Round Two.....

  Ted was back in the hospital on the 26th to take on round two of his chemo. He flashes his "v" onto victory sign. So proud of his courage. He is doing well . This chemo is different than the first round.

  His numbers are on track, that is what the nurses and drs are telling us.

  The chemo is a stronger version but not a 24 hour drip. He gets two 2 hour drips, twelve hours apart.  He gets eye drops 4 times a day. The "drunk" test is actually checking his balances. Thankfully he is passing each test. We have been masking up and walking down the hall and back.

  This is the T-shirt my daughter Liz's family got him for his fishing trip coming this spring. He really loved it. This picture was taken at home after we spent a couple hours with the family. He was gaining strength each new day.  I will ask that you will pray for Ted or send good thoughts his way. The prayers you all sent up for us has truly helped us thru . We so appreciate everyone of you. XO

  Layla got a new purple guitar from her "Gigi"  She certainly looks happy with it. Her daddy Brock, played next to her here.

 Max got to visit some life animals at the Nativity right before Christmas.

Little brother Luke was truly loving being placed on the back of a burro.  We did not get to cuddle the little kids at Christmas...could not risk germs.  We have a whole lot of hugging to make up for once Ted is thru these chemo treatments.
   I hope each and everyone of you enjoyed some family time during the holidays. I am wishing all of you a Happy New Year of  love and good health.  XO

Holiday Visit....

 My Teddy got to come home for Christmas. He will be back at the hospital right after Christmas day. He will be starting his second round of chemo . He had to stop at CVS, for meds on the way home from the hospital. I had to go back the next day to get the potassium, as it had to be ordered.  Then it was up early and out to the drs. office one morning, then wait for the home nurse to come check him out . Then up early today for blood work to be faxed to all the doctors. Waited for the nurse again today. Thankfully I will be taking care of Ted now. No more waiting.

  Wednesday morning looked like this, so pretty  and mild.

  Same day's sunset. Love this sky.

 Here's our wee Christmas tree. My daughter and granddaughter bought this for Ted's hospital room and we brought it home. This is about the extent of my holiday décor this year. LOL

My daughter Kathy did even simpler ...she bought a rosemary plant and strung a tiny strand of lights on it.  She says it smell good too.  The holiday is so near now and I am feeling happy to have Ted home to enjoy it with me.  We won't be going to anyone's gatherings....just to be safe from germs. Have to have Ted ready for another round of chemo.
  I wanted to thank all you wonderful people who have prayed, sent cards, and well wishes Ted's way. Also for the prayers for me to have the strength I need to help Ted thru this. So many compassionate people in blogland. I am so thankful for each of you.  Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas. Love you !!!

What We Hear.....

  The sun rising around the office building on the St Vincent's grounds.

 Same day's sunset reflected in those office windows.  Even a sunny day has hope.

  This is one of the boards the nurses keep up for patients and families.  You see at the bottom where it says , biopsy with platelets.  On Thursday Dec. 6th, Ted had a bone biopsy to see if the chemo had done it's job of killing the cancer. Ted's cancer doctor never comes in on weekends (?) so one of his associates comes to review with the patient. The doctor on Saturday told Ted his cancer was in remission....What do you hear when a dr. say, "Your cancer is in remission"...I heard hope, Ted heard hope and no more chemo. Thinking now get thru this truly sick stage and heal.
  On Monday Dr. Birhiray(cancer dr) came in and said , "Did I say, If or maybe? No, I said you will have three chemo rounds. You will be here a month, maybe go home two days , come back another month, and then repeat a third time.  " So  in this first round of chemo, Ted's cancer is gone"(remission)...as is his immune system and many other daily things our bodies do  for us.
  He has been so ill, not eating, diarrhea, sick to his tummy( a little thankfully ). So now he is getting extra attention for his bowels.  He finally did eat yesterday. I tell him eat things that may be easy to digest.  It's hard to think, "what would I like to eat...when it comes down to what would I like to throw up?"  He  needs to keep trying...food makes energy that he needs for this fight. His counts are slowly climbing.
  I am ever so grateful for all of you out there with prayers and well wishes.  I know in my heart all of them are helping us. I try to stay with Ted when he is at his worse moments. I just finally had to come home and get to the chiropractor. My back has been so bad I could barely walk yesterday. Thankful for my grandchildren and daughters for all their help .

