Brio -- Word for the Day -- Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Brio

Definition: Enthusiastic vigor; vivacity; liveliness; spirit.

It has been so long since I have written that I was ashamed to go back to see what the actual date was. I haven't emailed my closest friends or called on the ones I usually call. Where has time gone?

Monday started the two week on, two week off cycle for ChemoSabe. Steroids this week and next week for four days.. He has been going to bed at 10:30-11:00 p.m. and getting up at 2:30 a.m. full of _____ and vinegar. Or, should I say he is full of brio.

He has had some worry about swelling and red varicose vein symptoms in his legs the last two weeks. A Doppler was Monday done to make certain he has no blood clots. I know I looked at him cross-eyed yesterday when he discussed it again. He was telling me that his legs had not swollen yesterday... WAKE UP CALL... I explained to him he had been working his hinny off the last two weeks. Instructing classes, traveling and standing on his feet, non-stop. When he got up this morning (2:30 a.m, remember) he woke me up and said his legs still weren't swollen or red... Hellllllloooo, you have been lying down.. Poor guy. The Dex is really doing a job on his poor brain!

To top off his steroids, Pete (our min-pin) was ailing pretty good from Saturday to Monday. Didn't eat, couldn't hold his ears up, limped, couldn't yawn or shake his head like dogs do. Took him to the vet on Monday... Strained leg muscles in small dogs (12 lb.) can cause problems with the whole body. So, what do you give a small HYPER dog with a strained muscle? Steroids... DEX... 5 mg daily. That is what ChemoSabe is taking, but four a day. So now I have a 12 lb. dog and a 212 lb. man in the house on steroids. Please pray for me!!!!

Tomorrow is our 22nd anniversary. It just doesn't seem possible. Money and material things have nothing in common with a healthy marriage. We were doing well last year and didn't need or want for anything. With our bikes, we were in heaven... Well, heck, we still are. But, the last year has proven love is true foundation of a relationship... I am lucky to have such a true friend in my husband.

I have struggled the last few weeks with the loss of my mother. There is a lady in the church where I work that has been diagnosed with cancer. Her daughter is about my age. I speak with the lady on a weekly basis. I hope I can be of some strength for her daughter. Today she was admitted to the hospital for a three day treatment of chemo. She will be doing this every three weeks until something changes.

It is pouring rain here right now. Has rained very day this week. ChemoSabe and I thought Sunday was a perfect time to ride as the sun was out and not a cloud in the sky. We headed out around 11:30 a.m. for a destination about 15 miles from the house to have lunch... We got about four miles away and the bottom fell out. We rode about another five miles and found a drive through at a church. We were drenched. I pulled out some dry denim shirts to put on over our wet t-shirts. It warmed us up a bit. We were there under shelter for about an hour.

The rain never really let up so we decided we needed to go from whence we came. Sprinkle...downpour...rain...sheets of rain...car wash rain... We drove like this for about five miles and found a service station with a small overhang, just so we could wipe our glasses off and regroup. No shelter.

I am a lotion freak. I lotion up every time I get out of the shower. Head-to-toe. Even if I shower three times a day from working in the yard and such... I was so wet that when I got off my bike seat there was lotion on the seat. It had soaked through my jeans... By golly, that is soaked!!!!

ChemoSabe looked me over, asked me if I was ready and away we went. I took in so much water through my lips I compared it to the bottle water we drink... Undoubtedly, when you are riding in the rain it is like drinking water from a bottle. Sweet, fresh and plentiful.

Trudging forward I could see the sun breaking through the clouds. We were about three miles from home.. Guess what? Streets were dry as the dessert. Came up the driveway and I looked over to my partner and said, "We beat the rain."... chuckle.

All is well in our life. We accept what the Lord has in store for us. We know he will take care of us. We are brio.

Ruthie and Rog have been in/out of town. They are driving to and from home in Okla. He is beginning the maintenance process.

We hope to be taking vacation soon. We haven't had a real one in over three years. Gosh, maybe longer. We want to get a lot done around the house and make a short trip. We are getting a new roof... I ordered green. Truly wanted the new metal roof, but thought about sliding down it if I ever have to get on it. I will keep you posted.

I will try to keep you up-to-date more often. Have you been studying?

Good night and Love -- Pepper

p.s. -- Almost forgot -- ChemoSabe has HAIR... A lot of black streaks and his eyebrows are black... HE NEEDS A HAIR CUT!!!