What Happens in Vegas

Will eventually be blogged, so keep your shirts on, ladies!! (I just realized that could be understood a couple of ways - I meant, don't flash your boobies because someone will take a picture and post it on the internet!)

Wheelchair, oxygen concentrator, oxygen tanks, diuretics, liver aid, anti-anxiety pills, morphine. Sounds like a good time in Vegas just waiting to happen!! We finally gathered all the supplies to make the trip to Vegas as anxiety free as it could possibly be (it wasn't really that anxiety free, but remember - brave faces!)

We got the last of the prescriptions we needed filled about 4:30 in the afternoon and hit the road. I hadn't slept well in about two weeks (okay, two months, but really really bad the whole week before the trip). We were also pulling down a trailer of things for Beau (who was moving back to St. George). That wouldn't have been so bad except the first thing blew out of the trailer before we were two miles from home and the tarps were flapping around so bad that around Orem a truck driver pulled up beside us and told Jeff that we were losing our load. So I pulled over and secured it as well as I could. I was grateful when it finally got dark because then I just kept my eyes forward and drove like mad because I couldn't see anything blow out anyway. We got the trailer dropped off in St. George and the drive through to Vegas felt very fast. Of course, I think I was the only one awake, so there may be parts I don't remember.

We got to Circus Circus and I let the family off at the main entrance, with all of our luggage and equipment. Jeff went to check us in, while I went to find parking. The kids had asked where our rooms were. I said I didn't know, but that I surely hoped they were adjoining or I wouldn't be getting any sleep the next two nights, because I felt like I needed to be able to check on everyone. I don't know if Jeff had to pull the cancer card, or if it just worked out that way, but we had adjoining rooms! I didn't feel like going anywhere, and everyone was hungry so we ordered pizza to the room.

Then I set up all the kids in one room and Jeff and I in the other and closed the doors between the two and let them watch TV as late as they wanted (hoping that they would sleep in and I could catch some sleep.)

It didn't totally work out that way, but they didn't get up at the crack of dawn either, so it was okay. We all got dressed for the day and headed out to the buffet. We wasted three times as much food as we ate, so my kids had a true buffet experience.

Then we went to the Adventure Dome, but they didn't open until ten. So I left Jeff there with the kids (Courtney is buff enough that she could push his wheelchair) to look around, while I went to see what show tickets we could get, and to get the rest of the stuff out of the car. Well, that is what I went to do, what I ended up doing was walking around the casino for some reason and I saw a sign for McDonalds. It was like a little beam of sunshine from heaven! Both Jeff and I were in desperate need for a Coke. Me - because it is like therapy, him - because he felt like it kept the mucus down (which in this case, I feel like a bit of a medical professional as I say this, I think was mostly mental. He didn't sound like he had mucus and it was probably just the tumor and fluid pressing on his lungs. However, I never judge someone else's need for Coke - just don't drink Diet, that crap will kill you!)

I went back to the Adventure Dome with the "loot". Jeff had gotten the kids set up with their all day ride passes. He was looking drained and pale (which is a weird thing to say because he probably always looked that way to others at that point, but I could tell the difference) so I sent him back to the room for a rest.

The kids had tons of fun and didn't even really notice he had left and I found a table to sit at, and drink my coke and check facebook and write snarky texts. At lunch time we went back to the buffet (we had purchased the all day pass there too!) Gage was in hog heaven. Meatballs the size of baseballs!

(I know, mad skills with the camera, stop mocking me or I will stop sharing pictures)

After lunch Jeff went back to the Adventure Dome with the kids while I tried to track down tickets for the night again. I just really didn't know what to do because I knew Jeff felt so horrible, so I wanted something he could tolerate and be most comfortable at, but I also wanted something that would keep the kids so entertained they wouldn't make me crazy. I couldn't decide on anything so I just went back to the Adventure Dome. I found Jeff and we sat together for a while, but after we hadn't seen the kids for over half and hour, and we were both sleeping in our seats, I said let's go to the room and we will text them to come back in a little while. I texted them from the elevator and realized that both girls had given me their phones to hold so they didn't fall out on the roller coaster. So much for a nap for me. I got Jeff settled in to rest and I headed back to the Adventure Dome.

I decided to make the kids go over to see the Circus acts with me on the other end of the casino. They were lame. Jeff texted me during the second one asking for cough drops. So when the show ended I started walking the kids back. The three oldest decided they were hungry. So I left them at the buffet. You heard me, I left my 12, 11, and 9 year old unattended in a casino in Vegas. (Go ahead, call child protective services!) I told them to eat and then text me if they were going to the Adventure Dome or back to the room.

Gage and I got the cough drops and took them back to Jeff. If I knew how to do videos I would share a clip of what was going on in the room. But I don't, so you get more words! The kids had won a bunch of stuffed animals. Gage got out two turtles and played Super Heros with Jeff. They each got to choose five super powers that their turtles had. It was all relatively normal until Jeff said his had the ability to "teleport". I asked Gage what that meant, and he KNEW. Oh TV what are you doing to my family??

