What a week! It started out great. Walt was eating good. Good still means very little, but it also means that what he eats goes down easy and stays down. Monday and Tuesday he had no problems. Wednesday started the week of mystery (what will happen today?). Mornings were miserable. He wanted to eat so badly but no matter what he tried it wouldn't go down easily nor stay down long. One of the days was so bad that his chocolate malt even gave him fits. Thankfully that didn't happen again. This may be the beginning of the bigger picture. We know that stupid Murphy is going to win, but we are not giving in so easy. I can still make some pretty tasty broths and that daily chocolate malt is full of protein powder.
Walt is still pretty comfortable pain wise. He is very weak and getting a little wobbly. Lack of food will do that to you. He is good company and still loves to visit with his friends and family. The most fun we are having right now is with our animals. The 3 cats are so funny and all have different personalities. Peaches (we thought he was a girl) hangs around the most. Big orange cat that loves to cuddle. Charlie (a girl, I know, we are all messed up) comes in to eat and say "Hi" a couple of times a day. Sophie (we got it right?) She's the social one. Company comes and she's all over them. She literally chases Walt's Home Health Aid, Lana, when she comes on Thursdays. She especially loves to rub up against her black pants. Yes, she's white. The most fun thing to watch is the 4 chickens chasing the cats. They will run the length of the yard and those birds mean business. I wish I got as much exercise as they do. The cats have a dog door so they can escape into the house. I'm just waiting for the day that the chickens figure that door out.
We have some wonderful friends that want to have a party for Walt. It will be on October 26th. Friends from S. California are going to be here and we just thought it would be nice to all get together. We would love it if all of our friends from everywhere could come. No matter what, it will be a joyous occasion. We don't know what will be happening then (we don't even know what each day is going to bring), but we are having a good time planning. Walt says, "Even if I'm not there I will have had a hand in planning it". We are going through all of our old pictures to put his life together and that is a blast. Makes us realize that we have had a busy, full, happy life.
We are hoping all is well with all of you. It's not easy to live in this world these days, but if we can just keep praying for each other it will help. The talk at our meeting today is on the resurrection. What a wonderful hope we have. Don't know if Walt will be up to going, but if not we do have the provision of listening to our meeting on the phone. So, no matter what we will be encouraged by it. I love Sundays.
We love you all.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Good Day And Bad Day-All In The Same Day
Life has become a mystery around here. We never know what the day will bring. It usually starts at breakfast. Most days Walt feels pretty good when he wakes up. He's sleeping good at night and taking several naps during the day. Breakfast brings an attempt to get food down and have it stay down. We can only guess what's going on. The food (sometimes) stops in the esophagus. It is very painful and sometimes comes back up and out. Other times the food goes down just fine. Yesterday, for example, breakfast was horrible. Walt suffered for a long time with only a few bites not wanting to go down. At lunch we had friends over and he ate a few noodles and a shrimp and it was just fine. At dinner he ate 5 hot wings! Go figure. I think it's something that is happening while he sleeps, but there are times when dinner won't go down either. Our doctor said it will just get worse because it is probably the tumor growing, but we are doing little things to make life easier. Pills are the worst going down so we have resorted to a pain patch and liquid tylenol and ibuprofen. He doesn't eat bread or things like that because the dryness is what gets stuck. So his favorites right now - breakfast burrito, any kind of soup (especially likes egg drop) and those infamous hot chicken wings. Oh, at least one chocolate malt a day if not more. We did discover that the burrito has to come out of the tortilla, but I put country gravy over it in a bowl and that makes Walt very happy. You might think that soft or liquid in the morning might help, but it has the same reaction so he just wants to try to eat what he really likes while he still can.
Walt has always been determined to do what makes him happy. Thankfully he is also more determined to do what makes others happy too. It reminds me of the story he tells of being 3 years old and wanting to go out and play. The rest of the house was sleeping. He was on the second story so he grabbed his shoes and climbed down the tree outside his window. He went to the little market next door to have the store owner tie his shoes.
So, we are trying to keep our life full and happy. We had the most wonderful visit with my dad and step mom. So funny. My dad is actually my step father, but he has raised me since I'm very young and I couldn't have had a better father. My step mother is a remarkable woman in that she has made sure to keep my dad very close to our family ever since she came on the scene over 31 years ago. We celebrated their anniversary while they were here. Still can't believe my 87 year old father traveled by train from Southern California to see us. Spent a lot of time with the kids and my brother. Happy times.
