Author: Greek Fighting Orange

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there!

My Mom passed a few years ago and thru this journey with my honey, I’ve missed her love and support. Chris’ Mom is here with us and she has been a great support to both Chris and I. Not to mention ALL of you other Moms that have been with us too! Our cousin, Georgia, recently lost her Mom, we are thinking about her and her family today. Love and prayers are going out to you Georgia! Moms are usually amazing but sometimes they can be a pain! Either way you don’t know how many days, weeks, months or years you will have with your Mom so be sure to let her know you love her, today and every day you can!

Chris and I are enjoying our weekend. Chris is feeling pretty good. As long as he can rest in the afternoon, he is pretty good the rest of the time. His taste buds are coming back as well as his appetite. He still has VERY strong opinions of what food is good and what is not, according to him of course!

On a recent visit to the doctor’s office, Chris and I had to meet there. He arrived before me and was taken back to a room. When I arrived, this is the conversation. Patti: I’m here to meet my husband, Chris. Receptionist: You must be the prettiest blonde! Patti: (Laughing) Yes, that’s my honey! Upon taking me back to his room and opening the door…Receptionist: I found the prettiest blonde for you Mr. T!

I love this man! 😂

Hello Family and Friends that are Family!

The next steps in our journey begins Monday. Monday thru Friday next week, Chris will have chemo each day. Again three weeks of no treatment and then start this cycle over.

Chris is doing well. Life has been pretty much the same since we got home from Columbus. He seems like he is getting stronger. He is driving again. He almost seems normal but of course he is not.  He says food is tasting better. But there is still foods that just don’t taste right to him. The doctors in Columbus told him he may find that he doesn’t like foods that he use to eat and there may be foods he likes that he didn’t use to like. Crazy!

Our fig tree that I spoke of before is blooming. We have it almost straightened up, and leaves are popping out. I’m not sure if the frost we had recently will harm it but right now it looks good. Right now my honey looks good. I’m not sure what these next few rounds of chemo will do to him but I know our fig tree will grow and give us fruit in the fall. How much frost can a tree handle and how much chemo can my honey’s body handle. PRAY!

 

Chris had a follow-up appointment, for his latest biopsy, in Columbus yesterday. The game plan is that in the next few days Chris will start a 5 day round of chemo as a out patient here IN TOLEDO. After that he would have 3 weeks off. Then he will repeat the treatment one more time, with another 3 weeks off.  On the weeks with no treatment he will have to have blood work done twice a week. The blood work will determine if he needs a blood transfusion or maybe a unit of platelets. This round of chemo treatment isn’t the same as the chemo he had in the hospital so we get to STAY HOME!! We return to Columbus, the week after the 4th of July, for another biopsy and to schedule the stem cell transplant. The roller coaster continues!          

Our good friend and coworker, Jimmy, replaced our sump pump by the way! Thank you Jimmy, for changing the pump and for not letting Chris help you! 

Another good friend, Nancy, told me “I was a pillar of strength and graciousness”. I told her that it is “Because of all of you holding me up”! I also needed to add that, only by the strength of God!!! 

We got water in our crawl due to our pump not working, and all the rain we have had. Guess who thought it would be a good idea to get in the crawl space and move the temporary pump around (several times) to try and get some of the water out?? Anyone?? Yes you are right! Chris decided it would be a good idea to do just that! Again, this was against my better judgment! So on Sunday, guess who couldn’t figure out why his legs were weak, or why his back bothered him or why he was so tired?? Right again! 

We were able to have a couple barbecues this weekend. Chris has had a few requests, food wise, that is.😊 I think things are tasting better for him. He still doesn’t care for foods that are too acidic, like tomato sauces, to much lemon, or maybe vinegar. Some of the Greeks prefer their meat well done but Chris doesn’t. He likes medium rare steaks and his lamb chops medium. Right now all the meat he eats must be cooked well done. He can’t even prepare or handle raw meat. When Chris and I would have company for dinner, we would both work together in the kitchen preparing the food. He can’t do that work in the kitchen right now, I sure miss him prepping with me. Becky stepped in today to prep with me. Thanks Sister! 

Hello Fellow Margarita Lovers!

We hope you had a Happy Cinco De Mayo. Usually we would use any excuse to have a margarita. This year we had a delicious frozen pizza at home. Chris also had dandelion greens. Our son-in-law, Randy, told Chris about all the cancer fighting properties of dandelion greens so Chris has decided to eat them every day. We have a follow up appointment on Monday, in Columbus, so we will see what happens.

Chris has been feeling pretty much the same, not worse, but not too much better either. I’m sure it takes time, he was beat up pretty good. So I will keep making sure he rests and eats and drinks his Ensures! Maybe get him a smaller pair of pants or two as well. I’m not sure why but he gets night sweats almost every night. He usually sweats thru about two t-shirts every night. Again, if this is the worst thing we have to deal with I think we will be just fine. Keep praying with us my prayer warriors!

What is up with the monsoon we have had the last few days? Plus the wind and cold!? My poor honey is cold on a warm day so you can imagine how he has felt the last couple days? We ran an errand today and it was so cold we went home right after. We both needed a hot tea and a warm afgan. That is what I wish for all of you…a hot tea and a warm blanket with your honey on a cold day,