CHRISTMAS.........ALMOST.

This year, for the first time ever, we neither bought each other a Christmas Gift or put up our tree. Why??

We didn't know what to expect. It's as though our lives have been "on hold" for half of the year.

Half a year of time revolving around the hospital, medications, daily needles........worry!!

Half a year of the days being brightened by friends and family expressing their concerns and pitching in to help.......never requested.

Half a year of Hilary demonstrating her strength and laughing at the adversity.

Now we have the only Christmas Present we wanted............remission!!!

Now we can enjoy Christmas with the kids, grandkids and friends. What more could we possibly ask.

Now Hil can have her Champagne and Orange juice (or two) coz now it's allowed.

Now she can look at the tennis court and think about getting back in shape.

Now she can look in the mirror and know that her hair is really starting to grow back. (Just now it's like a rather worn tennis ball.)

For the more pragmatic: Her CT scans came out clean although her spleen is slightly enlarged although who'se to know exactly it's size before she got sick. She had a bone marrow biopsy the other day (she just loves that!) The results were very good with no sign of any abnormalities. As the oncologist said......"lovely!!"

Now she has two years of "maintenance." A visit to the hospital every three months for Rituxan plus the Decadron at home.

She'll probably be on the tennis court very soon.........just small doses whilst she builds up her strength.

My thoughts go out, not just to our friends withing striking distance of Aurora, but to friends out West who have constantly been in touch expressing their concern and support.

My thoughts go out to friends and aquaintances who are not as well off as we. One who had a bone marrow transplant and is fighting the good fight and slowly winning, another who is terminal.

Is it over for Hil? Nope. MCL never truly goes away. The stats are poor as knowledge concerning this type of cancer is still a little thin. It can be held in remission and hopefully that's where it will stay.

Soooo...Christmas is here!! We have our Christmas Present. We're Happy!!

Break out the bubbly........get the bird in the oven. 2011 is another year!!

Merry Christmas to all!!

From a brilliant mind......not mine......but George Carlin.

I came across this in the dark of the early morning whilst the house was still sleeping. I thought it a propos of yesterday's blog. Whereas my comment was clumsy this piece is the opposite.


From A Brilliant Mind
by: George Carlin

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider highways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.


Many drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.


George Carlin was a comedian, writer, television/movie actor and Grammy winner.

Now we wait and see.

Hopefully last Thursday's chemo was Hil's last!! It was number six in the series. Thanks again to Pam for accompanying Hil south of Major Mac for the bloodwork and to Rosie for coming down from Collingwood and spending the day with Hil on the Thursday. Great chicken recipe too!

Again this last event was speedy. Perhaps your body gets used to the cocktail.
Hard to believe that this has been going on for almost six months now but she still has her eyelashes!!

Now we have to wait approx three weeks and then a battery of tests will be performed in order to determine where she stands.
The only Christmas present we want is the "R" word wrapped up in a big bow........remission!!

I would be remiss to not thank all the people that sent cards, letters, gifts and flowers for Hil's birthday a couple of weeks ago. The house was like a florists!!

Today the roles are reversed! I have to see a specialist at Southlake as my right hand is totally (&*^%$#ed! Something wrong with the tendons in the palm of my hand. Can't hold a golf club or tennis raquet. Doncha just luv gettin' old! Soooo...Hil will come with me just in case. North for a change.
Even Sam was crook this week. She hurt her back working out during the week and ended up at the vet. More medication. No we don't have a budgie.

So what have we learned from all this.....coming from a bloke that's bin kinda material all his life?
The big houses, fancy cars, big boats, extravagant vacations are all so much bullshit at the end of the day. The principal things that count are your relationships and the health to enjoy them. Perhaps sometimes you have to be scared into this understanding. Hil and I are fortunate indeed. We've bin round the block and still survive. We have kids, grandkids and still have a bucket list although much shorter now.

Older.....fatter......still bootin'.

Sooo....now we wait and see!! A few more days of needles for Hil and then Christmas is just around the corner.

Thanx to all. Best wishes to all. Hug someone today and keep laughing.

No.5

Not Chanel, although she does like it but Chemo. Chemo No.5!! It doesn't come in a fancy bottle rather in pills, needles, IVs.

Hard to believe she's bin at this for fifteen weeks now.....about five months since she was diagnosed.

I think her body must be getting used to medication flowing through it. In the beginning it took ages to get the concoctions into her and in the beginning her body reacted in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways. Hardly surprising for someone that hardly ever took a pill of any sort! Now. more than anything, she gets very tired, very quickly.
Thursday last was even quicker than the previous treatment. We were a little late getting started but she was home by 2.30!! A record! Not that it's something to be jumping up and down about.

So now there is one more to go.......November 18th......Chemo #6. After that, about three weeks later, we go in for a battery of tests including the bone marrow biopsy which she really likes then hopefully we get a really good Christmas present.......a box of remission all wrapped up with a big bow.

Pam went with Hil for her bloodwork on Wednesday. I'm not sure if Hil drives there and Pam drives back.......but that's another story. LOL.

On Thursday, although I took her to the hospital, Sharon arrived about 9.30, stayed with her the rest of the day and brought her home. I blew the joint about 11.30. The previous Monday Kay and Steph visited together with Maureen McMaster who I personally haven't seen for over twenty years.....she hasn't changed much. Friends continue to be super-supportive and we are forever grateful.

Thursday's are always very quiet in chemo at York Central for some reason, that's why Hil chose it but there is always something to see.

A young oncologist attempting to explain the treatment to an oriental lady ( I think we're supposed to say "Asian" now) who didn't understand a word he was saying. He certainly was imaginative with his sign language.

