Quiet Days

Hi all! Things have been quiet around here which is really nice for a change. In case you haven't noticed there is a link to the right to Dan's blog. He posted some info about his first few days in Italy with some very nice pictures, but nothing recently. Classes started for him this past Monday (no Martin Luther King holiday in Italy!). This weekend he was off to Rome with two other classmates for some kind of architecture workshop. It's about bridging cultures and so each of them will team up with an Italian student and design something. The workshop ends on Saturday and they will stay until Sunday to do some sightseeing. What an experience! My weekend plans include laundry, cleaning, etc. Dan's include going to Rome! Isn't that what we're all doing this weekend??!

I'm sure once he's back, he'll post something on his blog--or at least I hope he does. From what I understand the Internet is not very good, at least not in their apartment, so he's having a hard time uploading pictures (or so he says!).

Things here at home are relatively quiet--thank God! Now that we've made it through the initial diagnosis, first few chemo appointments, made it through the holidays and getting Dan off to Italy safely, we are returning to some semblance of "normal". I'm back to work on a regular schedule just taking a few hours off to go to the chemo appointments with Ed every two weeks.

Ed has returned to work and works fairly full time. Things are slow this time of year and if there's not much work, he'll come home or not even go in--that's fairly typical during the winter. Earlier this week he had a stomach bug that lasted no more than 24 hours, so we know it was either a bug or something he ate, not anything to do with the chemo.

The one side effect we continue to try to manage is swelling of his ankles/feet and soreness in his feet. After evaluating when this happens, we're pretty sure it's linked to when he is on his feet all day at work. I keep telling him he needs to take a break during the day and elevate his feet, but he'll only listen sometimes. He is being careful about staying ahead of the hand-foot syndrome that is a common side effect of the Xeloda and can result in very dry, blistered, and painful hands and feet. There are three stages of this and some people can't even walk because it is so painful. So he is sure to lather up his hands and feet to keep the skin moisturized which is the secret to staying ahead of this.

Other than that, we are doing well and Ed is looking good. He said a couple weeks ago that he was beginning to lose his hair, but I have not noticed this. I mean it is thinner, but no bald spots yet (and doesn't thinning just come with age!). He is also getting his energy back. So except for the myriad of pill bottles on the counter, the occasional swollen ankles, and his weight loss, you would not know there is this cancer inside his body that he is battling.

So I'm thankful, and I know he is as well, that this journey so far has not been as difficult as I know it can be. I am thankful that our lives have returned to "boring" and that my weekends can be putzing around the house, doing chores, and taking life a little slower right now.

We thank all of you for your prayers because I know this makes a difference. The docs give us the medical treatment, but I am convinced that determination, hope, and prayers is the other part of this battle...and miracles as well. So keep the prayers coming and thank you for your continual love and support.

Next chemo appointment: Tuesday, 1/26. Hoping for continual good news and another "quiet" day.