Happy New Years!

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful 2009! If you had a great 2008 than I hope it's even better, If 2008 stank (like ours did) then I sincerely hope it improves. I just plan to take each day as it comes and enjoy that day to the max. If 2009 stinks, then at least I'll have these pleasant things to remember! Yesterday Larry was watching Saturday Night Live on DVD, with headphones, I'll always remember the sound of his laughter- it's been pretty rare this year.

I've been re-arranging the basement, or at least my part of it, the last couple of days. Lots of work and hopefully a better working arrangement. I need a bigger space dedicated to my sewing and research, we need a bigger space for TV watching. Finding the balance is hard. Maybe this time. The real problem is that we have too much stuff! I'm working on that as well. I should finish the final touches tonight or tomorrow and find a place for everything. I need a different arrangement for the recycling which currently threatens to overrun us--told Larry I needed to quit bringing in so much stuff! Perhaps then I can sew.

We have decided, I think, to fly to Hawaii and take a cruise around the islands in February. Larry doesn't want to go to Hawaii and not be able to get in the ocean and so wants to wait until he's rid of the wound vac. I hope that's soon and the way it's healing I think it will be.

Again, best wishes in 2009! Enjoy it.

Monday, again

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but we've been on the Christmas tilt-a-whirl! Okay, sometimes it felt like it but it was really fun! We had an exceptional Christmas day here, unwrapping of the gifts in North Pole central began about 8:30 and continued until 12:30! We have begun a new tradition since children began moving out, when those who live here are all up we open our socks. Yes, I still make stocking gifts for everyone, Larry makes mine, and in some ways they are the most fun and most anticipated gifts of all! Go figure. Then we open one gift every 30 minutes until the rest get to our house when we open until they are gone but we open them one person at a time so we can see what everyone else is getting. Part of the fun is to watch the reaction of the person you bought the gift for after all. I think everyone was happy with their gifts, both large and small. After gifting we moseyed toward dinner, with my extended family; my father and both brothers as well as Jessie, Jim's wife. Many hands helped cook and set up the tables. We went back to moving all the living room furniture into the kitchen and the kitchen table, bench and chairs into the living room to make one large table (everyone wants to be at the big table and be able to talk to everyone else.) We used Mom's dishes again on the gold chargers set this time on green table cloths. It was very pretty and even though my rolls were a complete disaster dinner was terrific. Then on Friday, Scott and Bri who had been in St Louis for Christmas day joined us and we repeated gifting and had a big mexican spread. I took Saturday off cooking but on Sunday we celebrated Tanya's birthday! See what I mean? Tilt-a-whirl!

Today, Larry and I headed back to the VA as he was scheduled for Chemo but they had people stacked up like cord wood and one nurse out so we rescheduled for Friday. We had a couple of other things to clear up over there and the day that was planned to finish early morphed into our leaving in time to go out for lunch at Olive Garden; soup, salad and breadsticks always a winner for us. Since we got home I've been trying to clean up a bit, can't believe how much cardboard there is I think it may take two loads to get the recycling to the center! Rob took the outside lights down as it is a nice day and only the snowflakes worked--our icicle lights were a disaster this year! Rob and Tanya have plans for next year, I told them to go for it!

I hope to make some progress on the rest of the house, especially my desk and sewing area. I should be able to manage some work between shouting MIZ -ZOU during the Alamo Bowl! GO TIGERS!

I hope you are enjoying this holiday week and that 2009 proves to be a good year for you!

Merry Christmas to all!

I just wanted to take a minute now to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! We are looking forward to a great one. Some how our living room has become North Pole central it's so stuffed with gifts! We are blessed in spite of everything with loving and local (distant too) children and just being with them is a gift! Our challenges continually bring to mind the need to savor every minute of every day, to see the beauty and love that surrounds us. May you be blessed in 2009.

Gail

He's home again!

