Bob is back to work today. His new instructions are NO lifting, Chloe and the girls cannot be on his lap or run and jump on him. However aside from that all his meds are doing the job so far. He feels "decent'.
When I first talked to him this morning his voice sounded so strong..he sounded good...I mentioned it and he said if he uses his strong voice he sounds pretty fine but it strains his voice. It's been 2 hours since I talked to him this morning and I just spoke with him and he's sounding "raspy" and has a weaker voice now. We mostly email for this reason.
He wasn't crazy about the movie "The American" and went home afterwards and fell asleep. He couldn't send any emails last night because his mail box was full from being away from his desk Tues and Wed. He spent the morning going through and deleting emails to free up space.
It's POURING today..much needed rain.
Puppy training Tip: I bought spray at PETCO called "Bitter Yuck"... it has and unappealing taste making chewing on objects that do not belong to her unpleasant and supposedly decreases this unwanted behavior.
I had this great idea since one of the objects she likes to chew on is HANDS ...I decided to coat my hands with it for a little while so she'd get a taste and STOP....well it worked...then I washed my hands, peeled and ate a cucumber and what did I taste BITTER YUCK! So I washed my hands again.....and low and behold I STILL TASTE BITTER YUCK!!! (laughing). Oh the lessons....(:
I suppose if anyone has a nail biting problem this may be the answer!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sept 29, 2010 Feeling better
Bob was released from the hospital this morning around 10 then he went to radiation. Since the pain medication was doubled he is feeling better. He even ate a soft boiled egg this morning at the hospital.
He had the PEG put in yesterday and now cannot lift anything heavier than the average "coffee pot"....not sure for how long. He didn't make it to work today...so he decided to go to a movie. He has to drink LOTS of water after chemo and thought a movie would be a great place to do it.
He had the PEG put in yesterday and now cannot lift anything heavier than the average "coffee pot"....not sure for how long. He didn't make it to work today...so he decided to go to a movie. He has to drink LOTS of water after chemo and thought a movie would be a great place to do it.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sept 28, 2010 The Reason
Last email i asked WHY no water...
"They were concerned I would have no gag reflex and would aspirate if water went down wrong. This was because they sprayed additional anesthetic down my throat because it was so inflamed. "
and then the next email
"And they doubled up my pain meds because of the state of aggravation in my throat.
I feel much better now than before.. "
"They were concerned I would have no gag reflex and would aspirate if water went down wrong. This was because they sprayed additional anesthetic down my throat because it was so inflamed. "
and then the next email
"And they doubled up my pain meds because of the state of aggravation in my throat.
I feel much better now than before.. "
Tonya is signing off for today...Bob I'm sure is asleep being on all that pain medication and I'm off to bed soon....Chloe is arguing with an "insect net" She is running around with it fighting with it...the same one the girls were catching frogs with. I better intersect before she eats it!!!!
Sept 28, 2010 Dr. Culliney to the rescue
This is what Bob wrote at 9:23 tonight...
"Dr. Culliney Showed up and couldn't believe I wasn't allowed any liquids. I can sip ice water now"
Dr Culliney is his Medical Oncologist.
Dr. Culliney is the HERO of the day for Bob! He was SO thirsty..I'm sure he feels he is in the "oasis"!!!!
"Dr. Culliney Showed up and couldn't believe I wasn't allowed any liquids. I can sip ice water now"
Dr Culliney is his Medical Oncologist.
Dr. Culliney is the HERO of the day for Bob! He was SO thirsty..I'm sure he feels he is in the "oasis"!!!!
Sept 28. 2010 Tough Day
This was the email Bob sent around 4pm.
"Just back from getrting the PEG. Can-t eat or drink anything until tomorrow. My IV machine makes a beeping sound when I move my arm-like it's on a hair trigger and it gets mad at me.
The annoying nurse just came back to ask if I want a flu shot. I said yes. She walked out and left the curtain open _ ugh gotta go close it.
There!
Just after I got up to close the drape, the liitle gal came to collect the $5.50 for the TV rental. I had to get up again. Mind ou, I've juat been stabbed in the gut!! Damned IV buzzer!
