Small Victories

Yesterday's visit with Radiology was quite surprising.

Rich's weight had only gone down 2 pounds since last Monday.  The Radiology Nurse felt that it was a job well done considering the week before he'd lost 8 pounds in 4 days.

I was shocked myself but very pleased also.  It meant we were doing something right.  
I'd been making shakes out of fruits, yogurt, ice cream, ensure protein & calories booster powder, and milk.  I'd made different blends and he'd been drinking a glassful of it whenever he felt like it.

I'd made home made macaroni and cheese and he'd eaten that in small meals whenever he wished.  Frequent small meals.

Anything that he felt like, he grazed on.  Sometimes it was good food like an apple, and sometimes it was not so great like a Hostess Cupcake.  

His energy level still concerns me.  He is so exhausted that he stays in bed almost all of the time.  I was reading the side effects of Cisplatin and extreme fatigue was one of them.  I'm not sure that staying in bed as many hours as he is, is healthy.  It causes him to be more depressed or is it depression itself?

Hard to know.

But yesterday's visit was a positive one.  Nurse coordinator Jackie from the UW told Rich as long as he could keep his weight up he didn't have to worry about the Jevity.  Of course I got the smug glance from him!  That is okay with me though.  I thought I was doing the right thing, but since we'd kept him from losing more than 2 pounds, I figured it was a victory all the way around.

Rich's daughter had emailed me very early in the morning that she and the kids would be coming to visit in the afternoon.
She thought she'd take Rich for Chemo and Radiation today and let the kids stay with me.

I welcomed the company and the offer.

This is exactly what was needed for a Care Giver break.  I get to do things with the grand children all day and rest a bit.

Steph and I worked most of the afternoon on trying to figure out what meals we could cook up for her Dad so that he could graze all day.

For supper I made a huge pot of spaghetti and some garlic bread.  I cannot say enough how much of a pleasure it was to sit and eat with other folks.

Then Rich ate two small helpings and I felt like jumping up and down. Another mini victory.

Today is Radiation and Chemo day.  Steph is an angel for coming to the farm and staying.  She really saved my sanity.

Small Victories.
One day at a time.