I'm back : )
I'm hanging out with Dad in the Corvallis hospital, watching another Law and Order episode. We could watch a million of these! Its one of the things we actually have in common.
He's feeling quite a bit better. He can stand up now a tiny bit and has been able to eat a little, which has made a big difference. Later on today we'll do our exercises and maybe try walking. Jason came up last night and will join us at the hospital today. It'll be nice to spend actual time with him, even if it is in the hospital.
This week has been crazy. I flew out to Wyoming Monday - Wednesday for a job interview. It was an interesting experience and definitely helped me to figure some things out. One thing I was totally surprised at was the GIANT blue sky and sunshine! Even though it was 10 degrees outside (literally) the sunshine was amazing. I even had to wear sunscreen which felt odd. And great!
I'm happy to be back now and will be in Oregon for one more week. Then I'll head back to NYC for a few weeks. We just found that Dad may get to go home tomorrow or Monday, which would be great. A bit hard with his limited mobility, but nice to be home, of course.
More from the hospital diaries soon!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
he also found a cheeto in his bed
Made it back into the wet and green NW! It was beautiful flying into Eugene! And fantastic to see Shannon and catch up when she drove my arse up Highway 99 : )
Dad and I are hanging out at the hospital in Corvallis. He is feeling pretty crappy and is fragile and bruised everywhere. His skin is just so thin and tears at the slightest touch. Poor guy can't even have sheets on the bed because they can tear or irritate his skin. He did just made me laugh so hard though. The infectious diseases doctor was in checking up on him and Dad asked him why his mouth was feeling "dryer 'n a popcorn fart in the dust". Now, my family is not from Oklahoma, nor is it 1937. Nevertheless, I guess it actually is a pretty good descriptor, because that would be pretty damn dry. No idea where he comes up with this stuff, or why his redneck vocabulary increases every day.
I got to see Jason yesterday for just a little bit. He stayed with Dad at the hospital the night before last and then went to Home Depot for my parents, fixed a bed in their house, and brought my Mom dinner. Holy partner of the year award goes to Mr. Gettel. My family loves him and he has helped out so much. It sucks trying to sleep in the hospital vinyl chairs and is hard to be around all of this and he is just rocking it. So sweet.
I'm going to try to sneak out for a run and a shower really quickly. Both of those are desperately needed. I can't wait to breathe in all of this wonderful post-rain air when I run : )
Dad and I are hanging out at the hospital in Corvallis. He is feeling pretty crappy and is fragile and bruised everywhere. His skin is just so thin and tears at the slightest touch. Poor guy can't even have sheets on the bed because they can tear or irritate his skin. He did just made me laugh so hard though. The infectious diseases doctor was in checking up on him and Dad asked him why his mouth was feeling "dryer 'n a popcorn fart in the dust". Now, my family is not from Oklahoma, nor is it 1937. Nevertheless, I guess it actually is a pretty good descriptor, because that would be pretty damn dry. No idea where he comes up with this stuff, or why his redneck vocabulary increases every day.
I got to see Jason yesterday for just a little bit. He stayed with Dad at the hospital the night before last and then went to Home Depot for my parents, fixed a bed in their house, and brought my Mom dinner. Holy partner of the year award goes to Mr. Gettel. My family loves him and he has helped out so much. It sucks trying to sleep in the hospital vinyl chairs and is hard to be around all of this and he is just rocking it. So sweet.
I'm going to try to sneak out for a run and a shower really quickly. Both of those are desperately needed. I can't wait to breathe in all of this wonderful post-rain air when I run : )
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
on the move
We're home from the hospital! Lauren came home on Sunday and is doing pretty dang well, considering. She still has her railroad track of staples down the front side of her body and isn't the most comfortable she has ever been in her life, but she is a lot better. We are home all week recuperating and taking it easy. Well, she is home all week (hopefully - she gets understandably restless) and I am as well until I leave for Oregon.
I fly out Thursday morning and get into Eugene Thursday afternoon. As I type this, I realize that I may need to ask for a ride from the airport from somebody. And figure out where my car is...oops, details. I'll be there until Monday afternoon. I actually have an on-campus job interview Monday - Wednesday, so I'll fly out again for that. It is tricky timing for sure, but I think we can swing it. I don't want to say much about it yet, because I don't want to jinx it! Maybe afterwards : )
Our Dad is doing pretty poorly. He is back in the hospital, with an oxygen mask and 10 liters of oxygen (which is like the flipping north wind blowing directly up your schnoz) and is still feeling terrible. Poor guy. If it ain't one thing....He hasn't been very lucid at all and wouldn't even bite at my political teasers. That is usually the best indicator of how he is faring. : (
In any case, one Smith family cancer fighter is out of the hospital, another one in, and we are all moving around outside of them. Hopefully things will stabilize soon!
