Oh-so-hi-o

Well, if you haven't guessed it, I'm in the state of my birth for the weekend. I've been here since Wednesday night... in town to celebrate the 30th bday of my good friend, J, from high school. The beginning of this week coming off of my trip last weekend was pretty busy. Much much more to do recently as L keeps getting better and I've been able to start to pick up some of my old clients and some new ones. I say all that to say that I miss the days of writing on the blog nightly but I think they may be behind us. I will definitely be keeping this up but I think it's much more realistic to think that I'll write 3-4 times a week.

So for now, a quick long distance update on L. K got in early yesterday morning after having been able to jump onto the direct flight to Atlanta instead of having a layover. She and Grandma K and Aunt B and Uncle K were together yesterday and the group heads back to TX today.

L's last meeting with the physical therapist went well last week. She said that he is back to 99.99% of usage of his leg and that he's to walk as much as possible. For her part, she says that driving is okay. We just need to get the all clear from Dr. T which I think we will do when we go in on Tuesday. It's been since the beginning of August that L has been without wheels and I know he's anxious to be able to set his own agenda and come and go as he pleases.

I'm back in Atlanta early early Monday morning so I'll be back sometime after that.

Much love to all. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

Leaving on a jet plane - back in November

Just a quick post from cruising altitude (yes, AirTran has WiFi service!) - I (M) am heading back home today. L is enjoying the week off treatment and visiting with his family from Texas. It is sunny again in Atl, and AuntB&GMa ventured out to the stores while UncleK is doing a round of 18. L has received many cards throughout the last two months and I just want to say a quick thank you. We all (L, K, M & A) so appreciate that we are in everyone's thoughts and prayers. It means a lot - more than we can put into words and more than I think you know. Specific prayer requests - that L would know peace and allow himself to rest, safety for everyone's travel, strength and wisdom as L contemplates getting behind the wheel again.

A is back on the blog soon - I know you all miss her! Then she is leaving on a jet plane too for a visit to Ohio. K is back on Friday and will be with L until the following Monday. GMa/AuntB/UncleK will be returning home on Saturday afternoon.

That's all she wrote. . .
m.
P.S. Picture is from Boston Harbor looking onto the city skyline - to let you know where I'm headed! :)

Sunny Monday!

Howdy from Daleview Way! Yesterday was another busy day of visiting with family. L seems happy with the company but it seems to be very tiring for him. We're hoping that today will be quiet and that he will be able to rest and focus on continuing his healthy habits of resting and eating well. A is back in town and with us until Wednesday when she heads to the Buckeye State to visit some of our favorite friends. On tap for today, more visiting and the last PT visit this afternoon. More updates this evening!

Cheers!
m.

Picture from a family visit Summer 2008

Fall, family and reunion

Greetings! A chill is in the air here - bringing in fall weather and a reunion of mother and son (and sister and brother-in-law and cousins, oh my!). GMa, AuntB/UncleK flew in this afternoon from the Lone Star State and will be here for the week to spend time with L. We also were visited by some lovely cousins who helped to welcome everyone from Texas and spend the day here on Daleview Way. On the afternoon's agenda, cooking and eating together, college football and lovely memories and stories. L seemed to enjoy all the company and being the host with the most! He has had low pain today and the cankles are mostly under control. More elevating is on tap for tonight. Everyone is tucking in for the chilly night - tomorrow includes more visiting and the return of our favorite, A!!!

Again, I post pictures of New England fall - this time courtesy of the garden on Sunnyside Ave - what is more fall than pumpkins! Thanks to P for assisting this blog post!

Until later friends,
m.

October Baseball. . . ALCS & NLCS

L and I are winding down the day with a little baseball watching - Yankees vs Angels. We watched an exciting Dodgers vs Phillies game earlier. Since Boston is out, there is little personal attachment but it was a good come from behind win for LA. Today was full of preparations for the guests coming in tomorrow and treatment at Emory. Beds are made, towels washed and a grocery trip planned for the morning. Busy, busy, busy. Dad is an old hat now on treatment days. He said hello to the nurses, made arrangements for prescriptions that were running low and headed back for his meds. In fact, I went for a coffee and chat with our family friend RUlrich, and he headed right down to find me when he was done. His pain has been low the last few days. We're dealing with swollen ankles at the moment. He's horizontal with ankles up and eyes on the game (bottom of the 7th). We'll keep an eye on it and hopefully we'll soon report that the cankles are gone! :)

With all the news that's fit to print. . .
m.

