Acupuncture and Other Fun Stuff

McK wasn't feeling great and ended up on the floor
in front of the Christmas tree, sleeping soundly! I
had to call her name several times before she stirred
and then she still didn't get up!

Today we celebrated Mat's 50th birthday.  We had an informal gathering with a few friends and family and had one of Mat's favorites - pumpkin pie!  It was fun!  I managed to keep it a secret, but by this morning he was suspicious, he knew there was something going on.  😉  I actually blocked him on FB last week, just in case he would see something that someone said about it. He's been "unblocked" now and we are friends again.  I didn't think to take a single picture - typical.  It's fun to have people come see the house, especially when they saw it in it's original condition.  It's a totally different place!  I'm grateful things worked out just like they did, I'm grateful to have a "home" again.

I had chemo this morning (Friday).  I was so delighted when the nurse told me I got a bed!  I haven't had a bed for a long time.  The beds are in private rooms just off of the infusion room.  They are so comfortable, they have chambers in the mattress that slowly fill and deflate with air.  Dreamy!  It's a great way to do it if you have to do it.  Maddie came with me today, she didn't have to work until 3:00.  After we got home, we both crashed for a couple hours.

One of the blessed side effects of my chemo is peeling skin and nails that crack, peel and break.  I used to admire my Mom's nails when I was little.  She'd have them long, perfectly rounded, filed and painted all the time.  I've never liked long nails because I spend too much time outside and I can't stand having dirt under them!  But now I have to trim them before they even have a chance too grow out.  No matter how short they are, they'll crack and snag stuff.  I'm going to have to start to wear bandaids on fingers that have broken nails because I can't clip them any shorter.

Itching is still my constant companion, arms, neck, and now down my legs as well.  I'm not sure when the time will come to raise the white flag.  The chemo I'm on now is keeping the tumors from growing, but at what cost?  It affects my life everyday and has seriously thrown off my sleep.  It's hard to go to sleep and it's harder to get up at a decent hour.  I take zyrtec and a prescription antihistamine, more than the recommended doses (and with the blessing of my doctor), everyday to try to stay on top of it.

One thing I've had to come to grips with is this IS my new normal.  Broken, peeling nails, itching, fatigue, mouth sores ...  I'm getting used to the idea, and I'm very grateful things aren't worse!

I went to an acupuncturist, Annie, this week, and I have to say, I'm a fan!  Acupuncture is one of the "perks and benefits" of being a patient at Huntsman.  Annie is as good a therapist as she is an acupuncturist.  I don't get how it works, but those needles were magic! I had needles on top of my head, in my ears, hands and wrists, ankles and feet.  I left there feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

I have been thinking a lot about what to do for Isaac.  I know there are a lot of people worried about him and praying for him, which is so great!  We've felt those prayers too.  I took him to his therapist again this week, I was really impressed with her the first time we met with her.  Of course, I don't get to be a part of the sessions, so I don't know what they're talking about but he seems a tad bit more calm.  Maybe it's an illusion?  Wishful thinking??  I've looked into different options as far as treatment programs/therapy etc.  A few months ago, I would have sent him to Timbuktu for 5 years of residential treatment.  But as it always seems to happen, a good friend of mine has a connection to someone that knows a great deal about long-term residential vs. intensive outpatient treatments/therapy.  Evidently, there is a much higher success rate with the intensive outpatient than sending your kid to Timbuktu.  Go figure!  So for now, we stay on the course we are on.  He turns 18 in 2 weeks, so he'll be in the proverbial drivers seat after that.  And he's keenly aware of that fact.  We're praying ...