Update 11/24/14

Hello all, not much to update, but I wanted to make sure I posted something before the Thanksgiving holiday...you can all thank Claire Faler for the gentle reminder that it had been a while! :-)

My husband and I will be out of town visiting his parents, so my Uncle Bill and Aunt Alice (Mom's brother & sister-in-law) have generously volunteered to stay at my house so they can check on Mom while I'm away. It will make me feel better to know someone will be here for her, and it was so nice of them to offer so that I would feel comfortable leaving town. Alice has plenty of experience dealing with nursing homes, so I know Mom will be in good hands!

Mom has been eating a little bit more, although still not near enough. But it's encouraging that she says she actually feels a little hungry, even if just a few bites fill her up. She likes ice cream! Not much else, but she likes plain, vanilla ice cream. And apparently Cream of Wheat is another dish she requests, regardless of the time of day.

Her pain level fluctuates, and the medical staff are unclear whether it's coming from her back, the tumor, or her bed sores. Regardless, we are working on tapering off some of her pain medications in an effort to increase her alertness so that she will eat and exercise and hopefully get strong enough to come home.

Exercise, exercise...she absolutely HATES having to do physical therapy! Luckily, she has a very good physical therapist who doesn't take "no" for an answer. I just wish the rest of the staff had that attitude; many of them give up far too easily in my opinion, whether it's getting her to eat or shower, or just sit up in a chair for a while. She is still extremely weak, and that unfortunately doesn't seem to be improving, so eating and P.T. are key.

The social worker suggested that maybe she needed some activities to motivate her, so I also got her some magazines and brought her some yarn so she could knit; she hasn't actually knit anything yet, but she holds the yarn and talks about what she's going to make!

Thank you all so much for the wonderful cards she's been receiving; I read them to her, and leave them for her to look at. I have another meeting with her "care team" on Wednesday, although I doubt I will hear anything new. Then I'll be gone for a week, but I will do my best to post an update when I get back.

Thanks again for your support and prayers.  Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Tracy

Good morning, everyone...don't get too excited, it's just Tracy. I promised Mom I would post an update since she's been offline for a while.

For those of you who don't know, Mom has lung cancer. In August she came to live with me in Colorado to undergo treatment at the Shaw Cancer Center. She underwent an aggressive treatment of both radiation and chemotherapy, which did result in a reduction in the tumor size of about 42%.  Unfortunately, the treatment was too much for her and we stopped chemotherapy early, although she did fight her way through and complete the radiation.

We had to hospitalize her 3 weeks ago due to her weakened condition and overall state of malnutrition. After a week at Vail Valley Medical Center she was transferred to Heritage Park Care Center in Carbondale for rehabilitation. The first two weeks it was touch and go, but she is starting to show some improvement, albeit slowly.

We met with her "care team" on Thursday - this consists of the doctor, a physical therapist, a dietitian, an occupational therapist (still figuring out what that gal does), a social worker, a wound care nurse, the head nurse and her case manager. It was a very crowded room.

The good news is that she is a little more alert and eating a little bit more. Her appetite is still nowhere near what it needs to be so that is the main concern - to get some nutrition in her. She's lost about 45 lbs, but the last week or so that seems to have slowed down.

The not so good news is that she is still extremely weak and cannot sit up or get out of bed without help. She sleeps pretty much constantly, unless she is woken up for physical therapy or meals. She has pressure sores on her bottom that are also a big concern due to infection and her weakened immune system. Even sitting up tires her, and while I've passed on to her the emails and text messages she's received, she's not yet up to returning calls. But she does appreciate your concern and support.

I visit her daily, so I would be happy to pass on any messages. My mailing address is PO Box 5246, Gypsum, CO 81637 if you would like to send a card or letter. Or you can email her at duene7@gmail.com.

Not much else to share; at this point it's up to her. She is getting the best possible care and only time will tell. Thank you all for being her friend and for all your thoughts and prayers.

Tracy LeClair

Saturday

The next time I buy I product with a lid that is hard to open for my protecration, I think I think I will throw it out the window.  That's right,  "protecration".  When you figure it out, let me know.

Or how about spoons that are too long and slip down into the pan or bowl, or plastic or foil covers that snap back and spatter back onto the lid while you are wiping off your shirt front?

Or maybe you could spend your day reading labels or signs on some of the products you buy.  There is lots of entertainment to be found there..For instance, "

"Do not use orally." -- On a toilet bowl cleaning brush.

Tuesday

I don't think I will ever get used to the view out this east window.  I never saw a place where you could see a sunrise view out the east window like this.  It doesn't last long, but it's genuine!

