Hook, Line, and Stinker One Last Time

I sitting in the ole’ chemo chair for the last time, receiving my half dozen bags of toxic crap and big old horse needles of nasty medicine, but they put the needle into the IV, so it is no big deal. I still dealing with my Chemo top five. Nausea, tingling in fingers and toes, bad taste in my mouth, sores in my mouth and constipation. The nausea and the constipation have been the top leaders these last three or four weeks. But nothing new and as long as I have lots of drugs, I can to live with them all. The oncologist said everything is looking good. He said that the tingling in my hands will probably get worst before it gets better. I guess I am going to have to go through Chemo Drug withdraws or detox for the next couple months. I hope I don’t saw seeing creepy crawly things or lose my mind, not much to lose. I wonder if they have a detox center for Chemo addicts. I go in six weeks for a PET scan, see him again in two months, and a CAT scan in about four or five months. SO I SAY I AM NOW CURED.

Debi still isn’t completely over whatever she has. She had to go back to the doctor and get more drugs for her breathing last week. She is feeling a little better, but is tired all the time, which is probably related back to the poor breathing.

We have five out the six & 9/10th grandkids at the house today. I left the oldest grand daughter in charge. Dylan, who is from Houston, is going back today. The other two are here until Friday. They were all around this last weekend for the Relay for Life in Highland. Everything seemed to go off pretty well. My daughter and I were the leaders at the start of the relay, an honor neither of us wanted. She was one of the two oldest survivors with 25 plus years and I was one of the two youngest.

She raised a little over $900 dollars (which gets matched by her work) and I raised about $700 with our bake sales. But we aren’t through yet. We can collect money until the end of August for this year’s Relay, so we are both planning more sales. Another item that we are selling is cantaloupe. The farmer that rents my mother’s ground is raising them and we were selling them at the Relay and she is selling them at work. He giving us some of the biggest ones he has, they weighed in between 10 and eleven pounds. Both my daughter and I plan on having bake sales year round to start building up our funds for next year. We are all ready talking ideas for next years relay and about having two teams, so anyone who wants to join our team. Let me know.

The blogging is slowing down a lot as I am returning to my dull and boring life, so hoping nothing will happen that I have to start it up again. I will let everyone know if anything does happen.

Good Week For Me, Bad Week For Debi

Well I have had a pretty fair week as far as my health goes. I still have the Chemo top five. Nausea, Tingling in fingers and toes, bad taste in my mouth, sores in my mouth and constipation. But nothing new and I have learned to live with them all. Two more weeks and I get my last chemo treatment. Then by my schedule, six weeks to get the poison out my system and then NO side effects. This is my first day back at work and it has been a pretty busy day. I feel more fatigued that I expected, but I am doing well. It was a battle to get the OK to get back to work. I didn’t go to the regular plant doctor, but group in Wood River that the company uses. I saw three different people and all three asked the same question. “Why is your company forcing you back to work?” I kept telling them they weren’t, that I want to go back to work. I have been watching cooking shows for thirty days and I wanted to go back to work. I am going to avoid going back to them at all costs. If I can walk through the gate, I am coming in.

Debi’s week has been pretty bad, I think as far as being sick, she has been worst this week than I have the entire three months of chemo, except for maybe one or two days. She started to get sick last Friday and even wanted to go to the emergency care facility. We got there at 1:15 Saturday afternoon and they closed at 1:00 PM. So she suffered until Monday when she was able to get into the doctor. She has some kind of virus, but isn’t supposed to be contagious. Tuesday she got up for the kids at 7AM, but went back to bed at 8AM and slept until noon. Stayed up a couple hours and then went back to bed. Wednesday and Thursday were worst for her, she slept most of the day and night. Well grandpa got to watch the kids Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Let me tell you, grandpa doesn’t have the patience that grandma has. Grandpa is more the let’s play now and then go away now type of guy. My hat is off to grandma and her skills, but I will still give her crap about having roid one and roid two up her ass.

Five Down, One To Go

Well Wednesday I saw the oncologist and then got treatment number five. Had a really good talk, I am starting to ask questions not only what is happening now, but the after treatment life. Which I think is a good feeling for both Debi and I. He showed me the results of the Cat Scan and then asked me the oddest question? Did I shallow a paper clip or a piece of metal. He showed me on the scan where it was at. Bright, silver thing there in the scan in my abdomen. I didn’t know what it was either. So I sat in therapy for five and a half hours thinking about it and on the drive home I finally figured it out. About two weeks before the scan, I broke a back molar and didn’t realize it until I felt it with my tongue. It didn’t break off much and didn’t hurt at all. I thought I would have it taken care after all this other crap is over with. Well then I got the sores in my mouth and went to the dentist. The Hygienist mention that if it started to hurt the dentist could probably temporarily fit it with a filling. REALIZATION, my wife isn’t trying to poison me, because of the how much of a pain in the ass I have become. This was one of my weirder theories going through my Chemo injected brain. But I did have a metallic taste in my mouth, so I was wondering.

Ok what’s happening now? I am still having some nausea, but the cramps have pretty well have stopped. I am taking three times the normal amounts of laxatives. This doesn’t make for a very interesting day, because I still don’t have to use the bathroom very much. When I do it is volatile, but no cramps, no pain killers. So I want to go back to work next week. But I have been off so long this time; I have to see the company doctor. I hope to see him some time in the middle of the week.

Ok what’s happening after number six? Well it sounds kind of simple. Every three months I get blood work done and see him. Every six months I get another Cat scan. As long as there is no change then we have whipped this thing. But then I was talking to the nurse who was giving me my Chemo and she said that I will need to come back to the office every six weeks and get my port flushed out with saline as long as my body doesn’t reject the port. She has patients who have been doing this for ten or fifteen years. I am planning to for the record.

Good News, But Not So Good Week

My oncologist called and we got the initial results of the CAT scan. He said that tumor has significantly has reduced in size and there are no new growths or changes. Debi said it was like having a weigh lifted off her.
The last week hasn’t been very good for me. A lot of cramps and nausea. That was another thing we talked to the oncologist about. He and we think that the drugs are catching up to me and so is the constipation. He is not sure they are connected, but probably are, they have both been happening for the last week. The cramps have been so bad that I have been taking pain killers. Fortunately the pain killers have codeine in them for me, for I lose the pain. Unfortunately I can’t go to work while I am taking it.

