Poof, summer is gone

        Where did the summer go?  This year it sped by at warp pace.  Now that it is truly fall, I should at least mention some of what is/has been happening.  Note that today our roses are at the loveliest thy have been--lots of blooms.  We have not had frost yet so hopefully this fall will last and last.

During the summer Bob had a PET scan.  Bob's blood work is unreliable as to what the multiple myeloma is doing so every 6 mo. he has this test done to see if there are fresh tumors (lesions) on the bone anywhere.  We hadn't heard anything after this was done so like the saying goes no news is good news.  It was !!!!!!!, hurrah, hurrah, yesterday Bob was told that there were not any new lesions.  Everything looked ok.  Bob will continue on with the velcade---alone!!!! every other week by intravenous.  Good news for both of us.  The worst side affect for Bob is the neuropathy.  We learned on this past weekend that with the velcade the feeling will come back once off of the velcade.  This is unlike the revlamid.  Bob has already noticed this as the day or so at the end of the two week cycle, his feet are doing well again.  So we can safely say that today Bob is in remission the myeloma is not active and so this is the maintenance regime.

Last weekend we attended the Southern Alberta Myeloma Patient Society conference.  This was most informative. The speakers were top notch.  The research across the world is top rate and what is taking place right here in Calgary (what is another adjective) is stupendous.  Our Dr. Bahlis and his wife Dr. Neri have research going on that  deals with----things I didn't understand and for sure can't spell---.  They have just added another young Dr. to their clinic who is already involved with research.  I could run the other two docs names by you to impress you as to where they come from and what they are researching in their parts of the world but sheesh you just had to hear the excitement in their voices as to what they do and what they are learning about myeloma.  They have a number of new drugs on test and a number more that will soon be able to go on test.  The combinations of drugs that that they are looking at are ever evolving so the most important thing we came away with was HOPE.  Myeloma will have new procedures to combat it with for a hopefully long time.  This was a boost for us.  There is research on mind/body interactions that affect psychological, physiological and survival outcome for people with cancer.  Also examining roles of physical activity for enhancing wellness in chronic disease populations (mostly cancer).  Calling multiple myeloma a chronic disease is like wow yeah!!!!!!  This off course means Bob needs to exercise more even some on any truly yukky days.  We also took away what everyone has always known----all things in moderation--food, diet, exercise, checkups of all types.

Bob is very happy at his job and some weeks is maintaining almost full time hours.  It is a wee bit more difficult the beginning week after chemo.  I am back in school two days and doing the snack for our 175 kids----they aren't all at school every day so it works!!!!

Tim's sore from long ago is healed.  He was allergic to what the nurse was packing it with!!!! Grrrrrrr.  So he had Barbie are taking a trial trip away first weekend in Oct.  to Vegas.  Vegas is suppose to be the easiest place to go in a wheelchair.  The fella from Quadriplegic Canada (Calgary?) has a condo there all ready for anyone in a wheelchair.  He rents it out at a nominal charge.  Should this go well................next stop Disneyland  with the whole family.  The money from the social almost 2 years ago will finance that trip.

Today I am at peace with the world (well most of it) and "feel" great.  To take a note from our daughter ......it is well with my soul....  (no tattoos for me tho).

If this video may be of interest to you it is about multiple myeloma from a Calgary survivor. You should be able to just click on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bfwhVwoZqI&list=PL6FEA9179A6F7B1B1

Shirley experienced a miracle

Today I experienced a miracle.  God did a miracle--don't know how--isn't that what a miracle is all about???,seeing something happen that has no logical explanation.

This is an ordinary Monday in my life.  Monday is wash day, ironing and putting away all the clothes.Maybe a little   OC    over laundry--not much else tho??  I had my first load of wash in the machine and went upstairs to check email and yeah.......FB, then did a couple of chores.  I fiqured that by then the first load would be washed and ready for the dryer.  As I went down the basement stairs I could smell something funny and it was hazy in the basement.  First I thot , oh my glasses must be more dirty than I thot.  Even as I thot that I didn't really believe it as I could see the haze near the ceiling of the basement swirl slightly.  I ran into the laundry room, couldn't see anything, opened the washer and it hadn't finished spinning---odd, checked out the electric panel--nothing.  I ran upstairs and called 911, even tho I was told to wait outside I went back into the basement and checked around the washer again as that was the only appliance that was on.  I noticed that the washer was unplugged, I hadn't done that.  The smell and haze was definitely coming from there but there weren't any flames or anything.  The fire and police arrived on our quiet cul de sac, anyone at home has been entertained and enjoyed a cup of coffee together as they watched the proceedings.  The dogs next door, who are all alone, will now have laryngitis for the season (cross my fingers).  These very nice young men came in and checked everything very carefully.  They decided that it was the washer and took it apart.  The motor had kept running but the belt had burned.  They didn't know if the motor was damaged but  were sure that the belt had been the problem.  They cleared the haze with a humongous fan and were kind enough to be sure that this granny was ok and not having a nervous breakdown.

