Everything going as planned. Feeling great, working, playing but still really enjoying an occasional "rest." FPU slowly but surely coming around and adjusting to have food flow thru it. Some days I really want to eat and then there are the others. But, I can't complain because I sleep great and I have Lynda with me almost all the time and I have Deb and Ed and two of my wonderful grandkids close all the time. OK, that brings up a story that I have to tell, about yesterday. I may have shared with you that I set as a goal, running a 5 K on April 10, when I started my rehab in January. If you could have seen me then you (as well as all my friends who did see me) would have thought I was crazy, and perhaps I was. (As an "aside" here, I believe one works harder at what one does if on has a goal, regardless how small or ridiculous.) Well, yesterday was the day, and with the encouragement of Lynda (plus Debbie, Claire and Clay went with me) I did it. The kids ran the 1 K which was at 8 AM and I chugged off on my 5 K at 8:30. The furtherist I have run since Jan. 1 was 1 1/2 miles so I had no idea how well my energy would hold up. I had worked my mile time down to 12:20 but that was only one time. Thought the first mile marker would never come. My whole body was tight as a drum. Finally it appeared and I began to relax and I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. Time for that mile was less that 13 minutes. Surprise to me. Clicked on thru the second mile the same way and now I'm feeling confident. Third mile was the fastest of all, 12:32 and with a good push the last 1/10 of a mile I "beat" the 40 minute mark. And then the "crowning achievement" was that there were only three people in my age group (70-99) and I got a third place trophy. I had been discussing my last year with the guy that handles the timing of the race (that I've known for about 25 years) why he had not seen me in over a year and it turned out he was handling the trophy presentation and he mentioned my challenge to the crowd and my grandkids said, "Pops, your famous. Everybody knows you and likes you." Put tears in my eyes!
Came home from the race and then Lynda and I went to visit our buddy, which you all have been praying for, Tommy T and I'm sorry to report that it looks like he will be received by the Lord in the next few days. I'm proud to report that he and I shared our childhood experiences, which were very similar in our Baptist upbringing, and he is a Christian. We will celebrate his life. God is good.

Last time I said, "Hurdle # 2", what was I thinking? I've been hurdling obstacles ever since this deal started!
Yesterday, the chemo Doc validated the results of a great scan. No changes, except for the better. More info on that later. Will come back in 60 days and if everything is still the same then we pull the chemo port. Man, let me tell you, that's my goal for now. God is good!
Keep my pals Jimmy D, Tommy T and now Ronnie R, in your prayers.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Hurdle #2, my next chemo doc appointment. I feel it will go well. All systems seem to be going well. Biggest challenge is wanting to eat, which just doesn't happen. I do have my taste buds back and food tastes like it did but it just doesn't "summon" me like it used to. I find myself eating only because I know I have to. Just like putting gas in a car. No fuel, no go. And, when I do, my FPU "asks" me why I put it in there. Double Whammy. Even with all that I'm feeling well enough to work and play. Even as I write I'm in Las Vegas after just having finished an inventory here, yesterday. But, let me tell you, I've got some rest while I was here --- easy job. Still keep my buddies Tommy T and Jimmy D in your prayers. More to follow after tomorrow's appointment.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Hurdle #2, my next chemo doc appointment. I feel it will go well. All systems seem to be going well. Biggest challenge is wanting to eat, which just doesn't happen. I do have my taste buds back and food tastes like it did but it just doesn't "summon" me like it used to. I find myself eating only because I know I have to. Just like putting gas in a car. No fuel, no go. And, when I do, my FPU "asks" me why I put it in there. Double Whammy. Even with all that I'm feeling well enough to work and play. Even as I write I'm in Las Vegas after just having finished an inventory here, yesterday. But, let me tell you, I've got some rest while I was here --- easy job. Still keep my buddies Tommy T and Jimmy D in your prayers. More to follow after tomorrow's appointment.

Today I go for a Cat Scan and have a chemo Doc appointment on the 30th. For the last five days I've felt like a regular person. Good energy and waking up at 5 every morning planning my day. Just like the old days! Please, keep my two buddies, Tommy T and Jimmy D in your prayers.

Every time I look at my "skinny" picture it makes me grateful how far I've come. Now weigh 10 pounds more that I did then.
Well, I'm four months and two weeks into having a Food Processing Unit instead of a stomach. I'm still eating 4 meals a day (should be 5) and food tastes "sorta" good. Doesn't taste bad but don't ask where I want to go out to eat because it doesn't make any difference. I'm going to eat a half a potion, because I know that I must. Kind of a drag but l'm adjusting!
Had a funny thing happen a coupla weeks ago. Somehow I lost my valve that connects my feeding tube to the sack that has my "instant meal" in it. Searched the house to no avail. Started checking phamacies and medical supply houses. Finally found a week later. Hey, I survived a week without my "nightly feedings." Me weight did not seem to flucuate but I did find I started each day with less energy and finished less. But, I got everything done each day that I wanted to do. You just do what you have to do. Still have some fluid in the upper part of my right lung. Docs keep saying, "It should just clear itself out with time." Hmmm, I sure would like a method I could do it myself or a "projected date." Get to go back for another check in a coupla weeks, to see if I've developed any "hot spots" since my "clear" reading. Please keep me in your prayers and my two buddies Tommy T and Jimmy D who I'm sharing this journey down Cancer Road with.
Love you all.

Just celebrated my "four month anniversary" of the surgery (and the accompanying chemo and rads) and it feels great. Still learning (and relearning) things as I go. Know that I must eat at least four times a day (really, five) in order to keep up my strength but I get "busy" and don't do it. Consequently, I run out of steam and don't get done what I should do, or not get it done to the level that I really want. If I use my feeding tube at night it gives me a head start the next AM, if I don't then I have no choice but to eat correctly. So here's what I've got to start right now. Use my tube every night (for now) and then begin to create my correct habit of eating and then start backing off the tube. Sounds easy so I'll do it. The challenge of eating still is that I can only eat about 3/4 of a regular serving and then food gets to not tasting good and I feel full. Forcing myself to eat more at a setting just upsets my food processing area and then I really don't want to eat. Now, I'm not complaining, mind you, just stating the facts --- and mainly for those coming behind me with this same challenge to know that this sort of thing happens! Rest assured, I can do what I want to do, it's just how I feel afterwards that I can control --- if I eat right. Worked the polls last Tuesday from 7 to 4:30 (I did sit some when there was a lull in the action) but let me tell you, I went home and went to sleep early and missed my guy's victory party.
Can't begin to tell you all how much I appreciate your prayers. Could not have made it without you.
Lynda continues to be right by my side every step of the way and encourages me beyond belief. I can't imagine what it would be like to not have family and friends. Without them one would have no life, but that's sure not my case.
Love you all!