Eric is so mad at the DMV. When he had the seizure the doctor told us that we should go to the DMV and surrender his driver's license. Otherwise it would be suspended. So we went in and they gave us the paperwork that he could fill out to get it back in 90 days. They told us it would cost $28 for an ID card in the interim and $4 for Eric to get his license back when the 90 wait was over. Eric decided he could live without an ID card for 3 months because he thought it was a ripoff to have to spend that kind of money.
So when 60 days was up we had Eric's neurologist sign off on the paperwork for the DMV and then we mailed it in and after another 30 days he went in to get his license. First, they charged him $14 rather than the $4 they originally told us and we were informed that when he goes back to get his CDL (because that was a 6 month wait) he will have to pay an additional $14! So Eric was pretty ticked about that. He said he never should have surrendered his license to begin with; that he should have just let them suspend it. But that's what we get for trying to do the right thing I guess.
Then a couple of days later we got this letter in the mail from the DMV stating that it is a TWO YEAR wait in order for Eric to get his CDL back rather than the 6 months stated in the DMV's manual that the neurologist printed from the DMV's website. The letter also stated that we could request a review of Eric's situation from a medical review board, but we had to submit a request in writing to them within 10 days of the date of the letter if we wanted to do that. Well, the letter was dated December 11th and we didn't even receive it until December 18th. So that gave us a very limited window of time in which to make a decision. I called the DMV and asked for an extension which they were either unwilling or unable to grant. So we went ahead and mailed a letter requesting a medical review. Upon consulting with Eric's neurologist, he advised that it would be worth our while to do that anyway.
So now we are waiting for them to get back to us with a date that this medical review board is to take place. I truly dislike the DMV... Eric and I discussed this, and we're quite certain that you cannot be hired at either the DMV or the Post Office unless your personality meets certain criteria - meaning you have to be a jerk!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Holiday Festivities
Well, tomorrow is New Year's Day and I have managed to survive the holiday season! In spite of some crazy weather, we were able to take part in four different Christmas celebrations this year. The first was at Eric's step-father's sister's home. It takes approximately 2 hours to get there & another 2 hours to drive home, so that was a lot of time for Tony to spend in the car in one day. But he slept most of the car ride and in general behaved himself fairly well that day. Most of the other kids that were there are several years older than him, and he enjoyed the attention he got from the "big kids". We had a lot of good food and overall the day went off without a hitch.
Then on Christmas Day we went to two different gatherings. The first was with Eric's mother's family at her home. I felt bad for her because I knew she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown when she started freaking out over having forgotten to put the crescent rolls in the oven. Eric's cousin Oscar and I jumped in and took over that task for her in an effort to calm her down and keep the peace. I think she is alot like me in the respect that the overwhelming idea of hosting a party like that tends to stress her out. In any case, after the feast was over we relaxed and watched the kids open presents. Tony made out like a bandit! Eric's mom really spoils him since he is her only grandchild so far. Then we played the ornament exchange game. We do that at previous party that I mentioned as well, only this one was much more laid back. Fewer people play and it is far less competetive. I enjoyed it more than I do when we play at Eric's step-family's party.
Then on Christmas evening we went to Eric's step-sister's house. All of his step-siblings were there as well as their spouses, kids, and their mother. It was rather crowded and it was getting late so we didn't stay long. Eric's mom gave me a nativity scene (again) so I traded with Eric's step-niece for her snowman candle holder instead. Mindy really wanted a nativity and I already had one that I was given a couple of years ago, so it worked out well. We finally made it home and collapsed into bed. On the drive home though I got a call from my own mother. She wanted to let me know that she had spoken to my sister's ex-husband and wanted to make sure that it was okay that she had invited him to dinner at my house the following evening. I was fine with that. It turns out that he couldn't come anyway, but he is always cordial and I think it's nice that he brings my nieces and nephews over to visit occasionally. It sounds like he is winning the custody battle over the kids too. He told Mom that Laura physically attacked the child placement person, and now she is only allowed supervised visits with the kids. It is such a sad situation. I really think that my sister is having some mental issues and needs to get herself some help.
Friday, the 26th, Eric had to get up early and go to work. I asked him to take Tony to the sitter's that day so I could have some free time to cook and clean in preparation for my family to come over that evening. Everyone started showing up around 6:00 PM. Lisa called and said she and Frank both woke up with the flu so they would not be able to make it. But we still had plenty of people. Mom & Griff, Dane & Sue, Pat & Margaret, Tom & Holly, and Eric's dad were all still able to come over in spite of the awful fog that enveloped the landscape that night. Dane prepared an excellent ham that he brought with, Tom made deviled eggs, Holly made spinich and chipped beef dips, and Mom brought scalloped corn and a cheese tray. Then we had green bean casserole, potatoes & gravy, stuffing, baked beans, and home-made apple pie to go with that. It was a wonderful meal with good company! I probably gained 10 lbs. from eating so much that week. :)
So now I can relax a bit. I just have to decide what Eric and I should do for New Year's Eve tonight. We have a sitter for Tony; Holly's daughter is going to watch him for us. But we still have to figure out where we want to go or what we want to do. I think we should go out to dinner or something, but we'll see when I get home from work. :)
Then on Christmas Day we went to two different gatherings. The first was with Eric's mother's family at her home. I felt bad for her because I knew she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown when she started freaking out over having forgotten to put the crescent rolls in the oven. Eric's cousin Oscar and I jumped in and took over that task for her in an effort to calm her down and keep the peace. I think she is alot like me in the respect that the overwhelming idea of hosting a party like that tends to stress her out. In any case, after the feast was over we relaxed and watched the kids open presents. Tony made out like a bandit! Eric's mom really spoils him since he is her only grandchild so far. Then we played the ornament exchange game. We do that at previous party that I mentioned as well, only this one was much more laid back. Fewer people play and it is far less competetive. I enjoyed it more than I do when we play at Eric's step-family's party.
