Tuesday, September 23, 2008

"These are a few of my favorite things . . . "

Man, I didn't realize how long it has been since I last posted. Things have been crazy and I've been lazy. I feel like so much has gone on in the time in between that I'm not even sure where to start.

In my last post I talked about being able to eat whatever I want. I've started to eat a variety of foods but this past weekend I went to Assumption and ate something my stomach didn't like too much. The only problem is that I was so caught up in seeing my friends that I wasn't paying attention and I have NO IDEA what it was that bothered my stomach. I have tried different types of meat, including my favorite . . . STEAK!! That seemed to go over fairly well. I'm still recovering and can't wait until all this recovery sh*t is over.

I'm heading back to work on Monday. I'll be working Monday to Friday from 4-6 and every other Saturday from 8-5. It pays pretty well, and seeing as though I haven't worked in . . . 2 months I NEED the MONEY! Also, I'm sick of sitting around the house. I try to keep myself busy but there is only so much I can do on my own before I get bored. I was working 3 jobs up until the day before my surgery. And then I was ripped of my sanity, and my colon!! :-/. I'm the type of girl that needs to stay busy. I hate just sitting around the house doing nothing; hence why I can't wait to start working.

Also in my last post, I mentioned that my Nana was doing well. I have since gotten to visit her twice. I saw her once last week with my mom and my aunt. While we were there, there was a sing-a-long being played on the tv. My Nana sang right along. She loves to sing and she has a gorgeous voice. While she was singing my mom took me to her room to show it to me and my aunt stayed with her. When we got back my aunt was laughing so hard, I asked why and apparently when one of the songs came on my Nana explained that "This song makes me want to strip." I wonder why she would ever come up with something like that. She sang "Bicycle Built for Two" and I cried. That was her, she always loved singing and to hear her do it made me feel so much better.

Then I went to visit her yesturday. When we got there she was eating lunch so we brought her some new clothes and put them in her room. Then when she came out the nurse had a pair of sneakers for her to try on that we had brought. He told her to walk around on them and that we would go with her. So we did and while we were walking she put her arm down and grabbed onto my hand. I'm not sure why but it meant a lot to me. My nana who supported her five children and all of her grandkids now needs all of us for support. Granted she doesn't know what is going on - and never will. But she does, she needs all of our love and support. After doing one "lap" of her floor we brought her back and then nurse cut the tags off the shoes and wrote her name on them. We then took her into the little common room. When we went in there there was a CD playing and it was playing the musical version of "These are a few of my favorite things." She began humming to the music and then I, even though I can't sing for crap, began to sing the words. She picked right up and sang the entire rest of the song. It was almost amazing.

She seems to be doing much better in the nursing home than she ever was at the assisted living. I almost wish we avoided the assissted living completely.

On Sunday, my family and I will participate in the Memory Walk. The walk is to raise money and awareness for alzheimers. Unfortunately, I haven't raised any money yet. I should probably get on that.

Thats really been it. I hope to post again in a few days. So check back!!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Relaxation is key . . .

Today has been one of the best days in awhile.

I was up really late last night watching The Secret Life of an American Teenager with one of my friends. I usually watch it at 8pm but he had called me and asked me to wait and watch it at midnight with him. So I did! I love that show. But it was the season finale, and they ended it quite rediculously. I was surprised with this show though. I thought it would have a lot of people against it because although there are many teenage pregnancies in today's society no every teenager gets pregnant while in high school. Regardless, its a good show.

Because I was up so late I slept in and it was FABULOUS! I don't do much during the day anyway but man was it nice to just lay in bed all morning. I finally got up and did the dishes then got back into bed. I had to pick up my little sister at school so around 12:15 I got in the shower. I got ready and picked her up. Then we went to Subway and had lunch, then to the grocery store so that I could get groceries to make tonight's dinner.

My exciting news this week came from my NP last night. I had sent her an e-mail because she wants to keep up on how I was feeling. In the e-mail I told her how I was feeling, asked her a few questions about my meds, and then asked her about my diet. She replied with what seemed like a to-do list and the last thing said to call my dad and have him make reservations at my favorite local steakhouse, so that I could have the Prime Rib I was craving in the hospital because: I CAN EAT WHATEVER I WANT. To be honest, I always had to draw a line at specific foods and now I have no idea what my limits are. I'm a little nervous but from here on out it is trail and error.

