15 Things You Should Give Up in Order to be Happy

15 Things You Should Give Up in Order to be Happy

I am

Nutritional Information We Can Actually Use!

Since Alyn started radiation, he has been having a terrible time keeping down food.  I cannot think of anything scarier than to watch the person you love eat and throw up everything day after day.  I feel like we have tried everything.  Yesterday, out of desperation, we met with a nutritionist.  To date, nutritionists have not been very helpful.  This time was different.

Bad News, Now What?

On Monday, we received bad news.  After two clear scans, when we were told to expect progression and were clear, in April, my husband has 6 new tumors.  In less than four months, Alyn has 2cm metastasises (mets) in his hip, rib and two in his lung.  There are two other small mets - one is in his right shoulder blade, but the other is in his brain.  I keep telling myself the brain met is small - 4mm.  The problem is that the drug they want him to take to prevent future growth is not eligible for patients with brain mets. 

Do You Have a Will?

If you do not have a will, and you have minor children, get one! 

As an insurance agent, I have been talking about the importance of updated wills to all my clients.  The problem?  When our first child was born, we hurried out and completed our will, durable power of attorney and medical power of attorney. 

Tree House Gang Starts Tomorrow, 04/19/2012

From: Dorothy.Carter@dekalbmedical.org
Date: 04/18/2012 01:25 PM
Subject: Upcoming Sessions

Hi,  TreeHouse Gang,
We hope your spring is going well.  In fact,  summer is just around the corner!   We wanted to let you know about upcoming events.  The first one begins tomorrow,  April 19 to be followed by April 26  and May 3rd,  all Thursdays.  This is our regular program for Tree House members from 4:45 to 6:00 and the Young Survivors from 6:00 to 7:15 in the Cancer Center.  If you wish to come, and have not previously registered,   please let us know, or, just come on in!  There will be people here to give out hugs!

Helping Children Understand Cancer

Just added a new link to a great article.

Helping Children Understand Cancer

Greatest Weakness

Courtesy of All These Quotes are Shared with Us by Prabeena Kaylan

I'm Fine, Dammit!

Courtesy of Laugh It Out

Blue Skies

Alyn, Grace, Zachary and I are spending the most wonderful week being spoiled rotten at a Blue Skies Ministries Retreat.  Blue Skies Ministries usually serves families who have a child with cancer.  They invited us to attend this retreat thinking our family needs are very similar.   I never imagined how much we needed this gift.

Favorite Support Group

Do you have a favorite support group?  Post a link so we can see what it is all about. 

Two New Links Added Today

After attending a caregiver support group at the Winship Cancer Center - Emory, I was told about two more programs that would be helpful.  Check them out.

Blue Skies Retreats

Food Tidings - Calendar

Caregiver Support Group Meets Wed. at Emory

The Winship Cancer Institute is sponsoring a Caregiver Support group that meets from 11am to 12:30pm at Emory every third Wednesday of the month.  RSVP to Carol Rivera at (404) 778-4593.  The next meeting is this Wednesday, March 21st.

Laughter is Cheaper than Medicine

Thank you Laughter is Cheaper than Medicine on Facebook!

Medication Template

Good morning!  I am trying to take this technology thing to the next level by using Google Docs.  I've had quite a few requests for a template of the Medication Chart I use to help manage my husbands drugs.  Here is the link.  http://bit.ly/woGwnh  Hope this helps you out as much as it has us.

Met with Oncologist Today - Good News

Good news today from oncologist.  Blood work looked great.  Alyn is to continue at the lower dose of the cancer medication which gives him the opportunity for more manageable side effects.  He is able to get out more and even caught Zachary's tball game on Saturday.  Has been paying for it since, but should be up for another game tomorrow night.

Bone scan, CT scan of abdomine and lungs, and MRI of head scheduled for 04/18/2012 with oncologist appointment scheduled for 04/23/2012.  Wish us luck!

God grant me a vacation...

Thank you Kathleen Tracey from Facebook.

Where is everybody? Who cares. Enjoy it!

I am enjoying what has become a novel concept.  I am all alone and loving it.  My kids are in bed.  My husband went to a board meeting for the kid's swim team, and isn't home yet.  I am actually allowing the part time house keeper to do her job and am not feeling the least bit guilty. All this joy, and the first thing I wanted to do was brag, I mean blog about it. 

Bereavement Support Groups

I added some new links for family support during the grieving process.  These were recommended to me by people that have or are currently participating in these Bereavement Support Groups. 

Look for these links on the right side of the blog under Atlanta Links.

Suvivor?

Here is another interesting transition.  It happens slowly.  It is a new chapter, but does not present with the turning of a page.  Rather, when you look back at the story, you see the change that unfolded.  I never truly understood the term survivor.  Now, I see how it can mean different things to different people.  In my mind, being a survivor simply means being alive.  One more day...  One more month...  Hopefully, one more year... And is something to celebrate, but how?