Here and There
Category: Life
Two days after I posted the last blog, Darrel was having huge amounts of
pain again. We were dreading what we believed was coming...that the
medications weren't going to help this time...., but by the weekend, things had
gone back to what is now the normal for Darrel. He still experiences the odd
discomforts here and there, but they are not very prolonged or too severe in
nature.
Headaches seem to be bothering him more frequently, which I don't think has
been a major problem before. Of course, with everything that is going on
inside of him, he rests and takes many naps throughout the day. His legs seem
to be quite itchy as well. Darrel has been scratching so much/hard that he has
broken through the skin in spots. Just what the little guy needs...open sores
for anything and everything to get into. Fortunately things quieted down with
the morphine increased only for a few days. The doctor had been considering
putting him on a constant supply with a strap-on pain belt. Whether the flare
up was a direct result of the Flintstone incident, or the tumor just shifting
its position, nobody knows for sure.
Over the last two weeks, we have been quite busy. First up was the Toronto
Zoo. It was only 21C that day, so we figured the animals would be out about
their enclosures, but this was not the case. For the most part, they stayed in
the shade, and away from the main viewing areas. This was very disappointing,
more so for the kids, as they had been to the African Lion Safari a few weeks
previous, and had much better luck with the animals there. Darrel was NOT
having a good day mood-wise, which only added to the problems of the day.
Before leaving, we checked out two of the new features atthe Zoo. Both the
Kids Zoo and Dinosaurs Come Alive areas seemed to greatly perk up all the kids,
which actually allowed us to leave the place on a high note. I'm certainly glad
that we hadn't started our day visiting those spots, or things probably would
have gotten much uglier.
Next up was horseback riding at one of Rebecca's uncle's farms. The rest
of the family had been there a couple of times, but it was my first trip (as I
had always been at work previously). Darrel got his usual horse, "Daniel", and
was happier and more full of energy than I had seen him in months! He proudly
rode around for over an hour, with a smile almost never leaving his face.
Although he slept for nearly four hours afterwards, he never complained of any
discomfort, which was a very pleasant surprise. Before we left, he spent some
time whizzing around with her uncle on his ATV. Darrel had a GREAT day, which
was amazing to see, especially after the bad experience at the Zoo two days
earlier.
Most recently, we took Darrel on a helicopter trip, which was generously
given to us by very kind woman from my work. He woke up in a horrible mood
that day, and we were seriously considering to try and postpone the event for
some other time, but he said he still wanted to go. He was very groggy and
irritable all the way to the airport, and I almost turned around, but we
continued on. It wasn't until he actually seen the helicopter on the tarmac
that he somehow managed to shake off the funk he had been in. He ended up
having alot of fun (and took alot of pictures too), and wanted to go back and
do it again. This was a huge relief to me, for Darrel to have enjoyed it that
much, and as the adventure was a gift, I would have hated to have to have told
her it had been a disaster (thereby, a waste of someone's kindness, and a
substantial amount of money).
Since then, other than being sleepy alot, which is understandable, Darrel,
as always, seems to be holding his own with the pain and the situation in
general. We are still hoping to take the family on our annual camping
adventure to Grand Bend in a week if things doesn't change too much between now
and then.
Thanks again to everyone out there for giving their time and support to
Darrel, myself, and our family.
Category: Life
Two days after I posted the last blog, Darrel was having huge amounts of
pain again. We were dreading what we believed was coming...that the
medications weren't going to help this time...., but by the weekend, things had
gone back to what is now the normal for Darrel. He still experiences the odd
discomforts here and there, but they are not very prolonged or too severe in
nature.
Headaches seem to be bothering him more frequently, which I don't think has
been a major problem before. Of course, with everything that is going on
inside of him, he rests and takes many naps throughout the day. His legs seem
to be quite itchy as well. Darrel has been scratching so much/hard that he has
broken through the skin in spots. Just what the little guy needs...open sores
for anything and everything to get into. Fortunately things quieted down with
the morphine increased only for a few days. The doctor had been considering
putting him on a constant supply with a strap-on pain belt. Whether the flare
up was a direct result of the Flintstone incident, or the tumor just shifting
its position, nobody knows for sure.
Over the last two weeks, we have been quite busy. First up was the Toronto
Zoo. It was only 21C that day, so we figured the animals would be out about
their enclosures, but this was not the case. For the most part, they stayed in
the shade, and away from the main viewing areas. This was very disappointing,
more so for the kids, as they had been to the African Lion Safari a few weeks
previous, and had much better luck with the animals there. Darrel was NOT
having a good day mood-wise, which only added to the problems of the day.
Before leaving, we checked out two of the new features atthe Zoo. Both the
Kids Zoo and Dinosaurs Come Alive areas seemed to greatly perk up all the kids,
which actually allowed us to leave the place on a high note. I'm certainly glad
that we hadn't started our day visiting those spots, or things probably would
have gotten much uglier.
Next up was horseback riding at one of Rebecca's uncle's farms. The rest
of the family had been there a couple of times, but it was my first trip (as I
had always been at work previously). Darrel got his usual horse, "Daniel", and
was happier and more full of energy than I had seen him in months! He proudly
rode around for over an hour, with a smile almost never leaving his face.
Although he slept for nearly four hours afterwards, he never complained of any
discomfort, which was a very pleasant surprise. Before we left, he spent some
time whizzing around with her uncle on his ATV. Darrel had a GREAT day, which
was amazing to see, especially after the bad experience at the Zoo two days
earlier.
Most recently, we took Darrel on a helicopter trip, which was generously
given to us by very kind woman from my work. He woke up in a horrible mood
that day, and we were seriously considering to try and postpone the event for
some other time, but he said he still wanted to go. He was very groggy and
irritable all the way to the airport, and I almost turned around, but we
continued on. It wasn't until he actually seen the helicopter on the tarmac
that he somehow managed to shake off the funk he had been in. He ended up
having alot of fun (and took alot of pictures too), and wanted to go back and
do it again. This was a huge relief to me, for Darrel to have enjoyed it that
much, and as the adventure was a gift, I would have hated to have to have told
her it had been a disaster (thereby, a waste of someone's kindness, and a
substantial amount of money).
Since then, other than being sleepy alot, which is understandable, Darrel,
as always, seems to be holding his own with the pain and the situation in
general. We are still hoping to take the family on our annual camping
adventure to Grand Bend in a week if things doesn't change too much between now
and then.
Thanks again to everyone out there for giving their time and support to
Darrel, myself, and our family.
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