Then on Christmas evening we went to Eric's step-sister's house. All of his step-siblings were there as well as their spouses, kids, and their mother. It was rather crowded and it was getting late so we didn't stay long. Eric's mom gave me a nativity scene (again) so I traded with Eric's step-niece for her snowman candle holder instead. Mindy really wanted a nativity and I already had one that I was given a couple of years ago, so it worked out well. We finally made it home and collapsed into bed. On the drive home though I got a call from my own mother. She wanted to let me know that she had spoken to my sister's ex-husband and wanted to make sure that it was okay that she had invited him to dinner at my house the following evening. I was fine with that. It turns out that he couldn't come anyway, but he is always cordial and I think it's nice that he brings my nieces and nephews over to visit occasionally. It sounds like he is winning the custody battle over the kids too. He told Mom that Laura physically attacked the child placement person, and now she is only allowed supervised visits with the kids. It is such a sad situation. I really think that my sister is having some mental issues and needs to get herself some help.
Friday, the 26th, Eric had to get up early and go to work. I asked him to take Tony to the sitter's that day so I could have some free time to cook and clean in preparation for my family to come over that evening. Everyone started showing up around 6:00 PM. Lisa called and said she and Frank both woke up with the flu so they would not be able to make it. But we still had plenty of people. Mom & Griff, Dane & Sue, Pat & Margaret, Tom & Holly, and Eric's dad were all still able to come over in spite of the awful fog that enveloped the landscape that night. Dane prepared an excellent ham that he brought with, Tom made deviled eggs, Holly made spinich and chipped beef dips, and Mom brought scalloped corn and a cheese tray. Then we had green bean casserole, potatoes & gravy, stuffing, baked beans, and home-made apple pie to go with that. It was a wonderful meal with good company! I probably gained 10 lbs. from eating so much that week. :)
So now I can relax a bit. I just have to decide what Eric and I should do for New Year's Eve tonight. We have a sitter for Tony; Holly's daughter is going to watch him for us. But we still have to figure out where we want to go or what we want to do. I think we should go out to dinner or something, but we'll see when I get home from work. :)
Monday, December 15, 2008
It's Always Something...
Well our 90 day wait was up yesterday, and other than the typical winter cold Eric has been fine. So he is headed to the DMV today to see if they have processed the paperwork to give him his drivers license back. Yay!
Mom was last in for a chemotherapy treatment the day before Thanksgiving. Her CT scan showed that the cancer is indeed shrinking - excellent news! However her blood cell count was lower than the doctor would have liked. He gave her the choice of taking a reduced treatment that day or putting it off an additional week. Mom didn't want to put it off because if she did then her next treatment would be pushed back a week also making it for the day before Christmas. Therefore she opted for the reduced treatment. She is going to have another treatment this Wednesday, December 17th and then she will have a break from them for a while. The doctor explained that while the chemo attacks the cancer it also attacks the rest of her body as well, and she needs to give herself a break and rebuild her immune system before continuing with treatments.
Lisa and Frank came down for Thanksgiving and stayed with Mom until Saturday afternoon. Eric and I were at his aunt's house on Thanksgiving Day, but I spent the day at Mom's visiting with everyone on the Friday after. I think it was a much more pleasant way to spend the day than battling crowds for all the deals at the stores that day! My brother Dane got busted by the game warden for shooting a buck without a buck tag. That was plenty of excitement for the day. Luckily for him they let him off easy. Only a $250 fine. They even let him keep his hunting license! They did, however, confiscate his trophy 10 point buck that he had already gutted. :( But Lisa made sure to take a picture of it as the DNR was driving away with it in the back of their pickup truck! The one that got away...
I ended up leaving work early on a Friday a couple of weeks ago. My ex-brother-in-law called me on my cell phone to tell me that my nephew, Charles, had apparently been hit by a truck while riding his bicycle to school at U-Rock. He asked if I could possibly go be with him in the emergency room. Of course I dropped everything and went right over there. It turns out that Charles was not actually hit by a truck, but rather ran into the side of a van or truck. Apparently he was riding his bike down a steep hill (on the sidewalk) and the truck pulled up in front of him at a stoplight. Charles tried to stop but the brakes failed on his bike and he ran smack into the side of the truck! He ended up with a few stitches and staples on either side of his face near his temples and he broke 3 bones in his face as well - both of his cheek bones and his upper jaw. The plastic surgeon looked at him and it seems that although the bones were broken, they were not displaced. So he did not need surgery. Yay! He also had some bruises on his lungs. He stayed in the hospital for a couple of days, but he was doing really well so they sent him home on Sunday afternoon. He tells me that he is doing just fine now and is back to work and school like normal.
Eric and I went to my ultrasound appointment on November 13th and it seems obvious from the pictures that Baby Paul is a girl! My little princess weighed approximately 14 ounces and was in the 75th percentile for her age. Her heartrate was 146 beats per minute and she looked completely healthy. It seems that she is a good sized little munchkin just like her brother was, so perhaps she will decide to join us a bit earlier than her due date of March 27th. Only time will tell! Now I am faced with the dilemma of finding a name that both Eric and I can agree on. We did decide to keep it a secret until she arrives in case we change our mind. That way something will be left as a surprise for everyone that was so disappointed in us for 'cheating' and finding out the gender in advance. :)
I'm sure I will have plenty of more news to share after the holidays. Until then, Merry Christmas to All!
