Play -By-Play: Diary Style

This past week was good and bad....I guess at this point, that's to be expected. Here's a day-by-day snap shot:

Dear Journal:
Today is Monday. It marked the last day of teaching for B, and he was quite emotional since this was his 1st class at GVSU. Teaching has proved a true testament to B's character. Since all of this cancer stuff started, B only missed 2 classes (and only 1 of those was canceled...thanks in large part to Prof. Whitehead). 1 class because he started chemo (class was the actual day of treatment) and 1 class because of surgery (I don't think he could make it the day after being knocked out for 4 hours to get a piece of metal put in his leg). B actually got in a fight with me about starting chemo and how it conflicted with his class. He was going to delay treatment so that he could teach....ridiculous right?....but that is B. He planned the discharge from the hospital around teaching, and so he went to class on Monday, and walked to each desk to personally hand out the final. He actually did it and was determined not to let cancer get in the way. He said that teaching helped him get through this difficult time, and because of his determination he was offered a summer position.

The visiting RN also came by to do a blood draw and routine check-up. She said his blood was too thin; so they adjusted his Coumadin dose, and all is well in the world of blood coagulation.

Dear Beloved Notepad:
Today, Tuesday, was a big day...B and I had our follow up appointment with Dr # 4. There was a chance that we would find out today more info about B's cancer and what treatment plan we would be following. However, Dr. #4 is still waiting on the genetic testing results to come in, so for now we are still riding the chemo train...chooo chooo. B had first class tickets today for another 6 hour love session with the chemo IV bags. Dr # 4 had very positive comments to offer and said that he thinks we made the right decision to have the surgery and that a large part of cancer is gone and that B should be walking soon. Dr # 4 also said that the sciatica is a small setback in the big scheme of things, and we can expect it to wear away slowly but surely. D Bone came in again to support B during his 6 hour train ride. I stopped by for lunch, and there sat B...grading exams. He set a goal of getting through half of his grading by the end of the day, and he did just that. He also had a dose of bone strengthening medicine, and then he and D Bone were on their way home. Dr. # 4 also said he would call us with any new info....so we are waiting again.

Dear Permanent Listener:
This was such a busy day. I knew that B was going to be tired by the time I got home from work, and that's understandable since he had 3 appointments today...geez!!! D Bone and B were off to visit Dr. McDreamy, aka Dr. # 10, before 9 am. Not much went down except for a boost in nerve pills. Later that morning, the PT came over and massaged B's entire leg. The hope is to get the muscles that haven't been used since December back into gear. B literally has no right butt cheek...the PT confirmed this...telling us how his gluteus maximus and minimus are completely atrophied (the muscles are there but haven't been used in a long time, so they are sleeping, so to speak). B's right butt cheek looks like it has been hit over and over with a frying pan. Anywho, the goal with the massage is to wake the muscles up and help get B out of bed so that he is walking and can wake the sleeping giant....hahahah.

Later in the afternoon, after some much needed rest, or complaining to D Bone about how much pain he was in, B had his last appointment of the day. B had to go back to the cancer center for a shot of Neulasta....boosting the white blood cell count. Dr. # 4 said that this would help to prevent infection, and trust me we don't need any infection here! And just like that, Wednesday was in the books.

Dearest Chronicles:
Is it the weekend yet? Just kidding, B was really looking forward to Thursday because it was staple removal day. The RN came by and plucked all 25 of the wound closing metal teeth. We had been looking forward to this day for awhile now. The wound looks great and is covered with steri-strips. However, after staple removal, the day began to slowly go downhill. B's pain seemed uncontrollable and he was beginning to get the sweats. By the time I got home from work, we knew that chemo side effects round 2 were in full blast. Is it time for bed yet? Nevermind, even that sucks on chemo side effect day.


Book of Secrets:
Today we knew S was about to hit the fan. We just didn't know what type of S it would be, and unfortunately for our plastic bag collection, it came in the form of nausea. All day B had the sweats, D Bone was constantly filling glass of Vernor's and B was trying to nibble on as many Saltines as he could get down. When I got home from work, B still hadn't thrown up but his condition was not any better.

We convinced D Bone that we had everything under control and that she could go home with Larry and could take care of her regular business. No more than 20 minutes after she got on the road, the nausea took over. I would like to think that I am a good supporter for B's illnesses, but when it comes to the porcelain prayer session, I got no stomach for it!! Picture this...B bending over the trash can and me running out of the room dry-heaving. Bear didn't know which of us to tend to. What a way to start the weekend!

Dear Diary, It's Me, L:
The sun is starting to creep through. After a slow start to the morning, I was finally able to get B off the bed and out the door. Literally. We set a goal to have B walk to the corner and back, mind you we're the 3rd house on the block, but nonetheless, he did it! He still had the crutches with him and used them most of the time, but he did take a few steps holding the crutches off the ground. I can't remember a time when Bear had a bigger smile on her face. It was probably the shortest walk of her life, but even she was happy to see B out of the house.

After the walk, the sweaty beast showered, and I'm talking about B. Then he convinced me he was ready to take a trip to Target with me. It ended up being a bit long for B, but he was still more than willing and able to take a trip to the golf store after. B was in his element and nothing makes him happier then getting new golf gear.

B was a bit sad to not see the Trusty Rombones in action at the Diamond Dust. With the way Friday went, there was no way of knowing what today would bring, and if going to Chicago would even be possible. Team Mom is sorry we couldn't make it guys, but we'll do our best to see the Rombones in action at least once this summer; that comes with a Team Mom GUARANTEE!

All in all, this week showed some positive signs of moving on from the hip replacement. We are looking forward to the summer and our days on the golf course. We know it is going to be a long journey, but with each day comes more progress.