Disparity -- Word for the Day -- Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Disparity
DEFINITION: (noun) difference in quality or kind.

Hope this evening finds all of you well, for the most part and surviving the storm. We have had several large, large branches down and we believe one fell on Kipper. He has a bulge and can hardly lie down. That or he felt off the deck during the storm. I left all four in the sunroom today because of the storm and let them out only for a few minutes when I got home.

I apologize for not writing since last Wednesday. I honestly didn't realize it had been so long, until I got some strong hints from some of you... After our doctor's visit last Thursday our balloon was busted. We really believed CheomSabe would be discharged for a break. His counts have been very good, BUT he still has a low grade infection and they do not know what it is. So, the port did not come out and we are scheduled to go back for a visit this Thursday. Therefore, he is still getting labs each day. He told one of the nurses Saturday he wanted to call in 'sick' on Sunday so she spoke with the APN and they gave him the day off.

God is still amusing us. Had to have my dryer fixed on Friday. Something else to keep our minds occupied. Saturday as I was cleaning the fish tank, I stubbed my toe and think I broke it. It is black and blue and hurts like a (sailor word)...

Saturday, the son and Big E took me over to my boss' house and we picked up the riding lawnmower I told you about. The son still has it after putting a fuel line on it, fixing a tire and buying a new battery. He enjoyed it so much at his house he mowed two of his neighbors yards. He says it is a fine machine. ChemoSabe felt well enough Saturday late to meet the kids for pizza. I must admit I truly enjoyed it and believe I had a bit too much wine. Needed it!

Since we had Sunday off from lab I let ChemoSabe sleep a little late. We had intended to go to church, but he hasn't been resting very well. He has been craving fish and we didn't want to go to our favorite spot in Heber Springs. Too far. So, we decided on North Little Rock. The two places we picked -- one was closed and the other was no longer in business. So we headed for Conway. That place was closed also. We ended up at the Market Place in Conway, of which we really like. We got there before the dinner rush. Conway is about 40 miles from us. After we finished our meal we just lingered and watched the people coming in. An elderly couple seemed anxious to sit down before anyone else. They didn't even wait on the hostess to seat them. They seated themselves at a table next to us. I noticed he had a port so I went over and asked him if he were a MM patient. This little man with a big grin on his face looked up at me and said, "You bet cha bippy, Baby." He has been a patient since August 28, 2001. Their 55th wedding anniversary was August 27. They had been in Infusion all day and had taken a sheet cake into the nurses to celebrate his progress and their anniversary. These two were quite the characters. He commenced to tell me he told the doctor what he wanted done. His doctor is the same as ChemoSabe's. He tells him he will 'do it my way'. Then he asks me if I know who sang that song. I told him Frank Sinatra, of course. At that he told me his name was Frank and the wife was Mary. I know now why we traveled to so many places to find food. God brought us together.

ChemoSabe has yet to get his appetite back. He is eating like a bird. He doesn't even eat a whole piece of pie. He had gained about 15 lb. last week and on Friday they started him on lasix. I hate that stuff. I tried to convince them it was the growth factor shot that made him gain. They claimed it was too much fluid. He took it for three days. He has lost all but three pounds of that. He is very tired.

Back to my last writing where I thought our RN niece was going to have to take him in because of the dry heaves the night before. I had a class on Thursday morning and when I got out I tried to call him at home and on his cell. No answer. I called the niece and she had not heard from him. I started home instead of going to work (30 miles) so I could check on him. I got half way home and he called. Are you ready for this??????? When I asked where he was -- AT WORK! I was so upset with thinking something was wrong, I just hung up... Relieved, angry, afraid, stressed, p.o. You name it... all those feelings in one second.

He seems to feel better that last couple of days, but the tiredness is still heavy. He did go to work this morning after labs. I am still giving him his blood thinner shots daily and his meds are the same. Again, his counts look very good except for the crap (CRP). It is hanging steady at 50.

I am going now. Not writing for a couple of days ties us all up. I write too much then and take up too much of your time. I haven't even used the Word for the Day in this writing -- Disparity. But, now at least you know what it means. Might be something I test you on later.

So, the holiday weekend came and went. Can't really plan much with the daily visits. Even Sunday was not enough for us to recoup and regain our strength. ChemoSabe went to lab again yesterday and I went to work. I don't get paid holidays. Gotta have that money, honey.

Good night and Love -- Pepper