Mood:  happy

I know it's been a while since I updated the blog, and I have been chastised by many folks in their Christmas cards for not keeping everyone up to date.

Since October 6th when David got that excellent news here's a rundown on what's been going on.  It's actually pretty simple - WE MOVED HOME TO TEXAS.

On October 7th the massive packing of the house and tying up all of the loose ends of our lives began.

Our son-in-law arrived from Texas to drive the Saab to Texas on October 10th.

I was given the opportunity to work for UCH remotely from Texas.  It was an offer that I immediately snatched up.

David retired from civil service effective October 29th and spent the next seven days finishing up the house packing.

November 5th was officially my last day in my office at UCH and also on November 5th the moving truck arrived to take our furniture and "stuff" to Texas.

On November 6th Jen and Herschel arrived in Colorado to drive the pickup to Texas for us.  This was a huge help because otherwise it would have been David driving the pickup and me driving the Suburban from Brighton to Aransas Pass.  About 1,200 miles.  It gave us an opportunity to visit with them and we enjoyed the trip.

On November 7th we had our last official "family" dinner with my sister Kriss, her daughter Rachelle, son-in-law Brendan and the boys, Garrett and Hudson "our pork chop"......   and do we ever miss those little boys.

On November 8th, the Colorado house was winterized, the moving company picked up the truck and we left to get ahead of a snowstorm.

We arrived in Aransas Pass, Texas on November 10th and since that day every spare minute we have has been spent covered in dirt, sweat and paint.  Exhaustion is the norm along with cuts, scratches, bruises, and, and, and.  But we are having fun with this "OLD" house, whatever we want to tear out, off, do away with we just do it.  Good lord this house is nearly as old as we are - so it's pretty dang old.  It's got it's problems but we love it and IF - notice I said "IF" we ever get it finished we will absolutely adore it.  We kind of get sidetracked with going fishing, going to walk on the beach or just going for a drive and then we guiltily come back and cover ourselves with more dirt, sweat and paint. 

Somewhere in this fray, I had to go back to work on November 22nd and so far, so good.  I like workinig from home especially since the uniform of the day is shorts, tank top and flip flops.  I KID YOU NOT!!!!  I only work 24 hours a week - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then take four days to play.  I am so lucky to keep my pay grade, my same pay and seniority with UCH - sometimes in life you get lucky - I did.

David is doing really well.  He still has lingering memory loss, he tires out pretty easily and his leg bothers him.  He still has to go through the whole propping it up when he sleeps, wearing a TED hose or compression shorts and wrapping it.  He just hates to do all of these things but knows it is the necessary evil to keep his leg in the best shape he can.  He's gained about 5 pounds and I'm not sure how he could he has worked like a dog on the house and yard.  He is as happy as a lark - after all he is a testosterone based life form with tools and electricity.  Need I say anything else.......

We see the kids often and have had the opportunity to have Jake spend a week with us at Thanksgiving and he's coming back to spend a few days with us after Christmas.  We enjoy having him around as much as possible.  He is growing like a weed.  Jen and Herschel live just about 4 miles from us and Herschel's son Jason and his girlfriend Tara live about 6 blocks from us so we see them more than we see Shauna.  It's so nice to have kids around that just "pop" in.  Herschel is becoming David's fishing "bud".

We just now got our health insurance transferred and have new patient appointments with our new doctor soon.  We are hunting for a Melanoma Oncologist for David to see so he can get a referral from our new Internal Medicine doctor for David to see him/her before his next PET scan is scheduled.  So much to do.

So far, so good.  It's so easy to look at David and see the healthy, lively man that I know.  If you saw him you would never know the "to hell and back" that he went through.  I on the other hand remember it quite vividly and there is always that sneaking fear in the back of my mind.  On December 7th, we had a talk about how our perfect life had crashed down around us with his diagnosis and it's the first time I actually admitted to him I was afraid.  He said he was too, but whatever it is we will face it together. 

On December 17th we spent our 43rd wedding anniversary on the Riverwalk in San Antonio.  We had a fabulous evening and then on the 18th we had dinner with my old high school friends.  What better way to have an anniversary, one celebration alone and the other with the folks that were at our wedding.  David said "to the next 43" and I did gently have to remind him that we probably won't live another 43 years.  If we do, OK, but since that would put David near 108 - probably not.......

Well folks, that the news.  We are "at the beach" just a "long" stones throw away from the water and the door to "The Walker Hotel" is open.  We would love to see any and all of you and invite you to visit us.

Stay tuned, I promise to be better about updating the blog.  I am just happy that I don't have anything about David to really talk about.  In his world - that's the best.  We always appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  We took that one positive step in October but we have a long way to go but you know we'll get there.  All will be fine.

Mood:  celebratory

We are both so nervous.  For the last two nights we've barely slept, I've been having anxiety attacks and we both have a case of "What If's".  We had hoped that we'd get the results yesterday but they didn't come in until today.  And Dr. Lewis said what we wanted to hear.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF CANCER IN YOUR BODY - IT'S CLEAR!!!!!!

We both felt like screaming, crying and figuring out how to celebrate.  What a relief........

And then we talked about the "Transition of Care Plan".  Dr. Lewis wants David to have a Family Practitioner, an Oncologist and IF he ever needs any other care that it's at MD Anderson in Houston.  They have one of the best in the country Melanoma clinics.  So, once we get to Texas we'll meet with his FP for the referral to the Oncologist who will have David seen at MD Anderson for an initial consult.

It's been a very LONG ten months to get to this point and we both have thanked our good Lord for his blessing on David and our family.  We thank everyone for their many thoughts and prayers during this time.  Do stay tuned and we will introduce you to the next chapter in this incredible journey and that is "Our Move to Texas".

