Pupdad's bites

Sunday drip

rdboland@comcast.net — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:43:13 GMT

Well another day another hour geting fluids. It really does give me a boast to get through the day. I'll get two more shots, Monday and Tuesday which will help get me over the hump.

We picked up Zachary's remains on Friday to be home with us. We are both the type that needs that....for now. We have our other two dogs, Roxy and Scarlet, both on the shelf in the bedroom where Zachary now joins them. While it may sound like a bit too much, that is the way we are with our pups. It does help. We picked out a great pic and frame it to sit right next to the new stained wood box that holds our beloved pup...we sure do miss him..and I think Alex is really starting to grieve. Wel watch him and give him lots of attention lately...

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Ooh a Saturday post

rdboland@comcast.net — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:48:33 GMT

Because I am jjust sitting here hooked up to a bag of fluids at the cancer center. I had four hours of chemo and various drugs yesterday and now this is the first of four daily one hour visits to get some fluids to stay ahead of the game.

Oh well all for the best...almost half done:

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Zachers

rdboland@comcast.net — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:32:42 GMT

Our main vet, Dr. "O" as he goes by. has been treating the pups since, well, they were puppies and Phillip brought them home....he was always sincere and genuine in his caring for our two.

He was out of town last week when everything was going on with "Zachers" as he called him...and we just got a voice mail from him, where he actually broke down...it touched us dearly....and he was very encouraging as to how we handled everything and such....

Lesson for Today

rdboland@comcast.net — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:06:26 GMT

I walked into my local Starbucks and ordered my usual chai tea. I gave the nice guy at the register a five for my total. He proceed to give me change, in one handful, for a ten dollar bill. I immediately, without thinking about it, gave him back the extra five and told him that I only gave him a five. He thanked me sincerely, and was very nice about my gesture. I don't think I would have done it any other way...

As Phillip said, "it's good to pay it forward"....

New Camera

rdboland@comcast.net — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:15:23 GMT

After a bit of back and forth, we finally decided on a DSLR, a Nikon D60. We got a decent deal at a local chain here in Denver. I have been wanting to get away from the "point and shoot" digital camera. In college, I had a Minolta film SLR, which I got to know and use. This one will get me back to that hobby (don't worry ruralrob, I'll never get as good and dedicated as your great photos), something that I have missed over the years.

So, right now, I am just playing with it, trying to learn all the buttons and settings....and of course shooting LOTS of pictures of Alex, well, just because. He is not much of a poser, but here is a cute one:

I hope to get out and get full use of this new piece of equipment....

One day down....

rdboland@comcast.net — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:59:11 GMT

This is the notice that we send to friends and family via email today, (which was formatted as a PDF with this pic):

Zachary
1995 – 2009

Zachary, our beloved pup, passed away July, 10, 2009, just six months after his Fourteenth birthday

Zachary was born at Bear Trap Ranch, just west of Colorado Springs in the foothills, but he was more “city” dog than mountain dog.

He was a playful pup getting into anything he can besides his toys: paper towel rolls (and the paper towels themselves), cardboard boxes, even money….we learned not to leave cash in readily accessible places!

Six months later, his biological younger brother..same parents different litters…joined us. He and Alex were then inseparable.

He grew up to be a striking strong dog. People would always ask what kind of dog he was if they did not know his unique breed. He loved the off leash park at Cherry Creek State Park, water and all. Although not the leader of the pack, he commanded a presence that no others overlooked.

As he grew into a senior dog, he slowed down, but still his unique personality shined through. When he was ready to get up in the morning, he was ready, and let you know it…even on a weekend. He would have his regular spots to sleep in the house, and became quite the creature of habit, something we could always count on with him. He would always go on his lunch time walks, even when he wasn’t feeling so good. Once he got out there, all his cares in the world stopped, and like a dog, concentrated on making sure he sniffed his way around the block. He was always up to the task at hand.

In the end, his physical body was too much for him, and we were able to give him the most loving gift we, as humans, can give to our pets. He is in a place free of any pains, and is welcomed by our dogs that have long left us.

We will miss our “big guy” very much, although his presence is uniquely stamped into our lives forever.

Zachary, thanks for the great years, you were a one of a kind special pup..

Bob and Phillip
Alex

It's still abit raw...

