Just when you thought things were starting to settle down for the DiComo's.... Matt woke up yesterday (Dec 26th) with double vision. I ended up coming home from work and we headed to the pediatrician, who sent us to the ER for a CT. The ER doc sent us to the on call opthomologist. The good news is that no tumor or bleeding was found in the CT. The Opthomologist diagnosed the problem as a nerve failure in Matt's right eye. He is trying to get us in to see a neurologist/opthomologist today. Apparently there are only three in South Florida -- luckily the one he wanted to send us to is supposed to be back today. Matt said it was better when he woke up today, so maybe it will just go away. They may want an MRI and I told them if they do we really need to do it before Monday.
Other than this new twist to our lives, we are doing ok and had a great Christmas. We had everyone over our house for Christmas Eve as Trish wanted. I made her famous Christmas tort (see pictures) and loaves of home made french bread for use with the sausage and peppers we grilled. Everyone brought some food and all had a good time, despite the laid back look in most of the pictures I took. We went to my brothers house for Christmas day.
Enough for now, I hope your New Year is great and uneventful.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Christmas is Coming....
Merry Christmas! Later this weekend I will try to make Trish's Sundried Tomato and Pesto Tort -- I have renamed it: Torta Trisha.
You know I am not a big believer in mysterious signs, coincidental messages and the like. This despite a deep faith, but there are some "signs" that I thought I would take the time to share with you today.
The Saturday that I brought Trish into the ER, after she was brought up to the CVDL surgical suite, I headed back to the apartment across the street to wait the several hours she was in surgery. I decided to start cleaning up the room. I went to take off the orange Beat AML bracelet that I wore everyday and it snapped and broke. I have to say given what was going on, I did worry about this "omen".
After some cleaning I went up to Weinberg 5B and waited in Trish's soon to be new and last room for her to return from surgery. I watched the Gators play Georgia. The Gators were favored to easily beat the Georgia team. The Gators looked very good early on, but quickly and very unexpectedly fell decisively to the Bulldogs. It was shaping up to be a bad day and possibly another small "omen".
Yesterday, I went to Doris' Italian Market to pick up needed supplies for Christmas Eve. On the way out they had Baci's in small two packs and I picked one up. Trish loved Lindts Lindor truffles; I have the same affection for Perugina's Baci's. Baci is Italian for kiss. Each pillow of hazelnut and chocolate includes a small message of love akin to a fortune cookie message.
I ate both candies. Didn't even bother to read the message on the first one I hate and flung it back in the car. After eating the second one, I read it's message. It seemed to come from Trish. I almost bit Matt's head off as he picked up the box with the message inside on the way home from church. We receive messages all the time. We choose which ones to listen to, believe, respond to. Whether incredible coincidence, divine guidance or sheer luck. I choose to believe Trish has sent me a message.
You know I am not a big believer in mysterious signs, coincidental messages and the like. This despite a deep faith, but there are some "signs" that I thought I would take the time to share with you today.
The Saturday that I brought Trish into the ER, after she was brought up to the CVDL surgical suite, I headed back to the apartment across the street to wait the several hours she was in surgery. I decided to start cleaning up the room. I went to take off the orange Beat AML bracelet that I wore everyday and it snapped and broke. I have to say given what was going on, I did worry about this "omen".
After some cleaning I went up to Weinberg 5B and waited in Trish's soon to be new and last room for her to return from surgery. I watched the Gators play Georgia. The Gators were favored to easily beat the Georgia team. The Gators looked very good early on, but quickly and very unexpectedly fell decisively to the Bulldogs. It was shaping up to be a bad day and possibly another small "omen".
Yesterday, I went to Doris' Italian Market to pick up needed supplies for Christmas Eve. On the way out they had Baci's in small two packs and I picked one up. Trish loved Lindts Lindor truffles; I have the same affection for Perugina's Baci's. Baci is Italian for kiss. Each pillow of hazelnut and chocolate includes a small message of love akin to a fortune cookie message.
I ate both candies. Didn't even bother to read the message on the first one I hate and flung it back in the car. After eating the second one, I read it's message. It seemed to come from Trish. I almost bit Matt's head off as he picked up the box with the message inside on the way home from church. We receive messages all the time. We choose which ones to listen to, believe, respond to. Whether incredible coincidence, divine guidance or sheer luck. I choose to believe Trish has sent me a message.
