Aight sorry yall for takin so long to get you an update. I am kinda lost about postin stuff on here so yeah here ya go.
The weekend has been good for Derry. His stats are comin along great, he is in less pain everyday and he is much more alert and cuttin us all up which means he is doin great. I still cant get him to curse in front of his rents (must be the damn soap incident hauntin him) but he is tellin jokes and laughin and doin all the normal stuff. He hates the hospital food which I dont blame him cuz its shit and he misses everyone that he blogs to and talks to so yeah, he is thinkin of you all.
He is supposed to move from ICU on Wed and then to a regular floor and he will be there for 1 week and then comin home so long as his stats stay good and stuff and he continues to get better kinda thing. He has no side effects other than headaches and so far its all lookin good.
I have told him what everyone has been tellin me to tell him and he says that he misses everyone and hopes everyone is good and stuff. He sends special hello's to the regulars on the blog and the people at the SIMHL.
Aight so here is my contribution to the blog for today
THIS IS WHAT I WOULD DO FOR MY BOY DERRY:
GIVE HIM ONE OF MY T-SHIRTS TO SLEEP IN.
LEAVE HIM CUTE TEXT NOTES
KISS HIM IN FR0NT OF MY FRIENDS.
TRUST HIM OVER EVERY0NE ELSE.
TELL HIM HE LOOKS AWESOME.
LOOK HIM IN THE EYE WHEN I TALK TO HIM.
LET HIM MESS WITH MY HAIR.
MESS WITH HIS HAIR.
JUST WALK AROUND WITH HIM.
FORGIVE HIS MISTAKES.
LOOK AT HIM LIKES HE'S THE ONLY GUY I SEE.
TICKLE HIM EVEN WHEN HE SAYS STOP.
HOLD HIS HAND EVEN WHEN I AM AROUND MY FRIENDS.
WHEN HE STARTS SWEARING AT ME TELL HIM I LOVE HIM.
LET HIM FALL ASLEEP IN MY ARMS
GET HIM MAD, THEN KISS HIM.
TEASE HIM & LET HIM TEASE ME BACK.
STAY UP WITH HIM ALL NIGHT WHEN HE'S SICK.
WATCH HIS FAV0RITE MOVIE WITH HIM
KISS HIS FOREHEAD.
GIVE HIM THE WORLD.
WRITE HIM LETTERS.
LET HIM WEAR MY CLOTHES,
WHEN HES SAD HANG OUT WITH HIM.
LET HIM KNOW HE'S IMPORTANT.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Derry Recovery Update 2
Alright so yeah, I am gonna give ya another update here on Derry.
Earlier this morning he woke up and he seemed kinda out of it and really kinda tired which I guess he was gonna be cuz he just had his head cut open and stuff. So we come in to see him and the first thing he said to us was, "See, I told you we dont say goodbye". His mom was like mad crieing and stuff. I think she was just happy to see he was ok.
He seems to be doin good and the doctor said that if he keeps his stats improving then he will be out of the ICU by next wed or thur.
So yeah, there ya go, hes doin good. He even asked if I traded Richards yet and I told him yeah I did and told him I traded him to Columbus for a pick. He gave me a funny look and said I better be kidding or he was gonna kick my ass. I told him I was kidding and that he couldn't kick my ass from the bed so we kinda laughed.
Hes takin some kinda pain killer and he shoots it up himself so he was kinda awake and then asleep and then awake again.
Aight so yeah thats that. I guess what I am sayin is, its lookin good.
Earlier this morning he woke up and he seemed kinda out of it and really kinda tired which I guess he was gonna be cuz he just had his head cut open and stuff. So we come in to see him and the first thing he said to us was, "See, I told you we dont say goodbye". His mom was like mad crieing and stuff. I think she was just happy to see he was ok.
He seems to be doin good and the doctor said that if he keeps his stats improving then he will be out of the ICU by next wed or thur.
So yeah, there ya go, hes doin good. He even asked if I traded Richards yet and I told him yeah I did and told him I traded him to Columbus for a pick. He gave me a funny look and said I better be kidding or he was gonna kick my ass. I told him I was kidding and that he couldn't kick my ass from the bed so we kinda laughed.
Hes takin some kinda pain killer and he shoots it up himself so he was kinda awake and then asleep and then awake again.
