And...the winner is...

For the Olympics...the winner is...everyone who participated...the world...at least for a short time, since so many countries came together to compete peacefully. Hats off to all the Olympiads!

For our household...Woody says that I'm the winner...since I seem to be the one with the most aches and pains at the moment! Woody got up early and went for an eight mile walk (from our house to Kroger and back). It was just around freezing, so I guess he decided that he could brave the cold and go on one of his long walks again. We went to Sunday School. Woody taught his class. Then we came home and ate lunch. I was going to get the sewing room ready to get back to quilting, but ended up on the couch to watch cross country skiing...I didn't last long watching...sleep came pretty quickly...I did hear the medal winners announced...and then sleep took over again. Woody slept some prior to the hockey game...but after it started he remained awake. I woke up to see the US tie Canada and stayed awake to see Canada win the gold in sudden death overtime. When I woke up I was hurting all over (the weather must be changing somewhere!)...that is when Woody said that I was the winner...his pain remains located in his left shoulder area...front and back...but he doesn't hurt all over...thus I win for today! I'm heading down now to watch the closing ceremony of the Olympics. And, as Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is another day!" Hopefully I will get back to the quilting on Esther's quilt tomorrow.
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Cycle 8, Day 26

This has been an interesting (different) Saturday. Woody slept in a bit longer since it was Saturday. He ran an errand and stopped at the library mid morning. After getting home, he watched a DVD while I cooked. I didn't sleep very well last night and ended getting up really early and started some of the cooking that I had planned to do this weekend...first I made a gelatin salad and then made homemade enchiladas. The enchiladas are really good...and I guess they are worth the effort and mess...anyway, they took a long time and I about didn't have a surface clean in the kitchen when they were ready to put in the oven. The cleaning up took about as long as making them. Woody enjoyed the enchiladas...but thinks that he ate a bit too much as he didn't feel that great after lunch. As a matter of fact, he slept about the whole afternoon. He told me, after he got up (after five), that he had taken two of his stronger pain pills...which he rarely does...but according to the doctor he can take either one or two every four to six hours as needed for pain. He was seeing if he could be pain free AND he told me that he "thinks" that he remembers being "pain free" for about a minute...and then he went to sleep! He did say that he had a rather disturbing dream...one that he could remember after he woke up (he relayed part of it to me and I told him that I thought that he had been watching too many movie DVD's). About the time he got up, I had flopped down on the couch and covered up with a fleece throw...and the next I knew it was time to blog. Then I had trouble deciding on the pictures for tonight. I finally decided to post some of the pictures that I took today of Graham's fish at their feeding time. I guess they are wishing Graham a happy birthday! Happy 8th birthday, Graham! And, now, the big question is...will we be able to sleep tonight with our lengthy naps today?!

Ruffled Feathers?

It was a very windy day and our "Tullahoma sea gulls" were getting their feathers ruffled! I took this picture in our WalMart parking lot...and this wasn't the only gull...quite a few gulls make it a habit to sit in our WalMart parking lot. I almost got a picture of them blocking one of the lanes...but a car came and they moved...rather reluctantly. I'm not exactly sure why they are here in Tullahoma...they are rather far from the ocean!

Woody got up early, went to work, worked, walked at lunch, worked some more, and then came home to rest and relax. Woody was home when I got home from WalMart and Kroger, so he helped bring in the groceries. That is no longer an easy task for him...it definitely causes him pain. He asked where the Tylenol was as soon as he finished bringing in the grocery bags. I suggested that maybe he should take his stronger pain medication. His comment was that he wanted to watch the Olympics tonight and not go to sleep. He said that he didn't want to make the blog tonight! (He's referring to me telling that he was dozing!) I'm sure that he is looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

And, now I'm off to watch the Olympics...and, I just checked and Woody is still awake!

What's around the next bend?

The critters seemed to be out in full force today...several that we hadn't seen before. This llama is a new animal to add to my digital photo album. I do love taking the country road...it's never the same drive twice or thrice or...

Woody slept in a bit later than usual, since he wasn't going to work today and his appointment at Vanderbilt wasn't as early today as some days. We left around 10am. He was all checked into radiology by noon. Everything went like clock-work...sign in, wait, drink contrast, wait 45 min. to an hour, get IV "hook-up," have scan, head for home. Woody's appointment was for 2pm and we were heading to the car at 2pm...seems to me that we planned well for this appointment! We walked back into the house about 4pm. We stopped on the way home to get gas at Kroger in Murfreesboro...that way we can take advantage of Kroger's lower gas prices for their customers (our Kroger doesn't have gas). We came home and popped a pizza in the oven. And, now we are both fading. Woody was dozing in his recliner, when I came upstairs to blog. And, I have been fighting sleep while waiting for the pictures to upload.

