Christmas Eve
Well, first Christmas that I have felt pretty good since finishing Chemo last year. Not all the way there, but much better. In Plano visiting that little grandson of mine. He is a character...not bragging too much, but reminds me of me when I was his age...though I was too young to remember. I guess I would still be in San Juan, running around San Cristobal Fort, driving my Mom and Dad crazy. First night, Sunday, was a reminder of what it was like when our 4 were little. I was sound asleep, 230 am to be exact when I heard the first whimper....then a little cry....then Deanna coming into the guest bedroom with Mason to nurse him. Plop, right up in bed. Would have been ok except she uses one of the 'white noise' gadgets that makes a 'soothing' background noise to help him sleep. Well the noise was...I guess like a water fall or some sort of rushing water. Don't know how he could sleep through that, but it seemed to work! I laid there while Deanna rocked him in bed....whoosh, splash, water falling over rocks....he stirred a little, I rubbed his little sleepy foot hanging by my head and he settled down...gurgle, splash, whoosh...he finally settled down and I thought, okay, back to sleep. Then Deanna gets up, turns around and puts him in bed right next to me...crash, whoosh, splash...got to keep still so he sleeps...but all that sound of running water....well you know what that does....got to keep still...I control my body...I am in control....whoosh, splash...Deanna comes back in takes him back to bed, with her 'gadget' and its quiet again...starting to doze off...nope, I gotta get up...all that running water...gotta go!!
Had my check ups, two year anniversary. Earlier, my GP said things looked good. Saw my surgeon two weeks ago...said I looked great. I had called his office to schedule my annual 'scope, since I hadn't heard from him. The admin asked if I had received a letter from them to schedule and I said no, just thought I had to get an annual check. She looked at my records and said I wasn't scheduled until Dec 2013! Wow, I almost volunteered for a colonoscopy. Who does THAT?? Anyway, Doc said because last year's was clear I was on a two year rotation (no pun intended). Whew....Went to the Oncologist last week. He said everything looked great, would see me in 6 months. Still need a PET Scan next month, but just precautionary. Overall, I am pleased with everything for 2012.
For 2013, lose some more weight and get off BP medication. Neuropathy in my feet is still a problem, but getting used to it...sort of. Depression pops up every once in a while, but I fight through it.
Max Update...buddy Max and I have the routine down now. He is still under observation with Dr. Rainbow every two to three weeks. Still putting drops in his good eye and measuring the ocular pressures. Doc wants to get to the point of long term maintenance medications. Should be 3 or 4 more visits until he is comfortable with the maintenance plan. Otherwise, Max is doing great. His glass eye looks like it will settle into a gray color, but it doesn't seem to bother him. Peripheral vision of course is gone and he does get startled from things coming from his left side, but that will become easier.
Colleague of mine at work had some major surgery last week. Heart thing. He's in his mid 30s....MID 30s! Seems like everything went well. He came to talk to me before his surgery. Said he thought I could relate to the shock of hearing about a major health scare and how it resets your priorities. He has small kids and he said his life is more about his family now and work will find its way. I told him you gain a whole new perspective when faced with your own mortality. You are never the same. Never. Every ache, pain, bruise, or bump worries you. You are never at ease.
I am looking forward to 2013, both for the family and my work. We have some big goals for work and I am glad to be healthy enough to do my part. We have our challenges, but its my other family and I care about them. My immediate family, big plans as well...or at least that's what Donna tells me. I have gotten smarter as I have aged. Donna is smarter than me in a lot of ways when it comes to running this family. Looking forward to spending good times with Mason and all my kids and in-laws. Here's hoping for the best to all my friends and family in the new year!!
