Thurs, Oct 25, 2012

Have I mentioned the new addition to our family?

Meet GracieBelle

Our 10-week-old Maltese

We got Gracie a couple of weeks before the cancer diagnosis.  Looking back, it was a mistake.  But it can't be undone, and we love her, of course.  She is a sweetie.  We do have someone who is taking care of her for us, as Husband is quite anxious during this time and she is a real hazard for falling when she chases feet and shoelaces!

It has been over a week since I posted.  And it seems I have been in a whirlwind.

First, the health and weight report:

Weight:  141 the last time I weighed (5 days ago).  My "dream" is to be 135 and be able to maintain.  I have pulled away from the focus of my weight in order to be caregiver.  There is too much to learn in the new role, and not enough time in a day to focus on both caregiving and weight.  However, I have not lost focus of my health.

Calories:  I am not tracking, but my best guess is around 1000 per day.

Hydration:  Good, not great.

Exercise:  No dedicated exercise, just a lot of running around to appointments and errands.

The last I told you was that Husband had started his chemo.  It is going well.  He is on his second bag of chemo meds that are administered through a pump and port and he gets it 24/7.  He has only been sick once!  It may hit with a vengeance after I post this, but so far he has not had the dreaded side effects.  Sadly, he is the same weight as me, and certainly doesn't need to lose any more.

He is one week into six weeks of radiation.  He is just beginning to have some new pain he believes is due to the radiation.  It is severe, but doesn't last long and doesn't come often. 

This past Monday he got a feeding tube.  It malfunctioned and today he had it repaired.  An almost painless (well, for me, at least) outpatient procedure.  He is now home and resting. 

The plan is for the chemo and radiation to shrink the tumor, then for it to be removed, and his stomach to be pulled up and attached to what is left of his esophagus.  He will eat small and often meals.  If all goes well, the surgery should be in January and the feeding tube removed at the end of treatments, probably after 6 weeks or so.

I do not want to bore you with details.  I just want you to know where I am and that I have not fallen off the health wagon.  My food is mostly fruit and protein bars, with salads and raw vegs as I can conveniently work them in.  I have eaten fast food a couple of times, but it is not a habit.  I am trying to hold cooking odors to a minimum, and it is difficult to eat in front of Husband, as he is on liquids.  Soup is my dinner most evenings.  I pick out the noodles or rice and eat mostly the veggies.  I have a neighbor who thinks I don't eat unless she cooks for me, so it is good for her to have something to do, as well as for me to have some "real" food prepared with love.

Thanks for the encouragement you have given me, and for the prayers and good vibes for both Husband and me.  Although I am not posting much, I am lurking and reading every day.  I will post as I can.

There is a rant coming regarding friends who care too much and check in too often, and another rant regarding medical offices who do not return calls and coordinate with other doctors involved in the case, but they are both for another time.  Honestly, they are not even important, just for me to vent.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!