I'm looking forward to the beginning of ladies' figure skating...but...if it is like last night...I won't see much of the Olympics...and, it won't be due to TV reception...last night almost as soon as I plopped down to watch...I fell sound asleep and slept through most of the events...guess I was tired!

The phone just rang...our friendly Vanderbilt automated appointment reminder call about next Tuesday's appointments! Hardly home from Vanderbilt and they are calling for us to come back! Woody will find out about the scan results on Tuesday. The scans along with lab work will determine if he will go on to a 9th cycle in this chemo drug study. That day, I guess you could say, we will learn what is about around the next bend in our lives!

Cycle 8, Day 23

It has been another rather cold day here in Middle Tennessee...BUT the sun did shine...so that helped lift spirits if not the temperature! Woody got up early, went to work, worked, didn't walk at lunch, worked some more, and then came home to rest and relax. He didn't walk at lunch for two reasons...the temperature and pain. He did take Aleve and Tylenol while at work due to pain, but he said that taking them didn't help. He came home and took a pain pill. And, as happened last night, the pain medication has Woody dozing.

We will be going to Vanderbilt tomorrow for CT scans. These are the scans that are scheduled every 8 weeks while he is in the drug study program. He will see Dr. Sosman next week to see if he will continue in the drug study program.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

This robin must be wondering what happened to the spring-like weather! I had a meeting this afternoon and had to pick up a prescription...so had to venture out into the cold world...after being in the 60's the day before yesterday...we didn't even get out of the 30's today. Even Woody said yesterday that he would be glad when the weather warmed up.

Woody got up early, headed to work, worked, walked at lunch, worked some more, and then came home to rest and relax. He didn't take anything for pain during the day...but a little while ago the pain was enough that he did take a pain pill.

We seem to have good reception on the NBC station out of Huntsville tonight...so we're hoping to be able to watch the Olympics...my favorite of the Olympic sports starts tonight...ladies' figure skating.

Cycle 8, Day 21 = 3/4 finished with this cycle

The birds and squirrels were out in full force today. These little tufted titmice were having fun flying from branch to branch, but I managed to catch a couple of them when they sat still for a second or two.

Woody got up early, went to work, worked, walked at lunch, worked some more, and then came home to rest and relax. He is in pain again today (guess he is pretty much in pain all the time...but at times it is worse than at other times). As soom as he came home today, he decided to try the Aleve/Tylenol route which was suggested to him at Vanderbilt earlier this month...then at bedtime he will take a stronger pain pill if needed. I'm hoping that he will take the Aleve/Tylenol in the morning and then when he gets home tomorrow to see if he can get the anti-inflammatory effects of the Aleve in his system. I think that if he would take them for a few days running he would see some relief. I know that when I first started taking my prescription anti-inflammatory medicine, it took a while for me to feel less pain. He did say a while ago that the Aleve/Tylenol seemed to have helped a pain that he had in his neck today.

Nathan helped us out this morning by changing the light bulbs in the stairway light fixture...no easy feat! But thanks to an adjustable ladder that I bought for Woody several Christmases ago...the job is a bit easier...and not quite so life threatening! So thanks to Nathan, Woody and I can go up and down the stairs a bit more safely than we could the last couple of days!

I have been working on sorting pictures today. When I upload them to the computer from my camera, they are sorted by the day they are taken. When the mood strikes me, I go in and move them to the appropriate folders. Then I back them up on two external hard drive passports. I'm trying to not ever lose all my photos...hopefully storing them in two different places will leave me with at least one copy of each picture if one passport fails (hopefully they won't both fail at the same time)! Anyway...I am once again up to date sorting my pictures.

Compost Boy to the rescue!

And...here you have the secret sewing that I was doing for Graham. One of Graham's chores is to take the compost buckets from his house and ours and empty them in our joint-family compost pile. I started calling him "Compost Boy." So now when he comes to get our bucket he says "Compost Boy" when I open the door. Goosey (Woody) shared a library book called "Captain Nobody" with Graham and Nathan. The picture on the front of that book shows a boy with a cape and a mask...and either Woody or Graham came up with the plan that Graham needed a "Compost Boy" costume. I decided that a good symbol to use would be the recycle symbol inside a big "C" and that camouflage fabric would be good for the cape and the appliqued "C." So he can do this job in his costume in either cold or warm weather, I machine embroidered the design on both a short and long sleeve shirt. He was pleased with his new Compost Boy costume...there is still a part of it to come...a mask...I need him to get it just the right size...so "one of these days," I'll figure out a way to make him a mask out of the camo fabric. I guess we have just made a chore that he enjoyed anyway a little bit more fun! Not long after lunch, our door bell rang...and it was "Compost Boy!" The two pictures on the bottom left show him trying out his costume for the first time. Then he had fun running and spinning around in the front yard making the cape fly out (bottom right). So there you have it...we have created a new super hero!

