Out and about

Love is....  Going out to dinner after sooooo long.

Saturday
I reread the food safety booklet.  Now that Colin's white blood cells are on the rise he can relax a little so decided we could go to the restaurant for dinner.  Can't eat sushi,  salads or raw foods so all good.  Food must be well cooked.  So nice to catch up with everyone but no dancing yet.
I didn't need to cook,  great.

Monday

Off to Day stay again and bloods are improving again so great no transfusion  today.  Even better because uncle Alan is meeting us for yum char lunch with son Aaron  and wife Joyce who have arrived for a visit from Canada.  So nice that we can all catch up and that we can manage going out for lunch.  Still being careful with touching and hand sanitizing.  Not making a habit of eating out.  Colin feeling good today but still needing a daily afternoon sleep as the haemoglobin is still low causing him to feel tired in the afternoon.  If we go to the shops be comes for a walk to so he is improving his exercise stamina. (even though we are using a disability parking  card) 

My tripit app tells me I should be leaving for Melbourne now to catch our flight.  We had to cancel it and I was so looking forward to it.  Let's hope we can travel next year.  

Lovely organic avocados from Ray and Carol 

Here and Now

Love is.... Here and now

Thursday
Colin and I are spending all day together  24/7. Sometimes we are separated for a few hours if I am out shopping doing my chores.  When you have been given a "used by date"  all the time counts.  We are not looking forward,  just into the here and now.  It is hard to think about what is ahead when Colin is so well at the moment.  Well my freezer and fridge are full again.  Thanks to Cousin Mervyn.  I have whitebait and a lovely lamb roast.  Excitingly I have organic veges,  which are really important for Colin's health.  Capsicums,  pears,  apples,  eggplants,  beans,  passion fruit,  tomatoes.  Just perfect and thanks heaps Mervyn. 

Blogging 

Everyone seems to be watching this space so thanks for keeping up.  Over 9,000 hits.  It's good to know I can vent and keep  this as my journal and inform you as well. I am reading excerpts to Colin regularly and he likes looking at the photos. It is also great that I don't have to repeat myself more than I have to as there are some keen readers.  Super. 

Friday

Back to day stay to see what the bloods  are doing.  We have a quicker trip on the south western motorway  believe it or not.  With all my driving across Auckland my tablet thinks I work here.  "says extra 15 minutes to work in heavy traffic"  ha.  I could give those Bachelor  contestants  a run for their money with the race car driving.  I can manual change faster than them and am getting good at ducking around streets and dodging traffic lights. 

Fantastic Colin's bloods are finally improving.  White blood cells have shot up suddenly so he can fight infection better.  Haemoglobin stable and he is still feeling tired but  yayyyy no transfusion today at least.  Weight gain up again after a hiatus. Now a weekend to catch up on jobs.   Lucky I washed and vacuumed 2 cars on Wednesday. 

Fish and chips

Yes I know but he wants them and lost a little weight so needs plumping up. 

Got a good safe fish and chip shop handy. 

Where to from here?

Tuesday
Consultant appointment at Auckland Hospital.  I'm not sure what he is going to say so we are apprehensive.  Colin has a blood test first and his neutrophils are just registering at 0.09.   finally.  So hopefully he is starting to improve after chemo round 2.
We have lots of questions but not all the answers.
We will wait another two weeks and meet him again to discuss further treatment.
Not sure if they will do another round of chemotherapy but if they do it may happen soon after next appointment.
For now Colin has to concentrate on getting fit and as healthy as he can.  Visits to hospital 2 times a week for blood tests.
Bone marrow transplant is his only shot at a cure but this will be discussed later as the whole process is dangerous and a major undertaking.

For now we can settle into a routine for the next 2 weeks and fit life around hospital appointments .  Focus is still on food and exercise.  Colin is doing quite well considering,  when we look at  the friends we have made from the ward. 

Dinner
It is spaghetti and ravioli as I am home late and the family are around to watch the Black caps play. I even manage to cook an apple pie for dessert.  Family time is great but tiring 

The Office

Love is..... Helping Colin clear his office

Sunday
Colin has to go into the ward at hospital for a blood test just in case he needs more tranfusing.  He doesn't as expected but it is lovely to catch up with Sandra D and on her husband David's progress.  Unfortunately he is still neutropenic like Colin.  David doesn't look well and has lost weight and is spiking temperatures and going through the shivers.  Sandra is living in the hospital room like I did in February as  he is still very sick from an infection that is hard to fight.  Glad she pestered the dietitian for fortisip powder which she can use in different ways. 
Saturday night Colin and I decided to post the over 3000 letters through the slot in the post box.  Well!  I went to the post office on Saturday morning and there was a long queue and carrying 2 huge  and 2 small boxes in was too hard when I was in a hurry. As I  said keeping the NZ post in business.  For anyone wanting to sent that volume I can let you know it fits with room to spare!

