Our Weekend

I'll get into all the updates and medical stuff in a moment, but first the happy stuff. We went for a family photo on Sunday. I think it turned out pretty well....man is it tough to work with that many people - especially when two of them are so young! After the photo shoot (at Clix at the Avenues at E.Cobb) we went over to Johnny Rockets for an early, yummy dinner.

Earlier on Sunday, we went to David's Gran's birthday celebration. She is looking very well, but is very confused and frustrated most of the time. Can you even imagine what it would be like to know that you know someone (your own children and grandchildren), but can't remember who exactly they are. It was VERY nice to see all the family, especially since the boys have a couple of 1st cousins once removed now! A couple of photos - Ethan socializing and being loving; Ryan double-fisting cup cakes :)

Mom 'graduated' from radiation yesterday (Monday); they actually gave her a certificate. I have to say that it is nice to be done with that...I know it is suppose to help, but it is still a weird thought that they are zapping your brain with x-rays! It also means that we aren't actively doing anything, and that makes me antsy...even though the doctors want us to take a small break in between radiation and chemo (if mom chooses to try chemo). We have a 2nd opinion scheduled with another medical oncologist next Tuesday...another Kaiser oncologist, but highly recommended by Uncle Danny, who to remind you is a VERY well respected oncologist himself.

Mom started losing some hair this weekend, so the photo was really good timing! She doesn't have bald spots yet, but just alot of overall thinning. My guess is that if it doesn't taper off, we will have to shave it by this weekend. We went by the American Cancer Society yesterday and got her a wig and a couple of hats and scarves. They are amazing there...they had a decent selection, and it is all free to the patient. They also have a program that is something like 'looking good, feeling good' where they have a skin specialist teach you about changes in your skin during cancer and treatments and they teach you some makeup options, tips, tricks that you can use and you go home with a bag of donated makeup - the good stuff too - Clinique, Estee Lauder, etc. I hope we can get mom into that while she feels good.

David flew out yesterday evening and comes back Thursday night. The boys and I had dinner with Amanda. She donated me an old phone as my phone (one previously also owned by Amanda - good thing she is my supplier) finally died...oh, how I loved that phone....still works, but the display is completely gone, so not very useful. I like the new one ok too, but we need to get to know one another.

Dad has his [hopefully] last iron infusion yesterday. Was suppose to be an hour and took about three...boy was he 'unhappy'. Hopefully, he has settled down by today. I know they make him feel better. He started his Chantix this weekend!!! You are suppose to smoke while on it for about 7 days and then be able to stop. It works in the brain and controls the craving to help you kick the habit, but of course, you can still smoke while on it if you want, so I am really relying on dad to WANT to stop by this weekend or so! He REALLY has to stop to chose life at this point.

Dad doesn't have anything else this week. He had a test scheduled and has some next week and the week after that were ordered by his heart dr, but we had a small issue with that. Took dad to his new primary doctor on Friday (Dr Kriegel of Wellstar West Cobb), and he was really good...mild mannered, but really listened and seemed to care and want to help. Regardless, we knew that dad's cardiologist isn't on his insurance plan yet (it is a relatively new plan, and they are working to get on it, but no timeline)...so, this heart dr office staff told us that dad would need a referral to see them until they were on plan. So, we ask Dr Kriegel, he writes up one, sends us to his coordinator after the appointment...she calls the insurance company...turns out dad has an open access plan - he can see anyone IN NETWORK without a referral at any time, but if they are out of network then there are no options - not even referrals! So, dad has a history with this practice - they have treated him twice in hospital and he needs tests in the near future and will eventually need open heart surgery - don't want to switch doctors mid-care, but CAN'T pay all that out of pocket. So, the staff at Kennestone Heart were great, offered to help us pick a new practice in plan and transfer over all records ASAP... I get home about 4:30pm on Friday...look up online to find a new heart dr....there isn't one in his plan within a 50 mile radius and that is as far as you can search (that covers all of ATLANTA even over to Emory). So, I make some calls, but really didn't get anywhere until yesterday...they *might* make an exception and let him see his dr since there are none in network...but there is a process to follow. Thank goodness, he has a case manager at his plan that is working on it...I guess we will see how good she is! Hope to have it resolved no later than the end of this week!

That was long - sorry - imagine living the saga :)

David and I took the boys to see Horton Hears A Who on Saturday afternoon. They LOVED it, especially Ethan, he adores movies. Then the Cannons and the Whitehursts came over for dinner...boy do we have lots of kids now! We were all roommates in college and had parties like this where half-dressed boys were wobbling around our appartment sucking on bottles, but it wasn't quite like this :) I have to say that it was a FABULOUS evening - the food was so good (steaks on the grill better than ANY steakhouse with brownies for dessert). It was just nice to be with friends and have the distraction.