Pepsi time!

Brief news flash!

I'm now able to drink pepsi again.  Still a couple small mouth sores but my mouth is almost back to normal.

More praises!

I returned last night from 4 days of golf at Myrtle Beach.  Good group, good golf courses, hot, not such good golf but lots of fun.

I had my between-rounds Dr. appt. and echo-cardiogram today.  The echo showed no damage to my heart as expected - they do that occasionally just as a safety precaution.  The dr. verified that I'm doing 'good' and my body is tolerating chemo well.

The next round of treatments start June 6 and we're scheduled for the next round of scans on July 7 (that's when we spend the day at Baptist hospital).  Thank you for your continued prayers - please continue to pray that round 4 will be even less uncomfortable and the scans will show even more reduction of tumors.

Meanwhile, God is in control - what more can we ask!

Busy Week!

Sunday will end round three of chemotherapy!  While it's not the same as being off treatment, side effects have not been bad (burned tongue, fatigue, unsettled stomach at times, acid reflux at times).  I'm very thankful that even though there are some discomforts at time, I'm able to carry on a regular schedule.
For example, this week:
We worked at Storehouse for Jesus two days(both part-days)
Played two rounds of golf (also 1 rain out)
Played monopoly one night (lost miserably)
Trimmed and mowed our grass (pushed)
Watched Gracie's soccer game but missed Isaiah's baseball game
Played 'mexican train' dominoes one night
Wrote bills (the most exhausting activity of the week)

That may not be much for a lot of you, but for an old retired person, that's a busy week.  Next week, I'm hoping to play more golf and work less.

Monday starts two weeks off and I have a Dr. appt. Thurs. - just a check-up/blood test after each round.

Thanks for the prayers!

I know it's been a while since I last posted anything.  Sorry.  I'm doing well and going about doing my regular "stuff" so I haven't had anything worth saying.  I could tell you how often I've been playing golf but that could sound like bragging.  Or, I could tell you my golf scores but that would be embarrassing...to me!  Therefore, I've just not written anything.  But I know and have been assured that many of you continue to pray even if I don't write anything and I thank you for that.

This weekend completes week 3 of this cycle and effects have been minimal.  One more week and I get another break.  Thanks again for your continued support and prayers.

Normal again!

OK, OK, I know, some of you are already saying, 'you've never been normal a day in your life'.  I'll accept that but I feel normal for me with the chief indicator being that I am able to enjoy drinking pepsi again and eat whatever, including some spicy stuff, and things taste normal.

I'm half way through my two weeks off meds and going about life one day at a time - playing golf, yard work, some of Nor Nor's to-do list, and enjoying warmer weather.  It's hard finding time to do all I want to do - how do people have time to work???? or travel?

Another good day in Carolina - the last piece of our 'championship' team announced he's coming back.
Go Heels!

Praise God!!!

What a beginning to another week!  I finished the 2nd round of chemo yesterday and spent the day at Baptist hospital today getting scanned.  It was worth it since we got great news.  Dr. Aklilu reported that the medication is working - since my last scan in Dec., the tumors have shrunk approx. 30 - 40%.  He said that maintaining the same size would be good news - this is about as good as could be expected.  My body has tolerated the chemo well and it has been effective!  Therefore, I get two weeks off again, then take pills for 28 days again before my next dr. appt.  Then, we do round 4 before we do scans again.  The side effects will hopefully decrease each round as we go forward and the hope is that shrinking will continue.  This is of course answered prayer for our family.  Thank you for your continued prayers.

Leading up to today, I spent a very special and enjoyable week last week.  David and his family have been with us for a week - he and I got to play golf together - and Chris, David, and I got to watch the Masters together.

Oh, yeah!  Some friends of ours arranged for me to attend the Masters in Augusta, Ga. both Thurs. and Friday.  I got to watch the world's best golfers on the most beautiful golf course imaginable with David on Thurs. and Chris on Friday.  It's still unbelievable to me, so I've included pictures below to prove I was there.

Prayer request

Praise - Tomorrow is the last day of this round of chemo and side effects have been very manageable.

Prayer request - I am scheduled to spend all day at Bapt. hospital getting scanned and Dr. appt. to report the results.  The request is that the scans will show that chemo has been effective (whatever that means - no tumors, shrinkage) and that God's will will be served.

Thanks again for your interest and prayers.