The more things change. . . the more they stay the same. . .

Hallo Blog Friends! Starting to wind down after an outing in dreary/rainy Atlanta. We had a slow morning that started with pancakes and boiled eggs. It cooled down overnight and Dad was "johnny on the spot" in correcting for the cooler temps. Dad had a dentist appointment this afternoon so we ventured up to Northern Atlanta to Buckhead. Pretty uneventful - reminding me that even though things are changed i.e. Dad's diagnosis, things really do stay the same. The outing ended with a trip to Kroger and acquiring the fixin's for dinner. No pics with this post, but dinner was yummy pork and veggie-filled salad. We committed the age-old sin of shopping while hungry and yes, it's true, we BOUGHT a cherry pie. At the same time as buying supplies for a cherry cream cheese pie!!!! I know, I know - but it's all for L - he needs the calories! The plan for the rest of the evening - eating said cherry pie, new Grey's Anatomy and sleep.

Tomorrow - back to Emory for treatment and then preparing for Saturday's guests! Visitors from Texas arrive on Saturday afternoon and include L's mother, sister and brother-in-law - definitely a full house.

More later. . . .

P.S. Since family is coming, decided to post a picture of L with his siblings

Testing. . . 1, 2, 3 . . . posting pictures

Just testing the picture posting and showing how glorious fall can be in New England (recent picture from weekend camping trip in NH)

Test. . . this is only a test!

Hello Blog-World! I'm here. . . it's me, M. . . jumping from the world of reality into the blog! Delightful! Just doing a early morning check that I am all set and have full blogging rights.

A is safely in Richmond, VA. We had a lovely reunion in the airport before I met up with my bag and L at baggage claim. L and I came back to Daleview Way for some of A's yummy left-overs and a quick catch up. It's amazing how much progress L has made in the few weeks I have been away. So mobile, so strong and steady! It's comforting to see him and to know that we are making progress in our cancer war. Also comforting as a soon to be certified research scientist that the new chemotherapy drugs work so well.

Plan for today - L has a dentist appointment this afternoon. I have some reading/writing to do for the various "irons" I have in the fire. Also hoping to get in a walk with L outside and maybe make a cherry cream cheese pie as a surprise treat - looks for a busy day!

More later! :)

L @ chemo (10/13)

Looking great, no?? :)

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Hand off at the airport

M is in and I am out. Her flight came in right when I needed to be at the airport for my flight so we saw each other briefly at my gate. M and L are being reunited as we speak out by baggage claim.

L and I had a chill day today. Both PT and OT today...and.... Today was Mr. OT's last day! Yay!

M will be writing for the wknd. Enjoy the new perspective. See ya'll soon!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

If only...

If only it were not always the middle of the night when I get to this, I would have the time to write all about the adventures of L and A. Alas, tonight is no different and I'm much too ready to go to bed to really get into our comings and goings. I'm off to Richmond for the wedding of my homegirl, G, tomorrow evening but I promise (really, really promise!) to write before I leave. I'll be handing it over to M for the week. Should be an exciting week... lots of folks coming through in the next week and a half.

That's a teaser for the next entry. Live in anticipation.  ;)

She's back!!

Thank you. Thank you... yes... Quiet everyone, please. Quiet. Thank you for your applause. You may take your seats.

I'm back on the case of the blog... recording L's every move as he takes cancer by the throat and wrestles it to the ground (go L!)... It was a good week, although not entirely restful. I did get a lot of much needed work done, though so it was worth it. Special thanks to Cousin B for coming to share the load with K while I was away and EXTRA special thanks to K for holding it down here at the house and for taking over the blogging responsibilities. You may applaud her. I'll wait.

[Crowd roars.]

Yes, yes. She gave us some very thourough accounts of the comings and goings of L and his entourage. I have a lot to live up to! In any event, things are going quite well around here. L is feeling so so much better and is highly mobile and very nearly totally self-sufficient. So wonderful! Less two months ago he was in the hospital. The prayers of the righteous availeth much!

He and I are off to chemo in the morning.... tomorrow at some point I'll write more about what we did yesterday and today and about the rest of the week holds for us.

More pictures and stories to come! (Along with the long awaited 'Return of M - The Sequel'!)    :)

Guess Who was on Time!

