She is here. She is beautiful.

Amy and Jeff welcomed their beautiful daughter on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 5:25pm. Addison Rose is simply perfect and a peanut at 6lbs and 6oz. Nicolas is a proud big brother. Amy and Addy are doing well. They were able to go home today. My sister's family is complete. Seeing her and Nick together simply melted my heart.





It's amazing that I could love my niece this much, never having met. Thank goodness for technology! We've been able to Skype, receive photos by text and fill our Facebook feeds with her sweetness. It'll likely be a month before Addison can travel. So, we have a few more weeks until we can all be together. Hopefully, our time apart will pass quickly. I cannot wait to snuggle on this precious princess.

In Happier News...

My niece should be making her debut in the next day or two. My sister has developed Preeclampsia and her doctor scheduled an induction for tomorrow. She ran into the same trouble with Nick and actually ended up on bed rest for her final weeks of pregnancy. She was induced twice with him. The first attempt didn't get anything going so she had to try a again a couple days later. The second dose of pitocin did the trick. Hopefully, Addison will arrive quickly and without incident.

These last few months have been hard on all of us. My sister wants to be here. My mom wants to be there. And neither can travel. Before, we learned of my mom's cancer we booked a trip for Amy, Nick and Addison to come visit in October. I know it's not far off, but it feels like eternity. Especially, for my mom and Amy; it's been over a year since they last saw each other. Nick has grown so much. My mom will be shocked. Of course, meeting Addison will lift spirits and be the ultimate joy. If we can finagle an earlier arrival, we'll do it.

I wish my mom and I could be there to support my sister and Jeff as they welcome their daughter. We will definitely be present in spirit. Nick's birth is such a special memory. It feels like only yesterday, she introduced him to the world, but more than seven years have gone by. He's so smart and kind, he's going to be the best big brother. I'm so excited to see their relationship blossom.

More Waiting

We're back to waiting - AGAIN. So, the biopsy that was done in the hospital was inconclusive. We know nothing more today than we did on July 3 when my mom was diagnosed. It is incredibly frustrating. The lack of information and tests without results has really worn on my mom. She's ready to call it quits. Her onocologist referred her to a radiation specialist. We met with him on Tuesday. He helped fill some gaps and understand information that has been given by the two oncologists we've met before. He also presented some new questions.

For example, he doesn't believe the lung cancer has spread to the groin. Her oncologist doubted it too, but wanted the biopsy to rule it out/learn what it was. I mentioned that we had questioned whether it was lung cancer at all and if it was actually a reoccurance of melanoma that was removed in 2006. No treatment other than surgery was done at that time. I had the report, so I showed it to him. Within it, a biopsy taken from a lymph node in her breast revealed histiocytosis. My mom doesn't recall any mention of it then or any time since. This could be relevant, because my aunt (her sister) also has histocytosis. When affected by this disease, lymph nodes can be enlarged and show abnormal on PET Scans. This could be why all lymph nodes show activity in my mom's scan. This doctor believes my mom is Stage IIIB, just as her Thoracic Surgeon indicated. He wants to do a MRI scan of her brain to rule out metastasis. If it is positive for cancer, then chemotherapy wouldn't be very beneficial. Radiation could better control tumors preventing seizures and stroke and prolong quality of life. If it is negative, then a combination of chemotherapy and radition would benefit her most. With successful treatment her prognosis goes up to five years. It more than doubles compared to chemotherapy alone. However, my mom has also been diagnosed, this year, with Lupus and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. Chemo can actually improve those symptoms, but Radiation can cause additional side effects. The skin can have a bad reaction. The affect could be immediate or not for 5-10 years. He believes it is worth the risk.

Radiation is a huge commitment. There is no treatment available in Pahrump. She would have to come to Vegas 5 days a week for 6 weeks. It has it's own set of side effects. And she's already been heavily affected by the Chemo. So much so, prior to meeting with the radiation doctor she was leaning toward stopping treatment if she was not feeling better. Since that meeting, her hope has been renewed (though, she's not feeling any better). The possibility of being cured (Stage IIIB) vs. a terminal disease (Stage IV) makes a difference in her fight. Quality of life is most important to her, but she also would like to see her granddaughter toddle around. She understands that her prognosis is based on statistics and there are exceptions to the rule, but she is no stranger to the reality of the situation.

