Radiation is OVER!!!

 Well friends and family, radiation is over!!! Yee haw!  Dad finished up his last proton therapy treatment on Thursday (sorry I am just now posting, but I do have a life... yeah, it's true).  I nagged my parents enough that they actually brought the camera and took pictures on the last day.  So, for your enjoyment, these are the pictures from the last day of Bill's radiation.

 This is the fancy certificate Dad got for finishing up radiation.  I don't really think of radiation as some sort of exciting celebration but I suppose the completion of a treatment that intrudes on your daily life so much is certainly something to celebrate.  Dad had to go for radiation treatments every day Monday through Friday.  The treatment itself only takes about ten minutes but it is a big chunk out of his day as he has to drive all the way down to MD Anderson and back plus whatever lines he has to wait in beforehand.  Some have asked why he has to go down to the main MD Anderson for the radiation and it is because of the specific type of treatment he was getting (proton therapy).  Plus, it's the best center for it and when you have cancer, you want the best.

 Billy boy ringing the gong!  Looks like he is being kind of timid as he is hitting it.  If it were me, I would be all into it.  I would use large gestures, putting my whole body into it and slam that gong so hard that the people in the next building over would hear it.  But, that's me and that's why my children are sure to become incredibly embarrassed of me.  Soon.

 Here is the radiation "team".  Apparently the radiation team consists of several girls in their 20's... must be part of the healing process.  Ha!  Seriously though, we are grateful to these ladies and the incredibly knowledgeable docs who picked, what we believe to be, the correct course of treatment.

These next two pictures are of my dad falling asleep while waiting....

 In the email my mom sent with these pictures she said she wasn't sure if I would want to include these... what is she talking about?  OF COURSE I DO!  Though I am slightly disappointed that we can't see drool coming out his mouth or that he didn't fall off that chair, but I am just one of those people who thinks that would have been funny.  It was nice to see these pictures as I was curious as to what the rooms looked like.  However, they are the same doctors waiting rooms that I have to wait in.  You'd think with all the money doctors are making these days that they would come up with some happier wall colors. 

Since radiation has been done....  Dad has been so happy.  He has snapped out of his "cancer 'tude" as mom and I have called it... it was just him being tired and uncomfortable all the time and being short with us.  He probably wouldn't agree but we are glad it has passed.  He can eat!!  It's coming back slowly, he hasn't eaten a whole cow yet or anything but it's coming back.  At church today he actually said he was hungry.  I haven't heard that in a long time so that was a most excellent sign.

In Dad's quest to "GET BUFF", he has been going to the gym.  He went last week for the first time in awhile and attended a barbell strength class.  My mom and I go to that class often in our own efforts to get lean and mean, but dad had never been.  Mom took him and his scrawny little self (he has lost some serious muscle mass.  I had never seen his legs that small.  Sadly, I think they were smaller than mine.  I told Dad that it looks like his head on my Uncle Rob's body).  Anyway, he lasted about fifteen minutes before he left the class.  His endurance just isn't really up there yet.  He'll get there though.  I think that for the first time back he did alright.  There was a guy who was teaching the class and I guess he gave dad a couple head nods of encouragement before Dad walked out.  I told Dad he should start wearing a shirt that says, "I have cancer so everything I can do is amazing".  I might have to find that instructor and tell him myself.. you know, defend my dad's manhood or something. :)  I keep telling him that if I had cancer, I would play it up as much as possible.  I wouldn't be able to do anything for myself as I would just use cancer as my excuse.  I'm a lot lazier than him though.

I am questioning whether or not to report the following as it embarrasses my mom and I quite a bit but I suppose for the sake of revealing how my dad is doing, I ought to share.  Yesterday my mom, my dad and myself went to the gym to play racquetball.  Mom and I play at least once a week together so we hold our own.  Well, the very first game dad spanked us.  I mean, by quite a bit.  We thought surely he would sit the next game out to recuperate, but he said he was good to go.  Second game, I won, but BARELY.  I was at game point for almost a half hour.  Finally I think I wore Dad down to the point where he was just out of gas.