Well yesterday was another good day.

Pain level no more than a 3 all day. L,cousin B, and I (K) got up this morning with a plan. We decided that we would go out today and take L with us.

Cousin B and I(K) went out to Barnes and Nobles while L got dressed to look for a drawing book for cousin B's grandson. She would like for him to draw her a picture that she will frame and hang up in their home. That is so sweet. cousin B is trying hard to motive are grand sons.

Okay back to L.

After we left the book store Cousin B and I(K) came back to the house and had lunch with L before we went out to the stores. (note stores) The first store was Ross department store to return the too short pants 33/30 needed a 33/32. Cashier said that L needed a 32 length so that he would not be in floods. So we got a beige pair that is 33/32. We could not find any shirts that he liked. He wanted shirts with a front pocket and reasonably priced.

L taking 8P meds

We left there and went to the new department store A.J. Wright. L found two shirts with front pockets and a pair of blue jeans. L looks real cute in them. After A.J. Wright L, cousin B and I (K) headed to Kroger. L was in the riding cart, and again I did not get a picture (sorry A). cousin B paid for all the groceries and I(K) could not stop her. Bless cousin B.

We headed back to the house with the groceries; once there I started cooking as we were putting away the food. I (K) put some chicken in the oven, boiled some smoked ham hocks, fixed squash and onions, fried okra, and black eye peas. Oh, almost forgot the corn bread. I was on a serious roll getting the food ready. L was hungry and cousin B was going out to church with her friend here in Atlanta.

The dinner was de--lish!!!!!!!! hmmmmmmmmmm good

Now here is why I titled this blog as 'Guess Who was on Time'. That's right, to all that have been following this story about the OT guy. He actually showed up on time. miracle of miracles

(I (K) just have to mention that tomorrow is his last time with L)

Great Dr's Visit

I'm the guest blogger today and I'm two days behind. So let me catch up. K flew in on Sunday morning and it was a very quite day. A, K and L just enjoyed the quite time together. M called to check on everyone and to see if K had a good flight into Atlanta.

L's pain level was maybe around a 3 at best. He only had to take 1 percocet on the q4. This is a great thing because that means his pain is getting less and less. Still having pain when the sun goes down.

L and K went to see Dr. T on Monday and he had good news. L's blood count is up and that means that the chemo is working. The blood count up means it is working on his anemia and working on his bone marrow. L is looking so much better and he is feeling so much better too.

L and K went to the Ross department store to buy pants and shirts for L because all of his current clothes have become to large and are falling off of him. No just joking he uses a belt.

We got three pair of pants and four shirts but we had to take back one pair of the pants and two shirts. The reason the items are being returned ; one pair of pants that are to short and the two shirts that are to expensive. The new clothes do look good on him. Will take pictures on Friday when we go back out to the doctor.

Tuesday cousin B came in from Kalamazoo, Mich. to spend time with L and K. Cousin B is a RN and one of the best people in the world. She is really a sweet heart. She was one of the first people L talked to about his disease. Cousin B went through some of the same treatments when she was fighting the Big C. "SHE WON" now C free for 9 years.

Oh all most forgot here are a pictures of:

Monday night dinner Wednesday night dinner

No Tuesday night dinner picture but the meal consist of chicken, rice, gravy, and garden salad

(got eaten before pictures could be taken) Very Hungry People (Sorry)

That bring us up to today Wednesday 10/07/2009

Today was another good day. L had a good night slept most of night woke at 3am and took sleeping pill and pain pills. He was up early but not to early. L had PT with Ms T and she took him outside to walk down the block. He did a good job and Ms. T would like L to take longer walks like in a mall. 'Malls now that is my cup of tea' so lets walk in the mall and shop in the mall heheheheheeeeeeeeeeee :)'

L is looking so much better and he seems to be getting stronger. What L needs to do now is to make sure he put a nap in his schedule each day. Tonight after 'home boy' left L was really tried and ready to go to bed. The picture here is L taking his 8 p meds. He left to go to bed and left instruction to make sure he was awaken at 10:30p to get his sleeping pill. That is kind of funny you wake a person up to give them pills to put them back to sleep. Cousin B and myself will be turning in soon too. So at this point I will say good night and remember this is my first blog. K

Coming soon...

We're still working on K accessing the blog to write. Updates coming soon.