Clearing the office
With sadness I help Colin clear his office after 34 years in practice this is not what we planned.  He throws out a huge rubbish bag of old medical folders and notes.  He is so good and works fast which amazes me because I am exhausted and want to lie on the bed.  The new bloods are making a big difference to him. I slowly load up the car.  Goodness knows where we will store all the medical notes and folders.  (if all goes well Colin will be back to work as a locum later in the year) 
Cameron is my home lifter and does it with ease.  I have become so weak from lack of exercise.
I have to force Colin to have a sleep when we get home as he is in tidy up mode.  Good and I get on with dinner which is seafood chowder,  yum.  I even bought bluff oysters but Colin doesn't want them as can't eat them raw anyway. 
I keep falling asleep on the couch so Colin tells me we have to go to bed.  We are both doing  bioptron light therapy from borrowed lamps and sit and snooze under the soothing lamps.  One owner said it works on wrinkles so I better try that out too. 

Watching cricket with boys

Love is......enjoying family time together 

Friday
We can't believe our luck travelling into Auckland in record time this morning to get there by 10.30. Fluked a car park just in the nick of time as the car park is full up.  Colin's bloods have dropped again so it is a transfusion of blood and platelets today.  Lovely nurse Serena is chatty and friendly.  He is going to be there a long time and he is so lucky to get a bed today.  It is so much more comfy,  because his haemoglobin is 82 which is very low and he needs to sleep today. Friend  Doug rings from Melbourne and has a chat to Colin. So nice of him to contact us.   After lunch Colin starts the infusions before 1pm so I contact Glenda to pick me up for a change of scenery.  We visit Iris with Irene and have a nice break.  I get back just before 4pm as his tubes are being unplugged from his chest.
Takes ages to get home with the traffic at peak.  Sandra and Kevin meet us by 6pm with another delicious meal for dinner.  And I thought we would be home by 1pm. So works out perfectly
We have to return on Sunday to the ward our other home and Tuesday we see the consultant.  Guess he works out where to go from here. Feeling bit apprehensive about what he will say. 

Colin says he feels better after the bloods,   as he was very anaemic. He seems to have more energy but typical Colin never noticed that he felt tired and never said anything. 

Saturday

Great a day at home without the interruption of a hospital trip today. I had to go to a baby yum char but Colin was unable  to go.  Great to catch up with some of Mt friends.  

I am cleaning up and cooking the rest of the  day as the family are here for dinner.  Also trying to eat up the fridge but the boys have bought burgers to munch on.  Don't seem to have are much time to do anything else. The boys are watching the cricket and even I have to watch NZ win against West Indies.  As usual  they have to give me a running commentary because I am in and out and only pay part attention.  Cameron has given me his old phone and I can't import the phone book.  Finally Cameron is the son who sorts it out.  Nick gives him flack for buying a Samsung Galaxy 5 but Cameron has done his homework. 

Watching him, watching me

Love is..... Not texting wife to pickup,  so she can have time out. 

Monday
Di  and  Phil  rang just at the right time and came over to help fold letters and stuff envelopes.  Got through about 1300 which is only half. Sandra has taken the rest to put through her folding machine at work.  Evidently it can do 15 to one manually.  Another working bee on Thursday.  The post office is going to like us.  Keeping staff in work.  Colin had late visiting from 2 nurses Veena and Helen and nice to catch up. Mum and Jennifer popped in but we didn't finish till 7pm so lost track of time.

Tuesday
Colin was so sweet and I felt bad after I found out he waited 2 hours for me.  I was waiting for him to text me when he finished but he didn't. I had a break and met the girls at yum char.
He had a platelet transfusion  but I think his bloods are starting to climb out of the trough now.  I hope.
He looks and is functioning really great so far. 

