Once again, not much to say, but I know that there are those of you who are checking for updates. So, here's an update:
Misty is going back into the hospital for another round of chemotherapy next week. It's been really nice having her at home for all these weeks. I think it's been really good for the kiddos to have her around, and good for Misty, too, to be home. And, of course, Misty enjoys not having the negative effects of chemo.
Misty is really doing quite well these days. Last week, for Thanksgiving weekend, we all (Misty and me, and the kids, and Misty's mother, Terri) took a road trip up to Kansas City, MO to visit Misty's sister, Teralee, and her family. The 9-hour drive up was uneventful and we had a great time hanging out with Teralee and Paul and their two little girls, London and Ashlyn. Misty felt good enough (and crazy enough!) to stand out in the freezing cold--literally, freezing--on Thanksgiving night for FOUR HOURS, with her mom and sister and daughters at the mall, waiting for a free gift card and some early morning Black Friday shopping. We drove home Sunday, and Misty even drove for a bit.
So, now that we've gotten over that holiday, it's time for Misty to get back to the hospital for another 5-day chemo treatment. She'll be out in plenty of time for Christmas, and hopefully she has a mild reaction to the treatment so that it won't completely ruin the holiday for her.
That's about it for now. I'll try to post another update before weeks go by again, and maybe I'll get some pictures up here, too.
As always, we are very grateful for the help you have all provided us. The dinners are thoughtful and always helpful. Thanks again.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
No news is good news.
Two weeks since my last post. And truly, no news is good news, and I don't really have any news. I hate to just keep writing more of the same, and, honestly, not much has changed: Misty's still having good days and bad days. A few times she's been able to go all day with only one pain pill. Lately she's had a head cold or something and she's been feeling "ucky" (her word, not mine). But, all in all, she's doing fairly well.
She was supposed to go in for another round of chemo this week, but her sniffles and sore throat would have kept her out. Hopefully she'll be able to go in next week.
And, again, more of the same: thanks, thanks, and more thanks. I know I haven't shown enough appreciation for the kids' teachers and some of the other staff at Southgate Elementary. Thanks for the gift baskets and snacks, and especially for the work done in our backyard. We're especailly grateful for the teachers who are making sure our difficult situation doesn't interfere with the field trips and extra-curricular activities the kids enjoy.
I also ran across this essay I wrote over a year ago for an English composition class I was taking. I reread it and it moved me with new significance. I thought some of you might enjoy it.
She was supposed to go in for another round of chemo this week, but her sniffles and sore throat would have kept her out. Hopefully she'll be able to go in next week.
And, again, more of the same: thanks, thanks, and more thanks. I know I haven't shown enough appreciation for the kids' teachers and some of the other staff at Southgate Elementary. Thanks for the gift baskets and snacks, and especially for the work done in our backyard. We're especailly grateful for the teachers who are making sure our difficult situation doesn't interfere with the field trips and extra-curricular activities the kids enjoy.
I also ran across this essay I wrote over a year ago for an English composition class I was taking. I reread it and it moved me with new significance. I thought some of you might enjoy it.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
And home again...
Misty got out of the hospital on Monday and she's now back home. She's glad to be home, and the kids are happy to have her back. But she's been having a rough few days. Lots of nausea, bowel discomfort, and some pain this time. As always, she's trying to do as much as she can to get up and move around--even when she doesn't feel wonderful. Don't get me wrong, she's not feeling terrible all the time, but she seems to taking a harder hit this time than last time. And, all things considered, she's doing ok.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
She's back in again
Misty just got re-admitted. She's in room 720, bed 2.
I'm going to be spending most of the evenings after work in the hospital with her. While it's not exactly wonderful to spend those hours in a hospital room, it sure is nice to have that time with Misty.
I'm going to be spending most of the evenings after work in the hospital with her. While it's not exactly wonderful to spend those hours in a hospital room, it sure is nice to have that time with Misty.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Bad blood...
Misty didn't go into chemo as planned. First, she went in on Tuesday, as scheduled, but was turned away because there were no beds available. I guess that's how it works in a county hospital. Then, when she returned on Wednesday, after admitting her and processing the regular blood work, they determined that her neutrophils were low--whatever that means--and that they couldn't proceed at this time with chemotherapy without Misty becoming very ill. So, once again, she was turned away. On one hand, Misty wished that she could just go on with it and get it overwith. But, on the other hand, she was relieved to come home and not go crazy while lying in a hospital bed--and we're glad to keep her here with us, too. Misty has another appointment to start chemotherapy next Wednesday--if her blood is ok.
