Update . . . (6/27-7/4)

Sorry this has taken a little more time. As I told a friend the other day, I feel like I’m swimming across a lake on my back, while trying to juggle bowling balls. 🏊‍♂️ 🤹‍♀️ 🎳

POSITIVE: I’ve always been great swimming on my back. I’ve actually helped two people in bad situations out of the water. I’m calm under pressure. After this, I’ll add Kevin to that list. 

NOT SO POSITIVE: I suck at juggling. 😬 🤹‍♀️

Overall, Kevin has been better from the chemo and started waking and sleeping pretty normal hours about day 9. Day 8-14 was low immune system stage so we bunkered down with no visitors, which sadly included the twins. So Cheyenne and Shelby had to wait till 4th of July to see him. This of course effects both him and I greatly. They are both a comfort and uplift their daddies spirits. They also are a great deal of help running errands, picking up essentials, and helping me maintain the house which has to stay extra clean now.

Last Friday, day 3 of the semi-quarantine, I got a text message from Shelly Cummings, a BNI networking business partner, but most important, a friend and absoluly great person. She lives in LaGrange, her kids go to Turlock High, and she works in Modesto. She was running her normal Friday grocery run and asked if she could drop groceries off on our doorstep. I replied how much I appreciate her offer but had been running to the local market, as it was my little getaway, but really didn’t need anything at the moment. Anybody who knows our Miss Shelly knows she doesn’t accept just “no thank you”- LOL ♥️ Her next text got tears I my eyes.

I totally get it – then how can I help you?

So, I really thought about it. As Kevin was trying to eat solid foods again, I had just bought the ingredients to make a beef stew (my specialty) and home-made chicken noodle soup (not my specialty). So, I asked her for H-M chicken noodle soup!  She happily said she would deliver a crockpot on Monday with some extra goodies for me too.

That weekend, Kevin tried his hardest to eat solid foods. I gave him the protein supplements in his G-tube but only after he felt he needed them. Again, I tried giving him whole milk products with high calories content. Addison made him Malto-Meal everyday. Got him to eat a scrambled egg here and there, but the only thing he really ate was watermelon and cucumbers. Food tastes awful at this point. His taste buds are fully effected by both chemo and radiation.

Every Monday he meets with both the RN and Dr. after radiation. The great news was he drive to radiation. First time driving in over a week. After that Monday meeting though, we agreed the feeding tube will be the primary feeding for the duration of treatment. Kevin had lost 12 lbs in 7 days. I was shocked. The Dr. said a good amount was probably water weight because of the steroids they gave him for 4 days with the chemo, but it was still a lot of weight to have lost. After the appt, Kevin and I agreed the G-tube would be his primary source for the duration.

That night, I was feeling pretty down. I felt like I was failing to care for my hubby. Thankfully, Kevin felt good and wanted to pick Addie up after cheer practice. Addie suddenly says, “Don’t forget about the chicken noodle soup your friend dropped off. BTW- it’s the bomb. Hope your not offended but it’s way better than yours.” LOL!  I suddenly realized I hadn’t eaten lunch or dinner yet. 😬

I quickly heated up the chicken noodle soup and looked at what the ‘goodies’ for me were sent. A bottle of red wine and bottle of white! Kevin and I are admitted beer snobs, and Shelly is one of my beer drinking ladies. I had mentioned to Miss Shelly I couldn’t bring myself to drink beer by myself at home without my husband. So she brought me wine!

The next day we got a text from Kevin’s best friend Juan, “What are we doing for the 4th? I’ll come over and cook.” It was a day early to lift the semi-quarantine but I could tell Kevin needed it. He had been more somber since Monday. Even though Juan would be cooking something he couldn’t partake in, I knew Kevin needed the company. I was so grateful to have Juan and Bella there on the 4th. The twins heared Juan was making tacos and said, “This is the best day ever!” After eating the best homemade esada tacos EVER, we watched a movie on Kevin’s home theater system which thoroughly impressed Juan and Bella, then lit fireworks at dark. It was a great afternoon and evening with our family. It was nice to feel “normal.”

Enjoying the fireworks. His ears are still sensitive.