Mom has started acupuncture. Crazy, huh? With the medication she's on, and the good amount of fluids she takes in - her feet are crazy big! For reals! The new shoes we bought last month already don't fit, she's been wearing Pete's boots for the past few days. We have a new pair coming Wed, hopefully they will be ok. My point - My best friend has been doing acupuncture for awhile on her knee due to a torn ACL - so she suggested Mom might wanna try it out.
I took Bonnie to her first appointment last week. The lady is very nice. She was a former Wedgwood parent also! She explained that Mom's fluid system is not flowing quite right, so she puts a needle in each ankle, her wrists and 4 on her lower back. Then she puts a heating lamp on her back :) and leaves so you can relax. Mom slept a bit the first day. She went back the next day for another and has two more scheduled for this week. Hopefully she will see a change, but if not she gets a warm, quiet hour which is probably a welcome break.
But in bigger news...I think it was Friday night, Dad noticed her catheter wasn't working. It was pretty late in the evening, and so they decided to wait until the next morning to go visit the urgent care center. So, after a unpleasant evening of a very full bladder and a 2+ hour wait, drainage is all better. I guess there was a clog in the tube - so good thing they noticed. Glad these type of adventures are becoming fewer and more far in-between!!
Thanksgiving should be a bit of a challenge. We are having it at Mom and Dad's - which is good - but then they have to be responsible for cleaning and set-up. We are all chipping in for food, which will hopefully make a difference, and I am going to be there Friday morning to help decorate and get set up! Good Family Times!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
An exciting weekend!
Just a quick post! The weekend was jam packed with visitors, card parties, hair cuts - you name it! Sunday night even made for an impromptu family dinner for our immediate 6 members.
Bonnie's hair shedding got to a level of incredibly annoying; she was finding hair in her food and even wound around her toothbrush bristles. She decided that was enough, and had a friend come over on Sunday for a more drastic cut. Bonnie got her head shaved! It's not bald, just really - really short! Mom's friend, Jimmy, was visiting also - so he got a buzz cut in support as did Pete! Misha and I just couldn't do it! :)
So, here are some before and after pictures! (Bonnie is a good sport!)
**Actually, Jimmy's wife Cheryl, took a few real shots, which I will get posted in a few days! **
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sorry for the wait ...
Bonnie has officially 'graduated' from in-home therapy. Both her regular nurse and physical therapy nurse have decided Bonnie has progressed so much, she no longer needs them to visit. She always has the option of getting new appointments if something changes, though. Her crazy schedule of doctor visits, in-home appointments, radiation, etc... has mellowed out quite a bit. But, this does leave Mom with a bit of extra time, and not much to do.
She is halfway through radiation and chemo pills. The doctors said hair loss and burns usually start at week 3 (which is now) and there is a bit of shedding going on at home. The radiation lasers are aimed around the temples on each side. This is where the hair loss is mainly happening. It started this weekend with a few hairs but during her shower on Monday, there was small handfuls. She doesn't really care much, just doesn't appreciate hair falling into her dinner. As of last night, her new hair growth (over the brain surgery flap) has started coming out too. That's a bit of a bummer, only because she was almost out of her mullet phase... Burns haven't started yet, but she's expecting them soon.
Thanks to a handful of friends who enjoy daytrips to Group Health, the radiation staff has been impressed by the new people taking Bonnie to her appointments. Mom is growing quite fond of the staff; she's even making them presents for the holidays.
I can't say this enough: thanks for the food deliveries. The quality of the meals has greatly exceeded our expectations. Bonnie enjoys the visits as well - she quite likes social hour. With not much to do at home (the DVD player is getting a workout) Mom enjoys the visits and the stories that come from them. We are all lucky to have such a wonderful support system!
She is halfway through radiation and chemo pills. The doctors said hair loss and burns usually start at week 3 (which is now) and there is a bit of shedding going on at home. The radiation lasers are aimed around the temples on each side. This is where the hair loss is mainly happening. It started this weekend with a few hairs but during her shower on Monday, there was small handfuls. She doesn't really care much, just doesn't appreciate hair falling into her dinner. As of last night, her new hair growth (over the brain surgery flap) has started coming out too. That's a bit of a bummer, only because she was almost out of her mullet phase... Burns haven't started yet, but she's expecting them soon.
