Wire Cutters

I tried to post this yesterday and ended up irritated with Blogger.  I guess they were having technical difficulties.  Here's what I wrote:

We're gearing up for this Friday when Steve has an appointment with Dr. Urata.  Hopefully I'm not setting us up for disappointment, but I'm praying that this Friday's appointment will prove to be the one during which Steve has his jaw unwired.  I'm also hoping I've adequately prepared myself for exactly what I will see.  For the first time since Steve was injured, I asked him today to show me the inside of his mouth where the teeth are missing.  I know it sounds crazy that I haven't asked to see his mouth until now but I have a tendency to get a little queasy.  And true to form, I felt my heart beating fast and weakness in my knees as I peered, apprehensively, into the gap of his upper and lower jaw on the right side where the lower teeth are missing.  Basically there was nothing there.  It's not like he has gum tissue with no teeth like an old geezer.  There's just nothing there at all.

Physically, psychologically and emotionally, Steve is doing great.  He is getting stronger everyday and despite his liquid diet, his weight has plateaued.  He still tells me every single day how lucky he feels just to be alive.  Today he and the kids accompanied me to my own doctor's appointment with Dr. McNamara, my oncologist.  The last appointment I had with Dr. McNamara was in mid April, while Steve was in the hospital.  That appointment was difficult because it was my first and only appointment with "Mac" that Steve had ever missed.  When Dr. McNamara saw Steve today, he appeared relieved that Steve was ok and seemed very happy to see him.  He shook Steve's hand and said he couldn't believe how healthy he looked.  After all the pleasantries, the doctor scheduled me for another colonoscopy...bummer...literally.

So please keep your fingers crossed that Dr. Urata unwires Steve's mouth on Friday and Steve can finally put away the wire cutters he's been carrying in his pocket.  He has taken them everywhere just in case he has a choking incident where we have to cut the wires and open his mouth. 

Week in Review and Funny Little Story

A lot went on this week that I didn't blog about because, by day's end each day, I was just too tired to think.  And then Mission hosted the BBQ which, without question, deserved an entire post dedicated to what amounted to a perfectly executed event.  Both Steve and I just can't say enough about the generosity of everyone who contributed to the event at Mission.  In fact, we've spent most of the last three days talking about the BBQ.

Aside from all that, however, Steve did have an ultrasound and doctor's appointment with Dr. Rowe, the vascular surgeon, at USC on Tuesday.  Ultimately, what we found out was that the subclavian vein and the axillary vein are both looking pretty good.  Those veins overlap in the shoulder and it appears that the injury happened somewhere around there.  According to Dr. Rowe, that is a "gray area" as far as determining the extent of the damage because of the overlap of the veins.  However, the vein that was damaged appears to be partially healing which is very good news.  Dr. Rowe ordered Steve to stay on the Coumadin (blood thinner) at least one more month to allow the best possible circulation and then he will return for another appointment in three months. 

We were all pretty tired after that appointment because it took a VERY long time just to see the doctor...apparently he was triple booked or something.  After my cancer experience, I have a hard time waiting hours on end for a doctor's appointment.  In fact, I get pretty crazy about that.  So while Steve waited for his appointment, I took the kids to one of my favorite places, the cafeteria.  I don't know why, but I have a fascination and secret love for cafeterias.  I think the aroma of food combined with the anticipation being able to choose from a variety of different foods propagates a certain exhilaration.  And then seeing all the doctors in their white lab coats and scrubs makes me feel like I'm in an episode of Grey's Anatomy.  It's all very intoxicating.

     I dragged Steve to the cafeteria for this picture

The kids had their second guitar lesson this week.  I took pictures because they looked so cute.  And if anyone ever tells you your kid is too young for guitar lessons at age six or seven, well they're wrong.  My kids are doing great with it and they love it!

Friday we visited my dad in the hospital, he had his hip replaced on Wednesday.  Thank God it went well and Dad looks great.

