What a Difference A Day Makes
... we last left our Gerry at the hospital, waiting for his colonoscopy. Well, apparently a tube in the nose and keeping him overnight STILL wasn't enough to - ahem - clean him out sufficiently.
So they kept him the rest of the day and gave him ANOTHER 4 liters of the tasty, refreshing golitely. Use it as a mixer, or just enjoy it on the rocks!
Gerry last summer at Mackinac Island, with a tube up his nose, and mowing the lawn today - tube-free!
Well, apparently the 48th time's a charm!
He had the procedure, and everything looks good. Specifically, no polyps - nŽe tumors - (woo!) and in an odd twist of fate, it seems the drugs he's being given for the Multiple Myeloma are working wonders on his ulcerative colitis (aren't you glad you're reading this? )
If you're suffering from this serious condition, rush right down to your local oncologist and ask for some Thalidimide and Dexi! Not.
And - thanks to the amazing friend Catherine - the kids were able to finally MAKE a tennis lesson (and C's son got to sit in on the lesson, too!) while I went back to Minneapolis and picked up Gerry. THANK YOU CATHERINE (I still owe you for dinner...)
It felt SO good to have Gerry home - and he was glad to be here. This morning when we got up Gerry hit the ground running! I started staining the deck (something we'd planned last week while strolling through our favorite haunt, Menards) and when I ran out of stain he went and got me more. I didn't want to stop him, because he really NEEDED to get out. It was a good outing for him, he stopped and got Chinese Food on the way home. He's desperate for some good Chinese - any hints?
The deck seems to have come out nicely, staining the banisters took longer than the deck, though. Then Hannah and Gerry put together our new push lawn mower from ebay and mowed the lawn. We all did a little gardening (pulling weeds, raking, fighting over who got to push the new mower - Gerry lost) and then a little relaxing on our FRESHLY STAINED DECK!
Our Beautiful Deck at 9:30 am, at noon and at 5:30 pm
notice how the stain matches the door?
I know it seems absurd sometimes, the amount of stuff I'm trying to accomplish - but I feel it's somehow necessary to make a very visual and physical investment in the future right now.
Knitting? Que? Didn't get much of that done today. I was sort of recovering (in my own way - by working my butt off) from the tension and fear of the last two days. I am SO happy that Gerry's as pretty inside as he is on the outside. But we have to fatten this guy up!
Tomorrow? We go to Shepherds Harvest (our first!), and we are SO psyched! Gerry will stay at home, I'll take the kids. The bit of walking he did today just about did him in, but I think he really had to prove to himself that he's in control after two days of feeling so incredibly frustrated!
So they kept him the rest of the day and gave him ANOTHER 4 liters of the tasty, refreshing golitely. Use it as a mixer, or just enjoy it on the rocks!
Gerry last summer at Mackinac Island, with a tube up his nose, and mowing the lawn today - tube-free!Well, apparently the 48th time's a charm!
He had the procedure, and everything looks good. Specifically, no polyps - nŽe tumors - (woo!) and in an odd twist of fate, it seems the drugs he's being given for the Multiple Myeloma are working wonders on his ulcerative colitis (aren't you glad you're reading this? )
If you're suffering from this serious condition, rush right down to your local oncologist and ask for some Thalidimide and Dexi! Not.
And - thanks to the amazing friend Catherine - the kids were able to finally MAKE a tennis lesson (and C's son got to sit in on the lesson, too!) while I went back to Minneapolis and picked up Gerry. THANK YOU CATHERINE (I still owe you for dinner...)
It felt SO good to have Gerry home - and he was glad to be here. This morning when we got up Gerry hit the ground running! I started staining the deck (something we'd planned last week while strolling through our favorite haunt, Menards) and when I ran out of stain he went and got me more. I didn't want to stop him, because he really NEEDED to get out. It was a good outing for him, he stopped and got Chinese Food on the way home. He's desperate for some good Chinese - any hints?
The deck seems to have come out nicely, staining the banisters took longer than the deck, though. Then Hannah and Gerry put together our new push lawn mower from ebay and mowed the lawn. We all did a little gardening (pulling weeds, raking, fighting over who got to push the new mower - Gerry lost) and then a little relaxing on our FRESHLY STAINED DECK!
Our Beautiful Deck at 9:30 am, at noon and at 5:30 pmnotice how the stain matches the door?
I know it seems absurd sometimes, the amount of stuff I'm trying to accomplish - but I feel it's somehow necessary to make a very visual and physical investment in the future right now.
Knitting? Que? Didn't get much of that done today. I was sort of recovering (in my own way - by working my butt off) from the tension and fear of the last two days. I am SO happy that Gerry's as pretty inside as he is on the outside. But we have to fatten this guy up!
