Tues the 11th I went with Bob to our new South Campus Hospital. The lab is open there but only for banker's hours. One cannot make an appt. yet, but we were in and out, including finding where we parked, in half an hour. This is such a lovely new facility and slowly opening in phases that there didn't seem to be any chaos.!!!!! There are great volunteers who can tell by the glazed over eyes of the folks coming in that we don't have a clue where to go. These volunteers don't just give you directions they actually take you to where you want to go!!!! As they do that they continue telling you all sorts of details about the hospital. I am thinking ALL hospitals need to do this........dreaming!!!!
Yesterday, June 12, was a hospital day for Bob. He had the arridia in the morning. That is to help strengthen the bones. Advancement in research and delivery of medicine has made this now only a two hour delivery in a nice cushy reclining chair. Sure hope Bob doesn't keep the whole ward awake!! :-} The afternoon was spent waiting and seeing Dr. Bahlis. Naturally all of the markers in the blood and urine were good. He is thinking about the PET scan---in another month. We really hope the doc does it as then they will see for sure what is going on in the bones. The talk is back to a maintenance velcade dose. Dr. B. talks about a few different scenarios of what that may look like. In Spain they have chemo once every 3 months for 3 weeks--velcade, dex and revlamid. Here they have a treatment every other week. The results look very similar. Bob would like the Spainish version. That way his feet may have a chance to recover from the neuropathy and he could feel "normal' for a bit. He begins this 3 week round on Fri. the 14th. Bob will be missing one week tho on the 28th!!!!!!! oh yeah , oh yeah. So looking forward to seeing everyone "down east".
For my dear sister and any other medical types: Kappa Free 22.8
Lambda Free 17.2
Ratio 1.33
WBC 5.4
RBC 3.8
HGB 116
Platelets 163
U protein .16
There was no Beta-2 Microglobulin given.
Summer is here altho the temps in Calgary do not prove it. Yet with the intense sun it is very warm if one should be in the sun. My garden is an orchestra--each plant comin "in" and blooming on cue. ONLY they are playing way to fast!!!!!!!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
Continued Joys
Sunday--June 9-- when our granddaughter, Emily,
asked her grandpa, Bob to baptize her. It is a joy to
see Emily make the decision to publicly declare her desire to follow Jesus. This has been a huge honor for Bob. His whole life is about our families.
He loves them all so much and does his best to help out in any way he is able. Standing and praying with Emily before the Lord and our church family was very humbling and gratifying. We praise the Lord for what He is doing in the hearts and lives of our family.
The story of Joseph in the bible comes to mind. Joseph tells his brothers that what they had done to him by selling him to slavery God used for good. We see that truth so very clearly in hindsight that the many things in our married life together, one month shy of 43 years, that were tough and could have been disastrous, God has used for good. Today I am able to say even the cancer diagnosis Bob received, the Lord has used in our lives to move us to knowing, loving and being more obedient to Jesus. God is so much more real to us. Eternity is more real...........................I really can't put it into words. Praise God from Who all blessings flow.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Joys in the Midst
Sometimes the cancer walk down right stinks and we loose patience with the whole process. Then a couple of "happy" items take the edge off of the cancer focus.
This weekend (May 25) was Emily's piano recital. She has an amazing teacher who lives about three doors down from the Maguire's. This was huge for Barbie when Shamus was little. Emily could hop, skip and jump over to Donna's on her own. As the years progressed and we came to know Donna more we realized what a gifted, educated music teacher she is. This was Donna's 37th year of having her students do a recital. Emily loves Donna to bits and Donna has shown her, and her husband's kindness and generosity to Tim, Barbie and the family. All of this came together as Emily played her piece. Brought tears to Bob and I and such an appreciation for the people who have taken time to pour love and care into our family. To say the least Emily plays very well and we trust that she will continue on for many more years, That was the morning's happy event.
