the 11th. I am looking into flights right now. We have a few folks investigating some free options for us too but if it doesn't work out, Roger and I will have many other opportunities to take advantage with our new "commute". I will try to help get everything and everyone settled over the weekend, stay for the first day of everything on the 13th, and then catch a flight back either late on the 13th or early on the 14th. We will switch sometime on or around the 25th of July.
So now Roger and I need to get travel plans together, make lots of packing lists, figure out where we will stay while in TX, etc. etc. etc. Please be patient if we are minimally responsive to emails, etc. at this time.
Granny and Gramps plan to stay in VA until after I return from TX so that will help with the transition too.
That's all for now. Her comes Monday. What a week this will be!!!!
Rachel
We had a lovely dinner at the Smokey Pig (thanks to Gramps) and just got back.
We asked Dr. Khan if it would be possible to postpone the TX trip so that our first day in clinic (even though it wouldn't be the first day of radiation) would be the 13th. This would make coordination on all our parts much easier. He did email me back to say that would be fine. SOOOOO....here's the plan:
We WILL have the Rompy's Summer Concert Series on July 9th at 5:30 in the Chick-Fil-A parking lot. Give blood at the bloodmobile in Charlotte's honor (if you can...they'll be there from 3-8 PM), bring some non-perishable food for the food bank, or just come out for a good time. The weather and the music should be GREAT.
We WILL have her birthday party on July 10th at 6 PM as originally planned. Tinkerbell theme. NO presents. Everyone come to romp n' roll and wear pink and/or purple. This will be her big sendoff.
We will plan to leave for TX sometime on the 11th. I am looking into flights right now. We have a few folks investigating some free options for us too but if it doesn't work out, Roger and I will have many other opportunities to take advantage with our new "commute". I will try to help get everything and everyone settled over the weekend, stay for the first day of everything on the 13th, and then catch a flight back either late on the 13th or early on the 14th. We will switch sometime on or around the 25th of July.
So now Roger and I need to get travel plans together, make lots of packing lists, figure out where we will stay while in TX, etc. etc. etc. Please be patient if we are minimally responsive to emails, etc. at this time.
Granny and Gramps plan to stay in VA until after I return from TX so that will help with the transition too.
That's all for now. Her comes Monday. What a week this will be!!!!
Rachel
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Happy 4th of July
Just a note to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July. Every holiday is a bonus to us and we appreciate every chance to have Charlotte with us.
I, though not much of a flag waver, certainly appreciate the opportunities I have been afforded as a citizen of the United States of America. We all often take for granted the risks and sacrifices the Founding Fathers made to create this country. It's also amazing they didn't strangle each other given their widely varying backgrounds and religious beliefs.
Feel free to read up.
I, for one, need to go taste apple pies!
Rog
Update:
As the fireworks pop off in the background, it has been a very full day! We spent a leisurely morning getting ready for the Ashland Parade. Roger went down early to participate in the judging of the Apple Pie contest. There were over 20 entries and his "group" of judges had to taste at least 6 pies. Poor thing! He also marched as the leader of the "Dad's Brigade" in full dad costume. It was a very creative costume and I'm not sure if we have a picture...but he definitely looked like a "DAD".
Charlotte was in grumpy, antisocial mode. She would talk to folks but only on her terms and she didn't seem that interested in the day's activities. Her moments of happiness seemed to be in eating and hanging out with daddy. She sure looked cute though.
Uncle Kolbey helped entertain everyone with his performance in the Hanover Concert Band. The patriotic music was particularly good this year.
After these festivities, I went off with a neighbor for a spontaneous pedicure (what a treat!) and we kind of lazed the afternoon away until dinner. Dinner was a feast with homemade beef and turkey burgers, hot dogs, watermelon, corn on the cob, chips, veggies, salsa, and a few other assorted goodies brought by the neighbors. We had a houseful of friends and family and it was great.
Charlotte is now sleeping and Roger and I are actually doing some work (go figure). Got to do a bit more tomorrow too.
STILL no word from the doctor as to when we are expected in TX (despite my constant emails). I will get an answer one way or another, I guess. I'm not sure how they expect us to make travel arrangements (not to mention getting coverage for our business and all the other necessary procedures) with only a few day's notice, but somehow I know it will all work out.