Mom was last in for a chemotherapy treatment the day before Thanksgiving. Her CT scan showed that the cancer is indeed shrinking - excellent news! However her blood cell count was lower than the doctor would have liked. He gave her the choice of taking a reduced treatment that day or putting it off an additional week. Mom didn't want to put it off because if she did then her next treatment would be pushed back a week also making it for the day before Christmas. Therefore she opted for the reduced treatment. She is going to have another treatment this Wednesday, December 17th and then she will have a break from them for a while. The doctor explained that while the chemo attacks the cancer it also attacks the rest of her body as well, and she needs to give herself a break and rebuild her immune system before continuing with treatments.
Lisa and Frank came down for Thanksgiving and stayed with Mom until Saturday afternoon. Eric and I were at his aunt's house on Thanksgiving Day, but I spent the day at Mom's visiting with everyone on the Friday after. I think it was a much more pleasant way to spend the day than battling crowds for all the deals at the stores that day! My brother Dane got busted by the game warden for shooting a buck without a buck tag. That was plenty of excitement for the day. Luckily for him they let him off easy. Only a $250 fine. They even let him keep his hunting license! They did, however, confiscate his trophy 10 point buck that he had already gutted. :( But Lisa made sure to take a picture of it as the DNR was driving away with it in the back of their pickup truck! The one that got away...
I ended up leaving work early on a Friday a couple of weeks ago. My ex-brother-in-law called me on my cell phone to tell me that my nephew, Charles, had apparently been hit by a truck while riding his bicycle to school at U-Rock. He asked if I could possibly go be with him in the emergency room. Of course I dropped everything and went right over there. It turns out that Charles was not actually hit by a truck, but rather ran into the side of a van or truck. Apparently he was riding his bike down a steep hill (on the sidewalk) and the truck pulled up in front of him at a stoplight. Charles tried to stop but the brakes failed on his bike and he ran smack into the side of the truck! He ended up with a few stitches and staples on either side of his face near his temples and he broke 3 bones in his face as well - both of his cheek bones and his upper jaw. The plastic surgeon looked at him and it seems that although the bones were broken, they were not displaced. So he did not need surgery. Yay! He also had some bruises on his lungs. He stayed in the hospital for a couple of days, but he was doing really well so they sent him home on Sunday afternoon. He tells me that he is doing just fine now and is back to work and school like normal.
Eric and I went to my ultrasound appointment on November 13th and it seems obvious from the pictures that Baby Paul is a girl! My little princess weighed approximately 14 ounces and was in the 75th percentile for her age. Her heartrate was 146 beats per minute and she looked completely healthy. It seems that she is a good sized little munchkin just like her brother was, so perhaps she will decide to join us a bit earlier than her due date of March 27th. Only time will tell! Now I am faced with the dilemma of finding a name that both Eric and I can agree on. We did decide to keep it a secret until she arrives in case we change our mind. That way something will be left as a surprise for everyone that was so disappointed in us for 'cheating' and finding out the gender in advance. :)
I'm sure I will have plenty of more news to share after the holidays. Until then, Merry Christmas to All!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Test Results, Birthdays, Bills, etc.
So we finally got the results from all of the tests that Eric had done as a result of his seizure. And the conclusion is that they have no idea what is wrong with him. Everything indicates that he is perfectly healthy. So I guess that's good news, but it sure would be nice to have an explanation! They sent us on our way & said to just keep an eye on things to see if he has another one. We have a follow up with the neurologist again on November 19th and if nothing has changed, then the doctor will put in the recommendation to the DMV to give Eric his license back. The soonest he can get it back is 90 days after the incident though, so not until the middle of December.
We also got our first set of bills from all of the doctor visits and tests. I have come to the conclusion that I am going to be paying off medical bills for the rest of my life! Thank goodness those things don't adversely effect your credit rating.
I had a chat with my mother the weekend before last also. I was somewhat upset with her because she had Eric working like a dog all day Saturday and Sunday to fix the clutch on her farm truck. So I called her on her hypocritical attitude (since I'm not even supposed to let him do anything around the house afterall.) Of course she seemed completely oblivious to what I was referring to, and all she could say was "I hope you don't think that we blame you for what happened to Eric." Right...
My soon-to-be-ex-brother-in-law was down this way for work on Friday again, so he brought the kids by our house. Sarah came with as well as Ben and Alicia this time, so it was nice to see her and see how she's doing too. I've emailed back and forth with her a bit and I think she's having the hardest time of all the kids with her parent's divorce. I tried to get Mom to come over to the house and see them too, but she had spent all afternoon at the bar in the bowling alley and claimed she was too tired to drive over. Oh well...I tried.
Last week Wednesday and Thursday were Eric's and Tony's birthdays. Eric had Wednesday off of work since he had to work this Saturday. He kept Tony home with him for the day and they spent time doing some father/son bonding for Tony's birthday. They spent the morning splitting wood and the afternoon grinding feed for the cattle at mom's house. That's probably the best present that Tony could have gotten anyway. He adores spending time with his daddy. :) (Not to mention that he is currently obsessed with "moo-moos" as he calls mom's steers.) This coming Saturday we are going to have ice cream and cake and open presents to officially celebrate his birthday. The grandparents have all been invited as wells as his godparents and a few of his friends.
Tony had his 2-year checkup on Monday. He's slowed down a little on his growth, but he's still a healthy-sized boy. He weighed 29 lbs. and was 35 1/4 " tall.
I went to the doctor for my 18 week pre-natal check up just yesterday and everything seems to be coming along nicely. The baby has a nice strong heartbeat of around 150 beats per minute. I scheduled my ultrasound for November 13th. Hopefully we can find out the gender of the new munchkin at that time.
I'm sure I have left out some trivial things, but I think that about sums up what's been going on during the last month. Mom will be going in for some additional tests to see if her chemo treatments have been working. But so far the doctor is really happy with her because she's actually gained 5 lbs. rather than losing weight. So he went ahead and scheduled a 4th dose of chemo for Nov. 5th.