For the constipation, the oncologist told me I could use up to four times the normal amounts of laxative. Which let me tell you something, I am darn glad I installed a large flat screen TV in the bathroom? I am now trying to find that fine line, where I don’t have cramps and I am not watching a miniseries in the bathroom. Of course I am not looking forward another round of chemo tomorrow.

Debi and I both agree that I haven’t had it that bad during chemo. I believe that most people react worst. So I shouldn’t complaint. So I try and concentrate on the good things. I don’t have to shave everyday, I don’t have to get haircuts and my wife is jealous of my legs because are hairless.

Bad Tuesday, Never Know

Monday was the same old stuff. Didn’t feel great, but nothing different. Tuesday started off the same but went downhill from there. Started having abdominal cramps in the afternoon and then about later in the evening I started throwing up. The good thing was once I finished, I took another pain pill and nausea pill and felt better in about an hour. Then I took the rest of my drugs and still felt OK. Only problem was I couldn’t fall a sleep even with drugs. Finally did get some sleep, but Debi made me stay in bed this morning for a couple hours after the kids got here. So now I am up and just waiting to go the hospital for my CAT scan. I have to go in early to drink something so there is a contrast.

Debi’s Got a Tight Grip

Still not feeling the best, so Debi keeps me restricted pretty well. So I sit in the house, frustrated that I can’t do any thing. I still have nausea, but it is not very bad in the morning, but the end of the day I am hurting. My hands are the same with the numbness and sensitivity. The bad taste in my mouth is a little worst. I think some of it is because I have been battling a sinus cold and have of sinus drainage. Also the sores in my mouth are a little worst this time, which makes some foods taste crappy and some foods with salt hurt. I am trying to gargle more, but I have to dilute it down a lot otherwise it brings tears to my eyes. I am seeing my dentist later this week after my Cat scans to see what he has to say. I have an appointment next Wednesday with the Oncologist, so Debi & I figure that’s when we will get the results.

Quick Note from my Doctor

Saw my primary care doctor and routine labs showed very good results on my diabetes. She cut my diabetes and blood pressure medication in half. So Debi and I figured that the chemo drugs are clearing out my system of evenything bad (Just Kidding). There isn’t much more the doctor can do with the nausea, numbness, and general funky bad feeling I have been having. Like I told her, I have learned to live with it. I have also got a runny nose and a little cough. Which hopefully she can take care of that minor thing with few drugs. It just adds to the general overall crappy feeling I have, so Debi has me mostly confined to the house. This is frustrating, because I want to get out and do at least a little.

I figure with the doctor, that exception for cancer, diabetes, gout, hypertension, indigestion, allergies, high cholesterol, over weight, lacking exercise and bit of foot fungus, I am a prefect specimen of 57 year old human being.

Been Awhile Since Last Posting

Sorry I haven’t posted any thing for awhile, but I haven’t been feeling the best. It has been a little worst than any of the previous treatments. Nausea has stayed with me and the numbness and tingling in my hands has increased. The Oncologist changed the chemo treatment medicine amounts around little to try and help, but it didn’t. So my hands hurt 24/7, hence a decreased interest in typing and it taking days to type this out. They don’t hurt enough that I can’t do anything I want, but minor things like taking the darn paper off a straw is uncomfortable. Then it finally dawned on me why the oncologist keeps asking if I can button my shirt, he is seeing about my hands. So I sit there, me and the one year old with our sippy straws while the five year old opens our straws. I have also felt a little off, my BP and sugar counts are fine, but I still feel weird. So much so that I have been letting Debi drive me around in the car. Which could be a contributing factor to nausea, I just sit in the car with my eyes closed. But I have been doing that for 40 years, especially thinking back when I taught her to drive when she was 16.
Tally, Jason, and the granddaughters came down Thursday and stayed until Saturday. Jason and the girls helped me get caught up on some of my mowing and stuff around the house. The oldest granddaughter Taylor (age 13), I put on one of the larger farm tractors. Being from a rural community, she seemed to be trilled. I don’t think most 13 year old would be. Kayley (age 11), I put on my tractor and she drove it around like a champ and didn’t hit any thing. Jason worked with the weed eater and moved around some of the things I couldn’t. Great Help.

I found some gas bombs at Rural King, that was has H2S gas in them, to kill off some groundhogs that are in some of the building around the farm. Jason was all set with his rifle, called the fire department, notified the neighbors, and shutdown all the power to the buildings. We had dreams of big white clouds rolling out of the windows and groundhogs running out of the tunnels. We lite them off and I stood back with Debi to watch. BIG NOTHING. Debi makes more smoke when she burns diner, which is regularly. Total disappointment.

Nicole and our 2 year grandson Zander are in town from Houston to be with her sister. They came over Saturday morning to visit and have breakfast. My mother came over, so we kind of have a 5/6 family get together, which was great. Zander stayed the day and played with the rest of the grand kids. Nicole had a big problem getting Zander to leave that evening. Debi had to send him home with cleaning products to keep him from crying. He wants to clean anything and everything. I know for a fact that this not genetics thing. From either side of the family. It is totally environmental, I said thank-you Day Care and their routine wiping down everything and letting Zander watch and learn.

On a Short Leash

Well I am sitting in I Chemo and bored, been here two hours and half. Walked in and plug the computer into a port in the wall. Then the nurse came and in and plug a tube into a port in me. The cancer kicking joy juice is making me tired, but can’t sleep. The lady sitting next to snores louder than Debi and there are two other guys across the rooms that are pretty loud. And now another lady is on the other side of me who snores even louder than the first. Freaking Stereo I have earphones on playing music trying to block out some of the noise, but they aren’t doing too good. The room is packed, standing room only, and the nurse are running from patient to patient. As soon as one person leaves another sits down. They have them waiting in another room. They said that since this only a four day week, they are over booked. I guess it is true, “Death/Cancer doesn’t take a Holiday”.

My nausea is all ready getting worst and that is after they gave me a bag of anti-nausea medicine. But nausea has been worst after the third treatment and my hands / fingers are numb. O well, I am getting used to the bad side. Now on the other hand there are some good side effects. Debi is jealous of my legs and how smooth they are. With the bad taste in my mouth, I am not eating what we are baking for “Fred’s Fantastic Foods” and only lost four pounds since the last visit. Speaking of Fred’s Foods, I am up to four locations. Another very good friend in the Off-Shift office is watching them for me while I am off. There are four of us all together in that office and the other three guys have been great.

Well both ladies are awake now, so I am going to try and catch a nap.