 Here's my Teddy without his hair. He had me clip it all off.  Lynzie and her husband Mark with Ted one evening when I could not be there. You can see Ted tries to always smile.
  I will tell how the cancer doctor told us about this cancer AML, and treatment.   Your bone marrow is a garden growing flowers(cells) Cancer is weeds taking over the garden, chemo is herbicide . At first you use a big amount of herbicide to kill the weeds, which also kills the flowers. Once all is killed, the garden has to sit awhile...which is where Ted is right now, the really sick stage,  After some time, the flowers will grow again....the weeds will come back, but not as many...you need more herbicide.(not as much as the weeds are not as thick).  The garden is killed once again, the garden has to sit for time to bring it back. Then a third round of herbicide(chemo) is used, not so much this third time as the weeds are less . The garden sits to rest and comes back healthy. This is the hope of all the chemo treatments. Ted will be tested time and again after this to see how well he is doing and to make sure the cancer is not back......at the end of three years he would be considered cured.
  Please pray for Ted  and anyone else with cancer. I sit and think of this as , one floor of cancer patients in one hospital and then I am overwhelmed by the enormity of cancers out there. It touches all. It's a disease that includes the whole family in the emotional pain. May God bless all of you for your caring hearts. XO

Ted Is Fighting....

    Yesterday's picture of Ted, In what is called a "step down room" He is having a tough time but keeps giving us a smile.  They shaved his mustache off...I had never seen Ted without it.

 It seemed a beautiful day outside. Oh how I wish our winter could stay this nice.

  This is in ICU . On Friday, of course it was the day I had left to go to the chiropractor. (my back's been out since Ted's first appointments) My daughter goes to the hospital to check on Ted. She gets to his oncology room just as the doctors and nurses are rushing to get him to ICU. He had a fever spike. It was 105 degrees. They packed him in ice and  started antibiotics.  He had an infection. Finding it ...I am not sure they have yet. Weekend doctors are just not the same. Lots of young ones training. They did change out the pic line to his heart. Because the chemo goes directly into the heart .I think this was an extremely close call for my Teddy. His oncology dr is in LA and will be back tomorrow.
   I know it's the prayers that are going up for Ted that are helping us . I thank all of you who offer prayers and well wishes, they mean the world to us. I have been writing prayers down for Ted to read if he has a quiet moment. He has had units of blood, platelets, antibiotics, and meds. Yesterday he did keep a bit of food down. The first in 3 days.  I guess it was a good thing he ate those big breakfasts when he could. This is a scary time .

  Granddaughter Sierra with her nephew Leo (our great grand) sporting their teddy bear faces to cheer papaw.
   I will try to see the chiropractor again today. Can not sit still with my back hurting.  Grandson Skylar,lifted a limb out of the front yard for me . Thankful for my family standing by to help any way they can.  Hope all of you are well, thank you always for sweet thoughts and comments.XO

Teddy Bear Update......

  Here's Ted in his bed at St. Vincents.. Smiling trying to keep his chin up. My strong brave sweetheart.

 We have been laughing about the size of meals he has been ordering. The hospital handed him a menu and number to call for food. I told him, you do not eat like that, and he says, "it's so good"....I told him not to think he is putting a phone in our kitchen so he can call from his recliner. So we make jokes and laugh.  While inside I feel I am holding my breath. Praying all day long.

  Beautiful "Nana" Diana and her handsome hero husband John,  came to the hospital to visit with Ted and I. They gave Ted this wonderful book to read and receive courage and hope. I loved meeting John , he is a cancer survivor, (who has been in my prayers many, many times. ) He is also a hospital Chaplain, the perfect visitor . :) Ted said he felt as if he already knew Diana from me speaking of her so often. . hahaha, we do love our blog family, don't we? He thoroughly enjoyed John's talk of how to keep going and once you are thru, working to stay healthy.

