Yesterday our grandaughter, Jasmine, came over and just she and I went to Walmart - had lots of fun. At 16, she is very capable doing almost anything. She just had her drivers license 1 month when we went to Houston, so she had some very big responsibilities as her mother came down to stay with me every other week to give Ron a little break to sleep.
Am still feeling good - legs are a little weak when walking but I'm determined not to be confined to a weekchair while around the house. Part of problem is the swelling in my legs which the doc doesn't want to treat except for some Lasix now and then. Doesn't help much though.
Jaden starts up with tourneys in a month - can hardly wait. We want to get up to Soldier before then as long as I feel good.
Take care and God bless! Cheryl
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Can you spare 10 minutes a week?
A number of you have told me you appreciate being able to follow Cheryl's journey through this blog. A few of you add comments to the posts, some have added quite a few comments, but many of you have added very few or none at all. I can tell you from first had experience that Cheryl reads every comment (or we read them to her back in Houston when she wasn't able). So, here is the deal, if you can spare 10 minutes a week, I'd like you to make one comment each week so Cheryl knows you are still making the journey with her. It won't cost you anything but your time, not even the cost of a stamp. You don't have to say much. Short and to the point is great. It's the thought that counts...and believe me it counts for a lot.
Some of you have told me you don't know how to make a comment. Well, in this post I'm going to fix that, at least for those of you that have a Google account. If you don't have a Google account it is free and easy to get one.
In the example that follows, I am assuming that you are viewing the blog and are not already signed in with your Google account.
First, you click on the "comments" link at the bottom of the post you want to comment on. The most recent one would be best. We often look back at the previous posts to see if there are any new comments but we might miss it.
Next, you type your comment. Since I have had occasional problems getting my comment input, if your comment is very long I suggest typing your comment in Word or Notepad and then copy and past it. That way if anything goes wrong you can copy and past it again without having to retype it. Select Google Account from the drop down list and click the "Post Comment" button.
That should bring up the Google Sign In screen. It hasn't a few times for me and I have to click the button again. Don't give up, keep trying until you get the Google Sign In screen.
On the Google Sign In screen, enter your email address (which is what Google uses as your id) and your password, then click the "Sign In" button.
This displays a confirmation screen showing your comment as it will appear and a space at the bottom to type in the word in an image. I believe this is a security measure to make sure it's a real person making the comment and not a program. In any case it is required. If you can't read the word, leave it blank and click the "Post Comment" button. This generates an error but seems to make the word easier to read. Finally, with the word entered click the "Post Comment" button.
That should bring you back to the blog with your comment posted.
If you have questions or can't get it to work, send me an email at
rsmith2@everestkc.net and I'll try to help.
Thanks so much! Ron
Some of you have told me you don't know how to make a comment. Well, in this post I'm going to fix that, at least for those of you that have a Google account. If you don't have a Google account it is free and easy to get one.
In the example that follows, I am assuming that you are viewing the blog and are not already signed in with your Google account.
First, you click on the "comments" link at the bottom of the post you want to comment on. The most recent one would be best. We often look back at the previous posts to see if there are any new comments but we might miss it.
Next, you type your comment. Since I have had occasional problems getting my comment input, if your comment is very long I suggest typing your comment in Word or Notepad and then copy and past it. That way if anything goes wrong you can copy and past it again without having to retype it. Select Google Account from the drop down list and click the "Post Comment" button.
That should bring up the Google Sign In screen. It hasn't a few times for me and I have to click the button again. Don't give up, keep trying until you get the Google Sign In screen.
On the Google Sign In screen, enter your email address (which is what Google uses as your id) and your password, then click the "Sign In" button.
This displays a confirmation screen showing your comment as it will appear and a space at the bottom to type in the word in an image. I believe this is a security measure to make sure it's a real person making the comment and not a program. In any case it is required. If you can't read the word, leave it blank and click the "Post Comment" button. This generates an error but seems to make the word easier to read. Finally, with the word entered click the "Post Comment" button.
That should bring you back to the blog with your comment posted.
If you have questions or can't get it to work, send me an email at
rsmith2@everestkc.net and I'll try to help.
