Monday, October 31, 2011

Today is Dad's birthday.  I write this hastily before I have to leave for work.  He had a party at the house planned for this evening.  Clara has not been feeling well over the last week.  It appears there's a sinus issue, and antibiotics aren't doing the job.  Cyndi and I were planning on going to dinner with them on Saturday night, and that was cancelled.  Then we talked on Sunday and Clara wasn't any better.  So he's cancelled the Monday night party.  Clara will take a third trip to the doctor's office today for more testing.  Let's keep her in our prayers today and hope that she get's better soon.  I will update you as I know more.  If you have a chance, call and wish Dad a Happy Birthday.  Then hand out treats to the kiddos!!!  Everyone have a safe and fun Halloween.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Dad got results on Tuesday for some xrays and scans taken last week.  It looks like the tumor on his liver has shrunk from 4mm to 1mm, and has become hardly noticeable.  The rest of his tumors appear to still be about the same.  So that's good news.  However, in the "cocktail" he takes, there are certain drugs that his body can only take a certain amount of before the chemo itself becomes deadly.  So they'll have to adjust his cocktail to some new drugs that will hopefully maintain his current status.  He's also become more independent, and is actually driving himself around.  Short distances and time frames, but by himself.  So that's good news too.
As for his birthday, Clara and he have decided to have it on his birthday, Monday...not the Saturday before.  It will be a come-and-go thing after work, for those of us that work.  It will be for kids and spouses only, and a few of his friends, and Clara will have some easy-to-handle food and drinks out.  It won't last long but it should be fun.  So make plans, family, to be there on Monday night.

Tuesday, October 18,, 2011

An update.  Dad's birthday party will not be in Rockwall.  It will be at their house in Arlington on Fielder, and will probably be a come-and-go event on the Saturday before his birthday.  So kids (no grandkids, etc) make you plans accordingly and set aside that Saturday. 
Also, just for your reference, Cyndi found online the discussion of Dad's name on the wall of the aerospace museum in Washington, out near Dulles Airport.  I'm sure some of you have seen it, but here's the link:  http://www.nasm.si.edu/getinvolved/giving/wallofhonor/profiledetail.cfm?id=21545#.Tp3z8I2eJyg.email.
Check it out, it's some great stuff.  There's information on Dad that I never knew about, so I'll have to talk to him about it this Thursday when I'm visiting him for Clara's bridge day-off.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Well, Dad's birthday is fast-approaching.  October 31 will fall on a Monday.  Clara had mentioned about having kids and family, and Dad's friends, over at her place on Saturday.  I suggested the possibility of coming to Rockwall and eating at a restaurant at The Harbor, or possibly The Oar House, and then taking a sailboat ride on The Seawolf.  The Seawolf (see www.sailwithscott.com) is a large sailboat that take about a 1 1/2 hour ride around Lake Ray Hubbard.  Not sure if that will be the final decision, but it's a thought.  A lot will depend on the weather, and how Dad is feeling.  Dad is still pretty stable, to the best of my knowledge.  Not much has changed in the last week or so.  The only sign I see that worries me is that his blood cell count continues to stay low on a more frequent basis.  Other than that, his pain medication seems to be working well.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

I went to Dad and Clara's house on Thursday.  It wasn't Clara's bridge day, that's next Thursday.  I went there to help him with setting up some financial things that would go faster on line.  Since Dad doesn't have a computer, I went there to go online and be sure to setup the accounts properly, the way he wanted them set up.  He was supposed to have gone to chemo on Wednesday, but again, his blood cell counts were way down.  So he got the shot and will have to wait until next week for chemo.  I'm concerned about the increasing amount of times that he's going in for chemo and it's being postponed because of his blood cell count.  It used to be just now and then, now it seems to be almost every visit is postponed because of it.  On the good side, he's still very active and alert.  He tells me that he really doesn't need me, or anyone else, to be over at the house with him when Clara's gone for the day.  But, I tell him that maybe it's more for me, than for him! It's at these times that you have to prioritize a few things in life.  When he's gone, I won't have the liberty of taking a weekend here and there to go see him.  So I'll do it now while I can.  I believe this weekend he and Clara were going to Greenville to see their friends the Ralstons.  They were going to watch a play or theater thing, and spend the night.  Then come back home on Sunday.  The trip from Arlington to Greenville is about an hour and a half, maybe hour and 45 minutes.  He should be okay in the car for that long.  I told them to take a break in Rockwall and visit with us for a while.  We'll see if he's up to it or not.