The day after

We had a really wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday, twelve around the table. My Father and Brother, Bobby, Larry's Mother and sister, Marie, three of our four children with their spouses/fiancees. Poor Brayden slept through the whole thing. I used my mom's china and sterling for the first time, the china is platinum and white and I set the dishes on gold chargers. It was really lovely. I think that if I'm going to all the trouble to prepare a feast then the table should look as fantastic as the food tastes! Besides, I love to fuss! I played around with the pies this year as well, made the pumpkin out of real pumpkins and put cut out leaves on the edge instead of the crimping. They tasted good and looked pretty, although they weren't perfect.

Today, I made waffles for Mom, Marie and our kids. After they scattered and I finished cleaning up then we had a rest day. I napped, a very rare occurance. Then I wrote some cards to service men as I home to have them in the mail soon. Christmas decorating has begun, I hope to have that finished next week. Larry reports for chemo round 3 on Monday. Things will slow down for a couple of weeks then our oldest comes in on the 11th. After that it's Christmas. I love the holidays and I make a practice of not wishing my life away but this has been the year from hell and I will be glad to see it go.

A good day

The trailer's home! After two months at the dealership we got it back this morning all ready for winter and all fixed. I'm glad to get things back to normal, plus the backyard just looked wrong without it.

The new dryer was delivered this morning as well, we finally gave up and bought a new one. It is very quiet and very BIG.

Now all that's left is the mower. At least in terms of things needing fixed or replaced. I hope that's the end of it anyway. We're expecting one or both of the frigs to go in the next year but that is for another day.

Larry had a CT scan tonight, we won't have any results until Monday. When he's back in the hospital. We can only hope the chemo is working, if it isn't they will change meds and begin again.

Tomorrow will be a very full day for me, I try to do alot of the Thanksgiving cooking before hand and I have tables to set up, etc, etc. Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Just be grateful for all those irreplaceable things/people in your life!

One more shot

Blood work today showed enough improvement that I only have to give Larry one more shot of blood thinner. I will still give the Friday shot to boost his bone marrow but that's better than 2 a day. He doesn't have to go back for more blood work until Friday, any thing that means we don't have to go to the hospital is something I'm behind! We get our trailer back tomorrow, it's been in the shop since September, there wasn't much wrong but we had it winterized and told them to take as long as they needed. I'll be glad to have it back as I'd like to put all the things I took out to clean and have been looking at ever since. I'm busy getting ready for Thanksgiving and keeping the house clean. Made party snacks yesterday and today so the baking begins! Rob and Tanya put up the outside lights this afternoon, lighting on Thanksgiving. Just like the Plaza! Wednesday, on top of cooking I have to pick up the part for the lawn mower. I'm sure I'll be mowing leaves over the weekend! I have a zipper to replace in a jacket so I'd better get sewing!

Another 6 shots

Larry had blood work for the cumidin again this morning, so we have six more shots. The numbers are coming up but not yet enough to get off the shots. We also got his CT scan and Dr's appointment for the next round changed and enough of some of his meds to last until the mailed ones arrive. A good morning at the VA--and we went early enough to get a parking space. Came home and worked at my desk for a while before I went to Brayden's day care Thanksgiving lunch. I brought him home with me to play with his trains and such. So other than the shot deal it was a good day.

Cards for the troops

My sister in law emailed me about sending mail to the wounded at Walter Reed, Tanya and I tried this last year and our letters were returned, regulations prohibit mail addressed to Any Service member, all mail must be sent to a named individual. I found this really neat web site: anysoldier.com where you can request addresses for service members, 2 each day. They have all the rules and regs and recommendations for care packages etc. All in all very useful. I requested addresses for two Air Force members today and will request more tomorrow. They have this going year round as well. I've wanted to do this for years so I finally found the place to do it. I finished housecleaning today!! And no I won't come clean yours!! Larry has to go do the blood thing tomorrow morning and we have some appointments to change. Then I'm going to Brayden's day care for a Thanksgiving party. I'm pretty sure I'll be bringing him home with me--he 'll want to play with the train table! I hope to be able to sew some tomorrow or maybe bake, anything will be more enjoyable than this endless cleaning has been.