I'm relieved to have another doctor involved. The more the merrier, having another opinion or perspective can make a huge difference. I want to explore all options and provide her with the most information that will allow her to decide what's best for her needs. It is her, after all, that has to go through all the poking and prodding, the tests, the appointments, the fear, the side effects, etc. The rest of us are along for the ride. We have agreed to support any decision she chooses.

Tuesday she goes for the MRI. Thankfully, we won't wait long for those results. We will meet with the radiation doctor later that afternoon to discuss the results and formulate a plan to move forward. Moving forward with conclusive evidence is all I ask. I can cope with the better or worse. The unknown is most frightening.

Enough Already

Last Wednesday, I was headed into work and as luck would have it I was rear ended while waiting to merge onto I-15. Thankfully, I didn't have much damage to my vehicle and I wasn't badly injured. Still, it was the last thing I needed. It was a 19 year old girl that hit me, distracted by her cell phone. She admitted fault and the insurance company has accepted liability. I'll take my car in next week to get it repaired and I'll have a rental to get me around.

Frank took me to the ER just to be sure I was ok. X-rays checked out fine. They prescribed pain meds and muscle relaxers. Which I haven't been able to take because I need to be able to drive. Fortunately, I didn't get intense stiffness after the accident. It's mainly a killer headache that hasn't gone away and left shoulder pain and sore neck. I need to follow up with a doctor, but I don't know when I'll squeeze that in. I'll just add it to the ever growing to do list.

The car accident 7.5 months ago is when things started to go spectacularly shitty, hopefully, this accident puts an end to it. Lesson learned - no more silver vehicles; apparently, it makes my cars appear to be invisible or a target. Seriously annoyed that I couldn't even get 10,000 on the odometer before my new car was wrecked.

One Day at a Time

Some day I'd like to get back here, with a regular posting schedule, happy tales and restaurant reviews. For now, it'll be whenever I can find a few moments to jot down some thoughts and ongoings.

The 24th of July we met with my mom's oncologist to go over the biopsy results. That's when we learned that the doctor at Valley Hospital performed the biopsy on the wrong lymph node. It was negative for cancer, but it wasn't even one of the nodes that lit up on the PET Scan. More time wasted, and more senseless pain and suffering for my mom. The doctor did apologize for being harsh during our last conversation and we agreed it was a big misunderstanding. We decided to put it behind us, because he's supposed to be the best and we don't have time for additional delays. We developed a new plan to admit my mom into the hospital, get port implanted, biopsy done, and start chemo on the following Monday.

She went home that night to feel the comforts of home and love from her three German Shepards. Then, on Friday, Frank and I picked her up and we went to California for the weekend. She felt defeated and needed to find a way to get in a good place before starting chemo. She asked to go to the beach. So, I made it happen. I've wanted to take her to San Diego since she's never been, but it was Comic Con and hotels were ridiculously priced. I searched last minute rates on Hotwire, and got us as close as possible for a reasonable price. Friday night, we stayed at Quality Suites in Santa Ana. The three of us shared a room to save on costs and I noted three adults in the reservation. Upon our arrival, I was told we had a king bed and sleeper sofa. No rooms with two queens were available. We were disappointed, but rigged something we thought would work but we needed linens and pillow for the sleeper sofa. I called right away to have them brought to the room. We waited an hour, and nothing, I called back and they explained the hotel was full and they were very far behind. They asked for my patience. We were hungry and decided to grab a bite, we figured they could let themselves in and leave the linens.

We went to Habit Burger. It's become a popular chain in California. I didn't find it to be as good as In & Out, but it is better than the competition. Everything was fresh. I'd eat there again. It actually reminded me a lot of a burger joint I ate at as a kid everytime we went to the beach, it was The Lure in Portage, IN. I believe. After eating, we drove to Newport Beach so mom could hear the ocean. Parking on a Friday night is no easy task, so we cruised up the beach to where it is more residential. We walked down to the beach only to be turned away a few minutes later by security, "the beach is closed." Phooey on him. We were tired and wanted to rest up for a full day at the beach tomorrow so we went back to the hotel. It's about one o'clock in the morning when we arrive. No linens or pillow were delivered. I went to the front desk and I was told that the hotel was sold out and the had no linens or pillows. I was too tired to argue. I went to the car, and pulled out blankets we brought for the beach and we pulled a pillow off the King bed to make a night of rest possible. Then, I called Hotwire to complain. They were helpful they provided a credit and were just as flabbergasted as I was; never having heard of a hotel that didn't refused to provide linens. They told me to call back in the morning and they would cancel and rebook our second night's stay.

