Catching Up

It's been more than past time for me to have added to the blog. Obviously a lot has happened since before we went down to Florida. First of all, the trip to Florida was very refreshing and rewarding. We greatly enjoyed staying with Brian and Lauren and seeing their "new" home for the first time. It was tough to come back though, knowing what I had lying ahead of me. But from my perspective, the surgery was successful. No more cancer within me, though I will need chemo for several more months to ensure that (1) all the cancer is gone and (2) it doesn't return. I will find out next week when we meet with Dr. Y exactly what the chemo treatment will be (concentration, frequency, and overall length of time).

I was in the hospital after the surgery for a week (Wednesday to Wednesday). The first three days I was in ICU. What that meant for me was that I got more personalized service than in a normal room. It basically is the difference between "first class" and "coach". Obviously you're in a private room. Instead of checking in on you every couple of hours like in a regular room, the nurses check on you every hour. And you really can get more personal with the nurses because you spend more time with them. I actually wasn't looking forward to being moved out when they told me I would be, though I'm anxious to see the room cost of the ICU vs. a regular room.

After moving into a regular room, the main goal became moving around as much as possible. The first couple of days (while I was in ICU) it was all I could do to walk from my bed to the nurse's station right outside the door and back to my bed. By the time I was in a regular room, I was shooting for walking laps around the nurse's station. I went from one lap to four laps by the time I was discharged. By Monday and Tuesday, Cyndy and I were wondering when they would discharge me. We were hoping this would happen by the weekend and guessing Friday and maybe even Thursday. So we were surprised when I was discharged on Wednesday (July 1). So I have now been home for almost two weeks. Progress has been slower than I had been hoping but it has been occurring. This is based upon the original doctor's estimate that I would spend 4-5 days in the hospital (actually 7) and then 1-2 weeks at home. By that schedule, I was hoping to be back to work by yesterday (July 13). But I'm not quite ready to go yet. I have trying to increase my "vertical" or "sitting" positions since I have been at home, in preparation of being able to deal with an entire 8-hour day at work. One reason that I have not posted for awhile is that it was difficult to sit and type for as long as I would need to for posting to the blog. The fact that I am writing this blog should hopefully be a good sign to all that I am indeed making progress. After visiting Dr. Beusse yesterday, he OK'd me to return to work by next Wednesday, July 22, and to at least initially work at least 4 hours. I will try the 4 hours for awhile and see how it goes. The doctor and I anticipate that I should not need to do a half-day schedule for more than a week (if at all, but we'll see). If last week at home was (for me anyway) trying-to-recover-and-deal-with-less-pain, this week is now a preparation for getting on with my life. Cyndy's goal for me is to spend two hours "upright" for every non-sleeping hour lying down. I started walking outside yesterday with Kailey (my oldest granddaughter who lives with us and the rest of her family), walking 15 minutes. Today's goal is 20 minutes. tomorrow's will be 25, etc. Dr. Beusse wants me up to 50 minutes when I can do it. And whereas I had been sleeping on the sofa in the family room (more cushions, firmer for more comfort), last night I slept in a chair (a recliner but I did not recline). Cyndy bought some extra pillows and such last night as we try to get me able to reasonably comfortably sleep in my bed.

I am extremely grateful for the cards (and gifts) received from many of you out there. It is encouraging to hear from you and of your support of me through thoughts and prayers. And I am also very grateful to my Heavenly Father for my recovery to this point. He has certainly answered all of my prayers (and yours) so far. According to the "Count" (Dr. Ondrula), the results of the pathology report are nothing we were not expecting. He says everything is on track and ultimately we're going to beat this thing. While I would like to think I have already beaten it by getting it out of my body, the main goal is to NOT have it return within the next two years so that is the next objective. Thanks again for all your thoughts, prayers, and concerns. My best to all of you.