Another Tuesday

I have only the floors to clean and I'll be done! Yipee! I use Murphy's Oil soap in my carpet machine so I'll have that done in about an hour tomorrow. Then I'll just need to buff it up every few days. It will be great to have that out of the way, just in time for the cooking to begin. Larry is still quite exhausted from the last bout of Chemo, his diet is picking up though. His blood thinners have still not gone to work so I'm giving him shots twice a day. I really hate it, it sometimes leaves a big bruise but the Anti-coagulation guy says that's normal, but he needs to have them until the Warfrin gets things under control. Apparently this is quite common in cancer patients. I have to take Charley to the vet in the morning, it's time to shuffle the pets in for checkups and shots plus he has a cough. After nearly losing Kelsy earlier this year I'm taking him in before he gets really sick. They are nearly eleven, really old for dogs. While I'm out I have to pick up brake shoes for my van the Rob will put them on for me, I hope tomorrow as the temperature is forcast for 60ish and he has to do it outside. I'll finish the painting outside plus some other odds and ends as well. I've been up since 4 this morning, couldn't sleep so I got up and went to work, laundry etc. I got a lot done but I'm starting to drag. This happens to me fairly regularly-maybe once a week- so I've decided to just get up and do something, at least I know I've a reason to be tired!

The weekend's over, so sad

It shouldn't make any difference to me what day of the week it is but it seems to. Perhaps it is years of programming for school and work days, or perhaps it is the fact that there can be no
Dr appointments so I can plan something and actually hope to get it done! Yesterday, I cooked pumpkins for pies, and bread etc. I'll make 8 or 9 pumpkin pies before the end of the year and the rest I'll use for breads. I've done this before but I found an easier way, well I think it's easier. One of the nurses from the VA had offered me a Thomas train table for Brayden, just the right price--Free! I went to Overland Park to collect it and dropped in at Joann's for flannel. Luckily, I found six more, only 5 to go! Today, I finished with pumpkins and , wait for it, mowed leaves. My usual weekend chore. This time it was a bit different, I broke the mower! It's been raining broken things around here, we've had trouble with clothes dryers this fall and that saga continues. We tried taking mine out and using Tanya's, yesterday the touch panel went out on her's and it wouldn't stay running. This morning Rob and Tanya moved mine back in, we're hoping that Larry fixed the orginal problem. Otherwise, it's off to the store (probably Lowe's since they will take away the one that doesn't work) for a new one. Both dryers are old and we don't want to put money into them. Rob fixed his car, again, this week. He just doesn't want to buy a new one just yet. Larry put up a jigsaw puzzle yesterday, something he loves but hasn't done lately mostly because of the cats (they eat pieces.) I bought some felt and we are covering it up when not working on it. Tanya spent a little time with it as did I, it's fun. Tomorrow, we're off to the VA for blood work due to his blood thinners, we need to talk to his Oncologist about his CT and next appointment as well. I still have not finished cleaning the house altho it's getting close. If we don't have to spend too long at the VA I might get done tomorrow, It not then Tuesday. I'll be really glad, both to be finished and to have a clean house. I have, of course, several projects and chores that are waiting form me when I finish. Hope all of you have a good week!

Home again, for this time

We are home again, it's getting weird, we see the same nurses so when we leave it's " See you in two weeks!" We'll miss them when the treatments are over. Larry's blood counts remained good, so no blood transfusions necessary. He's on big blood thinners for the clot, I now get to give him TWO shots a day and three on Fridays. He's tired and has trouble finding anything that he wants to eat as most things don't taste very good. We have to watch his fluids and finding something he wants to drink is a challenge. Right now we're just glad he's home and we can all get back to normal for a little while. Ct scan Dec 1.

