The Vacation - Part Deux

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to the vacation story....

Monday morning...San Diego Bound

The east side of the mountains in southern California look like impassable giant piles of rocks.  Just before entering the mountains I saw a nice size wind-power farm.  As we crossed the mountains I could not help by to think how many westerns TV shows and movies were filmed in these mountains...and they seem quite familiar.  I also noticed how green and nice the areas around the fresh water springs were...each was a little mountain oasis.

The border patrol check point was interesting.  I have never, in my life, seen so many cameras in one place...literally 30 or 40 pointing in just about every angle towards on-coming traffic.  I was so white they just waved me through...not many pale folk in southern California.

San Diego City limits...and wow...I imagined the City more flat and it is far from that...hills, hills, hills...but pretty.  House perched on hillsides and hilltops...there must be 1,000,000 amazing views to be found here.

So, depending on natural navigating skills (honed and perfected on the East Coast), I dove off the interstate early to just cruise around some, gently weaving my way to our hotel.  Yep...I got lost.  Ended up eventually on Point Loma...though, there was not a much prettier place to be lost.  One observation Point Loma...people live very, very close together in pretty small houses.  I mean, each house seemed to have it's own unique features, and all were pretty cool...but they are really crammed in here.  So, I bought a days worth of Verizon Navigator to guide me me to my destination....which was only about 4 minutes away from where I was.  So close, yet, so far...

The Inn at the Park - it was an impressive 7 story brick hotel built in the 1930's that was very recently renovated.  It was fantastic.

It was a pretty place and the people were really nice.  The room was also very nice and quite well decorated.  We stayed on the 5th floor...a nice harbor view.

After unpacking and checking out the room, I took midget for a walk and a hot chocolate...now, hot cocoa in Virginia in summer is one thing, but in San Diego it was 72 with a stiff ocean breaze...I swear....perfect for any kind of drink.

He always feels so big when I take him for hot cocoa at a cafe.

Tuesday morning we decided to slip over to Coronado.  We had a nice morning chilling on the beach followed up by some shopping and pizza at the Village Pizze at the ferry landing.

The vistas, the weather...it was all perfect.  Coronado is fantastic.  Wish we could drive over there every weekend for some family time. 

Melissa joined us on Tuesday afternoon...and about sunset we took pictures on Windasea beach just south of La Jolla.  (still waiting on the pictures).  Wow...what a pretty area.  There was a group of retired folks playing bridge right there on the beach...can't help but be a bit jealous.  

Wednesday we had a picnic organized by Wedding by Di out of San Diego.  Location...beautiful Balboa Park under the most interesting of trees.  The food, the set up, the weather...that WEATHER...uh...no bugs, no flys...just a cool breeze in the shade...perfect.  Did I mention the WEATHER!  (Waiting on pictures).


TO BE CONTINUED...

7/15/2013 - All Clear...

So, Melissa's MRI came back all clear with no signs of swelling.  The past few days she has managed to eat a little something also, so things are looking up...now, if I could just get her to behave the way.  I can not imagine how she feels....what she is going through....and I have a front row seat.  I just keep telling myself that this takes time..."patience, young Skywalker."

Little man is officially 6 years old.  Wow...how time flies.  Notice I left off the "when you are having fun" part...I mean, we have had some really fun, but the past 8 months we have been getting quite more than our fair share "not so fun" times...and guess what, time still flew by.  Life breaks for nothing.

There are not words to describe how it feels to watch the person you love hurt by cancer.  You may use words like "frustrated" or "speechless" or "heartbroken" when really, there is more going on than the human mind can normally process.  Now, if you are the kind of person who can just "put on a happy face" and leave the hurt behind...more power to you...I have those moments, sometimes.  Even now, past many of the tougher obstacles we had to face, I am still without words to describe how I feel or how things have changed.  "Bewildered" seems to fit somehow.

MRI Today!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Melissa has not felt well in over a month.  As a result of explaining that to her doctors, they called for yet another MRI.  Needless to say, neither of us is thrilled about it...and frankly, neither of us think it will reveal any cause to her issues.  The MRI is scheduled for today and we get the results Monday afternoon.

Sometime this weekend, I will complete the final post on our vacation.  I have to say, I have been kind of "home sick" since leaving San Diego.  The weather in Virginia is garbage in comparison and I think about that every time I step outside.  Doubt I could afford to live there currently, but one day...who knows?

Little man has a birthday on Monday.  He will be 6 years old.  Man, he is growing up fast!  We are throwing him a small party at the bowling alley this Sunday.  Very late notice for most...so turn out looks bleak.  I plan on making some calls to assure some other kids come.

Music...

So, lately I have been playing some music with a friend, helping him perform for his own wedding...of course, a Dave Matthews tune (the ladies can not get enough of the DMB).  He chose the song "Crush"...a beautiful tune written by Dave for his wife.