Not Much Has Change

Sorry I haven’t posted anything lately, but not much has changed in the last week. I guess the nausea is a little better and I am getting used to the bad taste in my mouth. At least nobody has complained if I had bad breath or not. The tingling and numbness in my hands isn’t getting any better and I am not getting use to it. If I use my hands a lot, I have a bit more discomfort, especially at night. It is to the point, which I might slip in a pain pill to help me get to sleep. Not looking forward to treatment number four on June 2nd, but it is the best option I got.

Nothing else happening in our lives, except the Relay For Life in July. Brandy and Debi with a little help from me have been making and cooking stuff that, I have been taking into work. Everyone at work has been splendid about donating and eating what I bring in. I have already expanded to two different locations with “Fred’s Fantastic Foods” food boxes and have about a $150 to donate. I think that is great for the short time I have been doing it. We are planning to bake more on Monday morning, so I can bring that in that night for Tuesday. But then unfortunately I have to close down for a couple weeks for Chemo. I might have to make a extra couple trips down to work or maybe, there are couple people who don’t live too far away from me, that maybe I could work out a deal with. Free food for deliver service.

Brandy also sent me a couple links to some places to get Cancer related T-Shirts. I am going to buy the family a shirt for the Relay For Life. Some of them are pretty funny about the serious subject of Cancer. But you have to laugh. Both Debi and like “Yes one is fake, but the other is a real Hooter” Support Breast Cancer Research. Or “I have Chemo Brain, What Your Excuse”. Or “I have a new Barber, my Oncologist”. Just stuff like that. There were over 10,000 designs associated with just this one web site. We are going to check with a local shop that we have dealt with in the past also just to see what they have. My daughter-in-law did it for her sister’s get together. I just think it will look real cool with the family at the Relay For Life dressed alike. And I was thinking with my chemo brain, that I might go ahead and get Zander and Lucas (who hasn’t even be born yet) a shirt. Maybe we can get a picture of everyone together in September, when they come up for a visit. But I haven’t cleared that one with the significant boss yet.

SSDD, Same Stuff, Different Day

Well nothing has changed except the weather. The bad taste, the nausea, and the tingling are still here. The bad taste may have even gotten a little worst. I really have to concentrate on eating now. I have to more or less make myself eat. Which is a big thing, because when I don’t eat often enough, the nausea gets worst? I also think that, where initially I gain a little weight, now I am losing a little. The last few days haven't been good at home, haven’t felt like doing much. I been napping more, I might have gotten a sinus / head cold. This has a lot of drainage, which cause more nausea. Nasty cycle. But I am back to work until the next treatment June 2.

The grand kids got a new thing going, they like to rub my head or pat it. I guess I help this along a little when they got to put shaving cream on my very light stubble. Zoey was practicing writing her name on my head.

We are trying to teach them about their heritage with the farm and watermelons. The granddaughter was all for it, but the grandson wasn’t so sure.

Brandy is trying to help me get organized on getting some fund raiser stuff. She is going to help me make some chocolate covered strawberries for my work. Debi is getting me going on some bake goods. But I am not a salesman, so I don't push the issue like I should. Hopefully I can sell some.

I think The Side Effects Have Moved in PERMANENTLY

Just thought I would put in a short note. The bad taste, the nausea, and the tingling have all taken up permanent residency. They have all been hanging around a lot longer this time. I have been taking nausea medicine daily and I am not sure if it has let up that much, it is not real bad, but constant. Besides the tingling and numbness in my fingers and hands, I am also having a little in my toes. Not as bad, but you know it is there.

Haven’t done much the past few days, just haven’t had the desire. Sunday went to see Young Frankenstein with Brandy. She had brought the tickets for my Birthday in March, before this cancer stuff started. It was a good show and very good day. Came home and helped her with her chocolate covered strawberries that evening. Monday was out in the barn mostly sitting in a chair sorting small things. Debi and the grandkids came out and played.

Who Said You Couldn’t Compound Side Effects

When I talked with the doctor Wednesday about the bad taste, the nausea, and the tingling in my fingers. Of course all of these are all normal side effects and they could be worst. They are controllable with drugs, RIGHT. Sometimes we aren’t as smart as we think we are. They all got worst.

The nausea didn’t get as bad as the very first night after I took chemo, where I thought I was going to throw-up, but luckily didn’t, but that time it started to go away the next night. But this time it isn’t going away so easily. Its three days later and I’m still taking the strongest nausea pills I got daily. Which I found out is the same one that my pregnant daughter-in-law has been taking. I am sure glad I found out with the first ultra sound that I wasn’t pregnant. It hasn’t slowed me much, but that feeling is always with me. The bad taste in the mouth got worst, water taste like it has something metal in it. Sour stuff taste OK to me, so I drink lemonade, regular, pink, and green, whatever Debi can find. It is getting old fast. Soda is out; carbonation hurts my stomach and compounds the gas. Which I already have too much of. Still have the tingling in my fingers and my hands are little numb. The doctor reduced the amount of Vincristine that I received. This is another one of its nasty little side effects like the abdominal cramps I had on Easter. Then the insomnia is back, I am getting about four or five hours per night. But I don’t feel that tired during the day.

I went back to the doctor’s office Thursday and got my routine shot of Neulasta, which is used to stimulate the growth of "healthy" white blood cells. But its effects your joints and makes them hurt. Oh goody. Found out that after my fourth chemo treatment on June 2, I go back into the hospital for more pictures and tests to see how I am doing. But I guess I am doing well. I am still taken back a little about the doctor’s funny face and questions when I told me that I was going back between treatments. I guess a lot of others don’t. He didn’t say I couldn’t. I guess now my next worries will be with the company doctor, whenever my sick leave papers catch with him. He might not let me back to work. Hee, Hee, I have al ready been back to work.

Friday was a real day, went to the end of the school year ice cream social for my granddaughter in the morning, took my mother out to lunch, and met my sister and her family at the Roxana Homecoming. Had a good fish sandwich to support my nephew and the local fire department.

And that bring everyone up to Saturday morning 4:00AM when I got up and started writing this.

Except just to let everyone know who I work with, that I have join the Cancer Walk in Highland with my daughter Brandy’s team, over the weekend of July 9th. She is a 25 year cancer survivor and has been doing for awhile, but this year we are making it a family affair. My other daughter Tally’s two girls are joining us. My 87 year mother is making necklaces and selling them at another cancer walk with her ladies club team. Brandy last year raised $3,000 and has long head start on me. She is cooking and making things and selling them at her work. Sunday, she is coming over to the house and making over 200 chocolate cover strawberries that she has presold. I going to check with my work, about our rules and policies and when I feel good, I am going to try and make some of my fantastic homemade desserts that I used to make, when I worked on a unit. So everyone needs to have a sweet tooth ready.