Aight so yeah thats that. I guess what I am sayin is, its lookin good.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Derry Recovery Update 1
So yeah Derry asked me to post updates so you all know what is goin on kinda thing so yeah, these entries are prolly not gonna be long but you will know what is goin on kinda thing.
Oh yeah, I am Caleb, his boyfriend just in case you don’t know who I am.
Okay so the surgery was today. He went in around 8 AM and it took the doctors just over 7 hours to complete the work. They came out and said that Derry was doing fine, and that the operation went good. They believe they got all of the tumor and he was going to be moved to the ICU in a few hours. He prolly would not be awake and able to talk till sometime tomorrow.
We were allowed to visit for just a few minutes and he was hooked up to all kinds of monitors and machines and had some tube down his throat. His head was all wrapped up but he looked like he was kinda at peace or somethin.
Oh yeah, I dunno if you know much bout Derry and religion but he has this laminated card in his wallet that he carries everywhere and he took it with him to the hospital. I saw it sitting on his table in the room. Well yeah so here is what it says, I kinda like it
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.
This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.
The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
So yeah thats all for now, I will let ya know when he wakes up
Oh yeah, I am Caleb, his boyfriend just in case you don’t know who I am.
Okay so the surgery was today. He went in around 8 AM and it took the doctors just over 7 hours to complete the work. They came out and said that Derry was doing fine, and that the operation went good. They believe they got all of the tumor and he was going to be moved to the ICU in a few hours. He prolly would not be awake and able to talk till sometime tomorrow.
We were allowed to visit for just a few minutes and he was hooked up to all kinds of monitors and machines and had some tube down his throat. His head was all wrapped up but he looked like he was kinda at peace or somethin.
Oh yeah, I dunno if you know much bout Derry and religion but he has this laminated card in his wallet that he carries everywhere and he took it with him to the hospital. I saw it sitting on his table in the room. Well yeah so here is what it says, I kinda like it
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.
This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.
The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
So yeah thats all for now, I will let ya know when he wakes up
Monday, May 5, 2008
We Don't Say Goodbye
So yesterday was Caleb’s 18th Birthday and what a day it was. I started the day off by getting a hot breakfast organized for him and setting a table out on the deck so that we could enjoy breakfast together in the morning sun. Once that was done, I spent the rest of the day doing whatever he wanted to do which included taking a walk through the mall to see what was new, a stop at the local Tim’s for a coffee and then back home to spend some more time together. I made dinner for him which consisted of Rosemary encrusted Lamb Chops, organic baby greens, and Sweet Potato. The salad was a tossed garden salad in Raspberry Vinaigrette. Dessert consisted of Crème Brule. I have always loved cooking and it is something that I have spent a lot of time learning and working on. When I get the chance, I love to get in the kitchen and work magic. I swear I am a chef at heart. Though he is not old enough to legally drink, I did serve an Inniskilln Late Harvest Riesling with dinner. This straw colored wine is a beautiful balance to the Lamb Chops and its sweeter taste of lechi fruit and mango is not overwhelmed by the Lamb which tends to be a little strong when not cooked appropriately.
Having completed dinner, we took off for our bedroom to get to know each other a little better. Full from dinner and definitely aroused from a very enjoyable food experience, I took my time with him. We spent plenty of time getting close and letting our hormones take us wherever they wanted. It was not long before the moment I waited 19 years for, happened. With a gentleness and maturity that I could have only imagined, Caleb relieved me of my virginity. It was certainly one of the most anxious moments of my life, and having sensed that, he was a perfect gentleman with me and made sure that I was more than happy and comfortable with what was happening. Having done the deed, we switched places and I completed the other half of losing my virginity. It was the most dizzying experience of my life and it happened so fast that I really did not have much time to think. I simply collapsed on him and he cuddled up with me, running his hands through my hair and we just stayed that way for what seemed like hours. We later got up and spent time watching the hockey game and I spent some time working on my SIMhl thing.
Today will be the last entry in this blog that I personally will be making for at least the next 4 weeks. As many of you know, I am going in tomorrow to start pre-op for surgery on Wednesday. During this time, Caleb will be posting on my recovery so that you all know what is going on with me. I know many of you have said that I need not think this way, but the truth is this may very well be my last post ever on here. If that is the case, I would be wrong to not thank everyone who comes here and reads. Whether you leave comments or not, I know you’re here and I know your reading along. For that I thank you. You have given me the will to fight this disease. Special thanks of course to Darrell, Al, Scott, Jeremy, “N”, and Bloom who have made me feel as though this life was worth sharing with others. You have been amazing!