Woody and I both taught our Sunday School classes this morning. Then we came home and ate lunch (Stuffed Spud Soup that I made yesterday). Woody made cranapple crisp. We watched a DVD together..."Miss Potter"...a movie based on the life of Beatrix Potter of "Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, etc. fame." Since it is a beautiful day, we took a short walk. It got up in the mid 60's today. Makes one feel like spring might get here eventually...but from what I hear of weather reports for this week...we shouldn't get too used to these higher temperatures. Later in the afternoon, Woody started having quite a bit of pain in his shoulder and arm...enough that he finally took a pain pill. I sat for a while on the front porch while the four oldest of the neighbor grandchildren played on the porch and in our front yard. At the moment Woody is resting in his recliner. I'm hoping that we will be able to get reception this evening so I can watch more of the Olympics...ice dancing, Since the switch over to digital, reception from NBC out of either Nashville or Huntsville is "iffy"...it's best if it is snowing or raining...and it isn't doing either of those tonight! Last night we could see...but the sound was very choppy...tonight I'm not sure that I could stand choppy sound when the ice dancers are performing...one sort of needs to hear the music along with watching the dances!

Cheering, Basketball, & A Party!

Busy, busy day! Woody slept in a bit later than usual. He went to the library. I went to see Abigail cheer and Graham play basketball (and took lots of pictures). Shortly after lunch Graham came over to our house, while the rest of his family set up for his birthday party. When we got the call, Woody, Graham and I headed over to their house to watch Graham open his presents and to eat cake and ice cream. Woody also did a little yard work today. When he wasn't on the go, he relaxed and rested in his recliner and watched TV or a DVD and now he is watching the Olympics...which is where I am heading as soon as I post this!

Cycle 8, Day 18

Woody got up early, headed to work, walked at lunch, came home and relaxed for a few minutes before we headed out the door. We headed to Shelbyville to see our dear friends (who we had the party with a couple of weeks back)...but this time we were seeing them on a sad occasion...Doyle's father passed away earlier in the week and this evening they were having the visitation. We came home and Woody has been relaxing...now he's watching the Olympics.

I have had a busy day...trying to finish up some secret sewing for Graham. We're celebrating his 8th birthday tomorrow. I went to the grocery store, carried in all the bags and put the groceries away (as I didn't time it well...Woody wasn't home when I got home!). I'm heading downstairs to work a bit more on Graham's present while I watch the Olympics. (No snow today...just putting up another picture that I took earlier in the week . We had a delightful day here in Middle TN today--high in the mid 50's.)

Bye, Bye Birdies!

Glad to say "bye, bye" to these Starlings...definitely not my favorite bird...and they come in such large flocks...but they made an interesting black and white picture.

Woody got up early (me too) and went to work, worked, walked at lunch, worked some more, and then came home to rest and relax...pretty much "same ol' same ol'! A week from today is his next CT scan for the drug study.

I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep because I was thinking and planning sewing...so decided to go on and get up and sew rather than think about it! I worked for a while on Esther's quilt...seeing if I had figured out the computer quilt design calculator in my sewing machine. I really wanted to try at least one short side to see if it would work. And...work it did! Now to do three more sides. But I have had to set the quilt aside to work on a secret sewing present for the oldest grandchild next door...so hard to keep things hidden when he is in and out over here! The two youngest girls had doctor appointments this morning...so I declared it another day for "no school" at Grammy's, so I could get going on the birthday present. I have one part of the present completed. The Olympics are cutting in on my evening sewing time!

Graham called a little while ago to report on a success with his Lego robot. He came over to show us that it was working. He and his daddy had to do some changes in the way the wires had been originally put in...so Graham was a happy camper to get to show us that the robot was now running. He had thought that one of the motors was broken.

Well, back to sewing till it's time for the Olympics...men's skating tonight...my favorite part of the Olympics is the ice skating...but I really enjoy the other events too.

Cycle 8, Day 16

No snow today and it got above freezing so what we had is quickly disappearing. The icicles are dropping from the eaves...rather dangerous!

Woody got up early and headed to work, worked, walked at lunch, worked some more, and then came home to rest and relax. The pain that has his attention today is in his left arm...pain that he attributes to radiation.

