The Gang's All Here!

The Gang's All Here!

Friday, June 20, 2014

Bits & Pieces

It's been awhile since I've updated! We've been busy getting our summer on and just returned from a trip up to Virginia to see my parents and their new home. We had a great time visiting and my parents have a beautiful new house! Their new community has an absolutely amazing pool (complete with a pirate ship that shoots all sorts of water sprayers) and we were lucky enough to play there almost every day. The kids were excellent in the car and had a blast playing with cousins and new friends! I do wish I had time to catch up with everyone while home. I'm sorry if I missed you this trip and hopefully we can connect the next time I'm home!


My ear infection has finally cleared up and I'm feeling good these days. I am excited to tell you that a few weeks ago I purchased my bike for the Tour de Pink. You might be curious as to how my training is going. I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I start...


Steve and I celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss (well, maybe I should say 8 years of adventures in chaos) on June 17. It's amazing how fast time is flying by. A house that needs constant attention, two kids, two dogs and several cars later, we're better than ever and looking forward to what the next 8 years will bring. I just had the most horrifying thought - in another 8 years, Stella will be 12 and Simon will be 10. We won't mention the ages of Steve and I at that point because I am not physically able to say that number. Yikes...


I had treatment yesterday and have my 3 month check-up with the oncologist on July 10. Fingers crossed that all is well. I am assuming this is the case, as I'm feeling fine. I am probably due for a PET scan at some point, but I won't know until I see my doctor.


Murphy just stole an entire bag of snack size M&M's and came tearing into the office. I guess it was the magic elves who left the pantry door open. AGAIN. She ate another one of Steve's leather shoes last night. I'm off on an M&M rescue and recovery (yeah, right) mission. Try not to be envious of my glamorous life...

Friday, June 6, 2014

Rekindled Romance

Yesterday I decided that I just couldn't take it anymore. After 9 days of not being able to hear out of my right ear at all and waking up with my left ear hurting, enough was enough. I was very hesitant to go to the doctor after my experience with Dr. DB last week. I really thought maybe I was making myself crazy. So, rather than call up Dr. DB to get an appointment (which is probably what I should have done, but I'm seriously done with him), I went to the urgent care affiliated with my hospital, which is close to where we live. I'm so glad I went. The doctor (who, by the way, was once of the nicest men I have ever met) took one look at my ear and said, "Damn, no wonder you feel bad!". Instant gratification right there, people. He said my ears were full of fluid and that my ear drum was bulging. The doc said that would explain why I can't hear out of my right ear. He prescribed more prednisone (yay) and an antibiotic. Woohoo, I'm rekindling my romance with steroids! This marks my fourth round of prednisone in three months, which isn't cool, but if it will help restore my hearing, I'm willing to do just about anything. It seems as though along with killing my cancer, chemo also killed any resistance I had to the allergens here in Atlanta. Neat, huh?


I just wanted to update, it's been a rough two weeks. Feeling lousy doesn't do much for my positive state of mind. I'm optimistic that the drugs will kick in soon and I can get on with enjoying my summer!

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The Breakup

You know it was bound to happen at some point. All good things must come to an end. I've been absolutely spoiled by my wonderful medical team. Well, that fantasy world came to a screeching halt last Wednesday afternoon. While vacationing in the mountains for Memorial Day weekend, my allergies fired themselves up something fierce. By Tuesday I felt downright terrible and when I woke up on Wednesday I decided a trip to the doctor was in order. My ENT had told me that if I started having trouble with my sinuses again to see him first. I called and was able to schedule an appointment with him that afternoon. That morning, my ear had also started to throb and then became blocked so everything sounded muffled. That was definitely a new symptom, I rarely have trouble with my ears.


Have you ever felt so awful that you just cried? That's how bad I felt by the time I got to the doctor's office. Needless to say, when he walked in, I had tears running down my face even though I was trying to hold it together since the kids were with me. His first words to me were: "why are you crying?", not hello, how are you, sounds like you're feeling bad. And he didn't say it nicely, he said, "why are you crying" like I was some sort of moron for even being there. So, yes, the visit was already off to a bad start. So, I replied like any emotionally exhausted female would and said, "I just feel terrible, I'm in so much pain". Dr. DoucheBag (which is how I shall now refer to him) replied by saying, "well, ear pain shouldn't be enough to make you cry". At this point I just stared at him, at a loss for words (shocking, I know). He went on to say that we've gone over several times about this ear pain - I stopped him at that point and I said that I had never complained of ear pain to him. That shut him up for about 2 seconds before he continued on about how ear pain really isn't that bad. Oh okay, then I guess I can go ahead a register at the funny farm because I'm surely making all of this up. ASS! I so, so, so wish I'd been in the state of mind to make a really sarcastic comeback, but I was barely functioning at that point. What I should have said was, "Oh, right. See, here's the thing. I've birthed two children, had several major surgeries AND been hit by my own car where I was knocked unconscious and broke a few bones. We won't even mention the dislocated fingers. And you know what? I didn't cry during ANY of that. So don't tell me what pain is you FREAKING JERK!!!".


Wow, guess I'm still a little pissed. Anyway, Dr. DB concluded the visit by telling me that there was nothing wrong. I couldn't believe that given how bad a felt, that there was nothing seriously wrong. He must have felt slightly sorry for me, because he did give me a steroid/ vitamin B12 shot to help with the immediate symptoms. Nothing like a shot in the butt to round out my feeling of complete mortification. I will be breaking with up with Dr. DB. Here's to hoping I don't need an ENT anytime in the near future...


We had a wonderful trip to the Georgia Blue Ridge mountains. The weather mostly cooperated and we all have a great time. Some highlights from the trip included gem stone mining (very fun if you've never done that, the kids loved it!), dads and kids fishing, moms relaxing in the rocking chairs on the back deck overlooking the mountains and plenty of champagne to accompany us. We're looking forward to the next time we can head to the mountains!