Part of Kyle's "homework" from Kindergarten is that we read to him for 15 minutes every night. Usually, Kyle picks out a book and I read it to him, but tonight he let me pick the book.
I picked Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling. We read "How the Whale got his Throat" and "How the Leopard got his Spots".
I really love Just So Stories. They are meant to be read aloud and, even though I stumble over some of the words (dyslexics of the world untie!), I love reading the stories to Kyle.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Nerd-fest Fallout
So, the major fallout from Nerd-fest is that Kyle wants lots Legos Star Wars sets for Christmas. Specifically, he wants seven different sets.
Santa will be supplying three sets and Marjorie and I will probably give him a couple more. This means I'll be building lots of Legos figures on Christmas morning. Wish me luck.
Santa will be supplying three sets and Marjorie and I will probably give him a couple more. This means I'll be building lots of Legos figures on Christmas morning. Wish me luck.
Monday, December 8, 2008
It's so wrong
My friend Anne sent me this this morning. It's evil, it's wrong, and it's hilarious.
When I showed it to Marjorie, I thought she was going to literally bust a gut.
When I showed it to Marjorie, I thought she was going to literally bust a gut.
Chemo Round #8
Good news: my oncologist, Dr. G, says that I do not need to have twelve rounds on chemotherapy, eight treatments should be enough.
So, the treatment I had last Monday, 5 December 2008, was my last one.
So, the treatment I had last Monday, 5 December 2008, was my last one.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Chemo Round #7
I'm a total wuss.
This morning I woke up dreading this next round of chemo. While the nausea is more or less under control, it lasts longer and longer each treatment. I also had some stomach "issues" last week (which was supposed to be my "good week".) All of this makes me want to finish chemo as fast as possible.
Then I look at my friend Robert (who I bumped into during round #6 of chemo). A year and a half ago, Robert was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer of the colon, peritoneum, and appendix. He was told he had four months to live. However, Robert is a fighter. He tracked down a specialist, had several major operations, several scary sounding procedures (e.g., Interperitoneal Heated Chemotherapy with MitoMycin-C and Deep Vein Thrombosis) , and chemo - lots of chemo. When I saw Robert two weeks ago, he was on round #17 (that's right, seventeen).
This of course proves I'm a wuss. Here I am whining about eight treatments and Robert has endured more than double. He is a brave man. I suck.
However, I may have the chance to redeem myself: today Dr. G, my oncologist, talked about the possibility of doing a total of twelve rounds of chemotherapy (i.e., four more after the "last" one).
Honestly, I'm not thrilled by this, but if it will extend my time in remission, I'll do it. And maybe, just maybe, I can be brave like Robert.
This morning I woke up dreading this next round of chemo. While the nausea is more or less under control, it lasts longer and longer each treatment. I also had some stomach "issues" last week (which was supposed to be my "good week".) All of this makes me want to finish chemo as fast as possible.
Then I look at my friend Robert (who I bumped into during round #6 of chemo). A year and a half ago, Robert was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer of the colon, peritoneum, and appendix. He was told he had four months to live. However, Robert is a fighter. He tracked down a specialist, had several major operations, several scary sounding procedures (e.g., Interperitoneal Heated Chemotherapy with MitoMycin-C and Deep Vein Thrombosis) , and chemo - lots of chemo. When I saw Robert two weeks ago, he was on round #17 (that's right, seventeen).
This of course proves I'm a wuss. Here I am whining about eight treatments and Robert has endured more than double. He is a brave man. I suck.
However, I may have the chance to redeem myself: today Dr. G, my oncologist, talked about the possibility of doing a total of twelve rounds of chemotherapy (i.e., four more after the "last" one).
Honestly, I'm not thrilled by this, but if it will extend my time in remission, I'll do it. And maybe, just maybe, I can be brave like Robert.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Anti-bucket List
Way back in April, when I started this blog, my friend John suggested that I make a list of all of the things I want to do when treatment is over. (John knows about this since he's had two rounds of treatment for testicular cancer.)
Sadly, my list always contains vague stuff like "watch my son Kyle grow-up and become an adult" and "grow old with my wife Marjorie."
Well, I finally have something concrete: "watch Kyle meet his grandma Vicki." Vicki lives in Australia and since it's a 24 hour flight to visit her, we haven't been yet.
A few months back, Marjorie suggested a solution: have everybody meet halfway in Hawaii. So, we are planning a two week vacation in early June of 2009 in Hawaii. I've been looking at renting a house in either Ka'a'awa, Oahu or Kailua, Oahu. This should be less expensive than staying at a resort and it should give Kyle and Vicki plenty of time to get to know each other.
However, I'm open to suggestions. If you have any advice about the Hawaiian islands (e.g., where to stay or what to see), I'd love to hear it.
Oh, and I'll try an add a few more things to my anti-bucket list.
Sadly, my list always contains vague stuff like "watch my son Kyle grow-up and become an adult" and "grow old with my wife Marjorie."
Well, I finally have something concrete: "watch Kyle meet his grandma Vicki." Vicki lives in Australia and since it's a 24 hour flight to visit her, we haven't been yet.
A few months back, Marjorie suggested a solution: have everybody meet halfway in Hawaii. So, we are planning a two week vacation in early June of 2009 in Hawaii. I've been looking at renting a house in either Ka'a'awa, Oahu or Kailua, Oahu. This should be less expensive than staying at a resort and it should give Kyle and Vicki plenty of time to get to know each other.
However, I'm open to suggestions. If you have any advice about the Hawaiian islands (e.g., where to stay or what to see), I'd love to hear it.
Oh, and I'll try an add a few more things to my anti-bucket list.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Round #6 of Chemo
Yesterday I started round #6 of Chemotherapy.
The good news is I only have two more rounds after this; my oncologist, Dr. G., says we will not do the "bonus" four rounds.
The bad news is I started feeling queasy before I left the treatment room. Usually I don't get nauseous until the next day or later. I have a bad feeling this round is gonna be rough.
Round #5 was slightly better than round #4 - I didn't call Ralph, but I was really queasy for three and a half days (not much fun).
The good news is I only have two more rounds after this; my oncologist, Dr. G., says we will not do the "bonus" four rounds.
The bad news is I started feeling queasy before I left the treatment room. Usually I don't get nauseous until the next day or later. I have a bad feeling this round is gonna be rough.
Round #5 was slightly better than round #4 - I didn't call Ralph, but I was really queasy for three and a half days (not much fun).
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