Morning came and that's exactly what I did, only available rooms had really dried up. There was nothing comperable. Long story, short, we decided to book a night in Mission Bay/Sea World. If we were going to pay a premium, we were going to make it worth our while. We had reservations at The Dana on Mission Bay. But first, we had an important matter to tend to, we were go to Langer's Deli in LA for awesome pastrami sandwiches and potato pancakes. We even ordered a slice of chocolate cake to go. Mom and Frank were digging into it about an hour later. I was much too full. Traffic was ridiculous between LA and Encinitas. Stop and go the whole way. It is actually faster to drive from Vegas that it was between LA and SD that day.

We got checked into The Dana and it's a nice resort. Our room was comfortable and it came with two queens and linens. Imagine that! We went to Mission Beach and we found a nice spot away from the crowds in the residential area.



Mom and Frank got in the water. While I watched from my cozy spot on the beach. It was unsually warm, it was the first time I've stepped foot on a beach in California and didn't get a chill. Hunger grew so we grabbed a bite at El Indio, still the best taquitos and fish tacos! And massive chimichanga.



Then, we went back to the beach to watch the sunset. Afterwards, we cleaned up at the hotel and then took mom to Coronado Island where we sat by the bay admiring the view of San Diego. Then, we took her down by the border.





Sunday, we had a slow start because the sun caused mom's lupus to flare up. She was in a lot of pain. We started at Con Pane Bakery for yummy sandwiches and cinnamon rolls. Then, we took her for a ride to the Point Loma light house so she could sights, and along PCH and through the Gas Lamp. Then, we were off to La Jolla. We went to the cove so mom could see the sea lions. Then, we cruised through the residential area to a couple quiet beaches before heading home. We made the most of our time, but the time had come to head back home.

Mom dreaded going to the ER on Monday, but we went. We were much happier with St. Rose - San Martin. They got her scheduled for her port and after it was implanted they moved us into her room at the hospital... Home for the next five days. That night they got her started on chemo, from start to finish the infusion took about 8 hours. It began with premedication for 30 minutes - this helps with nausea, then Etoposide is administered for one hour and finally Cisplatin is infused over six hours. Then, there is the blood draw. The first night, she had extremely hot sweats. The second night improved and followed the same schedule. The first two hours have a lot of monitoring vitals, but the last five are more restful. That's when we'd get peak sleep. We had a great nurse that gave us tips and filled us in some of what to expect.

She was supposed to get her biopsy in morning after the first night of chemo, but nothing is perfect. She had received a blood thinner after chemo to prevent blood clots and radiology refused to perform the test. Mom was angered. I didn't blame her. Now, the biospy was delayed until the next day and she fasted for no reason. Thankfully, the biopsy did happen the next day, I was able to speak to the doctor performing the biospy to confirm she would sample the proper lymph node. Mom found the test to be very painful. It was hard to hold still so hopefully that doesn't interfere with the results. Which we are supposed to receive today.

The third and final night of chemo was handled by a different nurse. She was kind and meant well, but I didn't trust her like I did our first nurse. Treatment got started later and for some unknown reason she slowed the drip so it didn't finish until 9am on Thursday. Usually we were done by 7am. We got very little rest. I worried that the delay would cause my mom to feel nausea. Coincidence or not, nausea started a few hours later and lasted a couple days. It is still present, but it comes in waves rather than having a constant presence. Zofran was given for anti-nausea but it did little to help and it caused stomach cramps. She had significant swelling in her legs and feet but it improved once we got her home.

Before treatment even began, her white blood counts were low so they planned to give booster shots after treatment. She received Neupogen on Thursday and Friday. It seemed to cause flu like symptoms and bone pain. Mom was released from the hospital on Friday. She slept for 48 hours only waking to pee. How much of it was due to chemo vs Neupogen I can't be sure. Sunday afternoon she was able to eat and worked up an appetite. She could eat small meals before nausea would strike. That night she had extreme insomnia. She didn't sleep a wink when I woke to take her to the doctor's office for blood draw and Neupogen shot.

The port had been such a blessing throughout our stay in the hospital. It worked just as intended and it was wonderful. Of course, nothing can be without issue so it started acting up at the doctor's office. They could get fluid in, but no blood out. Hopefully, this is an isolated incident. We don't need the headache. We were trying to get home health worked out to administer her Neupogen shot at home in Pahrump, but the solution ended up being switching to Neulasta which lasts for 7-10 days rather than needing a shot every day. The hurdle with that was cost. One injection for my mom's share on Medicare is $678. Not many could afford that, how would someone on disability? Thankfully, the office works with multiple foundations to get drugs and treaments covered. She was able to get assistance for Neulasta and for the next chemo treatment to be outpatient. I'm going to work on finding out the the specific foundation, because charities that get help to those who need it should be supported.