The Message: "If ever two were one, those two are we"
Sunday, December 16, 2007
An Update
Greetings! Since my last post saying that I wouldn't be sending out Christmas cards this year, I thought I should at least take some time here to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a great New Year. Also to once again thank you for your love and support during the toughest two years of my family's life.
2008 may start out tough for us as well. I received word on Friday, that I am part of my company's next round of RIFs, due to the declining housing market. My last day of employment is Dec. 31st. I have to admit that I am looking forward to some downtime after the two years we have just been through. From Trish's Aunt Mary to just about everyone at Hopkins, they will tell you that between my caretaking duties for Trish and my work, bills and insurance -- my days were full and stressful. I slept and relaxed very rarely if at all.
Trish would be quick to remind me that I am a work-a-holic and help get me back to work quickly. She could tell if I was enjoying my work or not, sometimes even before I realized that I wasn't she would know. I am going to miss her guidance and direction moving forward. She was not a business person in any way shape or form, but sometimes she gave me the best business advice.
This Friday, we will hang Trish's picture on the Christmas Tree at church during a special memorial Mass for family members who have passed away this year. This Sunday, the 7pm Mass at St Bart's is being said for Trish. This is where we met in 9th grade and where after college we met again and after a lot of racket ball and youth ministry -- fell in love. It's where we were married and both our boys were baptized. It will be strange to be back at St. Bart's, but I am planning on attending this Mass.
Our neighbor Sandy is helping to type up recipes for the cookbook, with her help and my new found time without a job -- we should be able to publish a book early in the new year. I'll use the email list to let everyyone know when it is available.
Have a great holiday and new year!
2008 may start out tough for us as well. I received word on Friday, that I am part of my company's next round of RIFs, due to the declining housing market. My last day of employment is Dec. 31st. I have to admit that I am looking forward to some downtime after the two years we have just been through. From Trish's Aunt Mary to just about everyone at Hopkins, they will tell you that between my caretaking duties for Trish and my work, bills and insurance -- my days were full and stressful. I slept and relaxed very rarely if at all.
Trish would be quick to remind me that I am a work-a-holic and help get me back to work quickly. She could tell if I was enjoying my work or not, sometimes even before I realized that I wasn't she would know. I am going to miss her guidance and direction moving forward. She was not a business person in any way shape or form, but sometimes she gave me the best business advice.
This Friday, we will hang Trish's picture on the Christmas Tree at church during a special memorial Mass for family members who have passed away this year. This Sunday, the 7pm Mass at St Bart's is being said for Trish. This is where we met in 9th grade and where after college we met again and after a lot of racket ball and youth ministry -- fell in love. It's where we were married and both our boys were baptized. It will be strange to be back at St. Bart's, but I am planning on attending this Mass.
Our neighbor Sandy is helping to type up recipes for the cookbook, with her help and my new found time without a job -- we should be able to publish a book early in the new year. I'll use the email list to let everyyone know when it is available.
Have a great holiday and new year!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Some thoughts....
Just a few random thoughts, I know many folks will not see these, but for those still checking.....
* Something's gotta give and for me this year it is Christmas Cards. Thanks to the few folks who have sent us cards to date, but I won't be sending any out -- heck we are still working on Sympathy thank yous....
* Many people have asked if the Trish DiComo Assistance Fund is still open. It is, but I have removed the contribution button from the web site. We will likely close it out by the end of the year as we pay off Johns Hopkins. If the bills run more than the fund has we will arrange for payments with Hopkins. We did run out of insurance and the fund will assist us in paying these bills.