Why do they talk so fast on Spanish TV? Neighbor is watching Spanish station
I am in pain. Will try to rest."
I spoke to him around 6 and he can't even have a sip of water until tomorrow. He sounded thirsty and exhausted and voice is weak though I do hear "some" humor peaking through.....though not a good day for him.
"Just back from getrting the PEG. Can-t eat or drink anything until tomorrow. My IV machine makes a beeping sound when I move my arm-like it's on a hair trigger and it gets mad at me.
The annoying nurse just came back to ask if I want a flu shot. I said yes. She walked out and left the curtain open _ ugh gotta go close it.
There!
Just after I got up to close the drape, the liitle gal came to collect the $5.50 for the TV rental. I had to get up again. Mind ou, I've juat been stabbed in the gut!! Damned IV buzzer!
Why do they talk so fast on Spanish TV? Neighbor is watching Spanish station
I am in pain. Will try to rest."
I spoke to him around 6 and he can't even have a sip of water until tomorrow. He sounded thirsty and exhausted and voice is weak though I do hear "some" humor peaking through.....though not a good day for him.
Sept 28, 2010 2nd Chemo today
Heard from Bob around 11:00. He was on his way to surgery to get the PEG (feeding tube) placed. He tried to eat a piece of cheesecake last night and couldn't...he said it stung. He said everything seems to sting now except Soy Milk. I need to come up with great ideas to put in the PEG.
Thank you everyone for all your well wishes and help along the way. I so appreciate all the support and I pass messages on to Bob. I'm sure it's comforting to know so many folks are thinking of him and praying for him.
Thank you everyone for all your well wishes and help along the way. I so appreciate all the support and I pass messages on to Bob. I'm sure it's comforting to know so many folks are thinking of him and praying for him.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sept 27, 2010 A new week...
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| New photo of Chloe! |
Bob and friends/neighbors were stuck in traffic on the way home from NY last night...must have been an accident on the Taconic. He was tired when he left here with Ann and Frank at 6 so I'm sure he was WIPED when he arrived in NYC around 9:30.
Bob fell asleep at work today..sitting in front of his computer in his chair sitting up he fell sound asleep for an hour! He woke up and had no idea what time it was. (I asked if I could write that in the blog...he said sure.....we all know how unlike Bob that is!!!!) He was always known to go on very little sleep.
He had a fairly active weekend including some leaf clean up with 2 friends on Sunday. While blowing leaves he looked like the guy from "Ghostbusters"...a back pack leaf blower....he's taking his birthday money and buying himself his own back pack leaf blower! The lawn has laid heavy on his mind lately. When Autumn hits it's MAJOR leaf removal around here. No more Erv..he retired so each year is a new adventure. Thank you to Josh and Don for taking some time to help out....they were quite the team!
The girls and Chloe caught frogs yesterday...
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| Chloe a bit scared of the net! |
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| Then Chloe decided to ATTACK the net! and here is her new photo! Getting bigger everyday! |
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sept 26, 2010 Good Day
Bob had a pretty good day yesterday. He even ate a...I know healthy eaters brace yourselves for this one........a Hot Dog!!!! We were at the Apple Squeeze in Lenox..The Apple Squeeze is a fall festival that Lenox has each year......The PTO at the girls school has a VERY special "sub-committee"...a group of women that WORK THEIR YOU KNOW WHATS OFF to make the "Kids Park" at Lilic Park at the Apple Squeeze a success. That was accomplished again this year! They did SUCH an AWESOME job!!!! The weather complimented the day and it was yet another big success. Families really enjoy being at the kids park...pony rides, bouncy slide, obstacle course, face painting, live entertainment, socializing...great fun!
Bob came for a while toward the end with Chloe. Our girls wanted to see the ballerinas dance at 3:30. Then as the park was being "disassembled" the girls danced and danced with their friends....tirelessly! Where does that energy come from???? I do believe the cotton candy helped!
Tuesday is Bob's next Chemo.
More later...
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sept 22, 2010 Pain Patch
I spoke to Bob earlier..very briefly ..while I was at Haddad switching vehicles again....moving stuff from rental truck back to mini van...I do have the van back now.
