Home Again - November 12-18

How glad and thankful I was to be home and no longer in the hospital. I started eating better almost right away and my recliner felt so good compared to the hospital bed. And with my white blood cell count back to normal and my hemoglobin improved, I was feeling much better. Of course, "better" does not yet mean that I am ready to go back to the gym and workout like I did earlier this year. It just means that I am more easily able to do the basic things of life - that is, take care of myself. I am so grateful that, other than following the first chemo treatment, when I was so weak and it was difficult to care for myself (even to get in and out of the recliner, or the hospital bed), that I have not had any trouble since then.

When I am home, it is nice in the evenings to be able to watch something with Denise - a movie, TV show, or football. My breakfast at home consists of Cream of Wheat and a chocolate Carnation breakfast drink. I normally read my Bible after that, unless we need to go to the clinic in the morning (when I read it later in the day), or I am not feeling well (try my best to read it later in the day).

My only task during this week was to prepare for my next round of chemo, which means working on getting stronger. This includes getting lots of protein in my diet and resting as much as I can. This is not always easy, though definitely easier at home than in the hospital.

Just some things that I do not miss when I am home and not in the hospital (in no particular order).

No...
- needles (not that I mind them, but they cannot always use my PICC line for getting blood, and I have felt like a pin cushion at times)
- blood draws (always every morning and some other times as well)
- vitals checks (every 4 hours or so)
- sleep interruptions (mostly at night, but really anytime of the day)
- hospital gowns (my back is always cold)
- waiting for Denise's visits (now limited to 2 hours per day instead of 4 hours)
- hospital food (which I have grown very tired of)
- IV pumps (they beep when finished or something goes wrong)
- reliance on others (except Denise)
- 45-minute wait for delivery of meals (there are lots of patients in the hospital)

This week at home is a huge blessing. It helped give me a better perspective and prepared me for the next step in the process. God has been so good to us!