I think that's what's going to happen... Slowly he will start building up that strength and endurance and then hopefully he will be as close to 100% as we can get him before surgery.  Even though mom and I were embarrassed that 'cancer boy' beat us... we sure were having fun playing racquetball with Dad again.  And now we will actually start playing and stop letting him win!!!

Chemo is OVER!

It has come to my attention... thanks to my aunts... that while most have enjoyed the added pictures to the blog, some of you might actually be wondering how DAD is doing.  Well, he is doing great!!  Chemo is over, port is out and he is finally free of the fanny--both pack and booty.  There really wasn't much to say about it.  It's kind of been the 'same old, same old' with getting chemo, feeling lowsy and feeling really tired.  

Yesterday the doctors took the pack back for the last time--I was saddened that he didn't get to keep it but apparently it is specially designed for a certain pump and wouldn't be good for much else.  They also took out the central line.  This was causing Dad some discomfort as it went up his arm, he could feel it right by his throat (which made eating even more uncomfortable) and down his chest.  There is something about having a foreign object in you that your body just doesn't like.  The port area was especially uncomfortable because he had broken out in some sort of a rash due to the adhesive or adhesive ointment that they used.  

Dad has certainly lost some weight since this whole thing began and before he started chemo he was feeling like his pounds lost were pretty ideal.  However, with chemo and feeling nauseous and not keeping too much food down, he did lose more.  He's mostly frustrated by his muscle loss.  Sooo....

So here is the plan.  After a couple more days of radiation Dad plans to hit the gym.  Hopefully this works out.  Like all of us, we all plan to hit the gym and pay the ridiculous gym prices to attain bodies like greek gods, but it sadly never comes to fruition.  But, he should be able to gain back some muscle tone.   This will help his body be stronger for surgery which is scheduled for May 13th.

Dad also hopes to gain back some L-Bs (pounds) by being able to eat more.  As of yesterday and today, he has been able to eat quite a bit more already and that is still with some left over chemo working its way through his system and radiation still going on.  So, this is looking very promising.

Also, the parents are each planning a mini trip here and there.  I'm glad that they will be able to get away for a little time.  I'm on dog duty--as always-- so I am going nowhere... just so you know.

As I mentioned before, surgery is schedule for mid May.  When they went over their appointments at MD Anderson, they looked the months over and have absolutely ZERO appointments in April!!  That is so awesome.  Perhaps a little normalcy.  That will be oh so nice.  This will also include a slow in blogging unless I decide to post how proud I am that I am beating my dad at racquetball... it doesn't happen often so I may have to take advantage of this post chemo/radiation while I can.  Yes, I am totally one of those people that will relish in my win even though I am beating some 52-year-old with cancer. 

I am anxious to see how Dad will feel after radiation.  When that finishes up, I will have to post about how he is feeling.  Since he has done the chemo and radiation together it's been hard to distinguish what side effects are from which treatment.  We are almost done with this part of treatment!!

Countdown to the end of chemo!!! 1 days left

30 Years ago next month Dad became a dad---woah, that's a long time.  We love him.  He's been a good dad; Nay, a great one.  We are lucky kids... you know, for the most part.  There was the frequent adolescent embarrassment of our parents, Dad's sense of humor around our friends and his fashion over the years. :)

It was my assumption that when I started this blog that I would try my best to keep my siblings private.  After all, they usually prefer to not associate themselves with all of my weirdness.  I am usually embarrassing to them.  If I post something about them, they will have to claim me as theirs and I am not sure they are up for that not knowing what I will expose on this blog.  So, yesterday, when mom asked why I hadn't included any pictures of the other kids, I thought that this was just the post to make it happen.  So, Kim, Pat and Evan... if you are embarrassed by me in this post... it's mom's fault.