He said he's in pain and he had just put a pain patch on. He explained that the radiation is hitting a tooth..."nerve"? ...and he is not able to eat. The doctors seemed confident once the patch kicked in that he'd be able to eat. Sounds awful. God bless him.
more later...
more later...
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sept 21, 2010 Life.....
Just spoke with Bob..he is at our Alford neighbors--Gregg and Jeff's--- apartment in Brooklyn - watching the sunset from their apartment. He said it was beautiful! Gregg and Jeff brought Bob's humidifier--which he needs to keep on him all night-- and all the food that I sent for him. It was too much for him to carry so it was very kind of them to haul it to NYC for him. Bob went after work to pick it up. His spirit sounded good ..... his voice is scratchy.
I haven't spoken to him much today so I don't much of what happened in his day. Today was the day he stays at Beth Israel to meet with doctors beginning at 11:30ish. His radiation appt is 7:45 then I think he waits for doctor appointments. By the time he was out of there I had my own schedule which wasn't exactly what I had planned! The saying is "Life is what is happening while we are busy making plans"! That has been so true lately!
On the Alford end of the Doerr family I was faced with an early morning challenge. My very new car---new for us anyway year 2007--misbehaved the minute I started it...at first I thought "well it is a cold morning" then I quickly thought "but wait It's not THAT COLD".......I heard a strange sound but didn't mention it to the girls.....after they got in and buckled Natalie asked "Mommy why is the car making that noise?" I -of course- had NO IDEA! However by Natalie hearing it this CONFIRMED that there was a strange noise that I was not imagining!!! Then there were the "beware lights".
The check engine light was blinking along with some other light. After I left the girls at school they towed it from my friend Joan's house. Our dear friend Al came to pick me up at Joan's --Thank you Al! Thank you Joan.......Joan even offered me her father in laws truck for the day that was parked in her driveway .....I laughed....I said if I needed it I'd be back!
Al brought me to the Toyota dealer so I didn't have to wait for the tow truck. After dealing with service they finally found me a "vehicle" to drive----I suggested just letting me drive the Audi that we just traded in on Thursday but Angie explained insurance doesn't permit that....so a driver took me to Pittsfield to rent a car.....well not quite a "car"...let's call it a 4 wheel drive TRUCK....See Joan..You must have known a truck was in my future!!!!!! (laughing) It's red which I like...it does have a back seat for the girls. Thankfully I have this vehicle...it was the ONLY rental car left at Enterprise. Grateful!
So...the car saga continues. ... Since I have the truck I decided I may have well put it to good use. I called my wonderful tenant Rod and he helped me load it full of brush from our brush pile at one of the houses in Pittsfield. I'll finish the rest of the pile tomorrow. I knew there must be a reason I needed the truck!
Then in the afternoon I went to the doctor for my cough/sore throat/head cold....he said he doesn't "think" i have pneumonia but can hear some happenings in my chest..no fever....gave me a few med's that I will fill in the a.m. If not better in a few days back to doc.
So that's it for now. A few things to do before bed.
Life (:
I haven't spoken to him much today so I don't much of what happened in his day. Today was the day he stays at Beth Israel to meet with doctors beginning at 11:30ish. His radiation appt is 7:45 then I think he waits for doctor appointments. By the time he was out of there I had my own schedule which wasn't exactly what I had planned! The saying is "Life is what is happening while we are busy making plans"! That has been so true lately!
On the Alford end of the Doerr family I was faced with an early morning challenge. My very new car---new for us anyway year 2007--misbehaved the minute I started it...at first I thought "well it is a cold morning" then I quickly thought "but wait It's not THAT COLD".......I heard a strange sound but didn't mention it to the girls.....after they got in and buckled Natalie asked "Mommy why is the car making that noise?" I -of course- had NO IDEA! However by Natalie hearing it this CONFIRMED that there was a strange noise that I was not imagining!!! Then there were the "beware lights".
The check engine light was blinking along with some other light. After I left the girls at school they towed it from my friend Joan's house. Our dear friend Al came to pick me up at Joan's --Thank you Al! Thank you Joan.......Joan even offered me her father in laws truck for the day that was parked in her driveway .....I laughed....I said if I needed it I'd be back!