The rather round, pompous looking man, just twenty feet away, undergoing his first treatment, spending the first couple of hours on his cell phone and getting irritated with the nurse for interrupting his conversation. She eventually told him, in "nursetalk," to put his phone in a warm, dark place!!

So, as we keep saying, life goes on. Our "built in suspension" carries us over the bumps in life constantly re-discovering what is important in life or perhaps simply discovering for those that haven't figured it out yet.
Birthdays come and go. Mine was a couple of weeks ago and Hilary's is next Thursday.....Nov 4th......Mischievious Night in the North of England.....the night before Guy Fawkes......now there was a lad!!

Nothing but Good News.

Chemo yesterday......quick and eventless......she went swimming this morning. Would you believe it!!!! Tired this afternoon but it's hardly surprising. Usually, after chemo,she's a basket case for at least a week. Tough ol' broad!

She had some tests earlier this week....scans of one sort or another but the prognosis is great. The oncologist inferred that if things continue this way over the next nine weeks she could well be in remission by Christmas. Now that's a real Christmas Present!!!

She's going to get on the bike a bit and she just bought one of those elasticy band thingies for exercising her arms so as she can start hitting some tennis balls again. Her spleen is down even further although still not normal.....not dangerous now though.

We're going to have a really quiet Thanksgiving.....just the two of us. You never really know what the side effects are like until each morning arrives. Better to be a little circumspect.

Again thanks to everyone for their ongoing support and a heartfelt "Happy Thanksgiving" to everyone.

ROUND THREE.

Well yesterday was round three in Hil's title fight.
Thanks to Pam and Nick for helping out. Pam spent most of the day with her at the hospital and Nick did chauffeur duties.

Hil's sister and brother in law were over from England for a week or so a visit that we greatly enjoyed. It was especially good for Hil and Norma as they could share "stuff" as only siblings can. As for the rest of us.....a lot of chat and a couple of rounds of golf at "The Valley."

This last round of chemo was great! She got everything into her in record speed.....so far anyway......an hour faster than last time. She was only there for six hours or so.

Hil's pretty tough....with a terrific attitude! The side effects seem to have been limited to being incredibly tired with the exception of losing her hair, mouth so sore she couldn't eat and a permanently upset stomach. No nausea........until this morning. Took her pills then promptly threw up. At least she made it to the washroom! Her weight, by the way, is back to normal. Taraaaaaa!

I start giving her the daily needle today. It seems as though the hospital has won the "Neupogen Fight" probably because her white blood cell count is down. Over all though the oncologist is very happy with her progress and her spleen seems to be reacting well to the medication.

So there you go! She is so thankful for the support she has been getting. Friends, tennis ladies even people from the golf club that she barely knows. Love those cookies ladies.

Your Duck is Dead--

A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest.

After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away."

The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"
Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the vet..

"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.

The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."

The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman..The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"
The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150."

Courtesy of Gord and Vivi!!

Probably Sam and Sam Bailey.

......more red pee....less red hair!!

The dog's shedding......Hilary's shedding......I'm slowly losing my hair. It's a wonder you can see through the house and.....the vacuum sucks if you'll excuse the pun. Someone suggested she not go out in a high wind!

Today is "H" day. Noon is "B" hour. Hil get's the rest of her hair buzzed off today. It's driving her nuts so it's time. Mebbe I'll get a sympathy buzz at the same time.......mebbe! (H is for hair. B is for buzz.) Her wig shows up on Tuesday. I like the style! More of a layered look.

Yesterday was round two in the ring of chemo. Good news though. No adverse reaction this time, certainly due to the pre-meds she was getting the day before. Course she can't sleep coz she's higher'n kite but that'll wear off. The really good news is that her spleen has subsided! Still not normal but no longer a threat. She's eating better because it's not exerting pressure on her stomach. Naturally she immediately starts talking about hitting balls on the tennis court. No comment. LOL. As Minnie the oncologist said......"YES!!"

Her old friend Rosie took her down to the hospital in the morning and I followed about half an hour later. Barb had taken her down the previous day for her bloodwork. I had to leave about 11.30 or so. Life goes on and the golf course called........work that is. They were there about seven hours but this time they got everything into her........not like last time. Rosie sat there chatting away and doing her bead work....on piece work for crying out loud. I offered to engineer the process for her as it didn't look too efficient. I figured she was only making about four bucks and hour!!

What they didn't see were the guys two stations down, mind you I do tend to see people through my own tinted glasses.
The first was short. Hey I'm short but this guy's feet didn't touch the floor.....that's short!
He was brown in his mid fifties with a smile on his face. Totally bald without a crease in his face and shiny! He was obviously cold as someone had thrown a green blanket over him. He immediately reminded me of the four ball on a snooker table.......with ears.
I nodded to him. He smiled ruefully.

The second was grey! Skinny and grizzled. Short pepper and salt hair and beard. Fast asleep with his mouth wide open. Someone had taken his teeth out. What surprised me was how wide was his mouth. Totally relaxed. I swear I could've put my entire fist in his mouth without touching a gum. He was snoring! Not a pretty sight as my dad would have said. New blood feeding into his arm. Transfusion time. Bit sad that.

So we move on. Another day. More pills. More needles. Hil's sister shows up from England next week. Bit of golf.....wedding to go to. Life goes on. Slightly modified. Keep laughing. My favourite expression "It is what it is."
Lot of people a lot worse off. I feel for people who are on their own. We are not!!
Friends here. Friends on the West Coast. Friends in the States.
Still getting cards.....and food.....cookies!!!

Thanx folks!