It's a beautiful day!!!!

To start off with Ken had his heart cath last Wednesday.  We had sent the kids off to school with kisses and suitcases.  The doctor came in before the test and once again prepared us that he knew Ken had blockage and probably would be taken straight to the hospital.  I waited for about 35 minutes and the doctor came in and sat down beside me.  He said Ken's heart was weak and he wasn't quite sure why, but he had no blockage!  I just sat there with no reaction.  He started rubbing my back and asked if I was OK?  I told him you had me so prepared for bad news I don't know how to react to good news!  They found out during the pretests that his thyroid is way out of whack so they will begin treating that this Thursday in addition to some diabetic med tweaks.  We go back to the heart doctor in a month and he may start on some meds to help strengthen his heart but that will be all.

He had to stay down a couple of days from the heart cath and on the second day the bandage had to be removed.  In the morning he said rip it off then decided to wait till later.  The tube is run to the heart from an incision in the artery in the groin so he was not looking forward to the removal.  When he was finally ready later in the day I bent down to rip it off and did a great quick job.  He yelled and I looked up and blood was everywhere.  It seems the shock had caused him to punch himself in the nose and get a bloody nose.  Good thing men don't need bikini waxes!  He inserted some rolled up toilet paper in his nose and sat down for me to take his blood pressure.  He had a sweatshirt on and when I went to push it up his arm my hands slipped and I punched him in the side of the face!  What a day!  Then to top it off I gave him a medicine I was to hold because of the heart cath.  Had to call the doctor and say "I think I just killed my husband."  He assured me one dose wouldn't hurt him.    


Yesterday he had body scans which he hasn't had since before the kidney removal to see if the chemo and surgery had helped the lungs.  This morning we had an appointment at 8:50.  They took us straight in and by 9:40 we were going crazy waiting for the doctor.  We kept hearing him walk around and heard him on the phone saying "sorry to bother you."  Ken finally broke me down and I boarded the worry train, sweaty palms and all.  Dr Code finally came in and said immediately "everything looks good."  He apologized for the delay but there was some kind of mix up and he had to track down the radiologist himself on the phone for the scan results.  He said he was worried Ken would have run by then!  He went  on to explain that the tumors in his lungs had shrunk 50 percent and there were no new growths!!!  He said he would have been happy with just no growth so this was wonderful news.  So for now we stay on the same chemo treatment and get a little time to breath.  Ken is ecstatic to say the least.  He told the doctor he would go home and clean the house and the doctor told him not to go crazy on him.

Thanks for all the support and prayers!

Love,
Christina

Are You There God????

Once again we have been hit with bad news.  Ken had heart tests done last Friday and we received a call from the cardiologist today.  His tests all came back abnormal and they suspect blockage.  He is scheduled for bloodwork on Monday and heart cath on Wednesday.  Most likely he will be taken directly from cath to surgery.  Surprisely, that is what we are hoping for.  If the blockage is too severe we will have to sit down with doctors and evaluate our options since his other health problems will complicate the situation.

I am trying to plaster a smile on my face as every looks at me but inside my heart is breaking.  I am so tired and overwhelmed.  Can this really be happening to my family?  How much is one family to handle at a given time?  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and cherish each moment with your family.

Love,
Christina

Where are the bushes when you need them???

Glad it's Friday!  My younger two have not been on their best behavior this week.  Little Kenny decided to throw one of his never ending crying fits because he didn't want to do homework.  Being the responsible parent I am, I took away his XBOX and TV which only made the fit worse.  By this time I decided I had no choice but to lock his butt outside in the backyard until he could get it together!  It only took a few minutes for him to knock to come back in.  Guess I'd better not go on Dr. Phil!

To my parenting defense I had a pretty stressful week.  Ken's insurance company decided to drop the ball with his COBRA and cancelled him on Wed. with all his heart tests scheduled for Fri.  Thank goodness I have been working with a sweet social worker through Anthem and she called to tell me he showed cancelled in the computer.  After a few heated calls it appears to be fixed.  It was misplaced paperwork between his past employer and Anthem.  Never mind they cashed my three 500.00 checks!  Good think we don't have a swear jar at our house.  My kids would be rich this week!

Ken's heart tests were scheduled for this morning.  He wasn't allowed to take any medication before and therefore, of course, his nausea set in during the night.  Before leaving he managed to christen both bathrooms.  The way to the doctor was an adventure.  Needless to say there are no bushes in the middle of the road.  At one point Ken is hanging out of the car and the light turns green.  He can't stop and if I drive he is falling out!  I just turned on my hazards and sat there.  Thank goodness all the people driving around us were nice and nobody honked.  Hopefully, people entering the bank on Bardstown Road watched their step this morning also.  We did arrive and spent most of the day enduring tests.  He passed the treadmill which I think is a very good thing.  The tech said his left side is not beating hard enough but we already knew that.  We call on Tuesday for results and God willing another pill will fix the problem.

Its funny how I tend to loose my composure at the weirdest times.  I was sitting in the waiting room and they told me it would be at least 3 hours before I could see him.  I sat there trying to read a book and tears just started streaming down my face.  This was the first time I hadn't been right by his side through anything!  Just when I thought I was going to start the nasty cry they came and got me and said he kept asking so I could come in the waiting room with him between tests.  I don't know what it matters but just sitting next to each other comforts us both.

Looking forward to a long peaceful weekend.  We will see how that works for me!

Love,
Christina