Ah, it all started here.  The birth of Kimberly... (30 next month... have I mentioned that yet?)-- Anyway, it's gotta be said that my parentals look pretty dang good in this picture--mom especially-- after just having their first child.  For some reason they gained a lot less weight for their first baby than Dan and I did.  Kim tells me that those first two years were the happiest of her life... why would that be?

Two years later came moi-Erin-.  I was cute and small once, it's true.  I can't help but notice that my dad is clutching  that dog so lovingly and tenderly.  He's even leaning toward the dog.  Hmf.  Well, at least I am looking cute and I must have given my parents lots of sleepless nights because the hair situation for my dad sure did change from this picture to the next...

My brother Pat was born in 1987.  That face is still totally him.... I am speaking of both my brother and my dad when I say that.  Nice Navy duds!  By number three, you get kind of tired of holding those babies and just park them wherever they'll fit I guess.

Here is Dad holding Evan for his first hair cut.  Evan is the fourth child, so you know that means that there are practically zero baby pictures of him and even less of just he and my dad.  But don't feel too sorry for him.  Now there are five bazillion pictures of Evan and hardly any of the rest of us. 

Now some more recent photos:

Dad and Evan on a cruise... like I said, don't feel bad for Evan... they've made up for the lack of baby pictures.  My parents have taken Evan on cruises and international vacations.  They've never taken me on a cruise and I've driven through Canada on my way to Michigan.  I know, I am a total globetrotter.  (this picture totally became about me, didn't it?)

Pat and Dad at Medieval Times.

Me and Dad.  I know, most of you are wondering if I look normal.  Most of the time, no.  As mentioned before, I am sort of an annoyer so it's always funny to me how my dad puts up with it.  He's putting up with it in this picture.

Kim and Dad.  Proud Papa in this picture!  This is Kim receiving her Masters degree.

I won't go on and on, but just so you know... it's good to have a dad like ours.

Chemo and pick line being removed Friday afternoon!  I will give an update about that tomorrow!

Countdown to the end of chemo!!! 2 days left

 My dad served in the Navy for 22 years.  He is retired--11 or 12 years ago now.  He joined after high school and continues to try to convince me that the smartest people are in the Navy branch of the military.  I was almost believing him until that Navy reality show came on and now I'm not so sure.  Seriously though, I am really glad that my dad joined the military.  It really has shaped him, our family and each of us as individuals and given us a real sense of patriotism.  Hardly a day goes by that I don't personally think about how fortunate I am to live in this country and how grateful I am for the freedom it affords me and my family.  I think all that comes from my dad's service.

This is the beginning (notice we are still in black and white...seriously?).  1976.  Dad's initiation and the end to his stylish coif of hair.  Shortly after that it was buzzed for boot camp.  I can tell by how he is standing and looking that he is pretty excited about his joining and I am actually feeling proud of him for that very moment just looking at this picture.  Joining the military is a pretty big deal and I feel fortunate that he (and my mom) made that choice.

Ah, a man in a uniform... even if it is my dad, he isn't such an unfortunate looking fellow in this picture.  Now I am not meaning to be too prideful here, but I really am proud of my dad and hope I can instill my children the values that were instilled in each of us kids because of my dad's service in the military. My dad's kind of a big deal you know--- well to me at least.

When I was 8, my mom, my sister and I were able to board the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and cruise with it from Bremerton, WA to California.  Pretty awesome and certainly a once in a life opportunity.  I have a horrid memory, but I remember a few things vividly:

• My dad was an officer at the time so we were able to dine in the officer's dining room.  The other levels of people either got the cafeteria style or fast food looking style.  I found that interesting, but paid little attention as I downed at least 10 gallons of chocolate milk only served in the officer's dining room.  Fondest memory of this trip.
• The "dog machine".  That's what they called the ice cream machine aboard.
• My sister crushing on all the young military guys whose responsibility it was to watch us
• Going under the Bay bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge
• Getting lost.  I found someone to help me but he made me wait until he finished his rounds before returning me.  It was like an hour and at 8 that is an eternity.  This ship was huge, you would have gotten lost too.
• A lot of ladders and uncomfortable bunk beds

Thanks for serving in the military Dad!  Ya done good!