Our hearts are broken

rdboland@comcast.net — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:53:53 GMT

Zachary
1995 - 2009

Ugh..tomorrow is Friday

rdboland@comcast.net — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:11:17 GMT

I am SOOO not ready for chemo crap to start up again tomorrow...at least it will be the mild drug first, then the heavier drug next Friday.

I really want a break.

Attention People

rdboland@comcast.net — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:17:03 GMT

Ok....now can we get back to burying dead celebrities in private? Thank you.

The Curious Case of Alex Button

rdboland@comcast.net — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:13:55 GMT

Today is Alex's 14th birthday...yes, 14. And we are always commenting on how "puppy" like he is, never growing old. He runs out of the house when starting his walk, he jumps up the stairs, two at a time, and is generally a happy-go-lucky dog. He truly is not about to slow down. So, today is his birthday, which he'll get a card and a new toy.

We'll eventually get there...

rdboland@comcast.net — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:29:26 GMT

Yea, I'm abit late with the Fourth of July recap, but here it goes....

I felt like crap most of the weekend. We had Thursday afternoon off and visited with a friend before he moves out of the county. It was a nice visit and afterwards I went into the Cancer Center for a blood check to see how my numbers were. They were "low" but nothing to concern the nurses and require anything else. They told me to come back on Monday to check them again to make sure they were on the "upswing". Well, it didn't feel like it all weekend. On Friday, we ventured out early to the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, which is always fun, but I had to stop and rest and was feeling lousy after about an hour there. We stayed about two hours, bought nothing, and I went home to rest.

We decided that Saturday would be the day we would repaint the kitchen and family room. It's been on a list since, well since list making was invented, yet we had quite a bit of trouble deciding on colors. Which is tough, considering this is part of what I do for a living for others. We finally decided on colors last week, one for the kitchen that is also in the upstairs loft, and a new color for the family room. We bought all the supplies last weekend, so we started right up in the morning. Here are a few photos "in progress":

And, of course I felt like crap, so I would do little things (taping, edging, clean up, etc) while Phillip did most of the work. He likes to paint, although the process is, well, what it is. Here are some "done" photos:

The green wall where the fireplace is was an original color, which we kept:

And here it is looking back from the Family Room to the Kitchen, again the maroon wall on the left was an original color we didn't want to change:

It was nice to update the room, since we spend quite a bit of time there...and with the value less than we like it (thank you Housing bubble) we aren't going to sell right away. Any yes, there are dogs in the shots, I know...

By Saturday night, I felt better and we went out to dinner with four others and I even had a beer! Big step for me, since I watch that closely with all this chemo crap going on.

Sunday, felt much better and we finished up, re-staged the house (thanks HGTV!) and did general stuff around the house...but I was feeling better than the start of the weekend.

This morning, my blood work showed that, indeed, my counts are on the "upswing", yet not as fast as I'd like...I guess we'll get there..

Ha! and it starts...

rdboland@comcast.net — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:54:25 GMT

From CNN.com comes this nugget at the end of a story recapping the Michael Jackson legal crap going on:

"....In the day's final development, a London woman filed a 93-page handwritten document in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming she was Jackson's secret wife and the mother of all three of his children.

In asking for all of Jackson's assets, the woman also added: "I have up to 30 children. My Father (Satan the Devil) Khalid Lucifer as he is known, gave them to us."

HA!

Craptastic

rdboland@comcast.net — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:36:10 GMT

I just can't shake the side effects of this last chemo like I used to. Since I got the drugs on Friday of last week, by today I should be feeling OK...but I don't. Yea, I am feeling abit better, but I still get the shakes (due to low blood counts) and just zapped of all energy. I thought that the timing would be good for the Fourth of July weekend, I would have my strength back, be able to do stuff...but I have to take it easy and not overdo it. If I do, then I will be wiped out.

I go into the cancer center later today for a blood draw, to see what all my counts are. I know they will be low, but probably not low enough for any type of transfusion. If I do need some blood, while I would feel better afterward, the process would be a pain...so I can't win.

I am getting more and more impatient with the whole chemo process. I use to never be this impatient. I know I have another round starting on July 10, which will take me up to July 31...but we will stop there and scan the first week of August. Hopefully it will all be worth it, if the scan comes out good, then I can have the month of August and maybe September off....

