Mom and Dad are now official Texans! They signed the lease on the house last week and have begun the feathering process! After navigating their way through numerous rental furniture stores and heated negotiations, their house has now become a home :) Although according to my dad, no house can be called a home until the first bird feeder is hung and the first fire is crackling in the fireplace (luckily it is an electric fireplace so he won't have the chance to burn the place down). Dad has already taken a snooze on the new couch, christening its arrival. He said it's going to be the perfect place to watch Miami Heat games!
They have been galavanting about town trying new restaurants...one of their new favorites being a Japanese place where dad can get his sushi fix and also cook raw meat on a hot stone in front of him at the table. The traffic situation is a bit hairy in many areas, possibly due to the rodeo that will be in town over the next couple weeks (I'm sure mom is thanking her lucky stars she has a great excuse to get out of being dragged along to that)!
Mom had her second chemo this past Tuesday and it went swimmingly, minus the fact that the TV in their room was broken and they couldn't watch "Bonanza". She is loving being able to take cat naps here and there, and also watching the squirrels break into my dad's new bird feeders.
PS-In case any of you were thinking how hideous that chair is, I agree #everyhouseneedsanuglychair
We now have an address, text me or email me if you need it: caraking5887@gmail.com, 954-829-8332!
The past couple days have been spent doing such things as getting Vogue worthy haircuts and locking down a rental house (that we will hopefully sign the lease on tomorrow). Shopping for rental furniture is a task that if I never do it again it will be too soon! However, mom was able to find an "Alice in Wonderland" chair she can recover nicely in. Today we braved the rain to check out an area called "Rice Village", where we got our ears lowered at a beauty parlor called "Beautique"! This was followed by decaf cappuccinos and French pastries at a local bakery. After shopping a bit we were forced to shop for mattresses for the new house. Here's my favorite dad quote of the experience: "Honey, he's charging us 3 cents for shipping...I think that's too much, don't you?" AHHHH!!!! We had a wonderful dinner at "Pappdeaux" seafood, enjoying Twinkie sized mozzarella sticks :) On the way there we passed by a gigantic armadillo (which can carry leprosy--fun fact) and a shoe hospital, God forbid people here go a day without their boots! Mom's been feeling great and we are enjoying flipping between the Heat and UNC games before bed!
Hello blog followers!
Update on mom's first chemo today:
We'll I'm happy to say that we are back safe and sound to our hotel in the heart of Houston! We got to the MDA cancer center around 8:15 this morning and mom had her pre-chemo appointment where she spoke with the cancer geniuses. We took a time out for lunch at the Waterfall Cafe inside the center, where we enjoyed some mashed potatoes and carrot cake :) Her chemo was originally scheduled for 4 pm, but we decided to just wait there to see if they could fit us in earlier. Patience paid off (something never easy for my father) and they got her in around 2:30.
We were led to our own private suite, equipped with our own television! Dad insisted on watching "Bonanza", a show I quickly realized would be torture for me to endure for the next two hours. He had the volume so high that I think every patient and nurse in the entire center was being subjected to the same penance. Lucky for me "Andy Griffith" came to the rescue! Mom and I distracted ourselves with one of grandma's favorite games... Yahtzee!
Mom had no reactions to the chemo and we were able to head back to the hotel in time to get some grub downstairs (they really do have the best chicken noodle soup). Hopefully tomorrow we'll have an update on the house!
Howdy Ya'll!!
A big Texas sized "Thank You" to all of you for your prayers and support :) I've created this blog to keep everyone updated on the happenings in Houston. I never thought I'd be the author of a blog because I always associated them with the likes of Sheldon Cooper and Howard Walowitz (no offense fellow bloggers)! But this really does seem like a wonderful way to keep in touch with everyone and even share photos!
I arrived on Saturday into Hobby airport, glad to get away from the snowpocalypse... aka snowageddon. Since arriving I've only been subjected to eating dinner at the hotel restaurant twice, last night bucking and forcing my parents to see what other local cuisine was available. (And by "local" cuisine I mean Japanese hibachi ;) ) In their defense they told me they have tried a very good local BBQ place and spent Valentine's day in Galveston, where my dad ate the best fish of his life (see picture).
Since mom and dad have been here, they have had a wonderful experience at MD Anderson (MDA).
Mom has had all of her preliminary pokings and proddings completed, so let the games begin! Today is her first day of chemo, which she is scheduled to have once a week for the next 12 weeks. She will then have 12 more weeks of chemo with 2 different, stronger drugs. She is looking forward to laying in bed and doing NOTHING!!!
Dad is considering getting his real estate license in Texas, he is thrilled by the challenge of negotiating a lease on a rental property. He says he is inspired by House Hunters International. He is also growing out his facial hair and his new slogan is "No shave till November". (Picture to follow in upcoming blog). Hopefully they will be able to move in to their new house next week, address to follow.
Time for chemo! May the odds be ever in her favor :)