Al brought me to the Toyota dealer so I didn't have to wait for the tow truck. After dealing with service they finally found me a "vehicle" to drive----I suggested just letting me drive the Audi that we just traded in on Thursday but Angie explained insurance doesn't permit that....so a driver took me to Pittsfield to rent a car.....well not quite a "car"...let's call it a 4 wheel drive TRUCK....See Joan..You must have known a truck was in my future!!!!!! (laughing) It's red which I like...it does have a back seat for the girls. Thankfully I have this vehicle...it was the ONLY rental car left at Enterprise. Grateful!
So...the car saga continues. ... Since I have the truck I decided I may have well put it to good use. I called my wonderful tenant Rod and he helped me load it full of brush from our brush pile at one of the houses in Pittsfield. I'll finish the rest of the pile tomorrow. I knew there must be a reason I needed the truck!
Then in the afternoon I went to the doctor for my cough/sore throat/head cold....he said he doesn't "think" i have pneumonia but can hear some happenings in my chest..no fever....gave me a few med's that I will fill in the a.m. If not better in a few days back to doc.
So that's it for now. A few things to do before bed.
Life (:
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sept 18, 2010 Tired
Quick update before bed.....
So far he's had 8 sessions of radiation. I think there are 27 more. He's already pretty tired. He says it sort feels like you are in a constant state of having a "flu". .... Chilled and tired. He slept most of the afternoon. Throat is pretty sore. Taking tylenol to relieve. Neck is feeling burned. It's not so noticeable yet.
Friends and I made lots of easy to eat and DELICIOUS food for him (and us) and that seems to be going over well. I made a big pot of soup that I'm freezing into small portions that he can bring to NY this week. He'll also bring Lisa's Bolognese Sauce for an easy meal some evening this week. ...that sauce is delicious!!!! We had some Friday night...so so so so yummy! I'd pack a bigger variety of food but he doesn't want to carry much. This week he has to bring a humidifier. He has to have it blowing on his face all night. He even had Laura's chocolate chip cookies after I encouraged him to soak them in milk to soften them--NOT because they were hard but because it's more difficult for him to swallow things that are not completely soft. Yummy cookies as well! I haven't made cookies in a while so they were a welcome treat. Laura makes them EXACTLY the way we prefer...not crunchy cookies but soft with lots of chocolate chips! I could have eaten the whole plate easily...and about 8 years ago I would have!!!
So far he hasn't lost any weight which the doctors are happy about.
He'll be going to Hope Lodge beginning on Oct 4.
The Doerr family is now the proud owner of a minivan. It's a 2007 Toyota Sienna XLE with ALL WHEEL DRIVE! We had to retire the Audi after about 6 years of service! I'm liking the space in the new car. It has about 38,000 miles. It came off a lease and the car was leased locally and serviced locally. It's in great shape. AWD was necessary with the driving that I do and the roads that I drive on! Can you believe I learned---when I researched my last tire purchase---that we purchased the tires in July 2009 and since then I drove 28,000 miles...of those miles I bet 80% are NOT highway miles....they are around the Berkshires miles. So glad to have AWD again.
Oh the used car salesmen stories I could share...YIKES....like the guy in Hartford who kept asking---in a joking way of course---"Where's your husband-I'd rather deal with him"....my friend Anne was there and witnessed the whole thing. ...my response was basically "Oh well he's not here or available so you're dealing with me"! It was a surreal experience. It was the day Bob was getting his first Chemo session. Let's just say that the car was not bought from that salesman !!! As Anne said --she was my "advisor" -- the vehicle he showed and the price he gave became strictly for a "price point" to compare other vehicles with.
I'm laughing as I say she was my advisor..I don't think she had ever bought a used car either....while I was driving she was reciting the "What You Should Know About Buying a Used Car" article that I printed off the internet before we left. She had her brother in law Danny on the phone for tips and feedback. He was at his office checking out the "book value" of the cars we were looking at and finding internet comparisons in and around Boston.
