Troy is having a pretty rough day today. He puts on a brave face and won't complain about anything but you can tell by the way he moves and the look in his eyes that his body is failing him more than he admits. I have to practically pry is out of him to tell me what exactly isn't feeling well. Right now his head is killing and his stomach hurts. He was able to eat half a slice of pizza and a nutty bar so maybe that will help. He has a hard time getting the protein he needs - it doesn't settle well in his stomach and he has problems digesting it - so I'm sure that the headaches are partially due to his blood sugar getting low. He is kinda like Gavin in the amount of food he takes in - total of one good meal a day. I feel so helpless. He tries really hard to push through the day and play with the boys and do a few things around the house. He just wants to feel normal again, to not be sick from chemo, to not have a tube sticking out of his belly and just be able to enjoy his family. I've run out of positive ways to spin things. I just try to love on him and encourage him to stick it out one more day.
Yesterday was a big day. People from work came over in the morning and helped do yard work with me and then Troy and I went to a birthday party for a friend in small group. No kids were allowed and it was so much fun to just sit with our friends and relax...until Mid called to say Grayson would not take a bottle (he was screaming in the background). Grayson is such a Mama's boy I am really starting to worry about going back to work. He won't take a bottle and can freak out pretty quick if I'm not around and he isn't being walked. High maintenance.
I found a great quote yesterday. I try to find something inspirational everyday. God is present if I seek him out
"Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy hidden heart of it because, in the last analysis, all the moments are key moments and life itself is grace." Frederick Buechner
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Chemo Round 3
Hello Everyone,
Sorry again for the long space between blog updates. Troy just had chemo #3 on Thur. and seems to be doing a little better than round 2. He is nauseous pretty much all the time and gets very tired easily but is still going to work and trying to do tasks around the house. I have to tell him to sit down because he just doesn't know how to treat his body nicely. He continues to lose a little weight each week and we were concerned about his white blood cell counts after treatment 2 but they bounced back a little and we were able to continue treatments without adjustments or delays. We finally made it back to church on Easter and it was great to be part of worship again. It is still really hard to get out the door in the mornings because that is one of Troy's worst times and I still don't have a good handle on getting the boys and myself ready and out the door in a timely fashion. We timed it one morning and it took 3 hours of breakfasts, baths, feedings and out the door for all four of us. So if you need us to be somewhere in the morning we need a huge heads up!
We've had a lot of family and friends visit lately. It has been great for everyone to meet Grayson and really helps lift Troy's spirits and take his mind off of things.
Grayson had his 8 week check up today and he is gigantic! He weighs 14.3 lbs and measures 23 3/4 inches. He is in the 95th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height. He is wearing 3/6 month clothing now and even some of that isn't looking to roomy! I can't believe how opposite the kids are. Gavin is 20 months and just now out growing his 12 month clothing. It cracks us up. Gavin is saying something new everyday and is a little sponge (he soaks up good and bad things....I'm sure you know where I'm going with this) He continues to be a man's man and thinks the world of his Dada, Pawpaw and Papaw. The ladies don't exist, including me, if the men are around. So cute. Oh and he still loves his Brubber (brother) whom he tries to suffocate with kisses regularly, in-between the occas. love smack.
Overall we are hanging in there and continue to appreciate the cards, phone calls and e-mails from our friends and family. Please pray for physical and mental stamina, that Troy's body will continue to fight the cancer and tolerate the chemo, that his side effects will be minimal and he can enjoy his family during these precious days. Please pray that I can enjoy the last few weeks of my maternity leave and that we can ease into our new work routine as easily as possible.
God Bless. We leave it in His hands.
Alicia
Sorry again for the long space between blog updates. Troy just had chemo #3 on Thur. and seems to be doing a little better than round 2. He is nauseous pretty much all the time and gets very tired easily but is still going to work and trying to do tasks around the house. I have to tell him to sit down because he just doesn't know how to treat his body nicely. He continues to lose a little weight each week and we were concerned about his white blood cell counts after treatment 2 but they bounced back a little and we were able to continue treatments without adjustments or delays. We finally made it back to church on Easter and it was great to be part of worship again. It is still really hard to get out the door in the mornings because that is one of Troy's worst times and I still don't have a good handle on getting the boys and myself ready and out the door in a timely fashion. We timed it one morning and it took 3 hours of breakfasts, baths, feedings and out the door for all four of us. So if you need us to be somewhere in the morning we need a huge heads up!
We've had a lot of family and friends visit lately. It has been great for everyone to meet Grayson and really helps lift Troy's spirits and take his mind off of things.
Grayson had his 8 week check up today and he is gigantic! He weighs 14.3 lbs and measures 23 3/4 inches. He is in the 95th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height. He is wearing 3/6 month clothing now and even some of that isn't looking to roomy! I can't believe how opposite the kids are. Gavin is 20 months and just now out growing his 12 month clothing. It cracks us up. Gavin is saying something new everyday and is a little sponge (he soaks up good and bad things....I'm sure you know where I'm going with this) He continues to be a man's man and thinks the world of his Dada, Pawpaw and Papaw. The ladies don't exist, including me, if the men are around. So cute. Oh and he still loves his Brubber (brother) whom he tries to suffocate with kisses regularly, in-between the occas. love smack.
