Thursday, June 25, 2009

A Gladder Bladder!

"Bladder cancer"! I said these words to myself out loud for the first time today. Since surgery yesterday morning to remove a tumor and two stems which were behind it, I am coming to the realization that I have/had bladder cancer. It is strange to hear the words. Dr. Peter Fretz, my surgeon, will have the complete results, hopefully, by Tuesday. He said that he could guess at many possibilities but it would be silly to make any guesses until he reads the report. He will call.

It is very likely that the tumor(s) will grow back...in which case, we just go back and do this again. We just wait and see.

I haven't had even one pain pill since surgery and haven't had any sleep either. I should sleep tonight. Brent, Elizabeth, Layla and Marley, Kendra and Alexis just left to go home and shopping (Kendra, Elizabeth and Lexi). Tom is outside in the 90 degree heat deciding if he wants to mow anything tonight or not. The kids had pizza here for supper.

I have to be very careful for at least 2 weeks so I don't start bleeding. It could happen easily so I am not to lift more than 15 pounds. I had better empty my purse.

Well, life changes but I am grateful that so far, the cancer was caught at a very early stage (we assume) and I assume that I won't have to deal with anything like chemo etc. So, even with "bladder cancer", I guess that this is the way to go. God is good!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A Beautiful Bladder Which Could Have Been Badder

Well...today was the big "bladder' day. I am typing this from my hospital bed with the computer at a very bad angle. It is 12:15 a.m. and I can't sleep soooooo.....why not blog!

Kendra, Alexis (yes....my baby!), Brent, Elizabeth and Tom were here for the big morning. Sit and wait, sit and wait. Of course, I was worth it (at least that's what they said!)

The tumor was INSIDE the bladder which was the first that I had heard that. I figured that would be bad, but alas!...that is good. If it had been on the outside, that would have meant that it would have pushed through the wall and ....not good. There were also 2 other "stems" behind the tumor that he took. Hope that doesn't mean that I'm fertile for tumor growth. He says they will likely grow back and we'll go through this again. We'll know more Tuesday and Dr. Fretz will know how/if he needs to proceed.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Tomorrow

No it's not tomorrow yet...I'm just up early today! Can't sleep. Today I am suppose to get the call from the hospital telling me what time to come in for surgery. Let's get this done so people quit worrying! I'm not...so why are they!

The only really, really good part of all this is that Kendra and Alexis are coming (wish it weren't because of me having a snip, snip!!!) this evening for a couple of days!!! This will be her first big trip. Jason will go back to work at Chrysler on June 29th so this week he is still home with the boys.

Went to Battle Creek yesterday since my brother and wife from New Mexico are visiting their daughters in Kalamazoo for the week. Daughter Kelly is buying her paren's old house and they came for the closing. However there was a glitch and can't close until July. They will do it using technology. The proper papers are already signed.

I had brunch with Barry, Linda, Keith, Sharon, Debra and Mother. Four of these people are very loud because everyone wants to be "listened to". Not pretty!!! Sometime soon, I'll just bring Mother to my house...just the 2 of us!

After Barry and Linda left, Debra's son David and wife Naomi from North Carolina walked in and will be staying until next Thursday. Haven't seen them in 2 years.

Left Battle Creek at 4:00.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Back Home Again...

I arrived in Goshen at 4:00 this afternoon to see Tom, Layla and Marley. Elizabeth was heading to Indy for classes until Wednesday. I immediately unpacked and began a load of laundry because that is what I do.

Well, tomorrow are all of my pre-op tests. They will take an hour or two. Glad to get this business overwith.

Tom is teaching every morning through June at Concord and Monday and Wednesday nights through June. It is, therefore, very very quiet right now. It's a great night to begin book 4 of the "Heavenly Daze" series.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

"Lexi Lou Who"

Having this little girl home is amazing. We forget that she is over 2 months old (nearly 10 weeks) and we aren't sure whether or not she has reached 7 pounds yet. Since she is home, she doesn't get weighed. Kendra will make a doctor's appt. tomorrow. Several appts have been made with specialists but this will be her first with her regular pediatrician.

Lexi has been sleeping so well through the night. She is eating well and is such a good baby.

Nicholas and Blake wake up and ask where Lexi is. I'm not convinced that they think she is really here to stay. They have been very loving and then they go do their own thing. Today has been a quiet, warm, uneventful day. Just hangin' with the kids. Life is good.

Saturday, June 13, 2009




Lexi Is Home!

Alexis spent the first 67 days of her life in St. Vincent's Women's Hospital but today...she is finally home. I was blessed to be able to go with Kendra and Jason to pick Lexi up and bring her home. A photographer is always needed!!!

I haven't written about my situation because to me, Alexis was too much on our minds. But now that she is home, at least until she returns for heart surgery in a couple of months, I'll tell my story:

On May 22, I went to my doctor due to blood in the urine. The following Tuesday, I went to EGH and had ultrasounds and cat scans. While on the table for the catscan, I knew they had seen something since they called my doctor for further scans.

The next day, my doctor called me and said that they had found a tumor on (not in) my bladder and I should see Dr. Fretz on June 9th. He said that it most likely was cancer. Hopefully after it comes out on June 24th, it will be out and the cancer will be removed. I will be hospitalized for a day or two (that part shocked me!) and then no lifting for 10 to 14 days!!! I will have to be checked every 3 or 4 months because it is likely that the tumor will return. Then....we start over again. Ugh!

Oh well....if it has to happen....then my guess is, this is the way to go!!!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

2 Months Old!

How can that little girl be 2 months old already? At the moment she is tube free but to stay that way, Lexi has to eat well. Now that they have discovered a large hole in the bottom chamber of her heart, she will have to eat well and gain some weight. The hole could explain lack of gaining and sleeping a lot. We'll just have to "wait and see" what happens. Kendra is beginning to hate that phrase.

The boys are doing well. Nicholas just lost his 2nd tooth and Blake is still being a "good pirate". Jason is home for the month of June and hopefully Chrysler will put him back to work in July. Would you say there is stress in that family?

I came home today. I have to meet with a surgeon on Tuesday to see about my small tumor attached to the back of my bladder. There has been way too much bleeding during the last 5 days, so I am actually glad to go. There was very little bleeding when I saw my doctor. Let's get a date set and get it out. Hoping for a good outcome.

Elizabeth just called from Chicago and she and Stephaney just finished a 2 day, 39.3 mile walk for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Amazing. Both girls raised $2,000. Wow....am I proud of them!

Monday, June 1, 2009

It's June!!!

It's June 1st and Lexi is still in the NICU. I have been home this week due to a doctor's appointment but will return tomorrow for the week. Jason had been told that he would return to work (that's when they will really need me in Noblesville) on June 1 but at the last minute, it was changed to July 1. Looking at the positive side, being laid off during the month of June isn't all bad when one lives on the water.

I'm anxious to see Lexi since it has been quite a while since I saw her. Kendra, Jason, and the boys were here for the "cousin's birthdays" last a week ago so it has been a week since I saw the boys too. Miss them!

Tom is in Noblesville right now and will return tomorrow since he begins teaching Concord Summer School on Thursday. Ivy Tech begins on Monday. Class is Monday and Wednesday. He will, therefore, come home tomorrow. We'll wave at each other as we pass on US31.

Layla spent the night last night because Marley was throwing up. She is better today. Both girls now have had the "bug". Hoping that it is over for their family.

Lexi hit 7 lbs 1 oz today! Great, steady progress. she is fed every 3 hours and only on the continuous feeding at night. Looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.