We even had one dealership give us WRONG DIRECTIONS to get there. The receptionist kept telling Anne to get to Hartford from the Mass Pike heading EAST we had to go NORTH on 91...Anne said ...no we need to go SOUTH on 91 to get to Hartford.....only to be met with the receptionist repeating NORTH on 91.....Finally-- diplomatically-- Anne suggested "let's pretend I"m on 91 WHICH EXIT DO WE GET OFF???????????" OY! What has happened to customer service? IMAGINE we DID make it to Hartford going SOUTH ON 91!!!!!!! NOT NORTH!!!
Thank heavens Anne was with me...we certainly shared some laughs...at times deep belly laughs!!!! While I did the test drive she would sit in the back opening cubbies, looking under seats...she found a WHOLE DEHYDRATED MEAL in one of the Hartford cars. I guess the "detail department" missed that! LMAO No, didn't buy that car either. I looked up at the sun roof of that minivan and said "I can see the sky" Anne's response...."You are supposed to see the sky it's a sun roof" and I said " NOOO I can really see the sky...there is a big hole in the molding around the sunroof !!!!" The salesmen of course assured us that they'd fix that little issue. I can only imagine the issues that a faulty sun/moon roof would create! Oh there are more stories but it's my bedtime. I'm laughing thinking about that day!
I hope this car lasts a REALLY LONG TIME so we don't have to go down that avenue again!
Signing off. I've managed to catch myself a heck of a cold and I need to go to sleep. But first I"m having some of Joan's Matzo Ball Soup! (: I promise I'll save some for Bob and girls but I can't resist. (:
While I"m thinking of it I'll have a cookie too!
Good night.
So far he's had 8 sessions of radiation. I think there are 27 more. He's already pretty tired. He says it sort feels like you are in a constant state of having a "flu". .... Chilled and tired. He slept most of the afternoon. Throat is pretty sore. Taking tylenol to relieve. Neck is feeling burned. It's not so noticeable yet.
Friends and I made lots of easy to eat and DELICIOUS food for him (and us) and that seems to be going over well. I made a big pot of soup that I'm freezing into small portions that he can bring to NY this week. He'll also bring Lisa's Bolognese Sauce for an easy meal some evening this week. ...that sauce is delicious!!!! We had some Friday night...so so so so yummy! I'd pack a bigger variety of food but he doesn't want to carry much. This week he has to bring a humidifier. He has to have it blowing on his face all night. He even had Laura's chocolate chip cookies after I encouraged him to soak them in milk to soften them--NOT because they were hard but because it's more difficult for him to swallow things that are not completely soft. Yummy cookies as well! I haven't made cookies in a while so they were a welcome treat. Laura makes them EXACTLY the way we prefer...not crunchy cookies but soft with lots of chocolate chips! I could have eaten the whole plate easily...and about 8 years ago I would have!!!
So far he hasn't lost any weight which the doctors are happy about.
He'll be going to Hope Lodge beginning on Oct 4.
The Doerr family is now the proud owner of a minivan. It's a 2007 Toyota Sienna XLE with ALL WHEEL DRIVE! We had to retire the Audi after about 6 years of service! I'm liking the space in the new car. It has about 38,000 miles. It came off a lease and the car was leased locally and serviced locally. It's in great shape. AWD was necessary with the driving that I do and the roads that I drive on! Can you believe I learned---when I researched my last tire purchase---that we purchased the tires in July 2009 and since then I drove 28,000 miles...of those miles I bet 80% are NOT highway miles....they are around the Berkshires miles. So glad to have AWD again.
Oh the used car salesmen stories I could share...YIKES....like the guy in Hartford who kept asking---in a joking way of course---"Where's your husband-I'd rather deal with him"....my friend Anne was there and witnessed the whole thing. ...my response was basically "Oh well he's not here or available so you're dealing with me"! It was a surreal experience. It was the day Bob was getting his first Chemo session. Let's just say that the car was not bought from that salesman !!! As Anne said --she was my "advisor" -- the vehicle he showed and the price he gave became strictly for a "price point" to compare other vehicles with.
I'm laughing as I say she was my advisor..I don't think she had ever bought a used car either....while I was driving she was reciting the "What You Should Know About Buying a Used Car" article that I printed off the internet before we left. She had her brother in law Danny on the phone for tips and feedback. He was at his office checking out the "book value" of the cars we were looking at and finding internet comparisons in and around Boston.
