No Chemo This Week

Platelets were too low this week for chemo so Carolyn got a one week reprieve so her platelets can re-cooperate. This week has had some nice weather finally, warm and sunny, Josh is coming down to play a round of golf, meanwhile it's bbq pork and a beer this afternoon for me. Some small projects getting done and retirement is looming (lovin it).

Here's a pic from the General's camp in VT. (what year was that?)

A cool week

I paid another visit to the Dr. concerning my neck. The first go round of steroids and pain killers seemed to work but a week or so later no real improvement, one more try with steroids and anti-inflammatories and we'll see.  I did manage to get the bathroom painted and the mirror framing is about ready to go on. even though we're in a new house I discovered some walls aren't exactly flat. (Caulk and paint, my best friends!)
This week we go to Emory on Wednesday to pick up Carolyn's Trial drug pills and a blood test. On Friday she has her second round of chemo followed by an afternoon of blood draws and another blood draw on Saturday.
This seems to be her 21 day cycle. We don't expect her hair to last much longer, hair is over rated anyways :)
Some Pictures to enjoy...

The 50th Security Police Squadron Santa and his sleigh...

One great sister!

If you need me darlin... I'll be at the bar!

The Mosel River, wine country  just a couple miles from where we lived.

 Another view of the Mosel

Ocktober Fest 1979

Did someone order a beer?

A beautiful bride

She looks scared... should've been :)

What a difference a day makes!

On days 9 and 10 the chemo wore off and Carolyn was back to "normal" :)  It's kind of amazing how that works where feeling miserable changes almost over night.  That was just in time for our warm-up almost. We're above freezing for the first time in several days.  We went up to see Ashley and Josh yesterday, bar-b-qued some chicken (using Brook's bbq sauce), ribs, hot dogs, etc. in preparation for the "game", they still had quite a bit of snow on the ground but we were in the 50s. Steelers won (good) Falcon's lost (bad). Started work in the bath room since having the shower re-done. We couldn't find a mirror frame we liked so I've been making our own. The garage should be warm enough today to get more done on that. Carolyn just told me she's making a wish list, then corrected herself and called it a honey-do list.  Oh boy!

Butternut Valley, from the Wiki-up, 1980s.

Winter Weather

Well the weather has brought havoc upon the Atlanta area. The snow wasn't much by its self but combined with a little freezing rain and sleet and the south just not equipped to handle it has resulted in many roads frozen over and closed. Two days work has been closed plus two days of vacation and this leaves a tough work week, only 5 more weeks to go, better yet 10 work days!
We have another cold front coming so it looks like a another day or so before we get moving again. Lots of reading and indoor projects getting done... or being thought about anyway.
Carolyn is doing ok, feeling a little effects from the chemo but all in all not too bad.

Battle on!

This last Wednesday Carolyn got her (miracle pills) this is the trial drug she'll be taking. She takes them every day. Early on Friday morning we drove in to Emory for her first chemo treatment. They push the drugs into her pretty fast, 3-4 hours, then they take blood draws at certain intervals the remaining 4 hours or so. All in all its a long day then fight Atlanta traffic home. Carolyn took the treatment relatively well, a couple waves of nausea which the nurses quickly took care of. So far she's doing quite well, the only side effect being a slight headache which is likely because of the steroids. I was a able to finally see the doc about my neck, within 2 days of steroids, anti inflamatories, muscle relaxants, etc.,  I'm remarkably better.
We're expecting our "2nd" winter storm, any where from 2-12" being predicted for tonight and tomorrow.
This coming Wednesday is another blood draw at Emory, then in 2 weeks the cycle starts again.

Carolyn's sister Sue made the quilt! keeps her warm while the nurses take blood on numerous occasions.

First of 2011

Happy New Year to all!
We spent new years eve in Atlanta with Ashley, Josh, Rebecca and Brandon (new/old friend from high school), we saw Zac Brown in concert at Phillips Arena, got home around 2 am, can't remember when we last saw a new year arrive.  With the Peach Drop, the Chick-fil-a Bowl, and the concert, Atlanta was grid locked for awhile.
Rebecca returns to San Antonio tomorrow, I have another day off and the weather is clearing so some new projects get started (small one's) until the doc looks at my neck "again" this time it's my right arm going numb and tingling. A few visits to the PT and I'm sure I'll be back to 100%. Less than 60 days till saying  goodbye to the Feds, really looking forward to selfishly having my own time!
We'll know something this week on Carolyn's treatment schedule, looks like it'll be quite time consuming early on, since she's in a research trial there's lot's of tests (blood, scans, etc.) being scheduled. We'll keep everyone posted.