All tethered up and no placed to go.

Well I finished up my last midnight shift, gave a three and half hour deposition, got my tractor tire fix, worked an extra shift yesterday afternoon, and everything went fine. It was a just a long day and after that, I slept about eleven hours. Like I said before, I was a little more exhausted this last week, than I normally am on midnights, but as long as I got enough sleep I was fine. I haven’t been able to do anything but work and sleep. Saturday I only slept four hours, but then on Monday I slept all most ten hours. This is truly unusual for me, especially lately with the insomnia that I have been having.

I am still having what I call T-N-T. A bad Taste in my mouth, Nausea, and the Tingling in my fingers. All they are controllable with drugs. Life is not the same without drugs. But I talked to the doctor about it, to ease my mind. The one thing that I am a little worried about is that going into Chemo with the nausea. If I already have some nausea, will it get worse with the treatment? I know the nausea has stayed with me the entire three weeks since the last treatment and it didn’t do that on the first treatment.

I think prepped for my treatment as best I can. I stopped taking my blood pressure medicine so hopefully my BP won’t drop like it did last time. I am trying to drink as much as I can, to keep myself hydrated. And since I am spending a lot of time in the bathroom, because of all the water I drink, I have doubled up on the laxatives to eliminate those problems that the Chemo drugs cause.

So I am sitting in the doctor’s treatment center, tethered to an IV pump, getting part three of a nine part treatment. This takes about five hours, so I am still bringing my computer into the doctor’s office. Ironically I had to tether my computer to the wall, because I ran out of battery power, because I was on it so long.

Talked with the doctor this morning about the bad taste, the nausea, and the tingling. Of course all of them normal and they could be worst. He said that some people get so bad on tingling in their fingers that they can’t even button their shirt. So I guess I am very lucky. The company HR temporary secretary finally caught up with me and gave me my paper work for being off work two weeks for my first treatment, the first of April. When I gave the doctor the paper this morning, he looked at me strangely and asked “You went back to work?” I told yes, and told him that after the first treatment I was able to work a week before the next treatment. Then after the second treatment, even with the nausea, I was able to work two weeks. I also said that I was hoping to go back to work this time in about a week. He said amazing. I always thought I was.
So I don’t know what will happen, but we will find out.

Feeling OK, But.

The last few days have been pretty good. Monday I was still working around the house and did some yard work. Went down to my brother’s green house and told him I needed enough tomato plants to plant my EAST 20 acreage. Debi & I decided that since I couldn’t get any grass started and I didn’t care what anyone thought about my yard, that I would put a small garden in right next to the house to make it easier to keep up with. Last year I had large garden that I couldn’t take care of. So this year, I rototilled up an enough ground to have about four 20 foot rows of plants, hence the EAST 20. Eastern most row, about seven tomato plants. I also rototilled up enough ground that the five year old granddaughter could have a dirt pile. She announced that the best year of her life was when she had a dirt pile. That was two years ago, when we were building the house.

Started working midnights Tuesday and I am doing OK. I have four done and three more to go. I will be done with them next Tuesday morning. I feeling more fatigued than normal. I make it through the shifts OK, but I am very tired when I get home. I am sleeping better, through modern chemistry with a prescription for sleeping pills.

My fingers tips are still very sensitive / numb feeling. I wear gloves when I work, but typing and writing things out bothers me a little. I still have the strange taste in mouth, but I am gaining weight. Food tastes peculiar, but when I eat, I lose the bad taste in my mouth, so I continue to eat. I also think the Prednisone is also affecting my eating habits. But then you have the nausea. It has stayed with me a lot longer and worse on this second treatment than the first treatment. The first time after the first week I was able to control it with ginger root and the way I ate, but this time I am using more of the prescription nausea medication. But according the every third Wednesday Chemo Club, where we are just sitting around the doctor’s office hooked up to tubes, some people say they are getting worse with each treatment and some say they are getting better. We will see after next Wednesday when I get my third treatment

Still Feeling Good

Well I started my days off feeling really good. The weather didn’t cooperate with me working in the yard with the high wind. But I did work outside moving some of tools over from the old place to the new. But Debi had to keep reassuring all day long. I got the bright idea to combine my nine tool boxes together. As I did this, I kept thinking that I had too many tools. But Debi said along as I as didn’t have more than 25 of the exact same thing I was all right. Just because I had 200 of something, there still wasn’t 25 exact matches, so I am OK.

Friday it was me and the grandson staying inside while Debi and Zoey went to school in the morning. It was her special day. In the afternoon our daughter-in-law, Nicole, from Houston came in for a visit. We really, really enjoyed this, but I think I messed myself up. Debi got a truly cute this cake. Every one loved the details on it. Well I ate too much of it and the diabetes and the nausea kicked in that evening.

Saturday we spent the day out, I still had some nausea, but I am getting used to it. That evening we went a benefit for Nicole’s sister who also has cancer. It was a great turn out for her, with probably over 300 people. They raised a lot to help her. Debi and Zoey were having fun, so we stayed a little longer than we planned. But like I said they were having fun. My nausea wasn’t too good, the main thing was the gas. It was coming from both ends. Debi gave me a little static about telling her sooner, but they were having fun and I wasn’t that bad.

Sunday, it was still a good day, except for the gas and nausea. Burps are the worst, the family is really supportive. They just tend to move awhile from me very quickly. I think even the dog moves away, so I can’t blame him. Still not sleeping very well and my fingers are still sensitive. So just a few more questions for the doctor next time I see him.

One last thing, I still just don’t see why the family thinks I look like Uncle Fester?

Doing Better Than Some Expected

I have actually worked the three afternoons at my job and really enjoyed it. I was finally some place where I have some semblance of control of what’s happening. I am feeling better than I have for the last six – eight months. One thing I have to say is about one of the guys I work with. This last weekend I wasn’t feeling the best and Jim, who is the nices guys, canceled his vacation and worked for me. He gave a bunch of flimsy excuses, like the weather, the moon wasn’t aligned right, whatever. I know that he did it just for me. You know you are blessed when you have friends like that. Of course they are kidding me about the Yul Brynner from the King and I look at work and the family kids me about looking like Uncle Fester from the Addams Family. I am taking it that they were both outstanding sex symbols of their time.

