Thank you!

Thank you so much for the prayers for Rob!  His blood counts still remain below normal, and he is still anemic, but the hemoglobin, which if it fell 9/10's of a point meant a transfusion, actually went UP 2/10's since last week!  Yeah!  It is small, but huge!  So, no scary injection today! :)  (Thank you, Lord.)

Rob's chemo day went fairly well... Just one IV poke, quick bloodwork results, and one of our favorite nurses, Carolyn.  Rob had quite a bit of burning with the Gemzar again today, and Carolyn slowed the drip down which helped with the pain... a little bit.  Rob kept rubbing his arm and it helped the burning to subside somewhat.  His veins are getting tired of trying to deal with these poisons.  He rubbed and rubbed, and soothed himself back to dreamland, sleeping through the rest of the second-to-the-last bag he ever wants to see.

As we sat there this afternoon, Rob told me he's not going to do anymore chemo after this round is done.  He said that if the testing he's going to undergo throughout June comes back with any cancer, he's going to eat what he wants and drink what he wants and do what he wants... and none of his "wants" include anything at all relating to chemotherapy.  I said, "Okay."

When we got home, Rob laid on the bed and was fast asleep.  He woke for meds, than back to sleep.  Then up for dinner, and we watched disc two of season one of Downton Abbey.  I love this show, and I'm not sure if Rob is loving it too, or just tolerating me loving it.  Although I think he's enjoying it as well...  I love Netflix!  (Thank you, Holly!)

On another happy note, doubling his blood sugar meds seem to be doing the trick!  We've been seeing positive results for lower readings for the first time in a long time  --  and we are THRILLED about that!  (Thank you, Lord.)

~~~~~~~~~

Well, in six more days we will be spending the first night in our new apartment!  We are living amongst boxes...  many piles of tall boxes along most walls!  We've been sweating on the hot days since selling the air conditioner, freezing on the cold days since packing all our sweaters and jackets, eating smaller meals since all but two pans are stacked in cardboard, and walking in smaller spaces as we maneuver around the piles.  But in the long run, the organized strategy will help me get things put in order quickly in the new place, and we will be so thankful for more ROOM and all our stuff back where it belongs!  These next few days may feel like we're camping out, but we're tough enough to make it through. :) 
 

New haircut... :)

My work let me take next week as a vacation week, and I am so thankful for the time off!  We move on Wednesday, get the phone/TV hooked up Thursday morning, chemo Thursday afternoon, clean out the balance of the old place and turn over keys on Friday, and I will attend a memorial service on Sunday, on behalf of both Rob and I.  And in between it all, I will be unpacking and sorting... smiling through the exhaustion... and I'll return to work at 7am the next Monday morning.

Thankful.  It's what we are and who we are.  Thankful for the blessings in our lives.  Thankful that God loves us and is protecting and providing for us.  Thankful for the uplifting prayers that are healing and helping.  Thankful that although some days are pushing our limits, we know it's never more than we're able to get through.  Thankful that we're not on this journey alone.  Thankful that we're loved and cared about.  

Thankful, so much, for you, for all you're doing to help us through these days.

We look forward to the LAST chemo treatment next week, and for the Happy

Dance from our nurse, Carolyn.  She told us today that she's working diligently on her routine.  :)  She has been a blessing to us... helpful, hopeful, and  keeping smiles in our hearts.  And if I can figure out how to record a video on my little camera (as the instruction book is in one of the boxes surrounding me), we will share the Happy Dance with you.  ;)

Thank you again.  And forever.

We love you all.


In Love and In Peace,

Cheri (and Rob) ♥