Today is stem cell collection day!
Yesterday my mom got the catheter (port/pick line) in her neck. She said it felt like she hurt her neck and couldn't move it real well. I fully expected her to have a restless night's sleep, but she proved me wrong again.
It was a long day yesterday. My parents had to check in at 10 and wait for her scheduled catheter placement at 1, but it was between 2 and 3 when she finally went in. Placement took about an hour and then she had to go back to clinic for her Neupogen shot. All in all it was about 7.5 hours in the hospital/clinic yesterday. That, of course, doesn't include the drive up to and back from SF.
Yesterday I made stew for my family and had plenty to share, for which I was so grateful. I was able to send a pot home with my dad after their long day. I think it was about 7:30 when they finally made it home.
When I am home, working and being a mom, it's hard on me. I'm constantly wondering what is going on with my parents. I wonder how she feels, what she needs, etc. So making sure they had dinner alleviated some of my anxiety, knowing that they had one less thing to worry about.
Today they were off again, extra early, to check in. Unfortunately, the collection area is set up much like an outpatient recover room, so my dad couldn't stay there, but he could come and visit for short periods. Apherisis is only about 3-3.5 hours, so they were done around lunch. Then came the waiting . . . a few hours to determine if they had enough cells. My mom gave 4.5 MILLION cells today! Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough and she has to go back and do it again tomorrow. One more day . . .
She had to have a blood transfusion today to help her make the remainder of the stem cell count for tomorrow. She'll have to get the catheter out and then she'll be done for a while. The nurses were so nice--they could tell my dad was exhausted (and he's the one who drives home) so they set up a private room so he could nap.
It's been a very long day and tomorrow will be just as long. I wish I could take away the wait, the worry, the exhaustion . . . But she's almost there.
Showing posts with label dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dinner. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
At least once during the school week I find myself exhausted to the point that I don't even attempt to consider dinner. My typical crash-and-burn day is Thursday nights. This week it ended up as Friday.
Al came home from work, Samantha was playing on the computer, and Alyssa and I were playing Hidden Puzzle games on the couch while the contents of my purse were scattered on the living room floor. In the middle of that purse cleansing I found a gift card for Papa Murphys--hooray! Dinner!
I'm trying to be much better about budgeting this year. In am attempting to keep my exhaustion from resorting in more costly pizza nights. I don't like resolutions--I don't keep them. I consider this a habit change so maybe I'll follow through. I also figure that we'll waste less food.
I will admit that on average we have "breakfast dinner" once a week. This is the girls favorite dinner, but Al and I get tired of it. For the last few weeks I've been making quiches for me and Al. I bought quite a few pie crusts during the holidays and froze them. I have been using one recipe, modified for lactose intolerant folks (Lactaid instead of milk and Parmesan cheese instead of cream cheese). Then I throw in the kitchen sink--I use whatever vegetables we have and chopped deli ham if I'm really lazy. Al and I eat it for dinner and breakfast and any time in between. Hot or cold, it's my favorite food of late.
The original recipe can be found here: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/249035054368093250/.
Here is one of my modifications:
Ingredients:
1 9-inch pie crust (Pillsbury's refrigerated crust)
6 strips of cooked bacon (or three slices of deli ham, chopped)
Half a small onion, sliced and caramelized
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk (Lactaid)
1 tsp salt
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup partially cooked vegetable (broccoli, mushrooms, and/or asparagus work well)
Instructions:
Pre-bake the crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out one pie crust and transfer to a pie dish. Place pie crust in freezer for 15 minutes. Line pie crust with greased foil, shiny side down, and weight with pie weights (or uncooked rice). Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the weights and the foil, bake for 10 more minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
Quiche:
Whisk together the eggs, salt, and milk. Add 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Caramelize the onions until they are brown.
Par-boil the broccoli and asparagus for 2 minutes, drain and then rinse in cold water.
Cook the bacon until browned. Drain grease. Chop into smaller pieces.
Layer the bacon, onions, and vegetables in the baked pie crust. Pour in egg mixture. Top with the 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Place the pie pan on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown and center is set, approximately 35 minutes.
Al came home from work, Samantha was playing on the computer, and Alyssa and I were playing Hidden Puzzle games on the couch while the contents of my purse were scattered on the living room floor. In the middle of that purse cleansing I found a gift card for Papa Murphys--hooray! Dinner!
I'm trying to be much better about budgeting this year. In am attempting to keep my exhaustion from resorting in more costly pizza nights. I don't like resolutions--I don't keep them. I consider this a habit change so maybe I'll follow through. I also figure that we'll waste less food.
I will admit that on average we have "breakfast dinner" once a week. This is the girls favorite dinner, but Al and I get tired of it. For the last few weeks I've been making quiches for me and Al. I bought quite a few pie crusts during the holidays and froze them. I have been using one recipe, modified for lactose intolerant folks (Lactaid instead of milk and Parmesan cheese instead of cream cheese). Then I throw in the kitchen sink--I use whatever vegetables we have and chopped deli ham if I'm really lazy. Al and I eat it for dinner and breakfast and any time in between. Hot or cold, it's my favorite food of late.
The original recipe can be found here: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/249035054368093250/.