Overall we are hanging in there and continue to appreciate the cards, phone calls and e-mails from our friends and family. Please pray for physical and mental stamina, that Troy's body will continue to fight the cancer and tolerate the chemo, that his side effects will be minimal and he can enjoy his family during these precious days. Please pray that I can enjoy the last few weeks of my maternity leave and that we can ease into our new work routine as easily as possible.
God Bless. We leave it in His hands.
Alicia
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Hey Everyone,
Wow, sorry it has been three weeks since the last update. Time kinda gets away from me around here...I don't know why :) So Troy started his first of ten chemo treatments last Wed. We spend about 5 hours in the doctor's office getting lab work, seeing the Dr. and then getting about three hours of infusions. After the office chemo is done a home health nurse hooks Troy up to a 46hr chemo drip to go home on. This will happen every two weeks for a total of ten treatments. Overall Troy did really well. They give him three drugs IV before his chemo that help prevent nausea. One of the drugs is a steroid so he was up all of Wed. night but felt to crappy to clean the house...:0 He remained queasy for several days after the treatment but it is hard to tell if that is from the chemo or the fact that his valve in his pouch has completely malfunctioned and he is forced to keep a catheter inside at all times to allow the pouch to drain. An urgent trip to Cleveland was another event that happened since my last blog.
The Cleveland doctor doesn't know why the valve is leaking and sometimes not letting him into his pouch. He examined the pouch and valve and can't find a clear problem but none the less it is not working for sure. The Dr. can not repair or replace the valve until after chemo is complete so Troy will be forced to keep a cathteter inside for probably 6 months. This is a really uncomfortable way to live and add the chemo effects on top well...not so great. So we have also been working with the ostomy nurse at Parkview to see if Troy can be fitted for a regular ileostomy bag. The catheter will have to stay in due to the valve but at least it would enable him to not have a leg bag and use supplies that are meant to handle the situation. The nurse was able to fix something up and Troy was really happy. That lasted for 2 hours and then that malfunctioned too. We still have hopes to find a better solution for him for the next 6 months but we have to get more supplies in first and then it is just trial and error.
The worst side effect from the chemo so far is the extreme sensitivity to cold. For about five days post treatment Troy has to wear gloves to get anything out of the fridge, can't drink or eat anything cooler than room temp. and has to stay out of cold air. If he is exposed to cold it is like a thousand pins stabbing him or if in his mouth, his teeth feel like they are cracking and is throat is clamping shut. Troy's hair is also breaking off. They said it probably wouldn't fall out, just thin, but it is actually cracking off, leaving him with nubs. Troy had his head shaved on Mon.
Everyday brings new challenges but Troy has come through so much already.Thanks for the prayers, cards and notes of support.
Alicia
Wow, sorry it has been three weeks since the last update. Time kinda gets away from me around here...I don't know why :) So Troy started his first of ten chemo treatments last Wed. We spend about 5 hours in the doctor's office getting lab work, seeing the Dr. and then getting about three hours of infusions. After the office chemo is done a home health nurse hooks Troy up to a 46hr chemo drip to go home on. This will happen every two weeks for a total of ten treatments. Overall Troy did really well. They give him three drugs IV before his chemo that help prevent nausea. One of the drugs is a steroid so he was up all of Wed. night but felt to crappy to clean the house...:0 He remained queasy for several days after the treatment but it is hard to tell if that is from the chemo or the fact that his valve in his pouch has completely malfunctioned and he is forced to keep a catheter inside at all times to allow the pouch to drain. An urgent trip to Cleveland was another event that happened since my last blog.
The Cleveland doctor doesn't know why the valve is leaking and sometimes not letting him into his pouch. He examined the pouch and valve and can't find a clear problem but none the less it is not working for sure. The Dr. can not repair or replace the valve until after chemo is complete so Troy will be forced to keep a cathteter inside for probably 6 months. This is a really uncomfortable way to live and add the chemo effects on top well...not so great. So we have also been working with the ostomy nurse at Parkview to see if Troy can be fitted for a regular ileostomy bag. The catheter will have to stay in due to the valve but at least it would enable him to not have a leg bag and use supplies that are meant to handle the situation. The nurse was able to fix something up and Troy was really happy. That lasted for 2 hours and then that malfunctioned too. We still have hopes to find a better solution for him for the next 6 months but we have to get more supplies in first and then it is just trial and error.
The worst side effect from the chemo so far is the extreme sensitivity to cold. For about five days post treatment Troy has to wear gloves to get anything out of the fridge, can't drink or eat anything cooler than room temp. and has to stay out of cold air. If he is exposed to cold it is like a thousand pins stabbing him or if in his mouth, his teeth feel like they are cracking and is throat is clamping shut. Troy's hair is also breaking off. They said it probably wouldn't fall out, just thin, but it is actually cracking off, leaving him with nubs. Troy had his head shaved on Mon.
Everyday brings new challenges but Troy has come through so much already.Thanks for the prayers, cards and notes of support.
Alicia
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