This Pilgrim's Progress

Good Monday

Had a good day today. I am feeling a little weaker, so I'm taking it pretty easy. 

One little project I worked on was to install the Sirius radio car kit. It was pretty easy to do except for crawling around in the trunk, but that was just awkward not hard. My old Buick has a good sound system but the FM radio never does it justice because of the bad signal. With the Sirius radio it sounded fantastic!!  This will be a real blessing on my long commutes!

Andrew and the rest of the family will return from S. Dakota tomorrow night. I miss him a lot. Heidi made it safely back to Biola last night. Sounds like she had a real good time.

Hot but beautiful day in San Diego. Just took a walk with Debbie and our lab, Toby, this evening. Pretty sunset, and it felt great to get some exercise!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Taking it easy

Nothing new to report. Had a pretty good day yesterday. Up a lot during the night to urinate, so I only had a few hours of deep sleep. Didn't go to church today, my wife is worried about my being exposed to something while my immunities are low. 

Played with my Sirius radio yesterday, it was fun being able to hear classical music without any static.  We live in a area that has terrible FM reception, and after the classical station, XLNC1, changed frequencies lately I can't get them at all.  We also have terrible cell phone reception, the local nimby's don't want any cell towers in the neighborhood. Anyways, I'm impressed with Sirius's music offerings, they even have a pretty good Bluegrass channel.  I'll probably install the car kit too, it will be nice to have great music on my long commutes.

We heard from the family in South Dakota. The dinner celebration at the high school in Aberdeen was very nice and they had great food. They are driving to Rapid City today and then to Mount Rushmore so Heidi can see it before she flies back this evening. The rest will stay a couple more days and will probably drive to Deadwood tomorrow where Grandma Jean was born.

It's Debbie's 50th birthday today. Everyone called from S. Dakota and sang "Happy Birthday" to her this morning. We'll have another celebration when the family is back in town.

Just going to take it easy today and enjoy the day.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Good News

We received good news today during our consult with my oncologist. All the tests came back negative, so no cancer in the brain or spinal column. My blood counts were also good. My family doctor called with the sodium results, my sodium level is back to normal, but she wants me to keep eating plenty of salt!!  So a good way to end up the week.

Stopped by work this afternoon to help out with some modifications they needed. It was good to see my co-workers!!  The company gave me a satellite radio to help occupy my time!  Good company and really good people!!

Soli Deo Gloria!

TGIF

We have an appointment this morning with my oncologist.  Hopefully we'll hear more results from the tests. I'll post an update later today.  Going into work this afternoon to help out with a small issue, will be good to see the folks again...believe it or not I miss work and the people. Another beautiful but hot day in San Diego. Everybody made it safely to Aberdeen, S.Dakota.

Hanging in there

I had a pretty good day. I'm definitely feeling some what weaker,  so I think my blood counts are changing. Took some good naps, got a lab test done for tomorrows consult with my oncologist. Also peed in a cup to check my sodium levels, my family doc is concerned about that.  Pretty hot today, but still very pretty day. Kids and extended family flew to S. Dakota for the weekend, my wife stayed here to take care of me. Grandpa Rozendal (passed away a few years ago) being honored by his high school, Grandma will have all her kids (except Debbie) and grandkids there. Should be a pretty special time for all....

Soli Deo Gloria!

End of Prednisone

Yesterday was my last day of prednisone, the "P" in CHOP. Today I'm feeling a bit more pain, but still a quantum leap below what I was experiencing before the chemo.  It's moved more to the left front of my abdomen, before I was feeling it mostly in my lower back.

Did some web browsing on lymphoma and the different types. It's amazing the technology they've developed to be able to type and class these different kinds of lymphoma cells. My doctor says I've got a pretty rare type. Its a b-cell with a CD20 negative (the CD stands for cluster type, the ones that respond to a particular antigen).  Typically these show up in HIV patients (I'm not one).  My oncologist says that basically it's attacked the same way as other b-cell types.  Anyways, it's helpful to know something about the disease and how we are fighting it. 

