Tuesday, January 30, 2007

A Better Day

Who would think that eating a reasonable sized bowl of cream of wheat and drinking a glass of juice would be cause for celebration? Man. How the mighty have fallen. I’m attaching a photo of myself on the USS Ethan Allen (circa 1968) when I was what Verva calls a “stud muffin” – I’m just about that sleek and racy again but now they say I should try to gain some weight. No one is every happy! I thought I wanted to LOSE weight and now I have to gain again.

We have one more trip to MDA to learn about taking care of the catheter but then we should be able to stay home for a while after that. That’s good because our Volvo has been burning up Hwy 45 driving back and forth almost every day. I think Verva will especially enjoy the rest from that travel. As for me, I’m kind of enjoying the experience of having her drive me around while I just relax and look at everything (read cars) and listen to music. Maybe I don’t really need a Porsche?

Best news – my brother John arrives on Thursday. He said he’s working on his joke repertoire and plans to make me laugh like crazy. He also wants to have some time on my John Deer. I can hardly wait to see him.

Next treatment is 2/9/07.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bob - what the heck, I think you'd look good in a Porsche. Get some rest!

Dennis

Wayne Thompson said...

To the readers of this blog who did not know Bob when he was 12 years old. Bob + Barbara + John could make King Tut wet his pants, when they got going.

Cousin Wayne

Anonymous said...

This is my very first BLOG experience! What a fantastic tool to keep in touch!

Bob...I have been thinking about you so often...don't know if you knew, but I have "been there/done that". Wasn't much fun...but when you consider the alternatives...it is a FABULOUS experience! ha

Coupla things I did that really helped me...consider taking a pillow case and putting every email, get well card...any communication you get that is encouraging/supportive and take it with you to chemo. Mine took 8 hours and I always read every word of everything in my "Chemo Peelow" as soon as I got there. I felt soooo strong with all that support.

I was at Phase 3C when I was diagnosed, they later told me I would not have lasted another 6 weeks had they not done the surgery and chemo when they did. Well, that was in 1999 and guess what!? There are indeed miracles you keep working on being one!

I send you good thoughts, prayers and a tad of energy...how well I remember that feeling of being tired to the bone...but I think it is kinda like the first 3 months of being pregnant...you are tired so you don't overdo...so, take it easy, ENJOY everything you can (I can tell by your notes that you are doing a VERY good job of this) as well as doing what I consider the #1 MOST IMPORTANT thing...stay positive, be grateful and stay hopeful!

Take care of each other...when I told Cook I had cancer, his response was so wonderful, he said, "Well, we will just do what we have to do, get thru this and go on from there!" And we did!
Good luck friend!
Loretta Hudelson

Anonymous said...

I'm a little disappointed that your brother will be running around in your lawn on the John Deer. I was looking forward to turning my "little tractor" loose in your yard...

Nathan

Anonymous said...

Wow... what a body! I always knew you were a wolf in sheep clothing.

Nathan & Kimberly

Anonymous said...

Bob,

I found that kytril helped with the nausea from the oxalyplatin and that ativan helped lessen the nausea from some other chemos. It's worth a try.

Anetta

Anonymous said...

Hi Uncle Bob! I can't tell you how much I miss you (Aunt Verva, Katy, and Sarah too). I really can't wait to see you in September. Maybe we can find a way to make some heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes...just like old times. Love you, Megan

Anonymous said...

"Stud muffin," huh?? I always thought Verva was attracted to you by your high intellectual capacity and not your buns! :)

mike

Anonymous said...

Bob and Verva,

Here is a prayer that I found on the internet regarding healing. I agree with what you said in one of your blogs, "WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES."

We pray for all those undertaking chemotherapy "chemo.” the use of medicines or drugs to
treat disease, that the Lord will work out His perfect will in your situation and bring about
healing. We ask that The Great Physician will heal all those that have undergone surgery
and radiation therapy and that the fire of God will destroy all the cancer cells. We speak
peace to all the patients and ask the healing virtue of Our Lord God will flow through every
vein, tissue, cell, ligament and that healing will manifest. We believe that God's desire is
manifest in your life. His desire is written in 3 John 2 “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy
good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along”. We speak
peace to all the families having cancer patients. We speak uncommon provisions to cater
for all the expenses needed to take care of the patients. We destroy every generational
curse and declare that they will not continue but the blessings of God will overshadow
each and every one of you. We are in agreement with God's word in Jeremiah 30:17 “ But I
will restore you to health and heal your wounds declares the LORD.” So be it, in Jesus
Name. Amen.

Lorraine

rindy said...

does your brother know how to whistle to find the keys to the deer? i've been fighting some kind of infection...so, i'm not planning a trip to see you until this clears up - so, i guess, your brother can have a whack at the yard!

cream of wheat was always my barometer of what can be kept down. my mom believed it had healing power as it seems that was her first effort at providing comfort to herself and me when we were sick. since her death, when i was 11, my memories of cream of wheat are times of feeling love and i passed that on to my children. i still have and use the jewel tea bowl we ate from.

i'll have to loan it to you....i think it has magical powers; because it has held my children and i together mentally and physically for many years.

as to the photo....man those are some shorts!

amazing story about your cat...maybe he decided he needed to go to heaven where he can be a guardian angel cat over you and your family - i'd offer you one of my 5 cats (3 inherited from tricia thompson); but they are all psycho in their own way - gee wonder where they get that trait from!?!

it's 1:30am - and i have to wake up at 4am to ride in with bj...so, take care and let me know what you need

James Pontiff said...

I wish we had access to that photo when you were managing construction Bob.

I'm looking for the PPE but I don't think tighty whitey's pass muster.

And I'm sure those are steel toe shoes...

James Pontiff