I still have a few side effects, but you learn to live with those. The nausea is an everyday thing, bad taste in my mouth all the time, is another. I still have some insomnia, I am writing this at 4 AM Thursday morning. One weird one is my finger tips. They are very sensitive and seem to be shriveling & cracking. But everything is manageable.

I am really looking forward to the next few days. It will be the first time in a long time that I am off work, feeling good, and have a day or two of good weather to work in the yard.

Better Days.

The last three days have been better than I expected and I am really happy about that. It was such an improvement over Easter weekend and that chemo treatment. I wanted to celebrate. Not that I didn’t have some problems this time, but no real pain. Thursday night the nausea wasn’t bad and Friday morning it back down to what has been normal for everyday living. So Friday I worked out in the barn for a while since I was feeling better. I should explain what working out in my barn is like, for those who have never seen my barn. I have had people ask to live in my barn. It has a ¾ bath, a fully functional kitchen with stove, refrigerator, and microwave, and 32” TV with a couch. So working in there is almost a good as some of the operators at the plant have it, except they have a larger TV. So I work by sitting in chair and sort boxes. We still have boxes of collectibles / stuff that we packed 10 years. It is like Christmas with each container. I was tired in the mid of the afternoon and when I sat down in the chair, I took a little nap. I in my opinion my BP is still a little lower than normal, but it is slowly climbing back up.

Saturday I was little tired, I am not sleeping. My daughter-in-law told me insomnia might happen and it may have. Last few nights haven’t been good. So Saturday we had some errands to do, so I let Debi take me out to late breakfast. Then while she did her thing, I walked around Home Depot pushing a cart to steady myself. The bad thing was, I did not want to buy any thing. So SAD for me. We had to go to the pharmacy, then while we were at a late lunch, about 2:30PM when my daughter called and asked if we wanted to go to supper with her family. So I stopped by the book store and found a big old chair to read books. Debi went out to pick up a couple more items and then joined me back at the store. We met them about 6:30 and split bowl soup and an appetizer for supper. But I really enjoy seeing them. Then it was home and to bed, but not much sleep.

Sunday was the same as Friday, worked outside for a while and doing better. I stopped taking my Blood Pressure pill for a few days and my BP is getting closer to normal. So I will talk to the doctor about that one next time I see him.

And now it is Monday, and I have to go back to work. But it is going to have to be another tragic day with a great personal lost. My moustache is getting so botchy with the hair falling out that I am going to have to shave it off. But now let’s talk about the good things that go along with Chemo. I haven’t shaved in ten days and my beard looks it only a 24 hour growth. Heck if I only have to shave once a week, I will be happy with that. Because if you haven’t guessed by now, I hate to shave.

Learn Something New Every Day.

Well I finished Chemo Wednesday afternoon with no problem at about 2:00PM and I didn’t start feeling bad until about 5:00PM. I took my first nausea pill then and didn’t feel too bad afterwards. Then about three hours later, I started getting dizzy and a headache. On the first Chemo treatment I blamed this on the nausea pills, but this time I had taken it those three hours earlier. My next thought was my diabetes, but my sugar was 204, a little high, but OK. Then it finally dawned on me, Blood Pressure. I took it several times over the next couple hours; it was a little low at 78/50. I hydrated myself and by morning it was up little. I had to go to the doctor’s office to get a routine shot to make my bone marrow produce more bloods. The bad thing abut this shot is it makes your joints hurt, which mean more pills. When they took my BP it was up to 90/60 and I just took it this evening and it was 105/55 and I am feeling better. One good thing is that the nausea was only about 3-4 on my 0-10 scale Wednesday night where the first time it was about 5-6. I didn’t get much sleep between nausea and the excess gas it caused. While I didn’t figure out about BP at least I know now. I am still learning about this thing.

Today was a fair day afar as feeling good; the nausea was only about 1-2 which was better than last time. I am monitoring my BP and I counted my pills that I take just in the morning. It was 18, not counting the nausea, gas pills or the three different pain pills (small, medium, & large), that I only take as needed. Evening pills are about the same. My Mother told me a long time ago that I am over medicated, I over pay, and I am under informed, she might have been right.

Back to feeling fine for a few days

Sunday 4/18 was very good day, no problems. Debi, Zoey, and I went out to lunch after meeting with Tally and her family at their church in Collinsville. Taught Zoey a new trick, how to reach up a pull a chunk of my hair out, which she was doing at Bandana’s during lunch. Debi freaked out, she said I will pay for in five or six months when my hair grows back. Still have little nausea, but whatever. Worked outside a little, then we all went over to my sister and had supper.

Monday I was still feeling very good, worked out in the barn for a while. Then came inside for lunch, afterwards called my sister to get my rid of what was left of my hair. This is the first time since I was in fifth grade that I have had my hair buzzed off. Zane my grandson watched very closely as she was cutting it off.  But afterwards, I think he thought he was looking into a mirror, except for the glasses and moustache. Had another busy night at work, Rick was there to carry me.

Tuesday was also good, felt fine all day. Worked a extra shift that night, shouldn’t have. It was really busy night and I was by myself so I actually had to work. Then we a pretty good size spill of kerosene, which really kept me busy for a while, but there were a lot of good people out, so it wasn’t bad. But I did fall behind on doing some of my job, so it did take me a while to catch back up. I was really tired by the end of the evening.

Now it Wednesday morning and I am sitting in the oncology office’s treatment room getting my drugs. It takes about four to five hours to get all them in. I also just saw the doctor. Everything looking just fine, I not getting as sick as some people. So guess that makes me feel better. I wouldn’t want to see it any worst. The nurse says it depends on the individual, but as I process with the treatments, the side effects could change and get a little worst. We will see.

One Good Day, (But Traumatic Evening), One Better Day and Really Good Day.

Thursday 4/15 was another good day health wise, no problems what so ever. Felt good all day, worked outside. A little nausea, but I seem to have that everyday and I am learning to live with it. Then evening came and I came inside and showered. Then the depression set in, a feeling of remorse came over me, but what will be, will be and what has to be, has to be done.Why me? So I with a trembling hand, I went ahead and shaved off my beard.