Monday evening, Frank and I brought my mom home. She can rest there until Sunday. Our next follow up appointment is Monday. She's having extreme bone pain from the Neulasta shot. Still, working to improve that symptom. Heartburn also seems to be troublesome to counteract. With any luck, the next few days will be uneventful and we can stick to the current plan. The next round of chemo is likely to begin Monday, the 18th.

Nightmares Continue

Last week, didn't provide any clarity or peace. My mom's biopsy took longer to schedule than expected. But she found herself back in Vegas sooner than she would've liked. A week ago, we picked her up because her blood pressure was dropping pretty low. Her blood pressure used to always be a perfect 180/20 since her breathing problems started she began getting high readings. So, when they were low, her home health nurse was concerned. We brought her to my house and monitored her blood pressure. By Wednesday, her breathing was acting up again so the doctor advised us to go to the ER to be admitted into the hospital. There, she'd get the biopsy, a port implanted and start on Chemo. We sat in ER for six hours. Only lab work was taken. By 6 o'clock, a bed was ready and she was admitted into the hospital. We met with her oncologist and everything would be scheduled for Thursday. Later, the doctor for the hospital made her rounds and we thought she'd get her medications (we were told she would by the ER RNs and the admitting nurse). Medications weren't distributed until 9:30. A nicotine patch was requested but never issued (she hasn't had a cigarette since 6/29/14, but she does use vapor and e-cigs). I left about 11:15. There was no reclining chair for a visitor to stay the night, so I decided it was best I get a decent night's sleep since nothing would happen until morning, and I wouldn't be leaving once her chemo begun.

Just as I had gotten home, my mom tells me they won't change her incision bandage that is supposed to be packed twice daily. I last did it, about 11 am. They refused because they didn't have doctor's orders. We told six different people it was needed, including the doctor making rounds and her oncologist. There had to be doctor's orders. We were very clear. After the happenings the week prior, we knew the importance of keeping the incision free from infection. She had missed three doses of antibiotics due to our time in the ER/hospital. There was no way, we felt comfortable waiting until the next day. The risk seemed too great. We insisted the packing be changed. They refused again and again. I was told I could bring my own supplies and change it for her. Best they could do is change the gauze outside of the wound and physical therapy would change the packing the following day. It was unacceptable. I grabbed supplies and drove back to the hospital at 12:45 am.

I was disgusted. If they couldn't properly attend to packing a simple wound, what would happen with complications from Chemo? By the time, I arrived, my mom was so worked up she wanted to leave. She didn't feel she was receiving adquate medical care. I didn't blame her. The staff had also lost my trust. This was the first time, I left her side and this happens. From then on, I'd be frightened to leave just to pee. I tried speaking to the charge nurse, but that failed to help. Her story had changed, she said there were doctor's orders, but they were not specific. The nurses don't tend to wounds, only Physical Therapy during the day. By now, there was no changing my mom's mind, she was leaving. We left against medical advice. I took her home. I changed her packing.

These nurses might have only been doing their job, but it put my mom at risk. If procedures at the hospital are that strict; a doctor needs to be on the floor at all times. Two hours had passed and we were no closer to rectifying the situation when we decided to leave compared to when my mom first called. We called the oncologist answering service and that was no help either.

We waited for his office to open and called to find out what was next? We were told they would get a message to the doctor. We never cancelled the biopsy scheduled at Valley Hospital on Friday (thankfully) so we called them to find out what it would take to make that happen. We needed the lab work taken from the ER at Southern Hills to be sent to Desert Radiology. My mom called Southern Hills to have this done and they said the doctor had to initiate it. She called his office back and they said it takes 24-48 hours for the request. We knew it wouldn't allow enough time. The test was only 20 hours away. Meanwhile, the doctor had called while my mom was on hold. We took his call. He advised she do the biopsy and we'd follow up in his office next week. All was fine, until we explained that we were having difficulty getting the paperwork needed to make the biopsy happen. He grew aggravated and claimed he wasn't our secretary, nor an employee of Southern Hills. We never suggested either, we were simply explaining what we were told and working to find a way to expedite the lab work getting in the proper hands. It was the last thing we needed. Everything had taken it's toll; we were physically and mentally exhausted. All we want is the best care possible.