I'll try to write more later...
We also got our first set of bills from all of the doctor visits and tests. I have come to the conclusion that I am going to be paying off medical bills for the rest of my life! Thank goodness those things don't adversely effect your credit rating.
I had a chat with my mother the weekend before last also. I was somewhat upset with her because she had Eric working like a dog all day Saturday and Sunday to fix the clutch on her farm truck. So I called her on her hypocritical attitude (since I'm not even supposed to let him do anything around the house afterall.) Of course she seemed completely oblivious to what I was referring to, and all she could say was "I hope you don't think that we blame you for what happened to Eric." Right...
My soon-to-be-ex-brother-in-law was down this way for work on Friday again, so he brought the kids by our house. Sarah came with as well as Ben and Alicia this time, so it was nice to see her and see how she's doing too. I've emailed back and forth with her a bit and I think she's having the hardest time of all the kids with her parent's divorce. I tried to get Mom to come over to the house and see them too, but she had spent all afternoon at the bar in the bowling alley and claimed she was too tired to drive over. Oh well...I tried.
Last week Wednesday and Thursday were Eric's and Tony's birthdays. Eric had Wednesday off of work since he had to work this Saturday. He kept Tony home with him for the day and they spent time doing some father/son bonding for Tony's birthday. They spent the morning splitting wood and the afternoon grinding feed for the cattle at mom's house. That's probably the best present that Tony could have gotten anyway. He adores spending time with his daddy. :) (Not to mention that he is currently obsessed with "moo-moos" as he calls mom's steers.) This coming Saturday we are going to have ice cream and cake and open presents to officially celebrate his birthday. The grandparents have all been invited as wells as his godparents and a few of his friends.
Tony had his 2-year checkup on Monday. He's slowed down a little on his growth, but he's still a healthy-sized boy. He weighed 29 lbs. and was 35 1/4 " tall.
I went to the doctor for my 18 week pre-natal check up just yesterday and everything seems to be coming along nicely. The baby has a nice strong heartbeat of around 150 beats per minute. I scheduled my ultrasound for November 13th. Hopefully we can find out the gender of the new munchkin at that time.
I'm sure I have left out some trivial things, but I think that about sums up what's been going on during the last month. Mom will be going in for some additional tests to see if her chemo treatments have been working. But so far the doctor is really happy with her because she's actually gained 5 lbs. rather than losing weight. So he went ahead and scheduled a 4th dose of chemo for Nov. 5th.
I'll try to write more later...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
More Excitement
It's taken me a while to get back on here. Things have been crazy at home. After my last post I got a call from my sister Laura. I won't go into details, but she apparently is very upset with me for going to see her children at my mother's house. (She and Mom don't get along.) So she said a lot of horrible things to me. I am choosing not to burden myself with her problems at this time since I feel I already have enough going on in my life without that. I guess you could say we're not speaking to one another.
Besides that, today is Eric's and my 4th wedding anniversary. We always make plans to go out of town for the weekend closest to our anniversary. This year our plans were to go to LaCrosse with our friends Bri & Charlie. We were going to meet up with another friend, Val, who lives there and ride our motorcycles in a ride called the Flood Run. Unfortunately Val's bike was vandalized and is currently not working. We weren't sure if we were still going to go up there, and then this past Sunday something happened that pretty much sealed the deal. I had just returned home from a birthday party that my cousin Ashlea was having for her kids and had joined Eric on the couch to watch the 4th quarter of the Bears game when he suddenly had a seizure. Talk about frightening! He wasn't breathing properly after the convultions ceased, so I called 911. The paramedics took Eric to the ER and after I found someone to watch Tony I met him there. We stayed for over 4 hours, but the CT scan they ran came back normal so they sent us home and set it up for him to see a neurologist first thing in the morning. Unfortunately the neurologist they referred us to is outside of our PPO Network, so I'm really dreading getting the bills from all of this. In any case, the results from the blood and urine samples they took the day before had come in by the time we saw the doctor, and everything was normal. So Wednesday we went back again and they did an EEG. Now tomorrow morning we will go in so they can do an MRI. We have a follow up appointment scheduled with the neurologist next Wednesday, the 24th, to find out the results of those two tests. Coincidentally that is the same day as my second pre-natal visit with my OB and Mom's second dose of chemotherapy. So here's hoping that everything goes well for everyone that day! In the meantime, Eric is not allowed to be left alone. He also cannot drive so I am chauffeuring him to all of his appointments and to work. The not being able to leave him alone part of things is rather inconvenient also. Especially since Tony's sitter is taking the 24th, 25th, & 26th off. I am taking vacation from work on the 24th & 25th and I guess Tony will just have to join us at our doctor appointments on the 24th. Hopefully he behaves. But Eric was going to take vacation on the 26th because I have a class at Blackhawk Tech that day that I cannot miss. Well, that is out of the question. Thankfully, my friend Jenny said she is not busy that day and volunteered to take Tony for me. I really hope he behaves himself for her that day too!
All of these things have caused me to have a bit of stress. I think I'm handling it okay. I'm still trying to take care of myself for the sake of our new little one that is on the way. Mom is not helping though. She handled her first dose of chemo very well, and is still maintaining her positive attitude. I'm very thankful for those things. But I made the mistake of telling her that the doctor said Eric's seizure may have been stress-induced or from sleep deprivation. So she is blaming me for causing all of Eric's stress and telling me that I can't allow him to do anything around the house anymore. In her eyes this is all my fault, so to rectify things I should take on all the household duties like cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. These have always been tasks that Eric and I have shared, and I can't believe that something like that would push him over the edge. In addition, I'm so exhausted and sick from this pregnancy that I have a hard enough time keeping up with my share of the duties let alone taking on all of his too. Of course I'll do whatever I can to lighten his burden, but I wish that my mother wouldn't make me feel guilty like all of this is my fault. I guess I'll just do my best to ignore her.
