We've had a fun, relatively quiet week, savoring our last bit of summer and sun. I finished (finally) this craft for Lucy's wall (someday room). I got the idea here. I thought it would be a fun way to commemorate her crawling and maybe I'll get around to doing one of her playing or walking to match. Today I went to the hospital again for a "planning session," before my radiation starts. Here's where the jet engine comes in. It really wasn't that bad. Before I start I do have to say that even considering my limited experience with Providence Park Hospital they are already blowing UofM out of the Customer Service water. Customer Service is more important to me than the actual treatment. I'd rather feel sick and have someone be nice to me than feel great but have a mean nurse.
Today as I sat and waited in a very crappy hospital gown (they don't know the trick with giving you two, one to use as a robe so you're not hanging out everywhere) I realized there is an untapped market out there. Custom fit hospital gowns! I know they have gowns for laboring women to wear so they feel pretty or whatever, but these would actually be practical for people who wear them on a regular basis like me. They could still give easy access where needed but could be custom fit so that when tied properly you're comfortable to sit or stand or lay or whatever ridiculous thing you have to do. I'm going to make one for myself....someday....when I learn how to sew.
So, anyway, today they had to make a mold of my body so that they can reposition me perfectly every time. We wouldn't want any stray rays floating anywhere else in my body. They laid a big tray down on the bed, with a plastic bag on top of it. They mixed two chemicals together to create a liquid that expands and hardens into a foam. The mixture is put into the bag, then I laid down on top of it so I could make my impression. It was a little hot but not too bad. After that the nurse had to take a bunch of measurements with the CT scanner. It was not so fun but bearable. The worst part was that she kept having to move me like a nanometer at a time and she kept having to look at my scar so she kept removing the towel covering my bum so for a while it was just hanging out there for all the world to see. I guess modesty shouldn't be an issue for me at this point but for some reason it still really bothers me. The table wasn't quite long enough and so my arms hung out in front of me kind of as if I were making a "goal" sign. So I asked if I could move them up to my face...my hands are very far from my lumbar region and I'm very good at holding still...the nurse said, "If you do, we'll have to start all over." So it was numb arms for me. Oh well. After that, they inserted the ink in five different places...so I now have 5 freckle-sized tattoos. Then it was over...I don't start the radiation for another week and a half or so...they said it shouldn't take long each time...only 20-30 minutes start to finish.
After that, since I had the car I had to go to Comcast to pick up a new cable box, and since Comcast is R-E-T-A-R-D-E-D, I had to drive to Ann Arbor to go get it. I figured I might as well enjoy my chance to be there, I do love Ann Arbor, I went to Whole Foods. Oh how I love Whole Foods. I think it's really, truly, one of my all time favorite places on earth. I splurged a little for all my pain and discomfort today. I bought myself some of their spinach dip which is truly out of this world. I have searched for a copy of the recipe but there are none to be found. Anyway...after I had my spoils I decided I'd go look in the ice cream department and see what they had. (As I reread this I realized I said department as if it's a shoe store...well, really, it should have it's own department) There is a specific kind I've been looking for but no one has. Lo and Behold...I should have known Whole Foods would and it is soooo worth it (the price and the calories). After I got home and tried to hook up the cable box, that doesn't seem to be working. Of course. I had a small scoop (I have to ration) of my heaven on earth. It was divine and almost made up for the cruddy Dr.'s appointment.
oh yeah, I'm a little obsessed with frozen mugs.
.
Today as I sat and waited in a very crappy hospital gown (they don't know the trick with giving you two, one to use as a robe so you're not hanging out everywhere) I realized there is an untapped market out there. Custom fit hospital gowns! I know they have gowns for laboring women to wear so they feel pretty or whatever, but these would actually be practical for people who wear them on a regular basis like me. They could still give easy access where needed but could be custom fit so that when tied properly you're comfortable to sit or stand or lay or whatever ridiculous thing you have to do. I'm going to make one for myself....someday....when I learn how to sew.
So, anyway, today they had to make a mold of my body so that they can reposition me perfectly every time. We wouldn't want any stray rays floating anywhere else in my body. They laid a big tray down on the bed, with a plastic bag on top of it. They mixed two chemicals together to create a liquid that expands and hardens into a foam. The mixture is put into the bag, then I laid down on top of it so I could make my impression. It was a little hot but not too bad. After that the nurse had to take a bunch of measurements with the CT scanner. It was not so fun but bearable. The worst part was that she kept having to move me like a nanometer at a time and she kept having to look at my scar so she kept removing the towel covering my bum so for a while it was just hanging out there for all the world to see. I guess modesty shouldn't be an issue for me at this point but for some reason it still really bothers me. The table wasn't quite long enough and so my arms hung out in front of me kind of as if I were making a "goal" sign. So I asked if I could move them up to my face...my hands are very far from my lumbar region and I'm very good at holding still...the nurse said, "If you do, we'll have to start all over." So it was numb arms for me. Oh well. After that, they inserted the ink in five different places...so I now have 5 freckle-sized tattoos. Then it was over...I don't start the radiation for another week and a half or so...they said it shouldn't take long each time...only 20-30 minutes start to finish.
After that, since I had the car I had to go to Comcast to pick up a new cable box, and since Comcast is R-E-T-A-R-D-E-D, I had to drive to Ann Arbor to go get it. I figured I might as well enjoy my chance to be there, I do love Ann Arbor, I went to Whole Foods. Oh how I love Whole Foods. I think it's really, truly, one of my all time favorite places on earth. I splurged a little for all my pain and discomfort today. I bought myself some of their spinach dip which is truly out of this world. I have searched for a copy of the recipe but there are none to be found. Anyway...after I had my spoils I decided I'd go look in the ice cream department and see what they had. (As I reread this I realized I said department as if it's a shoe store...well, really, it should have it's own department) There is a specific kind I've been looking for but no one has. Lo and Behold...I should have known Whole Foods would and it is soooo worth it (the price and the calories). After I got home and tried to hook up the cable box, that doesn't seem to be working. Of course. I had a small scoop (I have to ration) of my heaven on earth. It was divine and almost made up for the cruddy Dr.'s appointment.
oh yeah, I'm a little obsessed with frozen mugs.
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