Thanks to a handful of friends who enjoy daytrips to Group Health, the radiation staff has been impressed by the new people taking Bonnie to her appointments. Mom is growing quite fond of the staff; she's even making them presents for the holidays.
I can't say this enough: thanks for the food deliveries. The quality of the meals has greatly exceeded our expectations. Bonnie enjoys the visits as well - she quite likes social hour. With not much to do at home (the DVD player is getting a workout) Mom enjoys the visits and the stories that come from them. We are all lucky to have such a wonderful support system!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Halloween Weekend
Medically - there is nothing new with Mom... just the same day in/day out routine. But a few personal changes and updates.
Bonnie had been wearing Halloween socks pretty frequently to radiation last week and the nurses all thought it was a hoot. They had all talked about coming in costume on Friday, so Mom brought the cutest Spider Hat to wear. One of the Wedgwood teachers brought it for Bonnie; it was a class project. It's a round of construction paper which sits on the head, with a giant circle on the front for the spider face and 8 crinkled long pieces of black paper for the legs. It is adorable, and the nurses loved it!
On Halloween night, Mom and Dad got about 35 kids - which is pretty consistent for that neighborhood. A few Wedgwood families came a-knocking - and one group stayed and chatted with Mom for a bit. She really liked that. Later in the evening, Sasha stopped by with a pair of dogs he was supervising for the evening. Two Yorkshire terriers - who were quite the bundles of energy - made a visit and met Emma, Mom and Dad. They were so cute, but never calmed down - bouncing everywhere, but they gave kisses and snuggles and didn't bother Emma much - so it turned out OK. Just a bit crazy for awhile.
On Sunday, some friends joined Pete and Bonnie for lunch at Misha's new place. Everyone was excited to meet Misha's parents and had only nice things to say about him. They all enjoyed the food, even the fried pickles! Yum! The place was crowded and noisy - but it is a sports bar!
Diane K., (Misha's godmother) volunteered to take Mom to radiation yesterday. I haven't heard how that went, but when I took her it was a piece of cake. I will get the full scoop tomorrow. I think Joyce (Mom's coworker of 17 years!) is taking her Thursday - so that should be nice to break up Mom - and Dad's - routines a bit!
Bonnie had been wearing Halloween socks pretty frequently to radiation last week and the nurses all thought it was a hoot. They had all talked about coming in costume on Friday, so Mom brought the cutest Spider Hat to wear. One of the Wedgwood teachers brought it for Bonnie; it was a class project. It's a round of construction paper which sits on the head, with a giant circle on the front for the spider face and 8 crinkled long pieces of black paper for the legs. It is adorable, and the nurses loved it!
On Halloween night, Mom and Dad got about 35 kids - which is pretty consistent for that neighborhood. A few Wedgwood families came a-knocking - and one group stayed and chatted with Mom for a bit. She really liked that. Later in the evening, Sasha stopped by with a pair of dogs he was supervising for the evening. Two Yorkshire terriers - who were quite the bundles of energy - made a visit and met Emma, Mom and Dad. They were so cute, but never calmed down - bouncing everywhere, but they gave kisses and snuggles and didn't bother Emma much - so it turned out OK. Just a bit crazy for awhile.
On Sunday, some friends joined Pete and Bonnie for lunch at Misha's new place. Everyone was excited to meet Misha's parents and had only nice things to say about him. They all enjoyed the food, even the fried pickles! Yum! The place was crowded and noisy - but it is a sports bar!
Diane K., (Misha's godmother) volunteered to take Mom to radiation yesterday. I haven't heard how that went, but when I took her it was a piece of cake. I will get the full scoop tomorrow. I think Joyce (Mom's coworker of 17 years!) is taking her Thursday - so that should be nice to break up Mom - and Dad's - routines a bit!
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