Besides that, today is Eric's and my 4th wedding anniversary. We always make plans to go out of town for the weekend closest to our anniversary. This year our plans were to go to LaCrosse with our friends Bri & Charlie. We were going to meet up with another friend, Val, who lives there and ride our motorcycles in a ride called the Flood Run. Unfortunately Val's bike was vandalized and is currently not working. We weren't sure if we were still going to go up there, and then this past Sunday something happened that pretty much sealed the deal. I had just returned home from a birthday party that my cousin Ashlea was having for her kids and had joined Eric on the couch to watch the 4th quarter of the Bears game when he suddenly had a seizure. Talk about frightening! He wasn't breathing properly after the convultions ceased, so I called 911. The paramedics took Eric to the ER and after I found someone to watch Tony I met him there. We stayed for over 4 hours, but the CT scan they ran came back normal so they sent us home and set it up for him to see a neurologist first thing in the morning. Unfortunately the neurologist they referred us to is outside of our PPO Network, so I'm really dreading getting the bills from all of this. In any case, the results from the blood and urine samples they took the day before had come in by the time we saw the doctor, and everything was normal. So Wednesday we went back again and they did an EEG. Now tomorrow morning we will go in so they can do an MRI. We have a follow up appointment scheduled with the neurologist next Wednesday, the 24th, to find out the results of those two tests. Coincidentally that is the same day as my second pre-natal visit with my OB and Mom's second dose of chemotherapy. So here's hoping that everything goes well for everyone that day! In the meantime, Eric is not allowed to be left alone. He also cannot drive so I am chauffeuring him to all of his appointments and to work. The not being able to leave him alone part of things is rather inconvenient also. Especially since Tony's sitter is taking the 24th, 25th, & 26th off. I am taking vacation from work on the 24th & 25th and I guess Tony will just have to join us at our doctor appointments on the 24th. Hopefully he behaves. But Eric was going to take vacation on the 26th because I have a class at Blackhawk Tech that day that I cannot miss. Well, that is out of the question. Thankfully, my friend Jenny said she is not busy that day and volunteered to take Tony for me. I really hope he behaves himself for her that day too!
All of these things have caused me to have a bit of stress. I think I'm handling it okay. I'm still trying to take care of myself for the sake of our new little one that is on the way. Mom is not helping though. She handled her first dose of chemo very well, and is still maintaining her positive attitude. I'm very thankful for those things. But I made the mistake of telling her that the doctor said Eric's seizure may have been stress-induced or from sleep deprivation. So she is blaming me for causing all of Eric's stress and telling me that I can't allow him to do anything around the house anymore. In her eyes this is all my fault, so to rectify things I should take on all the household duties like cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. These have always been tasks that Eric and I have shared, and I can't believe that something like that would push him over the edge. In addition, I'm so exhausted and sick from this pregnancy that I have a hard enough time keeping up with my share of the duties let alone taking on all of his too. Of course I'll do whatever I can to lighten his burden, but I wish that my mother wouldn't make me feel guilty like all of this is my fault. I guess I'll just do my best to ignore her.
Monday, August 25, 2008
This Past Weekend
Last Friday I got a voicemail from a friend saying that they haven't seen me out for karaoke in a while and they would really like it if I could come out and sing a couple of songs. I decided that would be a great idea to get out of the house for a couple of hours. I called Lani (since she likes to sing too) but she was too broke to go out. She said that she would watch Tony for us so Eric and I could go out together though. That was really sweet. She kept him overnight for us and I picked him up Saturday morning. Then on the spur of the moment, we called and made an appointment to get our hair cut. Mom met us in town and we all three cut our hair and donated it. Then we went to Kutter Harley-Davidson and picked out a scarf for Mom. It was a fun thing to do for a "girls day". Then Mom went back home to meet up with her sister Emma. Emma has been diagnosed with dimentia and is rapidly slipping away mentally. Emma's daughter-in-law drove her down for a short afternoon visit with Mom. And then at about 7:00 that evening I went over to Mom's house for a visit with family that was down from Minnesota. My nephew, Charles, is starting school at U-Rock this fall so his ex-step-father, Nick, gave him a ride down to help him get set up in his apartment. Nick also brought the little kids with him too. Ben is 6 and Alicia will turn 9 next month. It was very nice of him to go out of his way and bring the kids over to Mom's for a visit in spite of the nasty divorce proceedings that are currently underway between him and my sister Laura. I have some nice pictures of Mom with the grandkids now. All-in-all it was a good weekend. :) A friend of mine mentioned in an email about a living will. That is a very good suggestion, so I am going to make a note to have Mom discuss it with her attorney on Wednesday. She needs to have it in place that a power of attorney can make financial and healthcare decisions for her if she becomes unable to do so for herself.
Friday, August 22, 2008
More Info on Mom's Cancer
I talked to my sister, Lisa, last night on the phone. She had found out some additional information that I did not know. Someone at the hospital had talked my mother into signing HIPPA release forms so that information can be shared with her, me, and Tom. So Lisa had called the hospital and spoken to one of the nurses. The nurse was able to tell her that the type of cancer we are dealing with is a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) called Adenocarcinoma. So Lisa had taken the day off work yesterday to do some research on it. Apparently the survival rate is not great. But it can vary widely depending on what stage the cancer is in when it is discovered. The nurses were not able to tell us that yet since the doctor has not yet transcribed his notes. They said to call back on Monday and hopefully they will know then. Sadly, the information I found on http://www.intelihealth.com/ states:
Expected Duration
Once it develops, adenocarcinoma of the lung will continue to grow and spread until it is treated.
