I went to the hospital this morning to have my pulmonary function test done. It was so weird! In the room where we did the testing was a little glass phone booth type enclosure, with all kinds of tubes and wires hanging about. The doctor had me sit in there, and he shut the door, sealing me in...even though it was glass, it was a little claustrophobic. I had to put my mouth around a tube, and put a little clip on my nose, so the only air I could breath was through the tube. For the first test I had to take short little panting breaths, and after 5 or 6 of those, he would shut of my air supply, and I was supposed to keep taking panting breaths for as long as I could. It felt very strange, because I was trying to get my lungs to breath in nothing at all, while trying not to panic because I couldn't get any air. The next two tests both involved taking in huge amounts of air, and then trying to get every bit of it back out. It was actually really hard, just when I thought I couldn't push any more air out, he would say "Keep going, there is still air coming out of your lungs"! So I guess you have air in your lungs for long after you feel like its all gone. Anyways, I passed the test with flying colors, and am now officially strong enough for surgery. Yay!
I am trying to get as much done around the house as I can this week, as well as meeting with Doctors, and doing a quick filling at the dentist. I am squeezing in a coffee date with Aimee and a lunch date with Sarah. Next time they see me I will be in the hospital, doped up on drugs, and probably not making a bit of sense. So I have to get quality time with them while I can!
I am also excited because my brother is coming down with Kami on Thursday night. Its going to really help us because they can watch Row on Friday, and get Killian to and from school that day. Matthew will probably be stuck at the hospital most of the day. Plus, I haven't seen them since Killian's birthday, so a visit is long overdue. Too bad it has to be under such circumstances, but now I know what I have to do to get my brother to come see me ;)
I am feeling really grateful today. I have so many things to be thankful for, they are spilling out all over the place. I am thankful that my kids are healthy, their bodies and minds young and strong. I am thankful for Matthew, his unwavering support and love...I think I know now why he was brought into my life. Not only to be my best friend, and most wonderful husband ever...but also to be the person to help me overcome this challenge. I don't think I could have the strength I have without him. I am so grateful for him!! I am thankful that we have the money to buy our family healthy food, to have a warm safe place to sleep, and to be able to be together. I am thankful that cancer is going to be leaving my body on Friday, never to return. I am thankful that I have wonderful surgeons, and a that I am in the hands of a hospital that I am familiar with and that I trust. I am thankful for the rain, that will nourish the soil of my soon to be planted garden. I am thankful that we have the freedom to make the choices we do. I am thankful for the library, where I am able to check out 2 really good books on fighting cancer with food and supplements. I am going to take them to the hospital with me! I am thankful that my husband likes technology, so he didn't bat an eye when I tentatively suggested that maybe, just possibly, we could by a laptop for me to use doing my recovery. We are now the proud owners of a shiny new portable Internet cruising device! I am thankful for Great Clips, who I usually do not trust with anything but a pair of clippers for Killian...I had them cut off most of my hair this weekend, and it actually looks pretty cute. I figured it would be easier to take care of during my recovery if it was shorter. I am thankful for my family, and all that they are doing to help us. I am very grateful for Aimee, she is going to be watching Row while I am in the hospital, and she is doing it with such love and happiness that I don't even really feel bad for asking her for such a huge favor. I am thankful to her extended family for showing me so much love....I consider them all my family by default, because Aimee and Dave and the boys are my family (whether they like it or not)! I am thankful for reconnecting with an old friend...there is so much in our past, but right now, we are just looking towards the future, and that's a beautiful thing. I am thankful for prayers, good energy, and well wishes, I truly believe they make all the difference. And I am thankful for the ability to stay positive while facing down this diagnosis. I know I can beat it!
Oh - and to leave you with a tidbit. The lung doctor I saw today said that people can survive with only 1/2 of one lung! And that even if you had a whole lung removed, you could still do all your normal daily activities....without any problems! The human body is truly a mystery!
I am trying to get as much done around the house as I can this week, as well as meeting with Doctors, and doing a quick filling at the dentist. I am squeezing in a coffee date with Aimee and a lunch date with Sarah. Next time they see me I will be in the hospital, doped up on drugs, and probably not making a bit of sense. So I have to get quality time with them while I can!
I am also excited because my brother is coming down with Kami on Thursday night. Its going to really help us because they can watch Row on Friday, and get Killian to and from school that day. Matthew will probably be stuck at the hospital most of the day. Plus, I haven't seen them since Killian's birthday, so a visit is long overdue. Too bad it has to be under such circumstances, but now I know what I have to do to get my brother to come see me ;)
I am feeling really grateful today. I have so many things to be thankful for, they are spilling out all over the place. I am thankful that my kids are healthy, their bodies and minds young and strong. I am thankful for Matthew, his unwavering support and love...I think I know now why he was brought into my life. Not only to be my best friend, and most wonderful husband ever...but also to be the person to help me overcome this challenge. I don't think I could have the strength I have without him. I am so grateful for him!! I am thankful that we have the money to buy our family healthy food, to have a warm safe place to sleep, and to be able to be together. I am thankful that cancer is going to be leaving my body on Friday, never to return. I am thankful that I have wonderful surgeons, and a that I am in the hands of a hospital that I am familiar with and that I trust. I am thankful for the rain, that will nourish the soil of my soon to be planted garden. I am thankful that we have the freedom to make the choices we do. I am thankful for the library, where I am able to check out 2 really good books on fighting cancer with food and supplements. I am going to take them to the hospital with me! I am thankful that my husband likes technology, so he didn't bat an eye when I tentatively suggested that maybe, just possibly, we could by a laptop for me to use doing my recovery. We are now the proud owners of a shiny new portable Internet cruising device! I am thankful for Great Clips, who I usually do not trust with anything but a pair of clippers for Killian...I had them cut off most of my hair this weekend, and it actually looks pretty cute. I figured it would be easier to take care of during my recovery if it was shorter. I am thankful for my family, and all that they are doing to help us. I am very grateful for Aimee, she is going to be watching Row while I am in the hospital, and she is doing it with such love and happiness that I don't even really feel bad for asking her for such a huge favor. I am thankful to her extended family for showing me so much love....I consider them all my family by default, because Aimee and Dave and the boys are my family (whether they like it or not)! I am thankful for reconnecting with an old friend...there is so much in our past, but right now, we are just looking towards the future, and that's a beautiful thing. I am thankful for prayers, good energy, and well wishes, I truly believe they make all the difference. And I am thankful for the ability to stay positive while facing down this diagnosis. I know I can beat it!
Oh - and to leave you with a tidbit. The lung doctor I saw today said that people can survive with only 1/2 of one lung! And that even if you had a whole lung removed, you could still do all your normal daily activities....without any problems! The human body is truly a mystery!