November 28th, 2011

We are back in Iowa after a wonderful four day hiatus in Neosho. We left as soon as we could last Wednesday. SHR #17 and a quick check-up by Nurse Peggy and Dr. Sun. Everything looks great - everyone is very complementary of both the inside and outside of Ran's neck. If they're not careful they might have the additional problem of figuring out how to cure cancer and deflate his head at the same time! Ran participated in the first of three Tens unit treatments which went very well. We all began to officially poke a little fun at Ran's new "Radiation Haircut." The radiation caused his hair to fall out about halfway down the back of his head. It's like a reverse receding hairline! Kinda looks like he's got "the mange!" Oh, stop it! I can hear all of you sweethearts out there. That's funny stuff! We've got to laugh. . .and do often!
We took a nice slow drive home - the trip being much more interesting with company. We sat in "our" living room in front of "our" fireplace and continued to visit for about thirty minutes or so before we decided to call it a night in "our" bed. There is truly no place like home.
As our Thanksgiving was planned for Saturday in AR we decided to take care of some chores on Thursday and get a little exercise in - something neither of us have done very much of as of late. We took my car to Wally World and had the oil changed and the tires rotated. You have to take extra special care of these old cars and our Pearl Girl (97 White Toyota Camery from Adrian & Billy) has had over 6000 additional miles added in the last month. We dropped off the car (saw Kirk Roelfsema for just a moment - quick update about IA - what a great smile he has to motivate the rest of our day!) then we walked to Crowder. Ran got caught up on work while I walked back to get the car and do a little grocery shopping. He pretty much lives on Honey Nut Cheerios (as it's one thing that doesn't taste horrible . . .yet) so we had to stock up! Matt, Nancy, Logan and Kels all came over to visit for a few hours that evening. So good to see familiar faces!
Friday friends came over to watch college and high school ball and hang out for the day. It was a wonderfully normal day - we both loved every minute of it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Saturday we brought a little lunch out to Jim and Kate Rhoades and got to visit for a about 30 minutes (not nearly long enough) before heading to AR. Kate looks wonderful! Her recovery from knee replacement surgery is going very well. Apparently, she follows her Dr.'s instructions to a T because her range of motion shocked both of us. Dinner in AR at my Grandmother and Uncle John's house was such a treat. Everyone seemed to have brought something although our Carl went above and beyond the call of duty - as always! It was such a great gathering of wonderful people that we too rarely have in the same room. Unfortunately, Ran was not able to eat much. Nothing tasted "good" to him. Each day is different - sometimes food tastes great - or at least normal - and on others everything is awful. Things started out tasting like they had been soaked in salt - now they taste soapy. We had our fingers crossed but this just ended up being a not so great food day. The camaraderie more than made up for the disappointment and of course I'm always willing to do my part by eating for two. Keeping the world in balance - one yam (ok, geesh, three) at a time!
Because I was able to work my magic and move Ran's Monday appointments to later in the day we had the entire day Sunday to just do. . . whatever! So, we decided to sleep ridiculously late, sip coffee for an extra-long time, go to to the Y and walk on the treadmill (instead of run), then watched the Eagles game with Matt (uggg, really Jackson, COME ON!) When we returned home Ran was able to get all caught up with Hazim as they watched KC fight a good fight. To bed a little later than expected and neither of us could sleep. Alarm was set for a little before four a.m. but I don't think either of us needed it - already awake.
MONDAY:
DING, DING! Round Two (if only we had a hot ring girl to walk through the room - all would be right in Randy's world!)
As I type, Ran has already had SHR #18, met with Dr. Wehbe to review blood work, and is almost through the first bag of fluids. One more to go, then 192 minutes of Cisplatin, and more kidney flushing fluids. If we don't sleep tonight we'll tuck ourselves into our cave in the morning after radiation and sleep away the day.