Mood:  not sure

David's PET scan started at 2:30 and he just finished up at 4:50 PM.  It's a long process but very necessary.  They scan every inch of your entire body looking for sugar attached to cancer cells.  I went over, got him settled in, we asked God for good results, high fived, said "we're going to do it today" and then I kissed him and came back to work.  We are more upbeat today - it's the dread that gets to you.  It's like looking over your shoulder all the time or waiting for the other shoe to fall.  Well, the PET scan is done and now we can hurry up and wait for the results.  I am very calm and more positive than ever that it's going to be negative.  Everyone that we know and that read this blog have been praying non stop since last December and I truly believe that our Lord has heard our pleas.

We meet with Dr. Lewis on Wednesday for his 3 month check up and to discuss the results.  Stay tuned, I'm sure everyone will be able to hear both of us yelling with joy as soon as we get the call. 

Mood:  not sure

Tomorrow is David's PET scan and we are both very nervous.  David has to lay low today - no exercise, no alcohol, light on the food.  We are both positive that it's going to be negative and that's the only thing we will accept.  Both of us have done lots of praying and talking.  All is good, but we are both nervous. 

Stay tuned.  All thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

Mood:  not sure

As usual today we went to Chilis with our friends and had a great time.  But we started talking about David's cancer and it was like a whole book of "What If''s" opened up in our minds.  When we got home we continued talking about his cancer, trying to sell the house, our jobs, retirement, the Texas house and we had a heated discussion and I'm really glad we did.  We have been walking on egg shells since last December and now the air is clear.  I will accept nothing less than a remission, and long life.  David as always doesn't want to talk about it.  He remains stoic most of the time, but he admitted that he is very nervous about the PET scan. 

It was something we needed to do for a while and all is good and we are back on even footing.  We know what we have to do, what we are going to do, how we are going to do it and when we are going to do it.

Mood:  a-ok

David and I are still in the "test" mode for his Lymphadema to see how long we can go without having him wear a  TED hose, compression stocking, compression shorts, leg wrap, and, and, and.  So far so good, he's been able to maintain minimal swelling if he lets it go for 2 days, then he wears a compression stocking, compression shorts and wraps it for a couple of days.  This is going to be lifelong process, so as it will be something that has to be modified as necessary.

He's just glad to NOT have to wear all of the various appliances every day for 24 hours per day.

Mood:  a-ok

David is much better today.  We had several talks and came to the conclusion that it's all going to be OK.  We both have to stay positive, but you know what, I do understand David's angst - I don't have cancer, I'm not walking in his shoes.

His PET Scan is scheduled for October 4th at 2:30 PM.  We are ready to get it over, get the report that all is good and finalize our plans to move to Texas.  This is the one test that we've both been waiting for but dreading since his treatment ended.  I feel very confident that all is going to be good because I don't have memory loss or confusion.  As the fog clears more and more for David, his thought processes will get better.  I'm just glad it's finally scheduled because now it's a reality and not something that is LOOMING.  Just getting it scheduled had a positive effect on David - he's definitely more positive and ready to "Go to Texas".

This is the biggest test of David's life.  All thoughts and prayers are appreciated and needed now. 

Mood:  sad

David is very nervous about his impending PET Scan and second guessing his mortality.  He's talked a lot about dying in the last couple of days and its upset me terribly.  He's forgotten that his last pathology report came back negative.  I think he finally remembered the enormity of his disease and the conversations we had with Dr. Lewis about prognosis and treatment.  I've done a LOT of crying the last two days because these are NOT conversations that I want to have.  I really want to stay in "Cinderella Mode" or at the very least bury my head in the sand.  It is what it is and the best we can do is pray and hope for about 30 more years.  David is shooting for 10 years.  I refuse for less than 20 years.

As always all thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

Stay tuned and we really need prayers.

Mood:  happy

Today David saw Dr. McCarter who is thrilled with David's leg.  He declared it healed, no surgery needed and his final words to David were "I hope I never see you again".  That's two of us.  David and Dr. McCarter had a conversation again about him recommending a physician for David's transition of care in Texas. 

So at this point all is good and we are in the hurry up and wait mode for David's PET Scan.

Mood:  happy

I am happy to report that we are both still alive and well and the painting is coming along.  This is the first house we have ever painted colors in.  We did the master bedroom in Spring Willow green with a Palmetto green accent wall, the boys bedroom in Orange Vanilla (dreamsicle orange), the hall in Duckling yellow which to me looks like screaming lemon yellow, the living room/dining room are a very pale Tangerine, and the barroom is Burgundy Grape, which is kind of fitting.  The only room in the house that is not getting a makeover is the sun room and the sunlight yellow in it is a fabulous color.  Jen was over looking at our handiwork and out of David's mouth came "We are going for a tropical fruit theme because we have a lime, orange, lemon, tangerine and grape so far".    We all had a chuckle.

David is really happy down here and working on the house is very cathartic for his psyche.  It's working towards another chapter in our life which I've decided should be called "The New Beginning".  I am happy to see him smiling, animated, dirty, greasy, paint covered and happy as a lark.

Today we took a break and drove to San Antonio to see Jake's first ever football game.  Our baby is becoming a young man and it's kind of weird to see him all suited up to play football.  He's not the biggest boy on the team, but there are a LOT smaller than him.  He's very close to surpassing The MeMaw in height.  He got stung by some type of wasp, bee, hornet on Tuesday and his finger is all swollen and oozing, so he didn't get to play today.  No worries, we were happy to sit in 100 degree weather and sweat like pigs to watch AND not be painting.

Stay tuned folks.