Bowing to pressure and the fact that I have not kept the blog updated and feeling bad about it, I think it is time to start keeping it up.
A lot has happened in the past 6 months. Three trips to Canada,a couple of trips out onto the lake and a whole lot of work.
One of the reasons I stopped on this blog was Pastor Quick's recurrence of his melanoma. Seeing him go thru what he did until his passing in August was hard on me. I still look in the mirror and ask God why him and not me. I also wonder what more I could have done to help him. I feel I let him down every time I get a good report from my doctors. Someone told me that maybe God isn't done with me yet and that he has something more for me to accomplish. I hope so.
All three of my doctors are amazed and they call me an anomaly. My regular doctor and the oncologist and dermatologist ask me questions on what I am doing and why I think I am still around. The three of them have told me this summer that I shouldn't have made it this long. Even better, they tell me I should not be this healthy for a 58 year old. I feel great except for the aches and pains from overdoing it. Like tonight in AWANA with the kids. It's hard running around the circle with the kids.
Also, Caleb turned 9 and Arrie turned 1. Had the doctors been right, I would have never seen Arrie, let alone his first birthday. Now I am holding on to see him graduate college and make me a great-grandfather.
Continue to pray for me and my health. I will update on our recent Canada trip that turned out to be quite the adventure. I promise it will be in a few days and not a few weeks.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
I am feeling the heat
Yep. Besides my mother, friends and other relatives have yelled at me for not keeping them up to date on the blog. Okay. Okay. I get the message. I was just figuring that no news was good news, so here goes.
Wednesday I go to the Dermatologist to have my tri-annual full body skin check. Some might like the novelty of being check from head to toe by someone (seems lately it has been someone of the opposite sex) but that has never been the case with me. After 21 years in the army a doctor is just another dogface troop doing their job. The thing that sticks in my mind this time is March 17th two years ago is when I started the interferon. Forty three years ago it was the day my father died. Hopefully, and especially God willing, I will get a clean bill of health and not get cut again. I absolutely hate being cut and stitched. I just hope all the things I am doing to stay healthy keeps my skin healthy too.
Many things that has really changed with the "alternative" medicine. No post nasal drip after years and years of it. Not one phlebitis attack in my leg. Daily regularity. And really surprising is the blood pressure. I usually run about 114/65 with a pulse of 60. A far cry from only a few years ago.
Now to the downside and it is small. The nerve pain and the fluid when I work that builds up. I went to be Saturday night after splitting and loading a truckload of wood Thursday, helping tear out walls and getting lit up cutting some wires at Steve and Stacy's, and then driving for 5 hours on Saturday. I woke up Sunday with a bag of fluid above my elbow. I just didn't shake hands at church, but some of the guys decided to squeeze me from behind. Oops. I feel badly for them as they were embarrassed after the hurt. I'm just glad I am here and they are my friends and able to make the "oops."
One cute thing happened Friday night. After I cut the second live wire and grandma said she didn't want me dead, Josh said, "grandpa, I don't want you to die, who will drive the four wheelers if you die?" I told him I would take the four wheelers with me when I die. He said, "God won't let you take them with you." I asked him who told him that and he just repeated that "God won't let you." The simplicity of a child's mind. We would probably all live a lot longer if we just had that simplicity and belief in God.
So Mom and Lori, happy reading. Both of you get well soon.
Wednesday I go to the Dermatologist to have my tri-annual full body skin check. Some might like the novelty of being check from head to toe by someone (seems lately it has been someone of the opposite sex) but that has never been the case with me. After 21 years in the army a doctor is just another dogface troop doing their job. The thing that sticks in my mind this time is March 17th two years ago is when I started the interferon. Forty three years ago it was the day my father died. Hopefully, and especially God willing, I will get a clean bill of health and not get cut again. I absolutely hate being cut and stitched. I just hope all the things I am doing to stay healthy keeps my skin healthy too.
Many things that has really changed with the "alternative" medicine. No post nasal drip after years and years of it. Not one phlebitis attack in my leg. Daily regularity. And really surprising is the blood pressure. I usually run about 114/65 with a pulse of 60. A far cry from only a few years ago.
