Sunday, February 24, 2013

After the Storm (actually, 2 weeks after)

Okay, so I wasn't very punctual about posting after the "Blizzard of 2013", or what is being called Storm Nemo.

Needless to say, we fared just fine.  Ended up with about 18-20" here.  Thankfully we never lost power--that is just terribly inconvenient!  Here are some pictures from that day.

View of the back deck through the slider.

View out the front window.

View of the front deck out the front door.

Me shoveling the back deck.

I'm enjoying this too much

Not sure Ed is enjoying this...



Out in Waltham, Dan got about 26" and didn't get plowed out until Sunday afternoon.  He did a time lapse video which you can view here: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9831yMvRcrU

His car is the one on the left so if you watch closely, you'll see Dan cleaning it off.  Pretty cool!

Last weekend (Feb 17th), my mother and I drove out to see Dan to deliver some stuff and for Grandma to see the apartment.  Grandma loved seeing the place and the two of them always seem to have things to talk about.  It is a special relationship!  Plus my mother and I got to spend 3 hrs together on the drive out and back so that was nice.

Grandma and Dan having lunch together in his living room.


Ed was planning to go but was not feeling well and did not feel he could make the drive out.  He has been experiencing stomach cramps,  (which we think is due to irregularity) and pain in his shoulder (due to arthritis), pain in his butt and legs, and problems sleeping.  We're trying to manage all of this but we haven't found the magic combination.  He's got a combination of medications--Ducolax and Miralax (to treat constipation), Clyindamycin (to treat diarrhea), Nucynta (for pain), Lidoderm (Lidocaine patch for shoulder pain), and Tylenol PM (to help with sleep).  He is also trying to stay off his feet for long periods of time.  All of this is very draining on him and so he also lacks energy.  And we have not found the right combination to get in front of all of this.  So this has been very draining on him.

He did have an MRI on his shoulder and Dr. McBride (orthopedic specialist) gave him another shot to relief the pain.  But that really hasn't helped and so they will need to discuss what, if any, next steps they will take.  Ed has his next CT scan on March 10 so we'll see how things are going.  But his biweekly appointments with Dr. Bowers shows really no significant changes--blood work and size of his liver continues to look stable.

It's just been tough on Ed lately being in constant pain and having no energy.  And I'm trying to be helpful and patient, but there's not really anything I can do to help.  We are three years into this journey so we do know we've been blessed to date.  It would just be nice if we could figure this thing out.  As Ed says, "it not bad enough I've got cancer, I've got to deal with all this as well?"

So we continue on.  We find joy and are thankful that Dan is settling in to the next chapter of his life and we are looking forward to the spring.  I love how the days are getting longer and Ed is making plans to regrip his golf clubs.  So onward towards Spring!




Friday, February 8, 2013

Before the Storm

Yes, it's Friday morning and the big Nor'easter is scheduled to arrive within the hour.  I thought I'd do a quick up on the blog before the storm arrives since I'm sure my next post will be of piles of snow!

This week is what I would call trying to get back to "normal" now that Dan is settled into his new apartment.  Now I HAVE to thank God that things worked out such that he moved in LAST weekend and that we had good weather for it.  Could you imagine if we had planned to move this THIS weekend--would not have happened and really would have thrown a wrench into things.  What I'm even more grateful for is that Dan only has a 4 mile drive home from work so I'm not worrying about him having to drive a distance in this storm.

Earlier this week Ed did go see his orthopedist again about his shoulder (since the shot he got last time didn't really help).  They have scheduled an MRI for next Monday and then a follow-up appointment next Friday.  So more to come on that (hopefully).  He had his last chemo treatment yesterday.  The tests show no change--which is good.  He has another regular appointment in 2 weeks and then they'll do his next CT scan.

In terms of the body aches, queasiness, etc., it's all about trying to manage this.  In terms of the leg pain Ed experiences it's when he's on his feet too long and so needs to learn how to manage this.  Now that we've got Dan settled, maybe we can spend more time focusing on this.

Well, I hope you're all getting ready for the storm.  I'll be sure to post afterwards. In the meantime, be safe!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Move In Day

Today we moved Dan into his new apartment in Waltham.  Dan was home two weeks ago to get things packed up (over MLK weekend).  Thankfully our brother-in-law Tim helped load the truck Friday night (since Dan was still in Beverly).  This morning Ed and I drove out and met Dan at his new apartment.  After unloading the truck and my car, I focused on cleaning and unpacking the kitchen and the bathroom and then made the bed.  In the meantime, the guys (Dan, Ed, and Dan's friend Nate--whose family he has been staying with for the past 6 weeks) put together furniture and got the living room setup.  Dan and I then headed to the grocery store.  After that we returned the rental truck and then picked up pizza for dinner.  Ed and I then drove back home getting home around 11 PM.  A long day but Dan is fairly well settled in.  There's still some unpacking he needs to do, but stuff he can do as he has time.  And now that he only has a 15 min commute to/from work, he'll have plenty of time!  We are so happy for him and thankful that he found a nice place to live close to work and not so far from home either.


Tim helping us load the truck Friday night.

Bedroom - before


Kitchen - before
Living Room - before

Bathroom - before

Nate came to help!

The boys working hard (got the TV setup and so "checking" the cable)

Me enjoying a drink prepared by Dan.


Living room - after (semi done)

Bedroom -after

Bathroom - after

Kitchen - after

My Story

Lately I find myself moving through the days, being with others, laughing, and living life. Days pass quickly and grief, sadness, and feelin...