Wednesday
Still at home and millions of things to do still.  I only get some done.  Always in the kitchen cleaning up after cooking.  Trying hard to get through the jobs.  Sandra kindly brought dinner so I could get on with things.  So nice to have a break and Sandra's yummy food.
Nice to just chat

Thursday
We have done the rest of the 3000 envelopes.  1790 today done by Mary,  Diana,  Phil and myself.  After a yummy lunch with heaps of food we completed the job by 4.30pm  and it is a load off our mind.  Next job cleaning out Colin's office.  Have to clean up here first to find a place to sort and throw out.
Off to Day stay hospital tomorrow  for a blood test.

Office workers hard at work. 

Keeping on

Love is..... All the prayers from friends and others,  for Colin's healing.  Thanks everyone.

Friday

Had the family over for dinner.  Looks like I was cooking. 

Saturday
Lovely day at home cleaning and baking and relaxing a little.  Visitors Rick and Viv who I forgot to get a photo of,  stopped  by in the afternoon.  Good chat about medical things. Sandra and Kevin brought  dinner over.  This allowed me to get on with other things.  Well just a bit. 

Colin is still signing his letters to patients and we are sorting.  Big job. 

Sunday 2 Months! 

Went off to hospital for blood test but only there for 1 hour.   All other readings have dropped again but the platelets improved after transfusion on Friday. Prepared to stay in ward for the day but no need.  Have to check again Tuesday. Never sure what we are doing each day. 

After signing folding and enveloping have discovered they gave us the wrong envelopes.  Yes have to undo and redo again.  Arggh! Going to need some help! 

Brennan thinks this is funny. 

In the Trough

Love is....  Being a taxi driver and not being bothered

Day stay
Colin not only had a rash he got petechiae on his legs last night.  After phoning day stay we have had to come into hospital for platelets.  Colin remembered that platelets need to be above 50 because he had a bleed in his eye. They were  17. So all the appointments are changed around.  Will have to return on Sunday as platelets don't last long. Takes all day for 1 hour of platelet infusions.  By the time they do bloods and other procedures time passes.  To get bloods Colin has to lie down to get the blood sample but there was no bed so he lay back onto me from the chair and the nurses were laughing as the only other place to be horizontal would have been the floor. They were stepping around us.

5 hours of day stay.  So many patients plugged into lines getting their needed fluids.  It is like a factory.  Everyone is getting different coloured bags. 

Not home till 5.30pm and a day that I planned to clean up at home was unachievable 

 having a low blood count is called being in the trough. The little yellow bag on the left are the platelets. 

1103 steps

Leukemia fundraiser
If any of you have been too scared to donate your blood then check out the fundraiser for leukemia.
Even small amounts will help out.

My friend Mary met this fire fighter just after Colin was diagnosed. 
He climbs the 1103 steps up the sky tower carrying 25 kg gear so if anyone is interested have a look.
We have been amazed with the support from all the people who fundraise for the Leukemia and blood cancer society.
We have benefitted with free TV and Internet on the ward at Auckland Hospital.  The Internet has been fabulous for me while spending long hours sitting beside Colin while he was so ill.

https://secure.leukaemia.net.nz/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=839563&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=http%3a%2f%2ffirefightersclimb.org.nz%2f#&panel1-2

Today
As we head into the 7th week of treatment Colin seems quite well and to look at him you would not know he had been so sick.  I think his progress has been great.  As you would expect after the chemo his blood results have changed.
Haemoglobin         103      (130-175)
Neutrophils             0.85    (1.9-7.5)
Platelets                    17     (150-400)
White blood count 1.21   (4.00-11.00)

Colin now still has to watch catching an infection,  take care with what he eats due to bacteria and be careful of bugs and watch his tiredness. 
No eating out or buying cooked food from shops yet.
If you see him,  please don't touch or hug him.  Sanitize your hands if coming into the house.

Hospital
Colin goes back on Saturday for platelet transfusion.  Hopefully he can stay home.  Check on the bloods again Monday to see what is happening.

He came HOME

Fantastic
Colin came home after he was feeling better.  Blood results have dropped as expected so he has to take his temperature 2 times a day and watch his weight.
If any problems he has to ring up and go back.  Think everything is going to plan.
So much better to have him home. Actually feeling tired today so rushed out to plant more seedlings. Makes me feel better. Other ones are looking a bit sad in the heat but the lettuce is growing.

Going back to day stay regularly this week for blood testing and follow up.
Hope he stays in remission.