The trip to see Dad in the hospital prompted a funny conversation with Steve about a flashback he had of being at USC University Hospital.  Being in the hospital reminded Steve of the little, middle-aged Hispanic nurse's aide who took all his pride away.  After she would help Steve clean up after he used the bedside commode, she would powder him up, say, "Ok m'hijo!" and give him a swift little slap in the butt.  Ay caramba!  And poor Steve literally couldn't say a word.  I know some might say this is too much information but Steve and I have learned that it is not the embarassments, mistakes or failures that make us who we are.  The truth is that it is the person we choose to be and the love we give and receive despite those embarassments, mistakes or failures that makes us who we are.  

Love from Mission Area

A post like this one is the reason I do this blog.  I love being able to publicly recognize those who help others and the remarkable and distinguished sworn and civilian employees of LAPD's Mission Division are no exception.  Mission Division hosted a momentous BBQ fundraiser for our family today and it was an amazing day, filled with love and generosity from so many.  Mission Area Senior Lead Officers organized today's event and we felt so honored to be in the presence of such a kind and magnanimous group of people.  They welcomed us with open arms and thanked Steve for his service in their division.  They even graciously took pictures of the event and handed me a CD with the photos on it.  Incidentally, Officer Ayala is a much better photographer than I am!  I think he even photoshopped out my wrinkles... We were also grateful to meet some of the Mission officers who helped save Steven's life on April 4th.  Also making an appearance were Steve's cohorts from K9, and it is always a pleasure to hang out with those guys.

So, on behalf of Steven and my entire family, we say a very humble and grateful THANK YOU to Mission Area officers, civilians, and specifically, the Senior Lead Officers who are clearly virtuosos in their field.  We are overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation.

As I've done in the past, I will let the photographs speak for themselves...and there are a lot of photos!  Peruse, enjoy, and capture a glimpse of all these beautiful people!!!

    

Happy Father's Day and All Things Are Possible!

I feel so incredibly blessed.  I was fortunate enough to spend this weekend with the most important fathers in my life.  Yesterday, we had an "official" family birthday party for my kids' 7th birthday and we invited all of our local extended family over for a BBQ and swimming.  I couldn't believe how lucky we got with the weather.  For the days leading up to Saturday, the marine layer had been so thick it actually rained and then if it cleared up at all, it was just for an hour or so in the afternoon.  But yesterday around 10:30 in the morning, the sun started peeking through and by noon, there was hardly a cloud in the sky.  The temperature was perfect and it turned out to be a beautiful day.  By 3:00 in the afternoon, the guests arrived and the kids and their cousins swam in the pool, had a water gun fight, and snacked on watermelon wedges while sitting on their towels poolside.

We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and my talented and dear photographer sister snapped father photos to add to our tangible memories of the perfect day.  After birthday cake, we made a champagne toast to the most important men in our lives and how grateful we were that we were all together to celebrate.  My favorite part of the day was when the swimming, the meal, the birthday celebration, and all the father's day festivities were all but over and I finally had a chance to sit down and enjoy a drink with my husband and my dad. 

 

I've learned a lot from my dad over the years:  1.  Check the oil in your car regularly.  2.  Keep your eye on the ball.  3.  Bring your own bottle of wine into the restaurant when you can, it's much cheaper.   I could go on and on about the practical things.  But as we sat there talking, my dad said something he's said a lot throughout the years, a "Dadism" if you will.  And it's something so much more important than any of the practical things he's taught me.  This year it dawned on me that it has new meaning to me as an adult and especially in light of recent events.  So, these are my dad's words of wisdom:  "All things are possible."  He's so right.  Anything is possible, and not in a sarcastic way.  I think I've finally realized lately what that means.  If we just relax and open ourselves to the possibilities, knowing that right where we are in this moment is the perfect place for us to be, then all things ARE possible.  I had been so worried about the weather and the likelihood that the marine layer would ruin the kids' party.  But then I decided that instead I would relax, enjoy the day, and be open for anything.  Lo and behold, the weather was perfect.

Dad, Happy Father's Day!  I love you!

To my wonderful husband, thank you for fighting to be here.  I couldn't do this without you.  You are my everything.  Happy father's day and I love you!

One thing I love about this blog is the input from reader comments.  So I'm curious, what words of wisdom have you received from your Dad?  Mark Geiger, I know you're out there somewhere and I'm sure you have some of your own hysterical words of wisdom.  I would love to hear from anyone who wants to honor their Dad by contributing in the comments any words of wisdom.