Day 37
It is still Tuesday the fifth here, and it was, pretty much in all, a good day. Last night, we enjoyed fireworks from outside our back door overlooking Lake Union. We also experienced similar local noisemaking well into the morning hours. We are a long way from Boston, but all of America loves a tea party!
John has responded well to his Prednisone and will start reducing his steroids over a period of weeks. He really is doing very well. Except for itching and other odd things, he is better right now than he was a year before his diagnosis. We are looking forward to a change in his doctors next week. Although all the rest of his care has been excellent - well, I will leave it at that and remain thankful to be able get what is otherwise the best care for him anywhere.
John bought some new jeans yesterday, having given up on the 36 waist he once had, and then the 34s we replaced them with. He now can wear 32 size pants quite fashionably below his waist. He is 6 foot 2 inches tall and 160 pounds. He could use some "cushion", but he is OK.
John will soon lose his eyebrows and even his eyelashes due to the chemotherapy. He does have some peach fuzz on his head, but his eyes do show up clear and focused, as they really are now. At dinner (he wanted a "Bloomin' Onion" from Outback - a good sign of sorts) we talked about the trembling in his hands that has developed, something that may wane over time, we hope, and not the best thing for a pen and ink artist.
John's blood counts are good. They are falsely inflated because of the steroids, but they are still quite good. Debbie and I even ventured a discussion today about our final return dates to Atlanta. I don't know what the "emoticon" for having your fingers crossed is, but I would put it here.
Debbie and Courtney, inspired by the rowing we did at the wooden boat show, signed up for a private "skulling" lesson today. I have pictures, but out of kindness I have supressed the evidence and you will have to ask them for copies. If you are wondering, no one fell in, and they did have a great time. Courtney, as with so many things, took to it naturally as if she was skating on the water with long sweeping strides. She works hard inside, but the link between her mind and long, slim fingers is magical with pretty much anything she tries.
I realized today that I've been getting about four hours of sleep most nights since we arrive here. Some days I fall asleep for a time in the afternoon. Still, this is what I am about for now and not many people find as good a purpose in life as I have, hopefully fading, but with a very long reward.
John has responded well to his Prednisone and will start reducing his steroids over a period of weeks. He really is doing very well. Except for itching and other odd things, he is better right now than he was a year before his diagnosis. We are looking forward to a change in his doctors next week. Although all the rest of his care has been excellent - well, I will leave it at that and remain thankful to be able get what is otherwise the best care for him anywhere.
John bought some new jeans yesterday, having given up on the 36 waist he once had, and then the 34s we replaced them with. He now can wear 32 size pants quite fashionably below his waist. He is 6 foot 2 inches tall and 160 pounds. He could use some "cushion", but he is OK.
John will soon lose his eyebrows and even his eyelashes due to the chemotherapy. He does have some peach fuzz on his head, but his eyes do show up clear and focused, as they really are now. At dinner (he wanted a "Bloomin' Onion" from Outback - a good sign of sorts) we talked about the trembling in his hands that has developed, something that may wane over time, we hope, and not the best thing for a pen and ink artist.
John's blood counts are good. They are falsely inflated because of the steroids, but they are still quite good. Debbie and I even ventured a discussion today about our final return dates to Atlanta. I don't know what the "emoticon" for having your fingers crossed is, but I would put it here.
Debbie and Courtney, inspired by the rowing we did at the wooden boat show, signed up for a private "skulling" lesson today. I have pictures, but out of kindness I have supressed the evidence and you will have to ask them for copies. If you are wondering, no one fell in, and they did have a great time. Courtney, as with so many things, took to it naturally as if she was skating on the water with long sweeping strides. She works hard inside, but the link between her mind and long, slim fingers is magical with pretty much anything she tries.
I realized today that I've been getting about four hours of sleep most nights since we arrive here. Some days I fall asleep for a time in the afternoon. Still, this is what I am about for now and not many people find as good a purpose in life as I have, hopefully fading, but with a very long reward.
