I wouldn't blame a single soul for forgetting who I am or what I am about. I have no excuse good enough for my lack of communication and I know "Sorry" just doesn't cut it so I will just go on with an update. First of all, we had a wonderful Christmas. It was laid back and traditional and family oriented. I didn't have to worry about a spouse blowing up or trying to act surprised and "pleased " with the black hunting underwear that was under the tree for me in a size way to big "in case anyone else in the house might need it". Can't believe I put up with all that for so many years. I received so many pretty things that were picked out just for me and me alone. It was awesome! I must mention my very favorite and very generous gift. It is a PINK razor phone with Bluetooth technology. It will download movies and will get 10 TV channels. Of course it has a camera and unlimited video but the Bluetooth really freaks me out! I put that little gizmo in my ear and can receive calls and make calls without touching the phone in my pocket. It is so cool and to all those folks out there who point fingers and make comments about the "old lady talking to herself"........Bleep you, you technological idiots!! Suppose I ought to update the health stuff. Of course the worst is over but am still dealing with the "fallout". I went to the ENT that Dr. Becht sent me to. He decided that the ulcer needed debreeding and because of it's location, it would require surgery. He compared it to the coring of an apple. Those of you who know me, know that I used to live in the middle of an apple orchard and had my kitchen totally decorated with apple things. (right down to the little wooden apples that served as knobs on the cupboards) I have always loved apples and have cored gazillions of them in my life, but after that surgery, I now RESPECT apples. Got the surgery over and had to wait for my post op exam a week later before I could start with the wound center and the hyperbaric chamber therapy. Went back for the post op exam and he discovered that my Eustacian tubes (sp?) had been damaged by the radiation. I was surprised to learn that, even though the radiation was intensely directed at the tumor, it also affects other parts of the body that have to be dealt with as you recover. Anyway, I couldn't do the chamber with all that pressure on my ears with the tubes not working. Those tubes are what makes your ears "pop" when you fly so if I did the hyperbaric dive without them, my eardrums would have exploded. That doesn't even SOUND pretty. (pardon the pun) Sooooo had to have tubes put in my ears. He did it right in the office and it wasn't bad. Voices sound a little echo-y and every once in a while I hear a whoosh go past my ears but I have learned not to turn my head quickly to see what just went flying by. That just gives more ammunition to the people who think the old lady is talking to herself! I started the hyperbaric chamber treatments on Tuesday so I have 4 out of 40 under my belt. I was a bit shocked when they told me it would be 40 treatments but you have to do what you have to do. It is 5 days a week and takes up a good part of the day. It is a 45 minute to an hour drive to the hospital. You have to strip to your birthday suit and wear no jewelry or TEETH or hairspray or perfume or deodorant. It is just squeaky clean you and a special hospital gown made of some static free material. Before every "dive" you are examined by a doctor. Everything from your temp to your BP is checked and if there is anything that is less than perfect, the dive is canceled. Once you get in the chamber, it takes about 30minutes to reach the prescribed depth. The actual saturation time is 90 minutes but every 30 minutes you have to put on a mask and breath "room air" because pure oxygen is toxic. Who would ever think that? It takes another half hour to "bring you up" out of the dive and then the doctor does a complete checkup again. It doesn't hurt and they wrap you in blankets so it is nice and warm and comfortable. The chamber is a big glass tube so even though it is an MRI type of cylinder, it does not seem so confining. There is a TV screen above the chamber and they pipe in the sound as well as the technicians voice who continues to monitor you and make sure you are okay. There has never been an explosion in the United States. (it would take out the whole hospital) They had one a couple of months ago in Japan. A guy snuck his IPod in there and as soon as he hit the on button, the whole hospital was rubble. For those of you who are comtemplating buying an IPod, here is a consumer report. The darn IPod was found unscathed in what used to be the hospital parking lot! Now THAT was a good investment, had he not misused the access to it. I will be done these treatments sometime in April. Good grief! I left home April, 2006. Can't believe a whole year will have passed and I am still dealing with this stuff. Guess it is better that the alternative huh folks!! I really need to back out of this. Have more things to share but the laptop is getting hot and it has been shutting off on me lately so would hate to lose all this. Just a note to ask you to pray for Becky's friend Ellen. They have been friends forever and Ellen has been diagnosed with breast cancer and has already had a lumpectomy and 14 lymph nodes removed. She has radiation and chemo ahead of her. She is a wonderful human being and has always lived a wholesome and healthy life. Cancer isn't picky about it's victims I guess. Please know that I think about all of you so often (even if I don't show it) and I am secure in your love and support. Linda
My goodness you have been through a lot. Prayers said for Ellen.
Its sooo good to hear from you! I'm glad things are going ok with your treatments! Did you get the pictures I snail mailed you? The girls are doing fine, trying to teach them the days of the week, I made up a song its pretty catchy! Aubreys starting to recognize the letters of the alphabet and even draw them shakily, so maybe we'll be working on see spot run soon. Pondering sending her to preK next fall, but hate to let her go so early. It'd probably be fun for her to be around other kids her age but I know Haley will have a fit if she can't go too. Everybodys doing fine up here. Good luck with your treatments!
Love,
Jen and family
just reading this....oooh you are coping with a lot.. so it's fine to take a Xanga break, impossible to keep up with Xanga all day everyday. !!!!
Suppose I ought to update the health stuff. Of course the worst is over but am still dealing with the "fallout". I went to the ENT that Dr. Becht sent me to. He decided that the ulcer needed debreeding and because of it's location, it would require surgery. He compared it to the coring of an apple. Those of you who know me, know that I used to live in the middle of an apple orchard and had my kitchen totally decorated with apple things. (right down to the little wooden apples that served as knobs on the cupboards) I have always loved apples and have cored gazillions of them in my life, but after that surgery, I now RESPECT apples. Got the surgery over and had to wait for my post op exam a week later before I could start with the wound center and the hyperbaric chamber therapy. Went back for the post op exam and he discovered that my Eustacian tubes (sp?) had been damaged by the radiation. I was surprised to learn that, even though the radiation was intensely directed at the tumor, it also affects other parts of the body that have to be dealt with as you recover. Anyway, I couldn't do the chamber with all that pressure on my ears with the tubes not working. Those tubes are what makes your ears "pop" when you fly so if I did the hyperbaric dive without them, my eardrums would have exploded. That doesn't even SOUND pretty. (pardon the pun) Sooooo had to have tubes put in my ears. He did it right in the office and it wasn't bad. Voices sound a little echo-y and every once in a while I hear a whoosh go past my ears but I have learned not to turn my head quickly to see what just went flying by. That just gives more ammunition to the people who think the old lady is talking to herself! 
Comments (3)
Its sooo good to hear from you! I'm glad things are going ok with your treatments! Did you get the pictures I snail mailed you? The girls are doing fine, trying to teach them the days of the week, I made up a song its pretty catchy! Aubreys starting to recognize the letters of the alphabet and even draw them shakily, so maybe we'll be working on see spot run soon. Pondering sending her to preK next fall, but hate to let her go so early. It'd probably be fun for her to be around other kids her age but I know Haley will have a fit if she can't go too. Everybodys doing fine up here. Good luck with your treatments!
Love,
Jen and family