Back in the Saddle.

So, after Week One of chemo and the hospitality of the Jensen and Landis families as well as a northward boost from Air Bando, my two weeks off started in the middle of a Lund family weekend get-together. I was feeling pretty beat up, but managed to take my son for his first canoe ride down to the new bridge construction and back on Saturday along with some minor activities around my folks place. The highlight of the afternoon was getting the "Neulasta" shot for bone marrow stimulation which similar to being stung by a wasp (Dad enjoyed his position as administator as I think there is still some pay back due from earlier decades). Sunday brought more lake fun which was accompanied by a temperature drop to about 50 degrees to enhance the traditional jump into the lake at Wickum's Point. The day ended early as about 7:00 pm the bone aches typical after a Nuelasta injection began to take hold. However, I did receive a call from Sleeper and Marcie indicating they would be able to visit briefly before their flight home from Traverse City to the Pacific Northwest. To my surprise, the Nuelasta shot had me and my sole energized Monday morning. Instead of waking up just before noon as always, I woke up wide awake and raring to go at 5:00 am and, after a two hour kitchen cleanup/breakfast/kitchen clean up, I proceeded raking the garden until the arrival of the Allen family at about 11:00 am. After a brief house and yard tour, and some major catching up, we went to my folks house and continued the same right up until the last possible moment for their departure to the air port.

It was a treatfull weekend, with the following week following the same tack with regard to my energy level and enthusiasm. I hit only one bump about Wednesday when my hips and lower back put me back on the hydrocodone for a few days, but the end all was a very enjoyable and productive week. The second week left me with a somewhat lesser energy level, probably due to overdoing it a bit the week before. On Wednesday our good brother Jeff Lobdell sent a handfull (heaping) of cupons for meals at any of his resturaunts, so we went to Boones that evening and fattened me up by a few pounds...I recommend the 24 oz Porterhouse (Thanks). We will definintely be returing soon.

By Friday, things went in the toilet, and I kind of dragged my feet trying to continue my victorious push started during the earlier portion of the two-week period. Fortunately Barb's parrents arrived to take over activities and assist us with family life for the upcoming months until we can determine my long term path.

During the previous two-week period I did manage to get a few fruit trees, 20 or so bean plants, 20 rasberry/blackberry plants, and 300 strawberry plants in the ground during this period; not to mention fixing three drawers, wheel burrow wheel replacement, squeegie handle repaired, miscellaneous sorting of a nut and bold collection, fighting and winning the battle Messiah started with the little green Tazmanian Devil rottotiller, as well as plenty of other nonsense. This past Saturday was reduced to a drizzly bonfire day as I worked on burning one of my last brush piles and consuming the last of the leftover light beer collection that has been decorating the fridge for several weeks.....and Sunday, it was back for another week of fun.

Air Bando was not available for this trip, so he recommended applying for Wings of Mercy, a program where pilots volunteer their time and the wear and tear on their planes in order to fly patients over long distances. Fortunately, the organization pays for the fuel, however I am guessing this is a smaller percentage of the overall cost. The long and the short of it was that we were approved for the program and were picked up at Cherry Capitol Airport by pilots Jim and Chuck, who originated from Battle Creek...two very generous and caring men. They buzzed us around two sets of thunderstorms as we flew southward and delivered Barb and I without incident 90 minutes later. During the same time period, Skinny was pulling fire through Jack Debor's (spelling?) back channels at the Candlewood Suites based on an earlier conversation Skinny had initiated. After settling in and deciding to negotiate things after the fact due to our early arrival, we received a call from the front desk indicating that we had been comp'd for our entire stay and offered an upgrade to a full sized suite for this period. Again, an unbelievable, but greatly appreciated brotherhood (and associated friend) hook. We can not thank everybody who have been providing the all of the support, above mentioned included, enough. I can not imaging having gone up against this alone. As I mentioned to some during the good part of the last two weeks, I have not felt this good or happy in recent memory...Thank you Everybody!!

This is week three of five chemo sessions it has begun to kick my ass. I know, however, sitting or laying on the couch just maintains the misery, so Barb and I walked to the Briarwood Mall and kicked around for a while, bought the kids some souvenirs, and drank some terrible green tea lemonade (grass clipping flavored) at Starbucks using a gift card..thankyou whomever, I am sure it was very good for me in spite of the flavor. I did an extremely limited try on the weight machine, just enough to pump my arms and test my incision area, which resulted in a pathetic attempt a flex or two in the mirror just to remind myself I had, infact lost significant muscle mass when I dropped those 30 pounds. Only two more days....I am already looking forward to being home for the next recovery period. Tomorrow will be fun as we have been invited to the Landis residence for dinner and may run into Yoda and JWI along the way.

That is it for now and thanks again for all of the love and support. Our house and my parent's house is open for my mom and my birthdays this weekend if any of you are traveling. Just call for space.

Big Bird