All done!

Right, we are all done with the radiotherapy!  Picture of the warrior coming out with his 'mask' worn during the session to ensure his head doesn't move too much.  Yep, lost the hair on the radiation site - the neurologist says it will grow back after 6 months.

The neuro had informed he would feel progressively worse as the sessions went on, then improve 2-3 weeks after.  So I had been very anxious, hardly daring to think how bad it would be.  As it turned out, hubby fared really well. He did get seizures twice which were expected and controlled by additional medication. 

Survived!

After having to drive to the hospital daily for 1.5 months, it had become a routine already!  

Praying that hubby's health will be rosy from now on. 

First in class

JE was an average student at her primary Chinese school.  Hence she was streamed into an average class in secondary school.  However, she has since pulled up her socks, worked harder at her studies and steadily moved up.  Then finally for Form2 last year, FIRST in class!

Certificate and plaque

Mummy is so proud. :)

Drinks

I'm generally more willing to spend on the kids than on myself.  But I draw the line at things which aren't worth it.  Such as overpriced drinks at restaurants.  Say RM40 on food, fine.  When it comes to RM16 on a drink... we can buy half a meal already, this doesn't even fill the tummy, here I have brought water from home if you are thirsty HAHAHA.  Which doesn't sit well with JE as somehow drinks are the first thing she looks for on the menu.

Went out without hubby recently to a relatively-expensive place.  JE pointed to drinks, I said no.  Cue JE being moody for rest of meal.  Sigh.  I did consider giving in, but really didn't want her to take things like overpriced drinks for granted.  Maybe as a treat then ok.

*Grumpy

Anyway she can always order a drink if hubby is around - hubby would order them himself anyway.

Heh heh me gots a drink

Sip sip sip heh heh

Told her we can make 10 drinks like this at home for the same price. HAHAHA.

EDIT: Realised JE is wearing the same shirt on both occasions!

Radiotherapy

Since hubby's tumours grew again so soon, doctors recommended radiotherapy to kill off any cells which might develop into new tumours. It's a precautionary "better-to-have" step without any guarantee of success. The course would be 30 daily sessions with some associated side effects. Cost would be about 25k.  So this would be not simple, not pleasant, not cheap. What to do... evaluated the options and decided that doctors would know best.

Hubby had planned to take Grab for the sessions once our maid returned.  Since she didn't... I am taking him there even though the prospect of fighting traffic for 30 days straight was daunting.  I don't want to use up all my annual leave.  Luckily the timing is in the evening (5-8pm) so I leave work at 530pm and make up for the time at night. 

We have just passed the halfway mark. So far, it is going well.  I'm managing to get him there on time.  Even though half the time, the technician will call asking where he is and whether he will be coming HAHAHA. 

Waiting

Ok his turn now

On hubby's side, he feels fatigue after the session and his right arm/leg would be stiff.  Also having headaches and dizziness.  But he is holding up fine.

Workers

Been a while since the last post since (obviously) I have been busy.

The mode was previously just to survive a month until our helper returned, with cooked food stocked up. . Fending for ourselves knowing she was never returning is a different kettle of fish.  Yes yes I know, first world problems.  :)  Well, we had to adjust.  

The initial focus was on the essentials - cooking, cleaning, laundry.  We are slowly making inroads into other areas like keeping the garden tidy and looking into what the kitchen cupboards hold.

Worker #2 with mop

(Worker #1 chose to sweep the floor and was done)

Aloft Staycation

We didn't go anywhere the first school holidays after hubby's surgery.  These second holidays, we did.  :)  Just a staycation at Aloft in Nu Sentral.  I was apprehensive that at RM500+ a night for bed and breakfast, quality would be low.  Maybe room would be el cheapo?  Maybe breakfast would be simple one only?  

Reached at 4pm, our room wasn't ready.  We left our bags with the hotel and walked over to the nearby mall.  Not too interesting - still, a decent selection of shops.

All raring to eat

The room was nice, 2 double beds for us.  One worry down.

Room, ok

The next morning... breakfast was buffet-style with lots of variety!  Err no pictures because too busy hehe.  So yay, we can totally recommend this hotel!

Our plan was to take MRT to TRX mall since we'd never been there.  But when hubby decided to come along (initally planned to just stay in the room), I changed transport mode to Grab.  No regrets - definitely more convenient and actually cheaper than 4 MRT tickets.

The largest Apple store

MPH still lives!

Artsy

The mall wasn't as high-tech as I'd expected (I had worked at the building some years back before the mall was up, and the lifts/toilets were super advanced even then) but it was nice and there were shops different from the malls we normally frequent.  We had an early dinner then took Grab back to the hotel.  Supper that night rounded up our day.

The next, buffet again for breakfast before checking out.  I'm already thinking of doing this same staycation later in the year and checking out a different mall!  

Hubby's first pick

We continue our weekend routine of going out for lunch.  It had been me, JE and SE taking turns since hubby always says 'up to you' when asked to choose.  Surprise surprise.... now he wants a turn as well.  Asked him about the places he was considering, turned out I liked all of them and so decision was made that he gets a turn now haha.

His maiden pick: Palbok Korean BBQ.

Ball is the soup seasoning - here it's kimchi 

The crew cooks and not us (yay!) 

Dragon belly - how do they cut it like this??

Happy diners

While it isn't a place for frequent visits, we were all pleased with this choice.  Took home the extra kimchi soup, added meat/tofu and it became another meal for us.