Since Vacation

I figured, before I continue with posts about our vacation, I would give you an update on how Melissa is doing.  As many with Cancer can tell you, the only thing to expect is the unexpected.  For the past few weeks she has really struggled with eating, activity, and has just not felt good.  Despite several visits to the doctor, very little has worked in the past few weeks to make her feel much better.  I talked to her doctors on Friday to ensure they actually knew how much she was suffering...and I told them that this is unacceptable.  The reassured me they would do anything in their power to help her.  They also mentioned that she shared little of this with them.  After talking to the doctors Friday, though, I am convinced that she should not be feeling this bad.  So over the weekend I talked with Melissa some about how she is feeling, what medications is supposed to be taking and which ones she actually is taking...and though the two are not lining up as they should, I do not think the cause of these issues is due to the medications directly.  So today, the doctors want to do another MRI.  They also suggested, in a very nice way, that I become more of a caretaker.  They suggested I need to administer her medications, return to tracking things in a journal, and may need to spend more time at home.  Time...I would love to spend more time at home...I would love to manage every aspect of her care...to be the caregiver she deserves, but, how do I manage to do this while working?  I suppose, depending on the next month or so, I will have to do some soul searching...figure out a way or a system.  

Good healthcare should include setting you up for success...teaching patients how to cope, teaching caregivers how to provide good care, and helping them through the transition that happens when you go from "normal" life to "ah shit, Cancer" life.  There is a hell of a lot more people need to know, besides what kind of Cancer they have and what treatments they need.  I know that from day one, that is where our doctors failed us.  It would have been nice to at least had 1 person say, "Ok, here is the real deal..." and just lay all the BS out on a plate for us to at least look at before we have to eat it.

As you can tell, I have been quite frustrated and pre-occupied the past few weeks, even during vacation.  Not sure where this story goes next, but, one thing is for sure...it goes.

The Beginning to Our Vacation! 6/22/2013 - 6/24/2013

Life is full of moments...about a half dozen you could expect and a half billion or so you could never expect.  Great moments....not so great moments...fact is, the right mix of both make you a better person...stronger, more appreciative...humble.  The wrong mix can make you depressed....crazy...insane.  I think most of us would agree that you never get a very even mix....there are highs and there will certainly be lows.  What I am getting at, is that the reason people refer to life as a "roller coaster" is because it is fun for most...the ups and downs...the sudden plunges....the clicking of the chain dragging up closer to your eventual decent.  Our life would be pretty boring without these ups and downs.

Dulles Airport


Our vacation was a high...though, like a good roller coaster, started with some waiting.  Our air line, despite our very early check-in, sent my bags on a later flight.  After a long day and 5 hours in the air, both Melissa and Michael were beat...and I was in line, to mad to be tired, seeking knowledge..."Lady, where is my bag?"  "Sir, it didn't make the flight.  The flight it is on is due in about 3 hours."  For us...it felt like 10pm, so another 3 hours was a lot to ask.  Melissa was ill....at this point both her and midget were passed out in the restaurant in Terminal 1 of the San Diego Airport.

As the plane arrived with my bag, I waited near the baggage claim conveyor it was to arrive on.  I had previously made my irritation known the United Airlines baggage office, and thus, was being watched by security.  Kind of feels good to look more intimidating than I really am sometimes.  Then, from behind me, I here someone shout, "Hawk".  I sneak a peak behind me...yep, it was Tony Hawk and his wife.  I quickly faced forward...then peaked again just to be sure...yep, that was him alright.  I shook his hand.  Little did he know at that time, but he has signed a skateboard for Michael a few days before our meeting.  He was flying on the flight my bag flew on.  He was returning from the Smithsonian, where they inducted his first competition skateboard.  Needless to say, my attitude was quickly straightened up...the feeling of "things happen for a reason" filled the air...and I was ready to continue on this journey.

We quickly got to our rental car and made our way to Melissa's aunts house.  The weather difference was insane.  San Diego - 67 degrees....Brawley - 90 degrees....this at 10pm (California time).  The near full moon provided enough light to get a peak at the mountains, as we passed through.  The mountains look like giant piles of rocks.  We arrived at our first destination just after midnight.

If not for the heat, Brawley was pretty cool.  Get it...cool....ok, cheese...but the city had some texture.  It seemed to have more than everything you would need...including a very good bakery...A Think Called Cake.

Melissa's family was very welcoming.

The first day there...well, I just wanted a sweet tea.  Not a simple task in California unless you have the inside info....McD's is the only major chain I could find one.  Most other restaurants just do not offer it.  Seems crazy to me, but then again, so do smoothies.  The inside word, if you ever find yourself far west and in need of great sweet tea....the donut shops.  Donut shops have great sweet tea...strong and super sweet...plus, they have donuts...boom.

We had a nice dinner Sunday night at Melissa's cousins house.  Carne asada, mac & cheese, and the only guacamole I have ever liked.  We also left with some sweet treats in hand.

Melissa had not all felt well....before we left, during the flight, or the first couple days.  It was not the best timing, but cancer tends to work just that way most the time.  Me and midget decided to travel on to our final destination, sunny San Diego, and Melissa was going to get dropped off the next day...as she worked to wait out the icky and rest.

San Diego Bound.

...to be continued

We are home from VACATION! 7/1/2013

I am so much to share!  Pretty busy, but I will be happy to fill all of you guys in over the course of the next week.

For most, the first question is did Melissa feel ok and have fun?  Well...at first things were pretty bad.  She tried hard to soldier through.  She really perked up for the Zoo, which quickly took the air from her battered sails...but, me and midget, wow...we took the place by storm.  haha....it was a great family trip, despite cancer woes.  Met Tony Hawk, explored a wonderful part of California, and really created some great memories.

http://3littlebirds4life.org/ really came through and granted Melissa's wish.

I sure hope you follow my Instagram and Facebook....I posted many pictures, which I will eventually post here as I share my experiences.  One thing I will tell you know, is that the weather in San Diego, CA, is fantabulous....wondertastic....flip-wild-crazy nice.