Bring on the CHEE!

Today's Dr. appt. with Dr. Grainger produced the following terrific news (ok, I had to type this all very fast so don't shoot the messenger if I missed any important details):

• Gaining weight - Wonderfully happy development that makes Dr. G super pleased
• Oxycottin addiction? Nope, won't happen, says doc
• Flu shot is a good idea. Got it done.
• Clinically, Mom's doing great. Dr. G is in very good spirits
• Postponed the October scan. Regular follow-up only.
• Blood markers are down 20 points!
• Aremidex is working but Mom thinks it's really the prayer and food and games and song.
• Lung fluid is down, not up
• Cancer patients with matastecized tumors (in bone) usually have high calcium numbers in their blood. Mom doesn't. (Can I get a wahoo?!!! )Mom's talking about some zometha drug and it's effects. I can't really keep up but I can tell she's really happy about the results. She's talking fast and doesn't seem winded at all.
• Communion is remarkable!!! (oops, that isn't a Dr. development, it's a general observation)

"I have a lot going for me," Mom says. She's talking about not having done chemo and how she has all these great cells that haven't been killed by the chemo.

"They keep saying they can't cure it. But I'm feeling very grateful and positive and thankful for all the support and loving prayer and communion. I'm stronger each day. My breathing is good and I don't cough as much..."

She's talking about Father Barry who came recently. He went to Nigeria and spread Mom's blog around. That's awesome. It may explain our African readers.

Mom had a phone healing connection with a CHEE KONG master in Minnesota (oh man, I'm sure I really butchered THAT ONE!) I'd imagine a chee kong master has something to do with being a master of chee. I think I need a session for my golf game and hockey skills. My hockey chee is definitely out of whack -- I haven't scored a goal in over 12 games!

Yep, a quick google search on CHEE KONG reveals chinese restaurants and a Dr. Chee Kong, doctor in Biology in Malaysia. I'm not so good at winging it with Mom's alternative medicine practices.

More to come...

Activity key to less fluid

Just returned from Mom's visit with her oncologist, Dr. Grainger. The appointment was scheduled to keep an eye on the fluid buildup around the lungs -- plural effusion, I believe is the official term. We're all wanting the breathing thing to be natural and easy, rather than clogged and requiring artificial assistance. 

There was some preliminary talk of tapping the lung to drain fluid, but we've ruled that out -- at least for now. Dr. Grainger wants mom to increase her activity level a bit. Doing so should help the fluid to drain naturally. It'll take some time, but Mom likes this option better than having the lung tapped. I've never had my lung tapped (I've tapped a few kegs in my time but that's it for the tapping) but I must say I'd be a bit hesitant about that, too. 

You can tell Dr. Grainger likes Mom. She's so inquisitive and engaged in why things happen that you couldn't help but feel for a doctor having to explain everything. He handles all Mom's questions with a calm demeanor (the opposite of calm boys and girls is Dad trying to navigate the tight parking in front of the office between a mailtruck, people walking around and a big pickup truck waiting to get through -- all the while Mom's saying "Get me outta here!") and a caring tone.  

We stopped and got Subway for lunch. Mom had a roasted chicken sandwich on toasted flatbread with provolone cheese, lettuce and olives. She's really into the flatbread and talks about the times she and Dad would shop at the North Market for Indian flatbread. (dot not feather). 

Mom noticed all the buildings that have changed while we drove through Westerville. Dad and I haven't noticed all the change, but Mom's right, much has changed. She talks about Rofini's Pizza having Little Caesar's Pizza move in right next store. 

"The last time I was in there he was yelling at the woman and I didn't appreciate it," Dad recalls about Rofini's, the longtime favorite pizza joint. "I'm not sure if she's his wife or what but I haven't been back since." 

Mom wants to play pinochle. Dad wins. I suck. 

A new look

If you've been wondering what the heck is going on with the look of the blog, you aren't alone. I designed what I believe will be a very unique blog background image full of spirit, something Mom will appreciate. We won't show it to her until the final is ready to go -- so don't tell her about the new look! It'll be a great surprise! (Um, this HTML coding isn't going like I planned)

You're probaby wondering how Mom's doing these days. Sorry for the infrequent posts.

Mom's doing very well. She had an appt. with Dr. Grainger today to discuss her overall state of excellence and WOW! was she thrilled with the results. The recent chest CT scan looked very good. The radiation and the aremidex (no way I spelled that drug correctly) seem to be kicking some serious butt! Swelling and bad guys are down from where they were 3 weeks ago -- a terrific development that had Mom in great spirits. I'll be spending a couple hours with mom during the afternoon tomorrow so I'll get even more information and will have some great posts. Check back tomorrow, err, later today, for the most updated info.

We'll get the final look of the site down to a science as soon as we can. (Wait, I should say I rather than we, since the only we is me and my empty bottle of Miller Lite and my dog -- sound asleep at my feet as I type) Ricky needs to figure this coding stuff out before all Mom's fans start freaking out!