RESULTS OF CT SCAN

Yesterday we saw two separate cattle drives.

This was one of the Cowboys along the Hoback River.

This afternoon about 3 p.m. Nurse Judy called and gave me the results of the CT scan from yesterday. Thank goodness the scan showed no mass or tumor in the neck or anything unusual about the lymph glands. However there may be a small clot there. The port area didn't seem to show anything else significant, no clots around there or the back or lungs. It did show some calcification in the aeorta, but not of any importance or that could cause problems.

There is still evidence of a tumor mass around the head of the pancreas. She didn't say it was larger or smaller than last time. She said the tumors and lesions in or on the liver do seem to be less than last time. That's about it. I won't know more details on any of this until I see Dr. Ward on the 29th. They don't seem to be very concerned about any of this. Judy called Dr. Ward with the scan results and to update him - and I'm sure they will send the pictures to him on the computer. He said I should continue on with the chemo treatments every other week as I've been doing. Boy, I'm sure getting tired of going. The next treatment will be next Tuesday. On that day they will do an ultrasound scan on my neck to check the possible clot. I will ride the shuttle so I have to call to make sure when and where to meet it on Tuesday.

Dr. Meno told me at my last treatment when he checked my neck to take two oxycontin in the morning and two at night for the increased pain I was having. Today I'm having less pain but my left arm, hand, ankle and foot are quite swollen. Since I thought I was feeling better I went back to one oxycontin pain pill in the day. If I feel still better tomorrow I'll go back to the pills I had been taking before all this started. Dr. Ward is sending me a new prescription in the mail for pain medicine.

By afternoon the hand and arm look more normal. My foot is still swollen, perhaps a little less. I'm drinking lots of water to flush "stuff" out. My right side is not swollen. And I did take one pill yesterday for water retention, I may take some more of that. They apparently think that it's best to let the body work through all this on its own. I am hoping that that possible clot is just going to dissolve on it's own. Just in general I haven't felt as good with many of my symptoms as I had been. Some ups and some downs, that's usual. Many are unpleasant, although still bearable so far. Anyway they haven't slapped me back in the hospital or anything like that. Still getting along o.k. and enjoying many of the things we've been doing. It does help to get out and about and see people.

Wednesday September 17 2008

Turning to Fall

Meadow on Fall Creek Road

Beaver Dam

Color on Fall Creek Road

Cow Moose with Calves in Fish Creek

Antelope Harvest Moon

Yesterday Bonnie and I went up to Jackson - the main purpose to get my CT scan. It was to have been a short day, with a couple of enjoyable things thrown in for fun. ..... NOT! .....

Hopefully Al had gotten my message that I wasn't riding the shuttle. Drove toward the setting Harvest Moon - beautiful. I got to Bonnie's to pick her up before 8 a.m. - meaning I'd gotten going by 6. Bonnie drove us on to Jackson from Pinedale and I began to drink the berry-licious contrast - 2 bottles. All went well. It was a most gorgeous Indian Summer day. We didn't have to wait in the canyon for the contraction, arrived just as she was waving the only other car through the one lane section. So we got to the hospital maybe 9:45, my scan was to be at 10. They all looked surprised and said aren't you early and I said no, just about right on time. I returned the chemo pump to Alex.So they said to sit in one of the chairs. And then told me my scan wasn't until 1:30. I said "Well here's my appointment card" - which said 10 a.m. for the scan and to start drinking the contrast at 8. Somehow there had been a mix up on their schedule. So they called the radiation department and asked if I could get in early. They said about 11:30 and we decided that Bonnie and I could go over to visit Virginia two blocks away for a little bit and come back about 10:45 to get the pic tube put into my arm.

Virginia and Calvin were home so we got caught up on what's been happening with them. Virginia showed Bonnie the three vases that great great great grandma Girdlestone carried from England and across the plains on a hand cart in the Willie Hand Cart Company - where her parents died in the blizzard. She was rescued and lived after that in Salt Lake. Virginia also lent me her book "Remember" put together by the Riverton stake on all the pioneers that traveled on the trail in the two handcart companies and two wagon companies that were trapped in the blizzard and died or were rescued. So I should learn a lot more from the book.

