Latest News for the Month of
January 2007
Happy New Year !
Here we go folks !!! One more year down and a brand new year has started. Is it just me or do the years go by faster as we get older ? It seemed like when we were teenagers, the school years would drag on but as adults ( especially after turning 40 ) the years seem to blow by.
We made our trip up to Bristol and stayed at the house for a few days. Then we headed up to Lynchburg to have Christmas with the kids. What a great Christmas..... It was so relaxing, fun and everyone in a great festive mood. We both really enjoyed spending the time with the kids and it was great to see all of them again. We were really getting homesick and was missing all of them. Natalia and Matt drove down and we all had our Christmas together at Lindy and Kim's. Of course the highlight of the entire trip was being able to spend time with Ella. Good Gawd has that little girl grown. And she is really getting to be allot of fun as she talks allot and comes up with one liners that only kids can do. I can now see how grandparents get so consumed with their grandkids. This little girl has a firm grip on our hearts and minds.
We got some amazing gifts for Christmas. The kids really made our Christmas special. Two of the gifts I got were awesome. Natalia and Matt got us a kitchen knife set that is out of this world. Being the chief cook here I really appreciated this gift. Lindy gave me a Tom Tom GPS system and this thing just rocks. I was in tears after I got it and still cannot believe it. These things are NOT cheap and it is a godsend while traveling. But the best gift was just being there with them and spending time laughing, joking and enjoying each other. I love my kids, what can I say. :)
I made it into Dr. Brockmyres office and seen all of my " girlfriends " ( as Ally calls them ). Jana & Karen ( our two favorite receptionists ) gave us a card that was so inspiring. It was so nice to get the card and know how much your appreciated. Jennifer and Sara were their same selves and I made sure I spread the holiday cheer with them both by harassing them. Doc Brockmyre looked great and Amanda was her same self as well. It was really good to see them all as they always make each visit for me so fun. What I didn't enjoy was getting my lab results. My red cells are really over producing and its time for another Phlebotomy. We stopped by the hospital and got some new supplies so Ally will be giving me a Phleb this week. I am way over do for one as my Hemoglobin level is extremely high.
We did make it back to Florida and found our bikes all nicely tucked away in the trailer anxiously awaiting their next ride. The resort has filled up with snowbirds and old friends here welcomed us both back. Despite the long trip up " north " it was well worth the time and fuel costs to see the kids and our Granddaughter. I have posted pictures of our Christmas here for all to see.
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Hi Gang. Just wanted to give ya'll a quick update on the latest happening's in my life. The weather in Florida has been cloudy but warm so its been comfortable and enjoyable. Actually I think allot of us in the USA have been blessed with a good winter ( unless of course if you live out West ). Temp's have been unseasonably warm in allot of Northern locations which means lower heat bills. ( bet your glad huh ? ).
Ally is back to school teaching and she admitted she missed the kids during the winter break. We have been able to get one motorcycle ride in but I had to put my bike away for a couple weeks because I finally started chemo. Not fun.
I started last Saturday night ( Jan - 6th ) and this time around its been easier. Its still making me sick as a dog but I have been countering the chemo flu with pain killers. I hate taking the damn things but they do make these chemo runs easier to handle. Ally did a phlebotomy on me last week as my blood counts were sky high. She had a real tough time accessing the vein and it took two tries but she finally got into it and was able to get a unit of blood off me. The vein is so scar tissued over that its getting harder and harder to access it. After 107 phlebotomies, the vein is essentially trashed. Yesterday ( the 9th ) I had an appointment with a Vascular Surgeon in New Port Richey, FL and he is going to be performing surgery on me Jan 19th. Since the veins in my left arm are shot he plans to re-route one of the veins in my right arm and connect it to the radial artery. This procedure is called an AV Fistula and will turn the vein into an artery that has more pressure on it and can handle repeated pokes with large needles. We are hoping this procedure will allow the vein to last the rest of my life and allow Phleb's to go much easier and quicker. I will be sure and post the results of the surgery on here once it is done.
I made a video for my racing friends the other day but wanted to share it with everyone. You can watch the video by clicking here: Watch The Video
This is going to be a short update as it is nearly impossible to type at the moment. I did want to let everyone know I made it through my surgery and besides being sore I am starting to heal up. The pain from the incisions hasn't been fun and the sore throat was one of the worst I ever experienced. I am still unclear as to what happened during surgery but it is apparent I had some airway problems and had to be intubated or what they call being placed on the breathing machine. They must have been in a hurry with the breathing tube they inserted because it left me with a killer sore throat. Its the first time I have ever experienced a sore throat like that after surgery. The surgery itself went smooth and I now have a very accessible vein/artery on my arm for future phlebs. It has been driving me nuts at night when I sleep though because of the constant swooshing noise it makes as blood is being pumped through the new artery. The pain is getting better everyday and I am hoping that in a few weeks time I will be back to normal.
I am still on chemo and that is going as well as expected. I have my days of sickness and not having any energy but overall its been better this time. Of course I am still at half the dosage I am supposed to be at so it will get worse before it gets better. Onward and upward is the only way to look at the entire ordeal. :)
I just wanted to update everyone on my surgery. Besides being sore as hell I am mending slowly and getting better everyday. I will provide more of an update when I can use my right hand and type more. Until then, be careful out there and be sure to take the time to enjoy each day.
Chris