Another Night in the ER...

Yesterday started out really well.  We were both excited (if that's even possible) to have this chemo treatment be the last of Round 3, then a week of rest, then on to conquer Round 4.  And it was a beautiful sunny day... that always helps. :)
 

Last day of Round 3!

The infusion was without problems!  IV in on one try, drugs pumped through at a decent volume... We were out of there in no time at all.  When we got home, Rob was wiped out (yeah, the chemo has a way of doing that to him), and he laid down and fell into a very deep sleep for a couple of hours.

He woke up around 6:30pm, on fire.  His temp was 101.  I gave him two Tylenol and he rested more.  At 8pm it was 101.8, so we called his oncologist.  Anything over 100.4 is not good  --  especially for chemo patients, and more importantly, for urostomy patients.  At 8:45pm it was 101.9, and we called again.  The answering service returned our call at 9pm and told us to get to the ER.  *sigh*  We did.

The short story, after many more pokes, prods, tests, and cultures  --  Rob has a urinary infection.  This is extremely dangerous for Rob, as he has no bladder to filter the infection and keep it from spreading...  it can go straight to his kidneys, which are already very taxed due to the chemo.

So they gave him a big IV blast of antibiotics, and sent us home with a prescription for more, on the promise that we would return if it worsened.  I think we also have to get in to see his doctor today, too.  I'll have to recheck the paperwork.  They're running 2-4 different blood cultures that can take several days, so we will continue to wait on those.

Early morning hours in the ER...

We don't know how or where he got the infection.  We are both very careful about keeping things sterile.  He makes a great effort to drink lots of water daily, and all the special juices and foods to help and not hinder.  

But something happened somewhere.

We got back home around 2:30am, and we changed both the pouch and the night drainage system just to be sure.  We crawled into bed around 3am.  I was up until after 3:30am trying to shut down my crazy hundred-mile-an-hour thought stream.

There are a line of flowery bushes on a fence running the depth of our property, about four feet from our bedroom window, which was open all night for the nice, fresh air.  These bushes seem to be the gathering place of little sparrows, and they were chattering up a storm at 5:45am.  I can't say I blame them...  there was another beautiful day dawning, and they were very excited to be in it.  I had to get up anyways...

I put the dog out, fed her and the cat, looked in on my ever-surviving sick little fish, and took a quiet shower in the dark.  I have to go get Rob's prescription filled, and call to see if he has to see the doc today.  And I've got a head-full of things to do in regards to packing and moving.  And I want to drop a couple of things over to Colie's house today, too.

Yes, I am running on empty, but filled with strength.  I am tired, but I am alive.  And in view of everything, I am blessed beyond measure.

Please keep praying for my Rob.  For healing from this infection, for peace in his soul, for encouragement and positive thinking.  

I can ask nothing more.

I just sneaked in and felt Rob's forehead...  warm, not hot.  Yay!  That's a good thing!  I'll keep you posted on the progress.  Yes, I did say progress...
 
I am filled with faith, even now. :)

Have a beautiful day today!


In Love and Washed In Peace,

Cheri  ♥             

Short and Sweet!!!

Well, just a quick, short, and sweet blog update tonight...


We saw the oncologist today to go over the MRI of the swelling on Rob's arm, and for the first time in a long time, we received GOOD NEWS after testing!


The swelling is NOT cancer in Rob's arm!  It is a blood clot, which in itself sounds dangerous, but it is located in a superficial vein, and cannot break off and lead to a stroke or heart attack.  So it's all COOL!!!  (Ahhh, yes... the old hippie still lives within!)

Back on Day One of Chemo... Feb. 21st, and  most likely a repeat "PRAISE!" to be seen on May 30th!

Rob's still dealing daily with nausea, but handling it well by eating and sleeping... alot.  But if it works, then I say, "Go Baby!" :)

We will have the last chemo treatment of Round 3 this Thursday, and then a week to rest with NO APPOINTMENTS (as of now!).  Then the following week we will start Round 4, and hopefully that will be the last of it.  It's what we're hoping for.  And praying for.

We already scheduled other upcoming appointments, too.  Tuesdays in June are already full!  Rob will have another body scan (chest, abdomen and pelvis) the week following his last treatment of Round 4 to check for any cancer, and then meet with Dr. B to go over the results.  We'll also be meeting with his family doctor to follow up on diabetes care (among other things), and also meeting with Rob's surgeon who will be doing some testing and sending samples to pathology.  I'll fill you in on details as they come.

On the homefront...
We got the apartment we wanted, and will be moving by the end of May.  It's a two bedroom unit, which means I will have a quilt room/studio again... my escape in times of stress!!!  We are being blessed tremendously by Rob's family who are hiring movers for us.  At first, I wasn't comfortable with this, as I don't ever like to ask for help, let alone embrace it.  But in reality, I didn't know how I was going to pull off having to pack and move, even with the blessing and muscles of my dear and precious son-in-law, Michael.  I just seem to be lacking in energy, and have a hard enough time carrying myself around, let alone boxes and furniture.  So I am learning to accept the blessings that God puts on other peoples hearts to help.  And I am eternally grateful.

