Getting Ready for Vacation!

The weekend went by way too fast.  Due to power outages and such, I have many things left to do this week to get ready for our trip.

We received the details of our trip.  Just after our trip I will dedicate a post to thanking the many companies that helped and donated services.

I will be posting pictures on Facebook as well as my Instagram account (http://instagram.com/cwbarr01).

I can say, now this close to our trip, I am a bit nervous about our flight.  Last time I flew, I was 8 years old.  My grandmother decided to take the grand kids to Disneyworld.  Back then, I was not the least bit worried about any air plane...I would have rode a camel to Disneyworld at 8 years old....I barely remember the flight, though, I do remember a fuel spill, leading to a delay that caused us to only have hot drinks and peanuts for the flight.  I just remember it being very quick.  This flight will be much longer but I am excited, none-the-less.

It would be nice to see our fundraiser hit it's goal - I think that would translate in some spending money, but I have to say, I am very proud of our success with both financial donations and all the services provided to this wish.  Even we didn't see another donation, things are set up pretty well.  Despite not having much spending money, we will have loads of fun and go many places.  We are very used to shoe-string budgets.

Here is the link to the fundraiser:

http://www.crowdrise.com/Melissa-Braincancer/fundraiser/charlesbarr

http://3littlebirds4life.org/ is just the best organization out there...I mean, sure, there are groups raising money for cures that may or may never come and some who help patients  pay the giant medical bills that would likely kill you if the cancer doesn't...those are great causes too, but these guys are making peoples lives better right now, despite whatever cancer is wreaking havoc on your life, they give you something to be happy about...a wish...and it is powerful medicine.

After the Storm & Father's Day Weekend

Thankfully, our house and yard was not damaged during the storm Thursday, but the power was out.  I planned a yard sale Saturday...and power or not, it was going to happen.  Friday night, with flashlight in hand, I priced our things and staged things for our sale.  Saturday morning (still no power), I hit the ground running and got the sale set up.  We did well...special thanks to Jessica and Chris for donating baked goods (that they stayed up all night to get done).  Little man was a hard pushing salesman too!  After 5 + hours out in the yard, we packed the sale up and relaxed for a bit (still, no power).  As 4 pm approached Friday, I realized we had been without power for 72 hours now....for one short thunderstorm.  I do not mean to gripe, but jeez, I live in a City...there is no excuse for that...but, this is Petersburg.

Father's day was nice.  We did our Sunday ritual breakfast at the Yankee Coffee Shop...Michael was a perfect gentleman and ate like a horse.  I worked to catch up on the house, dishes, and laundry.  The rest of the day was reserved for a favorite past-time of mine...video games.  haha....hey, it was FATHER's Day.  We did ride out later in the day to see Papa and Grandma for a bit...but pretty uneventful day.    

This week will go by so fast...Saturday, we leave for San Diego, CA!  

The Storm...

Thursday was quite an event.  Towards the end of my work day, as the storm approached, I get a call.  "Mr. Barr, daycare closes at 4pm today".  I frantically try to finish my work as the storm starts...power flashing, debris flying around....roofs flying off....then, like almost every other idiot in Petersburg, I hit the road to pick up little man....mid storm.  "Team Hyundai" blazed down Crater Road, dodging trees and limbs...felt stupid, but had no choice.  I grabbed him up and proceeded home to find no power.  For me and Melissa...no big deal...for midget, "MY GOD!  What are we going to do?"  He was wild all night...finally crashing about 9:30.  We woke up Friday...still no power.  A lot of damage in a neighboring city seems to be delaying the 3 trees that took out power in my neighborhood in Petersburg.  All in all, though, we had no damage, besides probably loosing our refrigerator full of food and perhaps our minds (trying to appease a 5 yo with no electronics).  Sets up a fun prequel to the Yard Sale / Bake Sale / Fundraiser....might work in my favor sales wise....but putting it together might be kind of interesting.

6/6/2013 - 6/11/2013

I wish I could report things are getting back to normal around my house, but things really have not changed.  Melissa has continued to struggle with getting more active.  She continues to suffer from the side effects of several medications.  What the doctor described as "sloshing" (which is really light-headed-ness for Melissa) has concerned both me and her the most.  It makes her uncomfortable with moving around too much.  I think  I have done a masterful job at not being a pushy husband while still applying some level of motivation, though, I am not sure it is always received the way it is intended, she has been understanding.

I think things were easier for both of us back when things were happening so fast we couldn't keep up.  Ignorance can be bliss, sometimes.  It seems like years since we had a normal life.  Now, I can not even remember what life was like before all this.    