I had school with Esther and Joy this morning and listened to Graham read this afternoon. Abigail had surgery this morning...the doctor needed to clean out her right ear (so he could see how it had healed and whether there is still a hole in her ear drum (there is) and then put a tube in her left ear. So she has had a quiet day of being pampered...jello and chocolate pudding awaited her return from surgery. I took care of her while the rest of her family went to church this evening. We read LOTS of stories! She's doing very well...she is becoming quite the pro at surgery! I did get the quilting done on the center portion of Esther's quilt...now to figure out how to calculate what I want to put on one of the borders...let's see who is smarter...me or the sewing machine...at the moment the calculating seems rather confusing...the machine does the calculating...but I have to plug the right numbers into the right places! But...right now I'm heading back downstairs to watch some more of the Olympics.

Another snowy day!

Even Tullahoma schools were out today...almost unheard of! The roads were clear by around 10am. I even braved the roads and went to get my hair cut...no problems...but they were a ice and snow covered when Woody headed off to work early this morning. Woody walked at lunch, worked some more and then came home to rest and relax...with a book and the TV. I'm heading down to watch the men's ice skating on the Olympics. We had quite a few bursts of snow flurries today and I managed to be out in some of them...so I used some of the pictures that I took in tonight's blog. If you click on the collage you will be able to see the pictures better.

Cycle 8, Day 14

Surely seeing bluebirds flying to their houses in the garden means that Spring is on its way...even though it it was snowing at the time that I took this picture?? We woke up to the ground covered in snow once again. Woody got up early and was probably the first one to drive on the snow and ice in our subdivision. He said that once he got to the main roads, he drove in ruts other vehicles had already made or the streets and/or intersections had been salted. He didn't walk at lunch today due to the weather. The streets were clear of snow by the time he came home...but we have had some more flurries since and they are once again white. Woody has settled in for an evening with a book and the TV. Today marks the half-way point in the 8th cycle of his chemo drug study.

I took quite a few pictures this morning...took some and then came in to warm up...it was in the low 20's...then went out and took some more...and then came in to warm up again! I didn't stray too far from our front porch. I did go down the steps so I could get a better view of our grandchildren who were braving the cold. I guess that wore me out, because when I came in to upload the pictures from the camera to the computer, I ended up falling asleep in my chair while waiting! This afternoon I made a new recipe for our supper...and the cooking and the cleaning up has about worn me out again. The last pan is soaking while I blog. I will go down as soon as I post this and finish washing that pan and then turn on the dishwasher and then...the kitchen will be closed for the night!

Valentine's Day 2010

What a difference a year makes! Even though Woody doesn't feel all that great...in some pain...he feels sooooooo much better than he did a year ago. He was still in the hospital at Vanderbilt undergoing IL-2 treatments...2009 wasn't the most wonderful of Valentine's Days!

Woody got up early. We both went to Sunday School and taught our respective classes. We came home and have spent the afternoon watching the Olympics. I'm looking forward to pairs ice skating tonight.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Too many options!

Oops! The above mess in our office/school room is the reason for my late posting. I have been trying to print a handout for my Sunday School class...main problem = trying to print it front and back! This was the first time that I attempted to do such a copying task on the printer that Woody gave me for Christmas...well...it almost took an act of Congress to accomplish the task...and all the papers on the floor are errors that I made while trying! So much for saving paper when you print front and back! But I did finally accomplish the task...just not easily...and it took me most of the evening to print out 16 copies of 3 front and back pages. Live and learn! (I guess!) There is still another way that this task could have been accomplished...we won't go there today! I still say that part of the problem is that I like an instruction book...and there isn't one with this printer...at least not a printed one...I can print out one that was put on my computer desktop...but I looked at what was on the computer manual and it didn't explain it the way I needed it explained...they assume some prior knowledge of what one is trying to do! I need illustrations...which way the paper is to be inserted, etc. Oh, well...

Woody slept in a bit later than usual this morning (good for him!). He went to the library. He read and watched DVD's and TV this afternoon and evening. He has been hurting. He did try the Aleve and Tylenol this morning...but too late in the day to be able to take two doses before it is time to take the stronger pain medication.

