Squirrel as a Transformer

 

Lol.  Oh my gawd. ChatGBT.

It was a day!

 

Had to laugh.  Luk's monthly medical supplies order, I opened the door to a wall :)

I had Eric making squirrel things for me.  Necklace for the car and a keychain.  Then he altered my new medical alert bracelet.  Trying a new one.  Lighter, smaller.  I've managed to keep it on for 24hours without a sensory overload.

Moving into Squirrel.  Eric has finished the mechanical things.  She gets to hit the trails now.  We have a group run Saturday.  I thought Eric would come with me in Squirrel but no, he is going in Oscar because "you have to learn sometime".  I would whine and complain but Oscar has all the recovery gear so best he is there lest I need actual help.

I'm excited and petrified all at once.

Omg.  So cute.

Scrat.  Lol. He's technically a rat crossed with a squirrel.  Close enough.  We love him.

Moving in.

The planning for a better bed and storage has begun.  Back seats out.  Metal tray in. Plywood bought.

Lili picked out Nanaimo bar icecream for the boys school pick up.  Someone was quite delighted.

Eric and I went to Home Depot for plywood.  Eric asked if there were more projects to get done.  I said we need to figure the ground level gate out.  The one at the top of the stairs is an accident waiting to happen.  Then we found this panel system.  The Victorian.  Gah.  So exciting!  It took three trips to Home Depot to get all the right pieces but it's almost done.  We had to interrupt Eric to go the the high school for a tour.  I've only been asking for this since Coco was a puppy.

After Home Depot we went to Subway.  The ring camera bell went off so I answered the doorbell.  It was a process server with legal paperwork for me.  What?!  We couldn't fathom what for.  On the drive home I asked Eric if he was divorcing me. He said no.  Lol. 

It wasn't really related to me.  Small claims court for a minor issue that isn't mine.  Phew.

On the way to the high school tour Eric noticed a group of teenagers on the sidewalk with Walter.  He pulled over, approached them and said where are you going with my cat.  Walter was struggling to get away from them.  Eric grabbed him and plunked him in Lili's lap and we drove him home.  What a dolt of a cat.  How is he still alive?!  We once again discussed options for him but all options would make him crazy.  He is living his best life.  

The new school.  We weren't overly impressed.  There are still just sooo many issues for both boys.  The team all seemed receptive to ideas and really quite willing to accommodate.  I'm going to remain hopeful that things will work out for the boys.

An outside classroom.  My favorite part of the tour.

We have friends doing a quickie wedding on Friday afternoon.  We were out tonight scouting out ceremony spots.  Final decision is Central Park in Lake Cowichan.  Eric and I are the witnesses.  So that's fun.

It was a crazy, busy day.  Non stop. I way over did it. I didn't eat or drink well or enough.  Tonight I'm shaking and in a weird clammy sweat.  Diabetes is no joke.

Ok...

And....

the big news of the day is.....

The cervical biopsy is in already.

Hpv16 present 

However......

There are NO pre-cancer cells.

I will have to recheck in a year and I've been formally accepted into the care of a the Gynecologist who monitored me through cancer aftercare last time.

It was the best news after the day we had today!

We were too busy to dwell but I did slow it down a couple times and look into Eric's eyes and say "hey, no cancer!". 

Constitution Run

 

The trail was tight and technical with rock crawling.  We were a group of 3 capable rigs.

Condo.

The views were stunning.

It took 3 hours of hard wheeling to get to this spot for lunch.

Both sides of Mt Washington.

Opps.  Another body bang.  Eric had to pry the door to allow the window up.  

Poor Oscar.

Why, yes, I am hoping he gets over this advanced trail stuff and settles down in the moderate realm.

Eric's list of projects is mounting.

My job is to keep his schedule free so he can get to it all.

