the tattoos aren't nearly as exciting as I hoped they would be. Just little tiny freckles on my belly and sides. My sis suggested I let my kids come up with new "connect the dot" pictures each week. Since I only got three dots, it should be pretty easy for them to come up with some pretty clever ideas...
OK, so here is the scoop as I understand it... I will go into LA on the 9th. My radiation starts on the 10th . I will start oral chemo at that time. Then on the 15th I will start the intravenous chemo. Radiation will be 5 days a week, oral chemo ( the pills) will be taken every day for as long as I can keep swallowing them ( the hope is that the tumor will start to shrink before my esophagus starts to swell from all the radiation - so they won't have to do what is called a "portacath" ) and the intravenous chemo will be given as often as my body can take it.
Also, I got approved for the hospital housing! HOORAYYYYY! I will stay in a hotel until about the 18th, then move into the hospital owned apartment. The treatments go for 5 1/2 weeks (March 10th to April 16th). Then I get to "rest" for 6 weeks, then get the surgical part done. During the "rest" part is when we are scheduled to move so that should be interesting.
The next part is for the local people, so please forgive me for being kinda boring.... I also do not in the LEAST want to sound demanding or presumptuous, so please know this is written with the understanding that MANY of you have asked what you can do to help. In all humility, I submit the following. If you are far away, or just have too much on your plate right now, please just skip right to the bottom....
The only thing I will need for me personally is a ride from home up to Cedars each Monday morning (leaving about 9:30 a.m.) for those 5 weeks. That would be 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5 and 4/12. Cary will come bring me home on Fridays.
The times I will need physical help, will be after March 20th when our sweet Carly has to go pack up her things to FINALLY get reunited with her wonderful husband. He has been serving his country in Iraq up 'til now, but gets to finish up in beautiful upstate New York.
The things I need help with are mostly things having to do with my kids. The bus comes at exactly the same time as the older kids get out of school, so we might need someone to come meet the bus while Cary runs to pick up kids ( 3:20) Tuesday through Friday. Another thing we need help with would be making sure Jonah got home from Kindergarten (2:00), helping kids with homework, doing school projects and make sure they get dinner on Tues nights. (Cary has to leave for work by 4:30 on Tuesdays ). Then, we will need someone to help get them ready for bed, tuck them in, and read them stories. We would need some sweet soul to spend each Tuesday night in our guestroom while Cary is at work. That is just so if the kids get scared or if there is an emergency. Hubby comes home at 6:00 am and will take over from there.
I will be home on the weekends (hopefully) so I can cover the every other Saturday night and every Sunday night although I might need help with dinners...
Our next door neighbor has graciously offered to help with Mondays, and Cary has Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and every other Saturday off to cover the rest of the week. Poor Cary will just be flying solo.
Once school gets out, Cary's other beautiful children ( Haley and Aaron) have offered to trade off and cover the summer ( I feel so blessed to have them in my life by the way...) and just in time for my surgery.
Please, if any of these time slots look like they could work, contact Cleo as she has the main schedule.
Also please note that any getting kids off the bus or picking them up will require me to first submit your name to the schools/bus company so they can know you are not just some stranger abducting my kid. Please, for my sanity's sake and the schools, if you are planning on helping that way, please let me know ahead of time so I can make sure your name is on those lists. thank you so much.
Ok back to including everyone... Boy I felt so cliquish! (sorry....)
boy I can ramble when I wanna ! Anyway, all the love and support and prayers are DEFINITELY being felt. I cannot thank all of you enough... so with that,I leave you with this.....