Even better news is that my aunt who works at the nursing home we recently moved Nana into said she is doing well. It was so good to here.

Anyway, I know this blog was shorter than normal but I was bored and wanted to let you know about my food news =) I'm so excited

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

And the beat goes on . . .

Oh man! So it's been a few days since I blogged and I guess you could say a lot has gone in those five days.

On Friday, I went into the hospital for a "pouch-scope" to try to help figure out why I was still in so much pain. When I got to the hospital, they had me change into a Johnny - it felt like the good 'ole days again . . . NOT! They brought me in to do my vitals and a little while later I was brought down to the OR. My Dad was with me because I was going to be put to sleep and with anesthesia they don't allow you to drive. Because my surgery was pediatric they allowed him to come down to the prep room, after "scrubbing up," and stay with me until I was wheeled across the hall to the OR. What I found funny was that, I was only having a pouch-scope. I have had 9 colonoscopies - it was nothing. I felt like they were blowing it way out of proportion. However, when I was having MAJOR surgery they made my parents leave me way ahead of time. Regardless, I was given an IV, which for me is no big thing anymore, and brought into the OR. My doctor was sitting against the wall yawning - that was comforting. They put the cold stickies on my chest and gave me and oxygen mask. They put a "seat-belt" around my legs and gave me the first doasge of the anesthesia. They explain everything to you, step-by-step. The nurse told me they were going to give me the complete dosage of anesthesia and that I should dose off shortly. After a few minutes she asked me if I was feeling sleepy, when I said no the anesthesia doctor started screaming "I NEED A FLUSH, I NEED A FLUSH." Anyone who is not a regular for these procedures probably would have been concerned. I knew a flush was just saline solution they put in through the IV to make sure it is working properly. Within minutes I had a burning feeling in my hand and the next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery room. Although, I did ask the nurse why my hand was burning before I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up the muscles in my legs were killing me. The nurse explained that it was probably because of the position they had me in for the procedure. She said it was probably like a frog, on it's back. HOW ATTRACTIVE!! Anyway, they brought my dad in and he had already spoken with the doctor. There was no news, and as they say: No news, is good news. He said that the pain was probably just my body's rediculous way of healing. He did, however, say that at one of the spots where they had to sew was narrowing and therefore he dialated it. All I know was that I was a little sore, but by Saturday felt a world of difference. Here it is Tuesday, September 9 - 41 days after my surgery and I am FINALLY feeling better.

Saturday I had to move some furniture that I had bought for my apartment with hopes I was returning to school. I am letting the girls have it seeing as though A: I'll be there in January and B: It won't do me any good in a box in my basement. So, T, one of my best friends, moved it for me. I, more or less, went for the ride and to visit friends. It was so good to be back at that school and I was really sad to have to leave.

Sunday I washed my sheets. I know that sounds a little rediculous but because I was bed ridden for so long they were disgusting. Once they were in the wash I attacked the rest of my rooom. It's amazing what a difference having a clean room makes.

Then Monday arrived. It was moving day for Nana. I offered to help knowing that I couldn't do any lifting but figured that while everyone else moved the heavy stuff and took care of paperwork, etc. I could pack up the small stuff. At about 9:00-9:15 my two uncles and my aunt arrived at my house. Nana was being picked up at the assissted living at 10 am and we didn't want to be there when she was leaving. The 5 of us, my mom came too, left at 9:47 to head to the assissted living. When we got there, the ambulance that wasw transporting her was parked at the front door. We decided to wait to go in so that we wouldn't run into her. That would have been a huge mess of a scene. Sitting there, in the car, with the ambulance in full view upset me. My Nana shouldn't have to go through this. Why her?! Granted, as I said in my last post, she has no idea what going on; but still: I do and I know she wouldn't like it. I cried a little but the tears really started to come when they wheeled her out on the stretcher. She was strapped down by two "seat-belts" and was in more of a sitting up position. She didn't seem upset but she seemed like she had no clue what was going on. It was miserable. Regardless, the ambulance left and we invaded her room. We got everything and headed to Grandpa's. With everything that has gone on with Nana, my Grandpa has gone from an upbeat man to a wreck. Him, like her, is not the same person I knew growing up. That was the end of my deed for the day. My mom took Grandpa up to the nursing home and they did all the paperwork. They said that she seemed okay but like always, wasn't talkative.