 Does Diana ever go anywhere, that she isn't bearing gifts?  Such a generous hearted lady.  You know we all tease and laugh with her, she  has a great sense of humor, but she is gentle and loving.(shh, don't tell her I said that) She and John, brought this big bag of thoughtful gifts. Cheese ( they are from Wisconsin, you know), crackers, cookies, candy, puzzle books, pens, chapstick (so helpful) and a magazine to read. I can not even begin to thank these kind caring friends. I will remember that day.

 One evening Ted's long time friend and golf pal Steve, came to visit . Came back a day later and brought Ted a milk shake. Ted was going back to bed when he stood by Steve for a photo.  Now we have been told no hugging , no kisses, just hand sanitized fist bumps.  That goes for me also.
   Ted is doing well with his treatments, so far....we know it won't always be a day to smile. I told Ted when he gets low, to force himself to think ahead to his spring fishing trip with his son, brothers, and friends. That will cheer him.
 I want to thank my children who have stepped up to help me get to and from the hospital, plus feed me. LOL.  Thank you kind wonderful blog family and friends.  All the prayers and well wishes mean so much to Ted and I. He said he was touched to know so many cared. Silly boy, he is loved. XO

Some Times One Thing Leads To Another......

  Thursday morning we were up early...to ice and snow. The day we need to get to the hospital for Ted's heart catheterization it was totally winter.  Our road was the worse part, a bit nasty on a secondary road, then clear sailing . We arrived 10 minutes early and they got right to work on Ted.

  Ted's heart doctor is so busy he "farms out" his cath jobs. This is the doctor who did the cath. A crew of nurses. I was amazed. One nurse says, "I know you ", to me.  She used to live near my daughter and they were  and are friends. So she kind of  looked out for us.

 Here's Teddy sporting one of those flashy (or should I say flasher) gowns.  He had fasted and keep talking about food. :)  The nurses got him ready and they started the procedure. Waiting, as you all know is very hard. My daughter and her husband were with me. I was so thankful  When the cath was finished, we all were called for a consultation....this was the part I had been dreading.
  The doctor said Ted had a blockage, but he did not take care of it because Ted's hemoglobin count was so low, it was dangerous. So he was admitted to the hospital for treatment.

 Waiting for doctors to come and decide what needs to be done...23 hours of fasting, Ted gets a grilled chees and tomato soup, tea and pudding.....he was so happy. My daughter Kathy came after she got off work. it's nice to have others keep your mind off some of the scary stuff.

 Eleven hours after coming to the hospital...Ted is getting two units of blood.  They took vials of his blood and spun the red blood cells out and mixed with donate blood and hooked Ted up ( this is what I seemed to be hearing, so don't call me on it, if I am wrong, Ha. ).   His hemoglobin was  5 point 5 ,it should have been 14.  By Friday morning at 4:00 am, the transfusion was done and the nurse got him up ...we took a couple laps  around the ward..they wanted to see if he was feeling better and get that blood flowing.  The night shift nurse  was wanting him reading for a better reading at the morning blood draw.  He was up to 7.8 by then. Not perfect but out of danger.

  They took a bone marrow biopsy Friday at 10 :00... The results will not be in for a few days. We will be seeing an oncologist/hematologist , once the results of the biopsy are in.  Trying to find out why Ted was anemic. All the nurses and doctors could not believe he had great color, a good weight, passed the treadmill, great bloodwork.( do not think he was tested ever for hemoglobin count.) but all the other tests were great.  One doctor asked if he walked into the hospital...Ted said, "I drove to the hospital !" so all were amazed by him.  I am praying  his all around good health and strength will get us thru . He will be getting a stent for that blockage ...after all other things are done.  Please hold us in your good thoughts and prayers. I am thankful for all of you.  XO.

This Weekend.....