Countdown to the end of chemo!!! 3 days left

I'm calling the following pictures "The Glory Days" as these are all pictures of my dad (and my mom) during the high school years.  Something you ought to notice in these pictures is how my dad has a thick head of hair--not that you wouldn't notice it... it was the 70's.  His hair is exactly like my brother Evan's hair so lots (or little) for Evan to look forward to.  Well, probably not as my mom's dad still has his locks and Dad's hair was already in recession by the time he was Evan's age.

Football!!!  Here's dad doing what he loved best in high school---you know, when he wasn't making out in photo booths with my mom.  My dad has one grandson (mine) and another on the way (my sisters') and so I think more football could be in the future.  Sometimes on Turkey Day my dad will go out and play in the morning with people from church.  He goes all out and practically kills himself (along with the other middle aged men who attend) just to keep up with all the youngins.  It's fun to hear stories of my dad playing.  He has an old black and white jersey that all of us kids have worn around the house at some point and it always makes me smile when he wears it.  He wore it Friday morning when I went over for a pancake breakfast.

Alright, alright... here is a picture of moi sporting the jersey (and some pretty sweet roller skates).  This picture is kind of blurry but I can already tell the jersey was a lot less "holy" back then.

PROM!  My parents met each other in second grade.  It's a little fuzzy to us kids when they actually started dating or if they ever dated anyone else.  My dad said that I should definitely include this prom picture because he said, "Your mom was looking pretty hot"--egh, ugh... sorry, I threw up a little in my mouth right then.  Anyway, my dad is wearing a pink suit.  Even back then I can't imagine that was the best fashion direction to go.  I mean, my mom looks timeless, but my dad... *sigh*.  That whole ensemble is screaming for me to make fun of him.  The ruffles, that tie, and.... is that a ring on his left ring finger!?  Woah, I think it is.  If that is a promise ring I might have to be revived after dying from laughter.  Well, maybe it's just a school ring or something, but the left finger is kind of suspicious.  Anyway, it's probably good we can't see his feet because I can only imagine what shoes were worn to match this pink suit.

Ah, Senior picture.  For me, I look at this and see how very much my brothers look like my dad.  Each of them took different characteristics from my dad but I can see both of them in this picture.  Also, I know that the hair is real in this picture--all of it, sideburns and eyebrows included--but seriously, it looks a little like a toupee.  Well, if I can look past all that and that ruffle shirt, I can see that my dad is a pretty handsome guy.  In fact, I don't think he has changed much at all.  He still pretty much looks like this to us.

3 days left!  Hallelujah!!

Last Week of Chemo

When we first started this thing  and decided on treatment, we were slightly disappointed because Dad didn't get into the new course of treatment for the study he is in that we had hoped he would.  (The new course of treatment would have meant 6 weeks chemo, 6 weeks off, 6 weeks chemo/rad, 6 weeks off and then surgery.  The traditional method, which is what he ended up taking is the same except for that first 6 weeks of chemo alone.)  Like I said we were a little disappointed because they'd said that the odds were slightly better with this new treatment.  However, NOW we (especially Dad!) couldn't be happier that we went ahead with the traditional course!

 

Here is dad receiving his last in-hospital dose of chemo this past Monday (the day he also receives the happy drugs I mentioned before).   I don't know if this picture was set up or not... I mean, maybe he actually does read while he is there, but all I know is that I get a text every Monday from my parents saying "Don't call, we are taking our chemo nap now and don't want you calling us".  I see how it is.