I hope that this place is a little better for her. And that, even though at this point we don't know how long it will be, she is comfortable until the very end. I love her to death and it eats me up inside that I can't prevent her from going through this. Like my aunt had said, I've known so many people that have suffered from cancer but none of them have been so close in realtion to me. I hate it.

With that, the week continues. I have the typical 67 million doctor appointments this week and with each new day look forward to feeling better and better.

Until next time,
Kate ;-)

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Thankss


So I feel as though the past few weeks have been an extremely depressing, difficult time for both me and my family - in more ways then one.

If you have kept up with my blog, you all know that I, both physically and mentally, have been through a lot. In addition, my Nana, who is suffering from Alzheimers, has also been spending time in and out of the hospital. We have known she has had Alzheimers for quite some time but in February it reached the point where she couldn't live at home anymore. The day before Valentine's Day we moved her into an assissted living facility. At first, whenever we went to visit her she would ask to come home. It came to the point where we needed to lie and tell her we were going to doctor appts, etc., and that she couldn't come with us. It was sad, but we knew she didn't know what we were doing. Anyway, Nana has gone down hill a lot, and at a rapid speed. In addition to the Alzheimers, we have always known she has had some gastrointestinal problems but wouldn't go to the doctor and be diagnosed or treated. With the Alzheimers taking over her body, her gastrointestinal issues have been more evident. This past week, or so, she was sent to the hospital because of rectal bleeding. The assissted living doesn't want to keep her, and we were convinced that they weren't ever going to let her back in. That the hospital would have to keep her until we found a place for her to go. How fair is that?! Anyway, the doctors wanted to do a colonoscopy but we knew she would refuse, so they didn't tell her. They stopped feeding her and brought her the prep drink. She didn't know what she was drinking but because she was so hungry/thirsty she drank it without a problem. They did the colonoscopy and she had no idea.


With a colonoscopy, they do a biopsy. Her's showed she had colon cancer. Colon cancer and Alzheimers, WONDERFUL! When my mom sat me down to tell me, I knew it was coming. She didn't even need to finish her sentence. Ulcerative colitis is hereditary and eventually develops into colon cancer, its almost guarenteed. When I heard she had a biopsy and knew that something was wrong based on my mom's expression, I knew it was colon cancer. We all knew, as I said before, that Nana had SOME form of gastrointestinal issue. And where I had ulcerative colitis, and knew it was hereditary - I put it all together.


I was upset because I knew the pain that I felt with the U.C. and that colon cancer could only be worse. I don't want to see my Nana suffer, but at the same time I don't know that she knows she is. I know, I know! Its really complicated but its the truth. She doesn't know she has cancer. She never will - and thats probably better off. The family decided not to treat it because it would just prolong the inevitable. My Nana isn't the Nana I knew growing up and she never will be again. Am I mad? Of course! Sad? Like you wouldn't believe. But I'm also lucky. I am the second oldest grandchild on that side of the family. I had a good 18, or so, years knowing my Nana and will keep all the good memories close to my heart. However, I have three cousins that will NEVER know her the way I did. Yeah, they knew her when she was better but they were too young to be able to remember it. They won't have the memories of sitting around the kitchen table on any given family get together singing songs, or putting a tape in the tape deck that hangs below the cabinets to the left of the back door and dancing around the kitchen floor being lead by Nana. They don't have the memory of sitting on her couch watching "Jack Frost" and the two of us completley balling. I don't know that they know of her unbelieveable skills at Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy or her undying love for Cryptograms. One thing that they can all be sure of, is she loved us. Toward the end, she had a hard time being at family gatherings because she would get irritated. The noise was way to much. But that never destroyed her love for us. I can't provide these memories for my little cousins but maybe someday I can share them with them, and they can live vicariously through me to get to know my Nana.


