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!