Oh well, not to be a downer....

rdboland@comcast.net — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:25:09 GMT

Feeling not that great, but did make it down to Pridefest today. It's one of the larger ones in the country..

and with this chemo crap, it was a low key day for me...I wish I felt better. We didn't go to the Parade, just the Festival, which is in Civic Center Park. It was fun to walk around, see people and be seen...

Lots of people had their dogs, but it really was tough on them, the crowd, the heat...although this pup, Godiva, had the right attitude:

On another note, what the heck is going on with 50 years old lately? First Michael Jackson, now Billy Mays....I think I will just stay in the house when I turn 50

The Friday routine

rdboland@comcast.net — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:30:54 GMT

Back at the cancer center starting another round of drugs. Today is a long one, three hours of infusions of four drugs: two anti-nausea drugs then two chemo agents. The infusion times are regulated to specific times to be effective.

What do I do while sitting here? Answer my work email (thanks iPhone!) which makes it easier go keep up. Sometimes I chat with other patients, but people tend to keep to themselves. I also bring my iPod. This morning, before I left home, I loaded some Michael Jackson music on it. I have his "History" cd, which has quite a few of his hits durning his creative peak, the "Thiller" years and the decade that followed that release. I really can't deny his talent and how spot on his music was. One song, "Leave Me Alone" is a personal favorite of mine. I enjoy the beats and melodies he seemed to mesh so well. It's tragic when someone goes like he did and I'm not sure if he was a creation of his own doing or a victim of our society. Whatever you think of him, he changed music, and his talent was undeniable.

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This past weekend

rdboland@comcast.net — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:17:18 GMT

Aside from the leg pain from my chemo, which subsides in three days or so, the only real side effect I have had this time is fatigue...and with the heat of the past few days, that hasn't helped.

On Saturday, we went to see the one man play, "A Bronx Tale". We were given the tickets by someone that works with Phillip. It was kind of an obligation, since they would be sitting with us, so we went. And both of us initially did not want to go...had no interest in it. But, afterward, I have to say, that we both enjoyed it, it held our interest, and was good...fifth row seats helped too.

It was playing at the Denver Center for Performing Arts, which is a complex downtown with four (?) different size venues for various live performances. There is a concert hall for the Colorado Symphony, a larger theatre for the national touring shows (the Buell), an Opera House, that was just re-done to bring it up to date. The show we went to was in the opera house, shown here:

The Buell is more modern, great signage and bigger. We have seen Spamalot, The Lion King, etc, those type of shows there:

Overall, a fun afternoon in the city, which I always enjoy!

Really? I don't know why...

rdboland@comcast.net — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:49:00 GMT

In searching for a new Digital SLR (we are zeroing in on the Canon Rebel XSi, since it's getting good reviews all around), I went to www.shop.com and discovered that Home Depot, yes the same Home Depot, sells this camera. They don't sell many cameras, but they do sell this one.....so get your 2 by 4's along with all your digital photography needs....

New iPod music

rdboland@comcast.net — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:37:47 GMT

".....I've got an iPod like a pirate ship, I'll sail the seas with 50,000 songs I've never heard...". Very true sometimes. From a new song called 'Very Busy People' by The Limousines. Very fun song discovered on my XM Radio.

Start me up..

rdboland@comcast.net — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:16:37 GMT

I start back on chemo Friday after three weeks off due to the ablation I had last week. Not sure what the next course is for that, how many, which drugs, etc. So, Friday my doctor and I will come up with a game plan.

It's getting tougher to face doing this again and again. I used to be able to face it with better feelings but my good feelings about it are getting shorter and shorter. I complain about tackling this more so than before....I guess I need some sort of extended break. Since February, I have had 4 rounds of chemo treatments (I started round five but only had the first part of it..). So I am not sure if we count that half round or start round five all over. If so, the doctor generally does six rounds, then scan and maybe a break. If that happens the end of round six is mid-July, and it would be nice to have the rest of the summer off....I'll have to ask her about that.

A bit of everything..

rdboland@comcast.net — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:20:33 GMT

Well everything is going well, but I am more fatigued than I thought I would be. So, Phillip has been doing everything (I hate that) and treating me like something breakable. I must say that it is good he does that, otherwise I would overdo it. Anyway, we did get a few things accomplished this weekend..