Yesterday he was replacing the l.e.d. lights in the trailer dinette.  You don't replace a bulb, it's the whole unit.  So wasteful.  So, one burned out but you need to do both so they match.  Except ours were 2018 and we couldn't find a match.  I haven't gone to look yet.  I'm imagining there are marks of imperfection on the ceiling.  He ran out of crimping wire so he told me he needed to run to town.  He rarely tells me, I usually just here the car run out.  I grabbed shoes and went with him just to get out of the house.  Which meant lunch out.  Robert was taking Jia to her monthly Dr/therapy session so we invited them to join us for lunch after her appointment.  We're still just meeting him.  Jia is almost never home, they galavant.  They're still so happy together.  It's sweet.

Then it was time to pick up the boys.  Then it rained.

All to say, I didn't let the poor man get much done yesterday.

All the parts for Squirrel are here.  We are doing a beginner run on Saturday.  A large group run in a new area for us.  There is a slim chance Eric will have Squirrel ready for her debut.  Trying not to get too excited yet.

Today I'm going to a private clinic for tests re: the Tremfya program.  Then a dentist appointment.  So, not fun stuff today.

Colposcopy Day

 

I wore my anal cancer Badass shirt to visit the hospital today.  It did give a couple nurses a chuckle in the day surgery room.

Funny sidebar.  I have been finding it truely amazing how many people don't know their body parts.  Today I was sitting beside a gentleman waiting for his procedure to have a part of his prostate cut out because it's blocking his bladder.  He asked what I was doing.  I said biopsy on my cervix.  His wife read my shirt and told him what it said.  He doesn't know what the anus is but it sounds painful to him.  For real.  He's older than me and doesn't know what an anus is!  

Anyways.

I got in the room and the Dr doing the colposcopy is the one that did all my cervical cancer followup years ago.  So that was a fun and greatly appreciated surprise.  

I told her about the last gyno visit, tipped uterus, serious stenosis, need for a sedation exam.  It took a while.  She had to use extra supplies to hold things in place.  Then an emergency room disposable speculum because it has a light built into it.  The nurse was having to source the extra supplies.  

But....we got it done.

At one point I did ask if there were some acrobatic moves I could do to help the situation.  We all got a laugh or two.  

It was uncomfortable but not painful.  I'm to expect bleeding and cramping.  All good so far.

She will email the results in a month or so.  If clear, she will see me in a year for a repeat colposcopy and if not clear she will see me for treatment.  When I left she had fingers crossed, telling me she really hopes it's clear.  I said "me too! I'm a bit busy already with the anal cancer".  Then we both grimaced at each other.

Then we picked up the boys, grabbed a couple things at Walmart and got icecream at the Farmers Market.  Because I earned it today.  The boys and I had rootbeer flavor.  Yum.  Eric had cherry.

34th Anniversary

 

My Jeep Girl cup not only turns pink in the sun, it glows at night!  Fun little discovery in the trailer.

Eric set Kai and I up in the trailer to camp at Gordon Bay.

Mom and Poppy joined us and car camped.

We played two games of Nertz both with many, many rounds.  It's been a hot minute since I've played.  It was fun. Mom won both games.

We met Eric and Luk in Lake Cowichan Sunday for dinner.  Eric took both boys home.  Mom went home and I had an evening and next day to myself.

So quiet.  Very restorative.

Extremely refreshing to only think about yourself.

I listened to an entire book with only a couple interruptions.

Sketchy cell service but the odd call or text came through.  No data though.

I came home to quite a few messages to deal with.

For fun, a lab in Quebec who is handling the new drug protocols needs me to contact them so they can set up bloodwork in our area immediately.  I'll call them back tomorrow.  

Eric came back out for dinner today.  Our 34th Wedding Anniversary.  We had mushroom ravioli and cheesecake from Red's.  It froze well.  

Then we finished packing up and came home because the boys have school.  Except....they don't.  Sigh.  It's their school beach day that they're both skipping out of.  Fei and Lili are both home.  We could have stayed at Gordon Bay and come home tomorrow.  Arg.

