Not much to report...Linda doing well.....weather nice but not warm enough yet...tomorrow will be better then back to rain the next day...
Dave and Darron struggling still with upper respiratory infections...Darron went to the Doc today....
Canada just beat the USA in hockey in overtime....oh well...
No word on the situation updates in Tacoma with Dave's Mom as everyone took the weekend off...should hear tomorrow....
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday....February 26th...2010
Linda had her best day in several weeks today.....really exciting to see her perked up and enjoying more of her day....Darron thinks it is his company.....more than likely it is recovery continuing from her surgery as well as a great attitude....tomorrow we will go to the Florida Aquarium as well as Ebor City to see the making of cigars by hand and then dinner .......
Stepbrother Mick is doing a great job of taking care of things with our Mom and the loss of "Little Sis"....he is understanding real quick what a caregiver is....he says his education is moving quite quickly. Our Mom underwent her first brain radiation today...she will have 10 sessions over the next two weeks....then she begins radiation on the lung tumor. ...in an effort to shrink it too....in both cases it is an effort to improve a quality of life.
Stepbrother Mick is doing a great job of taking care of things with our Mom and the loss of "Little Sis"....he is understanding real quick what a caregiver is....he says his education is moving quite quickly. Our Mom underwent her first brain radiation today...she will have 10 sessions over the next two weeks....then she begins radiation on the lung tumor. ...in an effort to shrink it too....in both cases it is an effort to improve a quality of life.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday (12:15 am)....February 26th...2010
A lot to report tonight.....
Linda had chemo today.....her white counts were good....a bit low on the red blood cells but a "go" for the infusions. She got Alimta and Zometa today......and is now scheduled for a full body "pet scan" on the 15th....this will be the "tell all" on how she is doing.....in terms of control of the cancer.
Dave and brother Darron both have the "cold" floating around Florida....it isn't much fun with upper respiratory problems as well as head sinus problems....they are working to keep it from Linda.
Dave's step sister "Little Sis" passed away last night....lung cancer which metastasized to many places in the body. We are sad.
Dave's stepmother is in the hospital with lung cancer which has metastasized to her brain, affecting her short term memory and balance. A decision has been made to transfer her to another hospital for radiation treatment to deal with the quality of life issues...those being the balance and short term memory...the prognosis is for months in terms of survival with no chemo planned.
How do we feel.....mixed feelings......both were heavy smokers taking a risk that could have been avoided with all the knowledge and warnings about smoking out there. Not that we say they deserved it...or wished them bad luck. It raises our awareness about taking care of ourselves.
In addition it seems most likely that they both had lung cancer when Linda got or had hers in the initial stages.....and they both missed the indicators which would have gotten them to help. Linda reacted to hers and got help....not early enough for a cure but time to continue a quality and duration of life.
We have a glimpse at what the last part of Linda's life might look like with these two experiences...frightening in part...but Linda takes some peace in knowing how much time went along with the cancers out of control....and gives her a sense she will be around for a while longer.
What else....we are still sorting through these "happenings"......they have come fast and are moving quickly......we know we have a bit of "internal work" to do....we won't push it.
Our neighbor is here from New York for two weeks and driving us nuts....which is his standard operating procedure...he is a conservative republican hating Obama, Pulosi, Reed and the rest....and loves Palin....today was the neighbor's birthday...we made sure the card we gave him had greetings from President Obama.
Another cold snap here with freezing tonight....we look to warmer days.....
Linda had chemo today.....her white counts were good....a bit low on the red blood cells but a "go" for the infusions. She got Alimta and Zometa today......and is now scheduled for a full body "pet scan" on the 15th....this will be the "tell all" on how she is doing.....in terms of control of the cancer.
Dave and brother Darron both have the "cold" floating around Florida....it isn't much fun with upper respiratory problems as well as head sinus problems....they are working to keep it from Linda.
Dave's step sister "Little Sis" passed away last night....lung cancer which metastasized to many places in the body. We are sad.
