Today has been a better day and I hope tomorrow is more laid back.7 days to go and we will head home if the weather allows us.We had going away supper for our dear friends Todd and Deb Biel tonight along with some tears. What a blessing it has been to know them. We will miss them but hope to see them sometime whenever either of us has a chance to travel.Old friends leave and new friends move in at the Lodge. I heard the waiting list is up to two weeks now. So glad we only had to wait a week.God is Good and he will be with us on this journey called CANCER.Robert is still real tired but hopefully after all of the chemo and radiation is done he will start to get his strength back.I took a nap from 10:30 this morn until noon. The early mornings are getting to me. Tomorrow we don't have to be at the clinic until after 9:00 so that will help.Hope to see all of you soon.Love, Roxie
March 4, 2009 8:59 PM

It's been a long morning. They tried to put the pick line in and after 1 1/2 hrs came out and told me they couldn't get it in so we are now in a different department with more technology to try and get it in. He has been in there for 45 min already so hopefully I will hear something soon. Then we have to go to get his chemo pump refilled and on, so he will be shot for the rest of the day. I canceled the meetings we had this afternoon as I knew he wouldn't be up to it. This has been another stressful week. Will update later when I know more. Keep the prayers coming. We just want to come home................Roxie

We are finally back at the Lodge.After 3 hours of trying to get the pick line in they finally got it in. Thank the good Lord. He is up in the room sleeping. I will let him sleep and then get him up for Pot Luck and the Mennonite singers that he wants to hear.Love to all, Roxie

It's been a long morning. They tried to put the pick line in and after 1 1/2 hrs came out and told me they couldn't get it in so we are now in a different department with more technology to try and get it in. He has been in there for 45 min already so hopefully I will hear something soon. Then we have to go to get his chemo pump refilled and on, so he will be shot for the rest of the day. I canceled the meetings we had this afternoon as I knew he wouldn't be up to it. This has been another stressful week. Will update later when I know more. Keep the prayers coming. We just want to come home................Roxie

Good news Friday, Bad news Monday!Had Dr appt with oncologist and was ready to go back on chemo and they decided they couldn't put it in the port because of the antibiotic lock so will have to go over in the morning @ 7:30 a.m. to have a pick line put in and then back up to have the chemo pump put back on. He is not a Happy Camper and neither am I. This journey called CANCER is not FUN and we are ready for the roller coaster ride to slow down for awhile and let us coast...... They took blood three more times today and he had radiation so he is wiped out. He is up in the room sleeping.I made White Chili and have poppy seed bread in the oven. The people up in this area have never heard of poppy seed bread or our famous Chocolate Dream Dessert. I'm introducing them to a lot of new foods. Brought a few of our family cookbooks and have given some special people them. I want to leave one here in our kitchen when we leave.Tomorrow night is Pot luck supper so hope we get to go. We had to miss last week because of his infection. The Mennonite singers are going to be here again so I want Robert to hear them. He missed them the last time because he was too tired.Had a good weekend. Went to Red Wing, Mn yesterday afternoon. Todd and Deb Biel took us. That is where they make the Red Wing boots and also pottery. I didn't know they did the pottery but I had to buy me a crock. It is gray-blue with wheat on it. It is pretty and I wanted an heirloom. It will look nice upon my kitchen shelf will wheat in it.Had supper with Todd, Deb and two Amish couples. Todd's MA sent some german dish called NEFLA. It was good. I had never had anything like it. It is dough balls with meat and saurkraut. The Amish couples are so funny and we enjoyed visiting with them.Will update tomorrow.Love, Roxie
March 2, 2009 5:21 PM

Good news Friday! Renissa called with good news, Ryan called and all his tests went well and the Doctor put Robert on oral meds so we don't have to get up early every morning and go back every night to have IV's! Yeah!!!!I will sleep in tomorrow, it is Saturday!!!Robert still has infection and will be on meds for 10 days. They think it is in the port line. The CT scan came back fine, so no abcess like they thought would have to be drained. We were so thankful for that. They are doing an antibiotic lock on his port to help the infection so we do have to go over once a day to have that put in but that doesn't take long. The other was a 3 hour ordeal twice a day. Exhausting!It's always good to end the week with GOOD NEWS! Hope it continues and we get to head home March 12th. Robert is missing Rowdy and wants to go home. He is tired of them poking around on him. He's not sure he has any blood left as much as they are taking all the time! Just glad the infection was caught early. We have a Dr appt on Monday to see if they start his chemo again. Have a good weekend. Love, Roxie and Robert
February 27, 2009 9:02 PM