My mom began to second guess her choice of oncologist. Overall, we are just utterly disgusted with the state of medical care. The system is broken. I'm sure the nurse and doctors are spread too thin, but they are treating people, not sacks of flour. Compassion and care is needed. Especially when dealing with delicate diseases such as lung cancer. I do not believe my mom should compromise. She is literally putting her life in the hands of her oncologist and support team. When you have no control; at the very least you deserve to be confident in the care you receive.

We agonized over all options, we have considered going to Chicago for treatment. Ultimately, my mom decided to have the biopsy on Friday. That was a joke, too. They had her scheduled for a CT Guided Biopsy of the Right Lung. Um, no! Let this serve as a reminder to always read your admitting paperwork! The procedure was delayed a couple hours because they had to sort it out with the oncologist once his office opened. Once, they finally had record of the proper procedure it went pretty quick. The doctor said that he had four good samples to send to pathology. He says they looked good, but I refuse to have false hope. They need to zip their lips until there is confirmation.

We wait until Thursday when we meet with her oncologist to go over the test results. We'll hear about the latest treatment plan, he suggests, and we'll go from there. We have an appointment scheduled on 7/31 with another oncologist in case my mom would like to seek another opinion.

In the meantime, my mom is at home with her three dogs and horse. Home oxygen and home health nurses allow her to stay put, until her appointment or the next emergency. Certainly hoping for the former. I know how awful and stressful this month have been for me, I cannot imagine how she must feel. At the very least, she has earned a few days of peace.

El Dorado Cantina

El Dorado Cantina is a month shy of its grand opening, yet it's already a gem. I was eager to try it after such promising reviews. I had read it is next to Sapphire, but I didn't take it literally. I should have, because it is indeed in the same building but with its own entrance. The restaurant is upscale and our group of four were cozy in a booth.

We started with house margaritas and cold cervezas. We were quickly brought chips and three types of salsa: mild, tomatillo and habanero. All were fresh and delicious. We couldn't resist the tableside guacamole ($12). It did not disappoint!

Moving on to entrees, we tried the carne asada burrito ($12.50), carnitas tacos ($7.50, seafood enchilada ($13.50) and Milaneza ($17.50). Everything was fresh and tasty. We were all very pleased.

They are currently offering specials (ladies dine for free on Wednesday 9:30-10:30pm) and happy hour ($1 tacos 3-6pm); hopefully, they will continue. It's been a long time, since I've had an enjoyable sit down meal in a Mexican Restaurant. You wouldn't expect a restaurant of this caliber given the location, but it delivers. I'm already planning my next visit.

Next time, I won't be such a slacker, and I'll be sure to get some photos to share.

Exhausted

Can I get off the roller coaster now? It's been a crazy few days. We met with oncologist that believed that my mom was stage IV instead of stage III B, she was unsure of the type of cancer and planned to start chemo next week. There would be four rounds of treatments which would be 4x/week with three week breaks in between. Leaving that appointment left us confused and feeling defeated. We knew we had to looking into getting a PowerPort implanted. So, we stopped in Dr. Chung's office to see about that and to have her incision looked at, because it opened up that morning. Dr. Chung was in surgery, and advised us that it may be infected. He instructed us to go the ER and he would put her on the books for surgery the next morning to treat the infection. If infection was present then a port could not be put in nor could she start chemo until it was completely gone. This was devastating. I pleaded that it didn't look infected, but something was indeed wrong. He said, he'd come by the ER to examine it.

Thankfully, blood work revealed no sign of infection and he was able to determine that this was a false alarm. Such a relief. Surgery was cancelled and mom just has a wound that needs to be packed two times a day. Fortunately, I have experience. Unfortunately, it's another snag in a mountain of problem solving, schedule arranging, etc.

We met with a second oncologist yesterday, for another opinion. We much preferred his approach and appreciated that he does not put the cart in front of the horse so to speak. He wants conclusive results rather than making assumption. Her pathology report is not complete. Findings indicate she has lung cancer, however, the type is unclear. It's about 80% that it is NSCLC. This doctor has asked for it be reviewed again by colleagues to see if they can get 100% certainty. It's important because treatment varies between NSCLC and SCLC. He has also ordered a biopsy for lymph nodes in my mom's groin. This will help determine the stage, as well as the type. Activity showed up in this area on the PET scan, it is unusual to do so for lung cancer. It is possible that it is due to another type or it could be benign. Time is of the essence, but knowing exactly what she is up against will only improve the success of treatment. So, I don't mind slowing down a bit to let due diligence take place.