Well, we finally made it home today about 6:45pm. We knew early in the day that he'd be going home but had to wait for the Dr to change his wound vac and for the portable wound vac to arrive. Changing this thing will be an ordeal for a while (like months) as there are foam sponges inside his thigh. The theory is that the sponges soak up the fluid which develop and collect in the space left by the tumor and the wound vac sucks them gently out. The wound itself is not closed by stitches and the sponge/vac allows it to heal from the inside out. Translate, big scar. There is also some evidence that it helps the lymphatic system recover from radiation/surgery faster. Unfortunately, this is not a speedy process and what progress there is will be slowed by chemo beginning again on the 29th. We will have a home heath nurse until I feel I can do it, which is basically now. I will be nervous but I'll manage. Due to the platelets and lack of coumadin before surgery we are back to twice daily shots to thin his blood, urgh!

We don't have Doctor's appointments until Monday, I'm so ready to stay home! Larry's ready to sleep in his own bed and not have someone wake him for vitals at some outrageous hour! Nearly ready for Santa's big day here, it will prove to be a good one!

No matter how often I re-read these things as soon as I post it I find something wrong, be patient!

Good News! No Infection!

Test results are back and show no infection in the leg. Already the thigh has lost some of it's puffiness and all it's redness and heat, his leg and ankle are still swollen but that will just take some time. He says that as long as he doesn't move it doesn't hurt and the pain isn't too bad anyway. Perhaps he's becoming used to pain? He can't feel the wound vac either but it sounds like he's about to leave the ground! (Larry says it sounds like a motorcycle and Rob likes he's reving his engines!) Dr. Allen, his oncologist, was very encouraged by the news and despite the fact that the vac remains in until the wound heals from the inside out chemo will begin again on the 29th. Begin again is the right way to say it as it truly is starting over. The wound vac he currently has is the size of a small suitcase and weighs a ton but he's to get a portable one that runs on batteries and straps to his leg, can't wait to see that!

I'm home early as the roads are expected to get icy tonight and Larry worries. Never mind that I'm headed out to finish my shopping-never a favorite event for me and I certainly cannot even attempt to attain either Lucas' or Rob and Tanya's level of bargain shopping! I actually only have one more gift to buy and then I have to head to the pet store for frisbee's as all ours are buried under snow. The dogs have suffered a lack of my attention this year and it sometimes shows, I'm hoping to do better next year. They deserve new toys for being my faithful buddies no matter what. Larry has the cats, who never let him forget it! Rob and Tanya are going to meet me for dinner out then I'm for the sewing room again! My Christmas cards are to be done as well but that will likely be tomorrow's chore.

Surgery No 4

That's right, he's had four surgeries on his right leg! One, open biopsy, two, tumor removal, three drain insertion, and four vacuum drain insertion. We both vehemently hope this is the last one. Everything went well, it was about 12 before he went off to the surgery suite as he had to be given platelets to increase his clotting time beforehand. Dr. Templeton, who did both the open biopsy and the tumor removal, did the surgery. She said that visually it did not appear to be infected but sent some fluid off to be tested to be sure. Thinks it is still the lymph nodes that were damaged by both radiation and surgery causing all the trouble. He was resting comfortably when I left and has since eaten a full dinner. I don't expect him home before Friday as I have to learn to change the sponge and tubing on this drain. I am glad there is no infection as they were planning to send him home on IV antibiotics, that seems somewhat intimidating to me! Oh well, we just do today what needs to be done and keep on learning more stuff. Really, I couldn't give a shot before this year!

My house is a wreck and it seems that all the cleaning earlier was for nothing, sigh. Perhaps when I get him home again it will spiff up quickly. Tonight I'm heading for the basement to do a little sewing and watch tv until I go to bed. All this waiting is unreasonably tiring.

No surgery today

Larry's surgery was postponed today. His blood clotting levels were too high (meaning he might bleed too much) so it was rescheduled for tomorrow first thing. This is what they want when they put you on Cumadin! First things translates into anything after 7:30am. He was admitted though and is in room 3210, phone number 816-922-5817. His spirits are pretty good even though he really doesn't want to do this-ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

We got 3-4 inches of snow today, I went shopping this morning, I love shopping when it's snowing and there's no one out--well I didn't go to the grocery store they are usually swamped! I've finished my shopping for the most part. I'm still thinking about a couple of things for Larry and I have some things I'm making to finish. Christmas will be good this year if Larry and I have anything to say about it!

I'll be at the hospital about 7 tomorrow and will post tomorrow night again with the latest.