Gimme Me A Steak...NOW!!!

Meals On Wheels Required

I was prepared to handle a change in Rene's eating habits based on chemo making everything taste like cardboard. Her oncologist provided the best mental advice to her about food during the process by saying, "you must view food as medicine and therefore you just ingest it". With the reduction of the tumors in her stomach and pelvic area, this was working. With the introduction of her canker sores, I was not prepared for how you keep meeting her nutrition needs!

At this point, Rene's approach to food has been very simple, give her a variety to choose from and it cannot be baby food! Simple request before you realize that blended foods is not on her radar and she wants a cooked meal. Taking Boost or Ensure protein shakes are considered snacks, not replacement to an actual meal. Since she must consume cooked food, no raw (salads and fruits are out), this is a challenge with her stomatitis at the moment.


The following best describes our current conversations about her menu:

• Me..."Let's try oatmeal for your breakfast"
• Her..."No, No, and NO"
• Me..."Ok, a Boost then?"
• Her..."It is cold, not cooked, and too sweet!"
• Me..."Ok, eggs then?"
• Her..."I don't think I can eat that yet"
• Me..."Ok, what do you want?"
• Her..."Grape Nuts cereal and I will let it get soggy!"
• Me..."Ok, I will get that, even though it is cold and not cooked but you want it!"

I do admit that she has done well these past two days by eating salmon, hamburgers, and filet mignon! She has been successful because she is so stubborn about NOT consuming "cream of..." soups that include a chicken breast that has been blended in! She was "Southern" this morning by requesting grits instead of Grape Nuts, I guess she felt that warm stuff was needed instead.

Synthetic Additives

The double port in her chest is really a handy little tool for her. Once they stick her with the needle, they give or take blood in one connection as well as provide chemo in another. This morning she got to sit a comfy chair at her oncologist's office and receive her Rituxan chemo treatment. We were prepared for a 6 hour session but since she had it before they expected this to take half the time. So this is good news for her and went home afterwards.

Homebody

She is relaxing at the moment, taking calls and visitors. The animals are happy she is back and happy to be around them again. Last night the Scrabble gods gave her the best letters to win and the Braves won. Yes, at this point, life is good!