On a different note, Lauren and I, in our "two Smith women actually relaxing" afternoon yesterday watched Dream Girls. Even though Lauren is obsessed with Beyonce, it was terrible!!!! I just netflixed Spirit of the Marathon, so hopefully today we can watch a better movie! And one that has Coach Joe Henderson in it!
I fly out Thursday morning and get into Eugene Thursday afternoon. As I type this, I realize that I may need to ask for a ride from the airport from somebody. And figure out where my car is...oops, details. I'll be there until Monday afternoon. I actually have an on-campus job interview Monday - Wednesday, so I'll fly out again for that. It is tricky timing for sure, but I think we can swing it. I don't want to say much about it yet, because I don't want to jinx it! Maybe afterwards : )
Our Dad is doing pretty poorly. He is back in the hospital, with an oxygen mask and 10 liters of oxygen (which is like the flipping north wind blowing directly up your schnoz) and is still feeling terrible. Poor guy. If it ain't one thing....He hasn't been very lucid at all and wouldn't even bite at my political teasers. That is usually the best indicator of how he is faring. : (
In any case, one Smith family cancer fighter is out of the hospital, another one in, and we are all moving around outside of them. Hopefully things will stabilize soon!
On a different note, Lauren and I, in our "two Smith women actually relaxing" afternoon yesterday watched Dream Girls. Even though Lauren is obsessed with Beyonce, it was terrible!!!! I just netflixed Spirit of the Marathon, so hopefully today we can watch a better movie! And one that has Coach Joe Henderson in it!
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
maybe both
The surgeries on Monday went so well and all day we were happy, hopeful, and excited. It was such great news that was gladly accepted. Nevertheless, Lauren was in a shit ton of pain, has staples down her entire core, which is bruised and swollen, and she was mighty uncomfortable. They finally knocked her out so she could rest and I headed home, while her husband Mike stayed with her. It had been a long 14 hour intense day in the hospital....
On the way home, I checked in with our other sister, who is with our Mom & Dad out in Albany right now. Poor Dad is in a world of hurt, and his doctors have no idea what is going on. His mind is fleeting, his body betraying him, and things are rough. Thank goodness Carrie and Anika are there to help with him and be with him all day, and Branden is very often down to help on all his days off, so that Mom can go to work and keep her insurance that they desperately need.
So, I was walking home, getting the scoop from them, answering the 74 texts we got during the day, and trying to keep it together. When I got home I made the mistake of checking my email. A job I had applied for needed a letter of recommendation two days ago from an advisor on another continent and was adamant that I get on it, and an article that had been accepted for publication and on my CV for months now mysteriously rejected. AAAAHHHHHH!
Ok, so a mini-breakdown occurred. It needed to though, and at least I was home alone in the apartment. Can't do it when I'm around Lauren and Mike, but it needed to happen.
I'm getting to the point of the story though. So, I wake up before 6 am because I'm having anxiety about all of this shit. I decided to get the house all cleaned, the million loads of laundry finished, and everything organized on the homefront. On my last trip down to the laundry area in the basement at the end of all of this, a woman got into the same elevator I was in. She looked like she was on her way to work, in a fancy business suit and her briefcase and gym bag in tow.
She gets in the elevator, gives me a sideways look up and down and says "Man, I wish that I could still be in my pajamas."
I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. Or maybe to fight her.
(post script: I'm doing much better now and don't mean to have the most depressing blog in the world : ) )
On the way home, I checked in with our other sister, who is with our Mom & Dad out in Albany right now. Poor Dad is in a world of hurt, and his doctors have no idea what is going on. His mind is fleeting, his body betraying him, and things are rough. Thank goodness Carrie and Anika are there to help with him and be with him all day, and Branden is very often down to help on all his days off, so that Mom can go to work and keep her insurance that they desperately need.
So, I was walking home, getting the scoop from them, answering the 74 texts we got during the day, and trying to keep it together. When I got home I made the mistake of checking my email. A job I had applied for needed a letter of recommendation two days ago from an advisor on another continent and was adamant that I get on it, and an article that had been accepted for publication and on my CV for months now mysteriously rejected. AAAAHHHHHH!