We were back at the hospital by 10:45 where they said, if you'd been here 10 minutes ago they had a break and could have taken you to have the scan. OOOOO..KAAAY. After three pokes they got a line into my arm for the contrast they put in right before the scan. They came and got me and scanned from about my forehead through the abdomen; looking at my neck where it's been so sore, my lungs, checking the port which is partially clogged (will let the chemo drip, but not let them pull out blood for the many tests I need), and then looking at the tumors in the abdomen and liver. That all went very well.

I will not know the results until they look at all 900 pictures and compare them with the past ones. I'll stick a report in the blog when I get their phone call - supposed to be this afternoon, so look for that later. I can tellyou now they are looking at my neck on the left side for either a tumor or a bone spur - or possible clots - from them purging the port with the clot buster drug (that is one of my thoughts, not something they've told me). I've had more ailments in the last month, and some of them very aggravating and painful. They doubled my pain medication about a week ago and that just makes me fall asleep continually, although that is supposed to wear off in a while. I'm still set to see Dr. Ward on the 29th and then will know what comes next.

Bonnie and I headed next to the National Wildlife Art Museum and had lunch in their Rising Sage cafe. Meilita, Lois, Nancy and Christine Mollring were there and had just ordered. They had room at their table and we all caught up on everyone's busy-ness. I had to keep running to the bathroom, one of the side effects of the barium Greg McHuron was there, and said hi to him. Christine is recovering from a very serious heart attack about 6 months ago, and she looks great. The museum's annual big art show, Western Visions, is hanging now, which we came to see. There were four big rooms for that show. We also saw two rooms of Robert Bateman paintings and drawings which were WONDERFUL!. http://www.wildlifeart.org/

We figured we were about museumed out, so started on our way back home. Filled up with gas (still was nearly $4 a gallon but we did see $3.82 at another station) and on to the next part of our plan for the day - a drive down Fall Creek Road. It runs from Wilson to the Snake River, probably the farthest west road between Jackson and the mountains. At the Fish Creek bridge in Wilson people were stopped and gawking and holding up traffic, so we got out and got some pictures of a cow moose with two calves in the river reaching up to browse on the willow tips.Not the greatest photos because they were all back under the shadows and too far away (YES, I KNOW - order the new camera!). Everyone watching was delighted to see the moose there in downtown Wilson.

We found the turn off easily and began our adventure. I didn't expect to see much fall color yet but there were nice patches of yellows, oranges and reds scattered all along the drive. Neither Bonnie or I had ever taken this drive which was why we wanted to see it when we had the time. About 2/3 of it is paved then turns into dirt on the Snake River end. It goes over a small pass where there's a pretty creek. There were lots of open meadows and areas of pastures all the way through and had a lot of homes back off the road in the woods on the Wilson end. It would be a good place to go and paint too. Didn't see any more wildlife except some geese, so that made seeing the moose even better. We hit the Snake and turned toward Hoback Junction and on home. It was a nice evening drive.

Had to stop at Ridley's to pick up my thyroid med which was to have been faxed to the drug store when I was at the clinic last week..... NOT .... to make a V-E-R-Y - L-O-N-G story shorter we must have been there about an hour. I needed another trip to the rest room, but wonder of wonders there was only one person in the line so I got behind her and learned - no they hadn't gotten the prescription from the clinic, they would call. Then to the rest room and when I came back there were nine people in line and then many more as we waited. And waited. After I'm sure most of an hour I finally got my 30 pills and paid my $1.83. If anyone wants to open a drug store in Pinedale I'm sure you would have a very good business.

On to Bonnie's where her sister from Vernal had arrived and I got to meet her. I must thank Bonnie again and tell you I believe she is an angel sent from God. She is so caring and patient, and Bonnie thank you so much for going along with me and making the good parts of the day so enjoyable and the bad parts bearable. The day was such a conglomeration of fun and enjoyable treats, and frustrating foozpahs. I appreciated Bonnie being there.

This morning Joe and I talked a little bit about what we should be doing about staying here at the ranch this winter. I said Betty was coming to visit and I was going back with her and then Debbie will come up to the ranch for a while. He wants me to go back to Vegas with my kids. I said I thought we should buy a house so I could get out to the medical things I needed and I'd be fine and still be able to stay here with him. He said "Well, do what you want to." When I asked Joe about him staying here alone he said he'd be fine. So perhaps buying a house is our next step. A decision needs to be made before too much more time goes by. And Oh, BTW Bonnie and I stopped on the way home and looked at a house for sale fairly near to the Boulder Store. It looks brand new and furnished, nobody living in it - but seems like too much money for the size.