I made soup this morning...one of our favorites--J. Hatheway's Italian Sausage. The new refrigerator made cooking an adventure today, since I was seeing if my organization of it worked when I started taking things out to use in making the recipe. And, so far I like the way it is organized. I really like the freezer on the bottom...it was very easy to get to the broth that I needed. We were a bit concerned whether a big soup pot would fit on a shelf without taking out another shelf or at least moving one up...but it did fit...just had to turn the lid upside down. All the above said to say that we are both very happy to "at last" have a new refrigerator. The serious hunt for a new refrigerator started when Woody spent several hours at an H.H. Gregg store while I was in a sewing class in Nashville. He came out armed with all sorts of information. BUT unfortunately that day happened to be back in September of 2008...just two days before Woody's bicycle accident...and since the bicycle accident...life sort of got in the way of refrigerator shopping! But finally...

Happy Abraham Lincoln's Birthday!

Woody got up early, went to work, walked at lunch, worked some more, came home, went to the grocery store and then has been resting and relaxing this evening. It has been a busy day for me...got up to empty the refrigerator, then Nathan took the old one out...then we waited for the new one to arrive. I don't know what the delivery man would have done if Nathan hadn't been over here...Nathan carried in refrigerator doors and drawers, and helped level it, etc. The delivery man scared me a bit when he said that he didn't think that it would fit...he measured the opening and then went out to the truck to measure the refrigerator...he said that he didn't want to take it off the truck if it wouldn't fit! But my expert measurers were right and it did fit. After he left, Nathan and family and I checked out the features. Then they went home so I could put food in the refrigerator and organize it. Then they came back to check out what it looked like with something in it. Woody came home and then left to do the grocery shopping and pick up a couple of prescriptions for me at the pharmacy. Abigail came back over to read to me from Dick and Jane and Graham came too to hang out. After Abigail read, she decided to do art projects to hang on the refrigerator. Graham joined her in that endeavor while I cooked supper for Woody and me. After supper, Joy came over to have Goosey (Woody) read to her. I'm tired...but very happy with the new refrigerator...now to get used to it! I keep going to where the handle used to be when I want to open it (well, think about it...that handle had been in the same place for 37 years!)! Hard to teach this old grammy new tricks!

He saw his shadow!

Woody got up early, headed into work (door on car closed today!), worked, walked at lunch...and this is where the shadow story comes in...Woody said that he walked at lunch today...that it was rather pleasant since the wind wasn't blowing much...and he saw his shadow...and thus concluded that there will be one less day of winter...come tomorrow!!!! He worked some more and then came home and has been relaxing in his recliner this evening. He downed his last phosphorous supplement a couple of hours ago. So life is good!

I took school next door this morning...that kept the little ones from having to go out in the cold. I think they had fun having more than one student in their class! One on one is good...but it is nice to have more once in a while. Esther got to see me give Joy a lesson that Esther will be ready for before long. After I did a couple of lessons with Joy and Esther, Graham joined us for a group lesson. Abigail was away with her mom and Elijah. After school, I headed off to meet a friend for lunch. When we were talking, she reminded me of the day that I took the above pictures. Can you tell where I took these?

After lunch, I went refrigerator shopping!!! Now, not everyone would be excited over such a shopping excursion, but...we have our original refrigerator bought when Nathan was a year old...now, not to tell how old Nathan is...but the refrigerator will be 37 years old in a couple of months. Even though we have had it that long...I don't think that anyone will see me shed very many tears about it going out the door! One of the problems with getting a new one is the space that it has to fit in...most new refrigerators are MUCH larger than our space. At our party on Saturday I asked that the men attending help me measure the space and tell me the largest dimensions that we could squeeze in the space. So armed with those dimensions, I started hunting on the internet for refrigerators that size. When Woody and I had started looking at refrigerators a year or so ago...we really liked the French door models with the freezer on the bottom. Well, the ones we looked at were much too wide for our space. The other thing that I wanted was the bisque color to match our other appliances in the kitchen. The refrigerator that we have now is harvest gold...ahhhhh to have a neutral color. But...bisque is hard to find...most refrigerators now come in white, black or stainless steel. So we wanted two things that it looked like we couldn't get...the style and the color. I had been trying to decide which of the three colors now being offered I could live with and also was ready to just settle for a regular refrigerator with a freezer on the bottom. But...when searching the internet, I found a French door model that would fit in our space AND....drum rollllllllllll.........found it in the bisque color. And, I could get it from Sears (we actually have an appliance Sears store here in town). So I printed off the information from the website and headed in today to show them which model I wanted them to order for me. I walked in...AND...there it stood on the floor. And, now to make a long story short...it will be delivered tomorrow around noon!

Today is the one year anniversary of Woody entering Vanderbilt for his first IL-2 treatments. Glad that is behind us! For those who don't know what I am referring to, look back in last year's blog posts in February...that episode in our lives begins with the post "A Room With Two Views."

Winter Sky

The sky was so pretty when I came home from church this evening...such interesting clouds and such pretty colors.

