Ports and puppies

Jason received his second round of chemo this Monday. After sticking him three times they finally found a vein they could use. I had no idea that your veins get weaker with the more chemo going into your body. He is having to get fluids every day this week and because his veins are weak, they had to slow the IV fluids down so that it did not make his skin burn. One of the nurses asked if the doctor had suggested a port. No, other people who have gone through this process have mentioned it, but not our doc. The chemo nurse explained that she herself had breast cancer last year and had a port put in when she had surgery. Apparently getting a port put in under the skin is a day procedure and I just really don't feel comfortable with Jason going under more anesthesia and with the high risk of infection from surgery now that he's undergoing treatment. The nurse told us a port can stay in your body for up to TEN years (which sounds a little frightening to have a foreign object in your body for such an extended period) but the general time is one year after treatment. I don't want for Jason to keep getting stuck by needles, but I also don't want him getting a permanent port put into his body. I became quite nauseus when the nurses were digging for a vein and I thanked God I was not in his shoes because I have always had a weak stomach when it comes to needles and seeing blood! I was off work Monday to be with Jason on chemo- day, but luckily we both have great families who are alternating days to take Jason to get fluids and radiation. So far he has been very tired and a little dizzy. We've been encouraging him to drink as much Gatorade as possible to avoid dehydration, however he is already getting sick of it! Luckily Jason has still had a pretty good appetite and although he lost 14 pounds after the first treatment, he has gained most of that back. After all, I did marry a "Big Bear!" :)

Speaking of Big Bears, I have decided to hold off until this summer to get the puppy I was wanting. Timing is everything and unfortunately, a puppy would be too difficult to devote all of my time to when I have a husband to see about. We signed up for marriage as a team and I plan to follow that through. Our original agreement was to get a dog whenever I got out for the summer and that is when I will be on the hunt for my puppy. I have a facination with the Great Pyranees. They are French Mountain dogs originally bred for guarding flocks of sheep. If you have never seen one of these "polar bears," I suggest you google some pictures. They are absolutely adorable!!! Yes, they take up alot of space, but one of the qualities I love the most is that they are very protective of their owner. I have read about the breed online as well as getting a first hand account of how this dog sleeps by the door as if to guard from an intruder. One of the things we will need to focus on as a puppy will be integration with other dogs and people in and outside of our house. My intention is to own a dog that I feel comfortable with as a protector as well as a safe companion. May 14 is the last day of Jason's treatment and May 23 is the last day I will be working for the school year. If anyone knows of a breeder please let me know within the next couple of months! :)