Dave's stepmother is in the hospital with lung cancer which has metastasized to her brain, affecting her short term memory and balance. A decision has been made to transfer her to another hospital for radiation treatment to deal with the quality of life issues...those being the balance and short term memory...the prognosis is for months in terms of survival with no chemo planned.
How do we feel.....mixed feelings......both were heavy smokers taking a risk that could have been avoided with all the knowledge and warnings about smoking out there. Not that we say they deserved it...or wished them bad luck. It raises our awareness about taking care of ourselves.
In addition it seems most likely that they both had lung cancer when Linda got or had hers in the initial stages.....and they both missed the indicators which would have gotten them to help. Linda reacted to hers and got help....not early enough for a cure but time to continue a quality and duration of life.
We have a glimpse at what the last part of Linda's life might look like with these two experiences...frightening in part...but Linda takes some peace in knowing how much time went along with the cancers out of control....and gives her a sense she will be around for a while longer.
What else....we are still sorting through these "happenings"......they have come fast and are moving quickly......we know we have a bit of "internal work" to do....we won't push it.
Our neighbor is here from New York for two weeks and driving us nuts....which is his standard operating procedure...he is a conservative republican hating Obama, Pulosi, Reed and the rest....and loves Palin....today was the neighbor's birthday...we made sure the card we gave him had greetings from President Obama.
Another cold snap here with freezing tonight....we look to warmer days.....
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday....February 23rd...2010
Brother Darron is here for two weeks....a lot of golf planned on his part....
Linda is "holding her own"....operating at about 50% of a "normal" person .....she claims.....with the cancer she indicated she was at about 75%...she still hasn't bounced back from the surgery yet.
Chemo on Thursday.....
Some bad news stacking up.....stepsister Vicky (little sis on this blog) isn't expected to live more than a couple more weeks.....the cancer has spread throughout her body...having started as lung cancer.
Dave's stepmom has been acting "strangely".....yesterday she was hospitalized and masses in her lungs and brain were diagnosed.....today she had a lung biopsy so Thursday we will all know what this means.
Friend Kim (the "Southern Belle") is having breast cancer surgery today....we are keeping close tabs on that....and wish her well....
That is enough!!!!
Linda is "holding her own"....operating at about 50% of a "normal" person .....she claims.....with the cancer she indicated she was at about 75%...she still hasn't bounced back from the surgery yet.
Chemo on Thursday.....
Some bad news stacking up.....stepsister Vicky (little sis on this blog) isn't expected to live more than a couple more weeks.....the cancer has spread throughout her body...having started as lung cancer.
Dave's stepmom has been acting "strangely".....yesterday she was hospitalized and masses in her lungs and brain were diagnosed.....today she had a lung biopsy so Thursday we will all know what this means.
Friend Kim (the "Southern Belle") is having breast cancer surgery today....we are keeping close tabs on that....and wish her well....
That is enough!!!!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday....February 21st...2010
Linda got her first extended time in the sun today.....and a long nap.....weather was beautiful...we need more of it...tomorrow night brother Darron comes for 17 days of golf and hockey and....
ps...what about the USA hockey team...a "nail biter" of a game.....
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Saturday....February 20th....2010
Wendy and Taigen flew home today....and the weather was warm for the first day since we have flown back down here...duh....
.
Yesterday was another Busch Gardens day...more low key with the focus on seeing the animals and getting Taigen on some kiddie rides....but...she also rode a roller coaster and a ride the went upside down...gutsy at least!
.
Yesterday was another Busch Gardens day...more low key with the focus on seeing the animals and getting Taigen on some kiddie rides....but...she also rode a roller coaster and a ride the went upside down...gutsy at least!
Linda is still not at full strength....and a full blown headache today..most likely sinus caused ....hopefully tomorrow will be better for her so we can both enjoy the sun.....
.
Pictures below at Busch Gardens...look closely to see what the young chimpanze thinks of us.....the picture with the cloudy water is hippo poo...BIG hippo poo while we were standing there....Taigen acts like the mountain lion...
.
.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday.....February 18th....2010
The bobber came ashore but alas still no fish.....Linda's chemo set for next Thursday....
