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.
We love you both so much and you have a special place in our little hearts!
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