Now to the downside and it is small. The nerve pain and the fluid when I work that builds up. I went to be Saturday night after splitting and loading a truckload of wood Thursday, helping tear out walls and getting lit up cutting some wires at Steve and Stacy's, and then driving for 5 hours on Saturday. I woke up Sunday with a bag of fluid above my elbow. I just didn't shake hands at church, but some of the guys decided to squeeze me from behind. Oops. I feel badly for them as they were embarrassed after the hurt. I'm just glad I am here and they are my friends and able to make the "oops."
One cute thing happened Friday night. After I cut the second live wire and grandma said she didn't want me dead, Josh said, "grandpa, I don't want you to die, who will drive the four wheelers if you die?" I told him I would take the four wheelers with me when I die. He said, "God won't let you take them with you." I asked him who told him that and he just repeated that "God won't let you." The simplicity of a child's mind. We would probably all live a lot longer if we just had that simplicity and belief in God.
So Mom and Lori, happy reading. Both of you get well soon.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
2-13-2010
Well it is just over 2 years and 4 months since I was told I had cancer. Well, everyone has cancer, mine just decided to try and kill me at that moment. Well it hasn't so far and I don't plan on letting it anytime soon.
We moved my mother in law into an assisted living place this week so Patti and I decided to go up and have diner with her on Thursday. It was a nice meal but I did notice that all but two of the people in the room were women. I also noticed some nice smiles from the ladies. One of the men was Pastor Quick's father. I introduced myself and to my surprise he knew right away who my mother in law was and even what room she was in. We talked a few minutes then I had to run out and get some furniture at my mother in law apartment (she still has things at her apartment). During diner the staff asked if my mother in law was going to the Valentine's Dance. Patti and I encouraged her to go and we ended up saying we would go. It was a really nice dance. During the dance my phone started buzzing so I stepped out to answer. It was Cathy, Patti's sister in a panic because she could not get in touch with her mother or Patti. I told her to relax as her mom was at a dance, with a live band and refreshments.
Well, when I returned I should have know that something was brewing. On my way back into the room I was eyeballed by several of the ladies. One even made a comment about such a nice looking man should be willing to dance. Another made the comment from the dance floor while looking straight at me. It all hit when the dance was over. One of the ladies at the table we were sitting at (Mary Jane) started telling Patti about why she came there to live two months ago. Then she told Patti how she had had a hard time adjusting at first, but said that she did not see a problem with the couple Patti was with getting adjusted. Patti laughed for a moment then proceeded to tell Mary Jane that the woman was her mother and I was her husband. Mary Jane got embarrassed and begged Patti never to tell anyone. I knew immediately what she was laughing about.
So now both my mother and my mother in law have been addressed as my wife as well as my wife being addressed as my daughter. So I have to take it the white hair either makes me an older stud when I am with my wife or my daughter (people think Patti is my daughter when we are with one of our mothers) (or the dirty looks I get when I am with Heather when they think I am her husband, and that happens almost every time I go some where with her) or just a good looking senior citizen who the ladies at the retirement homes are going to go after. I did have a concern after the dance that the staff may not let me out as residence are not allowed out of the building after nine PM. Once I got out the front door I ran for the car so they wouldn't catch me.
One thing on my side though, my great grandparents (Kinders) were totally white in their 50's also and they lived into their 90's, so I've got that going for me.
Well, I must go now. I need to get a crowbar so that after Patti reads this and it goes to her head how young people see her, I will have to pry her swelled head thru the doorway to get her out of the room. I can always remind her that I am her hairdresser and I know her secrets. That should help to reduce the swelling.
Ain't life great.
We moved my mother in law into an assisted living place this week so Patti and I decided to go up and have diner with her on Thursday. It was a nice meal but I did notice that all but two of the people in the room were women. I also noticed some nice smiles from the ladies. One of the men was Pastor Quick's father. I introduced myself and to my surprise he knew right away who my mother in law was and even what room she was in. We talked a few minutes then I had to run out and get some furniture at my mother in law apartment (she still has things at her apartment). During diner the staff asked if my mother in law was going to the Valentine's Dance. Patti and I encouraged her to go and we ended up saying we would go. It was a really nice dance. During the dance my phone started buzzing so I stepped out to answer. It was Cathy, Patti's sister in a panic because she could not get in touch with her mother or Patti. I told her to relax as her mom was at a dance, with a live band and refreshments.
