Wednesday July 29

Wow it is the end of July how did it get here so soon as I have been trying to live we need to learn to  let every day count for something which is very difficult to accomplish some times.  Today started with a Carmel Latte as I was driving myself to work after all these months I am able to drive by myself.  So the day went like that I spent time in my office in the morning and went to lunch with Dr. B. then my ear test I think the ENT guy said my hearing is fine but I can't hear very well and I need to use the drops for ever.  I really like to  turn my medical issues to the very professional Dr. Staff.  I will have my last two tests Thursday and off to Ann Arbor on Monday for final readings of all my test results.  I should be at the end of my treatment if all the tests are good.  I will let everyone know.

 

Please continue to pray for us and thanks. Prayer has made a difference through the whole process and may God continue to Bless us. 

Friday July 24 or so

Good day today it seems like everyday is very good day when will the other shoe drop?  Hope not for many years we will see next week a hint of where we are.

 

I am laying on the passenger door rocking back and froth looking up at the steering wheel and driver's door of my wonderful 1947 Chev that my parents gave me a few days  before I am 15 and I needed to try and think back how I  got in this possion.  Over the last year one of my friends Darl who was in collage and my MYF group That's Methodist youth fellowship for the uninitiated people.  I can say now that the only reason I was in that group was because of  all the girls and few boys so why wouldn't I be there.  When Darl would pick me up in his 58 ford where ever we drove was at over 100 miles and hour which was way cool even though that car at that speed was close to off the road or above the road.  What a thrill.  So the speed became the future for Ralph the new driver and I could not wait to be able to drive on the road and it would be soon.  For some reason his parents got him a brand new falcon but that would only top off at 90 Miles an hour we had spent much time in that car what a trip.  So my parents gave me the 47 Chevy by the by the last car I got from them which showed very good judgment.  As I was to young to drive on the road I made a race track in our back field and set up proof of how much I didn't know about  driving it was getting dusk and out of the dusk my Dad stepped when I just got it wound up nice with spinning tires and a shocked look on my face.  Nice time for a mini lecture from Dad I think it was something about being a Damn fool but I try to block that out.  So now we have the perfect set up for the tragedy the next night after school before dad was home from work was my chance.  In case Kids are reading it you go into a hair pin turn at 30 or so with no power left on the rear wheels the car will slide catch and roll over on the side which was where this started ( remember how that felt Jessica).  My sister Laurel saw the wreck from the kitchen and came running and shouting to get out of the car.  Now the drivers door on a 47 Chevy must have weighed 200 lbs at that angle but I was able to lift and clime out.  No fire or an explosion happened but Dad was going to notice the car on the side almost in the back yard.  So the wait started for him to get home with me sitting on the front porch the big plan was to rush up and tell before he got out of the car and if he moved real fast I would slam the car door on him and never return home.  I think it was a good thing that dad was tired after work he just gave me the so you had to be a damn fool after all, then the big surprise he handed me 10 dollars to go get Mr. Presman with his tractor and have him turn the car back on its wheels I think he wanted to show Mr. Presman and his beautiful daughters Penny and Paula what a fool I was.  The good news was that of all my friends I was known to drive like an old man after that and all the parents would let there kids ride with me if we were going anywhere.  What is that good for bad who knows but I still drive like an old man that I am.  Next the car fix and the big fire.

 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers also my sister laurel and may God continue to Bless us all.

Wednesday July 22

Just look at the date the time just flys this has been a wonderful vacation on a week by week basis.  Its afternoon and it seems if I wait to complete my blog I just fall asleep and do not get started.  Since last week my taste buds have started to work and I do not think about a dry mouth so I think it's getting better.  Got new medicine for the ENT guy last week and it seems to be working very well so my health continues to improve I am even getting some work complete so life continues to be very good.  My next tests will be next week Monday for bone morrow tap and check which has continued to show clear.  Also I get my next PET scan which will determine if they got the last B cell node or not.  As in all tests it can be good or bad so we will see I love deadlines like this.

 

Tonight Sharen and I are going to Max fields which is the best close resterant in the area this one I would recommend for anybody as very good food and service and its in the middle of nowhere and mostly full.  I slacked off work and completed a John Grisham book called Playing for Pizza not his best but OK for a quick read he isn't at his best when he gets away from Law stuff.  I started the one which was non fiction but only got half way through not good at all made me tired that one was called The Innocent Man save your self's the pain.  Sharen and I have started going to a Lutheran Church up here but have not had the hart to tell them we are Methodists this church is very friendly however we continue to miss our church family in Delton which was highlighted at Paul's 50th party and with the large crowd I didn't get sick so I could be getting better as time goes by.

 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and add my sister Laurel and Janis our friend from church who is in the hospital and may God continue to bless us all.