We should have answers and a treatment plan by this time next week, at the latest. We can also admit my mom into the hospital and fast track the whole thing if her breathing continues to be a problem. It's our call, and time will tell.

In the meantime, I'd like to get my mom home for a couple days. I hate that she feels like a prisoner, but it's been what's best. I know once chemo begins she'll be stuck for some time so it's very important that she can find a way to recharge before the next hurdle. Going home, might just allow that.

The Week From Hell

Last Monday, my mom had a mediastinoscopy to biopsy her lymph nodes. The procedure went well, the surgeon was able to get good samples. During surgery, a frozen section was tested for cancer and it was negative. When I met with the surgeon, afterwards, he seemed to think it was infection and not cancer. I knew we weren't out of the woods, but it felt so promising. I knew it would come as a great relief to my mom, I couldn't wait to tell her.

Recovery is typically an hour or two. Time passed, and I still could not see her. I was told she was too groggy. Another hour went by and I still could not see her. I was beginning to worry, she's a diabetic and hadn't eaten since 8 o'clock the night before and it was now after 2 o'clock. Finally, her nurse came to talk to me. I gave her history about difficulty coming out of anesthesia and asked her to check her blood sugar. A little while later, I was told by someone else her blood sugar was ok. A couple more hours went by before they finally let me see her. Her oxygen levels remained low and she was being admitted for observation overnight. After two more hours a room was ready, when they moved her for transport the shift put pressure on her lungs and it felt like an elephant was on her chest, that coupled with the chest and back pain was a red flag for a heart attack. They now had to rule out any cardiac issues. My mom and I knew it was her lungs and not her heart (she was just cleared by the cardiologist before the bronchoscopy), but they had to follow protocol.

She was moved, but couldn't eat until she was cleared for cardiac. Of course, the kitchen closed by the time she could eat. She drank apple juice to spike her blood sugar. Respiratory did breathing treatments every four hours and then every two. Every hour someone came to check vitals or request a blood draw. We were refusing blood draws. My mom's veins are shot (just to get the IVs in they had to gas her before the surgery). They refused to draw from the IVs so we weren't going to let them torture her without very good reason. After refusing three times, they finally took the hint. Whoever says one gets rest in a hospital is completely out of their mind. My mom might have gotten five hours max by ten the next day. I had no more than 3.5 if you strung every cat nap together.

By mid-morning her oxygen was stable. Her surgeon came to see her, the incision looked good. He said he'd call her pulmonologist and she may go home with oxygen, but she should go home. Once she finally ate, she perked up a lot. It was wonderful to see. As time passed, the rotation of different departments checking on her continued on the hour, until we asked to be discharged. Then, everyone disappeared. My patience grew thin, we called the nurse and he said she would be staying overnight per the doctor making rounds.

Umm, no. He never said any such thing to us and they were only treating her with breathing treatments. We could do those at home, where she could actually rest; so I saw no reason to stay. I wanted to talk to the doctor. I needed a good reason for her to stay.

We waited. And waited. I had enough. This time I was told we needed clearance from the Physical Therapist. It was the first step toward discharge. We met with him earlier in the morning, but we waited. And waited. Two hours later, my patience was gone. I called for the nurse. Turns out we weren't waiting for the PT, she was cleared this morning. I was furious. He called the doctor and came back to say we'd be discharged in 40 minutes, the doctor had to write his notes. An hour, 10 minutes later we were finally cleared to go. I was so annoyed, but happy to be free.

I thought a good night's rest would do my mom well. She didn't feel as good as we hoped. She was weak. Breathing was a chore. This continued. Then, her incision began to drain. We were never told this was a possibility so I called the surgeon's office. He called back and said to dress it, and come into the office on Thursday if it was still draining.

Thursday, we found ourselves at his office. The seeping had turned to gushes when she'd cough or blow her nose. He said it wasn't normal, but also nothing to be concerned by so long as it didn't show signs of infection. Thankfully, it has remained clean. Though, it's still currently draining. He said eventually it will stop. I never thought eventually wouldn't last this long, but it has. While there, my mom asked if the Valley Fever results had come back. They tested her blood at the preop appointment. They didn't, but surprisingly he had the pathology report from the biopsy. We went over it there and then, rather than waiting for our appointment on July 8.

