Odds & Ends

I'm at the end of the second round of chemotherapy.

In some ways, this one was easier. In the first round, I had heart burn. And we all know that the best treatment for heart burn is a Culver's Malted Milk Shake. (I told this to Dr. Science and a look passed his face that said, roughly, "That's stupid.") So, I medicated myself that week in such a way that the heartburn met with several reprieves.

But it turns out chemotherapy can make a girl lactose intolerant. The whole time, I was thinking, "This stuff is wrecking havoc on my lower GI track! Get me another malt!"

Associated to these issues, of course, was dehydration.

Then I learned about the whole lactose thing, cut it out of my diet all together, got another drug to treat the heartburn, and had a Round 2 free of all this discomforting issues.

But I was a lot more tired this time around.

It's easy and OK to be tired when someone else is taking care of your children. Betsy and Amy had them from Tuesday through Friday and the whole crew had a lot of fun together.

One moment: Amy said to Gemma and Joshua, 'You two are little rascals' and Josh said, "No, I'm a BIG rascal."

And sure enough, they came home a LOT bigger and older and more grown up than when they'd left.

So much for some "odds," now some "ends."

I re-read a lot of this blog this week as I was sitting around. It was a pretty intense thing to go back to the early days of the journey and remember being there. Combine this with the fact that health insurance and medical care has been on my mind and I feel like I need to add to the record.

I wrote some unfavorable things about military medicine. At the time, this was exactly what was on my mind. And for those of you who know about our travails in Korea with Joshua's pregnancy, and then my efforts to address my weird sugar issue, my cynicism would seem a little justified.

But even the evidence that I found the right doctor at the right time and place within the military doesn't excuse me from clarifying:

There are the same people on every block. In the military and civilian world, there are idiots with medical degrees and certifications. And, in both, there are talented, skilled physicians who are called to work exactly where they are working.

My friend, Amanda, is the daughter of a retired Col who was part of the medical corps. (And she married an Air Force guy herself!) She writes:

"I'm so glad to hear you found such a wonderful Army doctor. My dad is pleased as punch to hear it, too, after a career at Army Medical Centers around the world. They're truly not all bad. Like any professional in the military, some folks just like being in the military (though I know you said yours is in for the health benes for his wife). My dad's best friend did 20 years as a doc in the Army. Loved it. West Point guy. Vietnam Vet. He got out and went into private practice here in Denver. He quickly became one of the most reknowned urologists in Denver and went from being my parents' middle class next door neighbor to buying a ranch, tons of horses, hiring ranch hands, owning fancy cars, taking cool trips, etc. But he's still so down-to-earth and loved his time in the military. I think you find that less and less nowadays, but I don't think it's gone for good."

So there you have it. An updated record.

And now the kids are awake. :)