Tuesday

I managed to go out for lunch as Colin is well at home and happy catching up on computer work.  He is eating better and just hoping the horrible taste in his mouth goes soon so his appetite improves.  We probably have until the 24th for him to recuperate, as we have a doctor's appointment.  They will then decide on proceeding treatment.  Time for working on  conditioning. 

Nick brought home tea from China

Down then up

Love is.... Eating  mini Tim tams and loving them and not feeling guilty.  Because I deserve it.

Week 7
Can you believe how time really flies.  WE are nearly 2 months.  I have phoned Colin this morning and he is bit better today.  Just tired.
I didn't sleep well worrying about him and how he will manage more treatment.  Woke at 4.30am and had to get up at 7am to collect Nick from the airport anyway.  At night my mind is a whorl of all the things I have to do in the short time between hospital hours. What's was worse yesterday was the gentleman next to Colin speaks on speaker phone to his wife for ages! Deaf I think.  He has visitors for ages and they talk continuously. So hard to get rest. 
Looks like I will be snoozing in the lazy boy again.  Had a fight with the chair yesterday as I couldn't get it to collapse.  Kept throwing me into horizontal.
Back to the feeding frenzy to help Colin build up after losing all those kilos.
.
He managed lunch and he is on the slow road to building himself up again.  Phil and Leonie have visited and are back to Wellington tomorrow.

Phil and Leone.  Colin is so much improved this afternoon. 

Sandra D and me. 

Skin of Fire

The museum Skin of Fire was wonderful relief for Sandra  D and myself.  A beautiful evening and relaxed crowd.  Lots of fire and mind blowing loud and awesome fireworks.Having been parked here all day we thought it would be great for us both to take the opportunity as it was a short walk to the festivities. 

Colin is staying in hospital till Monday at least.  His bloods are starting to drop in numbers as expected and hope he doesn't get the fever spikes.  Wait and see.
Have to be careful with bugs again.  Don't want an infection.

I have just planted out some lettuce and spinach to try and get some organic goodness.  Quick lunch before heading back to see Colin.  Will miss his lunchtime but he is not eating anyway. I'm late. 

Colin is not feeling good today so doctor is prescribing more meds and iv fluids as he is dry and unable to drink and eat.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better.  He has had a bad afternoon as Sam left and nausea overcame him.  He said he felt really sick.  Not like Colin to say that. I hope he has an OK night. 

It's been hot out there

Love is....... The master key that opens the gates to happiness

Thursday 

The weather has been stifling and hard to sleep at night. 
After acupuncture mum and I picked up Colin from hospital.  He was feeling sick again  but felt well enough to travel home. Didn't last long as  he threw up again at home. (not my driving)  Surprisingly he ate fish and chips afterwards .  I know!  but it's what he wants.  Cameron came home so I rushed of to do my shopping. 
Made pork and chicken soup with rice macaroni.  Colin had some for dinner but has managed to lose more than 2 kilos already.
I've been busy all day and I crashed tonight falling asleep on the couch.  I think it's the heat and too many chores. The rubbish men didn't take my 10 bags of rubbish.  They have in the past but they are garden waste.  Bummer.  But I have rebagged and will put out in smaller lots.  A job that was unnecessary.  Silly rubbish men.  That are going to take it one way or another!

Friday
Colin is better when that yukky chemo wears off a bit.  Back this afternoon through the Auckland traffic to hospital for the final 2 doses.  This round is so much more bearable for him.  Even though he is feeling nauseous all the time but he can carry on functioning at least.  Not sure when Colin goes home.  Consultant says his bloods results will drop again and the fevers will happen.  See what tomorrow brings.
Anita and Peter have brought us some lovely vegetables soup and bouw for dinner.  Colin enjoys the soup.  Thanks so much. A good chat.  Colin is tired now and is off to sleep.
Sandra D and I are off to see the lights at the museum. Got a surprise as her husband left our room and got a single.  Moved to business class.

Coincidences
Recognise the visitor of a new patient in the bed next to Colin.  He is visiting his sons father in law.  My visitors know him too. Crazy

Coincidences

Love is..... Given Freely and taken freely

Coincidences
-the charge nurse on admitting was a friend
-in Middle more x-ray is a friend from the cossie  club getting an x-ray too.
-neighbour in Colin's first room was a patient of his
- we know the neighbour of a fellow patient
-go to Wow at museum and run into 2 cousins
-oncology massager is a friend
-the dove factor

Return
Colin is back in Motutapu for the night.  Started chemo just now.  The IV pump is squeaking along.
He will stay overnight and see how he is tomorrow and whether he feels like coming home for the night  on Thursday.
Pretty much gone off his food.  I got told off for offering him too many choices.  Whoops.  Left hospital late and home before 9pm. Colin had a small dinner of yow mei farn  and home grown courgettes.  