This month's bills are tightening like a noose....but she starts to receive her disability at the end of the month....just in time, too.  Hard to believe we have survived 6 months without any income from her.  The only reason we did was because of the help, gifts, and donations from family, friends, and many others.  I can never thank everyone enough for all the help.  The financial fight we face ahead may serve as the greatest challenge.  Over $10,000 in medical debt...and with our recent insurance changes, we could face extensive out of pocket expenses from MRI's, blood tests, etc...but it could always be worse.

6/3/2013 - 6/5/2013

Every single person who gets cancer, I am sure, handles themselves differently.  I am often inspired by stories, like the link below....people who defy the odds, stay determined and positive, and get back to living.

http://www2.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/2013/01/brain-tumor-navigating-a-glioblastoma-multiforme-brain-cancer-survivor.html

I can say that things with Melissa have not been easy on her.  Though she would do just about anything for someone she loved, she was not the most motivated person before brain cancer.  Despite some prodding on my part, no one has really pushed her, including the doctors, to regain some level of activity.  The medications contribute to the issue heavily, as does the damage done by the tumor.  Thankfully, I was born with the patience of my father...and I refuse to push her but so hard.  Most of what I read says to give her time...time it is.

In the mean time, Melissa best be prepared for a busy week in San Diego, because that place is FULL of fun to-do's on little-to-no budget (just my style)...and we also have some bigger things planned - Zoo, Safari Park, Belmont Park, Legoland, and some dining.  San Diego is full of incredible food, from fresh seafood to Mexican, along with many other southern Cali creations.  Home of the taco and taquito...both favorites of ours.  Needless to say, we are so thankful to the many who have helped pitch in on our trip and the great organization 3 Little Birds 4 Life, for recognizing the need of something good during a very dark time.  Like us, most young adults are not prepared for such diagnosis, yet, it happens every day...no matter how much help you may find, it is devastating.  Creating good memories and moments becomes nearly impossible...and to do so, takes extreme measures.  Often kids are involved, and they, more than anyone, need a random release and exposure to pure family fun whenever possible.

Before our trip, I will post a link to my Instagram account, where I will post pictures and updates throughout our trip.  The blog may be quiet during that time, but trust me, my blogging days are far from over.

6/1/2013 - 6/2/2013

Cancer always takes "center stage".  When initially diagnosed, everything else is cast aside.  As you "ride the roller coaster of cancer treatment", those things become more distant, but occasionally pop up...things like going to the dentist, or other annual health exams/Dr. appointments, shopping, community service, making time for yourself, hobbies....many of the things that make up a normal life.  This can happen to the patient or any loved one close to the patient.  Making time for these things again is an important part of getting back to life or survivor-ship.


The Weekend...

After thinking long and hard about what we could do fun this weekend, and the narrow budget we had to work with, I decided to do something different...we bought a grill.  Those who know me may be quite surprised I did not own one.  Well, I did...I have two others actually...both broken gas grills.  With neither the patients or knowledge on how to fix them, they both just sat there.  I decided to go back with a charcoal grill.  I found the best deal and grill for my budget at Walmart.  When asked if I wanted the "already assembled one" or the one in the box, I chose the box...thinking, "How hard could assembly be?"  Answer...pretty hard, actually.  I am not much of a "repair man" kind of guy.  It took me almost 3 hours to assemble the grill.  Melissa tried to help, bless her heart, but I was kind of beyond help.  I had to actually follow the directions.  I was forced to improvise, when shorted two screws, but I did so with ease after the near 3 hr crash course in grill assembly.  I was proud, when finished (at some 9:30 pm), to grill up some steaks for the family.  This grill will provide my family with some fun and good eats for years to come...money well spent.



Please continue to "Share" the link to our Crowdrise fundraiser for Melissa's Wish...
http://www.crowdrise.com/melissa-braincancer/fundraiser/charlesbarr

We are excited.  I told Kristi, Melissa's wish coordinator, that I kind of felt guilty.  Here is this opportunity for Melissa to have just about any wish (with-in reason) and she chooses a trip that I am sure will be more fun for me and little man than her.  Anyone who knows Melissa knows that her life was is full of self-less decisions like that.  She will have fun too, but a week of activity will wear her slam out.

We have never had a week long vacation together anywhere.  As a matter of fact, this may be one of our last  chances, given the financial hurdles we will face for some time to come.  We didn't have a honeymoon, we never have had a vacation on our own, and never have been able to even do the activities we have planned to do in San Diego at home.  It is truly, for us, this is a "once in a lifetime" trip.  Every donation helps.


ALSO - for those local to me, watch my Facebook for posts about the upcoming Yard Sale Fundraiser!