Treatment
Surgery is the main treatment for all NSCL cancers if the cancer is contained in the chest and has no evidence of having spread to areas outside the chest. Three types of surgery can be used:
Wedge resection � Removal of only a small part of the lung
Lobectomy � Removal of one lobe of the lung
Pneumonectomy � Removal of the entire lung
VATS (Video-assisted thoracoscopy) � In this procedure, which can be both diagnostic and therapeutic, the surgeon places a flexible tube into an incision in the chest and can visually inspect the surrounding surfaces of the inner and outer linings of the lung area and even do surgery to remove abnormal areas. It is a less-invasive procedure compared to a larger operation, called a thoracotomy.
Since all of these surgical procedures require removal of a portion or the entire lung, and since many of the patients will have diminished lung function to begin with due to years of smoking, it is very important that a full evaluation of the existing lung function and the predicted lung function after an expected surgical removal be done. This is especially important for those with non cancerous abnormalities of their lungs, such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
Depending on how far the cancer has spread (the stage), treatments can include chemotherapy and radiation therapy before and/or after surgery. Stages are defined by the size of the tumor and how far it has spread. Stages I through III are further divided into two "A" and "B" categories. Stage I tumors are small and have not invaded the surrounding tissue or organs. Stage II and III tumors have invaded surrounding tissue and/or organs and have spread to lymph nodes. Stage IV tumors have spread outside the chest area.
People with serious medical problems that make it difficult for them to withstand surgery may receive radiation therapy to shrink the tumor, or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
When the tumor has spread significantly, chemotherapy drugs may be recommended to slow the growth of the cancer even if it cannot cure the disease. Chemotherapy has been shown to decrease symptoms and prolong life in advanced cases of lung cancer.
Over the past decade, a series of new treatments has been developed specifically as a result of better understanding of the genetics of lung cancer and the specific abnormalities of the lung cancer cell. These agents are called targeted therapies, since they specifically target the abnormal biochemical pathways that are crucial in the development and growth of the cancer. In specialized centers, the lung cancer tissue that is removed may be tested for specific genetic (DNA) abnormalities and then treated accordingly.
Radiation therapy also may be recommended to relieve symptoms. The use of radiation is especially important in the treatment of lung cancer that has spread to the brain or that has spread to the bone and is causing pain. As mentioned above, it is also used alone or in combination with chemotherapy to treat the lung cancer that is located in the chest area as well.
Prognosis
The outlook depends on the stage of the cancer and the overall health of the patient. In general, the prognosis is poor, especially if the lung cancer has spread to areas outside of the chest wall or has involved the lymph nodes of the mediastinum. This cancer can only be cured when surgery or radiation therapy can completely remove the tumor. However, many lung cancers are diagnosed at a stage when this is not possible. About 17% of people with adenocarcinoma survive more than 5 years after diagnosis.
We also looked up some information on the oncologist, Dr. Michael Huie. Here's a synopsis on him:
Huie, Michael, M.D.
Specialty:
Oncology
Practice Highlights:
As a board-certified medical oncologist, Michael Huie, M.D. provides care and treatment for patients with cancer. Dr. Huie received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Huie sees patients with solid tumors and both benign and malignant hematologic disorders. In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Huie is a cancer researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I enjoy clinical practice because it gives me the ability to help patients through difficult times. Combining my practice with research is fulfilling because it helps to further cancer treatment strategies and it allows me to incorporate cutting-edge clinical trial developments into my practice, helping more people overcome cancer,” says Dr. Huie. Monroe Clinic’s Oncology Center is a collaborative effort between Monroe Clinic and the University of Wisconsin. Patients receive personal, one-on-one care close to home while benefiting from the latest research from the University of Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. To make an appointment with Dr. Huie, please call Monroe Clinic at 608-324-2685.
Location:
Monroe Clinic and Hospital
515 22nd Avenue
Monroe WI 53566
608-324-2685
I feel much better after finding out that Monroe Clinic works directly with the University of Madison. Mom is probably receiving better care than I initially thought. Still, we know that she is in either stage II or III of the cancer already so her prognosis seems dim. Hopefully we can find out some additional information on Monday. Lisa is also trying to take time off of work to come down from Eau Claire so she can talk to the doctor and ask questions when Mom goes in for her first chemotherapy treatment. It's not a bad idea, and I will probably try to do the same.
I looked at a couple of websites on getting a customized wig made from my mom's own hair. It looks like it would cost somewhere between $1,000-$2,000. Since my mom is not incredibly vain (and more than a little frugal), I think it would be a better idea to donate her hair to Locks of Love rather than going to the expense to have a wig made. Knowing her, she will probably be more comfortable in a scarf anyway. I looked up the guidelines and basically you only need 10 inches in order to donate. Layered hair is acceptable as long as the longest layer is 10 inches. Colored or permed hair is acceptable as well as long as it has not been bleached. They cannot accept hair that has been bleached. So my sister Lisa, myself, and my best friend Lani have all volunteered to donate our hair along with my mom. *Update - I discussed this with Mom and she agreed. We will go with the scarves and donate our hair.*
Anyway, since I have managed to pull myself together better today, I must complete some of the work that I neglected yesterday.
Expected Duration
Once it develops, adenocarcinoma of the lung will continue to grow and spread until it is treated.
Treatment
Surgery is the main treatment for all NSCL cancers if the cancer is contained in the chest and has no evidence of having spread to areas outside the chest. Three types of surgery can be used:
Wedge resection � Removal of only a small part of the lung
Lobectomy � Removal of one lobe of the lung
Pneumonectomy � Removal of the entire lung
VATS (Video-assisted thoracoscopy) � In this procedure, which can be both diagnostic and therapeutic, the surgeon places a flexible tube into an incision in the chest and can visually inspect the surrounding surfaces of the inner and outer linings of the lung area and even do surgery to remove abnormal areas. It is a less-invasive procedure compared to a larger operation, called a thoracotomy.