We even had one dealership give us WRONG DIRECTIONS to get there. The receptionist kept telling Anne to get to Hartford from the Mass Pike heading EAST we had to go NORTH on 91...Anne said ...no we need to go SOUTH on 91 to get to Hartford.....only to be met with the receptionist repeating NORTH on 91.....Finally-- diplomatically-- Anne suggested "let's pretend I"m on 91 WHICH EXIT DO WE GET OFF???????????" OY! What has happened to customer service? IMAGINE we DID make it to Hartford going SOUTH ON 91!!!!!!! NOT NORTH!!!
Thank heavens Anne was with me...we certainly shared some laughs...at times deep belly laughs!!!! While I did the test drive she would sit in the back opening cubbies, looking under seats...she found a WHOLE DEHYDRATED MEAL in one of the Hartford cars. I guess the "detail department" missed that! LMAO No, didn't buy that car either. I looked up at the sun roof of that minivan and said "I can see the sky" Anne's response...."You are supposed to see the sky it's a sun roof" and I said " NOOO I can really see the sky...there is a big hole in the molding around the sunroof !!!!" The salesmen of course assured us that they'd fix that little issue. I can only imagine the issues that a faulty sun/moon roof would create! Oh there are more stories but it's my bedtime. I'm laughing thinking about that day!
I hope this car lasts a REALLY LONG TIME so we don't have to go down that avenue again!
Signing off. I've managed to catch myself a heck of a cold and I need to go to sleep. But first I"m having some of Joan's Matzo Ball Soup! (: I promise I'll save some for Bob and girls but I can't resist. (:
While I"m thinking of it I'll have a cookie too!
Good night.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sept 15, 2010 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Bob! We hope you have something nice happen today ;) I know something he doesn't!
He had a great dinner last night at an upscale Italian restaurant in NYC with his good friend Tom. He said the food was delicious. He had Sea Bass.
The girls and I will call and sing this morning and we are definitely having ice cream cake this weekend!
Puppy update...Last night Chloe slept on the floor next to me in a laundry basket (pink of course) lined with a VERY soft blanket...she slept from 10 and only got up once to "do her business" then I put her back in the basket. She wanted to get up and play and I kept handing her chew toys and didn't react to her antics much and she went back to sleep. This time she slept until 6 am Horray Chloe!
Now off to encourage girls to do continue through the "morning routine' (:
Have a great day everyone!
He had a great dinner last night at an upscale Italian restaurant in NYC with his good friend Tom. He said the food was delicious. He had Sea Bass.
The girls and I will call and sing this morning and we are definitely having ice cream cake this weekend!
Puppy update...Last night Chloe slept on the floor next to me in a laundry basket (pink of course) lined with a VERY soft blanket...she slept from 10 and only got up once to "do her business" then I put her back in the basket. She wanted to get up and play and I kept handing her chew toys and didn't react to her antics much and she went back to sleep. This time she slept until 6 am Horray Chloe!
Now off to encourage girls to do continue through the "morning routine' (:
Have a great day everyone!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sept 14, 2010 Tumor Responding
Hello all,
I just sat down to do an update--which is now going to be cut short--because I just noticed in the back yard that our screened "bug" house is about to fly away like a kite. (:
So quickly....I just spoke with Bob. He had a big morning with radiation at 7:45 followed by 2 doctor appointments starting around 11:30. Dr. Harrison says the tumor is responding...blood work came back good...and he can eat fruits and veges raw!! YEAH!
Chloe is doing well. She is learning her name. That was part of the homework from puppy kindergarten. She also does very well "doing her business" OUTSIDE! As long as I'm keeping track of taking her out every 1 1/2 hours she does great!
Bob's birthday is tomorrow....we'll have ICE CREAM this weekend!
That's all for now....
I just sat down to do an update--which is now going to be cut short--because I just noticed in the back yard that our screened "bug" house is about to fly away like a kite. (:
So quickly....I just spoke with Bob. He had a big morning with radiation at 7:45 followed by 2 doctor appointments starting around 11:30. Dr. Harrison says the tumor is responding...blood work came back good...and he can eat fruits and veges raw!! YEAH!