Woody got up early and headed to work...where there's a will there's a way! I just wish I could have gotten a picture of how he got to work! But...you will just have to picture it in your mind! The car door was frozen shut...but he managed to get it opened...BUT then it would not stay closed as the mechanism was frozen. So...picture this...Woody drove to work holding the car door shut. Now...this wouldn't be the easiest thing for any of us...but Woody has very limited use of his left arm (the arm next to the car door). So...he drove with his left arm/hand and held the door closed with his right arm/hand! He did/does hurt a bit more today due to driving in this contorted manner! But he did make it to work! He didn't walk at lunch as they received a message that someone had fallen outside of one of the buildings and to be extra careful walking outside. So he decided to skip the walk today for safety sake. He has been resting and relaxing this evening. He now only has one more day to take the phosphorous supplement.

It has been a cold day here in Middle TN. I declared myself a fair weather Grammy and decided that none of us needed to brave the cold temperatures this morning to have school over here. Winds were a bit gusty so the wind chill was in the teens for a good part of the morning. We had some snow flurries...enough that the roads and ground were covered with snow for a brief time. So I spent the morning and part of the afternoon quilting on Esther's quilt. Slowly but surely progress is being made on it. I did work for a while late this afternoon in the church library.

Cycle 8, Day 8

It should be down hill from this point on for this cycle...at least as far as chemo medication goes. Woody took the last four chemo pills this morning for cycle 8. I completed filling out the chart and rebagged the chemo pill bottles to return when we go back in March. They are now out of sight...out of mind! He also (finally) took his first dose of the phosphorous supplement just a few minutes ago...now two days more for taking that. He got up early, took his chemo pills before heading to work, went to work, didn't walk at lunch due to rain, worked some more, and then came home to rest and relax. He has been reading and watching TV this evening.

I spent the day getting underway with the next phase of Esther's quilt. I have worked quite a few hours on it...and not a lot to show for it. I had to prepare the machine embroidery design that I wanted to go around some of the designs in the squares on the quilt...that took a while. I have started machine embroidering them...takes longer to get the quilt hooped correctly than it does to sew out the design. I have four of the twelve squares that I am using this quilting design on completed...so a ways to go just to complete this phase...then on to the next phase and the next and the... I'm afraid that Esther won't be needing it to keep warm by the time that I get it completely finished! At least it isn't just to be used as a quilt...it is also to be used as a bedspread for her trundle drawer bed.

Tonight's picture is some metal birds on the front of a store that we pass on the way to Vanderbilt. The store is called Fire Finch. I took the picture while we were stopped at a red light. I messed with the colors, shading, saturation, etc. for tonight's blog picture. (Guess I didn't have anything better to do!)

Cycle 8, day 7

It's day 7, but Woody isn't finished with the drug study pills since he didn't start taking his chemo drugs till the evening of day one in this cycle. He will be finished with taking drug study pills for this cycle in the morning. None too soon for him! Now to convince him to try pain medication the way the doctor and nurse suggested...maybe when he finishes taking the pills he has to take for this cycle! He still hasn't taken the phosphorus supplement. He says that he isn't ready to take his pain medication around the clock as they are suggesting...part of the time Tylenol and Aleve and part of the time a stronger pain medication. One of the reasons is that he doesn't want to add any "extra" pills while he is having to take the chemo medication. I told him that if he were a child in my care, he would already have taken his phosphorus and would at least be trying the suggested pain management...but to each his own...and I can't force him (a grown man) to take it...and he points out that he is taking the drug study meds that he has to take. Hard to be sympathetic about pain...when there is something to alleviate it and he refuses to try it! He has a hard time understanding that pain medication builds upon itself...that taking it just every so often when in constant pain...just doesn't cut the pain...and that when it doesn't work the first dose...it might be a good idea to try it for a second dose! But he feels that if it doesn't work the first time that it isn't going to work. Enough said! (And...he is hurting tonight.) He is dealing with how to handle it tonight...I think that he is going to take one of his stronger pain pills at 7pm and then another one when he goes to bed.

He slept in a bit later than usual this morning, went to work, took his 4 drug study pills, worked, walked at lunch, worked some more, came home to rest and relax. I had school with Joy and Esther and then read with Abigail and Graham. Graham also stayed to move his K'nex back into the designated K'nex spot in the living room...they had been stored away since before Christmas to make room for the Christmas tree and then we kept them put away till after our party this past weekend. He was happy to be able to "build" again. Joy came back over to play this afternoon while Graham was over here. She enjoyed visiting with Goosey (Woody), after he got home. Woody took his 4 drug study pills for tonight a little while ago...now just 4 more drug study pills for this cycle to take in the morning!