Well, when I returned I should have know that something was brewing. On my way back into the room I was eyeballed by several of the ladies. One even made a comment about such a nice looking man should be willing to dance. Another made the comment from the dance floor while looking straight at me. It all hit when the dance was over. One of the ladies at the table we were sitting at (Mary Jane) started telling Patti about why she came there to live two months ago. Then she told Patti how she had had a hard time adjusting at first, but said that she did not see a problem with the couple Patti was with getting adjusted. Patti laughed for a moment then proceeded to tell Mary Jane that the woman was her mother and I was her husband. Mary Jane got embarrassed and begged Patti never to tell anyone. I knew immediately what she was laughing about.
So now both my mother and my mother in law have been addressed as my wife as well as my wife being addressed as my daughter. So I have to take it the white hair either makes me an older stud when I am with my wife or my daughter (people think Patti is my daughter when we are with one of our mothers) (or the dirty looks I get when I am with Heather when they think I am her husband, and that happens almost every time I go some where with her) or just a good looking senior citizen who the ladies at the retirement homes are going to go after. I did have a concern after the dance that the staff may not let me out as residence are not allowed out of the building after nine PM. Once I got out the front door I ran for the car so they wouldn't catch me.
One thing on my side though, my great grandparents (Kinders) were totally white in their 50's also and they lived into their 90's, so I've got that going for me.
Well, I must go now. I need to get a crowbar so that after Patti reads this and it goes to her head how young people see her, I will have to pry her swelled head thru the doorway to get her out of the room. I can always remind her that I am her hairdresser and I know her secrets. That should help to reduce the swelling.
Ain't life great.
Monday, January 18, 2010
It Been A Long Time
Well, friends have asked and my mother has to so I am writing on the blog again. It has been over two months and a lot has happened. The holidays have come and gone as holidays do. The best part is just being here. Work continues with some days of good and some not so good. It is always hard to start a new year both at work and at home. Right now my world has been turned upside down with Patti working at the office as well as Heather (up to yesterday) and Patti's mom first in the hospital and now in a nursing facility. Sometimes I get to feeling sorry for myself because of all the change, but then I have to remind myself that I am here to see the change. Then I realize that all of the change just doesn't matter. It' just being here with my wife, my kids and my grand kids and friends. You too mom.
Last Thursday Patti was talking to the doctor and he said I was his "miracle patient." Too bad he doesn't understand the miracle. It is all you who prayed to God for his help for me and God answering the prayers.
I have not been such a good prayer warrior though for those sick and hurting. Sometimes it is hard to think of others when it draws me back to thinking about what I went thru. Then I think I need to be there for them telling them all the things I have done to help myself and thinking that they all should listen to me. After all, it helped me. Well, I have to keep remembering that many hear the words to come to the Lord and don't follow. Why would or should they follow my words. Patti says to just plant the seed both about the Lord and a different way of taking your health into your hands. I guess it is the hardest part of trying to know why God saved me and what was the purpose that he has in mind. I can't see sometime why people don't listen, but then again, I am not God.
I will write more as the days go along I promise.
Last Thursday Patti was talking to the doctor and he said I was his "miracle patient." Too bad he doesn't understand the miracle. It is all you who prayed to God for his help for me and God answering the prayers.
I have not been such a good prayer warrior though for those sick and hurting. Sometimes it is hard to think of others when it draws me back to thinking about what I went thru. Then I think I need to be there for them telling them all the things I have done to help myself and thinking that they all should listen to me. After all, it helped me. Well, I have to keep remembering that many hear the words to come to the Lord and don't follow. Why would or should they follow my words. Patti says to just plant the seed both about the Lord and a different way of taking your health into your hands. I guess it is the hardest part of trying to know why God saved me and what was the purpose that he has in mind. I can't see sometime why people don't listen, but then again, I am not God.
I will write more as the days go along I promise.
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