  On Friday, My daughter Angie's 5th graders celebrated Veteran's Day.  This is the 21 st year Angie has held this for local vets. I am amazed it's been that long. The children sang patriotic songs and put on a skit for the vets.  They have for the past three years been raising money to send veterans to Washington D.C. , so they can visit the memorials in their honor.  This project is called Honor Flights. Two of our local vets came to the celebration on Friday and thanked the kids for helping them to go on the trip to D.C.  Angie also thanked her class and said , "even young people can do good things for others."   Ted and I were at the heart clinic and did not get to attend the program.

  Saturday looked like this...clear , but cold.  It was a beautiful sky.

  Also a wonderful sunset. Just a bit of purple in the sky color.

   Do any of you remember my granddaughter Emma....the one I called Emma Pooh?  Look at this little beauty, all dolled up for a school dance . This is her "date" for the dance...as she is only 14 1/2 years old...too young to really date. My daughter drove them to the dance and picked them up...both too young to drive. Thank goodness.  No wonder she doesn't come over and do crafts with old nana any more.   LOL  I could cry but won't let myself for fear I would never be able to stop.
   Just a couple more days till Ted gets his heart cath. I seem to be holding my breath. I am getting a cold now and pray he doesn't catch it. He will not be getting the cath if he does.  Thank you all for your kind words and prayers...you certainly are special. XO

Cold Reality.....

 As Ted and I start our day. I had to clean the snow away. it was like slush.  So thankful it was not more. It warmed up to 40 degrees....but with wind and dampness, it was miserably cold.

  Getting to the heart clinic. The semi truck in front of this line was waiting for another semi to get into it's spot before he could make his left hand turn. Lots of trucks on this road . we are within yards of our entrance.

  Here we are turning into the parking lot.

 Once we are parked ,it's a pretty view.

  Inside the heart clinic. Two patients had just been called to the interior rooms.

  Ted brought his meds in the tote bag next to him. He was given an electronic sign in devise.

 Here he is being called into one of the examination room.  The heart doctor told Ted all his tests, the treadmill, and the chest x-ray came back good. But as he went over Ted symptoms and heart history, he changed some things . Took away the adult dose aspirin daily and put him on a children's dose. Then change his blood pressure medicine. Also put him on an angina medicine. Ted has never had any angina that we know . Ted's blood pressure has been 120 / 64.....almost every time I have taken it. It was 140/ 65 while in the exam room. That makes me think his meds were working.
   This coming week, Ted will have a heart catheterization.  They will be checking the stent he had put in 18 years ago. This is for good measure.  So please keep Ted in your good thoughts and prayers. We deeply appreciate all of you and your loving kindnesses.
   We did breathe a little easier after we left the clinic. Now we will prepare for this coming week.

 On a cute note. Lynzie sent me this picture of Max bringing Luke to the patio doors, so he can see the snow. Ever faithful Madison by their sides. Love that dog.  All the while, Max is telling Luke, "Look  , Lukie, it's Christmas time."  :) You may be able to see a touch of snow in the grass.

Leaves And More Leaves.....

  This is how the backyard looked a few days ago.  Lots of leaves falling off the maple, tulip poplars, and sycamore trees.  Well honestly three leaves from a sycamore and you have to rake , they are so big.

  Saturday this maple in the back woods was about the only one with leaves . The sun made it look as if it were lit up, it glowed.

  I rake leaves into to piles and then I rake them onto a tarp or old shop blanket, so I can drag them to a place to pile up.  Once the yard is all rake, we load them on the trailer and haul them to the neighbor man's woods down the road....his woods is so dense, the leaves do not blow back out.

 You can see how nice the woods looked this past weekend. Lots of color. But the winds have been fierce and have stripped the trees almost completely.

  I love seeing cardinals.

  Some beautiful sunsets, but very cold at this time of day.

Some leaves seem to hang on till you have cleaned the yard and then they will fall. LOL.
  Monday, Ted went to get his treadmill echogram. He was winded afterwards. His heart doctor was making his rounds at  the hospital and he stopped in to check a couple things with Ted.  He did not seem to be too concerned. Told Ted to take it easy for a few days and be sure to keep his appointment on Friday. So we will know more after tomorrow.  Please keep my Teddy Bear in your good thoughts and prayers. Thank you so much.  Wishing all of you a great day. XO