Day is done!

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky,
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

When I titled the blog tonight, these words from a song that I learned in Girl Scouts went through my head. I couldn't remember all the words in the stanza...so I googled "Day is done" and found out that they were words to "Taps." I hadn't thought of these words in a long time...and had definitely forgotten that they were a stanza from "Taps." Now I am hearing that tune in my head and remember playing "Taps" when I was in band....and...the words do fit the music in my head...so now...I remember!

We both went to Sunday School this morning. Woody taught his class. We came home and ate lunch (one of the flavors of chili...nice to have a choice and the toppings from yesterday!) And, then we both settled in to watch a DVD that Woody had gotten at the library yesterday. It was "Julie and Julia." We were surprised that he found such a recent movie at our library. We enjoyed it.

Nathan and family came over to eat leftover chili tonight and stayed for a while watching the Super Bowl...so guess that you could say that we had a Super Bowl Party! My but we have turned into "party animals!" (Not really!)

And, now...day is done!

The party's over!

We had a great time! In the end we had 19, as Nathan and family were able to come for a while before they left for their gig in Huntsville. We had a chili tasting party: appetizers...several kinds of chips and crackers to go with the Mexican cheeseball and queso rotel sauce/dip...then...three kinds of chili (white, regular, and vegetarian)...a variety of toppings for the chili...also hot dogs for those interested...plain corn bread muffins and Mexican corn bread muffins...and last but not least...dessert...blueberry cheesecake bars and blueberry dump cake with ice cream. Lots for the tasting! And...lots left to eat on the rest of the week!

Woody seemed to do pretty well and enjoyed visiting. As he says, when there is distraction, he doesn't focus on how he feels or his pain. And...there was quite a lot of distraction with 9 little ones running here and there! Erin helped me with the final preparations after they got here. Then after we ate, Kathy volunteered to wash what wouldn't fit in the dishwasher, Linda dried the dishes and I put things away.

Now we are both ready to rest and relax!

Attention Getters

At least stopping our car and rolling down my window were attention getters for these deer! They just stood and stared for the longest time...guess they wanted their pictures taken! (the picture is clickable...so you can see what close attention they are paying to us)

Woody has had a typical day for this point in the week that he is taking his chemo drug study pills. He doesn't feel all that great...a little queasy and doesn't have much energy. He brought the groceries in for me, but it was quite an effort for him. He didn't walk at work today due to the rain. Today has been a good day for ducks! Rain! Rain! And more rain! Boy, would we have the snow if it had been colder!

They did have the phosphorous supplement at the drugstore when I stopped today. The tablet has to be totally dissolved in a glass of water...he's not sure that he is up to taking it since he isn't feeling all that great. He has decided to wait till Sunday after the party on Saturday and after Sunday School on Sunday since he doesn't know how it will make him feel. He has to take it for three days. Well, time for me to get back to getting ready to party!

Cycle 8, Day 3

Woody got up early, took his anti-nausea pill, went to work, took his 8 chemo drug study pills, worked, walked at lunch, worked some more, and then came home to rest and relax. I asked him how he was doing today and he said "fair to middlin'." I think that means he feels some better than he had lately...as he had just been saying "I'm here" when I asked him how he was feeling.

It has been a busy day for me. I spent the morning cooking and planning "logistics" (what dishes to use and where to place them, etc.) for our party on Saturday. Then this afternoon, I went over to Nathan and Kathy's to take care of Esther and Elijah while Nathan, Kathy, Graham, Abigail, and Joy did a program at a local elementary school. I came home and worked some more in the kitchen. And, as soon as I blog I'm going to go make a dessert.

We're still trying to get the phosphorous supplement for Woody. I called the drugstore and they still hadn't heard from the doctor, so I called one of the research nurses at Vanderbilt. She said that she would find out what the doctor wanted Woody to have and phone it in to the pharmacy. So around 4:30 I called the pharmacy to see if they had gotten the modified prescription. The pharmacist got on the phone to explain to me that they don't have what the doctor wants Woody to have...so they had tried to get it from the local hospital pharmacy. Our pharmacy sent someone to get it it from the hospital pharmacy, but when they brought it back it didn't match up exactly to what had been prescribed. So they have ordered it and it will be at the pharmacy by noon tomorrow. I'm beginning to think that it may make him glow!

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Harbinger of Spring!

Look what's peeking up in our garden!

