Sunday, May 29, 2011

Saturday Field Trip to the Varsity


May 29th (today) is my father's 86th birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!

All Dad wanted was a family outing to the Varsity. If you are not familiar, it is the world's largest drive in eatery and is in downtown Atlanta across from Ga Tech.

Deb was feeling OK, so we joined the party along with my parents, and sister Kay and her husband Lee who drove up from Warner Robins.

A 'greasy' time was had by all! Good onion rings! I had two slaw dogs. Ummmm good!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tuesday-chemo day : Good news!

Today Deb switched 28 day cycles of chemo and began a different chemo cocktail. After the nurse prepared her port in her chest wall and drew many tubes of blood for her weekly tests and got her vitals, Dr York, Deb's oncologist came in to see us.

In conversation Deb mentioned to Dr York that she thought that for some one with cancer she was felling pretty good. He corrected her and said the coveted words: 'For someone who HAD cancer, you are doing well.'

How 'bout them apples!

May it be!

PTL!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Ms. Daisy driving!


As Deb's pain meds have been tapered off, the doc approved her beginning to drive in the neighborhood on a very limited basis to start with. Been without wheels for a year? Deb has!

Today we took a drive in the country to let her get familiar again. She did great!

Grandkids a good medicine




Deb received a good 'dose' Saturday as Amanda brought Eliana down the the sunroom for a visit. She is a non-stop explorer! Deb and Eliana had a short tea party.

Over in Europe Trey and Katka took Evelyn on an outdoor outing. Wish we could have all been together!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Update

With all the pix and descriptions of life on this blog since returning from our adventures in Arkansas, one might get the idea that Deb's life is comfy and easy and cancer no longer a concern. Nothing could be further from the truth. Deb's cancer-multiple myeloma-is incurable but treatable. Her's remains in remission but can come surging back at any time. We must be vigilant!

She has had a hard two weeks.

Overall, Deb has been improving and gaining capabilities and quality of life. But, we hit a speed bump when she did her 28 day cycle switch of chemo. She developed a strong reaction to the new chemo. Her throat swelled, she could not swallow, had trouble breathing, she developed a fever,etc. She was ordered to stop that chemo. After some consultations with our local and Arkansas docs, we now have a reduced strength chemo on hand. We are waiting to determine how to resume the cycles.

The med is very carefully controlled. We have to get monthly counseling about it and answer surveys.

Deb has been very tired and not felt as strong as before. She spends most of her time in the sun room resting. She enjoys her crafts as much as she can. Oscar the dog is good company.

Every Tuesday Deb has her chemo. She starts sliding downhill after chemo and starts perking up by Monday just in time to go get more chemo.

We keep hearing of friends who have discovering cancer. We are surrounded by the terrible disease. Please support research and fund raising efforts.

This week we touched base with some Arkansas classmates. We are like old war vets, having 'fought' together in the trenches of myeloma. Most seem to be getting along OK.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Mother's Day 2011






As we've thought about the path we trod over the last year, we are amazed and so grateful for the progress Deb has made. Yesterday, Deb was able to spend a few hours at a cookout at the airport. Today Deb and I had lunch with Jon and Amanda. Jon is a grillmeister and produced some exceptional burgers. Stephen joined us and soon we were all Skyping with Trey,Katka and Evelyn in Brussels. Evelyn and Eliana are both learning to make noises and are taking their first steps. They enjoyed seeing each other. Isn't technology wonderful?

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Sunday-still feeling puny. Rays of sunshine




Deb still feels puny. We had a morning Skype with Evelyn, Katka, and Trey. They had a first birthday party for Evelyn. We were so glad to see her even in a computer screen! She tried to crawl into their screen to get to Deb.

We have been keeping Annie,one of Amanda's dogs.This afternoon we took Annie home and had a chance to visit with Eliana in person.

Both visits were good medicine for Deb!

All week Deb was somewhat home bound by herself and was actually lonely.