Wonder Me

Guess who just unclogged the clear tube on the vaccuum.

It was me.

I'm amazing.

The Reign of the Aunts

We had either Grandma Nancy and Grandma Munk staying at our house full time from the end of April to the end of August. It was amazing of them to spend that much time helping us, and we couldn't have done it without them.

Alas, they are both teachers, and their fall students called.

Fortunately for us, we have some generous aunts who are now here to rescue us. Aunt Liz (of The Sommerkorn Blog) was here for two fun-filled weeks. And now my Aunt Kristin has come down from Maryland for a week and a day. So far, we're having a wonderful time. We even eked out a couple of games of Boggle at chemo yesterday. At this moment, she is exhausting the boys at the Children's Museum.

But wait, there's more. Aunt Candice (of the Peter and Candice blog) will be coming for ten whole days with baby Laura after Aunt Kristin heads home. That will take us to the end of our three weeks after chemo.

Then life will be totally back to normal. Right?

Treatment SIX

Today is chemo treatment number SIX! Yay Yay Yay!!!

The week before my other treatments have been full of anxiety and worry about the weeks ahead, but this time I only felt excited that we are almost done.

Mel asked me the other day where I go from here. Medically, I get new baseline bloodwork and CT scan, and have follow-up appointments every three months. Emotionally and physically, I don't know what happens next. I start running my own house again, making my own dinner (well, maybe not that, yet), and tending my own children. Many people have offered to help me, and I am being optimistic and proceeding on the belief that I will be able to do it. I was actually at home alone with the boys on Thursday and Friday, and with the help of my friends, things went pretty well. I was surprised that we didn't have any crises.

Would you like to know about chemo? It is administered by IV through a port located two fingers down from my clavicle on the right side. I get all sorts of drugs: nausea drugs, antacid, a massive dose of Benadryl (which is why I can't drive myself home), steroids, and two actual chemo drugs (taxol and carboplatin). It doesn't hurt. I sit in a moderately comfortable recliner in a big room that has seven chemo chairs and one chemo bed. There are privacy curtains between the chairs, but people rarely pull them.

Almost everyone else at chemo is elderly, or at least past retirement age. Also, many people are tall. (I guess Harvard was right about that.) I'm not used to being around women who are taller than I am, and I've encountered several here.

There is a snack bar with chips and cookies and crackers, a water cooler, and a fridge with juice and soda. My chemo-buddy (today it's Aunt Kristin) is in charge of driving out to find lunch.

The nurses here are oncology certified, and are especially personable and kind. The other patients are generally quiet. I am in the room for much longer than most people because my treatment lasts five hours and 20 minutes.

Well, that's chemo.

Zeekie

Zeke is in that fun stage of language development where he comes up with new words every day. Useful words, like "chips" and "shirt" and "toes."

And today, he added "Zeekie." He was so proud.

The Sommerkorns Blog

My sister Liz is here for a couple of weeks, and we're having oodles of fun. If you'd like to see some of the projects Liz and the boys are doing, head over to The Sommerkorns blog. The link is in that list on the right.

Preschool, Day 1

Today was Victor's first day of preschool. He prepared by feeding himself breakfast. Aunt Liz, sans glasses, thought he was eating a bowl of cereal, but he was not. He was eating a tupperware of chocolate frosting.

Victor wore a red plaid shirt (thanks, Shena) and some blue shorts today. He also insisted on olive green socks and his new shoes (size 12).

Our first day in the drop-off line went smoothly. Victor's teacher, Miss Angela, was waiting to escort him into the school. He hopped out of the van with his backpack and proudly declared, "I've got all my stuff!"

I'm not sure what happened during school, but I have gleaned that he played on the big playground, used his towel, ate a snack, and that two of the boys in his class had "flashlights on their shoes." Also, there was something called criss-cross applesauce. Whatever that is.

When we picked up Victor after school, he trotted proudly to the car and told us that he didn't get a snack. His other teacher, Miss Kelly, assured us he had eaten Nilla wafers.

Victor refused to eat any lunch, but happily went to the Science Center with Aunt Liz this afternoon. He then ate two big bowls of mac and cheese with peas for dinner.

All and all, a successful first day of school.

Jeremy Wins!

Jeremy spent oodles of time working on an appeal this past year. Today, the Court of Appeals rendered its opinion, and Jeremy's clients prevailed.

The opinion is McDonald v. Biltmore homes, and you can read it here.