I started to read a book entitled Miracles Are For Real  What Happens when Heaven Touches Earth by James L Garlow and Keith Wall.  My friend Joan had loaned it to me.  Together we are praying for a miracle.  This book was to be an encouragement of things that happen in peoples lives with no reasonable explanation.  These events have been in the past two decades.  The book really made me think and trust even more, that God still does do the unexplainable.  Skeptics abound needing proof when there is no proof such as something science can explain.

Today my machine was unplugged and the cord lay parallel to the wall on the top of my vacuum.  The cord had not just fallen out of the plug to the floor.  This event, I believe, prevented a larger catastrophe from happening in our house.  

This also takes my thoughts further at how Bob has survived, not just survived but has thrived with a cancer that can defeat people quickly.  Was the cancer cured?  NO but the miracle is in Bob's life---every day---. I am grateful to our Lord and God Jesus Christ who today cared for our home.

Devastation

In the previous post I said that none of the days were wasted.  I truly want to believe that about each event that comes into my life-----I think I am safe in speaking for Bob too, so, what comesinto our lives.  Each day and each event that we have is not wasted in God's purpose for our lives.  I suppose if we are able to surrender to the Lord completely, and know that, not only the nice warm fuzzy things are going to be coming into our lives, but also the hard, earth shattering, dirty things may also enter into our experiences, we could hope and believe and know that none of these things are wasted but are ultimately for our spiritual good and growth.

 This idea of "wasted" is part of a song I had heard on galaxy radio.  I was busy sewing and not really listening---so I missed most of it and have no idea the name of the song.  However the phrase "nothing is wasted with our Redeemer" caught my attention.  Over the past many weeks I have pondered that phrase over and over.  I suppose the floods out here in Alberta brought the song's words to the fore front again.  How would God use these events for the ultimate good of the folks devastated by the loss of their homes, possessions, financial ruin, businesses in ruin-----it truly is horrible.  I was wondering if one of those homes had been mine could I still grab hold of Jesus' hand and walk with Him through all that needs doing?  I want to believe that we could do exactly that.  We have watched people on TV say exactly that,--- that God will see them through, "it is only stuff, thankful no one was killed."  Should people honestly and humbly begin to look to the Lord for strength, the days will not be wasted.  Samaritan's Purse has been out in High River, in Calgary, on the First Nation reservations helping not only physically but also being there to listen to and speak with hurting people.  We call it Samaritan's Purse but the people are volunteers from so very many churches across this area.  Truly they are Samaritans --giving up their own lives for 1 day, 2 days or??? days to help people they don't know and may never see again.  It was great that our church had many fellas go out to do this back breaking, smelly work.  To shovel out a basement of that heavy wet mud (which was not only soil mud) after the water had been sucked out was tough and then all of the stuff!!!!! so that there was nothing left in the basement just the concrete walls was not only hard but emotionally draining.  I was proud of our grandsons--Colton and Ashton--they helped in Calgary for one home.  They helped their Uncle Devon and Shane shovel and empty out the basement of  friends of theirs, who are elderly.  The boys came home totally pooped and very filthy.  In order to officially help, a person needs to be 18 years old, so they only did that one house.  All these experiences help the boys too.

I am thinking that much of the horror that  I sense about this flood comes from the one day that I spent out in High River.  We were away for the most part of the flood aftermath and returned after the 2 week mark (however that is for the next blog).  I made sandwiches and muffins  and took a turn to go out with the group from our church that had set up food tents and had been out there pretty much from the get go.  I had this sense of...oh I don't know---I am doing something so noble, so good.  I suppose I was in a way, doing something good, but with the wrong attitude.  From where this tent was, the devastation was---dry and "under control" but I could see and imagine how horrible it had been during the short time previous.  It was heartbreaking to see the elderly couples come for food and coffee  and return to the homes that they enjoyed into their retirements.  These same homes that were being torn apart and all their "stuff" was being dumped outside, strangers were in and out of their homes.  Each of these home owners was so thankful for the help and for the bit of comfort the fresh food brought.  The whole situation made me feel so sad and from what I was told I had no idea how it had been, how muddy, smelly, destroyed-- but I could imagine.  I believe that we were there to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus--to comfort, encourage and listen.  I realize that doing those things is not noble, maybe good, but it truly is all about serving and obeying what one believes God desires of them.  The couple that I went out with took a ride around the town after our shift.  There were areas that no one was allowed into.  Yet we could see the horribleness of the situation.  The scene that stays in my mind ---behind a road block was a long street with the trees on either side that grey color, the road, sidewalks?, boulevards--everything covered in this brown color and walking down the center was one person, all alone, dressed in a white hazard suit, hood up,big boots, big gloves, and a face mask--big, like it could have been more than just a mask.  That picture made me think of those end of the world science fiction movies.  Truly made me feel...........sad, like the town had been thwarted.  In some ways it has been..  There are many more scenes that totally unnerved me that showed the unleashed power of nature.  As much as we desire and aspire to control our environment we cannot.  People really do need to know the Lord.  How could we survive this kind of event if we didn't believe that not one day or event is a waste with the Lord.  How could Tim and Barbie survive?  How could Trent and Janelle survive, Dave and Dianne?  How could Bob and I survive if we didn't believe that there is a larger, eternal purpose for us.  Our horrible--cancer-- is only for a short season.  May we be faithful not to waste what God is walking with us through. 