Eric worked all weekend on the gate project.  They needed repairs, they're 22 years old.  The electric opener part is finally being added.  It took him a full day to cut a trench across the cement, run the conduit and patch it.  As ALWAYS, I had no clue the job was so involved.  It's going to be solar.  His head is full of details, amperage, solar panel size, batteries and how many, installation issues, where, how.  Key pad on the outside.  Nothing that Duncan's finest can reach to steal.

Squirrel sometimes doesn't like to start so he worked trying to figure that out.  Not solved yet.  Oscar got a new track bar installed.  I had no service so couldn't see the ring camera.  I had no clue which project he picked to work on.  I couldn't track his movements on the 360 app either.  It was weird having so little contact with home.  Nice too though.

I did meet with my pharmacist on Friday.  He was great.  Overwhelmed at first with my list.  He doesn't like me getting a new drug until I mentioned it specifically targets fistulas.  Then it was exciting because none of the other Chrones biologics help prevent fistula tracts. I have started the 12 week steroid program. I got two of the 5 vaccines requested. Pneumonia and tetanus.  I'm too young for the Pneumonia one but he felt there were enough compelling reasons for it and did the shot before confirming payment coverage. So much talk around funding.  The flu shot isn't available until Nov. I have to wait a week for the Covid shot.  The shingles one doesn't seem necessary to him and it isn't covered so he thought I might double check that one.  I suggested not wanting to go through shingles.  He chuckled, said compared to Chrones it was nothing.  Hmmm.  I don't know.  I've known a few people who definitely thought it hurt. 

I'm too much.

Yesterday was medical calls all day.  One re Luk, one re Kai and too many to count re me.

I don't have it all straight.

1st the new G.I. doctor, Dr. Smith put out his 11 orders.  The calls are happening and everyone is in a time crunch.  It can't all happen at once.  Recovery time is needed in between.

There is paperwork that I don't understand re financing the crazy super high expenses of the new biologic.  Logistics to the order of events.

Today's plan is to do attempt #3 of the consents and financial part.  Then to visit our pharmacy to book an appointment with my guy so he can help direct me.  I'm taking paper and pen.

I need an iron infusion.  Not the regular kind with a round of five visits but the really expensive all in one shot one.  I went online to see my iron numbers.  Which I didn't find.  However I did find the missing hpv results from the pap.  And yes there are indeed hpv 16 cells on the cervix.  That doesn't mean the cancer is back quite yet but it's not good news for sure.

I have sugars mostly under control.  I'll have a perfect day.  No digestion issues, all safe food, sugars perfect and all macros met.  And I'll vow to God that I will eat that every day and not complain about variety or cravings.  Then the next day, the same everything will go nuts.  Spiked sugar and running to the loo.  Then I go through the extra stuff, did I drink too much, or too little, was I too hot, get enough sleep, move too much or have more stress than usual?  

I have officially become too much for myself.  It turns out cancer, diabetes and chrones are just simply too much to realistically manage all at once.

Luk just texted.  His orthotic strap just broke.  I have no clue what to do.  I'm wallowing in bed.  Not ready to run to the school to rescue him.  Eric has Kai at speech.  I suggested he just wear his shoes.  That are about four sizes too big without the afo in the shoe.  Sigh.

The head pediatrician at Children's wants a follow up with Kai.  They think he needs an educational assessment.  So, a forty minute call with his nurse.  Why bother.  So many issues.  She finally asked "do you think he has an intellectual disability?".  Hahaha.  Lol.  Ugh.  Ya.  Diagnosed at 4 and not improving.  So, she met with the psychologist yesterday and got back to me.  She is booking him for Sept of 2027 at age 16 to do a mini visit and will do his transition paperwork then so we will have no issues moving him to adult day programs and funding.  

Just got a text from the resource teacher.  He McGyvered a fix to Luk's afo.

In local news, we have a friend who is rcmp. He (plain clothes) went for breakfast with his rcmp friend (uniform) yesterday.  When they left the Corner House a group of three approached said hey piggies then one of them attempted stabbing our friend, other rcmp jumped in and took the stab to his neck.  He is fighting for his life.  He was stabilized here.  Helicopter to Vancouver.  Induced coma and stabilized again.  Then flown to Ontario.  We wait for news today.  Our friend and his fiance are pretty upset.  Understandably.

