Ian's Progress

Today we had the pre-op appointment with the doctor that will be doing Ian's biopsy. He's a cardiothoracic surgeon and will be performing a mediastinoscopy in order to retrieve some lymph tissue for pathology. Both he and the nurse were very nice and explained everything, including the risks involved. They also suggested Ian fill out an Advance Health Care Directive "just because," which really brought it home for me how serious everything is. I mean, he has to have surgery in order to figure out what's wrong with him.

We also got the results of his abdomen CTscan yesterday:

*History*

Extensive mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy

*Findings*

...Subcentimeter short axis diameter lymph nodes in the epigastrium, para-aortic areas, inguinal areas and mesentery. Given the lymphadenopathy in the chest followup surveillance is recommended.

Liver, adrenal glands pancreas and kidneys are unremarkable. Nonspecific 7mm low attenuation lesion in the posterior spleen.

Minimal spina bifida occulta L5 posteriorly.

*Impression*

Posterior inferior mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Subcentimeter short axis diameter lymph nodes in the abdomen or pelvis. Given the number of these and the lymphadenopathy in the chest, followup surveillance of the abdomen and pelvis is recommended when followup chest CTscan is obtained.

Nonspecific 7mm low attenuation lesion in the posterior spleen.

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The doctor also tried to say that we shouldn't jump to conclusions that it's lymphoma, though the other possibilities (infection, lung cancer, sarcoidosis) really don't match what we've seen. And like Ian said, I think I'll go with what Dr.Reed said since she's an internal medicine doc and former oncologist. But it's true, we really won't know what we're dealing with until we get a chunk of lymph out of Ian's chest.

Hopefully everything will be much clearer then. It's all quite scary and grey right now.

In other, happier, news we now have a niece! I got a message from my dad saying that Jim and Beki's daughter, Lucy Bleaux, was delivered by C-section today and everyone is doing great. More on that for sure! :)

Grow, garden, GROW!

This year's garden is really taking shape, despite the rampant morning glory carpet between the raised beds. I've even harvested a few pounds of potatoes left from a couple forgotten spuds last summer!

So far the garden has:

- Potatoes (red and white)

- Onions (red and yellow)

- Kale

- Tomatoes (sungold and red cherry)

- Spinach

- Beets

- Green Beans

- Butternut Squash

- Gold Zucchini

- Patty-Pan Squash

- Mini Red Bell Pepper

- Tomatillo

By the end of the week I'm hoping to plant some chard, yellow wax beans, and carrots. I have one small bed that is bordered with gladiolus which I haven't decided what to plant; probably something trellised since the space is so small.

I also have hopes to till and plant a small patch of sunflowers and wildflowers -and maybe throw in a few pumpkin seeds as well.

Oh, and the whole front yard clean-up and renovation. Oof. Lots of nice perennials to go in once it's ready (cosmos, scented geraniums, russian sage and more), but there's a lot of rose pruning and "wild rose" eradication that has to happen first. I have until the 22nd before my first shift starts, so here's hoping!

Who put my life in a blender and hit "frappe"?

Well, so much for this being a carefree blog.

I just finished up perhaps the most stressful week of my life to date...

- I developed a nagging cough and cold

- It was the last week of my cycle and I had terrible cramps

- Had a hectic commissary trip with Grandpa and Joanne

- Took care of neighbor's animals for a couple days

- Took a two-night shift to give Joanne a little break

- Happy started chewing his feet and went to the vet

- I turned 34

- Ian was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Oh, and I kind of forgot my daily regimen of 600mg of ibuprophen three times a day these last few days and it seems my nerve pain is just as bad as it was when I saw the physical therapist. So much for progress!

So yeah, it's been a lot to take in. We're doing well so far; lots of tests on the horizon. A full-torso CTscan on Monday, a consultation with the biopsy doctor in SF on Friday, then the PETscan on June 14th. I wish we didn't have to wait so long for that, but they said that's the earliest spot available. Too many questions at this point and not enough answers. There's plenty to be optimistic about though!