 

 

Saturday July 17th

I want to get this down before the last week fly out of my mind as I said we had appointments with Dr. Bailey Tuesday and he forced me to go to an ENT specialist that's an Ear Nose and Throat expert who changed my ear meds.  So to get those to appointments was Wednesday and Thursday morning appointments and I went to my office in the afternoons to get some work complete and it was enjoyable to complete things.  So this was an overview to the work and medical part of the week.

 

Friday was my good friend Paul's 50th birthday party which was a surprise party and had so many people from out Church there I almost got home sick not sure if that is the word but it was so good to see everyone and spend time with them.  This morning was another surprise party for My Sister Laurel who was 64 today we all realize she is my much older sister and I have many years before I hit that age.  So another time to spend with family and friends and of course grand kids What a wonderful day it has been and we got to pick up the wonder dog and get back to the cottage and here I am trying to get this down.

 

When I go over the most important part of the week it was when I got back to my daughters home early when Sharen was baby sitting and I got a chance to hold my newest grand baby when she just layed on my lap with no concerns or needing anything but just to be held.  The time before that I had seen her there was not enough time to hold her and felt how wonderful this was.  So that would be a personal high spot and seeing all my friends and family was number two.  Just kind of an overview for tonight and I hope this finds everyone doing well

 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and add Janis and my sister Laurel and for one of the people that I have worked with forever Ed with family problems God can resolve all things but we need to ask and trust.  May God continue to bless us.

Wednesday July 15 where does the time go?

It seems that the universal problem is how fast we let our life go by just letting it go day by day.  I continue to let time fly by with out taking time to enjoy each and every day no matter how hard to think of the special moments of every day we must find those moments.  This week We are around Kalamazoo I started with a checkup on Tuesday from Dr. Bailey and blood work which is all fine or excellent so things continue to go well for my condition.  We thought. that would be the only appointment for the week but Dr. Bailey went ahead and set up a hearing test and a ENT Dr. appointment so that took up this morning and also tomorrow morning which should help my ears.  We are sitting here with good friends now and are getting ready to watch the incredible movie call "Lars and the real girls" I have recommended this movie before, but do not read the description before you watch this movie even Saren thought it was great. So the movie is over and the crowd loved it.  The people that surround you should be your gift everyday and it was a wonderful day for me.  I got to work for a bit and clear up some simple problems which was nice.  How sad when I can take all this time off and still want to get stuff done hard to imagine.

 

This process that I am going through has not been bad at all for us which I believe comes from God and all the prayers that are being said for us.  Please continue to pray for us and may God continue to Bless us all.

 

 

Friday early afternoon July 10 long lasps

I kind of think of the last week as the lost week it started with a trip to Kalamazoo for Chemo then burn treatment then back to the cottage getting there just in time to pick up my Net flix for the week end.  The forth went with Kids and grand kids and good friends so could not be better.  Sunday My Right ear started to get stuffed up then great pain which we fixed with over the counter pills.  Monday was another trip to Kalamazoo for last burn talked to doc and he said to just keep using the pills we were using for the ear .  That said I called Dr. Bailey and he got me in and recommended wax cleaner and antibiotic then back to the cottage Tuesday night at last time to watch the movies when I discovered a big loss of hearing the only way to fix was to have Sharen put cotton in her ears so it didn't hurt them while I turned up the volume, at last I felt like an old couple yelling at each other.  The next day I became more worried because I had to move my chair within 3 ft of the TV and a a side effect I could not hear Sharen unless she put her mouth within 2" of my ear.  So call to Dr Bailey and trip to Kalamazoo.  He sent us to Bronson emergency since they had a ear nose specialist on staff.  Very long day and they finely called Dr. Bailey to consult and he needed another MRI which I can now almost sleep through,    ( I think that the worst one was when they announced each test and how long they took which I tryed to add in my feeble mind It seemed forever ).  Any ways the hospital removed most of the ear wax and added pills steroids and new antbiotic (this must have been the most expensive ear wax job in history).  On the way downstate and Thursday I considered my self almost totally without hearing.  That was a very scary feeling also added much empathy for people with hearing problems.

 

Now for the good news my hearing started to return this morning I can almost join in conversations, and the MRI showed no further Cancer in my head just swollen iner ears I always get concerned about MRI results since the discovery of brain lesion's not sure what they are but so far they are gone.  So this was my week and a nice ending.

 

Please continue to keep Sharen and I in your prayers and may God continue to bless us all.

 

Wednesday July 1

Another fine day up at 9 or so get into Kalamazoo in time for my burn treatment, Meet Doctor B for lunch and get the car serviced and get in about 3 hours work. 

When we got back to Vinnie's we went to Grove street with several friends the good news is none of them had colds and many story's were told some of them true.  When we look back on these times they will be like gold and all you have to do is close your eyes to see and feel it again so yes it was a very good day indeed.  Thursday I get my chemo and then off to the burn place and pick up our wonder dog and go to the cottage and try to get there before 4 so we can get our net flix movies from our post office box.  That is a weak reason to rush home but what would I have to do during the weekend without new net flix movies.

 

Please take care and remember to keep us in your prayers and may God continue to bless us all.