2014 9-23-2014- Last Chemo in Yakima and New Home
Today was Leland's last chemo treatment-at least for right now. He is handling it fairly well, but his body is getting a real assault, and it is time for a rest. His weight is going steadily down and his hair is very thin; I gave him the "Chemo Cut" several weeks ago. His eyes are really reacting to the taxotere, watering constantly; feeling dry and scratchy at the same time. Dr. Brady said last week that he may need stents in his tear ducts, as taxotere tends to scar them. We will check into that as soon as we get this move over with.
We have a new home! It is one we had looked at earlier, and liked better than anything else we looked at, but the owners were not quite ready to put it on the market, and it was overpriced. After the previous offer was retracted, this one was ready. Negotiations are complete, the price was lowered, and then after inspection, lowered again, as we will have to re-plumb this one too. It is a Manufactured Home on its own 1/4 acre lot, very nicely manicured and landscaped with underground sprinklers, a covered patio, large carport and large shed attached to the end. In addition to the plumbing we will have to put in a garden shed also, and replace a crystal chandelier which does not go with our style at all, but most of the rest that needs to be done is cosmetic. I guess the chandelier is cosmetic too, but it goes a little beyond that to me: ).Not that it isn't beautiful, it just is not our style.
Yesterday, Leland mowed the lawn for the last time, and we reluctantly emptied the hanging baskets and most of the flowerpots we wish to take with us. We are glad we got the outside chores done before the rain came-the rest of the work is inside. At least when it is raining, one is glad to have inside work.
Tomorrow we close on the new house, then will pack the household items we left out to use, then on Thursday the electronics-will be dismantled, the beds taken down, bedding packed, and misc things still out will be boxed up or put in the travel trailer. Friday we pack the trucks-with a lot of help, Sunday we clean the house, and Monday Sept 29, we head to Vancouver and move in. Utilities are scheduled to be in our name by then, and a crew on that end to help unload. Anyone in the Portland-Vancouver area who is not busy on Monday is welcome to our unloading party!
New address: 4201 NE 143rd Ave, Vancouver, Wa 98682
A special thanks to Kathy for help with packing, and garden goodies, to Del and Chuck for help with so many things, and for inviting us to stay with them over this long weekend while things are torn down and packed away. And to our great neighbors Pat and Chuck, who gave us a going away party last Friday night with excellent company and home baked pies. Yes, the same ones who plowed us out of the snow so many times over the years we have been here. It is hard to leave Del and Chuck, Kathy and Dan, our church family and our neighbors.
Thanks also to our dear church family, many of whom will be here loading the trucks, helping with other things or bringing lunch to the crews. We love every one of you!
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
9/11/14 LA Trip and Treatment # 14
We are home once again from our 4th trip to LA for Leland's treatments. The flights were smooth and on time, the hotel in our "Vacation" Package was the Hilton (!) . Our room was on the 12th floor facing east with a beautiful view of the city, especially as the sun went down and the moon rose.
The flight home was in a brand new Boeing 737, in use for only 3 weeks. In contrast to the day light view, the city lights are really beautiful at night, especially with a full moon riding overhead.
Leland's blood tests were good for where he is in the chemo journey, with the exception of his PSA, which remains stubbornly high. Dr. Eshaghian is not satisfied, and ordered one more chemo treatment making a total of 2 more to be done in Yakima. Next month, because of the high PSA, he has ordered another F-18 bone scan and another MRI. He would also order another Color Doppler Ultra Sound of the Prostate, but the Dr. who does those the best has opted out of Medicare, and the cost is 700 cash. Dr. E. thinks we can wait on that, but he is concerned enough that he wants to see Leland in another month (usually when a patient is finished with chemo, they only need to go back every 2-3 months) to reevaluate his status and decide the next steps to be taken.
We thought we had found a new home, but our inspector informed us there was a leak under the house, which is plumbed with polybeutelene plumbing, used from the mid 70s until 1995 and the subject of billions of dollars paid out in damages for flooding. The seller first agreed to pay half of the re-plumbing job, then changed her mind, so we withdrew our offer. We have a couple of possibilities, and are submitting an offer on a place today, but do not yet know where we are going. We have to give possession by the 30th of this month, so without a miracle, we will have to store our house hold goods. Cherilyn and Todd have graciously invited us to come stay with them, so that is what we plan to do. It will be convenient to Vancouver, and of course we love being with them, and it should not be too long before we find our house.
I probably will not post again until after we move, or the next trip to LA which will be in early October. In the meantime, we are relying on God's promises to fill our needs, and we remain grateful for your prayers.
The flight home was in a brand new Boeing 737, in use for only 3 weeks. In contrast to the day light view, the city lights are really beautiful at night, especially with a full moon riding overhead.
Leland's blood tests were good for where he is in the chemo journey, with the exception of his PSA, which remains stubbornly high. Dr. Eshaghian is not satisfied, and ordered one more chemo treatment making a total of 2 more to be done in Yakima. Next month, because of the high PSA, he has ordered another F-18 bone scan and another MRI. He would also order another Color Doppler Ultra Sound of the Prostate, but the Dr. who does those the best has opted out of Medicare, and the cost is 700 cash. Dr. E. thinks we can wait on that, but he is concerned enough that he wants to see Leland in another month (usually when a patient is finished with chemo, they only need to go back every 2-3 months) to reevaluate his status and decide the next steps to be taken.
We thought we had found a new home, but our inspector informed us there was a leak under the house, which is plumbed with polybeutelene plumbing, used from the mid 70s until 1995 and the subject of billions of dollars paid out in damages for flooding. The seller first agreed to pay half of the re-plumbing job, then changed her mind, so we withdrew our offer. We have a couple of possibilities, and are submitting an offer on a place today, but do not yet know where we are going. We have to give possession by the 30th of this month, so without a miracle, we will have to store our house hold goods. Cherilyn and Todd have graciously invited us to come stay with them, so that is what we plan to do. It will be convenient to Vancouver, and of course we love being with them, and it should not be too long before we find our house.
I probably will not post again until after we move, or the next trip to LA which will be in early October. In the meantime, we are relying on God's promises to fill our needs, and we remain grateful for your prayers.
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