Since all of these surgical procedures require removal of a portion or the entire lung, and since many of the patients will have diminished lung function to begin with due to years of smoking, it is very important that a full evaluation of the existing lung function and the predicted lung function after an expected surgical removal be done. This is especially important for those with non cancerous abnormalities of their lungs, such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
Depending on how far the cancer has spread (the stage), treatments can include chemotherapy and radiation therapy before and/or after surgery. Stages are defined by the size of the tumor and how far it has spread. Stages I through III are further divided into two "A" and "B" categories. Stage I tumors are small and have not invaded the surrounding tissue or organs. Stage II and III tumors have invaded surrounding tissue and/or organs and have spread to lymph nodes. Stage IV tumors have spread outside the chest area.
People with serious medical problems that make it difficult for them to withstand surgery may receive radiation therapy to shrink the tumor, or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
When the tumor has spread significantly, chemotherapy drugs may be recommended to slow the growth of the cancer even if it cannot cure the disease. Chemotherapy has been shown to decrease symptoms and prolong life in advanced cases of lung cancer.
Over the past decade, a series of new treatments has been developed specifically as a result of better understanding of the genetics of lung cancer and the specific abnormalities of the lung cancer cell. These agents are called targeted therapies, since they specifically target the abnormal biochemical pathways that are crucial in the development and growth of the cancer. In specialized centers, the lung cancer tissue that is removed may be tested for specific genetic (DNA) abnormalities and then treated accordingly.
Radiation therapy also may be recommended to relieve symptoms. The use of radiation is especially important in the treatment of lung cancer that has spread to the brain or that has spread to the bone and is causing pain. As mentioned above, it is also used alone or in combination with chemotherapy to treat the lung cancer that is located in the chest area as well.
Prognosis
The outlook depends on the stage of the cancer and the overall health of the patient. In general, the prognosis is poor, especially if the lung cancer has spread to areas outside of the chest wall or has involved the lymph nodes of the mediastinum. This cancer can only be cured when surgery or radiation therapy can completely remove the tumor. However, many lung cancers are diagnosed at a stage when this is not possible. About 17% of people with adenocarcinoma survive more than 5 years after diagnosis.
We also looked up some information on the oncologist, Dr. Michael Huie. Here's a synopsis on him:
Huie, Michael, M.D.
Specialty:
Oncology
Practice Highlights:
As a board-certified medical oncologist, Michael Huie, M.D. provides care and treatment for patients with cancer. Dr. Huie received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Huie sees patients with solid tumors and both benign and malignant hematologic disorders. In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Huie is a cancer researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I enjoy clinical practice because it gives me the ability to help patients through difficult times. Combining my practice with research is fulfilling because it helps to further cancer treatment strategies and it allows me to incorporate cutting-edge clinical trial developments into my practice, helping more people overcome cancer,” says Dr. Huie. Monroe Clinic’s Oncology Center is a collaborative effort between Monroe Clinic and the University of Wisconsin. Patients receive personal, one-on-one care close to home while benefiting from the latest research from the University of Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. To make an appointment with Dr. Huie, please call Monroe Clinic at 608-324-2685.
Location:
Monroe Clinic and Hospital
515 22nd Avenue
Monroe WI 53566
608-324-2685
I feel much better after finding out that Monroe Clinic works directly with the University of Madison. Mom is probably receiving better care than I initially thought. Still, we know that she is in either stage II or III of the cancer already so her prognosis seems dim. Hopefully we can find out some additional information on Monday. Lisa is also trying to take time off of work to come down from Eau Claire so she can talk to the doctor and ask questions when Mom goes in for her first chemotherapy treatment. It's not a bad idea, and I will probably try to do the same.
I looked at a couple of websites on getting a customized wig made from my mom's own hair. It looks like it would cost somewhere between $1,000-$2,000. Since my mom is not incredibly vain (and more than a little frugal), I think it would be a better idea to donate her hair to Locks of Love rather than going to the expense to have a wig made. Knowing her, she will probably be more comfortable in a scarf anyway. I looked up the guidelines and basically you only need 10 inches in order to donate. Layered hair is acceptable as long as the longest layer is 10 inches. Colored or permed hair is acceptable as well as long as it has not been bleached. They cannot accept hair that has been bleached. So my sister Lisa, myself, and my best friend Lani have all volunteered to donate our hair along with my mom. *Update - I discussed this with Mom and she agreed. We will go with the scarves and donate our hair.*
Anyway, since I have managed to pull myself together better today, I must complete some of the work that I neglected yesterday.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Mom's Cancer - The Diagnosis
I should have started blogging before today, just to keep a record of everything. But I guess somehow I was in denial before now that this could possibly be anything serious. To get caught up to date, here's what happened up until now...
A few months ago, mom went in for her regular check up with her OB/GYN who referred her to a general practitioner regarding some high blood pressure and a bad cough. The general practitioner put her on medication for blood pressure and osteoperosis but ignored her cough. When she finally pushed the issue he gave her a prescription for amoxicillan & that was that. Her cough didn't get better though. So after turning 65 on June 4th and getting signed up for medicare, she switched clinics and went to see a different doctor. A chest X-ray revealed a spot on one of her lungs. A couple of weeks later she had a CT scan done. Then a couple of weeks later, on August 5th, she had a biopsy done - confirming it was cancer. Then a couple of weeks later, on August 14th, she had a PET scan done to see how much of her body was affected by the cancer. Yesterday she met with her oncologist to get the results of that PET scan. I think that brings us up to date.
