September 10, 2018 · from Lesley’s original CaringBridge journal
I am at a loss for a witty metaphor to start this post, so I will divert to a “just the facts” update again.
It is hard to believe that two weeks are over already and that I am starting my third week of treatment! Here is a quick rundown of what has gone on in Letsonville-North….
The first week was a bit of a blur – we got up here, got moved into the rental house and obtained necessary supplies (which meant multiple trips to Walmart, Target, Kroger, etc. for the things we realized we had forgotten less than ten minutes after leaving the previous store). We scoped out the town – my word I have been in the country a while! There is every store imaginable within 10 minutes of me – and with my mom and me up here together this could be dangerous. I have figured out the streets without a GPS (I was finally able to get a proper paper map!) so I can get around pretty well now. I settled into my routine of going to treatment and decided that having a “uniform” was the best plan – I have two pair of yoga pants and several t-shirts that are in rotation. This way I don’t have to think about what to put on each day. My treatment team has dubbed me the “fastest changer ever.” One of my treatment team people said that it reminded him of some ice skaters he saw on a cruise once that did some sort of quick change illusion trick (you can YouTube this by the way). I told him I couldn’t divulge whether I was or was not one of these people. Before I knew it, it was time to go home for the weekend. The treatment center was closed for a long weekend for Labor Day so we figured it was worth it for me to come home. Well they don’t call it Labor Day for nothin’ – I did so much that weekend! The boys’ schoolbooks had come in so I went through all the new stuff, cleaned out their book boxes, had them clean out their desks, and planned the next six weeks worth of lessons for them and made Marsh a notebook to help him be a well prepared substitute teacher. I got our paychecks, bills, payroll taxes, etc. taken care of for the month. I cleaned up after myself from all the paper mess from the aforementioned tasks. I gave all four big guys haircuts (and Gus his first tiny trim). And I gave the dogs their monthly meds. I had to come back to TN for some rest!!!!
Gus once again traveled like a pro – on every trip we have made up and back we have only had to stop for lunch. I am so proud of (and thankful for) this achievement. I do keep a stash of about 4-5 pacifiers in my cupholder and a good supply of animal crackers to pass back as needed. Week 2 zipped on by faster than I thought. Mom went home this weekend so Gus and I flew solo for a couple of days. I would like to say we did all kinds of fun things together but it was a home game for the Vols and I was a little afraid of getting into that crazy traffic, so we binge watched some Netflix shows until we could watch football on TV. He and I visited a church nearby for the second time and really like it. I also brought some sewing projects with me and have been working on them so that’s been fun. Last night we picked up my friend Susan from the bus station (she is staying with us this week) and we will just say that was an adventure 🙂 We started week 3 and I am sure before I know it Friday will be here and we will head home for a short weekend. I missed the big 3’s first soccer game this past Saturday so I am looking forward to getting to watch them this week.
Q&A:
Q: Are you having any side effects?
A: Not much. I have a bit of a “sunburn” that is itchy. I put some cream on it that helps some. This will get worse but that is what we want, a good skin reaction to let us know that what needs treating is getting treated well. I have a funny feeling in my throat that the dr. warned me about but said is nothing to worry about – it’s kind of like having that hard to swallow feeling when you have a sore throat, without the sore throat, really no biggie. I have had a day or two where I needed to take a nap, but not much fatigue. Again, that will build, but then again, may not. We will see.
Q: How is Gus doing without his brothers?
A: He misses all his people, and Maizy (our Dachshund). He keeps trying to drop Cheerios on the floor and smack his lips to call her. He also will yell out “Da?” at random times wondering where Marsh is. A friend did a little Face Time at the soccer game Saturday and he was very excited to “see” them for a minute. Other than that though, he is the easiest baby and is so go with the flow. He gets excited every time we get in the car. I think he is wondering where we will turn up next.
Q: How is Marsh doing with the other three? Are they eating junk the whole time/bacheloring it?
A: Seriously folks, Marsh deserves another whole post all about him and his awesomeness. They are doing just fine – so much so that I am almost feeling a little sad like “well, do they not need me?” He is a much better cook than I am so they are eating well and nothing shabby (I can still bake circles around him though). He is handling running a business solo, homeschooling three middle schoolers, coaching two soccer teams, taking the boys to their chemistry class each week, and keeping the house in order. This dude is amazing. I thought he was pretty great when I married him 15 years ago but I had no idea how many bonuses I was getting out of that deal.
Q: How long will you be up there?
A: If all goes as planned and there are no hiccups I will finish on October 9 – a week before my….well, let’s just say a monumental birthday 😉
Q: How’s the weather?
A: It has been HOT – I am ready for these mountains to feel like the mountains!
Q: Do you like mail?
A: Why YES! I’m so glad you asked! Mail is great! Feel free to ask for my address up here and I promise to check the mailbox 😉
Comments from CaringBridge
Debbie Parker — 9/11/18
You need to give us your address!!! Praying for you every day. Hugs and love to you and Gus!!
Cancermamma 