7-8-2013 Rathfoot Visit

  We went to the follow-up appointment with Dr. Rathfoot today and I think it went fairly well. He scoped me and saw no evidence of tumor but did see the radiation aftermath still fighting. He showed us on a drawing what he saw and the swelling that has finally quit but not gotten any better either, so we're at a standstill for now. The odds though are good that I dodged the Trach being put in temporarily, less chance of that happening now, so the increase in Prednisone worked. He explained that it also kept my immune system down so that maybe my body would cease attacking the damaged part. His biggest concern is that at night while I am asleep that my throat will close off and I'll not wake up. So, the surgery is a definite to inject the Kennalog (spelling ?) in there, maybe even stretch it a bit. I was able to talk him into waiting until Sept so I could get some stuff done, and let him know I know the risks of waiting. He said that one of two possible outcomes would occur now as the end result, and I can't remember them, lol. Since the trach is pretty much off, as long as all goes well, I don't mind the surgery.

  He also noticed that I make some saliva and said that I was making more than he had ever seen any neck cancer victim make. When I have me teeth in they help one of the glands halfway work. It takes some time since I can't sleep with them in to start to work again each day. I broke off the same tooth again, this time below the gum line, so we will see what comes of this tomorrow.  It would be good if it would hold off until my insurance resets and I'm not sure just how long I've had the bottom one. I'll probably get those 2 pulled and just go with a regular denture, that way I can sleep with them in and make spit. Nothing quite like waking up each morning with your mouth and throat feeling like its cracking open.

  So I will do as I have done. Nights when I feel my throat is tight I sleep up in a chair, and other nights on the couch, still some in the bed. Eat nothing dry without a lot of liquid. Nothing too large or nothing too small when I eat, and eat slow and focus on swallowing.

  Today was a good day, quite excellent. I got the surgery postponed, me and Denise went to Victoria's Secret, Sams, Earth Fare, and Lowes. We had fun together, despite the incident at Victoria's Secret, lol. I discovered the secret. Don't stick your hand in a vase that looks like it has a mirror suspended 1/2 inside, it's smelly oil. I'll assume the candle at the bottom was to heat that stuff, why I don't know, I thought it stunk. Denise however liked the smell. I felt like it appeared I had given a Pole Cat an enema. That stuff don't wash off easily either. One of these days I'll grow out of having to touch everything, lol. I was better at SAMS, especially after I turned on that weird thing with lights and a siren that time and couldn't make it stop. That was embarrassing. It has been a good birthday. 

Happy Birthday Misty

Happy Birthday Misty

The night you were born started odd. Cathy woke me up and said "It's time". We were living with mom and dad then and I woke up mom and repeated just what Cathy had said. "It's time". Mom rose up and said, "Time for what", kinda pissed. I filled her in so she woke up and called Charlie, which he came right over. There we sat in the Kitchen, mom and Charlie drinking Coffee and I was sitting with them. Around the corner come your mom, carrying a suit case and asked for help and said we needed to go... so we left, lol. Once in the car and backing out we noticed her standing there, we'd forgotten her, lol. Off we went. 

  We got there and rushed her right in. Back then a man had to go through some classes before he was allowed in the delivery room. We didn't have the money or time for me to take them, so I waited in the waiting area. At one time I had 3 cigarettes going and was about to light a 4th. We heard a woman scream curse words out and the guy sitting next to me says, "Thats my wife, I know her voice and tone." We had barely gotten her there in time and I thought maybe it was Cathy. The doctor was heading out to get me when you started crowing. 

  The time I sat there I thought of all the people I had said things to about must have a boy. I finally got up, went into the Bathroom, and prayed that whatever God gave us would be healthy. My craving for a boy ended and humility started. :). When they wheeled you out I fell in love with you when we locked eyes. So much so that I went and bought bubble gum and cigars to pass out. I gave up on a boy that night, had no idea there would be 2 more added years later. All of this you have heard before, but this part is new. I went back in the bathroom after they took you down the Hall and thanked Him for such a beautiful baby. 

  Now you turn 34, have your own family, and raise them well. I am very proud of the woman you have grown into. I know it was hard to grow up with just a dad for a while, but it sure was good. I swore that I would never leave my kids like I was left, and though I've made some mistakes, I remained. I see that look of duty in your face today with your kids. So, happy birthday to a great daughter, mother, wife, and sister. If I never do anything else right, there are at least 3 things I see that I was a part of doing right... plus Denise, though she came to us right, we just done some tweaking, lol. Now you see your kids like I have always seen you, Annie, and Megan. If you live to be 100 you will still be one of my little girls. You inspired me as a child, and even more so as an adult.  