Chemo Cycle 2, Day 4

The last "push" was earlier today and the bay of Mesna is hung now, they are treating the blood clot with blood thinners and Larry should come home tomorrow. He had pretty severe nausea again today and they have upped his meds for that to as needed. The meds make him terribly sleepy-he fights to stay awake but he loses! His Mom and sister, Marie, came up today for a visit. Beth, Lucas and Brayden came this evening. He likes the company even though he's always telling us not to come! I went up early today in the hopes that I would see the Dr. stayed until about 12:30, no doctor. I'd have stayed longer but we got new guttering yesterday, quite a bit of the faceau boards had to be replaced and therefore painted. Today was pretty warm for November so I went home to paint. Rob helped me with the high spots and we finished all but a strip on the back which we should finish on Sunday(when the weather is warm again.) I have grocery shopping to do tomorrow then I'll head in to the hospital. We should get home in time for dinner tomorrow night.

Chemo Cycle 2, Day 3

Third "push" is done and the third bag of "nasty" is hung. Each bag is getting hung a little later in the day so it will be late afternoon before he gets out on Friday (like 5:30) which is the pits but we'll deal. They did an ultra sound of his right leg today and found a deep vein clot, about 30% obstructed so he goes on blood thinners along with everything else. He is very tired and sleeping alot, still hasn't lost his hair. His blood counts are still good, he'll have a ct scan in two weeks to see if this is working.

Chemo cycle two, day two

Larry is still feeling pretty good, had his second push and the second bag is dripping slowly away. He doesn't have a roommate this time around and that is a good thing. Another good thing is that his thigh has finally quit draining so we don't have to deal with that this time around. His blood pressure is really low but they think that is probably from not enough fluids, it did come back up this afternoon. An unusal event, Larry of the 200 plus over 100 plus bps. He gets dizzy from it. He will also be having an ultrasound of the right leg (tumor leg) as it is somewhat swollen and had a couple of possible clots in the calf. The doctor's are on top of it. It's been an interesting couple of days for him; as an inpatient in a veteran's hospital on veteran's day. He's gotten several thank you cards from grade school children, one from Hawaii!, and three different flag pins, Uncle Sam and his Missus came to visit and he was "kissed" by some girl scouts (it's okay, only chocolate kisses! They also gave him a carnation.) The food was even special. Yesterday, the Marines were there in force--you know their birthday! Raining and cold and I am still cleaning house, I don't get alot done while he's in the hospital plus I have to keep up the part I've already cleaned! Maybe tomorrow I'll get all the books dusted. /those of you who've seen the living room of this bibliopile can attest to the fact that dusting books is not a small chore!

Chemo cycle two, day one

Larry is back at the VA for his second cycle of chemo. He's in room 8291 bed 1, his phone number is 816-922-5905. He's had his first push and they finally hung his first bag about one. His only complaint.is about the food--it's terrible!

More leaves!

First, Happy Birthday Kristi! I don't want to think about how OLD you are because of how old that makes your Mom and Uncle Larry! I hope you are feeling better soon.

It's Saturday so it's leaf day! Larry went out and helped me today, he raked leaves away from the house, all the places I can't get to with the mower, and helped me empty the bag and dump the leaves. It really helps to have someone out there with me and he didn't get too tired out by it. Finished the backyard and will do the front tomorrow, it doesn't have as many leaves and isn't is large so I should finish pretty fast, even if I don't have help. Football after all! I've nearly finished cleaning the kitchen, I know why I always start with the kitchen now, I'm so sick of cleaning at this point and there's still a bit to do. It looks so nice, to see all my glass sparkling. Who am I kidding, it's nice to see the countertops! Hope to finish up in there tomorrow. Life gets interesting on Monday. I finished one denim bag today, I have three ready more to go. I have six after that needing to be sewn together. I'd like to use them next grocery day, but mostly I want them off my to do list.

Mostly, the same ol same ol. Glad to no longer hear about the election, am already tired of hearing about the transition. Most days I just don't listen.