Walt loves company. If he gets tired he just excuses himself and goes back to his man cave. He very rarely does that because he truly loves his friends. It is our turn to entertain the Sunday speaker with hospitality. We usually have it at our house because we have the most room of anyone in our group. I gave Walt the option and he wanted to have all of the friends come here. We are having a Mexican theme and everyone will bring different dishes and most of them Walt won't be able to eat, but that really doesn't bother him. He's after the company.
It's hard for me to sit down and write this blog because I always think I don't have much to say. Look at this. Get me on a roll and I don't want to stop. Just know that we are hanging in there and so far so good. We are still loving life, looking on the bright side and looking forward to the new world where there will be no more suffering, tears and heartache. Thank you for your continued prayers. Love you all.
Walt has always been determined to do what makes him happy. Thankfully he is also more determined to do what makes others happy too. It reminds me of the story he tells of being 3 years old and wanting to go out and play. The rest of the house was sleeping. He was on the second story so he grabbed his shoes and climbed down the tree outside his window. He went to the little market next door to have the store owner tie his shoes.
So, we are trying to keep our life full and happy. We had the most wonderful visit with my dad and step mom. So funny. My dad is actually my step father, but he has raised me since I'm very young and I couldn't have had a better father. My step mother is a remarkable woman in that she has made sure to keep my dad very close to our family ever since she came on the scene over 31 years ago. We celebrated their anniversary while they were here. Still can't believe my 87 year old father traveled by train from Southern California to see us. Spent a lot of time with the kids and my brother. Happy times.
Walt loves company. If he gets tired he just excuses himself and goes back to his man cave. He very rarely does that because he truly loves his friends. It is our turn to entertain the Sunday speaker with hospitality. We usually have it at our house because we have the most room of anyone in our group. I gave Walt the option and he wanted to have all of the friends come here. We are having a Mexican theme and everyone will bring different dishes and most of them Walt won't be able to eat, but that really doesn't bother him. He's after the company.
It's hard for me to sit down and write this blog because I always think I don't have much to say. Look at this. Get me on a roll and I don't want to stop. Just know that we are hanging in there and so far so good. We are still loving life, looking on the bright side and looking forward to the new world where there will be no more suffering, tears and heartache. Thank you for your continued prayers. Love you all.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Food, Food, Wonderful Food
Sorry it has been so long since I posted. I thought of naming this entry "Boring" because that is what it has been around here since I have been relieved of my main purpose in life right now....killing Murphy. Going to have to rename this entire Blog "Feeding Murphy". I truly hope this doesn't distress some of you, but we are just very open and up front in this house. Walt is very happy with his decision to just do what makes him happy. Happy right now is not thinking about anything except what his next meal will be. Since food has been such a major part of our life that makes sense to me. What is hard for me is that with all of the research I did in order to fight this illness I have learned a lot about the food we eat. Walt wants to eat all of the really bad stuff. Oh well.
He has gained a lot of his strength back. Not wobbling all over the place and is able to stay awake longer in the day. He has had some really good days. We went to Medford (for toilet paper at Costco AND food) and he was able to walk the store! Amanda and the boys went with us. We went to Walt's favorite restaurant Hometown Buffet. We both get great joy watching our grandchildren discover new things in life. This is now Thomas' favorite restaurant. He told his dad that we went to the "stand up" restaurant. He got to eat all of the clam chowder he wanted, had a slushy and an ice cream cone. Gavin tasted Grumpy's mac n cheese and decided he needed a plate of his own. Walt went out to breakfast with his friend Bob the next morning and the best thing of all is that we spent the entire day at our Circuit Assembly yesterday. We plan on being there today, also. A very fond memory is that of going to the 3 sometimes 4 day conventions with good friends when we first started studying the bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. There would be big groups of friends all sitting together (at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego). Auntie Sharon always brought a big bag of mixed candy that we passed around. Yesterday, Walt was trying to relive that memory. He kept pulling candy out of his bag.
Funny story: At the meeting last Sunday Walt was telling people who wanted to visit that there was a cover charge. Monday friends Whitney, Aaron, Brent and Amy came with, you guessed it....a chocolate shake. We called Robin and Andy to join us. We ate a plate of cookies and chicken pot pie (in that order) while Walt ate his shake. We were all in "comfort food heaven".