And she was doing so good all week. Until last night. She woke up a number of times, dry heaving and gagging, and in pain. When morning came, she wasn't much better. But by tonight, she was eating fairly normally again and doing ok.
In other good news, I got word from my job that I'll be working locally (not traveling) all the way into March. Of course, all scheduling information I get about my work is subject to change until after it's already happened, but at this point I'm relieved that I won't have to worry about how things are going while I'm a thousand miles away.
I feel like I'm beginning to sound like a broken record (do the kids these days even know what that means?), but I have so much gratitude for the help we're getting. I honestly can't imagine how people go through this sort of thing without the kind of help we have recieved from our family and friends, from church members and neighbors. I feel I have to express my thanks to all of you and let you know that we appreciate all your efforts toward sustaining us in this rough time.
And she was doing so good all week. Until last night. She woke up a number of times, dry heaving and gagging, and in pain. When morning came, she wasn't much better. But by tonight, she was eating fairly normally again and doing ok.
In other good news, I got word from my job that I'll be working locally (not traveling) all the way into March. Of course, all scheduling information I get about my work is subject to change until after it's already happened, but at this point I'm relieved that I won't have to worry about how things are going while I'm a thousand miles away.
I feel like I'm beginning to sound like a broken record (do the kids these days even know what that means?), but I have so much gratitude for the help we're getting. I honestly can't imagine how people go through this sort of thing without the kind of help we have recieved from our family and friends, from church members and neighbors. I feel I have to express my thanks to all of you and let you know that we appreciate all your efforts toward sustaining us in this rough time.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Round Three
Misty's goes back in for the third round of chemo on Tuesday. At this point we now know what to expect. This only makes it slightly easier. It's still rough on Misty to stay in a hospital bed all day. She's hoping again that she gets a room by herself. It's bad enough when she's being bothered by her own machines beeping, but when there's someone else's, too, it's almost enough to make someone insane. Not to mention privacy...
In the mean time, she's actually been doing pretty well. She's been on some pain meds and nausea meds, which help quite a bit with her cramping and pain which are typical to chemotherapy. She doesn't quite have the energy or stamina she used to, but she is doing more than she has been doing lately. She stayed for all three hours of church today, and last week she even made the ninety-minute drive to her mother's house in Brownsboro.
Can't say it often or loudly enough: THANKS! For everything!
In the mean time, she's actually been doing pretty well. She's been on some pain meds and nausea meds, which help quite a bit with her cramping and pain which are typical to chemotherapy. She doesn't quite have the energy or stamina she used to, but she is doing more than she has been doing lately. She stayed for all three hours of church today, and last week she even made the ninety-minute drive to her mother's house in Brownsboro.
Can't say it often or loudly enough: THANKS! For everything!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Past due for another update...
Sorry, folks, for making you all wait so long for any news.
Misty has now gone through her second chemotherapy treatment and is back out of the hospital. A few days prior to entering the hospital, Misty started eating and swallowing again. She's been able to go about her day without carrying around a spit-cup in which to dispose of her unswallowable saliva. She can drink water and eat solid food! These are things that she hadn't been able to do for nearly six weeks--and was the reason for checking into a hospital in the first place. She still can't eat much, and her diet is supplemented with stuff that goes into her feeding tube, but this is a very good sign. It means that the tumor has shrunk and is no longer causing as much blockage as it used to.
While Misty was in the hospital, my brother Doug came and stayed with us. Between Misty's mother and my brother the kids were taken care of, and it allowed me to spend the evenings after work with Misty, trying to keep her from going stir-crazy. While he was here, he also put his talents to work making some improvements (some functional, some cosmetic) to our house. As a result of his efforts our house looks and feels a lot more comfortable. I owe more thanks than I can express for his time and efforts here.
Misty also seems to be handling the after-effects of chemo better this time. We think it's because of the vitamins and herbs she pumped into herself before she entered the hospital and since she's been out. She's had some nausea, but not nearly as bad as it was last time. She's much more able to be up and around--and even helpful. She hasn't taken a nap in several days, and rarely needs to lie down to rest (she still gets very tired and needs to sit down for awhile, but not lie down). In fact for several hours today, we were out at the soccer field for team pictures for Paris (which seemed to take forever) and then for a soccer game. But by the end of it, she was pretty wiped out.
