I Rest (my case)

The week is absolutely looking up. My mom is home & improving at a rate that is pretty freaking amazing. She's already so much better than at this point last time around. I know, hip replacements can be life-changing. But after being unhealed and in pain since last July, I think most of us were prepared for a slower version of the average story. As usual, my mom is amazing.

I'm also feeling better. After being so comfortable for a while, I was really frustrated to be so sore and have trouble feeling good even at rest. I'm remembering that improvement comes in stages and soreness is going to pop up along the way again and again. It's nice to relax though. Last night I slept so happily.

So then there's this. I saw this photo of one of the rooms from the new Real World Hollywood on Apartment Therapy today, and, purple and orange much?
It's official. The coolest house in the west and it's all Mark & Jess.

Fine

Just thought I'd make it known that Mom is doing fine. She's going to be staying at the hospital a little longer than we thought, but she's made some amazing progress just in the last day. She actually doesn't even have any pain without medication while she's still.

I'm a bit tired from a slightly sleepless weekend, but was back at radiation this morning. Saw Dr. W and his lovely staff, which is a great treat for a Monday. I noticed some dryness along my scar in the radiation zone last night and he confirmed that I can expect more with the addition of redness. I'm continually glad that I'm still numb in most of that zone.

Check, Check

Just checking in here, fifteen minutes before my mom's set to check in for her surgery. I'll pop in to radiation a little earlier than usual today and then go see how much of a nuisance I can make of myself while she's waiting to go into the operating room. I've also switched the rest of my radiation schedule so that I'm having treatments at 9:30 a.m. for the rest of the course. That'll free up my day a lot, but I'm still really feeling how absolute crap it s to not be able to devote myself more fully to her recovery. I know she will be fine, but for the first time since my surgery, I am seething with frustration.

My Momma. Please send your prayers/good thoughts for a safe day for her.

One Down, 54 to Go

I had my first radiation treatment today and everything went fine. The bonus Mark time was so much fun and we almost ran towards eachother outside the building. I still wonder what people think when they see us. "Did you see that doctor? Oh my goodness, he's in love. Wait, is he a person or a doctor?" And then when I arrive for my appointment with Mark in tow. "Um, did that girl bring a doctor with her?"

I need to stop worrying about what other people think of me.

Anyway the whole experience was fine. I had x-rays taken today, so it was a little longer than most of my sessions will be. To get me set up three techs were humming about, moving me slightly, moving the lazers, moving me slightly, calling out numbers like 88.7. It felt a bit like being a jet on an aircraft carrier, I imagine. Except my crew had different colored scrubs on and there was no wind. Then, everyone left the room and it's me and the machine. Me, I don't do much. The machine buzzes, clicks, and rotates around me in a semicircle. And then I'm out. Should be easy to stick to.

And I'm glad, because I'm going to be on the back burner of the family medical alert stove as my mom has hip replacement surgery on Thursday. She's been gracefully dealing with this dumb hip since last July and we're all looking forward to a healthier, happier momma. Frankly, I'll be glad to take care of someone else for a change, but since I'm tied to my radiation appointments, I'm sooo happy to hear that my aunt is coming out to help mom. MJ, you are our hero.

So I may be away from the computer a bit this week & next, sharing my time between two hospitals and then our hour-away homes. But I'll try to pop in every now and then. For now, no news is good news.

Jess Has 4 Tattoos Now

Well, The Jess is all inked up after a trip to the Sharp Healthcare Tattoo Parlor and Radiation Center. I have to say, I didn't expect expect the marking tattoos to spell "MOM" but you learn something everyday, I guess.
Actually the marking tattoos are no more than gray dots, hardly detectable even if you're looking for them, and were only sore for a bit. The session today was all about getting ready for the first treatment, which will be this coming Monday. Her appointments will be every weekday at 1:20 for the next 5.5 weeks, each one should be pretty short; about 5 minutes to line up the beam, and two minutes for the beams to work, then home.
We had a wonderful visit from my folks this past weekend, complete with steaks from Siesels, with barbequed corn and veggie kebabs. We also spent significant energy doing 8-claps and cheering for UCLA on TV (ok, that was mostly me). I'm really happy with how Jess is doing and her approach to this next phase of treatment is really amazing. It's off to bed for both of us, she'll be back at the keyboard soon.