We have had so many friends pop in to visit. This is good for Walt, but it has always been my dream to be the place that people feel welcome and want to come. Friends have shared their gardens with us and mopped my floors (thanks wonder woman, Sharon) and helped in so many ways. Our far away family is keeping in touch with phone calls and cards and it all makes such a difference in how you get through each day.
Wish this was all good news, but we are dealing with terminal cancer here. Walt has requested (and received) many different foods that he has been craving. He ate homemade chocolate pudding with fresh whipped cream until it was coming out of his ears. He got his hot wings and pork chops. The bad news is that it doesn't all go down so easy. He suffers a terrible pain when trying to swallow at the beginning of each meal. Some things just won't go down. He wanted meatloaf, but it makes him feel sick. Last night I made him a favorite, beef and noodles. That came back up before it ever went down. I put a corned beef (thanks Amanda) in the crock pot last night and its ready this morning cause he wants hash for breakfast. I don't mind making all of the things he's craving, except that when he can't eat them guess who does! I'm going to gain back all that I lost while doing the cancer diet with him.
So, we are just doing life each day and praying for the best. So far Jehovah has blessed our efforts and my Walt is as happy as he can be under these circumstances. Today my father and step mother are arriving from Camarillo, Ca on the train for a short visit. They love Walt very much and are showing it with this trip. My dad just turned 87! Wish we all had the circumstance to do what we'd like to, but again, just know that all of our friends and family are doing what we need most right now. Please, keep us in your prayers. We don't need much..........just the strength to get through. Your are all in my prayers, too.
He has gained a lot of his strength back. Not wobbling all over the place and is able to stay awake longer in the day. He has had some really good days. We went to Medford (for toilet paper at Costco AND food) and he was able to walk the store! Amanda and the boys went with us. We went to Walt's favorite restaurant Hometown Buffet. We both get great joy watching our grandchildren discover new things in life. This is now Thomas' favorite restaurant. He told his dad that we went to the "stand up" restaurant. He got to eat all of the clam chowder he wanted, had a slushy and an ice cream cone. Gavin tasted Grumpy's mac n cheese and decided he needed a plate of his own. Walt went out to breakfast with his friend Bob the next morning and the best thing of all is that we spent the entire day at our Circuit Assembly yesterday. We plan on being there today, also. A very fond memory is that of going to the 3 sometimes 4 day conventions with good friends when we first started studying the bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. There would be big groups of friends all sitting together (at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego). Auntie Sharon always brought a big bag of mixed candy that we passed around. Yesterday, Walt was trying to relive that memory. He kept pulling candy out of his bag.
Funny story: At the meeting last Sunday Walt was telling people who wanted to visit that there was a cover charge. Monday friends Whitney, Aaron, Brent and Amy came with, you guessed it....a chocolate shake. We called Robin and Andy to join us. We ate a plate of cookies and chicken pot pie (in that order) while Walt ate his shake. We were all in "comfort food heaven".
We have had so many friends pop in to visit. This is good for Walt, but it has always been my dream to be the place that people feel welcome and want to come. Friends have shared their gardens with us and mopped my floors (thanks wonder woman, Sharon) and helped in so many ways. Our far away family is keeping in touch with phone calls and cards and it all makes such a difference in how you get through each day.
Wish this was all good news, but we are dealing with terminal cancer here. Walt has requested (and received) many different foods that he has been craving. He ate homemade chocolate pudding with fresh whipped cream until it was coming out of his ears. He got his hot wings and pork chops. The bad news is that it doesn't all go down so easy. He suffers a terrible pain when trying to swallow at the beginning of each meal. Some things just won't go down. He wanted meatloaf, but it makes him feel sick. Last night I made him a favorite, beef and noodles. That came back up before it ever went down. I put a corned beef (thanks Amanda) in the crock pot last night and its ready this morning cause he wants hash for breakfast. I don't mind making all of the things he's craving, except that when he can't eat them guess who does! I'm going to gain back all that I lost while doing the cancer diet with him.
So, we are just doing life each day and praying for the best. So far Jehovah has blessed our efforts and my Walt is as happy as he can be under these circumstances. Today my father and step mother are arriving from Camarillo, Ca on the train for a short visit. They love Walt very much and are showing it with this trip. My dad just turned 87! Wish we all had the circumstance to do what we'd like to, but again, just know that all of our friends and family are doing what we need most right now. Please, keep us in your prayers. We don't need much..........just the strength to get through. Your are all in my prayers, too.
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