One More Thing

Triann has changed her blog to a caring bridge site. So if you haven't checked that out yet, please take a minute to visit her site and leave her a comment. She really gets a thrill from reading the comments on her guestbook and it keeps her going when she is having a tough day.

E

Vacation - Benson Style

Had all but abandoned this blog... keep thinking about things to write but never take the time to sit and do it. You will never believe what inspired me to sit down today... You ready for this? The girls made me watch Julie and Julia. It was a cute movie about a gal who decided to take Julia Child's book and make every recipe in a year and blog about it. Go figure...

Anyway, here we are at MD Anderson again. One year after our first visit. Remember that one? Filled with fear, confusion. We didn't know what was going on, which way was up and who was in charge. I can remember walking through the halls of the campus from appointment to appointment, lost half the time, and seeing all the other patients. That is the unique thing about a specific hospital like MD Anderson. They only see cancer patients, so everyone here has either just found out they have cancer, is in the process of treatment, or checking to make sure it hasn't come back. Can you imagine the various emotions on the faces of the people you see in the halls? Terror, resolve, relief. And that is on the patients faces... then you have the others. The husbands, wives, children, siblings, friends etc. I am an other. We are the ones who occupy the waiting rooms while our loved ones are back in the bowels of the hospital going through the various tests. 3 hours for a CT scan... 20 minutes for labs and an x-ray... 2 hours for an MRI. Different looks on their faces also. You can almost tell by looking at them what the status is of their loved one. Anxious or fearful face, on the phone or with tissue in hand for the newbies. The roller bag with a laptop, a bag of snacks and headphones in for those that have been here more than once. I am in that group now. I know what to take out of the bag depending on the appointment. CT scan is time for a movie, Labs and X-ray, just enough time for a game on the iphone. MRI means some music while I read. It's all routine.

This has been a very unique trip for us. First off we don't have the kids with us. You read right, for the first time since our unemployment cruise we have spent a few nights away from our kids. My mom flew in on Monday and is staying in Tyler with the Browns and the kids. Can I take a moment to say how proud I am of Triann? Those of you who really know us are probably just now pulling yourself up off the ground. This is a HUGE deal for Triann and I can tell you honestly that she has not been stressing about it at all. We decided this time to stay at the Rotary House. It is a hotel run by Marriott that is attached to MD Anderson. In the past we have used points given to us by gracious friends to stay at nearby hotels and driven in each day. That has worked fine, we pack all we need for the day, get there first thing in the morning and just hang out. This time, in between appointments we have been able to head back to the room for a nap, or to watch a movie or just sit and snuggle.

With all our hospital time with Emily, Triann and I have learned to use this kind of time for a warped kind of a date. We don't get a lot of alone time so you take it where you can. This has been like a vacation for us. No kids, a hotel room, dinners out. Pretty crazy life we live, but can say without reservation that I wouldn't change it. I've said that before, and I know some of you think I am insane but I stand by it. If not for the crazy things we have seen and experienced in our lives we would not be the couple or the people that we are today.

Lots more to share, about our almost immediate move back to the NW, my new job and where we will be living, but this will encourage me to get back on here soon. For now let me share the results from our meeting with Triann's doctor.

CLEAR SCANS! Everything looks great. The doctor said that he would like Triann to stay on the chemo through the summer (boo). That will take her to 2 years on the chemo and will make him comfortable with taking her off. After that we will check in with him every 6 months. So, not quite done, but always exciting to be able to see the end. CLEAR SCANS! Just wanted to say it again.

Alright, all done for now. Time to go celebrate with Triann and take a nice drive back up to Tyler. More alone time to talk and share and just love each other.

E