Today we had "Family Flu Shots" day... oi. We have not done flu shots before but the chemo nurse advised strongly and so we did. Let me tell you, when we told the 8yrs and 6yrs...there was some weeping and gnashing of teeth. Some of that whinging and ki-yi-ying and generally p-o-ed yelling happened the 15 minutes of freeway driving to the drug store that happened to have 5 shots left. We got there, we bribed with candy, we filled out paperwork for all 5 (Daddy would have to be responsible to find his own flu shot some other time) and we started the process.
Oh. My. Word.
Hell hath no fury like... a 6yrs old pinned down in a never-taken-a-kid-for-shots Daddy's arms... oh my. And the Mommy, well I'm on strict orders to "not exert yourself" for 48 hours post-port surgery. I used my empathy, my reflecting, my instructing-Daddy-whilst-trying-to-calm-son, then my full-out Mommy-stern voice... poor, kind pharmacist commented, "I've had lots of upset kids, but this one is the worst" or something like that. Way to go son, you've set the bar LOUDLY.
Daddy and I got all four kids through their shots, and then... Mommy totally chickened out. Like. Completely. I just could.not.submit.to.the.shot. And... praises to God completely as He popped "there is a mist!!!" into my head. And so I said, "Hey Daddy, why don't you take my shot and I'll take the mist?" and super compassionate Pharmacist, who knew our cancer situation, said, "Let me check the instructions for adults" to make sure it was okay for me or whatever it is they check... and came back with the mist.
THANK YOU LORD FOR THE MIST!!!!! It absorbs the minute it hits your nose, so even if you sneezed it out (which I didn't) it is already absorbed. Um... hello... if you are afraid of needles, splurge and spend the $26 for the mist. Easy-peasy!
Here is my new motto: if there is an "easiest" or "pain-less" version, I'm doing it. Why spend extra energy on any thing that will freak me out. Example, I have given my pharmacist a blanket rule (on my file) to give me the smallest version of any meds... I am having trouble with choking, coughing and gagging on pills especially and some meds are just difficult and so I delay taking them until too late (too much pain or whatever)... hello... as one kind mother-of-a-cancer-survivor shared with my sis... if the first thing doesn't work, ask for something else because there ARE options and don't waste energy where you don't need to. Best advice, thank you... I feel released to not have to be tough in the area of meds and medicine. Work smarter, not harder, right!?!! Right!
And so, we are all flu-fortified and they all enjoyed their fancy ice cream treat at the place that mixes gummy bears into cotton candy ice cream, I ate half a sandwich at the Tim Hrtons, and now we are resting. I am not eating much. Food is not appealing. Shawn is becoming a nag. I'm good with sipping things through a straw so warmed water and those yogurt drinks or smoothies are always a good option.
Herman (what I've named my port, in case you missed yesterday) is settling in but his long creepy rubber tubing tail is definitely an aggravation in my jugular vein if I move my neck, swallow, lift my chin or... stupid Kristin... bump the entire area of bandages. Why the heck do I keep bumping that stupid area??! Cuz I didn't have on my trusty scarf. I am a huge fan of wrapping long, light, super wide scarves around my neck... I'm actually known among my friends for having quite the scarf collection. LOL. ANYWAY, today I went without because I wanted to kids to SEE the bandages and REMEMBER not to hug aggressively or flop down next to me...and then I kept bumping my own owie. Doh! So... on went the safety scarf and I haven't bumped into myself in the last hour. Yes... I'm a braniac. That's me.
Did you know that if you muck about and fiddle with the port it could flip upside down (hard plastic side up) and then it can't be used (cuz the squishy peirce-able... [shudder] side is not just under the skin). Um... not touching that thing... it is sore. Not unbearable but definitely still adjusting. Apparently my body is growing tissue around it (which could make a Kristin FREAK about the one-day eventual removal of said port... but .... rainbows, unicorns, grape popsicles... squirrel... not thinking about that).... anyway. Port is okay. Tube thingy that goes up towards my shoulder and then around into my artery at the jugular and down towards my heart is hurty annoying but not killer painful.
And that's the update for tonight.
Love you, my BlogFriends. I really do. I appreciate you, your comments, your kindnesses, your prayers and your thoughts. Thank you.
Kristin
That was entirely too entertaining!! Having a laugh at your expense. I hope you're ok with that :)
ReplyDeleteYou take the good, you take the bad and there you have... life! It was a gong show kinda day that made us all smile!
DeleteJust another day in paradise! Thanks for sharing, and thank you God for providing!
ReplyDeleteOi vey is right! Yikes...what a day! I'm glad for you that that's another thing behind you.
ReplyDeleteHave they told you about Elma Cream, yet? It's a skin numbing cream that you apply to your skin before you get accessed and then you dont feel the needle poke? Amazing stuff. You can buy it over the counter at the pharmacy...it's a bit pricey, but worth it and you can use press and seal as a cover to hold it in place in the hour before you get poked.
ReplyDelete