A very special place in my life has been occupied by Zach. In the short time that we have been talking I have become very close to this fine young man to the point where he feels more like the brother I never had. WHEN I beat this thing, give yourself a pat on the back, you were a big part of what pushed me back into Chemo and therefore to this point in which recovery is a very real possibility. I have never met him but I don’t think I need to know that he is a very special person in a world where there is very little that is special.
Lastly, to Caleb and to my family without whom I would not have the strength to fight. Caleb, you came into my life at the strangest time and in the strangest way but nothing about what I feel for you feels strange at all. Thank you for all you are and all you will be. Mom and Dad, I love you…your son is going to win this one, don’t you worry.
On that note, I leave you now for the next few weeks anyway and God forbid, if this was/is my last entry, than fate will have done what she see’s fit to do and hopefully this blog will have in some way changed the world around me! God Bless all of you…see you in a few weeks! Whatever happens, we don't say goodbye!
LiveSTRONG
Having completed dinner, we took off for our bedroom to get to know each other a little better. Full from dinner and definitely aroused from a very enjoyable food experience, I took my time with him. We spent plenty of time getting close and letting our hormones take us wherever they wanted. It was not long before the moment I waited 19 years for, happened. With a gentleness and maturity that I could have only imagined, Caleb relieved me of my virginity. It was certainly one of the most anxious moments of my life, and having sensed that, he was a perfect gentleman with me and made sure that I was more than happy and comfortable with what was happening. Having done the deed, we switched places and I completed the other half of losing my virginity. It was the most dizzying experience of my life and it happened so fast that I really did not have much time to think. I simply collapsed on him and he cuddled up with me, running his hands through my hair and we just stayed that way for what seemed like hours. We later got up and spent time watching the hockey game and I spent some time working on my SIMhl thing.
Today will be the last entry in this blog that I personally will be making for at least the next 4 weeks. As many of you know, I am going in tomorrow to start pre-op for surgery on Wednesday. During this time, Caleb will be posting on my recovery so that you all know what is going on with me. I know many of you have said that I need not think this way, but the truth is this may very well be my last post ever on here. If that is the case, I would be wrong to not thank everyone who comes here and reads. Whether you leave comments or not, I know you’re here and I know your reading along. For that I thank you. You have given me the will to fight this disease. Special thanks of course to Darrell, Al, Scott, Jeremy, “N”, and Bloom who have made me feel as though this life was worth sharing with others. You have been amazing!
A very special place in my life has been occupied by Zach. In the short time that we have been talking I have become very close to this fine young man to the point where he feels more like the brother I never had. WHEN I beat this thing, give yourself a pat on the back, you were a big part of what pushed me back into Chemo and therefore to this point in which recovery is a very real possibility. I have never met him but I don’t think I need to know that he is a very special person in a world where there is very little that is special.
Lastly, to Caleb and to my family without whom I would not have the strength to fight. Caleb, you came into my life at the strangest time and in the strangest way but nothing about what I feel for you feels strange at all. Thank you for all you are and all you will be. Mom and Dad, I love you…your son is going to win this one, don’t you worry.
On that note, I leave you now for the next few weeks anyway and God forbid, if this was/is my last entry, than fate will have done what she see’s fit to do and hopefully this blog will have in some way changed the world around me! God Bless all of you…see you in a few weeks! Whatever happens, we don't say goodbye!
LiveSTRONG
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The Boy Makes Me Laugh, What Can I Say
And now for something completely different!
For those of you who hang out in Sim Land with the rest of us hockey junkies, you have no doubt met my buddy Rob who goes by Unohuim (you-know-who-I-am).
What many of you may not know is that Rob is an accomplished comedian. We know this to be true just by looking at his team...a definite joke (sorry Rob, I had to)
Seriously though, Rob is a regular at Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club and is set to appear again in the next few weeks. I have seen Rob on Youtube and I have to say, his comedy is amazing. I was LMAO well I watched. If you have not had the pleasure, I am including the two clips he has on Youtube of his performances. I strongly encourage you to check them out.