Friday 4/16 was another good day as far feeling better than I have in long time. Rick, a friend of mine from work, and his wife were driving by and stopped by for a few minutes in the morning to talk. Then in the afternoon we got a beautiful creation sent by my work, an edible plant. The lady responsible for sending this plant is just one of the really great set of people I work with and for. I went to work that afternoon for the first time in about three weeks. Rick and I had a fairly busy evening, Rick carried most of the load for the evening, but I felt good at least being back to work, even if it will only be for a few days before I have to do chemo again. I did have a lot fun at work. My hair is starting to fall now, so every time some one would start talking about my cancer, I would reach up and pull a big lock of hair. Some people would laugh, some people thought I was trying to pull a joke, and some would freak out. It was entertaining.

Saturday 4/17 was another good day physically and even better emotionally. My brother helped me change the mower over on my tractor to a roto tiller. Then we loaded it on to our trailer. Debi, our granddaughter Zoey, and took the tiller up to my daughter Tally’s house. They just brought this place this last winter. She likes to garden, I tilled up a plot for her and the family. But the best part was watching my granddaughters play with goats that daughter owns. There is one goat, named Alice, who thinks she is dog and the queen of the farm. That goat herded Zoey all over the place and acted if she owned the joint. The only thing that would have make it better would be to have the two boys in Texas here playing with the goats. When we got home that evening I went over to my daughter Brandy’s house to pick up some stuff and my year old grandson was best buddy. He kept bringing me toys, wanting to climb on my lap, and talking to me in a language only he can understand. My daughter has decided officially now that we have him saying Grandpa and Sponge Bob. So I am with some good company at the top of the list. Now that was a prefect.

The only bad thing that happens was the drive up to Greenville to Tally's house. Debi and I both have been sick lately and some of it seems to be lingering on in the form of lots and lots of gas. I say it is the Chemo Drugs and she say it is sympathy gas. Mine come out as burps, hers come out the other end. Well on the drive to Greenville, I was hanging my head out the truck window, like a dog, with tears in my eyes. Poor Zoey was strapped in the back seat with no where to escape. It was like being put in a gas chamber. She says is trying to cure me. I say the cure is worst than the disease. Where was she at back when this first started and I tried to convince her that SEX was a cure?

This morning we are planning to go to my daughter Tally’s church with her family. My sister, who was a beautician, and the two young grandkids are going met us over at my mother’s house. Last night when I took a shower I plugged off the drain with my hair, so we are going to buzz what’s left of it.

One good day, One Bad.

Monday 4/12 was a good day, no problems what so ever. Felt good all day, worked outside, went and visited my brother and Mother. The grandkids were back and we got to play. My grandson found out that grandpa’s toys were better than Grandma. He set with me and rode around and around the yard on the tractor and didn’t want to get off. Notice the good looking kid with the guy with a good looking beard and that still has his hair. The only problem I have with the beard is that the Chemo drugs must have affected the color someway. There is a lot more grey hair in my beard than there was in 1983. The doctor told me last week that I would be bald next week, I guess I can’t wait any longer to lose it, I am going to have shave, because I go back to work on Friday. I remember in 1983 my middle daughter cried when I shaved my beard. She said she didn't like daddy without a beard and I said I didn't like daddy without a beard. Now this time I will be the one crying.


Tuesday 4/13 ended up being a bad day with even a worst night. The grandson apparently had the flu the last few days of their trip to Texas and they thought he was getting over it. But Typhoid Zane wasn’t over it. Debi got sick Monday during the night with nausea and vomiting, the same as he had. Then Tuesday morning, she was so sick that I let her sleep in a couple extra hours and took care of the kids and got Zoey on the bus for school. Debi got up and said she was feeling better, so I left and went outside. Then she called me back inside about 1:00 PM, apparently her and the boy had projectile vomiting. So she went back to bed and I had both kids. My granddaughter Zoey was excellent, played by herself most of the afternoon, which she usually doesn’t do. The grandson, Zane played about 20 minutes, and then the stuff hit the fan. He found out that Grandma wasn’t in the room, which is a major crisis. He cried himself asleep on my chest on and off for about two hours. By this time I started to feel nauseated and going down hill fast. Well I tried to keep the kids as quiet as could until grandma woke to save the world. But she didn’t get up until about 5:15PM and as soon as my daughter about 5:35PM, all we could say was TAKE THEM AWAY NOW.

Luckily I have nausea medication for small, medium and large discomfort. We both took some of the medium. I had a cup of soup for dinner and Debi had a ½ cup. Then we were both ready for bed before 7:00PM. After we went to bed, Debi threw up several more times during the night and still had the nausea pretty bad. I on the other hand, had it coming out the other end and I bet I was up every 30 to 45 minutes the entire night going to the bathroom.

We both felt better when we got up about 7:30AM, still a little nausea, but OK. I had to go the doctor’s office @ 8:30 AM to have a blood test. They said my counts were good and I am all set to get another Chemo treatment next Wednesday. Worked outside once I got home from the doctor and just came in for a light lunch. So I thought I would finish this and sent it out.

Sunday was another good day.

I need to start off with the fact that I have to write these blogs more often, instead of waiting so long. Too much can happen too fast. The last blog must have been a little long. Debi asked if my fingers hurt after seeing what I wrote. I told her that I could have written more, but was trying to keep it short, because there was so much I wanted to say.

Sunday 4/11, I had really good day today. Work out in the barn for six or seven hours, while Debi mowed the yard. Only problem I had was that when I came in for lunch and sat in the recliner for a minute. It turned in to 30 minutes when I woke up. My daughter Brandy and her family got back from Houston yesterday and brought the grandkids over. We played outside for awhile and all & all good.

This morning I must have been really tired and slept in. When I did get up, felt good and ready to go. Walked out to the living room and found Debi sitting in the recliner holding my 1 year grandson, who was sleeping on her chest. Not that she spoils him or the five year, but they have been gone for about ten days and she is getting them back into the grandma mode. I made her & me a big breakfast and serve it her while she was sitting in the chair. I was trying to make up a little for all her waiting on me hand and foot all the time.

Heading outside to do some work in the barn. Hope everyone is having as good of day today as I am.

And I thought I knew who was in charge.

Thursday started off great, feeling really good. Worked out in the barn for four or five hours, then met my lovely personal, home physician wife out for early dinner & little shopping, and then later that night ended up in the hospital for about fours hours.