Four lymph nodes were tested. The first three were negative for cancer. The fourth was positive. We received the news we feared the most, she was diagnosed with stage III B non-small cell lung cancer. Life as we know it changed in that very second. We were taken by surprise, we thought she had dodged the cancer bullet, but here it was square in her chest. He apologized for getting our hopes up, and later confirmed that it was inoperable and chemo and/or radiation would be the course of treatment. He suggested an oncologist that has an office upstairs, I jumped at the opportunity, when he offered to help get us an appointment. He physically walked us up to her office. He's been really great, if you need a Thoracic Surgeon in Las Vegas, I highly recommend Dr Arnold Chung (even if he is a Cubs Fan).

We meet with the oncologist on Wednesday. We will seek a second opinion. And we want to explore all options. My mom's health isn't great right now, so I fear it won't be a fair fight. I will support whatever she decides; she has no control over her cancer, at the very least she should be in control of her plan for treatment. Initial research indicates she is a candidate for clinicals so I'm hopeful, but also realistic. Her quality of life is most important. She is in shock, and every day is a battle to breath. However, she's finding strength in Addison's arrival. That baby is a blessing in more ways than one.

We've since been in the ER twice. Both times we've left the house since returning home from the hospital have led to time at the emergency room. It gets to the point that home breathing treatments aren't effective. The ones in the hospital seem to help, and the oxygen makes the lung pain ease up and allows her to catch her breath. The odd thing, though, is her oxygen levels never dip low enough to indicate she even needs the oxygen. The ER doctors are at a loss. They want to run tests to rule out various conditions. But she's had so many tests with contrast, etc. That have all come back fine; we refuse. Especially, since we know what's wrong, now, the lung cancer. But the diagnoses hasn't been helpful in getting her feeling any better. We've ok'd chest xrays to check for collapsed lung or pnemonia and both came back clear. So, the doctors discharge us and say to return to the ER, if needed.

We've been anxiously awaiting today, hopeful, that we could get in to see her pulmonologist. Her appt isn't until Wednesday, but we feel it's urgent that she receives specialized care. I don't feel her primary or ER doctors are equipped to help at this point. As of now, it looks like we're stuck til Wednesday. Her doctor is in ICU this week, no other doctors in that office can see her, I had my mom try another pulminologist in the hospital she had her surgery but no luck there either.

Meanwhile, I'm hoping my some miracle he'll squeeze her in today or at the very least, we can avoid any more trips to the ER.

Wordless Wednesday: Grub at Slaters 50/50 Huntington Beach

July, Already?

I suppose it's true that the years fly by faster and faster as you age. I'm learning this more and more; this year has flown (I know I said it last year and the year before, but damn, it keeps picking up speed). How is it possible that Christmas is less than six months away!?! The days are already getting shorter and summer just got here.

We hit a few milestones this month. As of June 14, we've had the apartment for a year. The gate and the speed bumps are still the biggest annoyance. The neighbor's dog in the houses across from us can be a bother, more so the owners than the dog. They let him bark for hours on end. The windows in the apartment are the worst feature. They are anything but energy efficient. They let the heat and the cold in, and when there is wind, I joke that we have a windchill factor indoors, because it whips through strong enough to make the verticle blinds fly about. Aside from that, it is fabulous. It's a breeze to clean, maintenance requires only a simple phone call and voila - it's fixed. We love the Silverado Ranch area, at first we were unimpressed with the food offerings but they've improved tremendously over the past year and more great places are coming soon.

On June 27 it had been a year since we turned over the keys to our house. We miss the hot tub. We miss the pool, but not the maintenance. We miss our large patio and grill, but not the tree that dropped seeds, leaves and bark 51 1/2 weeks a year. We do not miss the ants. I do not miss spending an entire day cleaning house or the back aches or achy feet after doing so. I do not miss carrying dirty laundry downstairs and clean laundry upstairs. I do not miss $450+ electric bills in the summer. I do not miss the neighbors' dogs pooping in our yard. I do not miss the guilt of forgetting to feed the fish in the pond. I do not miss cutting grass, tending to the landscaping or dealing with frozen pipes or ponds. I do not miss having to deal with whatever might break. It always took a lot more than a simple phone call to get it fixed.

It's probably needless to say, but we did decide to sign another 13 month lease at our apartment. We'll be staying put in the Silverado Ranch area until August 2015. We'll see what comes next.