Rob does a great job poking fun at Toronto traffic, the Facebook phenomenon, and other pop culture artifacts that you just can't help but laugh at. I think a lot of what makes him funny is that he points out the things that we all deep down know are absolutely true, but just dont have the cojones to say out loud, and at that, stand in front of a crowd of perfect strangers and do it. Rob on the other hand has stones the size of boulders and spits out his thoughts with a tone of sarcasm and truthfulness that just makes you want more and more.
What more can I say? Ladies and gentlemen, heeeeerrrrrreeeeeesssss Rob!
LiveSTRONG!
For those of you who hang out in Sim Land with the rest of us hockey junkies, you have no doubt met my buddy Rob who goes by Unohuim (you-know-who-I-am).
What many of you may not know is that Rob is an accomplished comedian. We know this to be true just by looking at his team...a definite joke (sorry Rob, I had to)
Seriously though, Rob is a regular at Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club and is set to appear again in the next few weeks. I have seen Rob on Youtube and I have to say, his comedy is amazing. I was LMAO well I watched. If you have not had the pleasure, I am including the two clips he has on Youtube of his performances. I strongly encourage you to check them out.
Rob does a great job poking fun at Toronto traffic, the Facebook phenomenon, and other pop culture artifacts that you just can't help but laugh at. I think a lot of what makes him funny is that he points out the things that we all deep down know are absolutely true, but just dont have the cojones to say out loud, and at that, stand in front of a crowd of perfect strangers and do it. Rob on the other hand has stones the size of boulders and spits out his thoughts with a tone of sarcasm and truthfulness that just makes you want more and more.
What more can I say? Ladies and gentlemen, heeeeerrrrrreeeeeesssss Rob!
LiveSTRONG!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Life Before Cancer, Part 7
Learning to talk when you are much older is a real challenge. If your a parent, think back to when you were teaching your kid to talk. You kept trying to get them to say something and the only thing that would often come out was some garbled ga-ga that you interpreted to mean, "Holy shit, my son just said Da-Da" LOL
Learning to talk for me has meant going to a speech therapist for intensive therapy. The mode of learning is a lot like having a conversation. A lot of what I do involves trying to have a conversation. The whole process starts with simple things like learning the alphabet, working on annunciation, and pronunciation. You start to learn simple phrases and words. Usually things like greetings and responses. In a lot of ways, it was exactly like learning ASL except this time I was speaking instead of signing.
Sometimes we would be working with books where words were sounded out phonetically and other times we would use video or audio tools to help me figure out how words should sound. A lot of the time it was a case of, "Listen and repeat" or as the French would say, Ecoute and Repetition.
The biggest hurdle for me was getting over my self consciousness around the sound of my voice. Initially I felt like I sounded like a frog with a throat infection. It made me very uncomfortable attempting to speak. Over time though I got comfortable with the sound of my voice and it became my own. Not something or someone elses...just mine.
One of the other big hurdles was my parents insisting on making me respond to them using words. Only occasionally would they use ASL with me and if I went to use it with them, they would often not respond until I tried to speak first. It may sound mean, and at the time I felt like it was but I know now that they were doing the right thing.
Don't get me wrong, I am still using ASL from time to time and I usually do it AS I am speaking. This way Caleb learns ASL and I dont forget how to use it myself.
There are somethings I still struggle with and they are mainly the letters, "S" and "C". The letter C only messes me up when it is used as a soft C. I dont know why it is such a challenge but it is, and I am working on it.
Many months of speech therapy have gotten me to the point where I sound a lot like the deaf people you hear on TV. They have a certain way of talking and if you have seen them on TV you know what I am talking about.
Speech therapy is a big topic though and there is a lot I could say about it and a lot I could tell you.
What I have given you here is just an overview. Maybe you could tell me if there is something specific you want to know about and I will be happy to shed some more light on it for you.
Well its Friday, the big weekend is here...I can hardly wait. I hope everyone has a great weekend and as always...
LiveSTRONG!
Learning to talk for me has meant going to a speech therapist for intensive therapy. The mode of learning is a lot like having a conversation. A lot of what I do involves trying to have a conversation. The whole process starts with simple things like learning the alphabet, working on annunciation, and pronunciation. You start to learn simple phrases and words. Usually things like greetings and responses. In a lot of ways, it was exactly like learning ASL except this time I was speaking instead of signing.