* We received many nice memorial gifts -- trees in Israel, American Cancer Society Donations, Mended Heart Donations and Donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I was asked when Trish died, where I wanted money to go in lieu of flowers and I said no where -- meaning I wanted to give Trish a grand send off with flowers and in deed you provided that grand send off. While the most obvious place to send memorial gifts is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), since Trish had Leukemia, but there is actually another foundation that provided us with much more assistance than the LLS did. It is Trish's college sorrority foundation. They provided us with the single largest donation to the Assistance fund. I'd like to suggest that if there is anybody out there still looking for a way to honor Trish that you consider a donation to this foundation. They even have a memorial brick program. Trish was a founding member of the Delta Gamma Chapter at the University of Central Florida. Donations can be made by contacting the Foundation: Anchor Grant Fund, Delta Gamma Foundation 3250 Riverside Drive; Columbus, Ohio 43221 or by calling 1-800-644-5414.
* Recipes. I am working on pulling togeher a cook book of Trish's favorite/frequent/most loved recipes. If you have a suggestion or request, please email me.
* Something's gotta give and for me this year it is Christmas Cards. Thanks to the few folks who have sent us cards to date, but I won't be sending any out -- heck we are still working on Sympathy thank yous....
* Many people have asked if the Trish DiComo Assistance Fund is still open. It is, but I have removed the contribution button from the web site. We will likely close it out by the end of the year as we pay off Johns Hopkins. If the bills run more than the fund has we will arrange for payments with Hopkins. We did run out of insurance and the fund will assist us in paying these bills.
* We received many nice memorial gifts -- trees in Israel, American Cancer Society Donations, Mended Heart Donations and Donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I was asked when Trish died, where I wanted money to go in lieu of flowers and I said no where -- meaning I wanted to give Trish a grand send off with flowers and in deed you provided that grand send off. While the most obvious place to send memorial gifts is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), since Trish had Leukemia, but there is actually another foundation that provided us with much more assistance than the LLS did. It is Trish's college sorrority foundation. They provided us with the single largest donation to the Assistance fund. I'd like to suggest that if there is anybody out there still looking for a way to honor Trish that you consider a donation to this foundation. They even have a memorial brick program. Trish was a founding member of the Delta Gamma Chapter at the University of Central Florida. Donations can be made by contacting the Foundation: Anchor Grant Fund, Delta Gamma Foundation 3250 Riverside Drive; Columbus, Ohio 43221 or by calling 1-800-644-5414.
* Recipes. I am working on pulling togeher a cook book of Trish's favorite/frequent/most loved recipes. If you have a suggestion or request, please email me.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Getting Along....
Just an update to let you know we are ok. There are good days and bad days, but they keep going on and that's what matters.
I seem to be discovering retail therapy. I've been buying things that Trish and I talked about getting, but never did or things that we could use around the house. This is very out of character for me and gives me more stuff to do and frustrates me because I am not getting other things done... I have made progress on the boxes in my bedroom, but it feels like a gerbil on the wheel, it never ends. This Saturday, Matt has an all day debate and I am judging in the tournament. So there goes another day of working around the house.
We haven't gotten a Christmas Tree yet or started decorating, hopefully this Sunday we can do that. I have also started putting together recipes for a cookbook. I was thinking I could get it done before the holidays, but that's just looking very unlikely.
You know when you get married, you are told that you should become one, that you are no longer two people, but one. You laugh and accept that as a figure of speech. You only realize how much you have or haven’t become one when you lose the other half. Trish and I were as complimentary and necessary to each other as I could imagine. We were truly one. I feel like a car with two flat tires many days. It is only her desire to have me move on that keeps me going on those days.
I seem to be discovering retail therapy. I've been buying things that Trish and I talked about getting, but never did or things that we could use around the house. This is very out of character for me and gives me more stuff to do and frustrates me because I am not getting other things done... I have made progress on the boxes in my bedroom, but it feels like a gerbil on the wheel, it never ends. This Saturday, Matt has an all day debate and I am judging in the tournament. So there goes another day of working around the house.
We haven't gotten a Christmas Tree yet or started decorating, hopefully this Sunday we can do that. I have also started putting together recipes for a cookbook. I was thinking I could get it done before the holidays, but that's just looking very unlikely.
You know when you get married, you are told that you should become one, that you are no longer two people, but one. You laugh and accept that as a figure of speech. You only realize how much you have or haven’t become one when you lose the other half. Trish and I were as complimentary and necessary to each other as I could imagine. We were truly one. I feel like a car with two flat tires many days. It is only her desire to have me move on that keeps me going on those days.
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