Surprise Visitors (R2 D3-4)

First of all, let's ignore the fact that it's 3:00 in the morning. I'm sure I'll sleep someday. Ok? Ok.

This week has been going as well as can be expected. Thursday morning I brought the girls to swimming lessons. They were so excited! They were telling me how they're ready to swim this summer now. I have to admit, the idea of summer being around the corner really gives me something to look forward to. Summer means no more chemo. The promise of summer feels like the promise of life starting fresh again.

After swimming lessons, Lucy came with me to surprise Mike. She was really excited and somehow was even able to remain silent as I talked to him on the drive to KC. For Lucy, this was a pretty big deal. When she opened the door she announced, "Your Doctor is here!" The look on Mike's face was worth all the money in the world. I wish I could bottle the emotions in the room during that embrace. I think it was exactly what Mike needed to give him a little boost. One of his reasons to beat this. Lucy spent all day bouncing off the walls... and the bed, and the halls, and the couch, and the elevator... It was a lot of fun. She doesn't get much time alone with Mom and Dad, so I know she was soaking it up. We made no less than 6 trips to the cafeteria. They need to restock their Doritos now. When we got home that night she put herself to bed and crashed hard. Mike crashed hard too, and said he slept great. They had to change his chemo bag at 1:30 and he said he barely woke up for it.

On Friday, Molly was going to come down in the afternoon, but plans changed, and so the lucky duck got to miss school so I could bring her down. She was beyond excited to see her dad. She was more emotional about it than Lucy was. Like, so happy she was crying just talking about it. That girl has a heart the size of Texas. Mike was expecting her in the afternoon, so it worked out great that she, too, got to surprise Daddy. Nothing beats the hugs from those girls. Mike soaked in the love while she was here. On the way out of the hospital, she noticed a fountain that wasn't on. I explained to her that it would be on and running when Daddy is doing his last round of chemo in May. She lit up and said, "And then he'll be all done with chemo and be better and can play with us again?!!!" Oh, my heart. I smiled through the tears in my eyes and said, "YES!! Daddy can't wait to be able to play with you guys again." That's what we're doing all of this for, kiddo.

We had a few visitors this week, and I think it helped to pass the time and distract us. (From Craigslist, mostly) Mike has also been walking quite a bit. One of the maintenance workers even measured out the floor so Mike knew how far he was walking. 8 laps=1mile. He walked 3 miles today! I was really proud of him, and I really enjoy that time of just walking and talking. At one point, he said, "One more lap until we hit a mile. Keep it up, babe." If you're wondering, I made it! I couldn't let him outdo me. :) That's what I love about him= always so encouraging and supportive. 

 Friday nights aren't quite as exciting as they used to be. Mike was asleep by 8:30. I got to start watching Fuller House. If ever there were a time I wanted to feel teleported back to being 10, now is it. I watched a few episodes, and I must say, the Full House crew has aged pretty well. It got a chuckle or two out of me, anyways.

I attempted sleep around 11, but then Mike's chemo was ready to be changed, so here I am. Good news is: he's on the 4th and last bag! We're almost done!! Dr. Sirridge discussed trying a few different things to try to avoid some of the side effects he had during week 2 the last time. He is on a high dose of Prednisone during the chemo, so instead of stopping it cold turkey when Chemo is done, he talked about weaning him off of it for the few days after. I hope it helps!

I am settled in, and staying with him this weekend, so as long as things continue to go smoothly, we'll be heading home Sunday. I'm sure his recliner is going through the same separation anxiety that he is.

We have felt the love and support from everyone this week as we tackle this long hospital stay. He will get another PET Scan done after the 4th round, so I keep thinking, "We're almost half way done until we could possibly get a cancer free diagnosis. (He would still have 2 more rounds of chemo after that, though.) Hope is a pretty powerful thing! 

XoXo

Robin