Lions, lambs, lions, lambs, lions, lions

Today and for the most part,  I gotta say the lions are winning!!!  The weather came in like a lion so to my way of thinking I thought that by now the gentle lambs would be taking over the weather fronts. However, from my window it looks like a regular ole winter storm blowing outside.  The winter snow is still hanging around and now the darkness of that snow is being covered by the whiteness of fresh falling snow and sleet.  I write about the weather in order to have a basis to complain,  mostly about the long never ending winter.  I know, I know all of us are dealing with that no matter where we live across this northern world. 

Wow, what a world we have too.  The Olympics was great entertainment, after the media leaves--most of them anyway, Russia decided to take back territory.  I read historical romance (not that this is romantic) but sheesh seems like a leader of another era did the same thing annexing back the Sudetenland in order to protect German interests.  The books I read, altho being fiction describe vividly what happens in aggression.
May the Lord keep us from another major war.
I am sure most of you have read about the premier of AB. Politics is becoming such a sad state of affairs.  Well,I won't go any further.  Cousin David covers that pretty well.  Hey David, more Canadian content!!!

Right now Bob is at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre having a PET scan.  Simply, Bob is injected with radioactive sugar and then the doctors monitor the circulation of this injection through the body.  Active cells---cancer cells--quickly move  to the sugar.  In this way the doctors can tell where there are tumors growing.  I think that loosely resembles the truth of the test.  This was originally planned for an MRI but when the appointment came the type of test had been changed.  We try not to race ahead of the results but sometimes you can't help it. 
This all makes me uptight and I want to complain about everything.  Life is hard and then you die.  I know all the right things, don't worry, but living through this daily gets to be tough.  Watching Barbie and Tim is hard, walking now with 3 fellow teachers from our school deal with cancer is hard.  The latest only 23 years old.  Visiting these dear old people when I volunteer at the hospital is hard.  Listening to heartbreaking stories of what is happening in the lives of our friends is hard.  One gal told me: for believers in Jesus this life is hell but for those who don't or won't accept Jesus as their personal savior this life is heaven.  Gotta say I am so thankful for the Hope we have in God. 

Thanks for listening to me rant.

Mundane

Yesterday, March 5 was Bob's latest visit with the oncologist.  I have struggled with the previous visit as the numbers were up and more drugs were added and then frustration and discontent and disappointment settle in and that is only me!!!!  Bob has more side effects, is more tired and has been having a lot of pain.  At least the weather has been horrid so it is easier to hunker down and stay sane as most everyone is hunkered down.  However the news yesterday is more encouraging.  Thank you to those of you who continue to pray for us.  Bob's marker numbers have come down by 30% which is great.  We are happy if they hold or go down.  These markers going up not only get our doctors excited, they put us on edge.  WBC is now 4.2, the Kappa/Lambda Free Ratio is now 3.55 (still a little high) but going in the right direction. 
For now Bob will continue on with the same doses and hopefully the markers will go down again.

The dexamethazone is the steroid that causes the hyper, no sleeping, agitated side affects and Bob is looking forward to tomorrow when he gets chemo cause the dex also takes the pain away.  Go figure!!!!!  One man's poison.........
Bob is also being slated for an MRI to see what is causing the pain in his back.  The MRI will show if it is arthritis or something else as a PET doesn't show arthritis.

Bob is working, has had to come home early a couple of days but generally "does his time".  Lots of changes on the estate so it makes life interesting for him.  This month my dear Bob is 65, yikes, not sure how that happened.  Seems like only yesterday we were 16.  Bob will start collecting those brown envelopes.  I am not to far behind so we now have bragging rights that between us we have 130 years of experience in life!!!  This is a tough birthday for Bob to reach 65 and not be ready (in any way) to retire.  Soooo he will continue to be off to work for awhile longer---me tooooo!!!  I am thrilled that Bob is turning 65 at one point we didn't think he would make 60.  Each birthday is a gift and needs to be a celebration of some sort.

Our biggest outings this winter have been to Mike and Cori's to spend time with them and their kids.  Mike seems to be doing well in his business.  He finds it very hard to find good help as both of the locations are in very low employment areas.  Such are the challenges!!!  The kids are growing like crazy  and require high energy so we save up for a month or so before we go!!!!!

Tim and Barbie's family also is well and all doing their things.  We don't see them as often any more which means they are all well.  Barbie is looking for a job right now.  They need to take their family vacation and are still planning that and hopefully Barbie will earn some extra money towards that.  Tim and Barbie did make the trip to Ottawa when Tim's dad, Larry was sworn in as a MP.  

Our Quebec kids of course we don't see but have a wee bit of contact through FB.  They are growing older as well!!!

The weather is going to warm up by the weekend as I am struggling with a headache today sooooo on a more creative day I will try and write again and let you all into on our lives..