Daniel 3:17-18

Daniel 3:17-18 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Life's Little Distractions

This little distraction let me drive it home a few weeks back.


It's been living here ever since.


I've been very happy about that.


Carla says it's a very pretty car,


and a fun ride.


It's even more fun to drive.


My children are now asking me to teach them how to drive a car with a manual transmission.


And for the first time in our marriage,


so is Carla.


Go figure!


We're looking forward to our first mini road trip,


just the two of us...


Carla and me.


Michael helped me clean this beauty today,


right after I taught him how to drive it in an unused parking lot.


So now I have a car cleaning buddy and a very excited son.


Of course, I'm excited too!

The other little distraction in my life is cancer...

Can you guess which one I prefer?

I was supposed to start my sixth and last round of chemotherapy on Friday morning. Didn't happen.

Thursday was spent at the Huntsman Cancer Institute getting my lab work done, checking in with my oncology team, and visiting my ostomy nurse. I've had a skin rash around my ileostomy for the last two weeks. It even got into my naval. (Let's all say "yuck".) It itches, it seeps, it gets crusty, and it starts all over again. Daily. I was given a prescription for the rash which is helping, but Friday morning the rash decided to fight back first.

A new spot showed up all purply and puss filled. Carla immediately declared it infected and started stabbing it with a needle. Since we were changing my ostomy wafer at the time, we decided not to put the new one on for a few hours. This gave my rashy skin some air time, but it also left me and my stoma 'au naturale' for most of the morning.

The ostomy wafer sticks to my skin around the stoma and holds the plastic bag which covers it. Imagine what fun I had holding a bowl under my stoma instead, playing catch as it proceeded to process my breakfast. Makes me look forward to loosing my memory in my old age.

We do feel the medicine and the extra two days off have helped the rash calm down. Nobody wants me getting infected while on chemo. Chemo exacerbates everything it comes across. Tomorrow morning, Sunday, I'll start taking my Xeloda again. This delay will cost me two more days in May. I will now finish chemo on Saturday night, May 14th. Nothing like moving the finish line late in a race...

Not to worry, though. As much as I really don't want to go back on chemo, I really do want to get this last round started, because the next stop is the FINISH LINE!

Of life's little distractions, I have to say that my spunky little Mazda Miata found me just in time. My newest distraction definitely helps me deal with my second.

14 comments:

  1. Great car. You deserve such a fab treat.

    Sincerely hope you have not been dragging yourself off to work whilst exhausted in order to save up for it though!

    12 days and counting.

    Hugs

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  2. Good for you Steve!!! We love you. We love the car. I know just how it feels. Mom had a 1952 Chevrolet convertible when we were dating. She was quite the sight with her blond ponytail blowing int he wind. Mom and I loved the 1952 MG TD I had in high school. The top was rearly up and we loved the breeze in our hair. Of course, I had hair then. Our 1976 280Z was even more fun to drive. Everyone should enjoy the fun of a sports car. You deserve it. We pray for you, Carla and the family every day. The chemo will be over soon. Love ya lots, Dad & Mom

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  3. Hi Steve,

    Yep, *that's* definitely some distraction - a really great one :-)

    I asked Rab if I could have a 'distraction' after seeing your pics - he said 'Yes, I'll get you a new iron and ironing board'
    GRRRR! LOL :-))

    You're nearly there now - almost at the finish line..am waving my flag and cheering you on.

    Much luv as always xxxx

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  4. Hey Man, Love the car, its awesome, its fun to ride in. You deserve it buddy. Now when is the road trip. Just let me know and let me shed some baggage as well, LOL. I mean its JUST a road trip. Anyway glad your hitting the finish line buddy, I bet you'll be happy to have it all done with. Love ya much.

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  5. NICE CAR! (And I already know how to drive manual transmission-- haha-- just sayin'...) You pick some great things to enjoy now and look forward to later, I have to say! GL on the homeward stretch!

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  6. I can explain...

    This little car needed a good home where it would be loved, cared for, and enjoyed just as it was by its original owner. I was only trying to help. ;-)

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  7. Hi Fiona,

    I fell in love with Miatas about two years ago, but we decided to wait until I finished my schooling at Westminster College. I was on track to graduate next month until my cancer diagnosis last summer, so this was a planned purchase. We just used cancer as an excuse instead of graduation. Not a bad way to use the cancer card, eh? :-)

    11 days and counting.

    Hugs

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  8. Hi Dad and Mom,

    I didn't fall too far from the tree, did I? Thanks for the love and prayers (and for setting a good sports car example). We love you and pray for you too. Your missionary service is an even better example. Your weekly emails have been fun to read. Glad its going well for you. Love, Steve

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  9. So let's get this straight, Carole. You get a new iron and ironing board, but I have to settle for a used sports car. Where's the justice? OK, so maybe you aren't getting the 'distraction' you were hoping for, but you already have a very sweet and especially practical husband. What more could you really want? Oh, and your sons are much better off having a bumless mum than becoming mumless bums. Life is still good. xx

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  10. Dear Best Friend and Neighbor Mark,

    Please note the "Carla and me" part of the road-trip-for-two comment.

    Love you too, buddy, but I love my wife more.

    Just sayin'

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  11. Dear Fellow Runner and Awesome Neighbor Mary,

    Sounds to me like you and the Miata have a date for this Saturday. You can take Randy along if you like. There is a second seat, and I'll watch the kids for you. So far so good on the homeward stretch.

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  12. Hi Steve,

    I think you must be sending me psychic vibes....I said I was there at the finish line waving my flag and that was *before* I received my parcel today
    :-)
    Now I'm waving my THREE flags at you.

    Thank you soooo much for my really lovely surprise ((hugs))

    Love you both too
    xxxx

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  13. Definitely a hoot to drive this little baby! Thanks for trusting me with your baby for a few minutes Steve! Serious fun!

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