Here is one of my modifications:
Ingredients:
1 9-inch pie crust (Pillsbury's refrigerated crust)
6 strips of cooked bacon (or three slices of deli ham, chopped)
Half a small onion, sliced and caramelized
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk (Lactaid)
1 tsp salt
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup partially cooked vegetable (broccoli, mushrooms, and/or asparagus work well)
Instructions:
Pre-bake the crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out one pie crust and transfer to a pie dish. Place pie crust in freezer for 15 minutes. Line pie crust with greased foil, shiny side down, and weight with pie weights (or uncooked rice). Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the weights and the foil, bake for 10 more minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
Quiche:
Whisk together the eggs, salt, and milk. Add 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Caramelize the onions until they are brown.
Par-boil the broccoli and asparagus for 2 minutes, drain and then rinse in cold water.
Cook the bacon until browned. Drain grease. Chop into smaller pieces.
Layer the bacon, onions, and vegetables in the baked pie crust. Pour in egg mixture. Top with the 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Place the pie pan on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown and center is set, approximately 35 minutes.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
We saw Shrek the Musical again today with my parents and my brother and sister-in-law who came down from San Francisco to watch. (Thank you to my supportive family!). As were watching the show and laughing at my husband, my brother leaned over and said, "I don't think this is the last time Al will be on stage."
I'm sure it's not. And I've been struggling with it. It's been a lot for me to handle having both Al and Samantha in the musical. Monday through Thursday nights they were gone most of three months. Sure, I didn't know what to expect and I really stressed about keeping Samantha healthy, but some days it was so difficult for me. I'm not sure if it was my own health issues or just worry/stress, but I haven't had the easiest time.
For one, almost our entire summer went out the window. We haven't had a vacation day together all summer and school starts in less than 4 weeks. And right into Nutcracker and ballet and school fundraisers, and footballs season (Al coaches). That last sentence doesn't so much matter, but the no summer time off together has really bothered me this year.
I feel a shift, not with life in general, but within me. Maybe it's my health, maybe it's my girls growing up, maybe it has to be the mirror in front of me that I put there, but I've really been struggling this summer to reorient myself in my family. I feel like it's all moving too fast, like I'm not present enough in my girls' lives, like I want to be a better wife. And for those who know me well know that that the last bit about being "a better wife" is the key. It's not that my feminism is gone, but that it's shifting.
I want to watch my girls play mom without watching them focusing on mom-work. I'd rather watch them play as doting mothers and wives. Craziness, isn't it?!
And so today, when my brother said that Al wasn't finished with the stage, he was right. And after 11 years in this small town he's making life-long friends, meeting people, and finally feels like this town is his home. And I want him to feel that, I want him to be happy here with us and have a passion.
And maybe it's time for me to be the doting wife and mother. My job isn't going away, but it doesn't need to define me. I want to play silly with my girls, make an amazing dinner for my family, and spend more time alone with my husband.
I'm sure it's not. And I've been struggling with it. It's been a lot for me to handle having both Al and Samantha in the musical. Monday through Thursday nights they were gone most of three months. Sure, I didn't know what to expect and I really stressed about keeping Samantha healthy, but some days it was so difficult for me. I'm not sure if it was my own health issues or just worry/stress, but I haven't had the easiest time.
For one, almost our entire summer went out the window. We haven't had a vacation day together all summer and school starts in less than 4 weeks. And right into Nutcracker and ballet and school fundraisers, and footballs season (Al coaches). That last sentence doesn't so much matter, but the no summer time off together has really bothered me this year.
I feel a shift, not with life in general, but within me. Maybe it's my health, maybe it's my girls growing up, maybe it has to be the mirror in front of me that I put there, but I've really been struggling this summer to reorient myself in my family. I feel like it's all moving too fast, like I'm not present enough in my girls' lives, like I want to be a better wife. And for those who know me well know that that the last bit about being "a better wife" is the key. It's not that my feminism is gone, but that it's shifting.
I want to watch my girls play mom without watching them focusing on mom-work. I'd rather watch them play as doting mothers and wives. Craziness, isn't it?!
And so today, when my brother said that Al wasn't finished with the stage, he was right. And after 11 years in this small town he's making life-long friends, meeting people, and finally feels like this town is his home. And I want him to feel that, I want him to be happy here with us and have a passion.
And maybe it's time for me to be the doting wife and mother. My job isn't going away, but it doesn't need to define me. I want to play silly with my girls, make an amazing dinner for my family, and spend more time alone with my husband.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Finding time
One to four nights a week Al and Samantha go off to Shrek rehearsals at 6. I finish work at 4:30 and need to have dinner on the table by 5:30 when Al gets home, otherwise they don't get to eat until 9 or 10 at night. Eight-year-old children don't process well without food, I've found.
It feels crazy. And I have some guilt about what I can manage to put on the table--fish sticks are getting a little tired.
But I'm finding time to relish the quiet, alone time I get with Alyssa before she's off to bed. She loves to help me clean up, fold laundry, water the plants. Simple and lovely all at the same time. We can sit and cuddle and get all that one on one time that a second child doesn't always get.
I love how she just wants me to kiss her freckly moles until she giggles. My sweet-pea.
It feels crazy. And I have some guilt about what I can manage to put on the table--fish sticks are getting a little tired.
But I'm finding time to relish the quiet, alone time I get with Alyssa before she's off to bed. She loves to help me clean up, fold laundry, water the plants. Simple and lovely all at the same time. We can sit and cuddle and get all that one on one time that a second child doesn't always get.
I love how she just wants me to kiss her freckly moles until she giggles. My sweet-pea.
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