Chloe is doing well. She is learning her name. That was part of the homework from puppy kindergarten. She also does very well "doing her business" OUTSIDE! As long as I'm keeping track of taking her out every 1 1/2 hours she does great!
Bob's birthday is tomorrow....we'll have ICE CREAM this weekend!
That's all for now....
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Sept. 10,2010 Welcome Chloe
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| Meet Chloe... |
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| She already likes the pond |
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| She fell asleep during her vet visit after her arrival. She had a 5+ hour car ride then off to the vet. She was exhausted! |
We are having a lot of fun with her. She had puppy kindergarten at 9 am this morning and we all went to the class. We have SO MUCH to learn......first and foremost there is not much time to write or do anything.....There is a baby in the house!!!! (laughing) She is a wonderful spirit for all of us to watch and love. Puppies are SO FUNNY! We laugh and laugh at the situations she gets into.
Bob is doing OK. He doesn't feel himself but his spirit seems to be good. I can tell he's "off"...sort of spacey. I can say-- for sure --that he's NOT happy with the fact he can't eat "raw vege's"...He loves tomatoes and he can't eat them..something about bacteria and thin skinned fruits and veges. Everything has to be cooked. Now I'm wondering if I can make the smoothies I usually make because they often have thin skinned fruit added. It's all a learning process.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Sept 9, 2010 First Chemo Complete
Bob was released from the hospital today around noon. He had his first chemo treatment along with radiation yesterday and today. He spent the night in the hospital while receiving the chemo. He says he is doing well. He was on his way to work this afternoon.
I didn't get to talk to him long because he was on his way to lunch and he was VERY hungry!
Tomorrow the Doerr Family has a VERY BIG DAY! It is a surprise for most...especially the girls...THEY KNOW NOTHING....and they will be very surprised! Stay tuned....... (:
I didn't get to talk to him long because he was on his way to lunch and he was VERY hungry!
Tomorrow the Doerr Family has a VERY BIG DAY! It is a surprise for most...especially the girls...THEY KNOW NOTHING....and they will be very surprised! Stay tuned....... (:
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Sept 7, 2010 Dry Run
Just heard from Bob. Sounds as though his first treatment will be tomorrow. Radiation in the morning and Chemo in the afternoon then overnight in hospital. Today was the swallowing evaluation and he passed that----"normal"------and he had the radiation "dry run" today.
More tomorrow....
More tomorrow....
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Sept 5, 2010 School Began and Other News
Just a quick update...School has begun and our school "routine" is being established. My mom and I worked hard last week on getting some painting started that needs to be addressed before cold weather sets in....which I can feel happening! Bob and I will do some more painting today and tomorrow. We had our annual family photo done yesterday at our house. It was a nice day for a photo...windy but nice. Sandy (photographer/friend) said no worry about the wind...She likes drama in photos! I can't wait to see the photos. It's not easy getting 4 people with "normal"looks....and we almost did the guinea pigs with us...thank goodness we didn't have them to focus on!
Bob is preparing for the treatments to begin.
Natalie will be having an operation on her eye within then next couple months. She was born with a spot on her eye that at birth was red and had a blood vessel from the spot to the side of her eye. It looked like a small broken blood vessel/capillary. At each well child appointment I would bring it to the attention of the Pediatrician and they always said it would "absorb" and disappear. When she was 2 I noticed it turned an opaque color and was a different shape. There is a very clear blood vessel feeding this spot. She had a visit with an Ophthalmologist in Great Barrington who said her eyesight was fine and the spot was nothing to be concerned about. Shortly after that visit the girls started with a new Pediatrician (insurance reasons) and Dr. Dallenbach suggested having it checked by a Pediatric Ophthalmologist.
When she was about 3 years old we went to a Ped Ophthalmologist in Albany who took measurements and agreed her eyesight was fine. She asked that we come every 6 months to measure it and photograph it which we have done. It has been obvious to me that it was growing..however Natalie is also growing. The doc in Albany has confirmed over the past 2 years that it has grown and changed shape. At the last appointment in June Dr. Zobel-Ratner suggested continuing to watch and measure the spot every 6 months. At that point we felt it best to have a 2nd opinion. I don't mind watching it however with the changing and growing it's clearly doing we felt it best to see someone else for another opinion.
