Sunday, July 22, 2007

Vegas visit with friends

Just got back from Vegas last night from my trip to visit my friend Dawn. My friend, Yvette, went with me. We were all good friends in high school and I've especially gotten close to Dawn in these last 10 years. As I talked about before, we were there to visit Dawn as her cancer is progressing. She is getting more easily tired and was having some back and hip pain. I'm pretty sure it is the cancer in the bones. We did go with her to get her MRI to see if she is having any disc/back problems but I'm pretty sure it's the cancer in her bones. I was surprised she was having the test done as she has stopped all her treatments/chemo because they are not working. I'm not sure if I will be down there again but I may if she needs me. Here are some pictures of us when we went out to dinner and then out by her pool in our flashy flamingo sunglasses!






















We had a fun time but a very stressful time! Dawn is the one with the short dark hair in the middle of us. Ooops, I cropped out her backyard with a nice pool and trees but I didn't like the full body shot! ha! I'm going to use one of my pictures and put it in a frame for each of us. I couldn't find the perfect shot so I'll have to use one of these unless Yvette has some better ones. I bought some Margaritaville and flamingo picture frames for each one of us to have. We also bought matching silver and diamond (though fake) rings that we will all wear to remember our time together and to remember Dawn when she passes away. We had a chance to meet Dawn's good local friend in Vegas and got some reasurrance that she will help us stay in touch with Dawn's daughter if her husband doesn't want us to when she's gone. It was good to meet her good friend she has become close to and know that she will be there for Dawn' s daughter as we are so far away. It was weird to talk of these serious issues when Dawn was just sitting there listening. She and others excused themselves and the tears were a flowing. It's just unfathomable that we will all lose our good friend. I'm still having trouble coming to grips with it and probably always will.


We had a good day out by the Flamingo hotel pool and we rented one of those cabanas where they give you the tent like cabana and fridge and tv and phone and drinks and fruit and all the lounge chairs. We swam in the pool but didn't spend much time in the sun as it was like 109 degrees! Her daughter enjoyed the pool and the few water slides and waterfall they have there. I really didn't take many more photos except for this shot of Vet and me by the flamingos and a night shot of the Paris Hotel.

























It was also stressful as Dawn and her husband were fighting a lot and Dawn need to vent to us. It is a very stressful time and he is very selfish and inconsiderate. I don't think they ever really recovered from him having an affair 2 years ago. She is very concerned that he won't be a good role model for his daughter and is really concerned for her daughters welfare. He really doesn't spend much time with her and doesn't interact with her all that well. We witnessed a major meltdown with her daughter and lots of whining and it was a screaming mess. Vet and I didn't know what to do so we just went outside. It is understandable that she is in turmoil that they all are but I've never seen a 10 year old throw a major tantrum like a 2 year old would. She did just find out last week that her mom doesn't have that long to live but it is also because she is so spoiled and they don't know how to discipline her. It is not right for me to intervene but I hope they can all go to therapy and try to cope as it is a war zone some days. It is so stressful that my friend was screaming about an altercation she had with her husband over her daughter breaking a glass and getting cut and him yelling at the daughter. I've never seen my friend lose it like she did in front of us. I mean screaming in torment that she has went back to this man after the affair. The regret over even having married him. There is a heck of a lot more to this story and we just didn't know what to say to her. If she wasn't sick, I think she would leave but she won't at this stage. But the stress is so high that I fear it will accelerate the cancer even more and the time she has left. It is good news that she is getting a nanny/housekeeper that will help with duties as she is getting more and more tired.


Anyway, just had to get that out and my friend Vet and I were actually relieved to be going home. We did get in a little gambling and some drinking and such and had some fun too. I started out good on the trip and was eating healthfully but it was hard as my friend would eat the chips, candy, fast food and offer me some. I held strong and said no. I did get to the gym and paid the fee to work out and got in an hour and 1/2 workout and did cardio and weights. I had insomnia bad down there so why not just go to the gym. Think it was all the stress and worry for my friend and also my other friends snoring! ha! The last 2 days, I started to stress eat so now today I am home and back on track so we'll see what Wednesday's weigh in brings. Seems like I'm up on the scale but I'm doing damage control. Houston we have a problem!!! Someone likes to stress eat.

Hope you all are doing well this week and I'll check out your blogs soon.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow what a post. you poor thing, i can't imagine how it feels to be talking about such issues and i dare say the reality will bite even harder.

great work resisting, it's always hard when you're away but it sounds like you did a good job and who cares about weigh in anyway, it's only one week.

it is hard to blog when you have a family because i feel i need to comment and read for my regulars as i like to keep up to date with what's going on and so you all know that i care.

life is just so hectic, sometimes we just need to slow down.

i only worked half a day today, it was great!

i'm on the wind down at work, looking for a new job has given me a glimmer of hope that i may just may be happy again at work.

this is the first time in a long time i haven't liked my job and i can't stand leaving Isaac in daycare going to a job i don't get anything from - apart from a pay check of course, but it's not enough.

ok, i'm off, you take care and i'll be reading!
xx

Wanna_B_slimmer said...

Oh dear... I dont know how you are holding yourself together... It must be so hard dealing with all the things your friend is going thru...
Plz take care and try not to stress too much...

celtic_girl said...

So sad. I think your friends daughter is feeling amgry and frightened and the only way she can express it is in the tantrums.Also not a good scenario for your friend either,makes me feel grateful for what I have. Big hugs to you.

Chris H said...

I think you should be thankful that you don't live too near for your own health mate. Your friend certainly needs all the support she can get, but not if it makes you ill being there! They are all going through so much stress and tension, it is bound to make for a stressful house. I am so sorry for her daughter, she is the one most likely to suffer the most before and after her mum's death. And no matter how you feel about her husband, maybe he is going through hell too? You are on the outside looking in....

Christine said...

Wow you are one good friend. Really sorry to hear about the health of your friend - as stressful as the whole thing is. Take care of yourself in these times.

Briony said...

Honey that just sounds like such a stressful time for you. No wonder you were stress eating. Your poor friend Dawn, I can't imagine what she must be going through. I guess facing death probably makes you think about all the mistakes you've made in your life and the fact that its too late to change them. I hope you're okay too though, that must have been very hard for you.
Take care of yourself. I must say those glasses are brilliant - I love them!

Chris H said...

Ha ha, Chook means chicken down here!

Living to Feel Good said...

I think I would be doing some stress eating too. So sad to hear about your friend, and what you must be going through, but what a great friend you are for being there for her. I think that is awesome you guys got rings to always remember. That;s very special.

Hugs to you!

Meow Meow said...

Glad you had some fun and companionship on your trip.

Your friend is lucky to have such a caring friend to listen and embrace her while she is dealing with this *mean and selfish * fella.

I enjoyed the pics.