Chemotherapy is a tough thing to go through.  It wears you down.  You are basically pumping poison through your body in hopes that it will kill the cancer.  It makes you tired and sick.  This coupled along with Dad's particular type of cancer where he has troubles keeping food down certainly has left him eager to finish up with this chemo stuff, pronto!  He's had some good days and some not so fun ones as well, this was all expected, but he certainly doesn't think he would have handled a second course of chemo as gracefully as he did this one!

Turns out, the nurse recently mentioned, that the results from the newer treatment course weren't showing much of a difference.  I tell ya, sometimes you don't understand why things turn out one way, but eventually you come to realize that it was for the best after all.  Thinking that maybe the big guy upstairs might know what he's doing.

One of the parts of chemo that was pretty inconvenient was carrying around the chemo pack... aka the fanny pack.  He has to wear it all the time... sleeping, in the shower... it is annoying.  My mom has to wrap it up while he showers and then he has to hang it on the bedside when he sleeps.  Not to mention the discomfort of the port that he has in his arm.  He's had an allergic reaction to the tape or gel they used and so I think the area is kind of sensitive. 

I gotta say, not every man could rock the fanny like this.  Lookin' good pops.  Lookin good.  I think he might even be bringing it back, in fact, in some places around the world the fanny is quite popular.  You know, like the airport and the 80's.

Countdown to the end of chemo!!! 4 days left

Hope you don't mind a compilation of photo booth pictures... there are just SO many.  My dad LOVES taking pictures of himself and I think that photo booth pictures qualify as that so we have an outrageous number of them in our family pictures.

I'm calling these oldies, "Bill & Mo: The Dating Years"







And people, they are just as nauseating today as it clearly must have been back then.

Bring on the comments!

Dad and I (and the rest of the fam) LOVE getting your comments.  It makes the blog worth keeping up and certainly boosts all of our spirits... SO- KEEP THOSE COMMENTS COMING!! 

Don't be shy, we aren't.  Please leave comments as often as you like... you have no idea how much they mean to us!

Enjoy the picture of Dad and I.  It was taken last year on a reunion trip to Florida.  As cool as it would NOT be for my dad to casually wear a skull and crossbones do-rag... we were actually on a pirate ship.  I know, doesn't really make it better but perhaps a little more understandable.

The Proton Lab

 Last week the whole family accompanied my dad to the proton lab while he had his radiation done.  "Proton Lab"-- that really sounds high tech and kind cool, doesn't it?  I told Dad that and he agreed that the whole process is kind of cool (perhaps not the need for it or the actual treatment of it, but the technology behind it).  Anyway, the Proton Lab, pardon while I adjust my spectacles and pocket protector, is just a short distance from the main MD Anderson Center.  Usually it takes only about 10 minutes for Dad to get in, zapped and out but there was a bit of a backup that day so we made ourselves busy.  I decided the blog needed visuals, so I started snapping pictures...

 Here is a view of the lobby area... that sign actually reads, "Making Cancer History"... I guess from the angle I took the picture it looks more like "Making Cancer".  I thought it was funny, though I think my dad thought it was in poor taste.  Whatever.

 Here is a view looking down under the sign.  Dad was waiting in one of those white chairs a few minutes earlier but as I took this picture he was actually in receiving his radiation.  Excuse the picture quality as these were taken with my phone.  Also, pardon the reflection of my sneakers in the glass.  All of these imperfections bring added excitement to our little tour, I'm sure.

 This was our saving grace as they had a couple rooms off the lobby that are set up as little playrooms.  It kept the kids busy.  At one point I had a sick thought of, "Nice to know, just in case one of us...", but I stopped myself... my brain works strangely and it was just my way of mentally noting a place where the kids can play.  I do the same thing when I drive by a nice park or a pool or playground.  Habit.  It's my prayer that we won't visit this play area again, but it was a bonus for us as we had to spend some time there that day.

 Here is a model of the facility.  I'm not sure what all those rooms are for... my tour was limited by the security guard who kept giving me the evil eye.

