Hoping To Tip The Scales

Good Morning!! Due to technical difficulty the post that I wrote last night has accidentally been deleted. It was likely user error but we'll call it technical difficulty and here is a shorter version of the original post.

Chad is a full week from completing his first cycle of chemotherapy. Some of the beginner's luck that he had during the first infusion has worn off and he had a tougher time with the second infusion. As we expected, the side effects came on later and stuck around for longer this time. The nausea was still very present but we do think that the steroid helped. Fatigue was a much bigger issue these last 5 days and Chad slept a lot. As you can imagine, the nausea and fatigue led to another week of Chad not having an appetite and another significant weight loss. This is not what we wanted to happen and we are disappointed but will keep working through the list of suggestions that we were given. 

Chad started to turn the corner and feel better yesterday. He was able to eat 3 decent sized meals and 2 snacks and I was thrilled. We have decided that for now we will follow his cravings. We know that proper nutrition is extremely important for Chad but we also realize that any food is better than no food so I'm trying to indulge him with the foods that he wants instead of what I think he needs. This situation is made even more difficult by the diet restrictions that he has with the stent and the sensitivity to cold. I'll figure out a balance soon but for now what Chad wants, Chad gets and currently that is all things maple! Chad discovered Canadian Maple doughnuts from Tim Horton's and has become a regular customer. On two different occasions we went in to get the doughnuts and they didn't have them but Chad flashed that famous smile of his and both times they made a fresh batch for him! Chad likes to snack on cereal but we have to be careful and keep it plain so I was very excited when I found out that Cheerios had a new maple flavor. I grabbed a box and he's had 4 bowls since yesterday. I also figured out that I could sneak in protein pancakes if I drizzled them with fancy maple syrup so that's been helpful. The current goal is to make the days that Chad feels well enough to eat really count. We hope that he can gain some of the weight that he lost last week, so I've set alarms so that I can remind him to eat more often. 

Food equates to comfort for many people and I know that a lot of you really want to cook for us, we get offers almost everyday and we love you all for it. A meal train is just not ideal for us right now. This is a marathon, not a sprint so I'm sure that this will change but it's where we are for now. Some of you have mentioned that you'd like to bring food for Cami and me and I think that you're very sweet to think of us but we're doing okay. I've been a short order cook since Cami started eating so making 3 different dinners is not really a new thing in our house. We don't have freezer or shelf space for a lot of food so it can get tricky. We have been given a few gift cards for restaurants and groceries and that has helped us live more in the moment and satisfy the current cravings and we thank you all for thinking of us in that way. 

Even though it was a rough week for Chad we still found lots of moments where we had good hearty belly laughs that had tears running down our faces. We love to laugh and I'm so happy that through all of this we are still cracking up! We found comfort in working on plans for trips and fun things that we want to do. It looks like our first trip is going to be to one of our favorite places in the sunshine state with an exciting detour to Sanibel Island where we will stay at the resort where we honeymooned. In the past we have tried to follow the Browns on the road when we were able to so this season we are going to try and go to two away games as well as seeing the Indians on the road. Cami has always wanted to go to New York City and we are hoping to take her on a total tourist trip and hit all of the famous New York City sights. Skiing has become Chad & Cami's thing to do together and he really wants to take her skiing in Colorado. Cami has been very lucky to have Chad as a ski instructor and he feels like she's ready to head out west. Chad has been a wonderful ski parent and accompanied her to ski club every trip for the last 3 years and made sure that she has become a skilled and safe skier. Cami often says that skiing is her favorite sport. I really hope and pray that we can get them on the slopes while he feels well enough to do it. 

My apologies for the technical difficulties earlier. This replacement post isn't my best work, but I think that I hit the most important highlights of the week. 

Thank you all for your continued love and support!! Please keep Chad in your prayers and sending those good vibes.