Thanks so much! Ron
Not quite what we hoped
Went to clinic today to hopefully start another round of chemo. Well, my platelet count was up to 71 which needs to be at least 80. Doc decided to give me half a dose (300mg vs. 600mg) and see how I do. Hopefully will be better next week - my hemoglobin was 8.7 and will try to eat some healthy food to bring it up so I don't have to have a transfusion. Am still feeling good, walking around the house without assistance but not a long ways.
Appreciate your prayers and cards - the fight is not over yet by far. I pray that you and yours are safe and healthy. Once again I would like to thank my family for their great support and especially my 24/7 caregiver/partner, Ron. Will try to keep up better with the blog. Cheryl
Appreciate your prayers and cards - the fight is not over yet by far. I pray that you and yours are safe and healthy. Once again I would like to thank my family for their great support and especially my 24/7 caregiver/partner, Ron. Will try to keep up better with the blog. Cheryl
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
New PICC line today
We just got back from the hospital where Cheryl had a new PICC line inserted in her left arm just above the elbow. The procedure went very smoothly and didn't hurt. She was concerned that they might have to "poke around" a lot and I told her compared to what she had been through this would be a piece of cake...and it was. We're all set now to start chemo on Thursday if her blood counts are good. After the procedure, Cheryl stopped by her old office to see the nurses and doctors she worked with until her retirement at the end of 2007. They were glad to see her and the feeling was mutual. Cheryl had been into the office many times during her retirement and has really missed seeing them since leaving for Houston. The cards from the office gang have really been appreciated.
Since the last update last Thursday Cheryl has been feeling very good. Michelle (our daughter) and her two daughters Jolene and Justine came for a visit Friday night and left Sunday morning.
Saturday afternoon Cheryl's brother Daryl, wife Joy, son Ryan and twin granddaughters Avery and Greer came for a visit. Stacey (our daughter) and her daughter Jasmine also came over. It was a very full house for our little apartment. Cheryl enjoyed visiting with everyone and especially playing with her twin great nieces. They are 7 months old and full of energy (see picture). Jasmine, Jolene and Justine took time out from the fun to go swimming in the apartment complex pool but it was crowded and hot so they didn't stay long. After Daryl's left we all went out to eat and had a good time.
Cheryl was pretty tired Sunday and took several long naps. Sunday afternoon she wanted to go to Wal-Mart to pick up some things. I told her she didn't have to go but she insisted. She even accused me of not wanting to take her when all I meant was she didn't have to go if she didn't feel up to it. Jasmine, our granddaughter, came along to push the cart while I pushed Cheryl in the wheelchair. Cheryl said she had a good time. Puts things in perspective doesn't it, when just being able to get out and go to the store is exciting. Monday, Cheryl and I put her medicines and medical history on the computer so we could update it easily and have it for anyone who needed it, like those putting in the PICC line at 7:15 AM Tuesday morning. Ron
Since the last update last Thursday Cheryl has been feeling very good. Michelle (our daughter) and her two daughters Jolene and Justine came for a visit Friday night and left Sunday morning.
Saturday afternoon Cheryl's brother Daryl, wife Joy, son Ryan and twin granddaughters Avery and Greer came for a visit. Stacey (our daughter) and her daughter Jasmine also came over. It was a very full house for our little apartment. Cheryl enjoyed visiting with everyone and especially playing with her twin great nieces. They are 7 months old and full of energy (see picture). Jasmine, Jolene and Justine took time out from the fun to go swimming in the apartment complex pool but it was crowded and hot so they didn't stay long. After Daryl's left we all went out to eat and had a good time.Cheryl was pretty tired Sunday and took several long naps. Sunday afternoon she wanted to go to Wal-Mart to pick up some things. I told her she didn't have to go but she insisted. She even accused me of not wanting to take her when all I meant was she didn't have to go if she didn't feel up to it. Jasmine, our granddaughter, came along to push the cart while I pushed Cheryl in the wheelchair. Cheryl said she had a good time. Puts things in perspective doesn't it, when just being able to get out and go to the store is exciting. Monday, Cheryl and I put her medicines and medical history on the computer so we could update it easily and have it for anyone who needed it, like those putting in the PICC line at 7:15 AM Tuesday morning. Ron
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