So Mom saw her oncologist yesterday, August 20th. She has cancer in both lungs and it has spread to her lymph nodes. She has been having headaches so they have scheduled an MRI for August 26th to see if it has spread to her brain. They think it is a slow-growing variety of cancer, so I guess that's positive. Since it is in both lungs rather than just one surgery is not an option, so they are going to try chemotherapy. She will have three doses, each one 3 weeks apart, and then they will check to see if it has had any effect. Her first treatment is scheduled for Wednesday, September 3rd. They probably would have started next week, August 27th, but she has scheduled an appointment with her attorney for that day. She has not updated her will in probably 20 years and she wants to get her affairs in order in regard to her estate while she still feels well enough to take care of such things. She wants to list my half-brother (her step-son) Dane as the executor of the will, but she has asked if she can list me as a second in case he is unable to do it for any reason. I told her yes, of course. I know that she really wants to keep the farm in the family, but she has concerns about the need to sell some of it if her medical bills should become too high. She also wants to make sure that (my sister & her eldest daughter) Laura does not receive any inheritance what-so-ever, and to ensure that (my brother, her eldest son) Tom's ex-wife cannot get a portion of anything that she chooses to leave to him. She has also stated that she wants to leave something to Griff (her live-in companion), although it would not be an equal share to what each of us children are getting. I am relieved that she is finally seeking legal coucil in order to make sure things are distributed per her wishes.
She has asked me to buy her some Harley Davidson doo-rags since she will for certain lose her hair. :) She wants me to find out if there is any way to have a wig made out of her own hair. If not, then she wants to cut it off short and donate it to Locks of Love before she begins her treatment. Per her nature, she does not seem at all phased by the news of her diagnosis and is more concerned about those of us around her than she is for herself. She told me that she was "sorry she didn't have better news to share." She still plans to go ahead with the addition on her house, and they should be breaking ground for the new basement in a couple of weeks. I, personally, was doing fine last night but it seems to have really sunk in today at work. I couldn't concentrate and so decided to write this blog thinking it would be good to get it off my chest, but writing it out has somehow made it more real & now I am crying. I need to try and take my mind off of this and get some work done today. I'm not usually such an emotional person. I think that I can attribute some of this to the raging hormones that come hand-in-hand with pregnancy. On July 18th I got a positive pregnancy test indicating that I was exactly 4 weeks pregnant. This puts my due date at March 27th. I have had morning sickness and am exhausted which I am certain is contributing to my current state of mind. However, there is always work to be done so I will close for now and get at it...
A few months ago, mom went in for her regular check up with her OB/GYN who referred her to a general practitioner regarding some high blood pressure and a bad cough. The general practitioner put her on medication for blood pressure and osteoperosis but ignored her cough. When she finally pushed the issue he gave her a prescription for amoxicillan & that was that. Her cough didn't get better though. So after turning 65 on June 4th and getting signed up for medicare, she switched clinics and went to see a different doctor. A chest X-ray revealed a spot on one of her lungs. A couple of weeks later she had a CT scan done. Then a couple of weeks later, on August 5th, she had a biopsy done - confirming it was cancer. Then a couple of weeks later, on August 14th, she had a PET scan done to see how much of her body was affected by the cancer. Yesterday she met with her oncologist to get the results of that PET scan. I think that brings us up to date.
So Mom saw her oncologist yesterday, August 20th. She has cancer in both lungs and it has spread to her lymph nodes. She has been having headaches so they have scheduled an MRI for August 26th to see if it has spread to her brain. They think it is a slow-growing variety of cancer, so I guess that's positive. Since it is in both lungs rather than just one surgery is not an option, so they are going to try chemotherapy. She will have three doses, each one 3 weeks apart, and then they will check to see if it has had any effect. Her first treatment is scheduled for Wednesday, September 3rd. They probably would have started next week, August 27th, but she has scheduled an appointment with her attorney for that day. She has not updated her will in probably 20 years and she wants to get her affairs in order in regard to her estate while she still feels well enough to take care of such things. She wants to list my half-brother (her step-son) Dane as the executor of the will, but she has asked if she can list me as a second in case he is unable to do it for any reason. I told her yes, of course. I know that she really wants to keep the farm in the family, but she has concerns about the need to sell some of it if her medical bills should become too high. She also wants to make sure that (my sister & her eldest daughter) Laura does not receive any inheritance what-so-ever, and to ensure that (my brother, her eldest son) Tom's ex-wife cannot get a portion of anything that she chooses to leave to him. She has also stated that she wants to leave something to Griff (her live-in companion), although it would not be an equal share to what each of us children are getting. I am relieved that she is finally seeking legal coucil in order to make sure things are distributed per her wishes.
She has asked me to buy her some Harley Davidson doo-rags since she will for certain lose her hair. :) She wants me to find out if there is any way to have a wig made out of her own hair. If not, then she wants to cut it off short and donate it to Locks of Love before she begins her treatment. Per her nature, she does not seem at all phased by the news of her diagnosis and is more concerned about those of us around her than she is for herself. She told me that she was "sorry she didn't have better news to share." She still plans to go ahead with the addition on her house, and they should be breaking ground for the new basement in a couple of weeks. I, personally, was doing fine last night but it seems to have really sunk in today at work. I couldn't concentrate and so decided to write this blog thinking it would be good to get it off my chest, but writing it out has somehow made it more real & now I am crying. I need to try and take my mind off of this and get some work done today. I'm not usually such an emotional person. I think that I can attribute some of this to the raging hormones that come hand-in-hand with pregnancy. On July 18th I got a positive pregnancy test indicating that I was exactly 4 weeks pregnant. This puts my due date at March 27th. I have had morning sickness and am exhausted which I am certain is contributing to my current state of mind. However, there is always work to be done so I will close for now and get at it...
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