Hump days

You know how you get to Wednesday every week and you feel like is lasts forever but you are psyched for Thursday because the next day is Friday which is the day before the weekend? (yes I know I am rambling) Well, Pam feels like she is stuck on Wednesday and can't get off. The energy and high spirit that she raced into this battle with is starting to cool down a bit. She is pretty fatigued and just plain sick of being sick.

She is having Chemo treatment #6 on Friday, which means she has 6 more to go (if all goes well). She realized the other day that she not even 1/2 done her journey and felt very down about it. It seems like the last three months have taken 5 years to complete. Think "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray only not funny.

All I can say is I am shocked it has taken her this long to show it. They have poked her, scanned her, drugged her, drawn blood from her, and inserted objects into her. If it sounds like the tag line for a new horror film then you understand. We so appreciate the thoughts, efforts and good wished from everyone! Please keep it coming! Pam really perks up when she gets thoughtful notes in the mail, e-mails, messages on the machine (don't feel bad about getting the machine and not getting a return call, it is a bit exhausting for her to talk on the phone a lot, but she loves to listen to the messages!)

We apologize for not returning phone calls or e-mails in a timely manner (or at all), but it is all we can do to just get our daily tasks done and the kids to bed. By the time 8pm rolls around we are content to sit on the couch, watch "Dancing with the Stars", eat our ice cream (we have pretty much become addicts now), and just relax. Just know that we appreciate your thoughts and love you all for it. We feel very lucky in so many ways at this difficult time, and it is because of our family and friends who are supporting us beyond belief! (I know, a bit touchy feely for me, see Adam Bunting, its his fault).
Troy.

A rough few days

It has been a rough week for Pam. She had Chemo last Fri. 9/29, and then had a port installed on Monday. The port was installed to make chemo treatments easier in the future. Pam has been having trouble with her veins in her arms due to the chemicals. The port is a small plastic funnel type structure that has a membrane that they poke the needle into. A small plastic hose is attached to this and travels up her neck and into a vein that empties into her right atrium (all my anatomy studies in college are coming back to me in a hurry lately). It is installed under loose skin in the right front shoulder region. If this sounds uncomfortable it is because it is! She had blood drawn from it today and said the needle was quite large and painful. Pam has been in a great deal of discomfort since Monday. It was better today then yesterday. Monday and Tuesday were two of the worst days Pam has had since the actual diagnosis. The physical pain and the emotional duress of the constant body invasion is taking its toll, things are not getting easier. To increase the drama, Pam awoke this morning with a lump on her left forearm due to a blood clot (hence the port). It is also painful and she is on antibiotics to make sure infection does not set in. All in all a crappy few days.

But on a positive note our kitchen project is coming along nicely and we hope to have a sink and dishwasher installed on Friday. Pam is busy picking out colors for the walls and choosing tile for the floor. This is keeping her mind occupied and a good diversion. She continues to be the strongest and most positive woman in the world. She said tonight that her biggest frustration is not being able to think of others or help others, as all the attention and effort is on her. Not a role that she is used to. So be prepared people, in about 8 months everyone is going to get a whole bunch of return on that front!

Thanks again for all the support and help. It is really appreciated and making a huge difference for us!
Get out and enjoy your day, Troy.