Saying the right thing etc.

It's kind of funny, you get diagnosed with cancer and if you aren't an introspective person you will become one very quickly. And you get to say things you want to say but you have to be careful with humor. Being a nurse I have a pretty morbid sense of humor but only those who know me well understand it. Some people have a hard time knowing what to say to a person who's been diagnosed with cancer and other people don't. Maybe the second group has practice but the truth is cancer will touch everyone at some point, either their own diagnosis or that of a family member or friend. I've had a couple of people actually tell me, "Cory, I don't know what to say." I tell them I don't either so let's just say whatever comes out our mouths. It's nice to know people are thinking of me and they care. That's all. Because really I am very fortunate to live where I have great medical care, a job, health insurance, my parents, my grandchildren, friends, air conditioning, food, pain medication, etc. Getting a diagnosis of cancer changes everything, most importantly it makes you stop and evaluate what is and isn't important. And saying the "right" thing isn't important to me.

Britton's sweet hugs

Braxton is second from the left

One person who didn't know what to say and said so is my friend Jennifer. So we just cried and got it over with. Now it's easy to talk about what's happening. Jennifer lives in Blue Springs, Missouri and is an RN Education Coordinator also. We work in the same group of 8 who cover the Kansas City Area (this includes all of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa also). Jennifer and I worked together on deploying a couple of important projects for our group and we work very well together. She has become a very good friend to me and if she gets real tired of her kids she's going to give them to me. Jennifer was my first "cancer visitor" over the weekend. Thankfully my bathroom remodel was complete except for the mirror which arrived yesterday. Saturday morning I went to Braxton's first soccer game, had my appointment and then Jennifer came Saturday afternoon and stayed until

Me and Jennifer getting pedicures

Sunday afternoon. We watched a Robin Williams movie, World's Greatest Dad, which was really kind of strange but funny. His death is so sad. We ordered pizza and pasta from Pizza Hut. I can only open my mouth about a half inch and my jaw gets tired very quickly from chewing so the pasta worked best for me. We were in bed by 10, got up in the morning and went to my IV infusion and then ate breakfast at The Good Egg. The breakfast was awesome at the time. I ordered a western omelet which was loaded with onions and green peppers-maybe not a good idea for someone whose throat is being torched! I was at my mom and dad's later in the evening and thank goodness my mom had prevacid because it took care of the heartburn. After breakfast we went for a mani-pedi. My first pedicure ever. I watched a show once about them not cleaning those tubs and people getting MRSA so I never wanted a pedicure. Oh well, I have cancer, getting an amputated foot from getting MRSA isn't so scary so I put my feet in that tub and oh my gosh, I'm hooked. I have shiny pink toenails and beautiful feet. I have matching pink fingernails too. The final bill was $100 so this may be my last pedicure. Jennifer got purple toenails which looked very cute. We laughed about how much grinding they did on our feet to get rid of the callouses. So, thanks to Jennifer for the great visit and driving all the way here to spend time with me! And a big thank you to my mom for cleaning my house. I told Jennifer my mom likes to do that kind of stuff and it is much appreciated because when my mom cleans she not only cleans but she organizes closets, linens, does laundry and figures out things I "need" to be more organized.

My mom took me to my IV therapy and radiation appointment Monday. I got to see my radiation oncologist and we decided we would try a week without IV fluids and see how I do. I told him about my heartburn issue which continued yesterday and he said to start on Prilosec OTC. I'm really glad to try to do without the Decadron  they give me at IV therapy because it makes me really hungry and jittery. I've lost 10 pounds which is okay but I would end up gaining 50 at the rate I'm eating ice cream. Monday evening Taylor skateboarded and Lana rode her scooter over for a visit. Taylor drove us to Sonic and I ate a Molten Lava Sundae. After they left I ate an apple streusel heated up with vanilla ice cream. I was so stuffed I went to bed at 9:15. I saw Lana left over half her hot fudge sundae in my freezer. Wonder if she'd be mad if I ate it.

So today my appointment will only be for radiation. I have to stop by the Cancer Center to pick up papers my oncologist had to sign for my absence from work. My dad will be taking me. I could drive myself but I have to take liquid morphine before radiation so I can open my jaw for the dreaded mouthpiece which impairs my ability to drive. I am very excited because tonight my grandsons Braxton and Britton are going to spend the night!! I am going to take B (Braxton) to school in the morning and then we'll take b (Britton) to his sitter on my way to radiation tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait to get my hands on them. My grandchildren don't have to worry about what to say because to them I'm grandma, cancer or not.