Tomorrow? We go to Shepherds Harvest (our first!), and we are SO psyched! Gerry will stay at home, I'll take the kids. The bit of walking he did today just about did him in, but I think he really had to prove to himself that he's in control after two days of feeling so incredibly frustrated!
17 Comments:
So glad he's home and his innerds are fine.
Cate
Thanks, Cate - me too!
Grand Shanghai on Grand Avenue has great chinese and it sounds like they're pretty close to you.
Not super close to you (but not that far, either), Shuang Cheng over in Dinkytown has awesome food. I hear their seafood dishes are really good, though I've never tried them.
So glad Gerry's home and his procedure's done with great results.
If Gerry likes ice cream, shakes are a great way to put some meat on and get more calcium too.
Enjoy your weekend!
Annie,
You are a ball of energy and an inspiration! Your kids are at such a fun age to enjoy (and it's great to read that you are making the most of it).
And always eager to jump on and read an update on Gerry, and especially glad for the good news -- all the aggrevation was worth the peace of mind it brings. And it's not gross at all:)
All the best, and
Happy Mother's Day!
Lisa
Dear Annie,
As my aunt use to say, I've never been in the same boat as you are, but I've been on the same river for sure.
Sometimes you just have to do the things that yell out, "We are in it for the long haul". Staining the deck is one of those things, so is cleaning up the yard. You know what it was for me? Taking up knitting.
I admire your family for pulling together. Glad to here the good news.
Congrats on the sucessful procedure, I'm glad to hear things are looking up.
I've been silently following your blog & career since we met at the KR retreat all those years ago ;)
Glad to read good news. Since bloglines isn't seeing you, I check regularly to see if you've posted. I back what Ellen said about shakes.
Gillian
I'm so sorry your sweet hubby is going through such a horrific time. I hate that prep stuff and can never get much down. For some reason, I hate the CT contrast worse.
It just seems so unfair. I'm sorry you're all going through this. Great looking deck, though. You truly are amazing. :-)
If you do not mind a bit on a drive, Jun Bo in Richfield is excellent Chinese. They have both Americanized, i.e. Sweet and sour stuff and Chinese, i.e. chicken feet dim sum. I love thei walnut shrimp. It is right on 494 and Nicollet Ave., right next to Menards!
My UC has been in remission for a couple of years (knock wood) with only a couple of flare-ups -- but I don't think I will use your hubbos cure.
Love the deck and it sounds like it was a great day.
Annie,
There are some great asian restaurants in your area some I haven't eaten at for a while but used to be high on my list of favorites - Saji Ya on Grand (toward the city) is fantastic - and I remember Cleveland Wok (cleveland & Ford Parkway) being darn good too (they have a buffet). If you're feeling adventurous there are some great authentic places on & around University Avenue in the Snelling/Lexington area also (Korean & Vietnamese).
Have you ever lookd at this site?
http://www.helpforibs.com/
http://www.helpforibs.com/footer/crohns.asp Specifically this link, scroll down a bit to get to the ulcerative colitis part.
She sells an organic soluable fiber suppliment (think metamucil) that is WONDERFUL. I have IBS-C or something along those lines and it has totally changed my life. I love it! (This is also "the" answer for anyone with IBS-D!) The fiber is organic and cheaper per gram of soluable fiber than the stuff found in the grocery stores. Plus, it works a ton better. If you've tried the grocery store stuff and didn't like it - try this anyways, I swear it works better.
This stuff can't hurt him (though, I would of course check with your doctor) and it might help! I mix it in with an orange juice fruit smoothie for breakfast using my stick blender...
Hope that he feels better soon... I'll keep checking in to your site as I am also a bloglines reader...
Saturday was a great day at Shepherd's Harvest - my friend Mel had a great time picking out her own Mother's Day presents at Jennie the Potter - but Sunday was just amazing. Youngest Daughter learned how to use a drop spindle!
glad to hear that Gerry's insides are as pleasing as the outside - you'll have to come up with a really nice Father's Day outing for him!
Annie -
Commenting again because I can't seem to locate your email address in my book. I posted a plea of sorts that you & Gerry may be interested in participating in -
http://cursingmama.blogspot.com/2007/05/perhaps-you-can-help.html
A good friend is looking for cancer stories to help boost the donations at her Relay For Life garage sale.
I had to laugh about Gerry having to drink more of the golytely:
I am a PT at a hospital and while I was working with a patient about a month ago, his nurse came in with the big jug of golytely in the 'yummy' cherry flavor...the patient rolled his eyes and said "why can't they make it taste like something good?"
I replied "hmm, maybe like coffee?"
and he responded "no! Like vermouth!!"
too funny, and very crazy! (couldn't even imagine trying to drink a gallon of that! yuck)
I enjoy reading your blog! This is my first time commenting!
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home