Thanks SIL Jen!

So we got some great news yesterday! Scott's sister Jennifer is headed out to "cover" for me while I go to San Fran to attend my brother's engagement party! This is such a win win for everyone. Jen can spend some alone time with the kids, Scott can get the help he needs with them and I can go and spend time with my 2 brothers and 2 sisters along with my mom and dad. Having us all together in one state rarely happens so it's kinda a big deal. And now we are welcoming Janine and her family into the mix - I couldn't miss it!

So that weight has been lifted - Thanks Jen!

Just goes to show you...

So today, it hit me kinda hard on my way home from bootcamp. I was working out and just saying to one of my co-work-outers how its frustrating how I don't seem to have a lot of stamina while working out after all this time. She said - you have a sick husband, 2 small kids, a house, and work full time - how can you possibly have excess energy. She's right but I never thought about it like that.

On the way home I was thinking..man what a difference a year makes. Last year - we were just enjoying our lives, no "real" worries. Now, look at us: Cancer. Just goes to show you, you never know what your life will bring. It's daunting to think about at times.

Tonite we are heading to our friends the Frescholtz's for the 2nd annual new year's eve celebration. Should be fun, but Scott needs to get in a nap in order to make it to midnight. I am looking forward to spending time with good friends tonite. We need to get into next year on a good note.

Here's to a great 2009! Happy New Year Everyone!

Ramblings...

Scotty is still pretty tired and fatigued. He is working the next few days but is basically in bed right after dinner. He gets up so early now..sometimes as early as 3a.

As for me, I am working out a lot. I am up to 5x a week. It's a great stress reliever for me and I feel good doing it. Overall, as a family, I think we are doing great. Staying focused on the end goal of health!

Birthday weekend.

We had a great time celebrating Scotty's birthday. His Aunt/Unc and cousins came down for the afternoon and we went to lunch and then hung out and had some pie. Then we were settling in for the night and we got a surprise phone call from some friends of ours asking if they could come over. It was so out of the norm, that we said SURE! They came over with champagne and wine in hand and we toasted his bday then decided to head over to Clydes since my mom is in town. We had the best time just laughing and talking. Even though Scott was worn out, it was so worth it for everyone!

Saturday, Scott had to rest a lot to make up for the night before. Later on, Scott and I decided to go see a movie and dinner. Scott really didn't feel so well right after dinner and there were moments when I thought we may not make it through the movie but he was a trooper and then we hurried home so he could rest.

Today was a mixed bag. The weather was in the 70s if you can believe it! He was stir crazy so we went out for a bit to do errands and then he spent a lot of time in bed resting. His stomach has been upsetting him and he is just generally worn out. I can definitely tell that the chemo is having more of an effect on him as time goes on. One new side effect I noticed this week - he seems to have dark marks all over his back. I wrote to Dr M and he said it could be from the chemo and he wants to look at it during our next visit.

I can tell he is getting frustrated with feeling so bad all the time. He told me it's even more frustrating to know if he didn't get this chemo, he would be feeling fine right now. I am sure it's also knowing that even having chemo is no guarantee the cancer won't come back. I prefer to focus on the positive stats that I have seen and knowing that colon cancer is one of the most researched and successful recovery cancers. I don't think I can handle thinking about the other side of it to be honest.

Birthday Boy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTTY!

Chemo Round 7

I went to chemo with Scott on Tuesday. The nurses there are so wonderful. Smob and Steph Oura stopped by. It was in a strange way fun. Scott did get sick even before we left the hospital. They gave him some meds and I drove home. He was in bed pretty much as soon as we got home and has been very tired. Seems as long as he takes the anti-nausea meds - the nausea is under control as much as it can be. His hair seems to be thinning a little. The dr said that happens with this chemo. His hands are also sore and his face is a bit flushed. His bp is a little high too. They are watching that.

His spirits are pretty good. His patience is still thin and he has some anxiety but for what he is going through, I think he's doing great! He's been working and we are in general just continuing with our life. I think the kids are getting used to being a little careful and more aware when they are around their Daddy.

Sunday

I don't know if it's me imagining things but Scott seems worse this time around. He is a lot more fatigued and told me this morning he feels more nausea than normal. Our friends' were in town this week and I know Scott wanted to spend time with them so maybe he just pushed himself too much.

His patience is so thin with the kids too. I tell him he goes 0-60 in terms of temper so fast with them. He is so cold too. Winter is going to be tough.

Chemo 6

Scott has now lost over 30lbs. The Dr didn't seem overly concerned with that. He also said most if not all the "odd" things going on with Scott are related to the chemo. He has been having some pain in his hands and swelling. He was told he is responding very well to chemo overall and no change in his meds is needed.

When he got home, he basically had some soup and went right to bed. Jon Hauer spent the day with him and they played poker. I am sure nurse Mercedes loved all the laughter coming from that room.

Scott's spirits are high. He came back from having a great time in Vegas and ready to conquer the week.

Not enough hours in a day

Scott went with his friend Jon from Arizona to chemo today. I am home with Hannah who has strep once again. They gave her a stronger antibiotic this time and of course to make matters harder, she hates the flavoring so its like a battle to get her to take it. She is a trooper but boy does she whine and complain about it and takes forever to take it. Her strep symptoms are a bit odd. She doesnt get a sore throat or fever. The only signs are she says her stomach hurts and her coloring is off. I took her in last night to the dr, and at first the dr doubted it was strep. Sure enough, the test came back positive. I know Hannah so well, I can tell when something is not right with her.

We haven't really even started holiday shopping yet. It's hard when Scott doesn't feel great and I have to take the kids everywhere. I guess I should have taken advantage of my friend Ellen's generosity when she took the kids all day Sunday -- but there is not enough time in a day.. I spent that day cleaning and de-cluttering the house. Always too much to do it seems.

Cancer, Cancer Everywhere...

Just a random thought about Cancer. It really knows no boundaries, doesn't care about your social status, your net worth, how nice you are, how pretty or beautiful you appear, how much luck you have had. It is a great equalizer. Famous people, not famous people - everyone has been touched by it.

And He's Off...

So Scott decided to go to Vegas and meet up with his AZ friend Jon H. Both the Dr and I thought it was a great idea. Get out of your comfort zone and have some fun with a good friend he hasn't seen in a while. He was so apprehensive about it though. One thing that you don't get used is the personality shift that happens with cancer.

The PC (pre-cancer) Scott would have not even hesitated to go -- he would be gone faster than I could say gone. This new Scott, hemmed and hawed about it. Don't get me wrong, I understand the concerns -- what if he starts to feel like crap, what if he is too tired to do anything, what if something happens, what if... -- This is the good weekend so I think he will be fine. He goes in for another chemo session on Tuesday. Sometimes you just need a break. We have been dealing with this since July with no "break" -- a lot of stress and worry.

I am going to try to go to my brother, David's, engagement party in January out in SF. I have to coordinate with my friends though to ensure that Scott has some help and support while I am gone which will be the one logistical thing I will have to deal with pre trip. It's important that i go. All the Gettinger kids will be there. They were all together for Thanksgiving minus me, so I think this time I will complete the Get-net.

This weekend we have so much planned. Hannah and Maya have a bday party at Tysons's corner and Nate is heading over to Jacob's house during that. On Sunday, the kids have Hebrew school, then Nate is headed over to Ryan's house for fun and then a party. So the plan for the weekend is to keep them busy!