Still have the hair!!  I'll post a picture when I go hairless. Should be a pretty funny look on me!!

Overall I'm feeling pretty good, my spirits are up and I'm enjoying the rest. The past year has been a pretty grueling one for me (job-wise mostly), so I think the rest from all that stress will be very good for me.  Think I'll go out and enjoy my roses for awhile, another beautiful day in our corner of the globe!!

Soli Deo Gloria!!

Lumbar Puncture done

Yesterday afternoon I had the spinal tap done. These days they call it "lumbar puncture". I guess it sounds less gruesome.  Actually the procedure was painless and the neurologist said the fluid was clear and looked good. Of course they send the samples off to the lab for analysis. Apparently the cancer on the spine that showed up on the PET was just on the bone (on the MRI) and there was no pressure on the cord itself, hence no danger of causing other problems.

I'm still feeling pretty good. I took a walk in Harry Griffen park (just a couple blocks from my house) yesterday and it was beautiful. I'm going to take one today after this post.

That's it for the time being as far as diagnostic tests go. I'll have a follow-up with my oncologist Friday and perhaps some of the lab results will be back.

I'm spending my time reading, internet browsing and napping. I'm also trying to get as much exercise in without tiring myself out.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Hearing from friends, co-workers

Forgot to mention that they finally announced what my condition was at work.  I got a lot of great emails from my coworkers and friends, it was good to hear from them. Keep my company, Directed, and especially my dept. IT in your prayers too. They are entering our busiest season of the year, and my dept. is now running very short-handed. We were already the most lean IT dept. I've ever worked in for a company the size of Directed. But they are a bunch of smart, young, motivated professionals and some of the best I've ever worked with. I just hope they don't get burned out.

By the way, you can make comments on the blog entries. I don't believe I have any restrictions on them (I'll double-check), although they do get held until I've had a chance to approve them for publishing. That way no spam comments or nut-jobs get posted by mistake. But please feel free to leave a comment. Just remember, the world will be able to see it too!

Of course sending me emails is perfectly OK and I love to get them too, so don't feel constrained by the blog. It just makes it easier to share with everyone from one published source.

God Bless and have a great Monday!!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Still have hair!

I had another great night of slumber!  We had a good weekend. It was good to see and talk to my daughter this weekend. She took the train back up to Biola late Sunday night.

Today is "Spinal Tap Time".  Sounds worse than it really is.  Apparently the bone marrow sample was supposed to be the most painful of the things I've had done, but actually the doctor was so skillful I really didn't experience that much pain at all.

So the "hair loss countdown" is in progress. We've decided that once it starts going, we'll just go ahead and do the "shaved skull" thing. We have a black Labrador, so we don't need me shedding on everything too!!

The weather is picture postcard again in San Diego, another beautiful day.

More later.

Blessed Lord's Day

I had another good full night of sleep last night.  I got up a 3:00 to urinate, then noticed my back was a little warm and my stomach was gurgling. So I took a pain pill and an nausea pill and went to bed. I woke up at 7:00 a.m. very rested.  I felt great so we went to church, which was a real blessing. We were greeted by everyone and the service was good. We had communion which always makes it a more emotional service for me, especially these days.  I even felt good enough to stay for Sunday School which was a great class.

Tomorrow I go in for the spinal tap, should be a piece of cake. Then I get to watch my hair fall out for the rest of the week!!  I plan to get a lot of reading done. 

I've been walking at least once a day the last week or so, and it really makes a difference. You get real stiff and house bound sitting or sleeping all day. It feels good to breathe the fresh air and get the exericise.  Our neighborhood in Fletcher Hills is made for great walks. Lately we've had a flock of wild parrots adding to the outdoor ambience. We've also have a lot of hummingbirds visiting our roses (we have 20-30 rose plants). 

Soli Deo Gloria!