Monday, October 26th

What a great football weekend! The Boilermakers, the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones all won, plus the Bengals crushed the Bears. It was unbelievable. Andy and Tory came over yesterday morning and took me to Granite City for brunch. As usual, the food was excellent, and it felt great to get out - even though I'm still stuck in a wheelchair. I still feel like I'm getting stronger every day. On the way home from Granite City we stopped at OfficeMax and picked up a webcam that Andy installed Carole's laptop so we can Skype with Jeff while he's deployed to Iraq - he's supposed to leave any day now. After that several people from Carole's school came over and raked leaves. There's now a huge pile between the street and the sidewalk waiting for the city to suck them up.
The round of chemo I'm on now seems to be going well - it just started a day later than expected. I haven't experienced any unusual side-effects.
Carole got after me to nap between football games, but I just couldn't do it, so I got pretty tired on Saturday and Sunday. I'll need to remember that next weekend. Oh well, it was fun to see so many winners!

Friday, October 23rd

It's a good day! We don't know why, but the hospital didn't receive the results from the blood they drew yesterday until this morning. The platelet counts were good, so I begin the next round of chemo tonight. I'm feeling a little bit stronger every day. During this morning's physical therapy, I walked across the kitchen twice with the help of a walker - that felt good. The occupational therapy is also helping make my right side stronger. I'd love to be able to just hop out of bed and walk around the house, but right now that's just not possible. Before it got so rainy, Andy and Brian managed to take me for several walks (wheelchair rides) around the block, and took me out to dinner twice. It was great to get out. It's tough for me and I think it's tougher on Carole. Speaking of Carole, she returned to teaching half days last Monday. That gives her a chance to feel like she's doing something besides babysitting me all day, plus it's good for the kids. In the meantime, I'm working about half time from home via my laptop.
Thanks again to all of you for your thoughts, prayers and gifts.

Friday, October 16th

Today was a pretty good day - I logged in to my work email, plus when my physical therapist (torturer) was here, I was able to walk about twenty feet with the help of a walker. Things do seem to be improving daily. I know you'll all have trouble imagining this, but Carole makes a great drill sergeant, and she's making me do all my exercises. I was supposed to start my next round of chemo last night, but it got postponed until next week because my platelet count is a little low. The nurse at the UIH&C didn't seem overly concerned about the delay.
My family has been here helping a lot the past few weeks. My mother-in-law. Ailene, left here today after being here about 10 days and my brother-in-law, Jim left today after being here about three days. They both helped a bunch. My mother, two sisters and brother-in-law were here last weekend. Andy visits almost daily, and Brian drove down from Minneapolis tonight. It's kind of exhausting, but it's always good to see family. I think Brian is taking me out for dinner on Saturday night.
Today was my 20th anniversary with Genencor, and that family continues to surprise me with their generosity. They gave me a ton of gifts that I can't begin to thank them for appropriately.

Monday, October 12th

It's been a rough few weeks. I returned home last Friday, but I can't walk alone, and I'm pretty much wheel chair bound. It's really hard on Carole which makes me feel really guilty. I'm thankful Carole's mom and Andy have been here and so available. Brian was here last weekend and did a lot of work. Jeff and Cathy were also here last weekend, and helped a lot. Two of my sisters and my mother also visited last Sunday. It was exhausting, but it was good to see everyone.

Here are a few pictures from our Bengals party on Sunday. They pulled off another big win...earning the title of Cardiac Cats!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Home at last! A successful two weeks in rehab has reached its conclusion, and I am home again. I can't believe that Carole gave me her Linn-Mar bell to set on the TV tray beside the bed. I wonder if she will truly respond?? Modifications to the house were made by Brian, Carole and Ailene (Carole's mom) so that I would be safe to come home. Andy also joined us in going down the to the University of Iowa Hospitals on Thursday where we received some pretty decent news. The MRI seemed to indicate no new growth of the tumors, so we are keeping the same course of treatment with chemo starting again on Thursday.
Right now I am lying in bed watching golf on my new television. I can't believe how awesome the picture is. Several people were involved in making this happen for me, and I especially thank my mother, Shirley, for the gift. I appreciate all the support from family and friends who visited or sent their well wishes while I was laid up at the hospitals.