40th post

Wow, 40th post! I remember posting the first time on this blog and it seems like it was forever ago...when in reality it was just a few months back. So much has happened since then!

Neil has chemo tomorrow and my dad took the day off work to take him. Then he will have another on the 29th and that will end his 4th round. He will then have another PET scan to see if the lymph nodes have returned to normal size and he will also have a consultation with a radiologist. Depending on what that doctor thinks, it's radiation (not sure how much) or two more rounds (4 sessions) of chemo. As I mentioned before, it's better to have the chemo since the long-term side effects aren't as serious as those for radiation. The bad part is that chemo is definitely taking its toll. Neil was sick the entire time we were off for New Year's Eve. He also missed two days of work this week.

He has been feeling sick to his stomach from the chemo, and though he hasn't had vomiting, all he can do it try to sleep it off...I can't imagine feeling nauseous for 3-4 days straight like that, but somehow he pulls through it. We're both dreading this weekend and hoping it's gotten as bad as it's going to get.

We were talking the other night about what the whole experience has been like, and here's the best we can explain it to everyone who hasn't been through it.

Imagine your spouse or child is scheduled to get a severe flu every other week. Then imagine you
have to take them to be infected with it. That's kind of what it's like. Obviously we try to keep in mind that it's medicine, but it's a dreadful feeling to KNOW you're about to have a bad weekend. Imagine knowing exactly when you will get sick for the next six months. It takes a mental toll.

But enough with the negativity. Neil is being strong and we are trying to carry on as normal. We had a nice visit with Nate and Stacia last weekend and Neil surprised me with CATS tickets, so we have that show to look forward to. Everything is going well in the new house, even though I'm antsy to get things painted I don't want that smell to hang around and bother Neil. I'm trying to finish up my book, which was rudely interrupted by cancer :-) when I got the edits back. Neil says as soon as he's better we're doing something every weekend and we're considering going to Potholes Provincial Park, one of our favorite places, for our anniversary in May if all goes well!