Bob took Colton out after lunch for a drive into an area of the city that Colton was not familiar with and where we were told the testers from the registry Colton was taking his driver's test from, (breath) do the testing. Drum roll then it was time for our Colton to drive the test. Bob waited for him and Tim and Barbie drove over for the big event. One really needs to know Colton to really picture him coming across the parking lot with his happy smirk on----getting larger---maybe a real grin and the "aw shucks" body language. He did it passed on the first time. Truly awesome. Barbie's first quote " I am never going for milk again". Now mom and dad and grandpa are working things out with insurance etc before Colton will go solo. This could not have happened if not for the kindness and care of others pouring into our Maguire family. A very special gentleman paid the cost for Colton to take driver training with AMA, thank you so much. Grandpa Phil Northrup took some of his time to take Colton driving----RCMP driver training!!! Of course grandpa Bob, who loves our grandkids so much, spent lots and lots of hours with Colton out driving which in the midst of the cancer was joy. That was our afternoon happy event.
As we were sitting in church on Sunday morning our newest grandaughter was being born. Mike and Cori's baby girl Gavrielle Ylena Marie was born at 10:43 am at home with two midwives present. Gavrielle weighed 10 pounds 12 ounces. Gavrielle and Cori did amazing. Thank you to these midwives who took and are taking such good care of Cori and Gavrielle. Cori was up almost immediately and had showered early in the afternoon. Gavrielle looks amazing--nice and pink--non of that birth trauma look. I am thinking that with 14 grandkids our quiver is full. What a huge blessing for us to have thees kids as part of our lives. What a blessing adoption has been, what a blessing these women made in choosing life. That was our Sunday happy event.
Bob is thinking that the one drug that he is taking that fights the neuropathy is kicking in!!! The pain is much less and the walking is much easier. Either Bob is getting use to the chemo side affects or they are just not as bad now, that this course of chemo is almost done. Either way this makes for a happier, easier week.
Ashton is almost 15 and went to take his learners test to begin driver training, with grandpa for now. He did very well!!!! The tester didn't have him finish the test as he had already done better on part of the test, than is needed to pass. That added to our very good week. Then up pipes Emily "in a year I will be 14 and I can get my learners". Wow, these grandkids are growing up way to fast----or we are getting "older" way to fast. A very fun happy day.
On this past Sat. we watched Colton drive away from Tim and Barbie's on his first solo driving trip!!!! From their house we could see him drive all the way down and through the roundabout----that infamous Mckenzie Towne roundabout----HE MADE IT---big sigh of relief and a huge sensation in the chest----I do believe that was pride.!!!!!! His first solo trip was to our house,with the lawn mower in the back, to cut our tiny strip of grass. A new driver has to do what he has to do!!!!!!! Made for a fun day and good memory.
Sunday (June2) was Ashton's guitar recital. The group that he takes lessons from come to the student's homes. This has worked very well for Tim and Barbie. Ashton has had Shane for a teacher since Ashton started on the acoustic guitar. Ashton now plays electric almost exclusively. Shane has lived through and stuck with Ashton's temper tantrums, defiance and plain ugly attitude. Thanks Shane, for continuing to care about Ashton each and every week. Not only Shane but all of Ashton's family are rewarded with a darn good guitarist. Ashton played as the highlight of the concert. The buttons really popped again!!!! Job well done Ashton.
We also received many pics of Gavrielle, this week,--a very alert baby, enjoy seeing Maks and Nik and Taylor in the pics. I keep in touch on FB by seeing what our Quebec grandkids are doing. AHHhhhhhh life is good.!!!! These are some of the happy events that keep things on an even keel. Praise God for helping us see these events as pure joy.
This weekend (May 25) was Emily's piano recital. She has an amazing teacher who lives about three doors down from the Maguire's. This was huge for Barbie when Shamus was little. Emily could hop, skip and jump over to Donna's on her own. As the years progressed and we came to know Donna more we realized what a gifted, educated music teacher she is. This was Donna's 37th year of having her students do a recital. Emily loves Donna to bits and Donna has shown her, and her husband's kindness and generosity to Tim, Barbie and the family. All of this came together as Emily played her piece. Brought tears to Bob and I and such an appreciation for the people who have taken time to pour love and care into our family. To say the least Emily plays very well and we trust that she will continue on for many more years, That was the morning's happy event.