Sometimes we would be working with books where words were sounded out phonetically and other times we would use video or audio tools to help me figure out how words should sound. A lot of the time it was a case of, "Listen and repeat" or as the French would say, Ecoute and Repetition.
The biggest hurdle for me was getting over my self consciousness around the sound of my voice. Initially I felt like I sounded like a frog with a throat infection. It made me very uncomfortable attempting to speak. Over time though I got comfortable with the sound of my voice and it became my own. Not something or someone elses...just mine.
One of the other big hurdles was my parents insisting on making me respond to them using words. Only occasionally would they use ASL with me and if I went to use it with them, they would often not respond until I tried to speak first. It may sound mean, and at the time I felt like it was but I know now that they were doing the right thing.
Don't get me wrong, I am still using ASL from time to time and I usually do it AS I am speaking. This way Caleb learns ASL and I dont forget how to use it myself.
There are somethings I still struggle with and they are mainly the letters, "S" and "C". The letter C only messes me up when it is used as a soft C. I dont know why it is such a challenge but it is, and I am working on it.
Many months of speech therapy have gotten me to the point where I sound a lot like the deaf people you hear on TV. They have a certain way of talking and if you have seen them on TV you know what I am talking about.
Speech therapy is a big topic though and there is a lot I could say about it and a lot I could tell you.
What I have given you here is just an overview. Maybe you could tell me if there is something specific you want to know about and I will be happy to shed some more light on it for you.
Well its Friday, the big weekend is here...I can hardly wait. I hope everyone has a great weekend and as always...
LiveSTRONG!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Something Random
I have spent the last week or so trying to get Caleb oriented with the SimHL league I play in. In just under a week I will be turing the reigns of my hockey team over to the Big C. I have put a lot of work into this team and the idea of letting someone else run it for 4-6 weeks is a little bit nerve racking but I have faith in the big guy and if he follows the simple directions I left him, we should be fine.
The nice thing too is that I have made some connections for him on the site as well that he can rely on to ask questions and stuff. The only thing I have told him for sure is not to trade anyone LOL.
With all that said, his B-day is just a few days away now and my nerves continue to go off on me. I want him to be happy so badly that I think I am overthinking the whole thing. Then, there is Zach who simply suggests that I get pounded and move on LOL. God love Zach, he always makes it sound so simple. I think we should flip a coin on who gets to do what but then its his B-day so who am I to say how things should go right?
I have arranged a cake for him too. I know he likes chocolate so I have arranged a chocolate cake with white icing and Blue trim. I also toyed with whether or not to put 18 candles on it or just get a 1 and an 8 candle but I have decided that the 18 candles would be more fun. This way it looks like an inferno on the cake and I can make cracks about needing a fire extinguisher.
I dont really have much to say today to be honest, I was going to talk some more about speech therapy but I just opted not to. I guess I am getting a little worried too about Wednesday. It seems to be creeping up on me really fast.
Alright well, I just wanted to say a few words today. Tomorrow I will write more and will do that entry on speech therapy that I have been threatening to write.
Until then...
LiveSTRONG!
The nice thing too is that I have made some connections for him on the site as well that he can rely on to ask questions and stuff. The only thing I have told him for sure is not to trade anyone LOL.
With all that said, his B-day is just a few days away now and my nerves continue to go off on me. I want him to be happy so badly that I think I am overthinking the whole thing. Then, there is Zach who simply suggests that I get pounded and move on LOL. God love Zach, he always makes it sound so simple. I think we should flip a coin on who gets to do what but then its his B-day so who am I to say how things should go right?
I have arranged a cake for him too. I know he likes chocolate so I have arranged a chocolate cake with white icing and Blue trim. I also toyed with whether or not to put 18 candles on it or just get a 1 and an 8 candle but I have decided that the 18 candles would be more fun. This way it looks like an inferno on the cake and I can make cracks about needing a fire extinguisher.
I dont really have much to say today to be honest, I was going to talk some more about speech therapy but I just opted not to. I guess I am getting a little worried too about Wednesday. It seems to be creeping up on me really fast.
Alright well, I just wanted to say a few words today. Tomorrow I will write more and will do that entry on speech therapy that I have been threatening to write.
Until then...
LiveSTRONG!
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