WHEN NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

It has been around 160 days from symptoms to testing to diagnosis to treatment. Breathing in -- breathing out -- holding still. We do not know the level of success of the radiation and chemo (it will probably be August before we do) but we do know that treatments are OVER. It is unbelievable what the release of that grip on the mind this news has been. The radiation oncology staff even had a graduation party for Ron and they gave him a graduation pin. I am told it is an angel but I thought it was a flying monkey. (That's your fault Pheromone girl that I see flying monkeys everywhere.) Regardless it is beautiful.

Our expectations now are for regained strength and more activity. We have been so blessed through this ordeal to have close ties to family and friends who have been willing to help at a moment's notice. How people make it through the trials of cancer without loved ones to assist them is a great concern. How do they do it?

Of course the major victory does boil down to the strength of one person and that is the patient. We have encountered so many obstacles through the procedures including bacteria in the blood causing a 6 day hospital stay and liquid infusions plus blood transfusion, etc., and I don't see how Ron has maintained his sanity but he has remained stoic. Just being his advocate has left very little of my sanity in tact. No, it is not over but a major portion is over and these next several weeks give time for comfort, relaxation and more breathing in -- breathing out -- which is what this is all about.

Thank you all for your concern and your continued thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for being my sounding board from time to time.

Love, Granny Annie and Ron (aka Ma & Pa Kettle)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 6-20-11

Did you know exactly where "it" was so "someone" must have moved it?

(What was the last thing you lost? Did you eventually find it? Did someone else take it or did you simply misplace it? Were you actually holding the item while you were looking for it? Can you easily find lost items for other people but never for yourself? If you say you never lose things, you are either lying or not of this planet!)

RARE CALIFORNIA ART TREASURE

It is not often that we get to see the artistic creations of our California grandchildren. Jasmine (17) sent this watercolor masterpiece to her grandpa for Father's Day. I wish my photograph could properly reflect the unbelievable detail and fantastic work she did on this beautiful piece. We knew she was talented but did not know to what degree she had progressed. Wow...and again I say Wow! Perhaps our very talented grandchildren will all be able to support us in our old age -- that is if we ever get old:)

QUICK UPDATES

We are in the final stretch of Ron's treatments. They have dismissed him from chemotherapy and radiation should end on Monday. I will let everyone know it it works out as we hope.

Yes I am still on the Alli health and fitness plan. Hit a plateau at 20 weeks and held at a 36 pound weight loss. Today in week 24 I started moving again with 37 pounds in the tank.

Who could make you laugh about a dead bird? Read LL Cool Joe at Joey's Pad today. It's a MUST!

Also, I quit going to one church because they had a time in the middle of the service to reach around and hug each other. Nope not for me, but Grammie at Awaiting Buddha would have loved it I guess.

And whatever you do, don't miss Talon's Green Skeleton story. It's a winner for sure.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 6-13-11

How far out of your way will you go to pick up a penny?
(Will you rescue a penny from the dust pan or from the vacuum? Will you stoop over to pick up a penny from the street? How much effort would you exert to retrieve a single penny and must it be heads up if you do? How often have you simply skipped a chance to pick up a penny or even a nickel, a dime or a quarter? How's this question for a change?)

WHEN IN FRANCE

I












Isn't there an expression about "When in France, do as the French"? Anyway my sister is babysitting two grandchildren in Chicago this week and she might as well be in France. It seems my sis has been a bit lax and broken protocol a few times. This caused her seven year old granddaughter (the drama queen) to have a bit of a meltdown. The four year old grandson tried to console his grandmother by telling her, "GaaMaw, I don't think you know all the rules".

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

Welcome Lord Voldemort. This little fellow was born Monday, the day after CC died. This is Elizabeth's kid and the baby seems healthy. It seems a shame to name the babies and therefore become even more attached to them. Thus the name Lord Voldemort, a character from Harry Potter stories who is so feared he is known as "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named". Daughter Chelle named this one:)

Actually Elizabeth gave birth to twins and the second one did not make it.

