Sunday, June 24, 2007

Back from vacation



We got back from vacation Friday night. When we left we really didn't know where we were going. We spent Saturday night in Raton Pass and then went on to Colorado. We stopped at the Trinidad visitor's center and got info on different areas, mainly west of Colorado Springs, but then we got in the motor home and Mike decided to go on to Estes Park. We got there Sunday evening and toured Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and the Stanley hotel on Monday. When we got up Tuesday morning, Mike decided he had seen enough of Estes Park and wanted to go back to Colorado Springs. On Wednesday we saw Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, Manitou Springs and Seven Falls. We had picked up a tourist guide on Colorado Springs with ten different 10 hour trips. We managed to see three of them (which should have taken 30 hours) on that one day. Doesn't that sound relaxing??? We then took Thursday and Friday to drive home. Not one of the most relaxing vacations we've had, but we did enjoy ourselves. Rocky Mt. was soooo cold!!! There was still alot of snow on the ground at the Rockies and also at Pike's Peak.

Daddy is suppose to go into the hospital tomorrow for his next chemo treatment. Here's a picture of him and mom at their apartment.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Doctor visit
















Daddy had another doctor appointment today with his oncologist. He got another good report. His blood work is looking good and he is scheduled to enter the hospital again on June 25 for his second treatment. He's losing all his hair, so I'll have to get a picture of him soon and post it for everyone. Meanwhile, here's a couple pictures of everyone moving Mom and Dad over the Memorial weekend. They are still trying to find things in their apartment. Guess it's a good thing it's only a one bedroom!!

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Busy, Busy Time!

I've been trying to get back to posting, but have been a little busy lately. I'll try to keep everyone updated on my Dad's health. The past month has been a little hectic. On May 1st, we found out for sure that Daddy had a brain tumor and that it was on his optic nerve and very close to a main artery. On May 9th we met with an ENT and he scheduled him for a biopsy and was going to try to remove some of the tumor. On May 9th Mom and Dad also put down a deposit on a new apartment in a retirement center here in Abilene. On May 10th, they met with a realtor and listed their house that they have lived in for 36 years. That same day, they accepted a contract on the house. Now, I knew things were going to get busy!!! We decided to move them over the Memorial holiday. On May 17th, he had his biopsy surgery and we got the bad news that it was cancerous. We met with the oncologist on Tuesday, May 22nd, and he wanted to get him into the hospital immediately. It took from Tuesday afternoon until Friday before a bed was available at the hospital. They started his chemo Friday evening at 9:00 and he had it continuously until Wednesday morning at 5:00 a.m. Meanwhile, over the weekend all my brothers and family came in and we moved them. We are still trying to get things organized in their apartment. It's very hard going from a 4 bedroom house to a one bedroom apartment. When Daddy got our of the hospital on Wednesday, he and Mom spent their first night in their new home. Unfortunately, the chemo really had an affect on him. He started going downhill after he got our of the hospital. By Monday night, he took a little trip in an ambulance to the hospital. We stayed their until 2:00 in the morning while he got two bags of IV fluid. It really made a difference. On Tuesday he was able to walk a little (before that, he was barely able to get up off the recliner). And Wednesday he went back to the oncologist and got a shot to try to build him up and some medication to help him with his appetite. He has lost 12 pounds in two weeks. The doctor also said that he thinks the tumor is already shrinking because he hasn't had any headaches or double vision since he left the hospital. Today he even looked better!!! Maybe he will improve with each passing day. I know he's eating better, now. I ate dinner with him and he did pretty good. Okay, now that I've caught everyone up with the past month, I will try to do better on updating my blog and keep you posted on Daddy. By the way, if you haven't already, please click on Jennifer's link and take a look at my cute grandkids. I can hardly wait to see them again!