Zachary's Factor Realized

One small update: we had Zachary's deep dish pizza for dinner, and it was everything I knew it was going to be.

Additionally, my lovely and generous wife is making a run to the store (as I type) to pick up some Haagan-Dazs ice cream. My current favorite is their Vanilla Swiss Almond. What can I say - I'm just following orders from the folks who operated on me, and my wife is helping me to make sure I'm getting plenty of calories.

Blessings to the Universe, especially for the five ingredients in the HG Vanilla.

Post Op at Home

I haven't blogged in a little while, mainly because I've not been 100% on some days. I had my post-op appointment with the surgical team, and everything looks hunky-dory, however, I'm still experiencing some nausea, which makes it tough to eat. The plan with my oncologist is to eat up and get some weight on within the next week and a half before I start the chemotherapy infusions. Thankfully, I'm feeling better each day, with less nausea. I'm taking a targeted cancer treatment in the form of a pill, Tarceva, on a daily basis, which has the wonderful side effect of giving me a facial rash, which looks like acne. Thank you modern medicine and your amazing arsenal of side effects. I really wanted to relive junior high school zits again.

All bitching aside, I was able to check off all the items on my list. It's so nice to be home. Sleeping in my own bed was such a treat. Coconut water tastes better than I remember. I want to thank the inventor of popsicles, because I've had so many lovely flavors as of recent. The heparin shots are just a painful memory, and while I wasn't able to finish the entire bowl of phở, I was able to enjoy all the nuanced flavors that go into each amazing bowl.

The other day I had some fresh mango, and it was like eating candy. It was quite divine. Don't ever take your ability to eat mango for granted.

In all, I think the surgery was a great move, as I'm now able to eat normally, and the nausea is fading. I did learn that I need to get good sleep; I had one recent day where I hadn't, and the next day I felt like death poorly warmed up in a low wattage microwave. Needless to say, I napped like the hunted of Professor Van Helsing.

I've also been able to get out of the house and catch some flicks with some friends, who've moved their work schedules around so they could hang out with me. Thanks guys. Additionally, my Mom and I caught the new Star Trek film, which was downright awesome. My aunts and uncles have also been helping out. My pool sweep now has entirely new guts, but the same exterior. It's a sleeper sweeper - very American Graffiti. Also, they found this amazing play structure for my boys and set it up for them. Our dog likes it too. One aunt knitted me some sweet beanies, and my Nana has sent me some of her homemade soup. Thank you all!
(note to readers: if you're reading this from the daily email, and not the actual blog (jromi.blogspot.com), then you're not going to be able to see the short video below that shows the boys and dog playing on the structure)

The next food item I really want to tackle is some deep dish, and there's a Zachary's right down the street from us. I don't need to finish a whole pie (my M.O. these days with regards to food is "smaller portions more frequently") rather just a slice.

I'm not certain yet what chemo drugs I'll be doing in the infusion, and not sure how they're going to make me feel. I'm hoping there'll be only minor side effects, so if you're in the area and you want to catch a movie with me in the next week or so, then please let me know. As I said, I'm using this time to get some weight back, which I'm considering my job, while also taking the Tarceva. While I joke about the acne-like side effects I really don't care too much about it, as it's supposed to get cancer cells to properly undergo apoptosis, and stop cancer cell division (i.e. hinder growth.) Anything that hurts this tumor and any of its cells is OK with me. Hurt away Tarceva. Do your worst.

Stuff I can't wait to have when I'm out

While recovering from my hospital bed, enduring diet restrictions and following strict intake/output guidelines there are some simple things I am sooo looking forward to when I get out:

1. Being home with my family

2. Drinking some apple juice

3. Drinking some coconut water

4. Eating a Popsicle

5. Sleeping in my own bed (and not get poked and prodded every 2 hours)

6. Enjoying some sunlight on my face and head

7. Eating some of my grandmother's soup

8. Not getting Heparin shots (those suckers burn!)

9. Being free of IVs and electronic monitoring devices

10. Eating some phở (yum...fresh lime juice)

I could probably go on and on, but this is a good starting point and I don't want to get greedy.

The word thus far is that I will be able to leave (check out) this coming Mon or Tues. Now I'm not saying this needs to be set in stone. I could be made to see the logic of getting out by the end of the weekend. I'm just saying...