05-30-2013

So far so good, the increase in Prednisone is holding up and I'm tolerating it. I got about 24 days until my next check-up to see if we do surgery or now again on my throat. I don't mind the surgery except that possibility of the tube. As a rule of thumb I have a lot of luck, just not the right kind of luck. :) Me and Megan planted the last garden yesterday, I couldn't stand it any longer, but I didn't do beans... so far. Megan is learning to incubate eggs and raise Peafowl, ducks, & Guineas. As usual, my graceful self, I decided to not wait until the Big Toe healed and broke another toe two nights ago. Megan laughed watching me hobble around planting the garden. At the same time she is learning more and more on gardening and growing, already checking the Signs to see what if anything to do on what day. Just in case one day I have her books on it as well. Denise is off next week and provided the flooring is still good we bought back in 2008, we will do the wood floors... finally. Today has been another great day, especially now that I'm off my feet, lol.  

Rathfoot Follow-Up 5-22-2013

  Busy day today, started with a Follow-Up to Dr Rathfoot and then some supply shopping. The visit went well but had a bit of good and bad. Good thing is that the area has finally quit dying from the Radiation damage, which is wild considering it's been over 3 years ago. Bad new, the scar tissue is pretty bad. For the last 2 weeks it has become increasingly harder to breathe, ok, longer than that, lol. The last 2 weeks though a little rough including bleeding and soreness, along with major hoarseness. Over the years I've learned to use my diaphragm to speak loud enough to hear and different amounts of pressure to use to make some sounds.

  He scoped me and saw that the vocal chords (I'm guessing thats right) weren't opening well and hindering air flow. Funny how the mind works. I heard that he wanted to do surgery and that I might have to have a temporary Trach Tube to breathe until the swelling went down and from there I went into panic mode, lol. I took it that he would do the Kenalogue (spelling ?) injections, possible stretching, and check to make sure the cancer isn't back or that he missed something. My mind however focused on the possibility of a tube in my throat, weird how that worked. I went into salvage mode and asked if we could first try the Prednisone dosage being doubled from 5mg to 10mg per day. It worked, I bought a month to see if the swelling will go down and the vocal chords will open up so I can breathe better. It ain't like I didn't know this was coming, but in the middle of summer, I hope to wait.

  We went from there to Earth Fare to get some stuff and from there to Sams to get more stuff. Other than Dr's appointments we don't do Knoxville or anywhere a whole lot, so we stock up when we go. We buy in bulk usually except for some everyday things, then we stock up on those items too. No coupon or sale, no buy. Those times we run short on funds, we stock enough to tide us over. One doesn't have to be a Doomsday Prepper to Prep for hard times or to save money.

  The gardens this year... not too good, and thats ok too. My breathing issues have slowed me down a lot and taken energy away. The two Peacocks that guarded my Green Bean Corn garden died last year of old age. We still have 4 roofs to replace from the storm 2 years ago. One crew I wouldn't hire again and the other broke apart, but I have help that if we ever get out of the Monsoon season we will put them on. The Tomato area is a wash, though Denise says replant. Between the rains and Megan's Mallards she turned loose they didn't stand a chance, plus Megan chasing her ducks took out a few. Cabbage, Garlic, and peppers are doing ok though and I don't know enough about Brussels Sprouts Swiss Chard, and Cauliflower to know how they're doing, but they look good. Ms Hen and her babies wiped the Okra out and most of the Sunflowers too. I didn't get the garden set up or the seeds started, due to my lawn mower repair, lol. I still don't have full use of the fingers yet, but I'm getting there. Funny how one second of ignorance can take months to get over. I want to work some on the house, the truck, and I'd like to work on one of the old cars, finishing the boat wouldn't hurt either. Maybe go fishing. Either way, I won't plant green beans this year. Corn, maybe, beans, nope. Sooo it's all good. :)           

Happy Brthday Denise

!!!Happy Birthday Denise!!!

05-08-2013

  In a little over a week I go back to Rathfoot for a follow-up, hopefully he will be impressed. I upped my Prednisone to 10mg after a battle for soreness and closing off, oddly enough usual for this time of year. Since I don't have the other garden maybe it will go better. I haven't bush hogged yet though but the mowing has been ok so maybe that will go better this year too. Not having the beans may give the knees some time to get better too. From all this rain it is just as well, the other 2 gardens are downing, tomatoes already almost gone. I think too the mold on the ground affects me somehow.