Thanks again, to all of you for your prayers. Thanks also for the meals and groceries!! They've been extremely helpful. Again, this takes some of the pressure and stress out of this situation. We also apreciate those of you who have been giving rides to the kids to their various activites. We have infinite thanks for Terri, Misty's mom. She spends countless hours here cleaning, organizing, and taking care of Misty and the kids (and me, too, sometimes). Thanks to you all for your love and support.
Wes' Condition:
Many of you have asked me, "So how are you holding up?" There's never quite the right situation for me to dump about how this is affecting me during a friendly conversation. So, here's the answer to that question:
I can feel all this taking it's toll on me. I know, I'm not the one with a potentially lethal illness, but it's definitely wearing me down. I try to keep myself busy all the time--which is fairly easy during the day while I'm at work. But once I come home, it's hard to let myself relax. And when I don't stay occupied, all the worries and difficulties come flooding back to my mind in a great overwhelming wave. I've been listening to audiobooks to keep my mind distracted when the tasks which busy my hands might otherwise leave my mind to worry. (I just finished Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy which was very good, and I'm now listening to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight.) I can feel the difference when I remember to take my burden to my Father in Heaven--and then suddenly it all becomes bearable again. I know you're all praying for Misty, and I'd like to ask for your prayers for me, too (as some of you already are).
Again, thanks for everything.
Misty has now gone through her second chemotherapy treatment and is back out of the hospital. A few days prior to entering the hospital, Misty started eating and swallowing again. She's been able to go about her day without carrying around a spit-cup in which to dispose of her unswallowable saliva. She can drink water and eat solid food! These are things that she hadn't been able to do for nearly six weeks--and was the reason for checking into a hospital in the first place. She still can't eat much, and her diet is supplemented with stuff that goes into her feeding tube, but this is a very good sign. It means that the tumor has shrunk and is no longer causing as much blockage as it used to.
While Misty was in the hospital, my brother Doug came and stayed with us. Between Misty's mother and my brother the kids were taken care of, and it allowed me to spend the evenings after work with Misty, trying to keep her from going stir-crazy. While he was here, he also put his talents to work making some improvements (some functional, some cosmetic) to our house. As a result of his efforts our house looks and feels a lot more comfortable. I owe more thanks than I can express for his time and efforts here.
Misty also seems to be handling the after-effects of chemo better this time. We think it's because of the vitamins and herbs she pumped into herself before she entered the hospital and since she's been out. She's had some nausea, but not nearly as bad as it was last time. She's much more able to be up and around--and even helpful. She hasn't taken a nap in several days, and rarely needs to lie down to rest (she still gets very tired and needs to sit down for awhile, but not lie down). In fact for several hours today, we were out at the soccer field for team pictures for Paris (which seemed to take forever) and then for a soccer game. But by the end of it, she was pretty wiped out.
Thanks again, to all of you for your prayers. Thanks also for the meals and groceries!! They've been extremely helpful. Again, this takes some of the pressure and stress out of this situation. We also apreciate those of you who have been giving rides to the kids to their various activites. We have infinite thanks for Terri, Misty's mom. She spends countless hours here cleaning, organizing, and taking care of Misty and the kids (and me, too, sometimes). Thanks to you all for your love and support.
Wes' Condition:
Many of you have asked me, "So how are you holding up?" There's never quite the right situation for me to dump about how this is affecting me during a friendly conversation. So, here's the answer to that question:
I can feel all this taking it's toll on me. I know, I'm not the one with a potentially lethal illness, but it's definitely wearing me down. I try to keep myself busy all the time--which is fairly easy during the day while I'm at work. But once I come home, it's hard to let myself relax. And when I don't stay occupied, all the worries and difficulties come flooding back to my mind in a great overwhelming wave. I've been listening to audiobooks to keep my mind distracted when the tasks which busy my hands might otherwise leave my mind to worry. (I just finished Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy which was very good, and I'm now listening to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight.) I can feel the difference when I remember to take my burden to my Father in Heaven--and then suddenly it all becomes bearable again. I know you're all praying for Misty, and I'd like to ask for your prayers for me, too (as some of you already are).
Again, thanks for everything.
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