Lots to Fill In...

Hello again.

I'm never quite sure where to start, and I don't usually have plans when I sign in here...  I just let it all flow out.  My quiet mixed up therapy.

Quick update on the emergency room visit last Thursday for our friends and family who aren't on facebook...
 

Last Monday we started the third chemo cycle trying to beat this ugly monster growing inside of Rob.  The treatment hit him pretty hard.  By Wednesday morning before I went to work, he said he was doing okay, and I should go.  When I walked in the door at the end of the day, he was in agony, head pain worse than he's had before, and he said he felt awful  --  all starting just after noon.  By late that evening, his temp was 102.8, but he didn't want me to call his doc yet (although on chemo, anything over 100.5 is supposed to be called in).  He took a couple of Tylemol 3's hoping it would help the fever.  I told him we'd check it first thing in the morning.  We did.  It was 103.3.

Yes, we spent a good part of Thursday in the emergency room while they ran a myriad of tests including blood and urine cultures (which are still not back yet today).  They really don't know what caused the spike in temp, but put him on an antibiotic, and after another day and a half, the fever broke, and he's feeling better from this whole event.


Back to now...
 
Today we went in for the second chemo treatment in this third cycle.  They did not do bloodwork again since he had it run in the ER on Thursday (which I was a little upset about, because we try to keep a close eye on the numbers ourselves).  But we're having faith that they know what they're doing.

As of last Thursday, all of his red counts were below normal, including the platelets, which fell quite a bit below normal.  His WBC count had gone up a little bit, but his body was working desperately to put out the fire from the raised temp.  Arrgh.  So we'll wait for next Monday's treatment to see where his numbers really are with the chemo.

Rob, as usual, slept through most of the hard stuff today at the infusion center which is good.  I was working on my quilting still, and am happy that I actually finished the handquilting on these projects I started in 2012 when Nicole went for her brain surgery.  Now I just have to trim and bind all four, and I'm on to the other million ideas in my head.

A couple of times while I was quilting, all of a sudden I couldn't hear Rob's breathing, and my eyes shot to his chest immediately to see if he was breathing.  You know, I think I am handling everything like this strong statue of a person, and in a nano-second, I am a mess...  heart beating crazy, adrenaline rushing through my veins, short of breath... crazy.  But it's at these moments, I feel the hand of Christ on me, and I am at peace again.  Real peace.

Your prayers are in His hand.  I breath easier because of all of you. ♥

We arrived back home late this afternoon, traveling on STILL snow-covered and slippery roads from yesterday's storm.  Sheesh... we left at noon and the main roads had not even been plowed or salted.  We had a LOT of snow... some areas are several feet deep from the winds.  And crazy cold.

I bought a shovel and keep it in the car.  Even though our parking spot is covered, the snow still blows in all around our car, and I have to dig it out.  So I did that early this morning.  The single Mom that parks next to us had already left, so I shoveled out her spot, too.  Then I did around the car on the other side of us, belonging to a lovely woman who I always see alone.  She works nights.

While I was shoveling, I spoke with another nice lady who was out walking her dog.  We always see each other, but stay apart because of our dogs trying to do their business.  I shoveled in front of her car and on the side so she could get in to run up to the store.  And then something awesome happened...  we took the time to know each other.

She lives alone with her little puppy dog.  Eleven years ago she lost her two-year old daughter, her only child, in a car accident.  I am crying again as I write this.  We shared tears, we shared hugs, we shared dreams of the future, and we will be praying for each other.  After she drove away, I finished shoveling out her spot completely, too.   

We need to take the time to know people again, especially our neighbors.  The busyness of life is destroying our compassion.  Everyone has a story.  Everyone can use some help.  And we all need hugs.

~~~~~~~~~

I am sitting in my quilt room (sanctuary), listening to music as Rob sleeps just a room away.  I went in and checked on him.  He is very ashen, very white.  Scary white.  I hate what that poison does to him.  Yes, I always check his chest, make sure I see it moving.  Fear?  Probably.  

I don't want all of this to be real.

Rob will be up around 8pm or 9pm for a bit, and I'll make him something to eat.  Then he'll sleep again.  He still has horrible headaches, but not as bad as last Wednesday.  He said that was a really, REALLY bad one.

Before we left today, I had to call my company's leave department to report time I had to take last week.  The gal there felt it was important to go over the details of my leave, which left me in stressy-tears, digging through paperwork and forms and files, etc.  Nicole (my daughter) had me call her hubby, Michael.  He knows a lot about this all  --  due to Nicole's brain and spinal surgeries, and the complications she lives with daily.  He told me what was right and what was wrong, but the best thing he always does for me, is put me back on my feet, walking one step at a time.  

I tend to try to handle all that "might be" along with all that "is".  Mike told me just to handle one day at a time, because everything is okay right now, and I don't know what the future holds.  Just today.  Just today.  Mike is not only a blessing to my daughter, to his children, to all who know him...  he is a blessing to me.  I love you, Michael... for loving my daughter, for loving me, for being so level headed, and most of all, for loving Jesus with all your heart and soul, and for not being afraid to let everyone know that. ♥

~~~~~~~~~

Earlier this week... :)

Rob and I were talking with the gal at registration today.  She still remembers us from when we came for the first chemo treatment in 2013.  She said I was very protective of Rob, like a Mama bird watching over her young.  We all smiled. :)  Then we helped some newbies find there way back to what's become our second home in the short-stay unit and wished them the best.  Next week we'll do it all again.

Tomorrow Rob will be sleeping quite a bit in between his music and cyber chats with his ol' buddies.  I'll run through the yard to give my granddaughters their next handquilting lesson.  Ally, the 5-year-old, wants to learn to make jewelry, too.  Izzy, the almost 8-year-old, is doing so great on her handwork.  I am so proud of them!  Then I'll be back home here working in my quiet place, making sure Rob's doing okay.

So until next week, we wish you all well.  We pray you have strength and healing, warmth and food, and all that you need.  We pray that these days of being busy don't pull you away from being who God created you to be.  Success is nice in the business world, but successful living has nothing really to do with careers or money.

It's a heart issue.  

One I'm trying to work on.  I want to be remembered for how I was able to help, even if just in a small way.  I want to make a difference for good. ♥

Quick Riley note:

He has developed the "Zoomies" lately.  He tears around this two-bedroom apartment with ears and tail tucked, as fast as his little legs can go, bouncing off walls and furniture, over and over again.  I read in one of my dog books that we need to just enjoy this time, as it will end around 8 months or so, then all we'll have is memories of it.  

And it does make us laugh and smile.  I think that's why he does it.  *wink* :)

Rob and I continue to be humbled by your love and prayers, and want you to know that we pray for you all every day, too.






In Love and Peace,

Cheri ♥