Weekend update

It’s been a while since our last blog, but it was the weekend and there was too much fun to be hadJ

The theme of the past few days has been dropping scrilla, gansta for money, on household goodies.  From a TV, to a new/second refrigerator, to all the odds and ends that come with a house.  All good additions and we needed the new materials.  Other than that, my days have been filled with golf and gym sessions, not a bad disposition I tell you.

The parents have been in town for the past two weeks and their presence has been beneficial in numerous way. And one fantastic reality is that Alex gets along great with the “In Laws” as we will label them for simplicity.  My fathers’ handyman expertise which has saved us hundreds if not thousands of dollars coupled with my mother acting as our personal maid have been pricelessJ  It’s also soothing to have their unconditional love around.

Back to the gym and all the miles logged.  Watching Alex run 10 miles now a days and hearing her say man that wasn’t enough makes me feel like a schlep, but when you are involved with a marathon runner I guess you have to accept it.  I’m happy to say I didn’t lose too much strength since having my first treatment.  Today was validation with my ability to lift the weight I had been handling just prior to it’s start while working out shoulders.  A good thing that I’m able to maintain now seeing that the nuclear chemo will for sure be a kick in the balls in the not to distant future.

I’ve been a little childish in my dreams about not losing my hair for the past to weeks, but reality finally reared it head.  Um, not going to be that luckyJ  Yesterday as I was running my fingers through my hair  I pulled out a huge chunk.  That coupled with numerous hairs falling in my food brought me to a barber.  The pictures display one of these episodes just prior to my visit to a barber.  The lady in the second pic is my barber, or I think she would prefer stylist.  She was extremely sweat and alluded to her mother battling lymphoma now, but we got the good news that she is currently in remission just enduring a few more treatments as is standard with most regimens from oncologists.

We were expecting to go into the hospital later this week for my next treatment, but we were shocked if not pissed to hear the Dr. say today, “Are you ready to check in today?”  I sternly said “um, no!”  Bottom line I’ll be checking in tomorrow for my second run!  It was a bit out of left field that this was thrown on our back without any prior notice.  Oh well we will improvise.  What I mean is it requires a little bit of coordination and planning when you’re expecting to be locked in the hospital for 5 days.

Things are progressing nicely all things considered.  The big wigs have to come together and determine whether this will be the last round of my initial chemo.  The issue at hand that is very serious is whether my stem cells can handle a third and still be harvested.  This decision needs to be decided by the oncologists collectively.  They are supposed to meet and discuss this issue in the coming days.  I’m ambivalent either way.

I hope all is well across the country and that all of you are enjoying your lives and the people close to you.  My pain and discomfort will be offered up for any and all of you in need.

Cheers,

Andy

PS….a little note from Alex… The most intimate of details that Andy has left out is his mortality. Our warrior is in fact mortal, not super human like he sometimes acts. After a weekend that would have had most in shape, well people flat on their ass our soldier found himself exhausted, fevered and throwing up Sunday night. It just goes to show you how much he pushes himself beyond his limits…but the chemo still tries to have the last laugh. Andy simply tells it to “go fuck yourself”

The pic to the right is Andy after arranging the garage, planting bushes, mowing the yard and washing 2 cars! This guy has cancer?!?!?