Ok, so a mini-breakdown occurred. It needed to though, and at least I was home alone in the apartment. Can't do it when I'm around Lauren and Mike, but it needed to happen.
I'm getting to the point of the story though. So, I wake up before 6 am because I'm having anxiety about all of this shit. I decided to get the house all cleaned, the million loads of laundry finished, and everything organized on the homefront. On my last trip down to the laundry area in the basement at the end of all of this, a woman got into the same elevator I was in. She looked like she was on her way to work, in a fancy business suit and her briefcase and gym bag in tow.
She gets in the elevator, gives me a sideways look up and down and says "Man, I wish that I could still be in my pajamas."
I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. Or maybe to fight her.
(post script: I'm doing much better now and don't mean to have the most depressing blog in the world : ) )
Monday, November 02, 2009
surgery day
Alright Team - it's on!!!
Lauren is in surgery now at Sloan Kettering. It should be about a 4 -5 hour ordeal with the insertion of the pump occurring first and then Dr. Jarnigan will tag out and Dr. Weiser (the super cute one) will high five and come in with his team to remove the part of the colon with the nasty tumor in it. In Round I of the surgeries, Dr. Jarnigan (or Dr. J, as Mike likes to call him) will also take out the gall bladder. I guess the pump needs some of the room that it takes up. Who needs a gall bladder anyway, right?
She'll be knocked out for all of this and will be really groggy until tomorrow morning. We'll be able to see her once the whole shebang is over, but cannot stay with her tonight.
She got here nice and early, after a fun-filled day of "preparing" her bowels and fasting. The marathon was a great distraction, and we were able to see and cheer on Celeste, Mae Shoemaker, Wendy-Lynn, and Renee. Lauren also heckled the hoards of French and German runners, which actually was pretty funny. Two Germans stopped right in front of us, which prompted Lauren to yell "fukengruven" right at them while waving her arms. I think they thought it was some sort of cheer and loved it. I also saw two people from Eugene and almost peed my pants - woo hoo!
We relaxed most of the night. Lauren was drained from the meet in Rochester - another purple torpedo win!!! The gallon of poop juice that she had to drink also kicked in, which was less than enjoyable, I would say. Anybody out there whose had a colonoscopy (hopefully a lot of you!) knows exactly what we're talking about here.
Anyway, she is doing well, hopefully knocked out by now and ready to get this crap out of her body. Ok, after yesterday perhaps crap was the wrong word choice here. There is definitely none of that left. But rather the stupid, evil, and horrible cancer. Get it out! She was a bit scared and nervous last night about everything that is to come, but talked with Mike about it quite a bit. He is so calming and reassuring.
She was definitely feeling better by this morning. I mean, we entertained ourselves while waiting after the anesthesiologist came and explained how he was going to knock her out with Chris Tucker's line from the movie "Friday" - "you got knocked the f*&^ out!" and her practicing what eye gouging moves she would do to me if I actually used that line on her. Ok, this is coming out awkwardly, so I'll stop. We were laughing pretty hard though.
I'll update again when we get news. We're waiting in the lobby and luckily Katie Clancy Lavine is working again. She is awesome and will see Lauren when she gets out of surgery. I'll admit we feel pretty fancy when we get to say that we're Katie's friends.
More soon! Thanks for all of the good energy! Lauren will use it all.
Love,
Courtney & Mike (and Lauren in an altered state)
Lauren is in surgery now at Sloan Kettering. It should be about a 4 -5 hour ordeal with the insertion of the pump occurring first and then Dr. Jarnigan will tag out and Dr. Weiser (the super cute one) will high five and come in with his team to remove the part of the colon with the nasty tumor in it. In Round I of the surgeries, Dr. Jarnigan (or Dr. J, as Mike likes to call him) will also take out the gall bladder. I guess the pump needs some of the room that it takes up. Who needs a gall bladder anyway, right?
She'll be knocked out for all of this and will be really groggy until tomorrow morning. We'll be able to see her once the whole shebang is over, but cannot stay with her tonight.
She got here nice and early, after a fun-filled day of "preparing" her bowels and fasting. The marathon was a great distraction, and we were able to see and cheer on Celeste, Mae Shoemaker, Wendy-Lynn, and Renee. Lauren also heckled the hoards of French and German runners, which actually was pretty funny. Two Germans stopped right in front of us, which prompted Lauren to yell "fukengruven" right at them while waving her arms. I think they thought it was some sort of cheer and loved it. I also saw two people from Eugene and almost peed my pants - woo hoo!