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wednesday....February 17th....2010
Better weather in Florida today but still nippy....by Saturday...back in the 70's...about time....
Linda was a bit slower today....not as much energy....but still functioning....we are setting up her next chemo session....first in Florida...for a week from Thursday....
Taigen went fishing today...but no luck....her bobber came off and we have to wait for it to drift to shore to continue the effort....
Linda was a bit slower today....not as much energy....but still functioning....we are setting up her next chemo session....first in Florida...for a week from Thursday....
Taigen went fishing today...but no luck....her bobber came off and we have to wait for it to drift to shore to continue the effort....
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday....February 15th....2010
Busch Gardens day today....Linda did well...good energy and all.....she seems to be on the up side of things which is much better than the last few weeks of post surgery and new chemo and all....good for her.
.
The weather was very cooperative today...not bad since it has sucked since we've been back to Florida....tomorrow is supposed to be colder again....
.
The weather was very cooperative today...not bad since it has sucked since we've been back to Florida....tomorrow is supposed to be colder again....
Taigen, Chris and Wendy had a good time....Linda "passed" on all the big roller coaster rides this time.....smart girl.
Tomorrow it's back to the airport as Chris flies home to Seattle....Taigen and Wendy stay until Saturday....brother Darron flies in next Monday for a couple of weeks of golf...
.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday....February 14th.....2010
Happy Valentines Day...we hope your day was as good or better than ours....and we had a good one. Linda has broken out of her "funk"...and felt more lively and not quite as tired...a bit more alert....and with no nap today.....Wendy, Chris and Taigen just returned from Cape Canaveral where they had a delightful day.....tomorrow we all go to Busch Gardens.....Linda is known to ride all the big roller coasters but I think she will pass this trip....we have the wheel chair for her to ride around in all day....
We wrote our valentine letters to each other today....which we have been doing for a few years....very touching and insightful as to our feelings and thoughts about each other and our commitment to our relationship....
To my beautiful wife…… (To Linda....in part)
Your courage is beautiful…..and inspiring…..
Your positive outlook is very beautiful….amazing to be part of….
Your power is beautiful ……a powerful woman for sure……
Your acceptance of “what is“…..is beautiful……
Your living currently is very beautiful…..
Happy Valentines Day beautiful woman…..
My Dearest Valentine....... (To David....in part)
Your love exceeds all my expectations......
Your patience exceeds all boundaries......
Your humor keeps me smiling......
Your understanding simply amazes me.....
I am the luckiest valentine in the world.....
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Saturday....February 13th...2010
Wendy, Chris and Taigen arrived yesterday from Seattle....today they went to Sea World in Orlando and after spending the night in Orlando, will go to Cape Canaveral tomorrow. I've always told Taigen she will be a rocket scientist....after visiting the space center, I am sure she will want to be one.
Monday we all go to Busch Gardens....Linda in her wheel chair with Taigen riding, of course.
Linda has been in the "dip" for a couple of days....a period of time associated with the Alimta chemo treatment....she has been emotional and "weepy".....and sleeps a lot....and tired a lot......
Tonight we ventured out for a couple of hours to see old friends and "Big E"...aka Ernie...play his guitar and sing.....for money....a job....and he is quite good....getting out among friends was good for Linda.
I found this piece tonight while looking for some stuff on the net for Linda...a good summary of how she has been feeling....
Its Ok To Cry
Like most I feel bad, ashamed about crying and most of the time unable to do it. We push back those tears. Remember when you were a kid and you would have a cry, a really good cry where you could not breathe very well. Now remember after how good we felt after, like the whole world was fresh and new with a whole lot less weight.
We need to shed those tears; we need to let them out. There is much sadness in our world just as there is much bliss. Judging it, criticizes the world for how it should be, holding us back from moving forward in our personal life. Judgment of how it should be instead of allowing the tears of anger, sadness, shame and showing our fear only blocks us back from our feelings. There will always be stuff in our life that part of us wishes’ were different, this is the part that is not living in the now. When we live in the now we allow our self’s to feel. In this we become accepting of what is rather than what should be. We cry when we need to. In understanding that we need to cry, in order for our personal growth we need to understand our tears.
