25 March 2015

I’m a bit overdue with this blog, but it doesn’t seem that much of significance has happened over the past week.

But then again…

Last Monday Dale moved out of our house and into his own digs after having lived with us for approx 3 months.

His life had unraveled following a very stressful marriage breakdown last year, and we were happy that we could provide some short-term space for him. He is back on track now, feeling much more positive about things and enjoying his half-time care of 14-year-old Kodey. We enjoyed having them both here for this period – lots of guitar playing, and quite helpful in fact to be in the house while Brian and I were away in Geelong.

During the shifting process last week I couldn’t assist of course (head wants to, hip says no), but at least I could provide an evening meal for the workers – which ended up being 9 hungry helpers.

Now our house seems disconcertingly quiet, tidy and spacious! This also means that we have beds available again for anyone traveling to this neck of the woods.  

I continue to do well on the cancer drug, with basically no side effects. I saw the oncologist last week for my monthly appointment, and he’s happy with my wellness and blood test results. I have an appointment for a CT scan (here in Portland) in 3 weeks. This will be the first check since the diagnostic tests in early January, so it will be very interesting to see how things are progressing after radiotherapy and several months of the chemo tablet.

These results will no doubt be important in determining what will happen next. I’m trying hard not to let myself get into a flap about the results of this scan, and just to keep taking things one day at a time. Even if the cancer is responding very well, the oncologist said it would probably be several months before hip surgery because of the complexity of the surgery, and the probable need to specially design and make some of the components (possibly in America). I had an unexpected call several weeks ago from the orthopedic team from St Vincent’s hospital, and it seems they are still keen to follow things up. I referred them to my oncologist, who expressed surprise at their active interest.

I am continuing to enjoy the Cancer Rehab Group which I attend twice weekly. The exercises are very good for me and the interaction with others is good too.

Last night I had a lovely phone chat with grandson Liam, who wanted to know how my sickness was going and could he send me $20 that he had saved up. Aww…

He changed schools this year and Lauren began school too. I didn’t know that it was possible to buy a size 3 school dress, but Sonya managed to find one – and then took up the hem so far that she had to stitch up the pocket!

They are both doing well.