Monday, July, 13th

I still feel great - stronger every day. The bald spot is growing, but that's just hair (or lack of it), and I have a few hats I can use to cover it up. Sure hope this means the treatments are working. Carole and I had another great weekend. We went to dinner with good friends on Saturday evening - the doctor is letting me have a bottle of beer each day, which I'm not doing every day, but Saturday's tasted really good. On Sunday, we went to church, did a little bit of grocery shopping, and then Andy, Tory and Tory's parents, Dan and Sue came over for dinner. It was super to be able to sit down and just talk about a lot of different things with them. Andy and Tory took care of almost all of the work from prep to clean up, so I didn't have to do anything except sit, talk and drink another beer. Tough duty, huh?
I have to say, I'm learning to value friends and family more than ever before (who knows why it took so long). I appreciate the conversations with all of you, and I really like hearing from you.
I've heard some of you are having problems posting comments on the blog or would prefer not posting a public comment, so I've added a link to my gmail address to my profile. In the beginning of all this, I wasn't sure how I would feel or if I would want to be checking too many emails, but if you want to send me a note, please do so. I enjoy hearing from you!
No chocolate shakes since Friday - Carole is still staying away from them. Maybe I'll have another later today.

New Look

The hair started falling out Thursday morning, so I made a preemptive move today. Thanks, Kim! I think I should have done this a long time ago.

For those of you asking, my chocolate shake favorites are:
1. United Dairy Farmers - Cincinnati
2. Dairy Queen
3. Culver's
It's important to note that the study is absolutely incomplete and not scientific. I'm sure several of you would not agree with my rankings. I still have several I want to taste - Whitey's is at the top of that list.
McDonald's is in last place, and I suspect they will stay there.

Friday's Doctor Visits

My radiation treatment and visit with the radiation oncologist was on schedule yesterday. It was treatment #11 of 34. Everything looks good and he'll see me again weekly. I'll get another MRI in about two weeks - not a diagnostic image, but one that will be used to fine tune the target of the radiation treatments.
As predicted, the chemo oncologist was running a "little" late. My appointment was at 3:30, and he walked into the examination room at 5:00. I was already nervous about what he might have to say, so I was pretty stressed before he came in. It was good that Andy and Carole were there to remind me to calm down and remember to ask all the right questions - not that it really helped, but they tried. Everything ended up going well with this examination too, and the good news is, I won't have another appointment with this doctor until I'm finished with my radiation treatments. I really trust the doctor, but he drives me crazy (I know, it's a short trip) with his lack of a schedule.
I ended up losing about half a pound last week, so we stopped at Culver's for something to eat on the way out of Iowa City. I needed to compare their chocolate shakes with all the others I've been trying.
Thanks to my brother, Mark for by adding a comment clarifying who is younger. I think I'll take it as a compliment that he wasn't sure everyone could tell just by looking at the picture.

Thursday, July 9th

There's really nothing new to report today. All the treatments are still going okay. I'm still not getting too fatigued, I still have my hair and I'm not experiencing any shortness of breath. I went to work yesterday afternoon for about 2 1/2 hours and worked from home for quite a while today. It feels good to do something useful. Carole and I took a walk around the block this afternoon which felt good, too.
Tomorrow we meet with both the radiation oncologist and the chemo oncologist (the talker). That appointment isn't until 3:30, so we may be at the hospital until 7:00 PM. After that the battle with Caremark will begin. I'll update the blog either tomorrow or Saturday with an update about what the doctors have to say.

Pictures from 4th of July Weekend

Jeff and Paul - Go Reds!

Carole with her sister, Jan, and her mother, Ailene

Me with my brother, Mark. No family resemblance, right?

Pictures from Father's Day

Jeff, Brian, Andy and me

Smoked ribs, barbecued ribs and the "Bacon Explosion"

Carole, Paul, Andy and Tory

Carole, Paul and Brian

Carole, Paul, Jeff and Cathy

Tuesday, July 7th

I had a super weekend in Cincinnati. Carole and I returned to Cedar Rapids Monday morning, so the 5:30 AM wake up call was not a lot of fun, but it was worth it to be able to stay an extra day. I got my 4th birthday dinner (in 4 days) last night, then had friends come over for dessert. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow last night at 10:00 PM because I didn't get a chance to nap all day, but I wouldn't have changed anything. Now I need to change my focus away from food. I've definitely been eating way too much.
I've continued with the chemo drugs every day, and my radiation treatments resumed yesterday after a three day layoff. They will continue Monday through Friday for another 5-6 weeks. So far, I haven't seen any major side effects from either - no major fatigue and no hair loss (but they tell me that will come), and I feel like I am walking stronger and straighter than I was four weeks ago. I keep telling Carole to give me the car keys, but she keeps telling me I don't need to drive. It's kind of like the opposite of Driving Miss Daisy.
Thanks again for all your thoughts, prayers, gifts, emails, calls and concerns. I know I've said it before, but your support has been overwhelming.
Thanks!