There are different kinds of tears, for different situations, all of which come from different parts of our body showing up in different ways.
Anger Tears: Our ego is in the way here, we are in a vulnerable, exposed, powerless place that we do not want others to know. We are feeling inadequate, our body stiffens. Not knowing how to express our self’s not feeling that tears are acceptable or polite we try to hold them back until they squeeze out the out side corner of our eyes, making it easy to push away.
Sad Tears: When we are moving forward in a new direction, leaving certain things, persons, usually advancing to a new level we have sadness in our hearts. With our shoulders down, the salty tears come up from our hearts to the inside corner of our eyes. They spill down our cheeks over our lips where we taste them, and are reminded with the bitterness of the bitterness of life.
Frightened Tears: When we are frightened we create tears that come from the bottom of our feet. Our whole sole is trembling or shaking and the tears engulf the whole well of our eye, clouding our vision. They spill over our whole face, making us feel more vulnerable.
Shame Tears: These come from the pit of our stomach when we are to much in our heads, judging criticizing ourselves and others. The word Should has a big part of shame as the word it self is a guilt trip on our self’s and others. With our shoulders dropping we are stuck in the anguish of the past.
Combo Tears: The worst tears of all, stiffness of anger, dropping of sadness, trembling of fear, and the bending of shame. Trembleling cold and nauseated, feeling unworthy and afraid we get mad at our self’s for feeling this way.
Tears are our friends, we need them. We need them for our self’s and to see them in others. As we are all learning to understand our feelings tears show us where we stand today.
We all have tears inside us. We hold our families pain, our friends pain, the planets pain. With so much pain from the outside and our own we have denied our tears. It takes strength to cry, shed a tear. Finding it easier to cry for someone else than for your self. Tears get us through the darkest time, bringing us to a new understanding of our self. A new light, where we can show others who are blocked in their tears. These unshed tears cloud us, discolor our thoughts, making us unable to take real steps forward so we repeat the blocked process over and over.
Telling our stories, while letting out the full range of tears heals us, as well as the ones we have shared with. After the tears we, are able to see the blocks in a better light with a new understanding, making it easier to pick up and move forward again.
Its ok to cry, go ahead the planet needs you to.
Monday we all go to Busch Gardens....Linda in her wheel chair with Taigen riding, of course.
Linda has been in the "dip" for a couple of days....a period of time associated with the Alimta chemo treatment....she has been emotional and "weepy".....and sleeps a lot....and tired a lot......
Tonight we ventured out for a couple of hours to see old friends and "Big E"...aka Ernie...play his guitar and sing.....for money....a job....and he is quite good....getting out among friends was good for Linda.
I found this piece tonight while looking for some stuff on the net for Linda...a good summary of how she has been feeling....
Its Ok To Cry
Like most I feel bad, ashamed about crying and most of the time unable to do it. We push back those tears. Remember when you were a kid and you would have a cry, a really good cry where you could not breathe very well. Now remember after how good we felt after, like the whole world was fresh and new with a whole lot less weight.
We need to shed those tears; we need to let them out. There is much sadness in our world just as there is much bliss. Judging it, criticizes the world for how it should be, holding us back from moving forward in our personal life. Judgment of how it should be instead of allowing the tears of anger, sadness, shame and showing our fear only blocks us back from our feelings. There will always be stuff in our life that part of us wishes’ were different, this is the part that is not living in the now. When we live in the now we allow our self’s to feel. In this we become accepting of what is rather than what should be. We cry when we need to. In understanding that we need to cry, in order for our personal growth we need to understand our tears.
There are different kinds of tears, for different situations, all of which come from different parts of our body showing up in different ways.
Anger Tears: Our ego is in the way here, we are in a vulnerable, exposed, powerless place that we do not want others to know. We are feeling inadequate, our body stiffens. Not knowing how to express our self’s not feeling that tears are acceptable or polite we try to hold them back until they squeeze out the out side corner of our eyes, making it easy to push away.