Anyway, like I said to C last night: If my Nana could see the way she was living her life now, she would be pissed. Nana was always on the go, full of energy, laughter, and her beautiful smile. She wasn't this "zombie" that we see when we go to visit her. And even if we are sitting there with her, she forgets we are there after just a few minutes. The way I see it is the Alzheimers is killing her, it has been killing her. But there was no deadline. Although there still isn't a deadline, we know that the cancer will take her away from us before the Alzheimers will. It is the way she would want it. I, personally, wish I could keep Nana around forever; but, not the Nana I know now - rather, the Nana I grew up knowing. I love her to death, and I hope she knows that.


When I was being Christened, she wrote me a poem. One of the stanzas said:


The years will go so quickly

I'll watch you as you grow

The pride I'll have within my heart

Is more than you will know


She was always wonderful at writing. And that one part of that one poem "gets me everytime." I know that even though she isn't "herself" she still loves all of us.
With that, she is always in my thoughts and prayers.
I love you Nana, I always will.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Summer getaways . . .

Its been a longg summer for my whole family. We all took vacations, with the exception of my father, in June to Florida. C and myself went to Florida with my cousin and a friend. We had an absolute blast and I miss it like crazy. Just a few weeks later my mom and sister K took a trip with their friends to a different part of Florida. It was while they were down there that I decided to have my surgery. And since then it seems as though the summer has been thrown into fast forward.

After my return home from the hospital I begged and begged my parents to go down the Cape. My grandmother owns a house down here and I've been coming every summer since I was only a month old. If we didn't make it down this weekend I wouldn't have come and spent a weekend all summer. We came down Saturday afternoon but the weather was a little crappy so we hung around the house, had dinner, and then went for ice cream. Yesturday, my aunt and uncle came down for the day. We went out to breakfast, to the beach, out to dinner, and then to my other aunt's house. Today I'm planning on lying around the house and reading my book. I just want to relax! Lately, whenever I try to relax, I end up thinking about WAY too much. Atleast today, I'll have a book in front of me to keep my mind busy.

I'm still in pain from my surgery and it's getting rediculous. They told me that recovery would take up to 2 weeks and my surgery was a MONTH ago yesturday. It's about time I start feeling back to normal. Doc said that if I'm not better by Tuesday (tomorrow) he wants to do a "pouch-scope." It doesn't sound too exciting but, I'll be honest, I want it done. I want to know why the 20 pills I'm taking, the 2 tbsps of salt water I'm drinking, and the 3 suppositorys I'm doing ARE NOT WORKING. I want the pain to go AWAY. I'm done with it. I know it sounds gross, but going the bathroom is literally exhausting for me. I just want to crawl in bed after. Atleast while I'm asleep I don't feel as much pain. Although, it's a pain in the ass itself for me to fall asleep lately. So, I'm crossing my fingers and hoping my body rids itself of all this pain.

Along with dealing with this pain, I feel like I've been in a state of depression. Like I said in my last post, I'm not returning to school this fall. If I was, I would be moving in to school right now, instead of sitting in my Cape house typing here. Anyway, C is having a blast at school and I'm extremely jealous. It doesn't help that she throws things in my face. Here is what happened:

C came down with us on Saturday but went home with my aunt and uncle last night. Last night was the first night I would have ever slept in our room down here without her - it was weird but she wanted to go back to school. I can't blame her but I must say, I'm extremely envious of her. I had a really tough time adapting to the college life my freshman year and we all expected her to be the same way, if not worse. Well, she wasn't!! And believe me, I am so happy for her but a part of me gets aggrivated with it. I'm not really sure why and it drives me up a wall. C tends to throw a lot of things in my face. And when she came home Friday night, just like I expected, she threw it in my face that I had a rough time adapting and she hadn't. Keep in mind that I was twice as far from home as she is, I went to school not knowing anyone where as she does know some people, and I was forced to stay at school for the first two weeks and didn't have any guests. She moved to school last Saturday and: A: my mom went to bring her stuff on her third day there. B: She has already had friends up to see her twice, if not more. and C: my mom let her come home because "we haven't been to the Cape all summer and she will be mad if we don't let her come!" WHATEVER!

I still wish I was going back to school, and I can't wait until January!!!


I'm still believing in that stupid Jonas Brothers song:

"Just a little bit longer, and I'll be fine . . . "

All I have to say is a little bit longer better come, and come FAST!