Well, so much for short.  Hopefully it was sweet.  ;)

Thank you all so very much, for all you have done to help us... from prayers to financial help to groceries to meals...  We couldn't have made it this far without each and every one of you.  

I don't know why things happen the way they do in this earthly life.  But what I do know, is that in all things I learn...  Sometimes I learn patience, sometimes how to love.  I've learned not to depend on just myself when God has put so many beautiful people in our path.  I have learned to be humble, and grateful, and how to rest in His precious peace.  My son-in-law shared a verse with me the other night when I needed it most  --  I don't know how he does that!  I find it lingering hourly in my thoughts...

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14)

I breathe this in and feel it working instantaneously.

Have a beautiful week!  I will be back to update after chemo this Thursday.


In Love and Deeply Washed in Peace,

Cheri ♥

Contemplative Day

Hello dear ones...

I promised to update after each chemo treatment, and the night almost got away from me.  Almost.  Well, technically it's tomorrow, but I'm still finishing today.  :)

We left for Rob's treatment a bit late  --  my fault  --  but we got there in time to check in and get settled in our own little room.  The IV was started without a problem, and there were just three little bags today.  However, once they started the chemo drug bag, Rob was experiencing quite a bit of pain again, in the vein just above the IV site in his hand up toward his elbow.  So they slowed the infusion rate down, and wrapped his arm in a warm blanket to help with relaxing the veins and the bloodflow.  It went well after that, and we were back home within 3 hours from when we left.

Rob spent the afternoon sleeping.  He stirred for 10 minutes or so, then went back to bed.  He woke up in time for us to share a late dinner, and we enjoyed watching a few television shows together.

Rob's nausea is still there, still bad.  We've now added a 'patch' along with the other three anti-nausea meds.  The patch is used for motion sickness, but the oncologist said it may help some with the nausea, too.  It's worth a try to take away some of his suffering.  

The lump on his arm has not changed... still large and red and sore.  The MRI is tomorrow night, and we're hoping they can give us at least some information.  Otherwise, we will wait to meet with the oncologist next Tuesday morning to find out the results.

Today's chemo treatment...
♥

Please keep Rob lifted and surrounded in prayer.  He is understandably angry, very depressed and on edge.  He said he can't relax until he knows for sure what's going on in his arm.  That will determine not only the future treatments he will choose or deny, but his future in itself.

He is hurting, and it makes me hurt.  I watch him often when he doesn't see me watching.  I act strong around him, you know... all in charge and in control.  But I'm not.  I'm hiding behind that persona.  I quietly wipe away the tears as I help to gently try to get the tangles out of his hair and instead end up with more in my hand than I've seen before.  It's just sliding out through my fingers without any tugging.  Just touching.  I see him as he's gently rubbing his belly while he watches TV, just trying to get the nauseous feeling to stop.

But worst of all are his eyes.  They are sad and distant, and I don't know how to make it better.  He says he just has to work through this right now.  So I will do all I can do... I will be here.  I'll take care of him to the best of my ability.  I'll accept his anger and sadness knowing that it's helping him.  One nice thing that made us both smile today:  He only has a total of four more treatments with a week of rest in the mix.  We can get through just four more.  If all goes according to plan, the last treatment will be the end of May!

Okay, on the homefront...  

I promised to fill you in.  The short and now sweet version: our lease is up the end of this month and we're moving.  The new management company has agreed to give us another month so Rob can finish up his chemo.  We are so thankful for that!  We've found another place we're hoping to get in to, almost twice the square-footage, and closer to my daughter and both my sisters, and their respective families.  I need to be closer.  I need them around me, and me around them.  My strength comes from God and God alone.  But He also blessed me with a wonderful family, and they make it all real.  

Having an apartment with more room will be a blessing in itself.  I have things to sell and deposits to finagle, but I know that somehow it will all work out for good.  Rob and I saw this place a few weeks ago, and it's peaceful, and surrounded in trees, with a balcony we can use year-round that overlooks a beautiful courtyard of pathways and benches.  And it's still close enough that I can stay at my job.  It will just give me a bit longer drive time...  time to let go of whatever kind of day I've had, so I can be who Rob needs me to be when I get home.  That's what matters.

Thank you so much for the prayers.  You are giving Rob and I the strength and support and peace that we need.  You're straightening out the path before us, taking away the bumps and sinkholes, and keeping our hearts filled with love.

I don't remember ever feeling as loved and cared for as we do right now.  

Because of the blessing of you.

Thank you. ♥


In Love and In Peace,

Cheri ♥