August 11, 2017
Well, I have some reinforcements for the next weeks. My bro, bro-in-law Matt Iron, has generously taken 3 weeks off through the family leave act. And he is a nurse to boot, even working at Mass Eye and Ear and had a lot of experience with trachs/respiratory issues. So he will be able to cone up and help 2-3 days during the week now. And Ben volunteered to leave his 2-day-a-week internship to spend some more time up here as well. A fine as there ever was duo, and even though Matt has never been what I'd call a morning person (he works the night shift 11pm-7am to put it in perspective), he surprised me when he texted that he was already outside at 7:30 this morning. Pretty amazing. Welcome to the good morning world Matt, where as you found out, traffic can be, well kind of ok, and the coffee lines lighter and brighter.
Ben Grant and Matt took Abby Trotter Grant to her radiation appointment and also Matt did most of the nursely duties. I actually did some real work; answered a bunch of emails I'd been putting off; finished up appeal letters and tax info for the kids college financial aid since our monetary situation has changed and is taking a beating; re-faxed Social Security Disability Insurance forms for the third time, yes third time because they never ever seem to have them; and started to at least think about my two classes that I'll be teaching again at Emerson starting right after Labor Day. That's a whole 'nuther pickle since I'll need coverage from about 4pm to 10:30pm Mon and Wed nights. But what the hell I need a challenge.
On Thursday, the docs increased Abby's feedings, meaning that instead of getting nutrition 20 hrs on 4 hours off, it's now 17.5 on and 6.5 off giving her more flexibility. This morning though the hardwood floor in our bedroom got a ton of nutrition much to my chagrin as Abby must have gone to the bathroom during the night and inadvertently forgot to turn the pump off, which you definitely need to do when you take the feeding tube out. So "Lake Nutrition" was quite large by the time I discovered it, and had spread under her dresser, under the cedar chest, into lots of nooks and crannies, and was even sustaining several types of fish and pleasure boats as well. Now this stuff is kind of like a chocolate milkshake/frappe in terms of color and consistency, but unfortunately has a slighter, not-as-nice, I-can't-quite-identify-that-smell smell. Two beach towels and a wash later, after a roll of paper towels and cleanser galore, Lake Nutrition had dried up.
Abby's definitely getting a bit more tired, no doubt that the radiation and chemo are starting to affect her. Maybe tonight she will follow up last nights middle finger message with a two bird flip but we shall see.
Hope you're all out enjoying the nice coolish evening tonight. As most of you who know me well, I'd rather sit outside on a park bench when it's thirty degrees out then when it's eighty. Yes yes there's something wrong with me; I am a demented New Englander at heart who can never get his temperature on a thermometer to read more than 97.5. My blood runs thick, but it's certainly suiting me well during this cold Cruel Cruel Bangles Summer of 2017. And once again, thank you; could never do it without you all. Love and Rockets to everyone- Craig et al
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