Finally Friday

I just finished my last week of summer school and just had my first day of inservice today. Ughhhhh! It is hard to believe that summer for school people is over - since school starts Monday, August 3. It seems the summer days are shorter and shorter with vacation days being the shortest.
He fished Monday, Tuesday, and got rained out Wednesday. He played 18 holes of golf with Beth, Scott, and Colin yesterday. It was so much fun that he went back with Josh, Scott, and Colin and played 18 more holes today. He said that he was a little tired. From the sounds coming from him sleeping, he was a "lot tired". He clear cut the forest with his snoring.
He is more like himself everyday. He still does not look like himself, but maybe that too will change soon.
The Westbrooks have been in Florida camping and are returning tonight (late). We can't wait to hear a 4 years old and 9 years old version of a Florida camping vacation. It should be exciting.
God's blessings to all,
Cathy

Wet Wednesday

I am about to finish my second week of Jump Start (summer school), and "Chemo Man" is on his way home from the lake. He and Josh (the son-in-law) went to the lake on Monday so that they could fish. Silly boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They didn't catch any fish and even ran out of gas----a long, long, long way from the dock. Luckily the trolling motor batteries were good. It only took them about 3 hours to get back to the dock. Kate and Beth joined them on Monday night. They fished between rain showers yesterday. Still, there were no fish. They decided that it was time to return to the "real world" and to "heck with vacation". The funny thing is that it is clearing off as I type.
He is so much improved this week. It is hard to believe that he was still so weak and frail this time last week. He just might feel like going back to work on August 3 after all.

Love to all,
Cathy

Saturday

Thank heavens! A week of Jump Start (summer school) is complete and I am exhausted. It is quite different sitting around a hospital, clinic, or the Hope Lodge watching television compared to actually working again. Mr. G. has been trying to do at least one or two little projects each day since Wednesday in a effort to regain some of his strength. His goal is to return to UPS August 3. Hopefully, he will fulfill this goal. He enjoys being off and piddling, but he has really missed the normalcy of work, too. He has not worked full time since mid-March.
It is hard to believe the journey that this has been. I know that it is still not over, but it sure is more normal-me working-- James piddling. LOL
Have a great day! God is providing one that should be much cooler, prettier, and more enjoyable than the early days of July.
Love to all,
Cathy

5 Days after Neulasta

We are now on 5 days past Neulasta. It sure is making him tired, but he is hoping that by tomorrow, he will be feeling like himself again. His radiation burns continue to improve and he no longer has throat issues. From what I understand, these are common side effects and it takes a little while for them to disappear.
Thank you to all who kept us lifted up in prayer. We still have the battle, but it is easier to live with-thanks to all the prayers and concerns.

Enjoy this hot day,
Cathy

TGIF

We had a very, very, very good night's sleep in our own bed last night. As I said before, the Hope Lodge is very nice and the staff is very accommodating-but it is not HOME!
I am working this morning and he is (alone) driving himself to Trenton to re-register the fishing boat. Do you think that he may have some plans for his "free" days next week?
He is really not looking forward to Amy giving him his shot of Neulasta this afternoon. It helps him to restore his white blood cells, but it sure "whips" him in the process. He will only feel like being in the sack (for 2 or 3 days). Then he should be feeling much better.
We have 6 weeks to recuperate before we return to Nashville. Yahooooooooooooo!
Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and cool, comfortable clothes on this glorious, hot summer day.

Love to all,
Cathy

"No Mo Chemo"

Halleujah! Praise the Lord! Amen!!!!!!!!
Mr. G. has completed radiation forever and hopefully chemo, forever. We just got home and officially unpacked our Nashville bags. (That was such a nice treat on this hot, West Tennessee afternoon.) We have had Nashville bags since the middle of April, but finally got to empty them out.
Our plans at this time are to return to Nashville to have a CT scan and see the oncologist August 18. At this time she should be able to discuss the results/success/prognosis of the past treatments and discuss future plans. We will return to the radiologist in September as a follow up, but no more radiation will be done. (As he said, "I have microwaved enough for this lifetime!")
Enjoy a warm, July evening.
You will catch me just relaxing by the pool.
Love, Cathy

Hump Day

Mid week at last.............We had another 7 1/2 hours day at Vandy. Today was only for chemo, fluids, and he had to have 2 units of blood. We were told that he should have sudden bursts of energy in the next few hours. I hope so, because the last 2 days have done in both of us. Long days at the hospital, sitting and doing nothing except reading and watching tv, and waiting on the drips are hard on people who normally are quite active.
He apparently needed this since he has not been himself the past few days. He has had zero energy and little appetite. He really is looking forward to going home tomorrow and this hopefully being his last chemo treatment.
Have a pleasant evening,
Cathy

Tuesday-Chemo #10

We just finished an 8 hour lab, dr. appointment, and chemo treatment day. It would have been longer, but they decided to delay part of it until tomorrow. It seems his overall blood count should be 40, but his is only 26. Tomorrow, they will transfuse him in an effort to elevate/restore his counts.
The plan still is to finish this round Thursday (July 9), and then wait until August 19 to do another CAT scan. At this point Dr. Keedy is cautious in her comments on his prognosis. She said that she would like to comment after she has seen his scan in August. The 25% shrinkage is a very good thing, but we will wait and see "how good" that is.
It sure seems odd to be here again at the Hope Lodge. We are not in the same room, nor on the same floor, nor do we have the same view that we had for 7 1/2 weeks prior. There are also so many new faces, many new stories, and so many more victims of this dreaded disease.
Enjoy this lovely afternoon and night that God has provided.

Love,
Cathy

Monday

We are "home" away from home at the Hope Lodge. We have an early appointment (7:00a.m.) with the chemo lab, then Dr. Keedy, and then to infusion for chemo. Thought that it would be easier to stay here for old time sake and for convenience.
It seems like the day that we came for the first time. We were so nervous and uncertain about the whole ordeal and here we are again facing nervousness and uncertainty.
Pray for a good week for all. Sweet dreams.
Love,
Cathy

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July on the 5th................We have really enjoyed being at home, doing normal stuff for the past two weeks. He has gained some weight, gone fishing, eaten a lot, gone fishing, caught up on his sleep, worked on the boat, exercised a "little", gone to the lake, etc. We did have a great time at the lake on Thursday, Friday, and part of Saturday. Most of the family strolled in by Friday night and we celebrated his birthday that night. We came back early Saturday (July4) so that Mr. G. could stay up all night at church with the Methodist men cooking "hog" for a barbque add-a-dish on Sunday.MMMMMM... GOOD FOOD.......
He had to take a nap when we got home this afternoon and as of now is still asleep.
Well, we go back to Nashville and more chemo Tuesday through Thursday this week. Unless something changes we will be through and will wait 3 months before they do any more scans.
Thank you to all the dedicated prayer warriors who have prayed us through this
"speed bump" in life.
More daily blogs beginning tomorrow........................
Love,
Cathy