Finish line nears!

I thought some of you may be interested - only two days left to take the pill!  This week has been much better than last week and I was expecting it to be worse.  Praise God!  Looking forward to Sunday night-last pill and UNC vs Md.

I felt so good yesterday, we spend a good part of the day in Chapel Hill.  Chris and I decided we needed to help the Tar Heels out with a little shooting practice.

Feb. 21 - Home Stretch

It's been a week since my last Dr. visit, a very interesting week!  I felt well enough during the day to play golf two days and work in the yard a few hours over a three-day span.  Nights were not much fun - in addition to mouths sores (and throat) which make it difficult to eat and swallow, most nights I'm having acid reflux which combined make it almost impossible to sleep.  A couple days ago I was ready to stop taking the chemo so I could get some relief but my sweet wife calmly encouraged me to keep taking it at least through the weekend until I could talk to the dr.  Thankfully, the last couple days have been better and  I have been able to sleep - what a difference sleeping makes!  Today the dr. changed my blood pressure medication and gave me something for acid reflux.   It makes no sense, but I think even the mouth sores have improved a little.  I do get tired more quickly than normal but we're still trying to keep a somewhat normal schedule.
So now, I can see a dim light at the end of the tunnel - Sun. will be day 28 of 28 days of chemotherapy - the end for now!  As we get closer to that time, I feel better about being able to complete the cycle - then I get 2 weeks off!  This week, I'm still hoping to play golf and maybe mess around in the yard some.  Thanks for your interest and continued prayers.  Without answered prayers, I'm sure I could not have continued this process.  We continue to concentrate on one day at a time.

Day 15 - Dr. visit

Dr. Aklilu had very little to say today other than keep going (he's guessing the fever was from virus, infection ???).  He did change my blood pressure medication since my blood pressure is going up.  We were told at the beginning that blood pressure medication may need to be adjusted so no surprise.  Everything seems to be ok and my next appointment is in 4 weeks when we start round 2.  For now, mouth sores are the main side effect I'm dealing with - uncomfortable but not a major deal at this time.

Since the weather is supposed to be nice all week, we have a busy week planned.  Storehouse got a shipment of 30 pallets in so there is plenty of sorting to do when time permits, tomorrow I have to play golf, and I have quite a bit of yard work/trimming to be done.  Therefore, unless things change, I probably will not update the blog for several days.  No news is good news!  Thank you everyone for your interest and continued prayers.

Feb. 9 - Big Day for Tar Heels

After our team's performance last game, we're ready for Dook.  If Marshall has a game anywhere close to as good as last game, we will almost forget that Drew II was ever a part of this team.  All of a sudden, I feel like we can compete with Dook.  Can't wait for the game tonight!

Economic news - They started digging a basement or footings for a house on the vacant lot across the street from us this morning (hope it doesn't block our view of the golf course).  That's good news - we haven't seen any building happening in a while.

Healthwise, I feel good.  No fever, no problem with side effects.  Mon. we worked at Storehouse for Jesus in the morning and I played and walked 9 holes of golf in the afternoon - no negative effects.  Today is day 10 - looking forward to passing day 12 which is when the fever showed up before.  I don't think it will return but it will be a relief to get past that point.  Thanks for continued interest and prayers.
Jim

Not a good day!

Sat., Feb. 5
Quickly, let me say the title has nothing to do with my health!
The Tar Heels lost an outstanding backup point guard when Larry Drew II left yesterday and that hurts our team at an important and difficult time in the season.  I understand that he must not have been happy, but what can he do now?  And he didn't even tell his roommate he was leaving - he just left.  Oh well, we will just have to go on as we all have to do individually.

As for my health, I'm feeling good.  Still no fever and no evident side effects from chemo.  It is just day 5, so I should have another week before side effects start to show up if they are going to.  My next dr. appt. is Feb. 14.  We can only live one day at a time and I'm learning to do a better job of thinking that way.  Thanks for caring.
Jim

Thurs., Feb. 3

No fever!  I had a headache last night but no fever.  If the fever was from the chomo, the dr. thought I would start having a fever again last night.  If he was wrong, then we're on day 4 of 28.  I will feel more confident that I can continue without a fever if I stay normal tonight (ok, I know I'm not normal-I'm referring to my temperature).  Stay tuned.  If one or two of you comment occasionally, I'll know someone is reading this.  Thanks,
Jim

Wed., Feb. 2

Groundhog day - I got up too late to know what the groundhog saw but I've seen enough winter already so I've declared Spring is just around the corner.  So there!
I have not yet had a fever since I resumed taking chemo pill on Mon. evening.  Our prayer is that that condition will continue.  Our most immediate goal is to get through tonight without a fever since that will cover the dr.'s 2-day period.  Nor Nor's to-do list is not getting shorter, so I need to get started on the latest project (covering speaker wires) - trying to get something done while I'm feeling good.