Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Breast Cancer Update - 6 Months Later

Well, it has now been 6 months after my last chemo. I thought it would be a good time for another update.

Things are going pretty well. My hair is growing back and looking more normal. It looks more like a choice than a person going through chemo.

My fingernails have grown back in. All eventually fell off, but luckily I’m past that now.

The last few months we’ve been busy trying to get back to normal. We joined a gym and I’ve been trying to exercise at least a few times a week. I’ve taken the boys on some bike rides with the bike trailer. I’m still tired, but I’m not sure how much of that is just normal mom exhaustion.

I had my last surgery for a while back in April. The expanders were replaced with implants and the recovery was not too bad. It was a lot better than I thought. Now, I’ll just have a few minor “touch ups”.

I have a follow up with my Austin oncologist next week and then follow ups with my Dallas doctors in August.

Well, that’s about it for now. Just trying to move forward and hopefully get past all of this.

Hope things are going well for you all.


More Rain

This morning we hung out at home for a little bit and then I took Evan and Noah to Alena’s so I could get some stuff done.

Alena said they were good and had a nice time. Noah ate hotdogs at her house for lunch, but all Evan wanted was a banana. When we got home both boys had a little to eat and then I put Noah down for nap.

During nap time it started raining hard again. Evan wanted to turn all the lights on downstairs. It got really dark out and I think he was a little afraid. Noah slept though most of it.

When Morry got home it had stopped raining so he grilled a flank steak and we had couscous with it for dinner.

Evan and Noah are running around playing right now. In a few minutes we’ll get them ready for bed.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Rain

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

This morning, Rachel took it easy and didn't rush to get Evan to school. Apparently, with the summer having started, for some reason, parents are getting their kids to school later. So she decided not to push it today. She got the kids breakfast and put them in the bike trailer. She then biked the boys to Evan's school.

At school, Evan had a good time. One of the girls in his class was having her birthday so they had cupcakes.

Rachel and Noah drove to pick Evan up from school. She came home and put Noah down for a nap.

Right as nap time started, it began to rain heavily. There was a lot of thunder and lightning. Noah slept through it, but Evan kept coming into the room where Rachel was trying to nap. He said he wasn't scared, but normally he lets Rachel nap.

The rain gutters that we had put on the house seemed to work well.

On my way home from work, I picked up Madam Mam's for dinner. It's a Thai place. We had gotten food ready to grill for tonight but since it was raining, grilling was out. We made macaroni and cheese for the boys.

After dinner, Rachel left to tutor. The boys and I put some jigsaw puzzles together and watched Scooby Doo.

They are in bed now.

Until next time...

Monday, June 28, 2010

Cooling Off

This morning Evan got up around 7:45am and Noah slept until almost 10am. By the time we got out of the house it was about noon.

We went to the gym. I ran/walked on the treadmill and then we all went outside to the pool. Evan and Noah had a great time. They both seemed very comfortable in the water. Evan kept “swimming”. He’d army crawl along the bottom with his head in the water. Noah didn’t seem to care the few times water went over his head.

When we came home we had lunch and then I put Noah down for a nap.

When Morry got home we all went in the front yard. Evan rode his bike and scooter and played baseball. Noah scooted along on the big wheel bike a little bit. I started getting bitten up so I went inside to start dinner.

We had pasta and carrots for dinner.

Now it’s time to clean up the toys and head upstairs. Let’s hope the boys sleep well tonight. I would think they would after all the swimming and playing today.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sams Club

This morning Evan and Noah slept until about 10:00. I think it helped that they had a busy day yesterday. We need to keep wearing them out.

Around noon we went to Sams Club. We were there quite a while. The boys had a good time. There were tons of samples out and they pretty much had their lunch there. Evan was begging us the whole time for a soft pretzel. So, when we finished shopping we got him one to share with Noah, but Noah didn’t want any.

On the way home we stopped at TJ Maxx so I could run in and return a few things.

Once we got home we put Noah down for a nap.

Evan watched a Scooby Doo movie we got at Sams for $4.

For dinner we had leftover brisket and leftover Homeslice garlic knots.

After dinner we took a walk. The plan was to walk the Doswell loop, but as soon as we were a few houses away Evan said he needed to go to the bathroom. He must have not needed to go too bad because he wanted to walk around the block first. Evan and Noah walked the whole way around the block. I brought the stroller but they didn’t sit in it.

When we got home Evan went to the bathroom and then came back out in the front yard. We were going to play outside for a little bit, but the mosquitoes were eating me alive.

Now we are going upstairs to give the boys baths and put them to bed.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Noah Grows Up

Hello everyone, this is Morry.

The boys took a long time to go to bed last night. I kept hearing Noah come out of his room and go into Evan's room. I told them I was coming up one of the times and they were in trouble. I turned to walk into Evan's room and I could see Evan hiding under the covers and I heard him whisper to Noah "Quick, Noah, hide!" Noah was standing next to the bed and quickly put both hands in front of his face.

Because they went to bed late last night, they slept in fairly well this morning. Evan got up closer to 9 and Noah slept until 10.

Today was swim class day so we took the boys to the gym for swim class. The first class was Noah. I'm proud to say he was tremendous today. He didn't cry or scream at all. Not only was he not crying or upset, he was laughing and he was excited to do everything. He did everything that the instructor asked. He's really improving. We got to the gym a bit early and let him play in the pool some so I'm not sure if that helped. It may have also helped that Evan stayed in the indoor pool so Noah could see him. Also, the fact that Noah did everything last week and nothing bad happened may have helped.