One of the three was caught.  15 year old.  The other two got away.

There is ring camera video of the event.  Not released yet.  They have the kid held and hoping to get him to talk.  

Also, three 15 year old boys broke into a house on Sherman and beat a 70 year old couple with a bat.  Our friend responded in less than two minutes to the alarm.  All three were apprehended and since let go.  The couple were taken to hospital, the gentleman has passed.  

What is wrong with teenage boys?!  I want to go get my boys out of school and keep them away from the freaking hoodlums.  

What is happening to our town?!

I'm feeling the stress big time for sure.

It's a camping weekend.  I've suggested Eric set me and Kai up tonight then come home with Luk.  He has projects with the Jeeps and the yard.  But, now I've asked him to work on getting the gate fixed.  I want to start closing it again.  Safety first.

Eric did tell me there is no way our front door would have held out against the girl attacking with such force.  

I haven't packed food or clothing yet.  It is simpler with just Kai.  He eats the same as me.  I do have a meal plan and shopping list.  That's half the battle.

I'll have sketchy service while camping.  That might be a good thing.  Peace and quiet are definitely in order.

Luk is all good.

 

On the way home.

He was a fabulous patient.

His surgery was scheduled for 2:15.  They called at 9:36 to ask if he could come in for 10.  Um.  Maybe.  

The 2.7 kms took half an hour.  City traffic.  

Asleep in a split second.

This was Eric's 1st time at a kid surgery.  I voluntold him to do the o.r. walk this time.  He did great.  Kept joking with Luk all along. Managed a picture in there, so long as no staff were in the photo.  I always hold it together until they're asleep and then I cry in the hallway.  Every time.  Eric did not cry.

Kai was very unaware that Luk had anything going on.  He was all about his new hat, his game and snacks.

Dad on duty this time.

Ok, and this is why I don't adore him wearing caps.  Sigh.  He loves them.  There is nothing in him that believes it should be straight or that it should maybe not cover his eyes.  It's a hard watch for me. Yes, that is a ME thing.  It is still our job to help him present himself in a more flattering way.  The cap might be a short lived thing.  It might have to go missing.  Technically it darkens or shades his eyes which isn't a great thing for Kai's night blindness.  He needs as much light as possible at all times.  

We're home.

School tomorrow to Kai.  Pedicure for Mom and I tomorrow.  Camping Friday.  Eric is outside working on Squirrel now. He has to finish her brakes so she can get out of the way of the trailer coming out.

Day by day here.

Jia is running into Walmart tonight for me wearing her girl hair and makeup to surprise Robert.  I'm in the car in jammies.  I sort of wish I'd pulled it together so I could see his reaction.

I did have a phone appointment with the G.I. doctor today.  He's met the oncologist team and surgeons.  The plan is to attack the Chrones with meds to ensure there is no flares or inflammation in the future that might invite the cancer to grow again.  Mri, ct scan, sedated scope of the small intestine, iron infusions, topical steroids, and a few vaccinations before moving onto a new infusion drug that isn't quite approved in Canada yet.  Stupid expensive so the application for funding is going in now.  It is targeted specifically to peri anal fistulizing Chrones.  I'm not exactly thrilled about the new regime headed our way and new meds scare me a bit but it's clear heading off cancer growth is the better option at this point.  There aren't many side effects. It rarely causes rashes.  Best part, the infusions can be done in Duncan.

This will make me immune compromised.  Scary.  Especially living with Luk and Kai.  Who seem to catch it all!  We might need to set me up better upstairs with a wee little makeshift kitchen so I can avoid the sick people when need be.

Right now I have a touch of a cough setting in.  I'm hoping an early bed and a ton of water will push that off.  I don't have time to be regular sick.

The team has spoken.  This is the way.