Week Two Done

26 more treatments to go! Nine down and counting......  It was a long week!  David stayed in Saint John, I worked a couple days, spent one day sleeping and trying to put my brain together so I could at least form one coherent sentence, got my baby ready for college graduation, bought an old car for him to use to get to work and did I mention sleep???

So many things to learn how to do.....I've never bought a car on my own, never had to take care of insurance on my own and all kinds of other things that David has always taken care of.  My head was spinning by the end of the week.  But it all doesn't matter as long as he gets well!!  What ever I have to do I will do!! I am woman hear me roar! LOL!  Oh, I can't believe I just used that line lol~

David had a fairly good week.  The end of the week his jaw was hurting and he had a sore mouth this week.  I can hold my hands out from his head about 6" and the heat that radiates off him is very hot.  This is from the radiation...no fever, we keep checking. His face and neck are redder like he got a sunburn.  Other than that, his spirits are good and positive, his appetite is back :)

A really wonderful group of ladies from the Woodstock Quilt Guild made him this wonderful quilt which he uses on his bed.  The very first day after he received it, I found him sound asleep under it on the sofa lol!  Thanks so much G8 girls!!

I can't believe our "baby" graduated from college on Friday!  Ethan graduated with honors, has already been hired for a job in his field.  

Our "baby" is 6'5" lol....here receiving his honors diploma!!  We're so proud of you Ethan :)

And check out this good looking dude sporting his "new" used car...at his height, cars that will accommodate his long body aren't easy to find or cheap.  He's looking pretty pleased, isn't he :)

And just because he hasn't been on in a while, Misha checking out the new summer quilt.  I really think he's about to fall asleep!

No sewing this week and feeling really dumpy about it.  I wish I had had more energy and more time.  Maybe next weekend...and I really wish the postal workers would stop striking!!!!  Or maybe, they'd like to give up their job so I could take their place at their wages with their benefits~  Happy stitching~

A whole bunch of fun stuff!!

With all the rain we've had this spring, I finally got some totally gorgeous blossoms on my flowering crab tree. It was just loaded with these wonderful bundles of pink!

Over the past few weeks, I have managed to get a few little projects made and I've been the happy recipient of some awesome birthday gifts!

 I love this little wool sewing case, a kit I picked up on a shop hop last year.  I did all the applique during one of David's all day appointments in Saint John.  If I made it again, though, I would make it wider, add a flap and turn the applique design around to fit the width.  of course I couldn't stick with the plan lol!

Another quick and easy snap bag, which David has already found a very good home for :)  I just can't seem to stop making these...they're addictive.  The pattern is called Snap Happy.

I have block 3 done for my Designer Mystery BOM...see Thelma!! I'm doing it! :)  I love this block..it's so totally different from any other star blocks I've done.

This is called the 20 minute runner which actually takes only 10 minutes if you don't put any applique on it.  With applique....1 1/2 hours lol!  It found a home for my friend Darcy's birthday.

I was given the most awesome bowl ever made!!  My husband's friend, Rex, makes these beautiful pieces from special hardwoods.  I absolutely LOVE mine and I can't tell you how long I've longed for one of these but never dreamed I would ever have one.  This one is made from Birdseye Maple and the finish is as smooth as glass!  Thank you thankyou Rex!

My sweet friend Mary sent me this perfect red cherries bag made by Cindy, whose blog I can't find right this minute :(  I love my bag and Cindy does lovely work.  My favorite pie in the whole wide world since I was wee little....Cherry Pie!  And my mom is making me one tomorrow...yumyum, can't wait!

I, also, won a free pattern called Flirtations, from Quilt Hollow  a couple weeks ago. Thanks again Mary :)

My friend Janet gave me the nicest china cup with cats on it..I love cats as you all know:), an apple scented candle, some perle cotton and Dove chocolate...which I already ate!  Now you really didn't expect that to last until a photo did you LOL!

My mom gave me the sweet little picture frame.