Our neighbor and dear friend Julianne got a name from her NY eye doctor of a well known Pediatric Ophthalmologist in NYC. That appointment was last Monday at 8 am. We went to NYC Sunday and spent the night. After examining Natalie's eye Dr. Wang suggested taking the spot off. It is considered a mole/freckle. He confirmed that her eyesight is NOT being affected (yeah!) and also confirmed my concern that the spot grew again since June. (Ugh!) He said the fact that Natalie is growing is insignificant because most of her "eye growth" is done by age 4. Now it's basically just the spot growing and changing. He says it's a benign growth but it's best to take it out because it will continue to grow and change. It seems to be growing pretty quickly in my opinion.
We will be meeting with surgeon from Dr. Wangs office to talk about the surgery.
So that's the news on this end.
Oh and lets add CAR ISSUES ....the car is yet another story... however... not getting specific with the series of car repairs lately ....I can simply say it's nearing the end of it's life providing transportation for the Doerr household......I have REALLY liked that car...it's a solid tank in the snow........with all that said I need to say I feel MINIMAL stress from this car debacle because we have been blessed. There is a wonderful couple/family that are our friends and neighbors that have let us use their minivan as long as we need. ...I'm SO grateful! That is making this issue SO MUCH easier.
We may decide this family needs a minivan next..I'm liking the space in there!
That's all for now!
Bob is preparing for the treatments to begin.
Natalie will be having an operation on her eye within then next couple months. She was born with a spot on her eye that at birth was red and had a blood vessel from the spot to the side of her eye. It looked like a small broken blood vessel/capillary. At each well child appointment I would bring it to the attention of the Pediatrician and they always said it would "absorb" and disappear. When she was 2 I noticed it turned an opaque color and was a different shape. There is a very clear blood vessel feeding this spot. She had a visit with an Ophthalmologist in Great Barrington who said her eyesight was fine and the spot was nothing to be concerned about. Shortly after that visit the girls started with a new Pediatrician (insurance reasons) and Dr. Dallenbach suggested having it checked by a Pediatric Ophthalmologist.
When she was about 3 years old we went to a Ped Ophthalmologist in Albany who took measurements and agreed her eyesight was fine. She asked that we come every 6 months to measure it and photograph it which we have done. It has been obvious to me that it was growing..however Natalie is also growing. The doc in Albany has confirmed over the past 2 years that it has grown and changed shape. At the last appointment in June Dr. Zobel-Ratner suggested continuing to watch and measure the spot every 6 months. At that point we felt it best to have a 2nd opinion. I don't mind watching it however with the changing and growing it's clearly doing we felt it best to see someone else for another opinion.
Our neighbor and dear friend Julianne got a name from her NY eye doctor of a well known Pediatric Ophthalmologist in NYC. That appointment was last Monday at 8 am. We went to NYC Sunday and spent the night. After examining Natalie's eye Dr. Wang suggested taking the spot off. It is considered a mole/freckle. He confirmed that her eyesight is NOT being affected (yeah!) and also confirmed my concern that the spot grew again since June. (Ugh!) He said the fact that Natalie is growing is insignificant because most of her "eye growth" is done by age 4. Now it's basically just the spot growing and changing. He says it's a benign growth but it's best to take it out because it will continue to grow and change. It seems to be growing pretty quickly in my opinion.
We will be meeting with surgeon from Dr. Wangs office to talk about the surgery.
So that's the news on this end.
Oh and lets add CAR ISSUES ....the car is yet another story... however... not getting specific with the series of car repairs lately ....I can simply say it's nearing the end of it's life providing transportation for the Doerr household......I have REALLY liked that car...it's a solid tank in the snow........with all that said I need to say I feel MINIMAL stress from this car debacle because we have been blessed. There is a wonderful couple/family that are our friends and neighbors that have let us use their minivan as long as we need. ...I'm SO grateful! That is making this issue SO MUCH easier.
We may decide this family needs a minivan next..I'm liking the space in there!
That's all for now!
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