I'm finally able to post.  On August 22, 2012, in the morning, with Raina, Kristi and I with him, Tom passed away.  I thought we'd have a few more weeks together, but even that wouldn't have been enough.  We are all adjusting to life without our -  husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, best friend, riding partner, co-worker, good friend, etc.  I want to thank all of you for the thoughts and prayers and support during this difficult time.   I miss him.  It came the time when we couldn't be together, but I'm keeping him in my heart and he will stay there forever.

The kidlets are in school and hopefully enjoying themselves.  Autumn is my favorite time of year.  The peaches are ripe, the last of the tomatoes are turning red and the kids had fun digging up the potatoes and carrots.  Almost time to clean up and put the garden to rest.  

We enjoyed the hot air balloons flying overhead and a Saturday breakfast with family and friends.  Today we enjoyed the air races.  Soon I'll hear the roar of motorcycles for Street Vibrations.  These events all bring back wonderful memories of the times I shared them with Tom. 

Until the next time,
Jan

Spring progress

This round of chemo has knocked Tom on his behind! He's back to the oxygen and walker although he had a few weeks without them.  He tires fairly easily and calls his visits to the doctor his social life.  LOL  The kids come over and friends stop by so he has other people to talk to besides me.  We've been together so long that we usually know what the other is going to say before they say it.  I don't know if that's good or bad.

We've been enjoying  the garden, watching all the different veggies sprout up and the tomato plants getting bigger.  Of course, since it is Memorial Day weekend we've had rain, hail, and snow so far today.  Wonder which of the plants will survive?? If need be, I'll just plant some more.

I see hair on Tom's head, it's short and softly fuzzy, but it's hair!!

Until the next time,
Jan
 

Latest update

Well, we had a trying couple of weeks.  Bubba's white count got critically low, he passed out, went to ER and got 2 units of blood.  He also got a few shots of neupogen before the white count went up and up.  He was pretty tired of hospitals, nurses and needles.  The next week he had an endoscopic ultrasound and didn't do well at home post procedure.  Imagine that!  Another visit to ER via ambulance then home on oxygen and needed a walker to get around.  I rode up front in the ambulance and they wouldn't let me turn on lights and siren!  How rude!

I was almost excited that we got to go to the doctor's office today instead of the ER. It was a visit to the oncologist.  Woo hoo, he no longer needs oxygen.  The plan is to start chemo again the second week of May.  This is third round chemo as some lesions are still growing

Tom's niece was just awarded with the title National teacher of the year.  She was presented the award by President Obama.  That has kept smiles on our faces and lots of communication with family.  Tom needs a larger hat now and new buttons on his shirt!

The little ones are playing baseball and soccer, so we will be getting out doors more.  We have been working in the garden and putting in some new plants.  The last few days of 80 degree weather has sure been nice.  It'll probably snow tomorrow HAHAHA!

Until the next time,
Jan

PS very little hair on his head and a pretty "thin" mustache and beard

Lots of abdominal and back pains.  Looks like maybe just adhesions.  Lots of doc visits and testing for the last few weeks.  Ultrasounds, gastroscopy, x-rays, lab work, on and on and on.  Maybe this is just the new normal after surgery and treatments.  Sometimes it is hard to know when and which doctor to call.  The chemo schedule is now once every three weeks of a larger dose.  Will do three, maybe six, before any more CTs

The good thing is that the pain isn't constant and there are more good days than bad. We both have been enjoying this non-winter weather.  We've started working on the garden.  I've started my "spring" cleaning.  Trying to reduce the amount of STUFF in the house after 30 plus years of accumulation.  My camera has been busy - oh look at this picture of the _____ .  Things to remember but not to keep. Of course the girls and Reno Freecycle have been receiving requests to come and get it.

Until the next time,

Jan

PS still has beard and mustache and stubble on his head,  maybe it'll grow in curly again!!!!

New chemo hasn't started yet, but with my help the hair loss, has.

Well, the first month of the year has flown by!  Celebrated Bubba's birthday and the two youngest grandkids' birthday.  We got number candles so we wouldn't burn down the house.

Tom had a lot of issues with this round of chemo.  We stopped the chemo before it was done during the first week.  The dose was reduced and during the second week we stopped it again before it was done.  Today's visit with the oncologist showed more weight loss.  Next month a different combination of chemo will be started.  Whew, I am looking forward to no or little side effects with this next one.  (He's had it before.)  The onc. said he'll probably lose his hair again.  It needs trimming again but I don't think he'll agree!

We did have a little bit of snow, but we're having "nice" weather again.  We are hoping that when the real spring and summer weather gets here that we can dust off the Harley and do at least some short trips.  In the meantime, we'll stay close to home and have lots of visits with friends and family.

Until the next time,

Jan

We had a wonderful Christmas.  The whole family was together on Christmas Eve.  We are having a tea party for the girls on New Years Eve, while Bubba and boys do some bowling.  It should be a little quieter, at least until the boys get home.  We didn't have a white Christmas and it looks like we won't have snow before the end of the year.

The December CT showed some growth in liver and lymphs.  So today was the first of the next series of chemo.  One chemo is administered every three weeks and the other will be a continuous infusion Monday thru Friday with weekends off.   We are ready for whatever comes next.  The break in chemo brought our spirits up and our weight up.  The weight things was not so good for me, except maybe I'll get all new clothes.  Ha Ha Ha. 

We hope everyone has a happy and healthy 2012.

Until the next time,
Jan
P.S.  The hair is thin but still there.