  Megan has learned to keep up with the signs and makes the most out of the days she can when the signs are right. Despite all the water, most of the plants in her area are doing well. Today we went to Sears at East Towne Mall, though I think it's called Knoxville Mall now. I bought a head for the weedeater that uses a different type of string and some shirts me and Megan found. She was shocked at how empty it was. We stopped at KFC and ate, why I have no idea. Then we decided since it was raining we'd just blow the rest of the day, so we went to the Lodge Outlet store in Pigeon Forge, or is the Sevierville, all looks the same these days. I came back with a massive deep frying skillet, we didn't have one of those, lol. I think the WOK is all we lack that they make. :) I have no idea what those are. We don't have one of those hanging 3 legged Dutch Ovens, but I ain't cooking outside unless it's on a grill, lol. It was raining today so we did our running, plus it gave my toes time to heal up a bit, broke two of them about 2 nights ago when I ran into a fan base. That day the cow got out and we had to walk the field, new experience in ouch, lol. I felt like I was at UPS all over again. I once broke two toes on the road, called in to tell them and the boss said ok. He then wanted to know what I wanted and I told him I broke two toes and wanted to know what to do. He said tape them up but be quick about it, don't get behind, lol.

   We seen our first snake yesterday, a Copperhead. It crossed the driveway in front of us as we were walking down and headed into a Yucca and looked to be going towards the barn. Megan wanted to know if I was going to kill it, I think I had something in my hand. We walked to the truck and I got my shotgun out, loaded it and shot in the grass, just not in the Yucca. I think it was already gone. Tomorrow the signs are right to plant above ground so we will dig up some of these Maples and transplant them. I think though since the snake came from that area if I can I'll mow through it first and if not, weed eat a path. They are suppose to be plentiful this year as wet as it's been and both Peacocks are gone now. We will be wearing boots, lol. We live at the edge of the woods, between 2 creeks... the grandkids say we live in the woods, lol. I will invest in some young Peafowl this year and in a couple of years I'll have snake patrol again. I hear cats will keep snakes out and so far that seems to be the case... not. 

05-02-2013

  I've spent the last 2 days running mom around to the doctor and to get her car fixed, tomorrow will be the same. She has done well except for bleeding behind her eyes. Dr Jaynes referred her to another doctor who referred her to get blood work done, and she still don't know anything yet. Me and Denise broke down and bought a new Sofa & Loveseat from Ramsey's Furniture store and tomorrow they're suppose to be delivering it. That meant that today when I got back we had to remove our other one to make room. We gave them to Mark & Bobbie. Tomorrow will be hectic. Pay house insurance, follow and pick up mom, be back before 9am in case the delivery is early, followed by take mom to get her car and at the end of the night take place in a dental survey on head and neck cancer.

  This year I've been reluctant to plant the other garden, last year I had too much to take care of. I'm not sure if it is age, health, or a combination of the two, but I found my limit. The fingers threw me behind on things, one of which was fixing the tractor's power steering. Megan mostly, but I helped, tilled the other gardens with a tiller and the one lacking almost has to have the tractor and rotovator. Without my Peacocks to ward off snakes this year that also plays a role, but we have cats, wild cats. Two dead trees still standing... I can think of a thousand reasons to not do it. Still, maybe just a little bit, lol. If I were like I once was I wouldn't hesitate, but I'm not and there are other matters pressing. I still have the roofs to put on, the dump truck to finish, and today Denise informed me that we would put the wood floors down in the house when she takes vacation finally. We've had that flooring since 2008. I had it all mapped out when my shoulder snapped. Each week we'd get something else done. Sunroom done outside. Flooring put down. Bug put back together, maybe. I had to have a heart cath before the surgery, which went well until recovery, then it went crazy. The clot broke loose, first time I ever seen blood squirt that high up, or smell that bad. I was almost ruptured pressing the site the second time in places no man wants to feel pain. The skin was removed along with the pressure bandage and I found out blood is toxic to the body when it goes under or in the skin. By the time I was healed enough to do anything other than the basics on the Sunroom, it was surgery time. Hopefully the wood is still good after all these years in the basement.

  If it doesn't rain then the tractor maybe this weekend. I've never rebuilt a steering piston, let alone two, but it can't be any harder than rebuilding an old convertible top motor on a Buick. At some point I want to replace the plumbing in Denise's mom and dad's bathroom. We fixed it a week or so ago. I'd like to take Denise and Megan horseback riding once, they've never ridden a horse and Pigeon Forge has a few of the stables to ride. Several other things need repaired too but also I'd like for me and Denise to ride the bike more than three times this year, and maybe ever do something I've been going to do for over 30 years, go fishing. I'd also love to finish just one of the cars I started back then and take the Skylark out, drop the top and go on a picnic. I'm not sure I'll do the bigger garden this year. We all have a bucket list and that is mine. I figure if I'm gonna dream, dream big. Megan in her own part.