10-Pin Strike

I wish you could have seen Jess this morning while she was supposed to be watching TV church.  She was down on the floor with the iPad, playing 10-Pin Strike.  When she missed the pins she would yell "Oooohhhh!" along with the background "Oh's!".  When she got a spare or strike, she'd do a high five and yell "Yah!", right along with the background "Yah's!"  She played for almost an hour and only stopped because she needed breakfast.

This afternoon she played on it again - doing puzzles.  We have an app that allows you to use the pictures that are downloaded onto the iPad and turns them into puzzles.  I've got 83 pictures of Jessie on there and she puts them together.  What amazes me the most is that after she's done with one, there are several commands that you have to touch in order to get another puzzle - and she knows how to do it!  I had to delete the preschool puzzles I had downloaded for her - too simple.

A very quiet day.  Bill was in alot of pain and discomfort again but got relief from Darvocet.  I had a nice long nap and he cat napped.  Jon went to Sunday School which he really enjoys and watched tv or played computer games today.  You already know what Jess did.  

Synvisc-One

That's the name of the shot that I will be getting in December.  Sorry I didn't have it last night.  I only do stairs when it's absolutely necessary. 

Today was hair cut day and grocery shopping day.  Jon, Jess and I got our hair cut first thing in the morning and then Jon and I went to Kroger's and Bill and I went to Meijer's.  Although Bill was able to go out today, he has not had a good day.  He's been in a considerable amount of pain.  I'm now finding out that he isn't always telling us how bad he feels.  My heart aches for my wonderful husband.  I wish he didn't have to go through all this.  It just isn't fair. 

One of the hardest things for him is that he is unable to do the one thing he loves to do - work.  He fills his days with football games, the iPad and his model, but it just isn't the same. 

Cluck, Cluck !!!

I went to the surgeon today about my knee.  He walked in, looked at Bill and Jon and wanted to know why I had brought my body guards!  Cute.  The bottom line on my left knee is severe arthritis in the knee cap.  The torn miniscus is secondary.  Orthoscopic surgery could be done but he couldn't guarantee that it would even do any good.  Knee replacement would take care of it, but I'm not ready for that.  So, I am going to have 3 injections - one each week - beginning the first week in December.  I'll have to tell you what it's called in tomorrow's post because the paper is upstairs.  However, I do know that it is made from the chicken comb.  So, if you hear me cluck, you'll know I've had the shots!

Bill had a good morning and early afternoon again, and downhill after that.  He's been plastered to the couch since around 3:00. 

CT Scan Is Done

We were at the hospital by 9:15 a.m., Bill got his delicious drinks at 9:55 a.m. and finally got called back for the 10 minute CT scan at 11:50.  Whew!  We played on the iPad, I read some, looked over a report for Jessie's 6-month reevaluation for services and basically just waited and watched everyone else drink.  Bill offered to let me have some, but dispite his thoughtfulness, I let him have it all.  We'll get the results next Tuesday. 

We had a quick lunch in the hospital cafeteria, then drove across the street to drop in at the doctor's office to check on a huge hematoma on Bill's stomach where I gave him a shot the other day.  They drew blood to check his platelets, and even though his count is low, it isn't too low.  We will have to go back in the morning if it continues to spread.  Let's pray that it doesn't.

The Model Is Coming Along Nicely

Bill had another fairly good day today and was able to get out by himself for a bit.  He also spent time working on his ship model.  That and the iPad are keeping him occupied.  Oh, he also did a couple loads of wash, too.  Now that's a good day!

Tomorrow we go to the hospital for another CT scan.  We're hoping that the results will be good this time and the chemo will have shrunk some tumors and kept the cancer from getting worse.  We'll have the results next Tuesday.

I didn't have a good day again.  However, I think I have a reason.  It takes me awhile to put 2 and 2 together, but I might have a "4".  Six months ago I began a medication for the pain in my hips due to the 2 herniated discs I have.  This nerve medication wrecked havoc on my emotions for months.  Several days ago I began the step down in discontinuing the medication.  My depression, tears and severe fatigue could be as a result of stopping this drug.  We'll see.  

On Being Transparent

The Thorndike Barnhart dictionary says that being transparent means *easily seen through or detected and *free from pretense or decit; frank.

My intention behind this blog is to keep everyone up-dated on Bill's progress and Sutton happenings.  It is not meant to be depressing.  Despite what we are going through, we have good days - great days in fact.  Most days my fingers fly over the key board and sharing isn't a problem.  Except for times like tonight when my tears have flowed more than usual during the day.  If you were to look into my eyes, you would easily see that something is not right.  In being transparent, I've had a very difficult day emotionally.  No particular reason.  I just have. 

Bill and I enjoyed a lunch out with very dear and "old" friends today.  Bill grew up with this family and we are so grateful for their friendship, love and support.  Bill had a fairly good physical day. 

Jon's been sick for a couple weeks and had to go back to the doctor this afternoon.  Plus, he lost a filling and ended up in the dentist's chair, too.  Yuck!  Jess had a great day since they went to the "big library" (Clinton Macomb) for today's outing.  She really likes it there. 

A Spoonful of Sugar ...

... makes the medicine go down.  And a bowlful of ice cream makes the words flow better.  Well, I had to have some reason to eat it, didn't I?  Especially at this time of night since we don't usually eat after dinner. 

Bill had another good day.  It can only be because of prayer that he's been doing so well when he really shouldn't.  Today's Day 11 and he didn't feel yucky until after dinner. Thank you to all who have prayed that the side effects would be minimal.  Several people have told us that this is what they have specifically prayed for.  Thank you, God, for answering these specific prayers.

Bill and Jon had a good day together.  They went out to eat then worked at church for awhile.  Jess had to have blood work done this morning, then we went shopping for her Girls Day Out day.  Her speech teacher came and brought us donuts and cider from Blake's Cider Mill.  We also had a visit from friends from church this afternoon.  A nice day.