Roof saga continues

Well, yesterday we were scheduled to have our roof replaced and the crew showed up about 9 and got started. About 10 they packed up and left. They had tacked tar paper up over our old roof on the top, where they had taken shingles off, we thought they were putting a third layer on and they were supposed to be taking it off so Larry called the company. Turns out the crew left because the weather had turned threatening. It was very windy and it had clouded over but it didn't actually rain until after dinner! After the crew left they delivered the trash trailer and parked it on our driveway, completely blocking us out. I guess it was good they didn't block us in! Larry and I left to do our chores not knowing if the crew was returning, they didn't. We took care of a lot of pesky details, like getting our passports (one thing off my 60 list!) After dinner the guys went out and hooked the trailer up to the truck and backed it the rest of the way down the drive so we could move the vehicles to the back. I seriously don't like to leave the cars on the street as we've had windows broken out and cd players stolen. Today, the roofing crew showed up about 7:30, we hadn't even gotten the cars out! The guys moved the trailer up the drive for the crew and we put our cars on the street in case we wanted to go somewhere. The crew was here all day pounding and pounding until after dark, I'm not sure they finished. Rob and Larry hooked up the trailer again so we could get the cars in but our truck wasn't heavy enough to move the trailer. I really hope nothing happens to any of the cars, I don't want to deal with anything else! Hopefully, this will all be done tomorrow but next week the guttering goes on.

I'm working on denim shopping bags, still. I think I have been for about two YEARS, but I'm really trying to get them done and out of the way. Then I can sew other things, like a quilt for Brayden's bed and slipcovers for the pink chairs, the one's the cat's have totaled. I always have more projects than time and this year that's especially true. I have finished painting a cabinet Larry's Grandfather made and have new hinges for it. I found the door handles I want but I have to order them, we are using the cabinet to store our VHS and DVD collection. I like the way it's turned out, think it looks nice. Finding new uses for things we already have is a pleasure for me. Well I want to sew handles on a couple of bags tonight so I'm going to get to it.

Tuesday update

I've been cleaning like a mad woman the past two days, completely cleaned our room, our bath, the hall and the extra room, having done the basement last week I now have only the hall bath, the living room and (gulp) the kitchen left. I love having a clean house, I just don't really like cleaning! I'll probably do the kitchen next week in little bits as we are getting a new roof tomorrow and we plan to vacate the premises! I feel for the dogs but they didn't even bark today when the roofing materials were being DROPPED on the roof so maybe they'll just sleep. We have quite a few errands to do and we'd like to go to the Truman library as well. We'll see how much we can handle. Larry had his hair cut off last week because it was due to fall out, instead it's growing back in! He has a fuzzy head! I love it, it is so typically Larry to have the opposite reaction than the doctor's predict. Brayden continues to delight us, yesterday on the way home from daycare he commented on the fact that the big boat was gone. I had not even noticed that the big boat on the corner was gone, the people have had a " for sale" sign on it for that last couple of years maybe they sold it. And I consider myself a "Noticing" kind of person! Guess I'd best hit the laundry folding and ironing, not thrilling but it's what I do.

Sunday night

I have the hardest time figuring out what TITLE to put on these things! We've had a pretty busy weekend, yesterday Larry and I ran a bunch of errands. He held up really well, did more than he has in a long time. I guess that shot I gave him really worked! When we got home I mowed and picked up the leaves in back, did the front today. (This will be a recurring event for the next several weeks!) We were having Rubens for dinner so I called to see if Beth wanted to come eat. I can never fix them without asking her as I know she loves them--if I don't ask then I feel guilty besides it gives me the chance to be with my daughter. Not to mention the chance to be with Brayden. I feel guilty anytime I cook something I know one of my absent children really loves because they're not here to eat with us. Guess that's one of the many ways I miss having them at home. Today, besides the leaves, I finished putting up groceries, put the rest of the pots in the shed so I can say that (besides leaves) I'm finished with yard work. I watered the inside pots, made an apple crisp, clipped cat nails, brushed everyone down and gave the dogs a bath. After which I had to give myself a bath! All in all I have to say that I had a pretty good weekend.

I really like trees, I appreciate the cool of their shade (especially in summer), I love the colors of fall, and the patterns of the bare branches in winter. I DO NOT LIKE TO RAKE/MOW LEAVES!