Jeff was very insistent that we go to a show. So at 6 we all went down to the ticket counter in the lobby. I wanted a Cirque de Soliel show, but found out that we could only get the 10:30 show. (Not this mommy!!) So I asked the guy what he recommended. He said the Variety show. That sounded lame to me, but the kids thought it sounded good, so I pulled the trigger on $300 there. Then we decided to take a cab so I didn't have to worry about parking. When he got to the taxi cab stand the lady said there could only be 5 to a car, so we needed two, and then one minute later she said, I called for an SUV for you. It was amazing how people went out of their way for us (I am sure based on the way Jeff looked) but we didn't have to explain the situation to anyone.

The driver dropped us off at the door and gave me his card and said to call when we were ready to go back. When I checked in at the box office they told us to be in the general admission line an hour before the show. Then he said we could upgrade to reserved seating and just be there 10 minutes early and not have to wait in line. It is only money, right! Cha ching! But our tickets were close enough to touch the stage and came with a free drink (they didn't have virgin cocktails, grr) and a free picture!

The show was hilarious! I highly recommend it. All four kids were on the edge of their seats the entire time, laughing their little heads off. It was wonderful!! We even bought the DVD - but I haven't found it yet!

That night when we got home Jeff was really hurting and holding even more fluid so I called the nurse. She gave me some ideas to try and told me how high I could up his diuretics.

We had been debating staying another night, but I just wasn't up to it knowing that good medical attention was at least as far as St. George (not that I think St. George has any good medical attention, but because our hospice only operated in Utah). I told Jeff that I really wanted to go at least to St. George, but that we could spend the day seeing whatever the kids wanted. So he took them to the buffet while I loaded all the gear.

We checked out of the hotel and went looking for a Coach Leather Store. Jeff had given the girls and Sally gift cards two years before for Christmas, and then we found out the nearest store was in Vegas. We drove clear to the far end of Vegas to a strip mall, then found out it was an outlet store and wouldn't take the gift cards. They told us the best one was in Caesars Palace. So we headed back down the strip. We got what should have been an amazing parking spot, but then couldn't find our way to the front door. After I pushed the wheelchair the equivalent of a city block, ending with a steep up hill ramp, I was ready to pass out. So Courtney pushed while I led the family through the den of sin to the shops.

While the girls were shopping, I realized the boys didn't really get a souvenir so I took them down to the hotel gift shop to get a shirt. I thought $24 in the gift shop was not too bad. I got back upstairs to where the girls were shopping (they had $300 in gift cards - yikes). They were done. Courtney got a pair of sunglasses, Brooke got a pair of earrings. (I hope they enjoyed that experience - it will be once in a lifetime!!)

Then we drove past Pawn Stars pawn shop (and yes I know that isn't the name). The kids were kind of obsessed with it because of our pawn shop connection. They wanted to go in, but I pointed out the line in front and how tiny the shop was and said no to that request!

Then we went out to my cousin, Debbie's house. She had made me some chicken noodle soup. I didn't want to take the energy to unload Jeff, so I hope she didn't think I was rude, but I just visited for a minute and took my soup to go. It tasted so much like my grandma used to make!! (I will be making a trip back to Vegas just so she can teach me how to make it right!)

While I was visiting, Jeff got in touch with his friend who lives in Vegas. He made arrangements for us to eat a late lunch with him and another friend who was in Vegas that day, too. So we went to Macaroni Grill where he had a great time reminiscing about high school with his two friends Rob and Rich.

Then we headed out of town. Jeff's hospice nurse had called while we were out running around and had a theory that his bladder may be blocked and if they inserted a catheter to drain it he may be more comfortable. He was taking massive doses of diuretics and only peeing about an ounce every time he went to the bathroom, about six times a day. (Sorry, should have put a warning on this post) Because of the location of the original tumor, this made some sense. We stopped in Mesquite for the kids to use the bathroom and for me to get a Coke (I was tired people, cut me some slack). We talked about options and staying in the condo in St. George, but I think this is the point where we decided to just head for home so I could rest better knowing we had medical help at our beck and call. We stopped at my mom's house and all my little (younger - don't know why I always say little) siblings gathered there, too. We visited for about an hour, and decided to get back on the road (you may want to grab a tissue). As Jeff hugged each of those kids goodbye my thoughts were - He has been in each of their lives longer than any of them had their dad, and in their respective order all of them had their dad longer than my kids will have theirs. That just sucks (and yes, I still think it just sucks!!) My heart hurt for each of them so much in that moment. For them it had to be a little like losing their dad twice!! We headed for home. When we got to Cedar and I could talk again without crying, I called the hospice nurse and asked if she would be willing to meet us at home when we got there to try the catheter. I told her we would be home around midnight. She said she would be at our house at one. Again, I was amazed by the level of service! The procedure didn't work, but I wasn't totally shocked because he was still passing some urine. At least we were home and as comfortable as we both could be with that.