Holding Steady

Scans - The bone scan did show tracer uptake in places related to chest compressions (ribs on the right side and sternum), so the bones definitely cracked during compressions.  Nothing new in the other places the cancer isn't already living.  The CT scan for abdomen and pelvis didn't show anything new or significant.  The chest CT showed that the lump behind my clavicle is growing a little bit, not enough yet to be alarming.

I'm meeting with a cardiologist on Wednesday for the monitor thing.  Hopefully the heart stuff is all wrapped up by Aug. 31 because Sept. 1 our insurance plan year starts over, so our $5,000 out of pocket maximum starts over again too.  Anything that happens before then is "free"!  I can't believe this is the 6th time we've hit that new plan year.  I'd be interested to see just how much the insurance has paid for all of this since 2017.  I'm sure we got the better end of the bargain! 

I realized real fast just how many muscles it takes to hiccup/sneeze/cough/cry/laugh, to get up and down, get in and out of bed, on and off the toilet, etc.  Every day there is a little improvement.  I actually made dinner tonight!  We've had so much help with dinners, every single one is/was very much appreciated.  All I've done for 3 weeks is take it easy, binged a lot of TV, sat on the porch in the evening, go to bed late, get up late.  I'm over it, ready to move on and pull some weeds or go out with friends! 

Until I see the cardiologist, I'm not sure if I can mow the lawn or walk the dogs anymore.  My dogs think they're sled dogs when they're out together on walks.  If I try taking them one at a time, Pyper will find a way out of the yard to chase us down.  She makes so much noise it sounds like she might have her own heart attack if we don't go get her!  Some trial and error this summer helped us figure out her escape routes.  Marley just wants to be outside and included, but she's still impatient if I try to just take Pyper.  They've been spoiled this summer.  There has always someone besides me here to walk them.

The kids went to Camp Kesem this week (week long summer camp for kids who have/had a parent with cancer).  They had a marvelous time seeing friends they haven't seen since 2019.  The last 2 years have been "virtual" and really hard for all of us to endure!  Kesem has been a blessing, we all have friends we couldn't have any other way.  Our kids have gone since 2010.  I can't believe it's been that long!