Also see Nanny's description of all the beads in my spirit necklace, down below.

Check out Gina's Blog for more wonderful pictures of them riding on the Upper Green.

THIS IS FROM SISTER IN LAW NORMA THOMAS IN HOUSTON:
Hi: Just a quick note to let you all know I'm ok. I'm staying at Jeff's. He has power and only had fence damage. My apartment complex roof was damaged and the ceilings on the third floor caved in but my personal apartment is fine. It has some carpet damage and smells bad but otherwise is fine. There is no power and they say the apartment complex is condemned so we will probably qualify for Fema assistance. I will write to each of you as soon as I can. Love, Norma

LYNN'S SPIRIT NECKLACE - A VERY SPECIAL GIFT FROM THE ANCIENTS BY NANNY

Lynn's Spirit Necklace
Material Created by the Grandfather Above,
Styled and strung and described by Nanny
Bottom center Bead: very old fossilized Red Coral, from Alaska, bead is from 1600's.
I will go up one side after the Coral as both sides are a twin of the other….
After the coral is a cedar bead from India, modern dating about 50 to 20 years ago?

Malachite, from India, modern, last 50 years to present.
The malachite is Lynn's Spirit Helper in the Mineral kingdom.
Spacers between the Malachite are from Camel bone...
Small tubular bead of pipestone from Mexico. Modern.
Nice old Carnelian Bead from the Middle East. Somewhere

between 2000 years to 1000 years old and hand drilled.
Pipestone
Malachite
Long tubular bead of Pipestone. Mexico
Malachite
Very nice old long Tubular Bead of Conch Shell from somewhere

around the Cape Horn Region at the bottom of South

America. Dating from 500 to 200 years old.
Malachite
Pipestone, malachite, horn spacer
Cinnabar from Sri Lankan modern 100 years possible
Horn spacer malachite
Horse hoof 8 mm round Bead modern. India
Granite black speckled Bead from the Asian region.100 to 300 years old

hand Drilled and shaped
Cedar Bead
Granite
Horse hoof
Granet
Pipestone
Malachite
Pipestone granet
Horse hoof
Malachite
Cedar and a very nice OLD hand Drilled Carnelian from the Middle East

2000 to 3000 years old.

Monday September 15 2008

The Arrowhead

Orange Lichen on Large Fallen Boulder

(My Spirit Color)

This morning Nanny, Bonnie and I had a date to go "out on the desert". I remembered for a couple of days and since then had just spaced it out. Most things get written down, but I looked forward - at the time - to this one so much I didn't think I would forget it. Was reading email, watching My Dog Skip, and zonking out in my chair when they got here this morning. I immediately remembered that we were going out for the day, taking a picnic and spending some special time together so got my shoes on and off we went.

I might write about the place and purpose later, but for now just will say that we drove out to the country south of the ranch to one of Nanny's favorite spots. It probably took most of an hour to drive there. On the way in Nanny stopped for a minute to get a certain piece of sagebrush and as it sometimes happens there two steps from the car was a special gift of a whole beautiful arrowhead. She was more astonished than any of us, and thought we'd think she'd planted it there. We walked around a little when we got parked but didn't find much more than some chips, but that was fine.

We sat in our lawn chairs in the sun and chatted and enjoyed each other's company. The day couldn't have been more perfect - sunny, warm with a cooling breeze. We could see clear to Pilot Butte. Nanny gave us a wonderful gift of bead necklaces, and each of our necklaces was made with very old stone beads of several mineral totems having special spiritual meaning. I'll have to ask her again and write it all down. Some of the beads are a thousand or more years old. Bonnie had packed us a delicious lunch which we devoured. The time flew by and we talked about other places to explore and decided to take another day for that. Got home about 5 p.m. It was a really special day.

Today the video Benjamin Franklin Citizen of the World by A&Es Biography came in the mail. So I'll watch that tonight.