Sad Tears: When we are moving forward in a new direction, leaving certain things, persons, usually advancing to a new level we have sadness in our hearts. With our shoulders down, the salty tears come up from our hearts to the inside corner of our eyes. They spill down our cheeks over our lips where we taste them, and are reminded with the bitterness of the bitterness of life.
Frightened Tears: When we are frightened we create tears that come from the bottom of our feet. Our whole sole is trembling or shaking and the tears engulf the whole well of our eye, clouding our vision. They spill over our whole face, making us feel more vulnerable.
Shame Tears: These come from the pit of our stomach when we are to much in our heads, judging criticizing ourselves and others. The word Should has a big part of shame as the word it self is a guilt trip on our self’s and others. With our shoulders dropping we are stuck in the anguish of the past.
Combo Tears: The worst tears of all, stiffness of anger, dropping of sadness, trembling of fear, and the bending of shame. Trembleling cold and nauseated, feeling unworthy and afraid we get mad at our self’s for feeling this way.
Tears are our friends, we need them. We need them for our self’s and to see them in others. As we are all learning to understand our feelings tears show us where we stand today.
We all have tears inside us. We hold our families pain, our friends pain, the planets pain. With so much pain from the outside and our own we have denied our tears. It takes strength to cry, shed a tear. Finding it easier to cry for someone else than for your self. Tears get us through the darkest time, bringing us to a new understanding of our self. A new light, where we can show others who are blocked in their tears. These unshed tears cloud us, discolor our thoughts, making us unable to take real steps forward so we repeat the blocked process over and over.
Telling our stories, while letting out the full range of tears heals us, as well as the ones we have shared with. After the tears we, are able to see the blocks in a better light with a new understanding, making it easier to pick up and move forward again.
Its ok to cry, go ahead the planet needs you to.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Thursday....February 11th....2010
Linda here sitting with Dave watching the Tampa Bay Lightening on TV. Dave had an offer for tickets to go, but there was no way I had the energy to go to a hockey game. I'm still recovering from the past month and the flight here. I can't wait until Dave can report "Linda's back!". I am so impatient to feel better.
I want to get my personal thanks in to all the people who supported us during our move, both physically and in spirit. It was amazing that we survived it all, but having you all behind us really helped.
Daughter Wendy and family arrive tomorrow during this cold spell. I feel so bad they won't have warm sunny weather, but it can be hit or miss this time of year.
Tomorrow is a week since chemo, so I am already feeling the side effect of depression setting in. Hopefully having family here will lessen the severity of it. At least I now recognize it as a side effect, so I am prepared for it.
Love and gratitude.......Linda
I want to get my personal thanks in to all the people who supported us during our move, both physically and in spirit. It was amazing that we survived it all, but having you all behind us really helped.
Daughter Wendy and family arrive tomorrow during this cold spell. I feel so bad they won't have warm sunny weather, but it can be hit or miss this time of year.
Tomorrow is a week since chemo, so I am already feeling the side effect of depression setting in. Hopefully having family here will lessen the severity of it. At least I now recognize it as a side effect, so I am prepared for it.
Love and gratitude.......Linda
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Tuesday....February 9th...2010
Yes...we are in Florida....and in bed....and we might not get up for 3 days....we have to by Friday as Wendy, Chris and Taigen are coming from Seattle for a week.
The trip wasn't too bad ...a bit long with stops in Phoenix and a transfer in Houston before ending up in Tampa...thanks to Steve and Ethel for picking us up....and daughter Janine for taking us to the airport at 4 am....
Linda did well on the journey...we used the wheelchair all the way....which helps...
The trip wasn't too bad ...a bit long with stops in Phoenix and a transfer in Houston before ending up in Tampa...thanks to Steve and Ethel for picking us up....and daughter Janine for taking us to the airport at 4 am....
Linda did well on the journey...we used the wheelchair all the way....which helps...
Monday, February 8, 2010
Monday....February 8th...2010
Up at 3:15 am for a trip to the airport...and Tampa by way of Phoenix and Houston....ugly flight but you take what you can get....
Both the car and truck are in storage and the bags are in Janine's car ready to go....