Well I guess I did skipped over some of the details for that day. After coming home from shopping, I started to have some discomfort in the center of my chest. It kept hurting, but I didn’t think much of it. But when I went to bed, I laid there and it kept hurting more. Being an old EMT (and thinking I know everything), I kept telling myself that it wasn’t my heart, but something else. But it hurts in my center of my chest and it was getting worst. Now my chest is hurting and so is my lower back area. But it doesn’t meet all the criteria of a heart attack, so I don’t want to worry about it. But it still hurts in the center of my chest and it was still getting worst. I was running through all the symptoms of a heart attack and I wasn’t meeting them. But it was hurting in the center of my chest and it was getting worst. Until finally I thought of one of the first thing I learned during my vast medical training. If in doubt when dealing with something medical, CALL 911. They are generally smarter, have more and better equipment, and they can get you to someone who is a lot smarter with heck of a lot more better equipment.

So after about two hours of laying there hurting and the pain getting worst, I woke up Debi. Her first thought was that I woke her up because she was snoring. She immediately called my nephew John, who is member of the Roxana Fire Department and was a paramedic. He called the fire department and had them roll out the truck quietly. John then came to the house and we went over what was happening. The EMT from fire department came and we went over the same stuff and then I finally agreed that they could call an ambulance. They gave me three baby aspirin and a shot of Nitro. Sure enough, I think my chest pain reached it's peak during the ambulance ride. Once I was at the hospital, with pain in my chest going away and the pain staying in my lower back, I was checked out, and they found nothing. The ER doctor couldn’t explain why I had the pain in my chest area or lower back, but at least it wasn’t my heart. So we left with just my lower back area hurting and getting home about 5:00 AM.

So we got about four hours sleep and got up with the pain still going on in my lower back area. Debi called our doctor’s office and kinda intimidated the lady taking the call into getting me in to see the doctor that afternoon. We talked with the doctor for good long time and our doctor couldn’t really say why, but her explanation or thoughts was that the reason I was hurting in lower back because of my kidneys being over worked. The chemo is killing off the cancer cells and a lot of other cells and the kidney are working harder to filter out all this stuff. I may have been a little dehydrated and had to drink more. I said that I drink at least a gallon a day, she said drink more. One more good thing came out of the office visit, she wanted to give me some pain medication and started naming off a bunch of drugs who names I recognized that are some of the good stuff and are sellable on the street.

My lower back area hurt the rest of Friday night, but on Saturday morning I got up pretty well pain free. But I promised the home physician wife that I would stay quiet all day no matter how good I felt. My daughter Tally and her two girls came down Friday and stayed the night. We had breakfast and Debi took them out to get our oldest grand daughter a dress for her eight grade graduation. My mother and all of us when out to dinner and so I had a really good day both physically and with my family. The roughest part of all day was having to sit inside, feeling good, and not getting to go out and play.

So in summary, when I think I got a handle on this and start feeling good. The Chemo drugs raise their ugly heads and slap me back down. Reminding me never to think I truly know what’s happening and they are still controlling the show.

Tuesday 4/6 First Official Day of Vacation

Well I took three sick days off for Chemo, and then I had five of my normal days off that I was sick and so now Tuesday was my first day of vacation. So I am willed myself to feel better and I did. Felt pretty good all day with very little nausea. I did have some hot flashes and sweats, but my sister-in-law says I am just going through menopause and welcome to her world. I was a little stir crazy, so went visiting. Stopped by the greenhouse and talked with my brother and sister-in-law while they were planting. Then I went to my mother and we had a little soup for lunch. I tried to keep it light with the nausea. Felt good the rest of the day.


Wednesday, got up feeling better than Tuesday and went to see the chemo doctor. Told him how I did and what happen the last week. He says we can change a few things and with some more drugs (BETTER LIVING THROUGH MORDERN CHEMISTRY). I should do better next time. But we agreed that I really didn’t have that bad of time (his words, not mine) and it could have been worst. The doctor did say that the next time I see him (April 21st) that I would be bald. The bad thing about that is, I have this great looking beard going on right now. I haven’t had one this good since April 15th, 1983, when the oil industry made us shave for safety reasons (Government Conspiracy). It’s a real bummer. I go back to get more blood work next Wednesday and I am scheduled for another five hour round of chemo on Wednesday April 21st.


Felt so good after the doctor that we went for lunch and a movie. We got some hot theater popcorn which will cure just about any thing. Then we went looking for some ginger, per the doctor it is a good remedy for nausea. I still have some nausea, but only enough to know it there. Plan on working outside tomorrow and make sure I don’t get tired, too fast.

Unhappy Easter

Well Peter Cottontail didn’t hop down the bunny trail, I think it was Fatal Attraction and Glenn Close boiled him in a pot. Starting Saturday late evening, I had abdominal pains that didn't quit. All Saturday night, all Sunday, and into Monday, I wasn't in very good condition. I couldn't rest or sleep until I became totally exhausted. Debi was great, she was trying to comfort me, but it didn't work. Finally Monday morning, the pain started to slow down. Me and my in home doctor (I have to call here that, because she is usually right) think it because I am full of it. Literally and Physically. Another side effect of Vincristine Chemo is constipation and I have been there for four or five days. Monday we started to treat the condition modern medicine and hopefully it will help. Don't know if that it or not, but it could be another side effect of the Vincristine Chemo which is actually abdominal cramps. Oh well we will see.

FORGOT Third Day of CHEMO, Worst Day So Far that week.

Well that goes to show how bad I am at this blogging. I forgot an entire day and what a day. It was the worst day I had last weekend.

The third day of Chemo was long. First I saw the doctor and we talked over how I was doing. Told him about the nausea, he said I was doing good, but I haven’t seen nothing yet. Got hooked up to the IV from 10:50AM to 3:30PM, got hooked upon the computer about 10:45AM. The nurses first gave me my Tylenol, then the bag of Benadryl, and 125mg pill of EMEND and three pills of Prednisone. Then a bag of Rituxun and then a different nausea medicine by bag. Then they started a bag of saline solution for an IV push (needle) of Adraimycin and IV push of Vincristine. The Adraimycin has to be done with the needle in the IV so the nurse can keep checking the flow. If the flow stops or there is any leakage it can cause extensive tissue damage. Then finally got a bag of Cytoxan. Got a couple hot flashes while getting the last IV bag. I put some web links in for these meds and some of the side effects. Most I can live with like loss of appetite, hair loss, nausea, and the loss of being able to conceive a child. But everyone else is going to have to live with the mood swings and irritability. You really need to see some of the possible side effects. I do want to say my Sister, Brother, and Mother have been great about basically dropping whatever they were doing and running me to the doctor or hospital. I couldn’t have done it without them.

