Family

It has been four years since brother Jerry was out.  By the weekend all my brothers and sisters will be together for a "reunion" of sorts.  It's been a long time coming.  Over the weekend, we celebrated Arlene's and Jerry's birthday--wow, a whopping 76 and 75 years old.  Where did the time go?

Back at It...

After a week of great days, we are now back in the swing of things with another series of chemo treatments. This time around Larry will receive 8 hr. treatments every 3 weeks instead of 1 short and 1 long.  Yesterday it began, but the Doc is still working around our social  and travel plans which is good.  The first week of June, he should be in good shape for two weddings, visits from the family members, and fly fishing in southern Missouri.  Chemo is "buying" us time....don't know how long the treatments will continue.  We are both hangin' in there and relishing the good days and surviving the bad.

A Ray of Sunshine

Just recently, Larry has perked up and seems to feel much better.  He has been more active than normal and optimistic about life in general.  My "Old Larry" is back!  We leave for a five-day fishing trip to Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee.  His next treatment is scheduled for May 13th.  So maybe we have a long string of days of feelin' fine!

Movin' Along

Larry had two weeks of chemo which left him drained, nauseous, and quite miserable.  We both were beginning to wonder if the end goal balanced out the effects of the treatment.  He is down 15 pounds since the last visit; he hasn't been eating like normal.  Might have to go shopping for some skinny pants!  After 13 days, he finally had a good one--still weak, but feeling better.  Yesterday's doctor appointment was to be another treatment, but Larry's platelet count was too low for it.  He is now scheduled for one on Monday.  On May 5th we had scheduled a fishing trip with Jason and the gang (including Scott) to Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee. Doc said to "go for it" and his treatments would be scheduled around the trip.  That's good news because Larry really wanted to go.  Perhaps that will be our "new normal" for awhile...

Back to Chemo

It was expected.  The only unknown factor was the "when."  The cancer has grown and manifested itself in more lymph nodes in Larry's legs, groin area, and stomach.  Yesterday the doc started another series of chemo.  Mentally we had prepared for this; our philosophy has been live the good days and accept the bad.  This morning, the day after the first chemo treatment, seems to be a good one!  We are hanging in there and taking it day-by-day.

The Party's Over

This is our last week here in the Keys...thirty days of pure heaven for us.  This month was filled with visits from family and friends which we loved!  The last guests left this morning, and we leave early Saturday.  One more fishing day on Thursday, then we get back to reality!  Ugh! Life is good for us so we can't complain.  Larry has been in good health for much of this trip; he did have a few days of being under the weather, but managed to enjoy himself no matter what!  Hopefully our trip home will be uneventful and we arrive in one piece!  I guess we'll see all the family for the get-together in late May.

The "Key Life"

Today we mark exactly two weeks of living in the Keys.  The  days have been totally relaxing and enjoyable, filled with morning walks, kyaking the Bay, fishing for snappers, and just relishing the days of warm weather and lots of sun!  The kids arrived for a visit on Thursday (Scott/Tina and Glenn/Donna) and will leave on Monday.  Today we are heading to Key West to do the "Duval Crawl"--bar hopping along the main drag!  And...shopping too (of course)!  On Sunday we boat out on the sea with Capt. Dan for a full day of chasing the yellowtails; we're hoping for a cooler-full to bring home.  What a life---but somebody has to do it!