Oh, I must mention our adventures of the previous night: Roger and I went for a bike ride after dinner. When we came home, my mom (who was watching Charlotte) was having a sudden asthma attack. She has had asthma her entire life but it has usually been very managable. It can flare up from time to time, especially if the weather is particularly extreme, there is excess pollen or mold, or if she is having a bout of bronchitis or some other respiratory illness; however, this attack came out of nowhere. She hadn't been having any breathing difficulty whatsoever. I got her albuterol and hooked her up to the machine but it didn't seem to get better so I called my stepdad and Kolbey to come home from cleaning at Romp n' Roll. When she continued to NOT improve, I called 911. So the fire rescue AND ambulance came and shuttled mom off to the emergency room at Memorial Regional. Oxygen, prednisone, and more albuterol seemed to do the trick and we were out of the hospital within 90 minutes. She has been fine ever since but that was a pretty scary episode. It didn't help that my mom HATES going to hospitals and HATES having to take the prednisone but she was a pretty decent patient considering the circumstances and her history. At least she was nice to the doctors. She did, however, shoot my stepdad the bird after he offered some comment that didn't make her happy. THAT was hilarious. I've never seen her do that before....If you want to figure out where I get my attitude from, you don't have to look very far.
Looking back, we realized that she has not had an attack like this (sudden without any known cause) in over 30 years. Crazy!
So that's enough drama for one weekend, I think. We will aim to keep Sunday quiet...
Hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th. The weekend will be over before you know it so enjoy.
Rachel
I, though not much of a flag waver, certainly appreciate the opportunities I have been afforded as a citizen of the United States of America. We all often take for granted the risks and sacrifices the Founding Fathers made to create this country. It's also amazing they didn't strangle each other given their widely varying backgrounds and religious beliefs.
Feel free to read up.
I, for one, need to go taste apple pies!
Rog
Update:
As the fireworks pop off in the background, it has been a very full day! We spent a leisurely morning getting ready for the Ashland Parade. Roger went down early to participate in the judging of the Apple Pie contest. There were over 20 entries and his "group" of judges had to taste at least 6 pies. Poor thing! He also marched as the leader of the "Dad's Brigade" in full dad costume. It was a very creative costume and I'm not sure if we have a picture...but he definitely looked like a "DAD".
Charlotte was in grumpy, antisocial mode. She would talk to folks but only on her terms and she didn't seem that interested in the day's activities. Her moments of happiness seemed to be in eating and hanging out with daddy. She sure looked cute though.
Uncle Kolbey helped entertain everyone with his performance in the Hanover Concert Band. The patriotic music was particularly good this year.
After these festivities, I went off with a neighbor for a spontaneous pedicure (what a treat!) and we kind of lazed the afternoon away until dinner. Dinner was a feast with homemade beef and turkey burgers, hot dogs, watermelon, corn on the cob, chips, veggies, salsa, and a few other assorted goodies brought by the neighbors. We had a houseful of friends and family and it was great.
Charlotte is now sleeping and Roger and I are actually doing some work (go figure). Got to do a bit more tomorrow too.
STILL no word from the doctor as to when we are expected in TX (despite my constant emails). I will get an answer one way or another, I guess. I'm not sure how they expect us to make travel arrangements (not to mention getting coverage for our business and all the other necessary procedures) with only a few day's notice, but somehow I know it will all work out.
Oh, I must mention our adventures of the previous night: Roger and I went for a bike ride after dinner. When we came home, my mom (who was watching Charlotte) was having a sudden asthma attack. She has had asthma her entire life but it has usually been very managable. It can flare up from time to time, especially if the weather is particularly extreme, there is excess pollen or mold, or if she is having a bout of bronchitis or some other respiratory illness; however, this attack came out of nowhere. She hadn't been having any breathing difficulty whatsoever. I got her albuterol and hooked her up to the machine but it didn't seem to get better so I called my stepdad and Kolbey to come home from cleaning at Romp n' Roll. When she continued to NOT improve, I called 911. So the fire rescue AND ambulance came and shuttled mom off to the emergency room at Memorial Regional. Oxygen, prednisone, and more albuterol seemed to do the trick and we were out of the hospital within 90 minutes. She has been fine ever since but that was a pretty scary episode. It didn't help that my mom HATES going to hospitals and HATES having to take the prednisone but she was a pretty decent patient considering the circumstances and her history. At least she was nice to the doctors. She did, however, shoot my stepdad the bird after he offered some comment that didn't make her happy. THAT was hilarious. I've never seen her do that before....If you want to figure out where I get my attitude from, you don't have to look very far.
Looking back, we realized that she has not had an attack like this (sudden without any known cause) in over 30 years. Crazy!
So that's enough drama for one weekend, I think. We will aim to keep Sunday quiet...
Hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th. The weekend will be over before you know it so enjoy.
Rachel
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