We cleaned the house this weekend....we do that every week as a matter of fact. It keeps the house nice looking...not that we are slobs, but a bit of dusting and vacuuming does go a long way. Usually the dogs figure it out and generally take to their daily nap quota as witnessed by Zachary:

And apparently, he doesn't care:

Today, we washed the cars and took a ride up to the mountains, only to turn 20 bucks into this:

I was playing video poker with my twenty, got down to $11 in the machine and hit a $100 payout...and I am the type to stop right there, pull the money out and walk away....we spent seven bucks at Starbucks then put 80 back into the savings account...

And of course, since we washed the car, we ran through this on the way home:

yes, complete with hail and street flooding:

This was supposed to be a "slight chance of an isolated thunderstorm out on the Eastern plains"...we were in Lakewood, five minutes from the mountains....

Overall a great day and weekend thanks to my partner, Phillip!

Less than 24 hours...

rdboland@comcast.net — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:42:38 GMT

I had the "radiofrequency ablation" yesterday to blast the spot on my liver. I went into the hospital at 11 am for the 1 pm procedure....note to self: Don't make afternoon appointments if you can't eat after midnight the night before...jeez, I was starving. Anyway, even though you get there two hours early, there is a lot going on and prepping to do. And, when this place say 1:00 pm, they mean 1:00 pm. I was impressed. Basically this is done by a radiologist in the radiology area of the hospital. He inserts a needle guided by the CT scan machine directly to the tumor site. There, he "burns" it to destroy it. I get down to the radiology room, they give me some "relaxing" drugs, and I am out like a light....I instantly wake up (or so it seems) two hours later in the recovery area.

And all I have to show for that is a simple, typical little band-aid at the bottom of my rib cage on my right side...that's it...no swelling, soreness, etc. And, hardly any pain. Hopefully this does the trick. Overall, it was a good experience, less intense than I thought it would be, and a good recovery...

HGTV

rdboland@comcast.net — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:19:21 GMT

HGTV is on our TV quite abit, because we like some of the shows and it's fun in it's own way. Yea, it dumbs it down most of the time, but at least most of the time it doesn't take itself too seriously...plus I have to give it "kudos" for dealing with same sex couples just as normal people, without batting an eyelash.

But, there's this new show on Sunday nights, "The $250,000 Challenge"...it's where five neighbors on the same street, compete in remodeling their house, one room at a time. At the end of each show, one couple gets the boot to remodel hell. I think it's rather funny when they interview the "disgraced" couple after the ax...especially last week's losers. They went on about how they "grew" and "learned something about themselves"....groan...please, all you did was some bad decorating with the wrong paint color on the wall, you didn't fail at world peace! It's grating sometimes....

Wow that was fast...

rdboland@comcast.net — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:10:30 GMT

I had my CT scan on Wednesday morning at 8...by 9:30, the radiologist read the scan and had me scheduled for the "Radiofequency Ablation" for next week. So, I guess the tumor is the right size and accessible to have this done. My oncologist suspended my chemo for this week, in order for me to be in good shape for this next week. Now I am scheduled for the procedure on Thursday with an overnight stay at the hospital to help manage any pain. This weekend off will be nice, since I'll be feeling great, and I won't resume chemo until June 19....

Too funny not to share...

rdboland@comcast.net — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:38:52 GMT

A co-worker forwarded this link to me..from Amazon. Scroll down and look at the reviews...They are quite funny and a great time killer...take a look.....

See Spot

rdboland@comcast.net — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:51:29 GMT

We (Phillip and I) met with the radiologist yesterday who is going to blast the liver lesion with radiation to destroy it (sounds so...Star Trek). There is a possibility to have it surgically removed, but then half my liver would go with it. So, we thought this is the best way. It's called "Radiofrequency Ablation", where, guided by a CT scan, the radiologist drives a needle right to the tumor site and blasts it with radiation directly to destroy it. It's an overnight thing in the hospital, just to monitor and manage pain, but the success rate is high. Hopefully that will take care of this one. The radiologist is good, he does "hundreds" of these, and this is specifically developed for liver tumors.

The new icon pic is actually an image from a scan of mine...it's looking from the back, the yellow spots (one at the bottom = bladder; and the two either side of the spine = kidneys) light up this way normally. Here is the whole image (embiggen to see):

The top black and white row is a CT scan, the middle row is a PET scan and the bottom row is a composite of both, to help identify things. In the bottom row, fifth image from the left, right above the left kidney is a spot of light...that's the liver culprit right there...