It's My Birthday and I'll Cry if I Want To.....Literally!!!

Well last week was the hardest week yet on tap. With radiation coming to an end we both had hoped that B would finally start feeling better. What we didn't expect is that things would get much worse before they got better.

So B finished up radiation a week ago Wednesday and he was doing OK with eating and drinking. He drove himself to his own MRI scan as well as his follow up apt with Dr. # 11, which I will get to in a minute. With everything feeling manageable, we sent D Bone and Larry packing a day early and headed into Friday and the weekend alone. Boy was that a bad decision. No joke, as soon as the Lexus hit the highway, s hit the f!!! B was very nauseous, which lead to a puking rally, which lead to not eating or drinking. And this bought of sickness and not eating lasted for almost a week. B's throat was so burned you could see the blisters on the side and roof of his mouth. And to make matters worse all he wanted was Matzo Ball soup, which I quickly learned is not available on the bible belt side of the state. I called every restraunt I could find on google search, and it was a no to the Matzo Ball Soup. Most coverstation went something like this.....
Lindsay: "Hi Do you guys serve Matzo Ball Soup"
Restaurant: "Uhhhhh, what is Matzo Ball Soup"
Lindsay: "It is a homemade Jewish staple"
Restaurant: "I haven't heard of it"
Lindsay: "So I take it you don't have it"

My heart sank because B was not eating, and when I say not eating, I mean NOT eating. It was the most scared I have been so far. I always figured that if he was eating, things weren't that bad, so when he stopped eating I completely fell apart. I hardly ate anything that weekend too. Let me say that eating alone is not fun. Who wants to make dinner for 1 person? And who wants to eat at the table upstairs alone, while their husband lays on the air mattress in the basement and moans? I lost 3 pounds that weekend and I could only image what B had lost....and he can't afford to lose any more weight!!!!! I was totally freaked. We didn't leave the house all weekend, and by Monday I was ready to call Dr. # 3 or # 4, and that is what I did.
And do you know what they told me? They told me that this is par for the course and that in 3 weeks or so B should be able to eat normal again. Is that a real answer? What do you mean 3 weeks? B can't go 3 more weeks without eating, and that is just what I said. So they called in a new RX that numbs B's throat right before he eats. He can't taste anything, but at least for now he can get some food down. And his appetite is a bit better. He still isn't eating a normal portion size yet, but it is my goal to get him there.

And now for the follow up appointment with Dr. # 11. The appointment went well, all things considered. B doesn' t have any sign of cancer in his lower leg. The pain in the shin is related to the surgery and to B pushing it a bit too far, a bit too early. What a relief hearing those words after such a shitty weekend. Dr. # 11 is confident that B will get some relief in his lower leg soon. He said that B should be proud of how well he is doing all things considered. The problem is Dr. # 11 doesn't know B, and doesn't know how active we both were just 6 months ago. And I think part of the reason we thought we would be at a different place by now is that Dr. # 8 gave us some false expectations about the entire hip replacement surgery. Dr. # 8 was very cavalier about the procedure and made it seem like it wasn't that big of a deal, when it fact, it was a huge deal. And when it came time for the surgery we just wanted the giant tumor out, and didn't think to ask what to expect post op. So the old adage that time heals old wounds, certainly applies here.

So the end of the week ended much better than the start...I got flowers delivered to the house from the Lips.....so thoughtful, and by Friday we were ready to head to the D for a Tigers game. B tried so hard to give me the best birthday weekend a wife could ask for. After all, do you really think he wanted to go and sit in the baking sun on Saturday, or try to navigate the crowds at Comerica with his bum leg and cane? Well he did it, and he did it for me. We had a great time! The Tigers won, we got to see some great fireworks, and we got to spend some time with our cousins.....what more could a girl ask for? And let's not forget the unexpected birthday gifts from the family. I almost had a stroke when I saw the Tori Burch box at D Bone;s house. I was so jealous that she went to the Tori Burch store and wanted to see what she got, but I never expected the box to be for me. But D Bone went all out and got me the most beautiful Tori Burch wallet. And then on Saturday I met my cousins for a mani and pedi, and in walked the Resnick girls with another Tori Burch box, and I felt faint. But the Resnick Family pulled out the stops too, and got me the Tori Burch shoes that I've been stalking online for several months. And then let's not forget the designer golf shirt that I got from Team Erhmann. I was totally shocked, and all of this was totally unexpected.


I was thinking that nothing could top all of this but I was wrong. So B and I packed up the car on Sunday and headed to Sand Lake for a day at the red neck yacht club. My brother had asked that we stop on the way through town and pick up some beer for the house, and since it was Sunday, the store didn't start selling until 12. So B and I pulled into Tow's right at 12, and you will never guess who we saw in line....Big D and Jr. I was totally confused and to add to the confusion I saw dad's truck, and Bella, my sister's dog, was in the front seat. I asked Big D what was up with Bella, and he gave me some bs about M and M dropping her off on their way up north. So you can image my surprise when we rolled up to the casa, and there sat M, M, and my sweet baby Arleigh. It was such a great day at the lake with the entire Homrich Clan. Not to mention the wonderful dinner, the great cake, the brand new bookshelf from the family, and my new nook....just like the kindle, from B. It was a wonderful weekend and everything was great, but the honest truth is that all I really want for my birthday is for B to feel better. I had to choke back tears during the happy birthday song or when my mom said make a wish. My birthday wish is for a cure for B's cancer, or for Dr. # 4 to say that the chemo is working. I would give everything back if I knew that B was going to get better.

So all in all we had a great time, and for a few days we both smiled. Like B said this was a great way to close out the week, since we are facing Chemo again this Tuesday. So Happy Birthday to me.....and may all my wishes come true.