Pool Time
Not only did I go the pool this past weekend, but I was able to get in it!  I bought a waterproof cover for my PICC (which you can see in the video).  You can’t do anything crazy with it, because it could shift and let water in, but as long as you are sensible, it’s waterproof.  I was able to play with the kids.  Natalie swam to me without her floaties, Sydney jumped to me in the water, and I threw Tucker up into the air and in the water.  All 3 also rode on daddy’s back and let daddy pull them through the water.  It was a lot of fun and something I’ve been looking forward to.  Hopefully we’ll go back again before my black backpack makes a return.

#Cancercation
This morning I went to the Southport Road Starbucks (not that one, the one across the street).  Lindsey was at work (thanks babe!) and the kids were at Miss Lindsay’s (thanks Miss Lindsay!), so I was out in society relaxing a bit.  A morning Starbucks used to be normal for me.  Not frequent, but normal.  I never used to drink Starbucks and then they went and built one across the street from my former job.  After that, I became quite the Starbucks drinker.

Scene:  A typical morning at South Campus
Eric: “Hey Rob, you wanna go to Starbucks?”
Rob: “Well sure, but it’s 9:15 on a Monday.”
Eric: “I gotta get out of here.  I think I’m going to lose it”
Phillip: “Uh oh.  Sounds like someone’s got a case of the Monday’s”
…And off to Starbucks we’d go (sorry Dave, there were only 3 parts available)

After I left IUH, I didn’t stop at Starbucks stores nearly as much because we have a Starbucks machine at hc1 :).  Still, I would go there every now and then to work, meet with people, or just get stuff done.  Sitting at a Starbucks, drinking an overpriced coffee and listening to alarming conversations of complete strangers is a nice normal thing to do.

Continue reading Enjoy It While It Lasts

Well, Actually It’s a Last Call for RobStrong T-shirts
If you want a Robstrong T-Shirt and haven’t ordered yet, today is your last day!  As an incentive, I will give you a 10% discount when you order 100 or more T-shirts.  Everyone loves a deal!

• Instructions on How to Order: http://tinyurl.com/nwtbxa8
• Link to Order Page:  http://shophc1.com/collections/robstrong

Sorry for those of you expecting whiskey or beer.  Actually, if you still want a whiskey or beer you can go to Traders Point Bar and Grill around 5pm and get one.  Just look for the odd looking group with the bearded guy that doesn’t smile.  They’ll hook you up.

Free at Last Free At Last, Thank You Home care I’m Free at Last 
Yesterday morning around 8:30a I was unhooked from the Blinatumomab.  For the past 28 days I’ve always been tethered to some form of medical equipment.  For almost 3 weeks that has been a small infusion pump and bag of Blinatumomab inside a black backpack.  Need to go to the bathroom?  Grab the black backpack.  Need to answer the door? Grab the black backpack?  Need to get something out of the fridge.  Put something on the counter.  Get something out of the oven? Grab the black backpack.  Grab the black backpack.  Grab the black backpack.

Continue reading Last Call for Alcohol

Where the Wild Things Are 
I’ve had a bit more energy lately.  And I’m trying to put that energy to good use.  We have a family pass to the zoo and normally Lindsey and the kids go all the time.  Obviously this summer has been a bit different.  They’ve only been once so far this summer.  This past Friday Lindsey, the kids and I went to the zoo with Lindsey’s sister (and kids) and her mom.  Now how does a guy like me walk around the entire zoo?  Simple.  I don’t.  I rented a scooter :).  I did get some odd looks from people.  Perhaps they didn’t notice the clear tube connecting my small backpack to lines coming out of my arm.  Or perhaps they assumed I was playing a joke.  But in reality, I really did need the scooter to make it everywhere we went.  Now it wasn’t easy in some exhibits.  Some people were very aware and let me go in front of them.  Other people were completely oblivious and would park their strollers in front of me or just stand in the way.  It was kind of interesting to see.  We had a great time.  I even got to ride the zoo roller coaster.  And Grandma Jane gotthe kid’s faces painted .

Family Time
The other adventure I had was on Sunday.  My mom volunteered to take the kids for a few days.  My sister and her family were also going to be at my mom’s house.  So we had some great family time both in the house and on the water.  One of the most amazing things to see was Natalie’s no fear attitude.  She rode on a tube all by herself and then rode on a ski trainer.  Cousin Kaley had ridden on the ski trainer before and held on with one arm, while raising the other in the air.  Natalie didn’t want to be outdone, so she did the exact same thing.  Four years old and she’ll probably be doing flips on a wakeboard by 6.  Sydney also got in the action.  She didn’t want the boat to move, but she did float on the ski trainer beside the boat.  It was apparently quite fun because she asked to do it again later on.  Tucker didn’t have his suit on, so he settled for riding the ski trainer in the boat.

Continue reading Out and About (or Out and Aboat for my Canadian readers)