Tomorrow is the day for my next CT scan. Bonnie offered to go with me so I'll pick her up at her place about 8. The scan doesn't take long, not like the chemo treatments, so we will be able to do a couple of fun things this time while we're up there. I called and cancelled my reservation for riding the shuttle, and sure hope they tell Al not to come because I think I was the only one riding. I told her several times to be sure and let him know not to make the trip. NO MORE GLITCHES ON HIS SCHEDULE.

Messages to Share from Edis and Debbie

.

I AM SO PROUD OF EDIS

SHE HAS HAD TWO HIP REPLACEMENTS.

HERE SHE IS RIDING IN YELLOWSTONE PARK.

WAY TO GO, EDIS

AND HOPE YOU HAVE MANY MORE

WONDERFUL HORSEBACK RIDES.

A PHOTO AND NOTE FROM EDIS: "Can you believe it! After our discussion, things just came together so that I could go with George on a day trip in Yellowstone park up to Big Horn Peak. I was nervous the entire time, but it was great. I could really sit the horse--something I hadn't been able to do because of my hips, and I think that's why I fell off those times. NO pain. We saw great views from there--could see all the way to the Tetons in the distance! Even saw a mountain goat in a seemingly impossible place on a cliff. Really wild. I was so happy to be able to ride again. George gave me a very mellow horse, too, so it wasn't a problem. Big hurdle overcome!"

I'm so pround of you, Girl. I had a terrible time getting back onto a horse after accidents and knee surgery. It really takes your confidence away. So I understand what you are saying. Good for you!

. . . . . .

Debbie and Curtis have had property to build a new home for several years now There have been delays in all the plans and permits etc. But now all that is ready to go. Sewers, well (or is it city water) and power are all in. This is the time - they have leased their old house and the people will buy it in a year or so. They are going to move their 5th wheel camper onto the property and stay in it for about six to nine months while the house is being built. That's going to be the tough part for sure. I'm sending wishes for all to go smoothly and quickly so they can be in the house soon. Here is Debbie's letter to us today.

"Hi All, Just thought I would write a quick note to tell you how the moving in going. It sure is a big job -- can't believe how much stuff we have. Curtis brought home a big trailer from work that holds quite a bit and we took two loads to the storage unit last weekend. I had been packing up stuff for several weeks. This weekend we had Justin, his friend Bryan, Stephanie, Kathi and Christopher helping us. We got most of the rest of our furniture and belongings into storage (3 loads), we ended up getting a second unit and they are both pretty full. So the house is almost empty.

Curtis and I each have a futon matress on the floor in the house to sleep on and cardboard boxes for our night stands. Today we worked on cleaning out the attic space and re-arranging the single car garage/workshop which we will keep stuff in until the new house is complete. We also worked on figuring out how the things we plan to put into the trailer will fit. Our plan is to haul the trailer out to the property next weekend. We have a few repairs to get done around the house. I think I am going to call Annie the Maid to come and clean the house and windows. Then I will arrange for the carpets to be cleaned. Curtis and I are both exhausted -- wishing we were already done with it all. Well I better go for now, hope you all had a nice weekend. Love, Debbie"

Sunday September 14 2008

In Muddy Canyon Yesterday.

The aspens didn't look good at all.

This is a two photo panorama.

Bonnie

Joe is still painting the wood trim on all the buildings. Guess they took the cattle out of Doc's pastures here yesterday. So no more cows around, just a couple old ones and a bull I suppose they will come and get later. So we should be able to leave the front gate open again. But next they will be gathering all the cattle from the mountains and bringing them into the pastures. It's time for them to come home from their summer in the high country.

Sat under the shower on my bath stool for about 30 minutes this morning drinking hot tea with honey. It helps me get relaxed and helped my sore neck feel better. I visited with Sheral this morning. They didn't fly to Houston yet to visit the kids as was the plan. The airlines weren't flying into Houston for a few days so they are on a "holding pattern" until they get another reservation. Then Betty Pfaff called this afternoon and it was sure good to talk to her too. She said she's doing a little more history writing now and spending lots of time doing family things.

Will be putting another small ad in each paper for the art show in the barn again. It's been pretty quiet for the show lately. It will keep hanging probably until the middle of October if anyone wants to come out.

