Back to Reality

September for our family has always been a hectic month filled with school starting, birthdays, meetings, and settling into routines. As the kids grew up and out the door, things calmed down, and last year I almost seemed a little lost without the routines of teaching and was trying to find my “groove.” What a difference a year makes. We started out this month with chemo and ended it the same way. Scary stuff. But in between we had a wonderful week at South Padre Island celebrating our daughter’s 30th birthday. The island is only 45 minutes from our home, but life always seemed to get in the way and we rarely got down there. Our daughter rented a large condo down there and we spent an entire week with family and friends coming and going. The Island is beautiful this time of year and we took full advantage. One of the things Rickie always wanted to do (and very rarely had time to) was drive up the island in the truck and sit all day and fish in the surf and just enjoy the beach. So we did just that! It was great. Sunday and Monday we drove about 15 miles up, and Tuesday we drove all the way to the Port Mansfield cut, then drove back a little ways and found a spot to park and enjoyed the day. Each day was prettier than the last and I cannot recall a time when I have ever seen the water at the beach here look bluer or clearer. It was gorgeous! Even out past the waves you could see all the way down to the bottom and watch the fish swim by you. Rickie and Lauren fished in the surf, Kristen and her friend caught some rays, and I beach combed and came back with all kinds of treasures. It was such a relaxing and wonderful time and we actually let this stupid cancer stay out of our minds. I am so thankful God gave us this time together. When we packed up and left on Thursday we decided that we would definitely get down there again before too long. The next day, Friday, Rickie went for chemo and all that that brings with it. This time we were more on top of the nausea by starting the medication before the chemo. He went in Wednesday and again yesterday for hydration which helps, but the fatigue is what gets to him. It seems as if the recovery time from the chemo is drawing out longer, now it’s a good solid week at least. Hopefully today will be a better day. He needs to go in for an esophageal stretch again, and that has me worried. Last time was a disaster with a week spent in the hospital, but his swallowing is getting worse and nutrition is such an issue that it has to be done. Just praying for good results. So September has come to a close and October begins. This coming week marks one year on this journey for us. We pray for time to enjoy the good things in life with family and friends. And many more days at the island!
Cheryl
Wife of Rickie, dx Stage IV EC, Oct. 2010