Humberto

We survived our fist "named storm" on Different Drummer! We spent Wednesday afternoon/evening making the boat ready for a visit from Humberto with a couple of extra lines and we tied the kayaks down and adjusted fenders in preparation of the tidal surge. Most of that was totally unnecessary as we received some rain and wind, but nothing to cause concern. Even the tides cooperated. Oh well - it's good practice for storm preparation.

Troy got his last infusion pump of 5FU today. Dr. Jac told him today that he will remove the PICC line next week and Troy will be done with chemo! Wooo - hoooo!!!!!! Yippeeeeee! Then he will only see the oncologist every 3 months, then eventually every 6 months, then every year and some day - never again!

Troy wasn't feeling so great this afternoon, but he is staying positive and looking forward to the great weather and our sail this weekend.

I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. ~Author Unknown

Update

Troy is still hangin' in there. The last couple of days have been a little difficult because he has been nauseous and just feeling bad in general. He says that he can feel the chemicals in him. He is so ready to feel better. I sure am glad that we are nearing the end of chemo, I really can't wait to see him feeling better.

We're planning to sail to Double Bayou this weekend. It's our favorite sailing destination and Troy is ready to get out there on the water. We can't wait to see our friends on Oak Island (Double Bayou). I just hope he's feeling better so that he can enjoy the weekend (funny how it's Monday and I'm already looking forward to the weekend).

To feel keenly the poetry of a morning's roses, one has to have just escaped from the claws of this vulture which we call sickness. ~Henri Frederic Amiel

We've Been Released!

We're back home to Different Drummer. Troy was released from the hospital at about 2:00 today. He had his last round of epirubin and cisplatin (the "bad" chemos) and has two more weeks of the 5FU (the "not so bad" chemo). Hopefully after that he will be able to concentrate on feeling better and getting stronger. Needless to say - we are both thrilled to have this part of the treatment behind us.

We got home this afternoon and immediately had to take the boat over to the pump out station because our holding tank was full. Troy felt well enough to get that done even though we had to battle a brisk wind getting the boat back into the slip. He's quite the captain though and of course he handled the boat beautifully. I can't begin to put down in words how impressed I have been with him through this whole ordeal (and I don't mean the pump out). He has been so strong and so positive and such an inspiration to me. I am so fortunate to be married to such a wonderful man.

Troy is feeling OK considering. He has moments of feeling nauseous and he has no appetite right now. It will take him about a week to a week and a half to get enough of the bad chemo out of his system so that he can start feeling better most of the time.

This should be a beautiful weekend and we plan to do our best to enjoy it!!!!!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you" declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV

One Last Time!

We're back at Methodist Hospital for the last time! I was counting this morning and this is Troy's seventh stay here this year. What a year it's been. It's impossible to explain how happy we are that this is the last one. It's a great place to be if you're sick, of course that's why we hope to leave tomorrow and never return.

We're getting settled in and waiting for the epirubicin (chemo) to show up from the hospital pharmacy. The sooner they start the sooner we can get out of here! We are expecting to be released tomorrow afternoon.

Troy will also have an X-ray done today or tomorrow because Dr. Jac wants to see if there is still fluid in his lung, we suspect that there is because Troy has been having some pretty bad coughing episodes lately. If the fluid is still there they will drain it by inserting a needle into his lung. The doctor says that it's "no big deal" but Troy believes that's because they aren't sticking the needle in his lung!

I promise to post an update tomorrow.

We're Home!

But now "home" is Different Drummer. We made the official move on Friday and we spent most of the weekend making room for our "stuff". So far so good! I have the rest of the week off of work, so, of course, it's gonna rain every day! At least it will give us time to adjust to the new living arrangements and get settled in.

Troy is doing OK - he had a good day on Saturday. We went sailing with Kenny and Ronda. It was a great sail with just enough wind and plenty of good company. After the sail we took a dinghy ride, then Kenny and Troy brought out the guitars and entertained us at the Table of Knowledge. It was a great day.

Troy didn't feel so good on Sunday. He was nauseous and his leg and ankle where the blood clot are have really swollen up this weekend. I guess maybe he's been on his feet a little more than usual. He is wearing his sexy TED hose and trying to keep his leg elevated.

So far today has been great. We woke up this morning and took a dingy ride out into the lake and past the Kemah Boardwalk. It sure looks deserted on a Tuesday morning! Then back to the pool for some swimming and sun. Yes, the sun came out today! Of course we are now getting the afternoon showers that make the 40% chance of rain into a reality.

The plan is for Troy to be back in the hospital on Thursday for the last round of the "bad" chemo! Even though we are dreading it, it will be good to get it over and done!"

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." ~Kenneth Grahame (Wind in The Willows)

Dr. Visit

Troy had blood work done and saw Dr. Jac today. Basically, the doctor took him off of the chemo for this week to let his body rest and recuperate. Next Thursday he will go back into the hospital for the last round of the "bad" chemo. Then he will have another 2-3 weeks of the "not so bad" chemo. Then - God willing, he will be done with chemo forever! It feels pretty good to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

He's feeling about the same these days, mostly just tired. We are still packing up for the big move and this weekend we will spend at the boat trying to make sure that everything that we "can't live without" will fit into our little space. I have a feeling that you start figuring out that you can live without lots of the stuff that you think you need. That's part of the beauty of living on the boat.

Gotta run - I have packing to do!

Weekend Report

We had a nice quiet weekend at the boat. Troy felt pretty good on Saturday. We went out to lunch with some friends at Joe Lee's Seafood and Troy ate a whole shrimp po boy - and he didn't even get sick. That's the most he's eaten since before his surgery! Saturday was a pretty good day for him. Sunday was another story - he just didn't feel well all day. I guess it's normal to have some good days and some bad days.

We are contemplating making a move to live on the boat for a while. We are excited about it because we are always there and of course, we love being on the water. We figure we have the perfect opportunity to try it out since Jessica and David (and of course, Tori) will stay at the house. This way we can test drive being "live aboards" without completely committing ourselves and leasing our house to strangers. I'm a little anxious about how to fit all my shoes and purseson the boat and still have room for us! Guess I'll just have to give up most of those for now.

I cannot not sail. - E.B. White