So...whats for dinner?

Susan: Look delicious AND easy. Thanks for forwarding.

My FIL was diagnosed with acute leukemia today, so DH and I will again be comrades with those of you on parent patrol. I don't believe he will seek anything beyond transfusions and palliative pain control as treatment, but he is going to see a hematological oncology specialist in Charleston on Thursday. My MIL (a nurse), and my SIL (also a nurse) will be going with him. He is a retired doc and the worst patient, so this will be a challenge!

Special - so sorry to hear about your FIL. I agree, difficult patient type. Glad your MIL & SIL are nurses so they can at least talk the language & he can't snow them.

Carole - I bought a little hand held spiralizer just before I broke my arm but had already decided for $9.99 I wasn't going to get along with it. I'll be interested to see how you do with yours. I've got the SurLaTable catalog sitting by my computer encouraging me to investigate the Oxo Tabletop hand crank one. My only problem is the one you mentioned - where to put the darn thing.

Bedo - when do you go off on your summer adventure? Will you have a computer?

Eric - I agree with voting you "son of the year". My son does all those handy things but unfortunately he lives 1700+ miles away in CA.

Thanks all - it is no surprise to anyone that he would choose palliative care, he is not particularly interested in anything interventional with his own health over the last few years and grudgingly agreed to a couple of stents and a few other odds and ends, but he has taken very good care of himself. He feels like he has had an awesome life, and he really has. He wants to be comfortable and have the best QOL possible for as long as he can, but he won't do any systemic treatment. I think transfusions and pain relief are all he will consent to, and all of the family is ok with that. He is 91, so it has been a good ride for him. My dad did chemo palliatively as he was stage IV from the get go and less tumor burden meant less pain as he had spinal mets from lung CA. My brother, also stage IV, did only IV feeding and pain relief. Those were the right choices for them also. Having been down this road it is easier to accept, and I have been pleased to see that the family is rallying appropriately - supporting and communicating with each other (there are five children, five spouses, six adult grandchildren, one young grand, and two young great grands) No hysteria or argument about the choices made so far, although my physician BIL did push for him to see the specialist just to outline the situation with the best handle on this disease process. They live in a relatively small town with no cancer center, so they are traveling to Charleston on Thurs for a consult.

Dinner was brats, home fries and sautéed yellow squash and the cutest round zucchini, with some red pepper flakes and lemon pepper.

I really tore my knuckles on that hand-held spiralizer, and the “noodles” it made kept breaking, so out it went. I forget the name of the crank-operated one I got, but ATK top-rated it and it has three different size blade plates. I keep it atop my fridge. Only downside is you’re left with a central core that doesn’t get spiralized, but you can always dice it up to cook or just use it to eat with dips.

Today was pretty rough.... I mean standard GI, but it lasted ALL day. Usually, I am done by 10am. This went on for hours. We did pick up our new car, ended up with new plates since someone filled out the paperwork with my name first, instead of Mr. 02143's name first, rendering our plates unusable unless someone went to the DMV and redid all the paperwork. The dealer paid the extra $35 out of their pocket since it was their error.

I turned down a ticket to go to the Red Sox with my daughter and husband tonight. Just don't trust being at a ballpark with sketchy bathrooms with long lines tonight. For dinner, I heated some roasted chicken broth and warmed one of my homemade rolls. Two slices of cheese finished the meal. Still feeling gurgley, so we shall see. In normal times, I would not have eaten, but I have to eat in order to take my drugs.

Tonight I will build our food shopping list. We stop at the Market Basket just into the Cape and buy whatever supplies I don't have in the pantry. Works well. There are clean bathrooms, cold drinks, and it is a huge and comprehensive market.

*susan*

Just made myself a starter of an insalata Caprese--baby heirloom tomatoes (red, yellow, orange) and fresh mozzarella pearls, topped with chiffonade of basil, aged Balsamic (literally, just 1 tsp., it’s so concentrated), orange olive oil, orange & caper Sicilian sea salts and a quick grind of black pepper. Going to defrost my bison strip steak and grill it, along with some asparagus if it doesn’t rain--if it does, then I’ll pan-sear it and the asparagus.

wow. So much happening here! I keep trying to catch up and by the time i finish its too late to start a long post. So i will do a quick one.

Susan, im sorry you have such a bad side effect that is one I know way too well. Aquaphor that's all I'll say about that. on the fun side, lil p'nut has got a mind of its own, doesnt it. Seems p'nut will be here when its darn good and ready LOL

Specialk, sorry about your DFIL But you all seem to be doing what he needs and wants too.

Eric, i also vote for you as the best son!

All of you are cooking so much more than I am. Even with the cooking boxes, i cook only about 3 times a week.

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day all ofmy kids at least called and my DH was home so not too bad.

I know I am missing everyone on here .but its already after 1 am and im starting to get tired

Speaking of tired,i am better a bit. of course i needed another magnesium infusion almost 2 weeks ago. I had a burst of energy.i cleaned things, mopped things, watched my DGD1 a couple of times, and even, get this, made Dandelion Jelly. It turned out pretty well. But my goodness its pretty boring picking 2cups of dandelion petals! LOL BTW, it tastes like honey..

Much love to all

She is in the hospital... headed to labor and delivery. Baby is on its way. I am on the Cape. Guess we will cut our visit short.

*susan*

Susan - isn't that always the way. Hope everything goes smoothly. We'll be waiting & cheering.

So exciting, Susan! And probably predictable that p'nut would decide to get you back home! Safe trip for you and smooth delivery for the young 'ens!

Carole, I'm glad that your mother enjoyed her Mother's Day celebration that you all planned in such a thoughtful way! Her practical orientation to life reminds me very much of my step-mother who, in her late eighties, handles everything (many relationship losses and painful health concerns)that is handed to her with substantial grace and fortitude. That generation lived through a lot.

Carole - Your Mother sounds so sensible. To be able to visit all of you & then calmly go back is fantastic. My Mother would NOT leave her home, and finally ended up dying there. In fact at one point they had a fire in the basement & the firemen had to literally knock my Father out because he wouldn't let them move my Mother out of the house.

I suspect most of us hope we don't have to be moved from our homes. I just read that long term care runs from $80K to $100K per year. Wow.

Dunch yesterday was roasted chicken sandwich on pumpernickel with coleslaw and Brussels sprouts. I've found that if i eat my main meal before 4pm, I don't gain any weight. Even if I have one gin & tonic or one glass of wine every evening. Of course I also have to stay away from the bread!!! Today will be a big salad. Or maybe I'll finish off the chicken by putting it on soft flour tacos & adding hot salsa & cheese.

Hi everyone! I'm trying to get some ideas of make ahead meals before my DMRMX on 6/15. I'll be reading over past posts so I think there will be a bunch of ideas for me to work from. We'll be having left over pork roast and a huge salad from my garden tonight. I like the idea of having a dunch MinusTwo, I may try that myself.

wench - Mac N Cheese is good, you can include some ham in it for the protein, also something like baked ziti with meat and cheese - also for the protein. It is a good idea to try to ingest 100g of protein daily after surgery to assist in healing, so protein heavy stuff is good. You can do a beef stew or hearty soup. If any of these sound appealing let me know and I can post or PM recipes.

The pork tacos were very good last night. I made the full batch of tortillas and will use the rest of them to make pork enchiladas tonight. Plan to cut some corn off the cob to mix in with the pork filling. Maybe black beans, too. The enchilada sauce is canned Hatch green chili.

Hope peanut has arrived safely and mother and child are good.