Meanwhile I must not forget Cole. He was our first new baby goat of the season and he is doing fantastic. He romps and plays and is very, very healthy as he tries to rule the goat pen.

What song keeps playing in my brain these days?

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE from The Lion King

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round

It's the Circle of Life And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life

Music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 6-6-11

Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-........

Do you have certain bed time habits, quirks, rituals, routines that must be observed before you can fall asleep?

(Such as -- sleeping with teddy bear, with a fan blowing on you, with noise, with total quiet, with pets, listening to radio/television, specific time to turn in, reading before bed, etc.?)

REJECTION HAPPENS

It appears that Dixie had rejected her baby. Chocolate Chip, aka CC, is not doing well. We are able to milk her mother Dixie and bottle feed CC. Regardless CC continues on a downhill slide. Each new day we are surprised when CC is still with us. He is a strong little critter so we won't give up hope yet. Perhaps the children played with him too much or TK, our billy, does not want Dixie to have anything to do with the kid. There could be a million reasons and we will never know why CC went from a joyful, active baby goat to such a frail little creature.

Read my follow-up comments if you want to know the rest of the story:(

Chocolate Chip's (CC's) Tombstone

ANYTHING FOR A LAUGH

Granddaughter Hope, age 9, was here this week with her mom and brother. They came to do a lot of work to help us out and to celebrate my birthday. Hope was on a roll in her efforts to keep us entertained.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 5-30-11

Do you respond to people who attempt to communicate with you by pointing, grunting, staring or blinking?

(I was raised in a family that voiced their desires. We said things like "Please pass the potatoes, etc." I find my spouse pointing, grunting, tapping, or staring and I am supposed to interpret what he is wanting. Did I miss the class on this particular sign language? Do you know this language? Is there some need for us to preserve words because they might be endangered? I find this form of communication amazing ...as well as annoying.)



Remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom and safety this Memorial Day.












Watch another quick clip of baby goats at play 2011

VIIDEO OF COLE AND CHOCOLATE CHIP

Here is a quick video of our 2011 baby goats Cole and Chocolate Chip. Cole us named for Ron's doctor and Chocolate Chip's name was picked by granddaughter Hope. Hope has always claimed Dixie as her goat because she picked her out so it was only fair for her to name Dixie's baby. We will call Chocolate Chip "CC". Mama Dixie is busy feeding her baby CC while Cole seems to attempt a meal from her after Mama Polly has already fed the kid. As stated in a earlier post, Cole is a bit greedy.

TIME'S UP

I believe my blog reading and commenting is caught up. I have enjoyed these past few days at home and one of the joyful spots has been finding out what other bloggers are up to these days. Tomorrow it will slow again as Ron begins his second round of treatments. With 22 treatments already under our belts, we are looking at another 13 radiation treatments and we're not sure about how many more chemo treatments he will need because they are changing his type of chemo. At least his strength seems to have improved since his release from the hospital and we are filled with hope again.

We live very close to Joplin, MO and we are thankful that we have not had to travel in this weather. I did have one harrowing drive to Tulsa in 60 mph winds and rain and hope I won't have that again. However our weather in these parts continues to be horrible and Joplin is trying to clean up and restore under more and more rain. How sad to have this insult added to their mass injuries. Right this moment our friends and family members in the Oklahoma City area are all in cellars taking cover for the newest round of tornado warnings.

My goats are doing well despite the weather. Dixie delivered her kid this evening. It is another cutie and mother and child seem to be doing well. We are still looking for one more baby goat.

My mama cats are taking good care of their kittens. I showed you Boomer's kittens but am not sure if I mentioned David has a new kitten too. David's kitten is going to have to be named Mini-me because it looks identical to David. Exact same markings and all.

Mr. Gibson is on a nest again and hopeful for a bunch of chicks. She is as devoted and determined as her mother Elenore was.