 Here is a closeup of what I believe are the radiations machines.  I'm pretty sure anyway... I should have asked Dad to be sure that I'm not pointing out over sized dumpsters or something.  I tried to look it up on good ol' wikipedia, but it looked different on there.  Anyways, what I think you are looking at are the machines used to administer the proton therapy/radiation.  It really is lasers that align several ways and then zap the tumor.  Dad said he's pretty sure he can feel it happening, but I've also heard others say they feel nothing and also some say that it's painful. 

As a side note, I am strangely looking forward to seeing the inside of MD Anderson... it is quite the sprawling center from the outside and looks very modern and high tech (all this I assume from the outside brick structure:)).  As I will be giving myself the grand tour come May (operation time), be looking for that post.

Countdown to the end of chemo!!! 5 days left

Since this is the last week of chemo- hoo rah!- I've decided to post pictures of my dad from the past in celebration.  Radiation lasts for an extra few days after chemo, but chemo is gross stuff.  It has made Dad feel like crap so I am happy to celebrate the end of this part of treatment with photos...

An oldie but a goody!  I'd say we are looking at a picture circa 1959.  My dad is the youngest boy in the picture along with his older brothers and their dad. I've picked this picture to share for several reasons: 

• 1- It not only will prove to embarrass my dad but my uncles as well, so it has triple effectiveness.  
• 2- Before 2 years ago, I literally had never seen a picture of my dad under the age of 16.  I don't understand why this is, but up until this point I never believed my dad was a child.  To me, he was born my dad.  Now I have proof that he existed and grew up like the rest of us.
• 3- It's in black and white folks.  He's THAT old.
• 4- Also, look at that swimming pool!?!  For real, there is no way those three boys and their dad fit into that pool sitting down.  It makes me think about the size of that pool, the quality of it but more so about those swimmers.  No, not just the swimmers, but those swimsuits!!  (I'm chuckling about those suits right this second)
• 5-Because it has my grandpa in it.  I never knew my grandpa Mc very well as he died when I was 8, but I get to hear stories about him a lot.  When I think of the person I am, I think that I am very much who I am because of my parents, which in turns makes me think that my dad is probably a good portion of who he is because of my grandpa. 

It must be those "happy drugs"....

Every Monday at chemo, MDA gives dad "happy drugs".  Well, at least that is what we are calling them.  Really, it's some sort of anti-nausea drug that they give him through his port, but it makes him feel pretty good.  Last night as we were practicing for our church lip sync competition (which we are going to rock), Dad seemed to have boundless energy!  In fact we were all getting pretty tired during our card game later in the evening but Dad was still rarin' to go.  I gotta say... he was kinda like this...

Yeah, I got a hold of all the family pictures...I'm actually the backup in case my parents computer crashes again (it's happened 2 or 3 times now already) so they can still have all their pictures.   Of course, this makes them mine too.  Funny thing is even though I'm moved out with a family and a home of my own, I still feel like I have claim to all of my mom and dad's things.  I think that's part of being a kid... and a mooch like me. Anyway, I've been feeling like this blog needs a few more pictures... this one will do.  Bill (Dad) circa 1976.

Weeding Service from last week

A couple of weeks ago my mom mentioned to me that she didn't know when she would be able to weed her backyard before her mulch would be delivered the next weekend.  I could tell she was a little stressed out about it and the weather wasn't cooperating on the days that she could actually get out there and work on it.  Now, I have assigned the myself the job of ensuring my mom not freak out over anything that she doesn't need to freak out over.  Please, I prefer to be referred to as the "Freak Out Negator".

On Monday, while in a meeting, the topic of service came up and I mentioned that it would be a big help if some people came and helped out weeding my parents' yard.  I am constantly asked what my parents need and this was the first time that I could actually think of something that people could do to help out.  --- As a side note, I really love weeding.  It stems from my own yard and the millions of weeds that we had when we moved in.  They were weeds that were stuck in solid dirt and were hard to get up.  So, whenever there are weeds that need picking, I really love to do it because I find picking weeds and actually getting all the roots up is actually quite therapeutic... don't think I am weird, other people think so too, I'm sure---.