Woody got up early, took his anti-nausea pill, headed to work, took his 8 chemo drug study pills, worked, walked at lunch, worked some more, and came home to rest and relax. He has completed another day of drug study pills. He felt a little queasy today, but nothing like yesterday. We are pretty sure that the cause of his nausea yesterday was taking his pain medication on an empty stomach.

I took in Woody's prescription for the phosphorous supplement today. But when I went back to pick it up, they told me that the doctor had written it for a way that it is no longer dispensed. They had a phone call in to him...now...if that call will get to him will be the next question. These research doctors can sometimes be hard to find. I will call tomorrow to see if he has gotten back to pharmacy. If he hasn't, then I'll put in a call to one of the research nurses to see if she can get the prescription straightened out. I had four of the neighbor grandchildren over to either have preschool lessons or to read to me this morning and right after lunch. Then I headed to church to work in the library for a little while and ran a couple of errands...picked up Aleve (one of the medications that the doctor wants Woody to try for pain during the day) and also some Gatorade (the doctor wants Woody to drink more and wanted him to drink something with more minerals in it than water...the doctor doesn't know Tullahoma water!). Tomorrow I'll get back in party preparation mode!

Cycle 8, Day 1 = In A Fog

Today we have been in a fog in more ways than one! We started out in pretty dense fog as you can see by the picture...there is really something beyond the birdie on the barbed wire fence...if you look really closely there is a barn and at least one cow. The rest of the fog...well...just the confusion that seems to come when a new cycle is started...when one has a new doctor with a rather thick accent...when medication changes, etc.

We left the house around 7:30am. Woody checked in at 9:30am. This seemed to be a lighter day patient-wise than other days. He was called in almost immediately for his lab work. Then we really didn't have to wait very long till we were called back to the inner waiting room. The research nurse took us to a consult room and asked questions and had Woody fill out paper work. Then we went back to the inner waiting room. We saw the doctor around noon. Then we went back to the main waiting room to wait on the pharmacy. We got his chemo pills around 2:30pm and then we were out of there. We got home around 4:30pm.

Woody has not felt very well today...not sure if it was anticipation of starting a new drug study cycle or if it was that he had taken pain medication this morning and hadn't eaten (he could have eaten breakfast as he only has to not eat 2 hours prior to taking the one kind of chemo pills...but he just didn't feel like eating anything this morning). Anyway not long after he got home he got very nauseated and did end up throwing up...normally he just feels sick and doesn't "get sick." Guess that it was good that he didn't take his first dose of chemo till he got home, as he was able to get his first dose of chemo pills down around 5:30pm and managed to keep them down...so the 8th cycle has officially started.

He didn't get the Zometa treatment today as his creatinine levels had risen (doctor suggested that may be due to his blood pressure medicine). He is being taken off his blood pressure medication to get his blood pressure up to a more normal level. He is to monitor his blood pressure to make sure that it doesn't start being high again. Also, his phosphorous levels were down and he has to take a phosphorous supplement (Woody asked if he would glow!). They want him to try something different for pain...now we will see if he decides to go along with the plan! Hard to suggest more pills at this particular time when he is taking so many chemo pills...maybe next week? I was curious as to how many other patients had gotten to Cycle 8 in this drug study...the nurse (one of the research nurses we had had earlier in the study, but one we hadn't seen lately) said that she was pretty sure that Woody had stayed on it the longest at this point. Remember he got in on the study almost as soon as it got under way at Vanderbilt...there were only a couple of others who had already started on the study prior to him starting. Dr. Puzanov was very nice (and, not all that hard to understand)...just not Dr. Sosman. He did mention another study that Woody might be able to take part in when he is through with this one...injecting the melanoma areas that seem to be growing with something (part of my fog...can't exactly explain it now!). So something else to consider in the future that we hadn't heard about from Dr. Sosman. Dr. Sosman is in California, so that was the reason that we saw Dr. Puzanov today.

Woody ate supper after he took his chemo pills and seems to be feeling better now. He is relaxing in his recliner in front of the TV at the moment. And...hopefully...a good night's sleep will clear the fog!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Cycle 7, Day 28 = Another Cycle Completed

Do you suppose this robin wishes that he was a bit farther south?

Woody got up early, went to work, walked at lunch, worked some more, and came home to rest and relax. I know that he is dreading tomorrow...I wanted him to know the appointment times so he could decide when he wants to leave so went down to tell him...and he cringed...I'm sure due to thinking about starting to take the chemo pills again tomorrow...that is...if his labs show that he can continue.

Quilting has been my exercise today...it is a lot of work pushing and pulling this quilt through the machine.

I'll report tomorrow evening on the happenings of our Vanderbilt trip. Hopefully it won't be an extremely long day.