We relaxed most of the night. Lauren was drained from the meet in Rochester - another purple torpedo win!!! The gallon of poop juice that she had to drink also kicked in, which was less than enjoyable, I would say. Anybody out there whose had a colonoscopy (hopefully a lot of you!) knows exactly what we're talking about here.
Anyway, she is doing well, hopefully knocked out by now and ready to get this crap out of her body. Ok, after yesterday perhaps crap was the wrong word choice here. There is definitely none of that left. But rather the stupid, evil, and horrible cancer. Get it out! She was a bit scared and nervous last night about everything that is to come, but talked with Mike about it quite a bit. He is so calming and reassuring.
She was definitely feeling better by this morning. I mean, we entertained ourselves while waiting after the anesthesiologist came and explained how he was going to knock her out with Chris Tucker's line from the movie "Friday" - "you got knocked the f*&^ out!" and her practicing what eye gouging moves she would do to me if I actually used that line on her. Ok, this is coming out awkwardly, so I'll stop. We were laughing pretty hard though.
I'll update again when we get news. We're waiting in the lobby and luckily Katie Clancy Lavine is working again. She is awesome and will see Lauren when she gets out of surgery. I'll admit we feel pretty fancy when we get to say that we're Katie's friends.
More soon! Thanks for all of the good energy! Lauren will use it all.
Love,
Courtney & Mike (and Lauren in an altered state)
Saturday, October 31, 2009
bubbles
It was pouring down rain here early last week. I was talking with one of the guys on the men's swimming team at NYU about it. He was saying how much he hated the rain and that it really got him down. I said to him that he should never move to the Pacific Northwest. His response was "where's the Pacific Northwest?"
Awesome.
Awesome.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
crap
Lauren likes to drop the Snoop Dog line "if it ain't one thing it's a motherfucking other" whenever it feels timely. Unfortunately in Smith Family daily life, she has the opportunity to use it more often than not.
Case in point: Lauren has been feeling great and is all geared up for the big surgery this coming Monday. Her stomach pains have stayed away and she is rockin' it.
Our poor Dad, on the other hand, had another fall early this week, tore much of his skin up, fractured a vertebrae in the fall, and is in the hospital in a brace. He had been feeling like royal dog shit for about a month, has scarily low platelet counts, and can't shake the pneumonia he has had. The doctors (and my Dad as well) thinks he must have blacked out because everything is so jacked up, causing the fall. : (
Another shitty ass reminder that our war is on two fronts.
The good news is that he's actually feeling okay. He is pretty doped up, so he isn't in any pain and they are doing all sorts of tests to figure out what is going on with his blood counts. Hopefully they can learn what is happening and do something to fix it. I just talked with him and he sounded much better than I thought he would. Definitely drugged and tired, but good. After he fell asleep while talking to me (and SNORING right into the phone), I let him go back to sleep. I know I'm boring at times, but that bad? Again, at least he is in no pain and just resting. B-Dogg is on the Mom & Dad watch and helping them out with everything, but it is still hard not to be there to help.
Cancer sucks!!! And whatever my family did in a former life must have been really, really terrible, because this karma is a major downer.
Case in point: Lauren has been feeling great and is all geared up for the big surgery this coming Monday. Her stomach pains have stayed away and she is rockin' it.
Our poor Dad, on the other hand, had another fall early this week, tore much of his skin up, fractured a vertebrae in the fall, and is in the hospital in a brace. He had been feeling like royal dog shit for about a month, has scarily low platelet counts, and can't shake the pneumonia he has had. The doctors (and my Dad as well) thinks he must have blacked out because everything is so jacked up, causing the fall. : (
Another shitty ass reminder that our war is on two fronts.
The good news is that he's actually feeling okay. He is pretty doped up, so he isn't in any pain and they are doing all sorts of tests to figure out what is going on with his blood counts. Hopefully they can learn what is happening and do something to fix it. I just talked with him and he sounded much better than I thought he would. Definitely drugged and tired, but good. After he fell asleep while talking to me (and SNORING right into the phone), I let him go back to sleep. I know I'm boring at times, but that bad? Again, at least he is in no pain and just resting. B-Dogg is on the Mom & Dad watch and helping them out with everything, but it is still hard not to be there to help.
Cancer sucks!!! And whatever my family did in a former life must have been really, really terrible, because this karma is a major downer.
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