My parents fought this service.  Mom especially.  I mean, how many lessons do we get at church about the blessings of service.. both giving and receiving?  Um, like 5 billion!  Still, I think we all struggle to allow others to give us service and my parents are no different.  Finally, after a stern, "Don't fight us on this, we're doing it" sort of an email, my parents conceded and allowed people to come help weed their yard. 

Last Saturday, a group of us came over to my parents' house to weed.  Of course, we were greeted with breakfast burritos and cinnamon rolls from my parentals... they can't help themselves but make everything fun and entertaining.  I personally enjoyed spending the morning doing this service and I heard from several other friends that they also enjoyed helping out.  More so, I can see how relieved my mom is about having this work done and not having to stress out about it.  It's one less thing that she has to worry about.   And that's why we do service for one another.  Maybe each of our problems is not the worst problem ever, but sometimes we just need a helping hand and to worry about one less thing and sometimes we need to receive the blessings of serving each other.

Please take the poll!

We are on cloud nine today after such positive news from yesterday's MDA visit.  With any sort of illness it is important to really celebrate the good news!!!  Anyway, when I first told my daughter about how Papa was sick and he would have to take medicine for a long time, I told her that he would probably lose his hair and even his eyebrows!  She thought that was hilarious.  Of course, this was before we knew what chemo meds he would be taking and whether or not they were the variety that would have him losing his hair or not.

So, please take our poll over there on the left sidebar!

Red Jello and Happy News!!!

Today was a big day for dad at MD Anderson just as every Monday is.  It's the day he gets hooked back up to chemo, gets his first zap of radiation for the week and he visits with his doctors. 

Here is dad receiving his chemo treatment and eating up some yummy red jello.  My dad has been loving red jello lately since he heard a story about it and also since he has used in a church talk.  Because I feel it my obligation to make fun of my dad whenever possible, I have been doing my best to carry on and on about red jello.  It's catching on I think.  So, here's a picture that mom snapped for me and sent on her blackberry...

Pretty much all doctors are notorious for making patients wait.  MD Anderson is no different.  Sure, they work like a well-oiled machine, but still it seems to take forever.  This is especially true as I expect my parents to be at my beckon call.  So, this is usually how I feel as I am waiting to hear what is going on with my parents...

...I'm an impatient gal as you can see...at times I can be described as a bit of an annoyer or one who enjoys pestering.  Pretty accurate I'd say.  Today was no different.  I was really worrying about today.  I think we all have been.  It was getting frustrating that dad wasn't able to keep food down and it was looking more and more like a feeding tube was inevitable.  But, much to our delight, the news from the doctors was AWESOME!

Dad got a PET scan done last week.  He is part of a study which has him doing more pet scans than are normally administered to patients.. This is excellent because it lets us see his progress more frequently.  Anyway, my dad gave me some specific information that he said I had to put down word for word... apparently he isn't the biggest fan of my creative speech as I am.  So here goes...

After two weeks and 9 of 28 radiation treatments and 9 of 25 chemotherapy treatments the head oncologist said, "The results are dramatic! Especially after nine treatments."  The nurse said, "Best report you could expect this early in the treatment. They're excellent!"    The tumor size is down 20% and the effected lymph node activity is down 25%.  There is no other indication of activity elsewhere including lymph nodes, liver, spleen, lungs and bones.

Translation for those of us that don't speak percentile---They've blasted that sucker so well that it is getting ever closer to destruction.  Since Dad is an over-achiever, he is ahead of the game and has already been brown-nosing the head oncologist and schmoozed himself into the likings of the nurses.   They must like him enough to deliver such a wonderful report card!  His grade thus far?  A+! 

So, fist bumps all around... it's a good day!!  This was best case scenario for us after just two weeks of chemotherapy and radiation so we are feeling pretty good at this point.