Weekend Numbers

Yesterday and today were as low-key as you can get. L and I just hung out yesterday with one little trip to the pharmacy and the grocery store in the evening. I picked up K from the airport this morning and we've all been in our corners all day. L on the move, K on the couch and me in my office and bedroom.

The only bit of interesting news is that K will be here all week along with her cousin, B, who is coming in on Tuesday. I will be AWOL for most of the week as I'm taking the time while they are here to work on my getting my thesis project back on track. If she agrees to it, K will be guest blogging for me for the week. So stay tuned to K's rendition of things.

PAIN: 3
L had a small run in with some swollen ankles last night. Doctor's orders: elevation. Better today.
ATTITUDE: 8
APPETITE: 10
ACTIVITY: 5

Home Alone

PAIN: 2
I don't know if L had any pain at all today really. Every time I asked he said he was feeling good. Pain meds (and chemo?) doing their thing!

ATTITUDE: 8
Generally, L was very upbeat all day (except for when he was going off about Mr. OT. I'm not the only one who thinks he shady).

ACTIVITY: 7
We went out to Chik-fil-a in the morning (as I mentioned we would last night) and then I headed off to work for a few hours. L's mobility and appetite and general with-it-ness is so improved that I wasn't too worried to leave him alone for a few hours. Now that he's allowed to run the staircase, he's up and down all day. I think it's good exercise. In fact, when I got home from work, he was up in his office, just like he always used to be and it was just like old times.

After I'd been home for a while, he says to me, "Do we have any pie crust? I'm hungry."

Huh?

Confusing. We went back and forth for a minute trying to get to the bottom of those strange non-conjunctive sentences living together (M was involved in this because she and I were on the phone at the time but I can only imagine how confusing it was for her only hearing sort of 3/4 of the conversation). Turns out, he had a taste for homemade peach turnovers and although we did have pie crusts we didn't have any peaches or anything that would resemble a fruit filling for turnovers. So a bit later, we went out to Kroger (not Publix -- that detail will be important later) to get some dried peaches and lemons for the turnovers (L's secret recipe). We walked past the deli when they were just putting out manager's special whole rotisserie chicken for $3.99. I know I just went to the store yesterday but yum! So we got one.

Waited in line... cashier seemed to be taking an extra long time... then checked out. L paid with a 20 but she didn't have any tens to give him change so she had to go get some and we waited some more. L was studying the receipt (just for something to do, I think) and noticed that she had rung the chicken up for $4.99. Now, me?? I'm already at Kroger and not Publix, which is 10 times nicer than Kroger and I've already had to wait two different times. $1 makes no difference to getting out of the store and back home. But, L?? Well, he's an accountant. So, naturally, we tell the cashier when she comes back and she sends us over to the Customer Service desk. Again, me - by myself? Peace. I'm out. But... we wait. (Again.) Two customer service reps finally come to the desk talking loudly to each other and then start to try to help us but answer the phone in the meantime and are barely paying attention to us. One looks at the receipt, scans the chicken and reaches in the drawer to give us the difference in price. She hands us $5 and some change.

Honestly, Kroger. Really?

No, that's too much, we say. She, still on the phone, says, if we ring it wrong, it's free.

Oh. Thanks, Kroger!

The moral of the story: Free chicken tastes better.

(M and P got to watch us enjoying the chicken when we had another very fun video chat with them right when we got home.)

APPETITE: 10
See above


(Make sure to check out L in action making the turnovers in The Food Files.)

Promises you can't keep

PAIN: 4
Well managed overnight and all day today. L was even doing extra PT exercises in between his sessions with the PT and OT folks.

ATTITUDE: 9

APPETITE: 11
L was eating everything in sight today and has already requested a Chik-fil-a sausage biscuit for tomorrow morning.

ACTIVITY: 7
There was PT in the early afternoon and then a friend of L's from Solid Rock came by. One of the ministers there, I think. They visited while I slipped out to the store for groceries. Then came the waiting. You guessed it... Mr. OT was behind schedule - again. Not as bad tonight so I won't fuss for too long but after yesterday, he promised L he would be to our house BY 7. Hurmph. Yeah, right. I was incredibly skeptical all day but he actually sorta kinda almost made it. He rang the doorbell around 7:15. What kills me is how he just walks in all nonchalant like it's no big deal. Smiling and all, "Have a great weekend!". So upbeat, I can't even hate. :)