Slim has been enjoying lots of rest in the house these few days and will be shocked to learn she is back on duty tomorrow as we begin our daily jaunts to Tulsa. She should be well rested to begin her protective vigil over NOL-NOC Estates.

Here is what was happening on the lake we live on when the tornadoes were ripping through Joplin, MO on May 22, 2011. Ron and I were napping through the whole thing. We knew nothing until our daughter in San Diego and my sister in Chicago called to tell us.
Not a very good picture, but this is Dixie with her baby resting in front of her, and Cole, (Polly's baby) nursing off Dixie. You think Cole might be a little greedy?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 5-23-11

If you sign up to install a new program or join a website, do you read the "Terms of Service" or do you simply click "I Agree" and continue on?

(If you don't read these entire small-print disclosures, does it haunt you to think you may have unknowingly signed away your first born?)



Other posts from last week:

Rx AND DIAGNOSIS

WHAT DID JARED DO?

ANNIE HAD A LITTLE GOAT

Rx AND DIAGNOSIS

This is our staging area just for Ron's medications, BP kit, Pulse ox and thermometer. I am quite sure I will be eligible to hang out a shingle soon as NURSE GRANNY ANNIE, Medical Assistant, if the patient doesn't decide to fire me first. That could happen soon because I'm pretty sure I heard him whispering something about "Nurse Ratched" the other day.

WHAT DID JARED DO?

I have reached a place where I have two choices. Wear pants that are too large and falling down or wear pants that are a bit snug and uncomfortable. Don't you wonder what Jared did when he hit this place in his weight loss program. Fortunately I have saved clothes and have been able to size down accordingly until now. My 35 pound weight loss has left me at a limbo stage. Did I mention how happy I am with this problem? LOL

ANNIE HAD A LITTLE GOAT

Annie had a little goat
It's fleece was brown and black
When Annie found it in the pen
She almost had a heart attack!

Here are photos of our new arrival. We have named this newborn goat Cole to honor Ron's cancer doctor. We do not know yet if Cole is a boy or girl. The proud and devoted mother is Polly. Two more of our goats are pregnant but nothing is happening with them yet.

Yes Ron is home from the hospital and so far so good. He is not back to normal, but he is certainly feeling better than when they admitted him last Friday. Hopefully we will have a break from treatments and travel for at least a week.

QUESTON OF THE WEEK 5-16-11

How often do you fail to practice what you preach?

During our daily drives to Tulsa for Ron's treatment I look for ways to avoid boredom. This particular day I took my picture with the camera phone while driving. (Ron was very sound asleep at the time or he would have killed me.) I made the mistake of showing the picture to my daughter when she visited us at the hospital this week. (Yes, they have had to admit Ron to the hospital for bacteria in his blood and UTI. It seems with cancer treatments they have to come close to killing you before they cure you.) Anyway, when she arrived back at her home in Oklahoma City she sent me a text to let me know she arrived safely and it had her picture attached that she took while driving. Oh dear, I am a bad influence on my children. At least we both are wearing our seat belts.


I returned home last night to find a new baby goat in the pen. I was thinking Dixie would be the first to give birth but the baby is Polly's. What a lift in the day to be greeted by a new, cute, tiny baby goat. There might be more when I get home tonight. I will post photos soon and blog more once I get my Ron all fixed up and back home.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 5-9-11

"The straw that broke the camel's back"

Have you had "last straw" experiences in your life?

One of my first bosses, a horrible man, yanked a document out of my typewriter that I was working on for another bank officer. I tried to complete the typing in the order it was received. My boss cursed me loudly and told me I had to do his work first. I got up, said "I quit" and walked out. Later that day the bank president called me at home and asked me to return and talk about the issue because "something wasn't handled properly" he said, and "you are a valuable employee." I ended up working for them several years launching a 32 year successful banking career.

ELIZABETH'S DAY

Beth is 15

Enjoying my Mother's Day as an Elizabeth and Remembering my precious mother Elizabeth, while celebrating my granddaughter Elizabeth on this her 15th Birthday:)