Look what I got for $3.00!!!! One day this week, while hubby was still feeling pretty good, we went into Quispamsis to visit the Town and Country Quilt Shop.  I got my first piece of French General fabric and a whole yard of Chocolate by Three Sisters.  I tell ya, I couldn't get out of there fast enough cause I was scared Tina would decide she wanted to mark it back up to full price and then because I'd already fallen in love with it....well, you know how the rest of that story would go...

Happy stitching y'all!

One week down......

We're back home!!!! For the weekend , at least!  Guess what? They have no public internet access at the hospital...I mean...really????? What year is it again??  Maybe in a couple of weeks for long term patients, which would be us but until then, I can't post until we get back home on Fridays :(

Monday and Tuesday were horribly stressful...much confusion and mixups and changes from what they told us.  Eventually it got all ironed out but on Tuesday night we both had been pushed to the point of tears.

David's radiation went well all four days..today is the first today he's experiencing a side effect from it...there is a strong metallic taste in his mouth that persists.

Getting all hooked down nice and tight for his first radiation treatment.  He is on the new Trilogy machine which can aim within micro-millimetres of everything...very high tech and he must absolutely NOT move at all.

Here you can see the green light that helps the techs set the machine.

This is what he sees as he looks up from the radiation bed.  It was not a nice day outside!  This is an artificially realistic image for the patients to focus on.

Our one hour of chemo turned into seven.  With the drug trial David is participating in, he must receive 3 L of fluids in addition to all the chemo drugs.  The trial wants to see how the extra hydration along with the drugs affects the patient.  Studies show that it reduces the chemo side affects and for David it did.  His worse symptom was severe hiccups from one of the meds for 3 days.  He wasn't sick to his stomach but didn't have much of an appetite and was tired.  Plus, he must drink 3 L of water each and every day for his entire treatments of radiation and chemo. As you can see, I did manage to put a little weight on him as they requested but he's already lost 2 lbs of it. At this point in time, his next chemo is July 5.  Back on Monday for Radiation every day until Thurs.  His taking Friday off because our youngest son graduates from college!!! I can't believe both of our boys are this old lol!

Today, after getting home, he mowed the lawn so his energy is back some and he's eating better today.

We met some really brave and courageous people in the hostel.  One lady has had cancer 4 times over the past 40 years!  

Thanks for all the incoming prayers and we hope you will continue to pray for David.  *Until next time, keep positive!

David's update for this week.

David had one final CT scan today and it went well.  We won't get any results from it until next week.  We did find out today that he will not be receiving the HN6 trial drug. No particular reason...his number just didn't get picked, so to speak.  He will, however, still be a participant in the drug trial which means that he will receive increased scans and tests to monitor the cancer's response to regular chemotherapy and radiation.  This type of monitoring is above and beyond  what the normal patient receives so that is a bonus because it will let the Dr's know sooner if the chemo and radiation needs to be adjusted.  The chemo and radiation start next Tuesday.  At this point, he will receive chemo 3 times over 43 days and have 35 days of radiation at the same time so he will remain in the hostel and come home on weekends if able.  The chemo and radiation are an effective way of treating this cancer and we are staying very positive that it will be successful .  The study is trying to determine if one method is better than the other.


We found out  that the drugs to treat the side affects will be costing over $1500.  That was just a little overwhelming but we are sure God will provide.  Yesterday, the transmission went in the car.  I mean, REALLY!!!!  But, I guess better here than down the highway halfway to Saint John. One of our most wonderful friends lent us his vehicle to travel today.  Tomorrow, we car hunt!  If you are wanting to leave a  reply and do not have a blogger account, just chose Anonymous from the options given when you click on reply.  You do have to leave your name in the message though or we won't know who wrote it. (this message was more for my family then my blogging friends :) )  Or you can get a blogger ID for free....you don't have to start a blog to have a blogger ID.

Been up since way early so headed off for tonight.  Quilty stuff soon!!!  Happy Stitching my friends,