This afternoon I sat and deleted more of the duplicate email messages. And you know how I fall asleep so easy sitting here in the chair. I drowzed off with my finger on the delete button and deleted about 4000 messages without saving one of the duplicates. So had to get that all straightened out. I finally decided just to put them all back and start over. Anyway have made a little progress with that project. Hopefully it will allow the computer to run faster as I gradually get most of them out of the folders.

We know about seven or so families who are down in Texas in the path of the hurricane, most of them Thomas relatives, but it sounds like everyone is doing o.k. that we know of. We are thankful for that. I always wish we would get some of that rain to fill up our groundwater supplies. Another quiet day, lovely weather and that should continue for at least a week.

This weekend's full Moon has a special name--the Harvest Moon. It's the full Moon closest to the northern autumnal equinox. In years past, farmers depended on the light of the Harvest Moon to gather ripening crops late into the night. Post-Edison, we appreciate it mainly for its beauty. Be alert in the nights ahead for Harvest Moon halos, coronas and 'dogs. Visit http://spaceweather.com/ for example and more information. AURORA WATCH: Around the Arctic Circle, moonlight will compete with Northern Lights. A solar wind stream flowing from a coronal hole on the sun is due to hit Earth on Sept. 13th or 14th, possibly sparking high-latitude geomagnetic storms. Sky watchers from Alaska to Scandinavia should be alert for auroras.: http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01sep08.htm

Saturday September 13 2008

Boulder Creek with First Touch of Fall Color

Taken from the Bridge

Moose Hunters at Boulder

They had their camper trailer

and were changing a flat tire there.

A beautiful morning, warm and no wind. Spent a quiet time after getting up. I slept very good last night, and certainly feel better.

I stuck a weather sticker onto my blog this morning, and fooled around with that for a while. I wanted to get the wind and pressure and whole works, but the ones with more info take up bigger space and wouldn't fit. Maybe I can figure it out as time goes by. You can let me know if you like them or not. I put two on, one for the moon, and one for the weather. If you click on the little "gizmo" it will give you the whole weather page - then I don't have to give you the weather report every day.

Yesterday I got the dogs an appointment at the groomer for a bath and getting toenails cut before winter. It is worse getting an appointment for the dogs than it is for myself. She didn't have anything until the middle of October! Sorry I already forget her name but she seemed very nice.

Then, after lunch I got a phone call from Bonnie. She came over with her truck took me and "the boys" for a ride up to Muddy Canyon this afternoon. First I had to get out of my pjs though. It was sure a nice outing. I may have only been up there once this year, earlier in the spring. We checked out the berry bushes but they are done for this year. Still some chokecherries. She was able to get some information from church about the Willie Handcart Company and brought me a CD to play - "Presentation of Rock Creek Hollow Fireside". It has some history on some of the people who died there. So far my CD player won't play it on the computer, so tomorrow I'll try it on the Bose radio which has a CD player.

Tonight we had spagetti for dinner and for once it seemed very tasty. Hope that continues.

Beverly called me tonight and we had a long visit. They have been so busy. This is from a letter Bev sent I thought was interesting about what they've done the last several days. She says: Its Youth Conference this weekend, which is a first for Bev and Clay (not for Brent). This is Clay's first year and he is 14 now. Friday night they split the whole stake up into groups of about 20 kids each and gave them a topic. They went into rooms at the church and created little skits called Youth Tube (like You-Tube on the Internet) and performed them on the stage. They were pretty funny and all about standards. Then we had a catered dinner from Cafe Rio (Mexican fresh grill). After dinner they did a flag retirement burning ceremony which I'd never seen before either and was very moving. We had ice cream and went home.

This morning we were back at the church at 8am for breakfast and off to do a service project which happened to be at Tule Springs Park (right near their house). We had about 200 kids and leaders and we cleaned out the creek beds. What an overgrown mess they were. You should have seen how nice they looked after we were done. A couple of the men brought their front-end loaders to haul away the debris. It was hot. After the kids were done with the work the church provided Subway Sandwiches and Smoothie King. I'm glad I wasn't responsible for any of that planning.

Tonight they have a dance from 8-11pm. It is Clay's first dance. Brent has to be there as a chaperone. I got my same church calling back, over the Beehives 12-13 year olds, and they are too young to go to Youth Conference so I don't have to go.

Their stake just split two wards into three, so they have to go to a different church for a while until their new building is finished, and everyone is in upheaval with the changes. It's all growing very fast there.