Large Herd

So one of the things that Emily and I have enjoyed over the years, our backyard, was exciting last night. We watched a herd of deer, final count was 21, mass up and take their good natured time to cross Corwin Street. I think this was the largest groups we have ever seen together. It is the snow cover, of course, that is making life difficult for them. This is the time when our shrubs and trees are in peril. They have eaten the English Ivy under our tree (well, what used to be a tree) in the front yard several times. Our flowering shrubs, literally a foot from the house, have been nipped (that means no blooms in the spring) as well. I doused those with "deer-be-gone" spray in the fall and so far it seems to have saved them.

We are also bird watchers with several feeders--the gold finches seem plentiful in the winter, but we had only one pair who stuck with us over last summer. We also have a flock of wild turkeys that have come to the feeders on occasion. This winter we have had four toms traveling together, (the gay caballeros) I have called them, who have made themselves pests. Just now they aren't around and we hope they have found a more generous benefactor. We will certainly miss all of this when we move.

I am down to the last two days before a blessed week off the meds. It hasn't been bad--I have continued to eat solid meals, the slime index has been very moderate though I have very little taste at this point, and I have had no mouth sores at all. Though constipation continues to be a threat, I have managed that without a lot of problems. But I have had a lot of fatigue. I seem to be able to exert myself for an hour or so, then I am ready for the recliner--or a two hour nap!

Monday is the CT scan, news from that will wait until my checkup on Friday.

Periodic update

So Gemzar III with Zeloda has turned out to be a fairly decent week. I am amazed how the reduction of the oral med has changed my condition. No slime, can still eat solids fairly well. No mouth sores, not even the "bumples" that are usually on my gums. Constipation was manageable. Wednesday was still a "sag" day, spent most of it in my chair. Extreme fatigue with some abdominal cramping. Fortunately I have an anti-spasm med that I can use when my gut objects to all the attempts to keep things moving.

We missed the tournament games at DC, but both the men and women managed to win without our support--and they advance to the next round tomorrow. The high school winter musical opens tonight and we always attend that, so I am hoping that I have renewed energy the next couple of days.

We continue to ponder the move to the condo that is in our future. Thinking about what we have here that can fit over there is a painful process. Obviously, a great deal of our things will not make the trip. Parting with a life time's collection of "things" is painful, but necessary. The place has to feel like home a little, doesn't it? So the winnowing will go on for a few months.

Gemzar III

We had a very nice weekend. At the spur of the moment, with mom home from work for the weekend to care for Kaylin, Beth and Wally decided to come home to Defiance. We had a nice visit, dinner at Bobby E's (the chicken parm still taste darn good to me), and Sunday lunch at the DRMC. It was good to spend time with them without the entire tribe. And I am sure they felt the same way, as Beth is a full time baby sitter for the most part. They had a chance to see the condo and put their ideas into the mix. A very pleasant weekend indeed.

This week is the third Gemzar infusion, along with the oral Zeloda. This is actually the first time I have been in that situation. The first month was both for a week, then a week off. The second month during week three, the Zeloda was pulled because of mouth sores. With the reduced dosage of Zeloda, I have no mouth sores (yet), very little slime (yet), and am able to eat regular food (as of today). Nonetheless, I have very little energy and tire quickly. There are several things I would like to do this week, we will see how it goes. I have been able to get out some, but not to the extent that I would like to. We have had snow cover now for a couple of weeks, unusual for Ohio. This week's temps are to be well below normal, so there won't be much melting for another week. Winter still has us in a tight grip.

Periodic update

It has been a mostly good week. I continue to struggle with my intestinal tract--that has been ongoing from the very beginning and my main side effect. But by the end of the week, things have usually leveled out well. My appetite is just not there, but I continue to eat solid meals--only one Ensure meal breakfast this week, otherwise it is heavy on the eggs and bacon!

Our bid on the condo was accepted (a big surprise) so we are ready to start planning a transition. Closing is on March 16, then we can try to get the work started at the new place. Primarily the bathrooms which have not been touched since 1962. The best idea seems to be to gut them, but both have floor to ceiling ceramic tile, an expensive proposition.

We have gone out to eat a couple of times, including the College's Empty Bowls soup/bread/dessert event last evening. This is a fund raiser for our local homeless shelter sponsored by the Social Work Department. The response has been phenomenal, leading to it being located to a bigger hall. It is always well attended by DC faculty and staff so it gave me a chance to see many of my friends. That is always a welcome lift.

Also spent some time with Andrew yesterday, talking about the concert series downtown. He is now a part time employee of DCCC, helping to complete the staging of the remaining concerts this year and planning next year's series. Once again, I am greatly impressed with his work and eternally grateful that he is here to carry on with a very vulnerable, fledgling concert series. It looks like he will have a great line up and exciting events for Defiance.

Periodic update

I've been feeling really quite well, over the weekend and through infusion day. No problems eating, my taste is not bad and the slimes stayed away for the most part. The reduction in the oral chemo has been a good thing I think. Made it to church on Sunday and went to the DRMC for lunch as usual. Sam was with us as Cathie is in Atlanta for a week. The chicken parm and spaghetti was tasty!

I now have a CT scan scheduled for March 1. No one is particularly anxious for this to happen but it needs to be done to direct the continued treatment. Feeling as well as I have for a few days, it is easy to forget that this is a progressive disease that can move quickly if we aren't doing the right thing so additional information is good.

We put in a bid on the condo on High Street yesterday. If we can get the property tied down, we can plan the reno's necessary there as well make some decisions about what needs to be done here in preparation for listing sometime in the spring when the grass and flowers are looking good. All of this looks doable, but of course the condition of my health is a wild card. I think of my life in month segments now, as the chemo cycle consumes a month. So just one more cycle and it is April! April flowers and all that. Glorious spring!

Fashion Statement

Well, I was getting hair all over everything: on the floor, in the shower, on my clothes. I had a crew cut once--in college. Everything comes back in style eventually. Anyone who wants to join me, it's a number four attachment on the clippers!

Periodic update

This week has been good--slime never really became a problem, absolutely no mouth sores, and the ability to eat real food, even though there is very little appetite. The reduction in Xeloda obviously has made a real difference, and I like it. Should be a good weekend, perhaps some outings in the offing. Further south, I still struggle with a rash/infection that will finally get me to an Urologist on Monday. I've had just a touch of constipation, but I continue to pop stool softeners like candy.

Many of you know that we have lived in the same house for forty years. Since I retired six years ago, I have greatly expanded what already was an extensive array of gardens, flower beds, and landscaping. Well, those decisions don't always turn out like you intended. I simply will not be to do this work anymore, nor manage a fairly large lawn. So we have made the decision to finally move on. We are looking at a nice condo, of which there are very few on the north side, and trying to figure out what we would do with all the furniture and "stuff" we have collected over nearly half a century. Painful as this is for us and our kids, there seems little choice. Between the expense of having the lawn/landscaping/gardening/snow removal hired out and the cost of maintaining a sixty-five year old three bedroom, two bath, house for just the two of us, it seems inevitable. Life goes on.