NEWS FLASH! It's official!!!Miss Camrea Jean is now Miss Camrea Jean Riley!!!!!Congratulations to Darren, Renissa and Nolan. We are so happy and excited for them.Nolan even had to get upon the stand. The Judge's name was Judge Heart and it sounds like he had a BIG heart. He let Renissa go to the car and get her camera and they said he was so nice he even took a picture of all of them together as a family!!! What a blessing for everyone!I did get 1 1/2 nap. Was sleeping dreaming of them when the phone rang. Best phone call and good news I've had in a long time.Anxious to hear now from Ryan.We go to the Dr at 4:00 so hope today is GOOD NEWS day!Love, Roxie

It has been a long week. Robert has IV meds twice a day. 7:30 a.m and 7:30 p.m. Vancomyecin and another I think called empancin??The Vanco is heavy duty so hope the do the job. We have a Dr appt @ 4 this afternoon so hope to find out some results. We also have radiation everyday and three days a week we have a survey meeting for 1 1/2 hours. I need a nap and hope to get one this afternoon. We didn't get back to the Lodge last night until 11:30. The IV drip takes about 3 hours. Want to do it slow after the reaction on Monday. Todd Biel has been helping me push Robert over in the wheelchair. Sometimes the tunnels are long pushing uphill. He is a blessing. I made supper for 5 others in our kitchen last night. We had chicken and rice, green beans and tossed salad. Todd furnished the ice cream with all the toppings.They call me the "Betty Crocker" of the kitchen but Louise says that isn't true. She calles me Julia Childs... I don't compare to either but I guess some people don't cook.Darren & Renissa are going to court today to see if Miss Camrea will become Camrea Riley. Please keep them all in your prayers. Camrea deserves a loving family.Ryan is having some tests done in Wichita today. Some kind of kidney problems???? I'm anxious to hear from both of them. Always somthing to worry about.It snowed here last night, about 5 inches. Robert would love to have the moisture at home for the wheat.Better get back to his room, he was sleeping when I left but will be looking for me. I'll try and update this evening after we hopefull find out what is causing the infection.Love, Roxie
February 27, 2009 9:29 AM

Today has been a long day at the hospital. We started at 7 this morn and didn't get back to the Lodge until about 5.We did CT scan, Radiation, Radiation Dr appt and then infusion of meds for the infection.I did take a quick hour nap while he was taking his meds and when I went back, he was itching and bright red. I called the nurse in and he was alergic to Vanco. They called it the Red Syndrom. They gave him benedryl and kept him for another hour to make sure he was OK before turning us loose. They had him on two diffferent kinds of antibiotics. We were suppose to go back tonight at 9:00 p.m. for another round but after the reaction, they canceled it. Thank Goodness! He is worn out and up in the room sleeping. I took supper up to the room even though that is discouraged.We start back at it again in the morn with infusion @ 7:30. They said to plan on 3 hours to have it drip in. Long day again. Not sure where or what the infection is yet but they want to get a good start on it. Hopefully tomorrow we can talk to some Dr to find out results of the CT scan.Didn't make it to Ash Wednesday today, I guess the Good Lord knew we did our duty at the hospital.We did obey though and fast and eat salmon patties.Our friend Kathy went home today and we all had to cry. She was such a great friend. She left us some neat books to read. Wishing her the best on her breast cancer journey! She is so young and full of energy! She has a lot to live for and lots to do yet. She is a great touring partner. We have great memories of all that we did while she was here.Will keep you posted. Love, Roxie
February 25, 2009 7:14 PM

The chemo Dr just called and canceled Robert's radiation treatment because he has infection of some kind. We have an appt at 1:30 to see if they will admit him into the hospital or just do IV's as out patience. Keep us in your prayers. I'll update this as soon as I know something.Roxie
February 24, 2009 12:32 PM

No chemo or radiation until they find the reason for the infection.We will do blood work and IV antibiotic today and CT scan tomorrow morning to see if they can find out what is going on.Will update it tomorrow after we know more. Love, Roxie

Robert's fever broke during the night and he ate a good breakfast but is up in the room resting as we have appts @ 12:00, 1:00, 3:00 and then 4:00 if they put the chemo pump back on him. We will know the results of his blood work when we meet with the Doc.They have a Big Bell in the radiation department that people get to ring three times when it is their last treatment. It says:Ring OutRing this bellThree times well The toll to clearly sayMy treatments are doneIt's course has runAnd I'm on my way!Robert's last treament is suppose to be March 11th so I ask everyone to have their bells ready and please ring them 3 times to help us celebrate that this phase is over! I'll try and remind everyone on March 10th.Today is laundry day, we even have to do that chore up here. The machines are in the basement so I get plenty of walking in between that and the tunnels.........Love to everyone! Roxie
February 24, 2009 9:49 AM