Evan also did well swimming. His instructor said he's really improving. She said he's very good at laying on his back and floating. She said that's an excellent tool if he finds himself in water that's too deep.

After swimming, we went home and had lunch. We had to eat quickly as we had a birthday party for Marissa in the early afternoon.

The party was at the Little Gym where Evan has his sports class. We got there a bit late and they were doing some organized activity on the big mat. Evan and Noah went and sat down. About a minute after sitting down, Evan decided that was boring and he knew how to use all the gymnastics equipment so he got up and ran around doing all that. He's gotten very good at it. But Noah stayed with the group and he was doing everything that the group was doing. I've never seen him do that. He was just so cute watching him do everything. He eventually got bored and played with Evan some. Later they had a free play and Noah was right in there with Evan and his friends. Normally if Evan's playing with older boys, Noah either plays by himself or stands with us. But this time, he was just one of the boys.

Just before cake they do this thing called "Smash the Cheese." The stand a mat up on it's end and the kids run into it and it falls down as everyone yells "Smash! The! Cheese!" We did that at Evan's sports class but Noah didn't get to do it. Evan did it for us. Noah thought it was so cool that we have to do it every night in bed. Noah will sit (mostly on Rachel) while she yells smash the cheese and falls over holding him. Noah was super excited that he was finally going to get to do this himself at the Little Gym. He was one of the last kids to get to do it, but he sat there very patiently. Evan had already gone. When Noah did it he had a huge smile on his face. Evan jumped up and ran over to him and gave him a high five for doing it. I almost wish we had a video of it.

We came home from there and the kids watched TV. For dinner, I ran out and picked up Tucci's Southside Subs for us. Rachel made the kids some funky color gray eggs and ham. Rachel gave each boy the food coloring to drip one drop in. Evan had red and Noah had blue. Evan dripped one drop in and Rachel couldn't get Noah to stop squeezing the food coloring.

Gabby came over tonight so we could go out and see a movie. The boys were excited to see her. We had no problems leaving. We went to see the new Adam Sandler movie, "Grown Ups". It got terrible reviews but I'm honestly not sure why. It was great. Rachel really enjoyed it as well. It may not have been the best movie I've ever seen but man there are some things the critics like but just suck. This was way better than some of those.

When we got home the boys were sleeping. Gabby said they did really well.

Until next time...

Friday, June 25, 2010

DirecTV finally got it right

This morning the boys slept somewhat late. They must have been worn out from last night. Oh, and Morry made it back safely from Dallas. He got in about 2:40am and said they had a good time at the baseball game.

We were supposed to have playgroup today, but it got cancelled.

Instead, I took Evan and Noah to Barnes and Noble. I was going to take them to the park or the Wildflower Center, but they both preferred to go to the bookstore.

As we were leaving Barnes and Noble I let Evan and Noah pick out a cookie to share. Of course they chose a sugar cookie with sprinkles on top.

When we got home I got lunch ready and then received the call from DirecTv that the guy was on his way.

I had little hope and didn’t want to get too excited about getting a new setup, but everything went as planned. We now have a whole home system where we can watch one thing and tape another. We just have one DVR but can access it from all TVs in the house.

While the system was being set up I gave Evan and Noah haircuts on the upstairs patio.

Once the guy left I put Noah down for a nap.

For dinner we went to Red Robin. Evan and Noah both ate well and were well behaved. It was a successful dinner.

We got home just a little bit ago. Evan just had sherbet and Noah had a popsicle. Now, we are going to put them to bed.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Take me out to the ball game

This morning I took Evan to school and Noah to Alena’s house. While they were gone I got stuff done around the house and finished watching Avatar on my phone. I needed to finish it today since itunes rentals expire 24 hours after you start the movie. I cleaned, vacuumed, mopped. Then, it was time to get the boys.

Evan was in a good mood. Noah was starting to get a little cranky. It was time for his nap. We stayed at Alena’s house for just a little bit and then I took the boys home.

Noah napped.

Morry and a friend of his from work drove to Dallas today to see the Texas Rangers and the Pittsburgh Pirates play. They will be coming back late tonight after the game.

After Noah’s nap I took the boys swimming at the gym. They were both good and didn’t give me too many problems when it was time to leave. They knew we were going to McDonalds for dinner.

At McDonalds both boys ate fairly well and then played on the playscape for a long time. Noah started to get whiny and wouldn’t come down. I have to climb up through all those levels to get to him. When I got up to him he smiled and thought it was fun that I was up there with him. Stinker!

I put the boys to bed when we got home. Evan came up with a few excuses, but it seems like both boys are asleep now.

Here’s a picture from yesterday after Evan wrote his name on the whiteboard we got.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Getting back to Normal

This morning the boys slept somewhat late, until maybe 8:45am. We had breakfast and I got dinner put in the crock pot. Morry got a brisket ready and I had to add a few things to it and wrap it before it went in the crock pot.

We went to the gym. I walked for an hour on the treadmill while I started watching Avatar on the iphone. It’s a long movie so I still have about an hour and a half left of it. Evan and Noah had a good time at the gym. It’s just amazing how much better Noah does when he’s with Evan. There was no complaining. They just walked in the play area together. When I picked them up they were both climbing all over the indoor playscape thing.

When we got home Evan and Noah went outside in the backyard while I got lunch read and made a smoothie.

Once we ate lunch I put Noah down for a nap and he actually napped this time. Whew. I was worried he was giving up his naps.

For dinner we had the brisket and baked potatoes. I didn’t have time to eat much since I needed to leave for tutoring.

I tutored one student and just got home not too long ago.

We put the boys to bed and now I’m going to finish my dinner.