A year in my life, from the day I was diagnosed and for the full year after. Walk with me.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Day I don't know

I have been handing off my classes for the past week.  Bringing in a new teacher, introducing them to my students and showing the instructor what we are up to in class.  Next week I will walk out the door, leaving them in someone elses hands.  My progress notes are up to date so they can be referred to in my absence.  Our first annual fundraising trail ride is on track, volunteers and raffle items are in place.  There are 3.5 weeks left in the session after I leave, mission accomplished.

This weekend I will try to tie up the loose ends at home.  We will install a dog door, a small one so my 15 week old Miniature Blue Heeler Fanny can come in and out but the larger dogs remain outside except when intentionally admitted.  This will cut down on the mess and the chaos.  My large German Shepherd/Irish Wolfhound X is scheduled to be shaved on Monday to assure his comfort in the heat.  Fanny's new Invisible Fence receiver is in the mail and should arrive any day...she's going to hate this, but it will keep her from herding the increasingly angry walkers in the neighborhood.  Puppy or no, she knows her job and those walkers will keep moving.

Post surgical camisole are ordered and will be delivered to our office on the day of my surgery.  Just in time for me to return.  My post surgical wardrobe is determined:  camisole, drawstring pajama bottoms with pockets (for my cellphone), one of my husband's button front shirts (sized XXL, I'm hoping the look is endearingly adorable, not ridiculous.)

Bought a camera that my husband can use to record this journey.  I can count the number of photographs he has taken of me, or taken period on one hand.  If I was hit by a truck tomorrow there would be almost no photographic evidence of my existance.  What makes me think he will do this?  If he does then that's incontravertable evidence that Cancer changes everything.

The first week of my recovery will be at my wonderful, generous In-Law's home.  This will allow my husband to work during the day and possibly sleep at night.  I am unsure about this since I will be on less than my best behavior during my recovery.  Adjectives such as: crusty, anxious, and downright mean would be appropriate to describe me NOW...what am I going to be like post surgery?

There is hushed talk of hiring a day nurse for the first week, hushed because I don't think I will need it, and the idea that I will makes me angry.  My husband does not want to confront me on this, he's doing it "behind my back."  I am letting him because there is no arguing with him on this point, he won't discuss it and is treating me like a child who doesn't know what she needs.  I have resolved that he and my in laws are doing it out of love for me and I am trying not to fight against it.  I hope she has a sense of humor or, if it's a man, he's ruggedly good looking.

I have enrolled my mare in another month of training, and my dear friend has also agreed to keep my puppy for the first week of my recovery.  This might be the end of our friendship since this hardheaded dog will completely dominate her household and is imperfectly housetrained.

My sister in law is managing the meal delivery through an amazing website that organizes that sort of thing.  I can't imagine this being less than overwhelming and I am so grateful to her for her generosity and grace as well as the gift of those lining up with their loving meals.

I have a stack of notes and charitable gifts that I have to acknowledge, plus the meals already being promised.  My personalized notecards should be delivered next week.  I hope 50 is enough, it was all I could afford at that moment.  Maybe I should have ordered 100 just to be safe.  Why was it important for them to be personalized?

Food in the fridge is dwindling, I am on track to clean it out on Tuesday.  Joy.

No Kindle yet...carpets need cleaning but I think it will be OK.  I am so ready for this to be over and be looking at this from the other side where I can regain some perspective so small things don't look large and normal things don't look huge and my "to-do" list doesn't seem so important.

6 comments:

Darwin said...

My guess, and it's such a slight almost, given your circumstances -- you will feel RELIEF. You will be glad this step is behind you. And you will feel great loss, too, at a part of you that is not there as you know it. But you are handling this so well, Patricia. You are so strong and wonderful and funny and courageous. I hope you feel relieved.

Laurie said...

It is going to be fine. You won't remember much of it anyway (drugs). I nearly poisoned myself cleaning every inch of the house before my surgeries. At one point, I had bleach and ammonia in the same vicinity. Very stupid and I know better. The new breasts are going to be great, and most critically, cancer free. Go for pictures of everything, you can always delete them if you don't like them. Don't forget the BEFORE topless shots. Best wishes for a comfortable recovery.

Laurie said...

It is going to be fine. You won't remember much of it anyway (drugs). I nearly poisoned myself cleaning every inch of the house before my surgeries. At one point, I had bleach and ammonia in the same vicinity. Very stupid and I know better. The new breasts are going to be great, and most critically, cancer free. Go for pictures of everything, you can always delete them if you don't like them. Don't forget the BEFORE topless shots. Best wishes for a comfortable recovery.

Laurie said...

It is going to be fine. You won't remember much of it anyway (drugs).I nearly poisoned myself cleaning every inch of my house before surgeries. At one point I had bleach and ammonia in the same vicinity (I know better!) The new breasts quickly become your new "norm" and most critically, these are cancer free. Go for pictures of everything, you can always delete what you don't like. Don't forget the BEFORE topless shots. Best wishes for a comfortable recovery.

Laurie said...

computer disaster - sorry for the near duplicate.

zenmama said...

Thanks Darwin and Laurie. I love hearing from you both. Darwin, you're right, I will be SO relieved, and alot more fun. Laurie...I too almost killed myself yesterday with cleaning fluids. I am still coughing today. Still need those BEFORE shots.

Love you.