Lief -- Word for the Day -- Sunday, December 6, 2009

Lief

Definition: soon, gladly

I've been trying new designs for our blog...so if you don't like the colors, or if you are colored blind... let me know... I surely don't want you missing out on the news.

We have had an amazing week. One we will lief share with you. That is really an unusual word, but it is the one that popped up today.

I will begin by telling you I forgot to tell you a couple of weeks ago that ChemoSabe had four cancer spots removed from his face. He had a little wart like spot on the very end of his nose a few months back and our family doctor froze it off. It came back about a month ago and the day after his colonoscopy he was sent to a dermatologist and he burned it off. He found some other little cancer spots on his face and took them off, also. Now you ALL know how vain he is. But after what he has been through the last year he has changed.

That same day our MDO group was having Thanksgiving potluck. I had mentioned to ChemoSabe and a friend of ours that we use to have lunch EVERY day a few years back. No 'ifs', 'ands', or 'buts'... We made it every day... We have not done that in about ten years... Really not even had lunch together at all. I must have put a guilt trip on him without meaning to.. So, when I mentioned the MDO deal, he lief came. His face was all splotched, but he didn't act like it bothered him. We had a very pleasant meal. The spots came back okay and his face was back to normal in a few days after that black scab fell off the tip of his nose.

We made it through the labs, MRI, bone density and the dreaded bone marrow biopsy this week. We had our doctor's visit on Friday...she stayed with us from 1:45 to 2:30... She is an amazing doctor. Now, get your school notes out -- here we go.. See if you remember some of this stuff. Focus on the word 'unremarkable'... it means - nothing that stands out.

Report:
-- WBC - 3.85 (3.0-12.00)
-- RBC - 3.32 (4.50-6.00)
-- Platelet - 103 (150-500)
-- CRP (crap - ha) - <5.00 (0.00-10.00) remember, at times he was at 169
-- MRI - Stable unremarkable MRI of the brain without evidence of focal skull base or diploic myelomatous disease (this means he has no lesions or signs of cancer in his brain)
-- MRI - spine and pelvis -- Scans made of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines and pelvis. Stable hypointense homogeneous marrow with stable focal lesions. NO evidence of new focal lesion, compression or avascular necrosis is seen.. (this means he still has 25 lesions, but they have not grown. They are still evident at these sizes...1.5 cm in spine, 2 cm in spine, 2.5 cm in left sacrum 2 cm in the left ischium and other measuring and lesions. No lesions found in prosthesis is again noted. His artificial hip)
-- MRI - shoulders -- No focal lesions seen in either should area. Stable hypointense homogeneous marrow.
-- Bone Marrow specimens -- Aspirate: satisfactory -- Biopsy: satisfactory

The doc is still worried about the lesions not disappearing, but not gravely concerned. She is ordering another aspirate in March 2010. This is where they insert a needle into his back pelvic area and withdraw fluid from one of the lesions. The result is suppose to give her an indication, but it did not last March.He has not been on his routing in over three weeks. Due to business (work) constraints he cannot begin again until December 15. That puts us almost six weeks without the Dex or Velcade. She wasn't happy, but we had no choice. I wasn't happy either, but she believes it won't put us in the danger zone.

We begin the 2nd year Maintenance schedule in March 2010. Instead of the two weeks on/two weeks off, it will be weekly with one day of Velcade and one day of Dex.... It is suppose to be lighter doses, but for some reason being tied down to labs and meds like that weekly tends to put a crimp in your style. He goes to lab and then goes to work and when the labs come back he goes back up for the shot.

We did not ride in Toys for Tots today. It put a heavy burden on me and I think on ChemoSabe, too. We have been every year for the last five years. It was just too doggone cold. With him being off some of his meds, we were afraid the weather would put him down.

We did lief go to church and met the son and big E there. We both cried during the sermon. Our pastor is so good. He brings out the jerkers in you. That, along with big E sitting next to me, it was just more than I could handle. We are blessed.