Bob's journey brings a PET scan on July 29, news of the appointment in today's mail.

Deciphering

Taking me a long time to get back to the blog, I allow so much to take up my time in drips and drivels.  Truth be known I am also a horrible procrastinator.  Today the sun isn't shining so it is the kind of day that suggests putting ones thoughts on paper would be ok.

This week Bob will not be having chemo so we are still deciphering how just receiving the velcade on last Fri. is working.  Without the other two drugs some of the velcade side affects were more noticeable.  The nausea and sick feeling stomach lasted through Sunday.  Bob does take the anti nausea drugs so he wasn't actually sick, which is a blessing---he just didn't feel that well.  The neuropathy is bad, his feet are just "crawling", so Bob is using the Tiger Balm but probably not as often as he should.  He also thought that he would stop taking gabapenton.  This is to help with the neuropathy.  Sheesh I forget which side affect that drug gives Bob that he doesn't like.  Anyway you get the picture, so Bob is taking that drug again.  The big side affect is being tired, probably from everything.  After typing all that I would have to say that Bob is doing well!!!!  There is no cancer pain (bone pain).  He is working pretty much full time again.  He leaves work earlier when he needs and on any treatment days, or Dr. days, Bob is able to take the time as needed.  Sooooooo very thankful for this job.  Bob's desire is to work as long as he is able.  A friend asked "didn't he want to take the time and retire and do other things?"  Bob hasn't gotten to 65 yet and as we are not independently wealthy he was striving to hit that goal first.  We have never travelled so travelling is hard to think about (crazy, I know).   Perhaps there will come a time when we would chance to dabble in travelling, other than to see family.  Bob just replied to his friend "I like to work, that is what I know".  The hobbies that Bob has take a fair bit of change to accomplish as well.  All in all in my deciphering, Bob is great therefore I am great.

We just celebrated our  FORTY THIRD wedding anniversary!!!  You may wonder, just like we have, "how is that possible!!!!".  I will tell you a wee secret:...... we were married as children.(laugh now)  Well, now a days, we would have been considered almost children.  However we were full fledged adults and knew everything.  We learned life together over these 43 years and learned that we knew almost nothing.  Every marriage is a huge learning curve----wow!!!!  Thinking how fast time has gone by can make me feel pensive(as perhaps melancoly is to strong a word!!!!?! ) Three years ago we had our pictures taken for our anniversary.  Bob was totally off of drugs at the time and was looking so very well.  I sent a number of those pics out kinda like an anniversary card rather than wait for Christmas.  I did this mainly because I didn't think Bob would ever be as well as he was then.  Now these three years later, he is still doing well.  I (we) have learned so much about trust and dependance and acceptance and the love of God during this time that for us not one of these days has been wasted.

Firstly

Lots to write, but firstly: Bob was to see Dr. Bahlis yesterday July 11 (our 43rd anniversary).  The news is encouraging and gave a greater cause for celebration.  First the numbers:
               WBC  4.8
               RBC    3.6
               HGB    113
               Platelets  168
               Creatine  15780
                Protein   2.07
Bob only did the tests the same day as the visit so results for tumor markers and a couple of other tests weren't ready when he saw Dr. B.

Dr. B. is going to move to a maintenance regime for a time and see how that goes.  Beginning this Fri. Bob will only receive the velcade as the chemo dose.  He will receive this every other week.  Dr. B. wasn't convinced about the Spain trial.  Bob will have to go into the hospital as it is an infusion.  The neuropathy will continue to be a side affect.  We are now rubbing his feet with something that has a high menthol content.  Dr.  B. suggested he read some good results from that???  We have started with Tiger Balm which Bob's uncle Jake had suggested years ago for whatever aches.

The other side affects---the diabetes (for 2 days) the constipation, and the hyper activity and no sleep from the dex, hopefully will be gone.  The  tiredness at other times may continue but that one is easy (mostly).

A PET scan is being set up for the next mo. or so.  That is what tells the real story.  Once we see those results we will truly rejoice with the maintenance regime.  Altho very thankful that the rest of the summer could be easier on Bob --drug wise.

One more number that Bob is pleased about--thot I'd share with you:  BMI is 27,1200 with the upper number for him being 30,000.  Sheesh--I am walking---hopefully diligently, every day to get a healthier BMI.

Oh yeah!!!! Oh Yeah!!!!!

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!!!!!!!

Continued Joys

What a truly great blessing Bob received this past 
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.