Bob took Colton out after lunch for a drive into an area of the city that Colton was not familiar with and where we were told the testers from the registry Colton was taking his driver's test from, (breath) do the testing. Drum roll then it was time for our Colton to drive the test. Bob waited for him and Tim and Barbie drove over for the big event. One really needs to know Colton to really picture him coming across the parking lot with his happy smirk on----getting larger---maybe a real grin and the "aw shucks" body language. He did it passed on the first time. Truly awesome. Barbie's first quote " I am never going for milk again". Now mom and dad and grandpa are working things out with insurance etc before Colton will go solo. This could not have happened if not for the kindness and care of others pouring into our Maguire family. A very special gentleman paid the cost for Colton to take driver training with AMA, thank you so much. Grandpa Phil Northrup took some of his time to take Colton driving----RCMP driver training!!! Of course grandpa Bob, who loves our grandkids so much, spent lots and lots of hours with Colton out driving which in the midst of the cancer was joy. That was our afternoon happy event.
As we were sitting in church on Sunday morning our newest grandaughter was being born. Mike and Cori's baby girl Gavrielle Ylena Marie was born at 10:43 am at home with two midwives present. Gavrielle weighed 10 pounds 12 ounces. Gavrielle and Cori did amazing. Thank you to these midwives who took and are taking such good care of Cori and Gavrielle. Cori was up almost immediately and had showered early in the afternoon. Gavrielle looks amazing--nice and pink--non of that birth trauma look. I am thinking that with 14 grandkids our quiver is full. What a huge blessing for us to have thees kids as part of our lives. What a blessing adoption has been, what a blessing these women made in choosing life. That was our Sunday happy event.
Bob is thinking that the one drug that he is taking that fights the neuropathy is kicking in!!! The pain is much less and the walking is much easier. Either Bob is getting use to the chemo side affects or they are just not as bad now, that this course of chemo is almost done. Either way this makes for a happier, easier week.
Ashton is almost 15 and went to take his learners test to begin driver training, with grandpa for now. He did very well!!!! The tester didn't have him finish the test as he had already done better on part of the test, than is needed to pass. That added to our very good week. Then up pipes Emily "in a year I will be 14 and I can get my learners". Wow, these grandkids are growing up way to fast----or we are getting "older" way to fast. A very fun happy day.
On this past Sat. we watched Colton drive away from Tim and Barbie's on his first solo driving trip!!!! From their house we could see him drive all the way down and through the roundabout----that infamous Mckenzie Towne roundabout----HE MADE IT---big sigh of relief and a huge sensation in the chest----I do believe that was pride.!!!!!! His first solo trip was to our house,with the lawn mower in the back, to cut our tiny strip of grass. A new driver has to do what he has to do!!!!!!! Made for a fun day and good memory.
Sunday (June2) was Ashton's guitar recital. The group that he takes lessons from come to the student's homes. This has worked very well for Tim and Barbie. Ashton has had Shane for a teacher since Ashton started on the acoustic guitar. Ashton now plays electric almost exclusively. Shane has lived through and stuck with Ashton's temper tantrums, defiance and plain ugly attitude. Thanks Shane, for continuing to care about Ashton each and every week. Not only Shane but all of Ashton's family are rewarded with a darn good guitarist. Ashton played as the highlight of the concert. The buttons really popped again!!!! Job well done Ashton.
We also received many pics of Gavrielle, this week,--a very alert baby, enjoy seeing Maks and Nik and Taylor in the pics. I keep in touch on FB by seeing what our Quebec grandkids are doing. AHHhhhhhh life is good.!!!! These are some of the happy events that keep things on an even keel. Praise God for helping us see these events as pure joy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)