We have been contemplating on whether we are getting a tree or not. I suppose I will put out our 9 ft. inflatable snowman and the carousel. I really don't have the energy to put lights out or to decorate a tree. I have been crying with each thought of my mother and my little brother. My little brother, because of his loss this year. He has done very well though. He put up his tree and let his granddaughter decorate it. He put up a few lights, too. We are doing Santa Claus lists this week, too.

ChemoSabe and I ventured out to Penneys after church. His closets are packed with dress shirts and pants (a closet for each). An envy of any man. BUT, he had to have two new shirts.. (I think he has some woman in him! ha). So, we went. While we were there we looked at pots and pans. I found a 13 piece copper bottom stainless steel set on sale for half price. We looked at about five different sets. He loves to cook, too. So, we decided on that set and brought it home. It would be mine for the Christmas tree (pretend tree).

The funniest part -- I headed over to the t-shirt section. We got t-shirts a few weeks back and they were the blended cotton instead of the heavy we usually get.. Too thin for me, but I don't wear them. I was looking at the sizes and I pulled out a package. They were the heavy blend. I said, "I really don't like the blended so I am getting this package for you.. Do you like the light blended?" No response. So I looked to my side and the man standing next to me was not ChemoSabe... I smiled and said, "Well, I guess you wouldn't know, would you?" Thank the Lord his cell phone rang then.

I emptied my nine year old pots/pans out of the cabinet and we unloaded the new ones... WE GOT THE WRONG SET. Same pots/pans, but 10 piece set... Of course, we had had to tear the box open. I hate that...but we couldn't get them out. So, for Christmas he will be getting me the pieces we missed... Might as well buy another set at the price you pay for individual pieces. I had to take my old big pots out and put them back into the cabinets, for now.

I love to cook in this weather. It is not uncommon for me to have something in the oven late in the evening each night. Tonight is my favorite and best pecan pie. It is called '72nd Street Pecan'. It is not made with karo syrup, but with pure maple syrup instead. Expensive, but lief worth it.

We have been spending some time with a couple I went to school with the last couple of weeks. The guy, I will call him 'Sambo' and I lived next to each other when I was in 1st and 2nd grade. The girl, I will call her 'Rosita' because her cheeks are rosy and smiles whenever she speaks. I went to junior high with her. They have been married for 41 years. They are such a joy to be with. It makes me feel like I am back in that era. We have laughed and shared our struggles.

Son came over yesterday and blew the leaves off our roof. Oh my!!! I believe there were more on the roof than in the yard. After he left we blew, mowed and burned leaves up to 7:00 p.m. It was like old times working in the yard together. It was a lot of work, but it was so refreshing.

We both shared some difficult situations with his doctor on Friday. Our Research nurse was in the meeting with us. I cried for about an hour. The nurse began to cry, too. I thought I was upsetting her, but she began to share her similar experience with us. Her husband was diagnosed with a rare cancer that is sometimes not detected until too late. It is a cancer that involves the muscles. They did surgery on him and now his right side from under his arm pit to below his waist and around his rib area is dead. He has not feeling of pain or any sensation. She even stayed and we shared after our doctor left.

At times, even when our doctor was present we would laugh out loudly. So, it was a cleansing experience for us. Since that time I have felt a relief. I have felt a pressure has been lifted. Our situation and circumstances have not changed. Even the reason for our crying has not changed, but it worked wonders to share. So to our Research nurse, Jeanie... thank you and we are praying for you.

Well, kids... my fingers are just about worn out. You are probably worn out from reading. Sambo---I hope I didn't make you cry.

Oh, yes, before I forget... WE ARE STILL IN 'REMISSION'!

AND, I just took ten shirts out of the dryer... Go Figure!

Good evening and Love -- Pepper "Go lief forth and rejoice to the Lord"... I really don't like that Word for the Day....