Ennead -- Word for the Day -- Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Ennead • \EN-ee-ad\ • noun

Definition: a group of nine

I have Webster dictionary as one of my favorites on the Internet. Since Yahoo doesn't feature a "Word for the Day" any more, I discovered today that Webster has it. So, here we go.

Ennead, meaning nine reminds me of the medication ChemoSabe is taking now. Ennead a day...in some form or fashion. Here they are:
B-6; Acyclovir; Rantidine; Gabapentin; Ecotrin; Tamaflu; Crestor; Velcade; Dexamethasone; Revilmid

The bulk of these are daily, twice a day. Yesterday began the second week of the 28 day cycle which means he started the Dex yesterday for four days. After Friday he will be off them for two weeks. Needless to say... he was up at 1:30 a.m. today and it is 8:00 p.m. and he still hasn't gotten home from work. He had to make a run to Ft. Smith for interviews.

We had a wonderful weekend alone. The rain chased us from the time we left the house on the bikes until the time we returned home. We got soaked once in between Berryville and Harrison for about five miles. Then, nothing.

ChemoSabe lost a guardian angel strap he had on his handlebars that his mom gave to him some years back. I thought I saw something come off his bike on the interstate, but by then it was too late. While we shopped in Branson we looked in every store for one. Even the Christian stores in Eureka had nothing to compare.

He also lost the lens cover to my very good camera. You see, he is still in training to take over my photo taking so he gets to carry that heavy thing, too. Well, to make a long story short....after eating lunch in Branson and shopping, we backtracked to the restaurant and sure enough they had the lens cover.

ANDDDDDDD...when we got home and pulled the bikes into the garage, then on the floor next to the Tahoe was his guardian angel. He was so happy.

Finished up our weekend with a visit to see my aunt and uncle from Bald Knob along with my cousin and spouse visiting from Indiana. It was too short a visit, but we had been so selfish with our travels over the weekend we missed out on family. We hope they forgive us.

Labs have been going very well. CRP is nothing.... Platelets were a little low last week (50), but now they are back up to 70.... He feels wonderful. Although, he did get a little crabby at times over the weekend after coming off the Dex on Friday. When that happened, we just kept our distance.

Had the worst food any restaurant could serve while we were in Eureka. Don't go to Sante Fe.... ChemoSabe and I went there before we got married -- 23 years ago. I tripped on a step and twisted my ankle and he had to carry me out... We have been there a few times over the years and the food was wonderful. We stopped in there a couple of months ago and they were getting ready for new management to reopen. I can tell you...they will be looking for another new management soon. Awful. And all we had was nachos. The beef tasted like dog food and looked like the Fancy Feast chunks.

Had the BEST BURGERS ever in Ft. Smith on Sunday. We stopped by big brother's house for a couple of hours and he fixed burgers on the grill. We had a very good visit, too. We will be back to spend the night with them in a couple of weeks.

ChemoSabe and I have really gained some more weight. The doctor keeps warning him about his. I keep warning myself about mine. We decided since he is getting up so early he could wake me up and we could walk the hood for about 30 minutes each morning. Well, he woke me up at 4:30 yesterday morning and I really wanted to get up, but he had snored all night and I was beat. We are still going to commit to it. Our neighborhood is a walkers' hood. It is very curvy, hilly and peaceful. With a lot of trees and a safe feeling. So, we ARE going to do it.

I look at him and he looks better to me each day. Although his face is puffy at times and flushed from the Dex, he looks healthy and happy. It is just hard to believe he has gone through the last year of all the meds and chemo. What a fighter!

Well, I am looking out our upstairs office and I see those familiar lights coming up the drive and I hear the kids yapping. My baby is home.

Good night and Love -- Pepper I will post updated photos, soon.