2013 April 25-Good news

This has been a very busy week.  We left for Redmond on Friday, where we spent the weekend with family and attended Don's memorial.  It was a beautiful service Sabbath afternoon, a fitting tribute for a good man. We buried him at Camp Polk on Sunday morning. Grand son Jay placed his newly won Free Fall Wings on the urn, the most respectful tribute a miltary man can give-and a very moving gesture. We will miss him.

It was very good to see so many of our dear family members.  We are looking forward to the family reunion in August, when we will get together for the joy of it rather than to bid someone good by.
Thank you Loris and Marvin for hosting all of us after the graveside service-it was really good to spend some time in your home and with each other.

On Monday we drove to Portland to spend some time with Cherilyn, Todd and Phoenix, as well as Todd's parents who are visiting from Pennsylvania to help out for a couple of weeks.  We had a good visit, and arrived just in time to stay with Phoenix while everyone else raced off to medical appointments. We can see Phoenix has already grown noticeably, and it will not be long before he is chubby and smiling.  Can't wait for him to respond with smiles and good eye contact.  Of course we enjoyed every moment with all of them.

We came home on Tuesday, then left Wednesday for Seattle where we met Chaunda, saw her new apartment for which she had just picked up the keys, then went to dinner together.

  Leland's appointment was this morning.   Things are looking good for now, he gained another three pounds, feels good and his PSA is 8.9-down from 52 last month! The Zytiga is working.   He is certainly a poster person for Integrative Medicine, especially when compared to how sick he was at his first appointment. We are both so grateful for his quality of life. We know it is not permanent, so appreciate   every good day.  There have been lots of them, and in many ways it is tempting to think he will stay in this condition. The Zytiga will stop working at some point, and then we will be trying other things under Dr. Chen and Dr. Sweet. 

We have been reading two very good  books by Philip Yancey, Prayer and Disappointment with God.  I have had some real personal struggles this last winter, but some excellent counseling from a wise and godly counselor and her reccomendation of these books has been very  helpful.  I believe they would be helpful for anyone struggling with life situations and wondering where God is in all of our trials. I have seen a new picture of God which I did not have before, and I now can understand it is OK to be angy with Him, or disappointed with Him, but the most important thing is to be totally honest with Him, and never stop talking with Him even if the only thing one can do is rage or cry. Thank you Darlene!

FYI :  Washington State allows a 550 dollar fine if your insurance papers are not up to date in your glove box!  When we were stopped, the  State Patrolman was very stern saying he would give us the benefit of the doubt-this time.  I got right on the phone, and the insurance company had mistakenly not sent out the papers we need. We were two weeks past due, but had not thought about it at all, since it is supposed to automatic. 

Tuesday April 30
I did it again, posted this blog, but did not publish it-instead it went to "drafts"  How do I do it?  I don't know!  Anyway thank you Loris for the email asking where it is, it would have sat there until the next one without you saying something!

2013 April 15

This will be a short post as Leland's condition remains the same, feeling well and energetic enough to work outside yesterday.  He cleaned out a row of raspberries and rototilled manure into a new bed while I attacked weeds and dandelions in another.  He also used the flame thrower which he usually uses to start brush fires with, on the main path and killed weeds there.

A couple of days ago,I cleaned out the greenhouse which had been shamefully neglected and a respository of all kinds of junk-mainly cardboard for recycle and old pots.   Leland spent quite a bit of time organizing all the various electrical cords and tying them to the benches and getting them up off the ground, which is a real improvement.

Del and I have been planting and have quite a few flower starts growing in the greenhouse;  it has been fun working together playing in the dirt and starting our tiny seeds.

We have been living an almost normal life, going to church, shopping and visiting friends-together, none of which was possible last summer. Yesterday in addition to the above activities, we went to the Hobby and Craft Show at the Better Living Center organized by Del,  wandered around looking at different booths, socializing and also having a very good lunch.  Thanks Del, great job done-as usual.

Next weekend as most of you know, is Don's Memorial Service, where we expect to see a lot of our dear readers.  I will not be posting here again until after our next trip to the Cancer Center, which is the 25th. 

2013 April 7 Baby Pictures!

 

 

 

We came home on Friday after having been gone for two wonderful weeks,
getting aquainted with Phoenix, helping to keep the household running, meals cooked and of course holding him every chance we got! He is a precious beautiful little bundle, and we were privileged to be there for the beginning of his life on the outside. We will see them again soon, will be going to visit when Todd's folks arrive from Pennsylvania, probably sometime next week.

We got home in time to get unpacked, and some chores which were neglected in the rush to leave, done, and supper before collapsing into our chairs for the evening.

This week will be getting caught up on mail (Leland does that, thank goodness!) and getting a start on the yard which is looking sad right now. Del and I have flowers starting under the lights and on the seed starting mats in the garden shed, some of which are ready to take out and put in the greenhouse. We enjoy working together and will be meeting up this afternoon for that and a new perm for Del. It is windy and rainy, so a good day to work in the greenhouse which is pleasant even on crummy days.

Leland's eye has been bothering him, so on the way home on Friday, we stopped in to see Dr. Ogden. He found a tiny little hair he could barely see with his 12X scope, and removed it. But nothing feels better, so we will have to see him again on Monday and see what else needs to be done.

Nothing new on the cancer  war this week, holding steady as far as we can tell. We are thankful that Leland continues to feel well, and very thankful for the safe arrival and good health for both Phoenix and Cherilyn, a real blessing.