Got home about 4:15 PM, my stomach started to hurt slightly and steadily got worst. Took Zofransetron, nausea pill the doctor prescribed, about 5:30. Got a headache, then dizzy about 6:00 with the nausea getting worst. The nausea was steady all evening and took another pill about 10:00 PM. Got dizzy again and felt like throwing up (Nausea Scale 4 -5), but I didn’t. Debi was optimistic thou, when I came home; she had all ready set up in the bedroom and TV Room several one gallon buckets, a two gallon waste bucket and a twenty gallon waste can. Nausea was bad enough to keep me awake most of the night, took another pill about 4:30 AM, and then tried to go to sleep about 5:00 AM. Slept on and off until about 7:15 AM, still had some nausea, but not as bad (1-2).

Fourth, fifth & sixth Days, Better Days are coming.

Thursday, I took the second EMEND pill and three more Prednisone about 7:15 AM and then slept until 9:00 AM. Debi and I are now on vacation, so she went with me to the doctor’s office about 11:00 for a shot that is supposed to make my bone marrow produce more red blood cells. Felt good most of the day with a little nausea (1-2 on the scale). It seemed to cycle all day and evening. Started eating smaller meals more often at Debi suggest, seemed to help. Couldn’t go to sleep until 2:00 (this is another side effect), but the nausea was down to about 1 on the old scale.




Friday, I took the third and last EMEND pill and three more Prednisone about 7:25 AM. Felt good, ran some errors with Debi and had lunch. The nausea was cycling, but not very bad all day. Still couldn’t get to sleep, but whatever.



Saturday, I took the last three Prednisone pills about 7:15 AM. Felt good, ran to the grocery shop with Debi and had lunch. The nausea was cycling (0 – 2), but getting better all day. Worked in the garage and barn for a couple hours, tired but feeling pretty good. Still have a little nausea (0 -1) at 8:00 PM, something I might have to live with for a long while. Then I asked Debi, she was out at a benefit for a police officer who was hurt that we know through our granddaughter, to bring me home some ice cream. That raised the nausea back up for awhile.

Second Day of CHEMO, But a good day on the Computer.

The second day of Chemo was short like the first, but no blood work. Got hooked up to the IV from 9:20 - 10:50AM. The nurses first gave me a Tylenol, then the bag of Benadryl, and finally the bag of Rituxun. They told me I could bring in my computer, so I am able to get on the Alton Marina WiFi system and played on the internet and watch a movie. Felt fine most of the day, but then started to feel the nausea (about 2 on 0-10 scale). Ate supper felt a little better, but the nausea stayed with me all night.

First Day of CHEMO 3/29/2010

The first day of Chemo was short, blood work, and then hooked up to the IV from 9:20 - 11:20AM. The nurses first gave a Tylenol for fever from a possible reaction. Then a bag of Benadryl for Nausea, that comes from the next bag of Rituxun. Something about how it interacts with the lymphoma.


Got home and within 45 minutes got the chills real bad. Debi put me into a sweat shirt and I got in bed with the heating pad on and five or six blankets. Sleep intermittently due to the Benadryl. Then after a couple hours I warmed up. Then got too warm, stripped off all the blankets, the sweat shirt and laid there another hour with the sweats. Felt fine by about 3:30PM, ate some crackers, and felt fine the rest of the rest of the evening after a light supper. But during the night I had the sweats again, but not real bad.

Bad Birthday Wednesday 3/17/2010

Debi and I along, with our responsible adult Brandy, went to the oncologist. They found a small Large Cell B non-Hodgkin's lymphoma tumor in the upper part of my colon. I will most likely start Chemo Monday 3/29. All the doctors were very positive that with this type of cancer they can treated this way without surgery. Since the start of that day, I have seen my doctor, my oncologist, spent four hours one day (my birthday) in the hospital getting blood drawn several times and X-Rays, spent another eight hours getting my butt drilled into for a bone marrow sample, getting two units of packed red blood cells (O+ incase you need some later). a MUGA Scan, more blood drawn, and a CAT Scan. Then Debi and I showed up a 6:00AM Tuesday for surgery to put a port in my chest for the Chemo and the doctor was a no show. So we when to breakfast and we came home and she got a nap. Then we had to go back up to the Hospital that afternoon, so I could get a PET scan. Well, then I at least had Wednesday off.  Thursday morning I went and got my port installed. The nurses at the hospital were great. Surgery was suppose be at 10:00AM, but was delay an hour, and then the surgery took an hour.  I had a 12:45 appointment with the oncologist. My sister had to take me because of Debi having the grandkids and because Brandy & Tally requirement about a responsible adult along. He said the scans showed three more large lymphoids. But the treat will take care of those too. Went to work that weekend, a little tired, but enjoyed getting away the cancer thing.

The Process Starts

It all started late in the fall of 2009, I was getting exhausted, lethargic, working a few extra shifts at work and didn’t think much of it. Then on my January 26th, 2010 at my regular 4 month physical my doctor was palpating on my stomach on the right side and asked if this hurt. I said yes when she pushed on, but otherwise no. I had some discomfort, but heck I am old and fat. Well she said I was portably just full of crap and but sent me to get an Ultra-sound on Jan 28 any how. Went to see my liver specialist on Feb 3rd, but didn’t have any results yet. He felt on and didn’t find and thing. Then got the results, she didn’t say any thing, but I knew I wasn't pregnant. So then it is off to get a CAT scan on February 8th. Didn’t have a good reaction to the dye, but made it through with a little pain and irritability. The doctors saw something, but didn’t tell us what. So then they sent me to get a colonoscopy on Mar 2nd & 3rd. That doctor then they told us that I had a tumor in the upper portion of my colon and they wanted to do surgery. That's when I told everyone about the cancer. Now this upset my female off springs for not telling them sooner and they came up with rule that we couldn’t go to the doctor without a responsible person along. Because I won’t tell them anything and Debi will some times forgets to tell them some things.

Then two days later, doctors change their minds and said we were going to treat it first with chemo. After we had all ready set up the surgery and I had dreams of growing great beard, since I was going to be off for five to six weeks,

History of why I started this Blog

With what is going on in our life recently and right now, Debi suggested that I write every thing down. And I thought that was a good idea. Well I starting in a note book, but decided that I didn’t like to write stuff down by hand. Hate to try and spell, and cut and paste seem simpler. So I though I would do it on the computer. Then I was reading my Daughter-In-Laws blog about her sister trivia night and thought that was a good way to start keeping a record of what’s going and to communicate maybe a little better with my family and friends. Now Debi says she has created a monster.