One last milestone is that June 22 marked our eleventh year of living in Las Vegas. I still love it here. Though, I admit I need to leave and seek adventures elsewhere to remind me how good we have it. I take conveniences for granted and I've grown more cynical, but once stepping foot in another city, another state, or another country, I'm reminded that no where is perfect. The pros far outweigh the cons of life in Vegas, and as much as I yearn for new experiences. There is no place else that feels like home. I am right where I belong.

Flashback Friday: Monte Carlo Fire

Brookyln Bowl: Soja

They've captured the highlights of Brooklyn with this venue. It also seems like the corrected the flaws of local venues to produce one helluva place to catch a show. Awesome set up, TV's are everywhere so you don't miss a thing. Only complaint is the line at the main bar moves a bit slow. I always wish venues would offer a beer line only, but they never do...



We saw Soja, it was a Tuesday night show, but the floor filled quickly after the opening act. We saw the opportunity for our group to upgrade to the VIP booths upstairs when we noticed availability prior to show time. We negotiated a fair price (if we didn't meet our food/beverage minimum, we could've moved to the bowling lanes after the show until we met it - I thought that was nice); got our bracelets and took over the booth and then bellied up to rail once Soja took the stage. Service was attentive. We couldn't get enough of the Drunken Palmers. Great show, venue and good time!

Wordless Wednesday: White Castle at Foodie Fest

Sprinkles Cupcakes

I've heard all the raves and was anxious to try Sprinkles cupcakes. Once the newness of Linq wore off a bit Frank and I went over to see what all the fuss has been about. Frank is a sucker for Red Velvet so his choice was easy. I, on the other hand, wasn't in the mood for anything in particular. I asked which was their best seller? "Red Velvet." Ok, second best? "Chocolate Marshmallow." Sold!

Most, if not all cupcakes are $3.75 each.





The Red Velvet fell flat. The frosting was too sweet and the cake was dry. The Chocolate Marshmallow was the better choice, but it was still pretty dry even with the marshmallow center, and I hated the rock hard candy placed on top.

I've had better, and I've had worse, but I won't be singing any praises for Sprinkles Cupcakes.

Old School Pizzeria

A few times a month I go to North Las Vegas for work. Food options nearby are pretty limited since I don't care for fast food. Once you start heading west of I-15 on Craig options greatly improve. Yelp led me to Old School Pizzeria.



It's across from The Cannery. It's a quaint space that sits no more than 30. They have a slew of toppings and very large slices. I find one to be plenty for lunch. I've tried the pepperoni and a combination of veggies. I like the pepperoni a bit better than my choice of veggie slice with mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. Slices come with a side of garlic dipping sauce. A slice and a drink set you back about eight bucks.



The crust is crisp and the crust to sauce and cheese ratio is pretty balanced. It's a good slice of pie. They also dish up salads, pastas and a few daily specials. They are pretty famous for their garlic knots, but I'm yet to try them.

Flashback Friday: Then & Now

The Waiting Continues

My mom and I met with the pulmonologist to go over the results of the bronchoscopy. Unfortunately, the test failed; the samples didn't provide any results. He has referred her to a thoracic surgeon. Mom has agreed to speak to him to see what her options are; he would perform the biospy if it's the lung or a lymph node. We're waiting to get an appointment. The silver-lining, I suppose, is that there is still a chance it's not cancer. However, the unknown is really wearing on her. At this point, a cancer diagnoses would be better than not knowing. All the research I've done seems to indicate in all likelihood it is cancer. Though, Lupus could be the wildcard, it does weird things and no two patients are the same so it gives some hope. Still, it's maddening to sit and wait, especially knowing that if these are cancerous cells could be growing and multiplying. Time is of the essence.

The Waiting Game

Thursday, my mom had the bronchoscopy. The procedure went well. Recovery was a little slow at first, but progressed as the day went on. Once I got her back to my house she slept and then ate, and seemed to feel considerably better. Her throat is sore and swollen. Coughing improved as the day went on and breathing was easier.

I met with the doctor after the procedure, he was not able to see the mass. He did spot the abnormal tissue and the protrusion in the lung so he took a needle biopsy. He also flushed the area to retain loose cells. So, two samples were taken. They're likely not enough for conclusive results. We knew this was a possibility, but hoped it wasn't the case. I was so disappointed. I wanted him to get a good sample for conclusive results. I don't want to subject my mom to additional tests. She just doesn't have it in her. Now, we wait. I don't know what to hope for, so I'm just going to hope she rests and regains some strength in the meantime.

Flashback Friday: Making Way for Encore

Remnants of the Desert Inn are cleared away to make room for Encore.