I spent the morning presenting a speech to a group about the Ah Chee History.  Lucky it was a smaller  group  of about 30 people as there was no equipment for projecting so I had to use my photos.  This was booked last  year and I have one more in July.  Had to opt out of 2 other  requests this year as I just can't commit.  Rushed home after trying to buy some fresh fruit for Colin and set to cooking lunch and dinner to take with us to hospital 

Me

Thanks for asking,  I am much better as getting sleep and got plenty to do. I'm fine.  Great talking to partners on the ward.  We  obviously have similar feelings. Just love having Colin at home and life revolves around  clinic appointments and  hospital. 

WOW 

Had a lovely afternoon checking out WOW at the museum.  Colin was a little worried that I was going to make him walk from the hospital but I'm not that  mean.  Dropped him to the door. His energy levels can drop suddenly but he never complains.  I just notice him slow down and drag his feet. 

What's Colin doing with all those lovely ladies? 

Ran into Sharyn  and Pat

HOME for one day

Home
Colin had 2 chemo treatments .  The last finished at 11 this morning.  I turned up at lunch time ready to make lunch for him and he was feeling good but looked tired.  I encouraged him to eat hospital lunch before our escape home.  Big mistake as he lost it in the toilet.  By the time we got home he was feeling nauseous so he was sent of to the bedroom for a sleep.

He returns to hospital tomorrow before 5pm so the consultant was right to halve the dose of chemo for Colin.  Next chemo Wednesday and Friday.  Not sure whether he will stay in hospital for a few days after. Will see what each day brings.

Food
Gosh he has so gone off his food.  Off chicken again.  Everytime I ask would you like....  HE SAYS No!
What a difference from all the massive eating over the last few weeks.  He even was developing a small food baby!
All our routine is out the door.  So a late dinner and Colin's sister Leone and Phil are up from Wellington to visit.

Round 2 - week 6

Love is........ A gift to be cherished

6 weeks
I cannot believe that this amount of time has gone by.  Colin is back in ward 11 Motutapu.  He has gained 3 kilos in just over a week of solid eating.  Our whole day revolves around food. 

I had a busy weekend. Colin and  Rendon watched the cricket and a lot of yelling was going on.  Friend Jenny H came to help me garden and we got stuck in to it for 4 hours.  She is a power house of energy and 9 bags of garden rubbish later and an attack on the bank and a tidy up of the front made me feel so much better.  Haven't done that much work in the heat for a long time so suffered  on Sunday.  Thanks a million Jenny. 

Motutapu ward
I received a text from Sandra D to say her husband is also admitted today.  So we turn up to find our husbands opposite each other in the same room.  Makes it more friendly.  We are sharing stories, medical notes and food.  Sandra says it is like Club Med but I think there needs to be a big improvement  in the food being served. Colin is having 3 days of chemo on Monday,  Wednesday and Friday.  He will have it for 6 hours twice in 24 hours.  It feels comfortable  to be back in the arms of the ward and the wonderful staff. This time it is just one chemical but double the dose.   So I am unsure if Colin will tolerate it that well but time will tell.

Uncle Peter and aunt Jenny bring our dinner up of soup and chicken and mushrooms on rice.  This makes it so much easier for me to feed Colin.  Thanks guys.  I have come home to have a slice of Mary H's  delicious banoffee pie.  Don't tell my acupuncturist I ate bananas  cause they are banned.
Carol dropped packets of mini Tim Tams off for Colin and some delicious blueberries just when I thought I should have brought some fruit for him.  perfect.

Domain
After talking to Colin's bed neighbour David who walks 4 km daily,  I decide we must go out to the domain before he is hooked to the IV .  Whoops we walked to the wintergreen  but I think it was too much for my hubby who has hardly gone outside.  Think he is a bit afraid but to get fit he needs to get going.
It was lovely outside and the sun was warm on our arms.

So far everything is okay.   He is able to do most things but can walk limited distances.

We are going to be in and out of hospital this week so you need to contact me if you want to see Colin. 

Wintergarden  Domain

View from Club Med

Banoffie  pie to help Colin gain weight but we did. 

I know it's hot outside