The Day After

The moving adventure continues. Dick L. was at the house (Royal Oak parsonage) today, doing more work. Two painters were here all day. Friends Susan S. and Debbie C. were also here being amazing helpers, mainly with organizing the kitchen and generally unpacking boxes and washing and putting things away. They came just because they knew I would need help. I always need help, but I am appreciative of the progress we made with their help!

Everyone managed to work around each other's tasks pretty well too (except for the paint on my pants. Woops!).

Susan is a childhood friend who now lives near Chicago. We have often celebrated birthdays together, as they are one day apart. But she is also good at mothering, so she "made" me go outside for fresh air. My doctor had encouraged exercise at last month's check-up, so I have been trying to walk outside more consistently anyway. Also, I have read that even in the midst of fatigue, exercise is encouraged. So Debbie (from Northville, who is a gifted organizer) kindly took extra time to walk around a few blocks with me. Ahhh...

As for food, Amy T. made vegetable soup which Karen and Patrick's family brought over yesterday. Our neighbor's daughter also made us cookies!

"Fare Well" in Transition

We are still staying at my brother Allan's house in Novi. The Royal Oak parsonage should have the painting finished today, and the moving company will move us in on (the revised moving date) Tuesday. (Our stuff is being stored on the truck to give the churches maximum spiffing up time for each parsonage.)

I am actually glad for a quieter day today. I am trying to be intentional about getting in walks (my chosen exercise for now), and my brother's neighborhood is good for that.

We have had some lovely going-away events. The church hosted a farewell dinner on June 7, with friends and food and fun, and even presents. It was gracious and generous, and we are grateful.

Then yesterday, our last Sunday at Northville, John preached a sermon entitled "Sincerely Yours". It was in the form of a farewell letter, modeled after Paul the apostle's leave-taking. There was also meaningful and beautiful music, hugs and kind words ... and more gifts, including a photo album and a video of the farewell dinner. Deep, deep thanks!

I attended all three services, which I do not usually do, but it was good to see everyone.

Later on, we drove to the Royal Oak parsonage to take a few things (like cleaning supplies that did not go on the truck) and to try to figure out some furniture placement before the truck arrives Tuesday morning. We also saw the new kitchen cabinets. I do not know who all is involved, but I know Kay and Dick have been hard at work. More gratitude!

Moved Out

We had a wonderful crew of movers yesterday. They worked hard and efficiently, and "our house" was empty by early evening. We finished cleaning (after John's wedding rehearsal), and decided to find Mexican food as I wanted to eat vegatables.

This morning, John officiated at Susan and Scott's wedding. What a beautiful & joyous celebration!

Afterward we stopped by "the parsonage" (no longer "our house", although our newspaper is still being delivered there through the weekend). Wow, what a terrific work crew of church volunteers who had already been hard at work all morning tearing out carpet and tile flooring and old kitchen cabinets and paneling and the family room ceiling, and were already painting bedrooms! Marie and Roger were trimming shrubs, and everyone was generally making the place a very welcoming home for the Bucks. We loved and appreciated seeing everyone!

Move in Progress

Packers were here yesterday and today. They stayed so late today, we all had pizza together. They packed up John's office last. Wow, all those book shelves are empty.

We are back at the house, which is already feeling like not-home. John and James are doing dirty-cleaning of basement and garage. They said I have been around enough dust for the day, so I am "not allowed" to help. So I am sitting at John's laptop.

John just found out tonight that our move-in date may need to be a bit later. We have to check with the moving company tomorrow if we can change it from Monday to Tuesday.

Soon (?) we will go back to my brother Allan's house to spend the night, and will be back here early in the morning to meet the movers and the truck. Friday is move-out day. Our stuff will be stored over the weekend.

John can't quite stay all day, as he has a wedding rehearsal. I'm sure he's scheduled a shower first.

Chemotherapy #5

John and I started out the week on Monday with a quick evening trip to Grand Rapids to see Peter Storey (South African Bishop), after John's full day of work, the church healing service, and a "blood draw" for me. Long day, but it was good to see friends.

Wednesday, I both had chemotherapy and (unusual schedule) also had my monthly appointment with Dr. Malviya. He explained something about lymph nodes and the need to be especially protective of my lower body. Most of my abdominal lymph nodes were removed, so infection cannot be filtered out as well. In two years, about 50% could grow back, but never all of it. (I liked the idea of having time for it to grow back. He also mentioned having a mole removed before my hair grows back.)

Other new information.
I had understood that the regimen of chemotherapy treatments consisted of 6 cycles, one every 4 weeks. So I was beginning to plan around that.

I found out it is actually 9 cycles.

That is good. A chance for more healing. I just need to readjust my thinking, as I thought July 2 would be my last one and that I would have a month to recover before my August 2 class reunion. Now Homecoming/Reunion will only be the third day after treatment #7.

Oh well. I am thankful for the opportunities of those "extra" treatments!

People sometimes ask how chemotherapy goes.
This time it took three needle-pokes to find a vein, but I normally have had pretty "good" veins.
I sit in the transfusion room with as many as three other patients and two nurses.
I have an IV transfusion in my arm for 5-6 hours, with various medicines besides the chemotherapy drugs.
I return to the office 24 hours later for a Neulasta shot (bone marrow booster).
I try to avoid the constipating Zophran (anti-nausea drug), but took one-half tab today.
The drugs, and especially the Neulasta, tend to make bones and muscles ache for a couple days.
So I am currently tender-to-the-touch.
And tired.
But I am in the process of healing.

Rest of the week
Yesterday, we drove over to the Royal Oak church to see John's office and then to see the house. Trustee Chair Kay and husband Dick (and others) are taking good care of preparing a place for us.

This evening, there is a farewell dinner at the Northville church.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

It is not everyday I would have such an exotic title.

While otherwise enjoying walks through the woods and fields, John apparently encountered some of what we have heard described as a "bumper crop" of dog ticks (or wood ticks). We later found (and removed) a couple latched onto his skin (arm and back). While at his regularly scheduled checkup Monday, his doctor put him on antibiotics, just in case. (No signs of illness, mainly in the interest of taking care of me.)

I appear to have been spared from a tick-attack (as a friend termed it). I was mostly covered up with a hat and long sleeves and slippery light-colored hiking pants tucked into my socks. A couple times, I brushed something off that I assumed was a little spider. Who knows? So enjoy the woods and fields, but keep watch.