 

Groucho, your nose is so big!

 



 

I have an idea, people in my art group.  Let's buy this place.  It's right on the golf course, we can use it as our painting retreat, and Rollie can live there for care and upkeep on the place.  We can sell our paintings and make millions!  I'm sure it's affordable!

Wednesday

A couple of weeks ago, I rode to Glenwood Springs with Tracy and Paul for her to exchange some curtains.  Ever since then, I have had an ad for Glenwood Springs Ford at the top of my blog page.  How does it do that?

And there has been an ad for the hotel for the place we ate lunch.  Boy, Big Brother really does watch you!!

I am not strong enough to continue with the chemo.  That is why they had stopped it.  I still have six daily raidiology treatmets left.  We'll keep you posted.

Saturday

I just used the little flashlight "app" on my iPhone to help me find a tiny white pill I dropped on the floor, and a big crumb.  Now, how cool is that?  That's life in the fast lane!

And  am knitting a pair of "fingerless" gloves. 

I also found what a "knook" is.  It's a cross between a "knitting needle" and a crochet "hook", and I plan on using one.  I think it's a hook, and you use it like you would a needle.

 

This is what it looks like out my window Last night.  It 's really sunset, but the sun is shining on the mountains to the east.  Hard to sleep through this.  

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I found what a "Knook" is today.  It is a cross between a "hook" and a "needle" and you use it like a "knitting needle".  Sounds simple. And one less thing to lose between the couch cushions.

  

 I wonder if Tracy remembered how closely her shirt matched the new drapes.

    

 

Thursday

Tracy took one look at the new orange hat I got yesterday, and said "That has got to be potentially the ugliest hat I have ever seen."  Okay, I just ate the macaroni and cheese she made me and shut up.  She's right, of course.

Great news, and some not so great from the doctor yesterday.  The tumor has shrunk 43% but we won't know for a couple more treatments yet how much damage has been done to the spinal chord.  We do know it hasn't spread. 

Still having problems keeping medications straight, and under control. 

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Paul and Tracy are going camping this weekend, and I have given in (finally) and agreed to having the PT send in an aide to be with me part time.  I know it will be easier for them to know someone is here when they are gone and out of cell phone range.  Don't know for sure why I was so against it.  Stubborn old lady.

 

   

Wednesday

Managed to make myself feel a little down this morning when Judi texted me that even though Rock Rabbit's sign said it was open at 7:00, they weren't open at 7:30.  Nor was the Patio.  My friends ended up at the Stockmen's and had a good time anyway.  That made me feel a lot better.  I was looking forward to a good party!

I'll stay mad at Rock Rabbit for a while, though!

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Here is a photograph of an old Buick Tracy and Paul have, taken by a friend of theirs.  Yep, it's going to be a painting one of these days.  Isn't it great?  Not sure what to do about the setting, though.  Trees, hills, old fence, mountains, desert?  Or maybe just the old stone building, roughed up and aged a little bit. 

 

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If Tracy comes and in and catches me not eating, she'll forgive me if I'm drinking a Gator Aide, won't she?

 

I found a couple things this morning to make my life easier - a small notebook, a magnifying glass, my scissor sharpeners, some rubber bands and some lotion.  I need to add those things to my "nest" on the floor at the end of the couch along with the knitting.



Tuesday

 

Up very early this morning, but I wasn't the first! While Paul and I were chasing the sound of a ringing iPhone all over the house, the phone was ringing happily away, charging itself under the couch cushion.  I was trying to remind all my friends that they are invited to breakfast on me at Rock Rabbit tomorrow morning, on me.

That means ALL of you who helped me move, including your moral support!

I hope the elusive Barrie and Kasey get this message.  Just don't bring Kat!

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Sunday

Paul and Tracy were going to hang curtains today, but I think the golf clubs won out.  I'm sure they'll get it done after that.

Tracy ordered some large canvas art prints for her office downstairs.  She has been searching for quite a while and finally made up her mind what she wanted.  They are a little on the abstract side, but beautiful.  I'll photograph them after she gets them up.

Yesterday she got my bluebird picture hung a little higher on the wall over the bed, and hung the mirror.  The mirror matches the hand made pine dressers and night stands in that room.  It reflects the bluebird perfectly when I open my eyes in the morning.  He glares at me every morning.

What did I accomplish?  Well, I tipped a small set of plastic drawers over and dumped all the paper and pads from the top onto the floor.  Good job, Duene.  I guess I better stick to the knitting.