the good, the bad and the little.

We just finished week two of our six week regimen of radiation treatments. It seems like a huge milestone.

Some good things are: We are enjoying the couple time that the car trips provide. We love sharing a Coldstone Creamery Sweet Cream Malt (with double malt) on the way home about 3 times a week. We finished the book Jane Eyre on CD in the car. (Highly recommend.) We have been able to pick up the paint for the new house on our trips into Omaha. Mike is making progress with his shoulder in physical therapy. People's concern and support have continued to bless us deeply. We are thankful that Mike has been able to work from 7-noon everyday so far, and we are thankful for how flexible my wonderful businesses are so I can accompany Mike.

Some of the yucky things are: After this week Mike's taste buds took a hit and his mouth continues to get sorer and dryer. This translates to mealtime being a chore and most often uncomfortable. I try to come up with foods that will appeal and deliver a high nutrition value but feel like I have to sit down with a picky toddler who is not interested in eating. I offer a protein malt "if you eat your cheese and edamame." The burns inside his mouth are expected to turn into solid white sores this week. (Sorry for the details.) The doctor tries to prep us for what is coming and it helps to hear him say that this is temporary, that his taste buds will eventually return, and that his right salivary gland will compensate eventually for the loss of the left one.

The photo shows some of the little things we do to try to bring Mike some relief. Kelp is helpful for absorbing free radicals so we are trying Trader Joe's Wasabi Seaweed Snacks. Yum. My wonderful massage therapist (at The Little House Day Spa) made up a special oil for Mike's neck before & after his treatments made from rose hip oil & vitamin e. The radiation does burn his skin on the outside too so a nourishing moisturizer is a must. The doctor recommended a salt water or baking soda rinse to keep Mike's mouth cleansed, so we are using Himalayan sea salt. The fun part is that we bought it in Ireland at Colin Farrell's dad's vitamin store in Dublin. I had been saving it and it seems special to use it for this. All of these "little things" somehow feel a bit comforting and have became part of our daily routine.