December to remember

Di has made it home after spending 3 days and two nights at Presbyterian Hosp. Her hysterectomy took a little longer then expected. The doctor had to go back in and do a second procedure to stop some internal bleeding. So what was supposed to be hysterectomy surgery Tuesday morning, with her going home Wednesday evening, ended up being surgery Tuesday morning, fixing the bleeding Wednesday afternoon and returning home Thursday late afternoon. Needless to say it's been a long few days for her. We are home know, so we are thankful for that. We were told that recovery will take 2 to 3 weeks.

We are happy to be home and are looking forward to spending Christmas at home with family and friends.

Thanks everyone for the kind words, flowers, cards, texts, emails and calls expressing your good will and hoping for her quick recovery. She is a fast healer and I'm sure she will be up and at it soon. Possibly to soon. I'll have to watch her so she doesn't try and do to much.

Thanks for reading, and if I don't see/talk to you before Christmas then I hope you have a very merry one.

Hysterectomy Surgery Day

Di's hysterectomy surgery was done on December 13. We arrived at 7:20am for a 9am surgery with Dr. Bernstein. Surgery was uneventful. I slept the night at Presby with her. On the morning of the 14, about 11:30 Di was up and walking. Unfortunately she wasn't able to pee...and that isn't good. She was able to pass a nasty blood clot. That isn't good even more. Back to surgery it is. Di was taken back to the surgery room around 3pm. Dr. Bernstein finished up around 4:15. He said he put 3 stitches in where there was a little bleeding. He checked her platelet count and it was really low. He said it was due to her chemo, so he has been in contact with Dr McIntyre about it. He said we should expect a visit from her and she'll discuss what she plans to do about getting her counts up.
I'm in the waiting room...waiting for her to get out of recovery. It looks like I'll be spending a second night at Presby. Di has been OK.. seen her better that's for sure.
Di is always so strong. I rarely see her down. Surgery always makes her really nervous. She seems to get a little emotional right before she is wheeled away for surgery. That's' when sad thoughts creep into my head. I kick them out because I feel I'm a rational man..and because others are usually with me and I need to be strong for them. But it breaks my heart every time...

Giving Thanks

one of my favorite holidays is coming up. Ya! Good ol Thanksgiving. Man, I love that holiday. Good food and Cowboys football! Love it! This year Di and I plan on starting a new holiday tradition. Good food, Cowboys and the Malaby's! We're road tripping to McPherson Kansas people! We'll hang with them through the holiday and on Monday we'll go in with Gail to her Dr's appointment. Hopefully then, a sono will tell us if we're having a girl (Di is convinced it will be a girl..something about a dream or something) or a boy. We're really looking forward to going up there, seeing the kids, Mark and Gail..and her belly!
I'm not sure what we'll do in McPherson but I'm sure we'll find something. Probably a lot of going out to eat...maybe take the niece and nephew to a movie.

I am thankful for my beautiful wife. Who for some reason still loves me..or so she says. I'm thankful for my family. I feel like saying especially Gail, but the truth is my whole family rocks pretty hard. Every one of them are good people with good hearts who do the right thing. I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful for Jayln and his family. I'm thankful for Alan and Terry, the best inlaws you could ask for. I'm thankful for my mom, she's way cooler now then when I was in high school. I'm thankful to have had a great dad. I'm thankful to have friends that are supportive when I need them and aren't afraid to tell me the truth. I'm thankful for my job..my dog..my cat. And I'm most thankful for having the opportunity to live, basically I'm thankful for my life. and I'm thankful for you. yes you. the one reading this right now. thanks.

enjoy your family and friends this holiday season people. Life is full of surprises and not all of them are good. So enjoy the good ones, they help you get through the tough ones.

be good,

clay

Guest Blogger David Haas folks!

Please read David's article on the importance of fitness when dealing with Cancer. I know from experience that it makes all the difference in the world. Di is happy and healthy, mental and physical, with the help of a good work out program. It's serious business people. Check some of his other great work at http://haasblaag.blogspot.com/

Fitness for Cancer Patients

When you are first diagnosed with cancer, you may be tempted to just curl up in bed and stay there until the treatment is over. That is the exact opposite of what most cancer patients should do. Staying fit is an important part of caring for your physical as well as mental well being. Both your body and your mind need to be in the best shape possible to fight cancer.

Regular exercise is an important part of mental health. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, physical fitness can reduce your chances of experiencing clinical depression and it may help combat sleeplessness.

In addition to promoting mental health, exercise will help keep your immune system strong and your body in the best possible condition. In addition, you will feel more alert and better able to complete your daily tasks. The better physical condition you are in, the better your body may be able to fight the cancer. Exercise will not cure cancer, but it is an important part of the recovery process.

Some hospitals and cancer clinics offer fitness programs for patients, and these programs may be covered under your insurance policy. These fitness programs are typically designed to keep you active during and after your treatment. In addition, they may offer additional services such as nutrition counseling. Ask your physician about the fitness resources available for cancer patients at your hospital.

If your hospital doesn't offer specialized fitness services for cancer patients, be proactive and seek fitness resources on your own. Join a gym and take advantage of any free classes or personal training that your gym offers. If you can afford it, hire your own trainer who has experience working with cancer patients. Some trainers have specialized knowledge for working with particular types of cancer patients, such as those who suffer from mesothelioma or colon cancer.

Consult your physician before you begin any exercise program to make sure that you are physically able to begin or maintain a fitness program. Most cancer patients can benefit from a fitness regimen, however. Most of all, don't give up on it. You will probably not be able to exercise each day during treatment, but exercise when you can and keep the ultimate goal in mind: your recovery.

been a while..

So.... Where to start. It's been a few months since I've updated the blog. Yes, King Obvious here.
Well, everyone that reads this blog knows that my sister Gail and us have been working on her being our gestational carrier. We tried 4 times over the last couple years with no success. The last chance we had was August 4th. Knowing it was the last shot, because we didn't have anymore fertilized eggs, we held our breath and started making other plans for our family. Well, everyone. IT WORKED! Gail is now past her first trimester! We all are beyond excited. However if you ask my wife if I'm excited she'll probably say I'm not. For some reason I am still cautiously optimistic. It just seems so surreal to me. I mean I'm not really there, being an active participant in the pregnancy. (Gail lives in Kansas) So everything is over the phone. A few days ago Gail went in for a check up. To do a sono and all that that consists of. She called me from the doctors office to ask me if I wanted to hear my child's heartbeat........ at my age I have had 2 calls I will never forget. When Erin called me on Aug 4th 2004,to tell me my dad had passed and when Gail called me to ask if I wanted to hear my childs heart beat. At 38 this has been a long time coming. So long in fact, that it's hard to believe it. Especially since We(Di & I) don't get to see/deal with the pregnancy first hand. Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that Di didn't get morning sickness, or that I won't have to listen to her gripe about "stuff" that pregnant women apparently gripe about. But it weird for me. Strange all the way around.

did anyone pick up on the August 4th date thing? crazy huh?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Malabys. Without their dedication to getting this done it never would have been, well, done. So thank you Mark. Thanks for being cool about all of this. I know it won't be easy for you so I want you to know we love you and that we couldn't be happier that you are married to my sister. and Gail... what can I say about her. Thanks sis... You are a truly special person. One of a kind. I will forever be indebted to you. We love you.

NOW BRING THAT BABY HOME!!!!!