Tuesday, December 11

Spent 4 hours at clinic yesterday with Joe.  Lots of bloodwork, ekg, xrays to make sure his di tract is moving along ok.  Sunday night we got dumped with a foot of heavy snow.  Between Joe, Jim and myself we have 3 cars parked on the street which needed to be unearthed from the good dump we had.  Joe put a lot of effort into helping get cars moved to the other side of the street for snow removal, along with everyone else in the neighborhood.  Long and short, Joe put a lot of stress on his recovering body.  He seemed ok last night and we watched the Pink Panther Strikes Again which made us all giggle.  Laughter is so healing for the body.
Today his home health nurse will be visiting and checking up.  Monica!  We all have grown attached to this lovely woman.
Saturday night Joe went to a holiday open house with us, Lyndel King put on an amazing event and it was wonderful to have Joe with us enjoying the food and guests that evening.
Joe has been having iron infusions at the masonic cancer center over the course of the past couple weeks.  We are hoping it helps his fatigue and recovery.
thank you for all your support.

November 17, Saturday

Pretty exciting couple of days.  Joe has shown signs of internal bleeding.  Yesterday we trouped back over to the hospital, this time in the endoscopy day surgery area.  Joe had another procedure done. The good news, is that there is no internal bleeding going on in his upper gi tract.  Now they are working to figure out whey his iron levels are so low and he is anemic.  So, back to the cancer center for a follow up Wednesday.  His primary talked about an iron infusion and i hope that perhaps this is what he needs.  Today is beautiful and thanksgiving may be in the 60's. Have a wonderful holiday.

Friday, November 2

Joe is eating food again and enjoying so much he has not eaten in years.  such as halloween reeses peanut butter cups.  Sister Tesia came home for the weekend from Brooklyn and has been here for the week.  Missed Hurricane Sandy.  Her employment is in southern manhattan and is still out of power.  Airport open so she hopes to get on plane saturday.  Lots of obstacles for life back in nyc.  Joe has however, been happy to have her here. Diabetes present daily challenges but Joe is diligent about watching bs numbers and adjustments.  He is on the mend.  Fatigue continues and will be around for months to come but every week is better and better.  Joe is quite lucky.  Many people who have this surgery have significant problems post surgery.  Joe is progressing so well.  His 3 month checkup is this coming tuesday.  All the test he will be taking will tell Docs how the body is recovering and working.  Will post soon after.  here is a picture of joe and tesia before watching The Avengers.

October 20, Saturday

Joe is doing well.  All tubes have been removed from his body!  He is eating well, enjoying the food he does eat and digesting ok. this is great news.  He will be going in for his 3 month checkup in another week.  Hard to believe it has been 3 months.  After the last tube was removed last week which had allowed all night feeding into his intestine, he no longer needs to get up in the night for bs checks, meds and feeding bag additions.  We had all made such a routine, it has taken some time to get accustomed to sleeping at night!  Fatigue continues to be a real big challenge but he walks, does squats and stretches to help.  Take care and stop by if you can. 

Wednesday, Sept 27

IT is late.  I am waiting for the food enzymes to dissolve which takes about 30 minutes.  Then the enzymes with 25 cc water are mixed with the peptide that has been sustaining Joe for almost 2 months now.  At midnight I do a double bag so we don't need to fill the bag at 4am which makes that "event" a little faster and less stressful.  Saw Dr Dunn yesterday.  She applied silver nitrate to Joe's infection site to stave off more complications.  Aside from that, Joe is progressing well.  Dick and Judy brought us an organic watermelon sunday and we are all enjoying it.  It was grown on a farm near alexandria minnesota. 

Infection

Joe has developed an infection in the tube site of his abdomen.  He has had some trouble getting an antibiotic to work for him because of his allergy to penicillin.  We are hoping the site looks better today.  Made a short visit to Joes Ski Sale last night.  Sking Helps Joe and Jim think about the future and sking. Whistler Mountain with Mike?  Sweitzer Mountain in Idaho. Maybe February?  Cross our fingers.

Sept 10, Monday

After 10 years, a DQ Blizzard, mini size.