Insufficient Breaks

Ah Life. The ups. The downs. The more downs.

Lily was looking for pictures the other day and stumbled across the blog. She read quite a few and we sat and talked. She had lots of questions, she didn't remember a lot. Part of the reason I started blogging was a journal-now reading back- I don't remember a lot and then the words crash around me. It's not easy. We've kinda dealt with a lot of shit. It's been tough to write lately- finding time, emotional energy and not be negative. Although as a good friend reminded me- you can feel the toughness and you don't have to be happy about it. Happy about it has been elusive.

Lily is doing the best of all of us right now. She and Kiera remind me a lot of me at those ages. Bella is truly a unique creature and dealing with being 11. Being 11 kinda sucks- in case you hadn't heard- she will tell you. The snark is strong with that one. Lily reads and reads and reads. real books. she prefers them to the kindle or electronic versions. I understand. She says she just likes the feel of the book and turning the page. We visit the library, a lot. She has friends at school and seems to be really happy.

Kiera is struggling with the challenges of the IB program as well as the time requirements for dance. It is so different than where we were with Phillip at this point. She is realistic and although she loves to dance- she does not think she wants to make a career of it. I just hope she will continue to dance, she would like to start a club at school. She is talking about withdrawing from classes after their Nutcracker performance. She really stepped up and became the little mommy for us last year, I really can't argue with her wanting just to have time to be a teen.

Bella is 11. not a little girl - not a woman- plain ol trying to figure things out. We just extricated Lily from this awkward place- or she grew out of it- so we apply miracle grow and hope for the best. Tomorrow is her arm MRI- finally-hoping to rule out some of the anxiety around that thing.

Dobby is like having a toddler. He eats things he shouldn't, poops where he shouldn't and needs lots of attention. Of course everyone gives him attention in their own way and that amounts to several hours of circus dog training for him each day. I walk him a bunch which is good for me physically and emotionally and he enjoys quiet naps in the sun while the kids are at school.

My sweet Phillip. He turned 18. And magically did not instantaneously gain the wisdom of life that adulthood promises. After being in a relationship for a year, young Romeo and Juliet were told they could no longer see each other. Although I don't agree with how many things have been handled, we absolutely respect her family's wishes. We lost part of Phillip last year, I thought it was me, I remember all too well being surrounded by sickness my senior year. I practically lived at Phil's house that year,  But it wasn't about me. Phillip was in love. All focus was lost, he started to lose himself in the relationship. His grades were the first indication, then he didn't apply to some colleges we had talked about, he stopped talking to us, he wasn't careful with his blood sugars- which made him angry, a lot.  He was going through a pretty normal thing with a bunch of not normal. We were trying to cope with a pretty normal thing with a bunch of not normal. Just when I'd see glimpses of him and think he was moving on, he'd slide back. My poor child - cursed with his father's loyalty and my passion for saving lost causes.  Oh to be able to share the insight on that and have him hear me.

Parenting is not for the weak. You lay the foundation and just pray it holds. I wish I could prevent him from heartache, but these are the experiences that break the heart wide open. With the right healing- the capacity for love will be even greater.

My adrenal glands just aren't recovering. I try to manage physical and emotional stress the best I can(I have a new dragon egg smelly thing- as the kids call it- a diffuser for relaxing oils)- we are the opposite of relaxing- even on our most laid back day. The night after my last chemo- I went into adrenal crisis.

I thought it was a headache. Which stresses me out- it could be the weather, it could be the stress- it could be more. So I retreated to my room with oils, tylenol, and ice pack then a heating pad. Within minutes the rest of the available Mallorys were sitting around, playing with Dobby, rubbing my feet. Everyone knew something was up. My stomach started hurting- again catch 22 stress- then the vomiting began. I tried zofran, I tried heavy steroids, everything came back up. I felt horrible. Phil decided I was not in fact contagious and needed the shot. He tried to take my puke bucket away. I cursed him- I think it would have made a great remake for the Exorcist. He finally gave me the shot, and we headed to the ER.

Of course the ER didn't know what to do with me, we enlightened them. It was slow going. The shot kicked in- iv zofran was lovely and fluids helped. I upped the steroids the next few days and then wean back to my regular dose. The dose changes are always tough emotionally. And life goes on and I make dinner because Phil has extra work to make up for the unintended day off. It's a reminder to take better care of myself for everyone's sake and well adrenal crisis really really fricking sucks.

My adrenals are quitting, my platelets aren't bouncing back- nothing transfusion worthy- just bloody noses and bruises. Like anything- I know so many who are far worse off- so I dare not complain. But my gut says we need to strengthen my body again. So after meeting with my oncologist and some thinking- we are holding chemo- the idea was until we do a PET scan. IF there is no progression, or evidence of active disease- we can evaluate and come up with a balance. But of course the PET is not available until the week after Thanksgiving- which would mean skipping 2 treatments. No one knows the right call. SO it's mine. Choose your own adventure cancer style.

SO I go with what I know versus what I wish. I know that I have aggressive cancer that keeps trying to find a way to thrive. I wish No evidence of disease meant I didn't have to worry- I will always have to worry- it's just at what level. I know it could be worse. I wish it was easier. I know I am tired. I wish I wasn't. I know that chemo is keeping the cancer at bay. I wish it didn't damage the other systems in the process. It's time to mitigate damage before it's too late, while not letting the cancer get ahead and this is what managed care is. It's not a cure. Other things go wrong, you have to roll with it and hope to keep ahead of all the bad things. And sometimes you just need a break.

So I will probably head to chemo next week and pound steroids like a world champion cyclist. Thankful for a little break, help the kids with the big ones, wait for the PET and hope for the best.