Rich's Decision

Rich has taken all the options into consideration and has decided to go with the "check the body religiously" method.  He will see his local oncologist and his dermatologist every quarter, he will get scans every six months - rotating between the CT and the PET.  Rich is comfortable with his decision and he is in a happy place right now.  He is allowed to go back to work.  Oh and his scar looks AMAAAAZING!  The surgeon sewed him up so nicely that you can hardly tell they cut through a tattoo. 

We are in a good place right now :)  We are thankful that there was only one cancerous lymph node and not more. 

Now we can focus all of our attention on Parker, she's going to be here in a little under three months!  And honestly, we cannot wait to meet her.  We have classes up the wazoo and still have her nursery to prepare.  I am dealing with gestational diabetes; however, I've already lost some weight AND I have started a great exercise program - walking at lunch and then after dinner.  Rich joins me on my after dinner walk which is really nice. 

This has been a gnarly experience and we know that he isn't completely out of the woods, but for the time being, we are living in this happy little moment. 

Happy news is a good thing. 

My Weird Thingy

I went to the doctor yesterday and he said it is a benign nevus.  I love the word benign.  I'd marry it if polygamy was legal. 

I have been walking at lunch (putting on my SPF 70 sunscreen beforehand though) and then Rich and I walk in the evening.  Getting healthy all the way around. 

I'm Getting Checked!

I'm going today after work to get this weird thing on my back checked out that popped up when I was 17.  My friend's oncologist took a look at it when I was 20 but I might as well pay someone to look at it.  I am going to my husband's GP, his name is Dr. House and that is pretty awesome with me.  While I am there, I get to pick up my diabetes supplies!  I know, all this excitement in one day. 

Rich is feeling really good, he's still a little stiff but is ready to go back to work.  His drain is out and the hole in his neck looks pretty punkrawk, pshhh you got your face pierced? My husband has a hole behind his ear.  Another awesome thing is that the surgeon did a really great job of lining up his tattoo. 

Thankful for the happy things.  I am going to make like my friend Charles and be positive for the rest of the week!  Sure I have GD but my husband's nodes were clean and clear, I'd take GD any day over husband having cancerous cells in his nodes.  I'm thankful he finally listened to me and made that appointment.  I am thankful he is staying on track with his course of action.  I am thankful that in July we are going to have a healthy baby girl.  I am thankful.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  What?

All Clear

Rich's doctor called him today to let him know that they nodes they took out are all clear.  This is the first awesome medical news we have received.  We are SO happy and grateful.  Now we just move along with the specialists and interferon and make that happen. 

Also I failed my gestational diabetes test - I had two abnormal tests which means FAIL!  But it's ok, I am eating right and exercising now :) 

All Drainy on the Western Front

Rich got to come home on Thursday, he now has a funtime drain!  YAY!  Ok not yay, he can't sleep well with it and is constantly afraid it is going to pop out.  Understandable.  He has to drink eight ounces of MCT oil which we just learned he can mix with fruit juices, which is way better.  He said it tastes like drinking butter.  Ew.  He is not a happy camper at all, but we believe he will get his drain out on Monday and maybe he can quit the low fat diet, even though the low fat diet is best for him.  He just wants some damn cake! 

Today I am taking my three hour glucose test.  I haven't eaten in over 13 hours, I just had my blood drawn once and I chugged 100 mg of a sugary warm orange drink.  I have three more blood draws after this, 10:22, 11:22 and 12:22 - then I get to eat some lunch!!  Oh food <3 

Sitting in a lab waiting room is not awesome, I think someone just crop dusted the area.  Aw man! 

Surgery Went Well

Surgery went well.  Rich is totally unhappy with the clear diet they have him on (broth, jello, tea and water). 

He has so far denied the morphine and norco - he did get set up with some tylenol with codine.

He is feeling as good as can be expected though, he really wants to get home tomorrow (duh).  We have to purchase a recliner so he can convalesce in comfort - and I need a recliner when it's baby feeding time.

One really awesome thing about the hospital is they play that lullaby song when a baby is born, we have heard it six times so far.   It just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy that a life has been brought into the world.

I want candy more than anything, they have sour worms in the vending machine.  I want to eat them.  I won't, but I want to. 

Hopefully my next blog will state that we are home and enjoying it :)  YEAH! 

Oh and Rich's incision looks great, it's a little longer than we thought but hey - the nodes are out.  The doctor also said he didn't see any nodes that looked visibly bad to the naked eye, he has to get them checked out under a microscope next. 

Good stuff.

Surgery Update

Surgery went well, the surgeon didn't see any gross nodes but they have to still check them under a microscope.  Surgery lasted a little over four hours, I actually get to see him in 1-2 hours.  I cannot wait until I can see him.