Thursday, October 30, 2008

Greetings one and all! Today is Thursday 30, Oct and I just finished drinking in two full units of blood. How apropos for the impending holiday. I guess you all can figure out what I'm going to be for all Hallows Eve? A survivor!!
Regarding surviving...the Staff is pleased with me progress as of late. I've put on weight, eating much better (taste buds are cooperating) and am drinking more.
As the last entry read I did have a bone marrow biopsy last week and a PET scan on Tuesday - both procedures came back with flying colors...or are the flying colors due to all the drugs? I kid, I kid. In other words all clear of any cancers or irregularities. Great news for sure. As I write this I have an appointment on Monday next for the usual lab draws and weekly x-ray and meet with my Doctor on Friday next to discuss going home. Not 90 days and not 100 days but somewhere in between. I'll believe it when I see it. I do look forward to getting back to the homestead and familia.
Well blog hounds it's presently raining outside (nothing too heavy yet) and we need to get to the store. Thanks again for caring and I look forward to seeing you all again soon. Until then...be well.

-me

Side note: Lizanne (sp), Thanks for allowing me to be your "Stanford campus guide" last weekend and for the field trip into the SF to the exhibit at Golden Gate park...and of course Cribbage.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Hi everyone it's Robyn giving you an update. Since Curt only goes to the clinic twice a week now he doesn't get to check the blog as often as he would like, so I'm filling in. After my last 2 visits with Curt it became very apparent that he is suffering from sleep deprivation. We all know that when we are tired we just don't feel like doing anything and that is definitely the case with Curt. He's too tired to eat or rinse his mouth as often as he should. I'm convinced that the sooner we can get him home, the better. A couple weeks of good sleep and he will be a new person. He had a biopsy on Mon and has a CAT scan scheduled for next week. If we get the positive results we are hoping for there is possibility Curt may be able to come home in 90 days which would get him back to SLO on Nov 1. Today is day 77. Worst case scenario if he has to stay the full 100 days, puts him back in SLO the weekend of Nov 15th.

Rich and Laura O'Neil came to visit us last Fri and it was so good to see Rich living an almost normal life since his BMT. He's 7 months into the process and such an encouragement to Curt and I. Our prayers are now with John Fiore who is also from SLO and had a BMT earlier this month. He's in the midst of the mucuisitis that is so painful - hang in there John!

Take care~

Robyn

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Good afternoon voyeurs, I mean readers. Lol. It's a beautiful day here in Palo Alto. Mr Sun is blessing us with presence and warmth. Yesterday me Mum and I spent the latter part of the day perusing the gardens outside the museum - specifically the Roudin exhibit then we finished up with a cruise over to the quad area by the Church. Robyn, Brently and Don have all experienced the same tour so I'm sure they can relate. For those of you who can't relate...get yer ass up here! Time is limited!
In case I failed to mention it I am down to two days a week at the ITA. All's going well aside from the issue of weight. I was also given a new prescription today to add to my repertoire. I'm not due back until Monday for routine labs, x-ray and.......oh yeah a bone marrow biopsy! Oh well, someones gotta do it may as well be me since I'm already here.

As for all the comments folks have been leaving please don't think they go unnoticed. I appreciate each and every one and more over the fact that you feel I'm worth your time. I thank you from the depths of me heart.

You all have a wonderful weekend and stay healthy!

-me

Thursday, October 9, 2008

What a contrast from yesterdays joyful entry. Allow me to paint a picture for you: The day began as usual with a good stretch in bed followed by my routine of heading to the bathroom to purge me mouth. From there I wandered into the kitchen to prepare me Carnation instant Breakfast. With breakfast in hand I proceded to the couch to psych myself up to take my multiples of pills (I'm presently downing 12? pills daily - not including this one med that is an extremely bright chrome yellow and by far the most difficult to down). So far so good.
One more thing to do and I'd be on my way to me appointment. I just had to purge me mouth one last time and I'd be off. This is where routine turned to obscene. Not only did I purge me mouth but I went a step further and volunteered my stomach contents too! What a way to start the day. The wacky thing is is that it tastes bad enough going down...coming back up -MMMM!
It's also not helping me keep any weight on if I'm so freely giving it away.
I think I'll end it here. Thanks again for caring to keep up with little 'ol me and I hope to see you all in approximately 40 days or so.

-me

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Hi everyone, this is Robyn and I just wanted to add something to Curt's comments. Like Curt mentioned we had a fabulous weekend together. It was the most normal weekend we've been able to have since the middle of July. I was so happy to be able to take Curt to Half Moon Bay on Sat to do something he wanted to do, instead of something he had to do. He did get lots of stares from everyone he passed and at the 18th hole when they asked everyone to be quiet at the green, all you could hear was Curt breathing. I wanted to throw a cloak over him and say 'May the force be with you!' Seriously, it was so good to see him actually enjoying himself and getting back into the real world again. We've been so concerned about his health these last 2 months that we never even realized what an amazing campus Stanford is. There is so much art, architecture and beautiful gardens all over the place. We walked around for hours on Sun taking it all in, taking pictures and just enjoying the gorgeous day we were blessed with.

Today is day+64 and when I look at the big picture, it's gone by very fast. But on a day to day basis, I miss him terribly and there isn't an hour that I don't think about him. Thanks go out to everyone that has posted comments, come to visit, helped me with cat duty or just listened when I didn't think I could take another thing going wrong. You are all angels in our eyes.

Only 36 more days to go!

Robyn

Monday, October 6, 2008

Greetings one and all! Once again I begin this posting with "It's been awhile since I've written anything..." Where to start?
Well I seem to be moving along to the Doc's expectations aside from not keeping my weight in check - I was loosing instead of gaining this last week but today I'm pleased to report I've gained a lb or two since Friday. Truth be known that isn't saying much since I'm only back up to approx 148ish. Discipline me boy, discipline!
A few w/e's ago my friend Brently came up to care for me for a few days which was pleasant. We spent a good portion of the w/e playing Cribbage and Bones (Dominoes), and watching/discussing the debate. What a maverick he is! Brent left Sunday to be replaced with me Madre. Ma and I had a very nice week per standard. Once again I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for all you generous souls who have sacrificed your blood, sweat, tears and time (both physical and mental) towards my cause. I THANK YOU ALL!!
Speaking of generous souls, this last w/e me sweetie came up and we had a very eventful time. Saturday we drove out to Half Moon Bay to watch day three of the LPGA world championships. It was nice to be out in the public forum although it did take alot out of me with all the walking from hole to hole. I was definitely exhausted by the end of it but it was all worth it. I slept well that pm.
On Sunday we toured the campus near the Hoover? tower and the gardens that surround the family church. The weather was perfect for us two lovebirds. We decided we have much more to explore next time.
Changing course for a minute...today at the ITA I have been officially downgraded to just two times a week from my previous three days. Progress kids, progress.
It looks like it's time to get something in me gut so on that note I will close for now. Wishing you all the very best in life and health.

-me