Linda did well today...felling much better...still gets a bit tired......and needs nap time.
We saw AVATAR in 3D IMAX with friend Claudia today.....great time....great movie....
Both the car and truck are in storage and the bags are in Janine's car ready to go....
Linda did well today...felling much better...still gets a bit tired......and needs nap time.
We saw AVATAR in 3D IMAX with friend Claudia today.....great time....great movie....
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sunday....February 7th.,...2010
Man the time flies when you're having fun...and when you are moving and it isn't so much fun....
Jim and Jeff and Dave, using a big UHAUL, moved everything to Brasada Ranch in two loads in one day...and used the furniture and some of the art to "stage" the spec house....it looks very nice "furnished".
Wendy and Chris and Taigen came in from Seattle Friday night and cleaned all day Saturday and Sunday morning...,with the Super bowl as the "finish time".....daughter Janine couldn't make it because of a medical issue....so the load was upped a bit...but the "help" met the challenge.
We are now in Portland..getting ready for a night's rest and packing tomorrow for the flight to Tampa.
A big thank you to the individuals involved in the packing, moving and cleaning...we really appreciated the help....
Linda had chemo Friday...even though she looked not so good, the Oncologist said she was in good shape...blood counts and all....her followup visit to the ostomy clinic went well as well.....she is much more comfortable with it all.
Linda worked too hard yesterday...and it showed....today she is doing quite well and feels the part....so we are looking to an uneventful flight to Tampa....
Dave would type more but his hands feel like clubs with cuts all over them and a pinched nerve in his left arm....
Jim and Jeff and Dave, using a big UHAUL, moved everything to Brasada Ranch in two loads in one day...and used the furniture and some of the art to "stage" the spec house....it looks very nice "furnished".
Wendy and Chris and Taigen came in from Seattle Friday night and cleaned all day Saturday and Sunday morning...,with the Super bowl as the "finish time".....daughter Janine couldn't make it because of a medical issue....so the load was upped a bit...but the "help" met the challenge.
We are now in Portland..getting ready for a night's rest and packing tomorrow for the flight to Tampa.
A big thank you to the individuals involved in the packing, moving and cleaning...we really appreciated the help....
Linda had chemo Friday...even though she looked not so good, the Oncologist said she was in good shape...blood counts and all....her followup visit to the ostomy clinic went well as well.....she is much more comfortable with it all.
Linda worked too hard yesterday...and it showed....today she is doing quite well and feels the part....so we are looking to an uneventful flight to Tampa....
Dave would type more but his hands feel like clubs with cuts all over them and a pinched nerve in his left arm....
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday...February 4th...2010
Today is moving day...with sons Jim and Jeff, we are going to "marathon" it and move it all today....and then finish the opdds and ends tomorrow and cleaning on Saturday with Wendy, Chris, Tyson and Janine....
Linda is still staying about the same....limited physically......so we have to "hold her back" today as she will jump on the move and burn herself out early.....she is still struggling with the shingles as well...she promises to follow up with her doctor today. Tomorrow friend Deb is coming out to pick her up and take her to chemo and the ostomy clinic.....
Linda is still staying about the same....limited physically......so we have to "hold her back" today as she will jump on the move and burn herself out early.....she is still struggling with the shingles as well...she promises to follow up with her doctor today. Tomorrow friend Deb is coming out to pick her up and take her to chemo and the ostomy clinic.....
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Tuesday....February 2nd....2010
Packing...Packing....packing....one more day of packing....and then the moving begins!!!!!!
We are also setting up our motorhome to live in once we return from Florida towards the end of April.
Linda is still limited with what she can do...we think she is doing much better but she becomes fatigued very quickly....she has more chemo on Friday....
ps.....the pictures the other day were taken 3 years into our marriage.....'83.....
We are also setting up our motorhome to live in once we return from Florida towards the end of April.
Linda is still limited with what she can do...we think she is doing much better but she becomes fatigued very quickly....she has more chemo on Friday....
ps.....the pictures the other day were taken 3 years into our marriage.....'83.....
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