Weighty issues

As I mentioned in the previous post, on July 11, 2011 to July 14, 2011, Carl had his 16th course of Chemotherapy.  It was the hardest course of chemotherapy Carl had had to date.  


Carl's weight had been holding stable within a 10-15 pound range for the duration of his cancer since 2009.  He may have been at 160-165 pounds in 2009, and during chemotherapy he might drop up to 10 pounds, which he would then usually gain back most of the weight before the next round of chemo.  The surgeries (in 2011) really knocked Carl down, but he would gain most of the weight back.  But here is a recent history of weight.  All of the weights here were taken at the Doctors office on the Doctor's scales.


On May 16, 2011, Carl weighed 154 pounds.
On May 18, 2011, Carl weighed 153 pounds.
On May 23, 2011, Carl weighed 149 pounds.
On May 27, 2011, Carl weighed 146 pounds.
On June 9, 2011, Carl weighed 148 pounds.
On June 16, 2011, Carl weighed 158 pounds.
       JUNE 18, 2011 - Neck surgery
On July 7, 2011, Carl weighed 141 pounds.
On July 14, 2011, Carl weighed 142 pounds.
       JULY 11, 2011 to July 14, 2011 inpatient Chemotherapy 
On July 28, 2011, Carl weighed 131 pounds.  
       This is the lightest Carl was been since high school.  

On August 2, 2011, Carl weighed 137 pounds.

The July 2011 Chemotherapy Course really left Carl with little appetite and strength.  Of all the cancer months, this is the time Carl spent the most time in bed.  The next chemotherapy course was postponed, and then postponed again.  Carl has regained his appetite, a bit, and his energy, somewhat, and he is now back to work when he doesn't have doctor appointments.  Now it seems he may have chemotherapy on August 29, 2011.

In the meanwhile, Carl leg has been hurting more.  This has not helped things.  Carl uses crutches and/or the walker all the time.  An MRI on July 16, 2011 gave us the information for a procedure that might help (a cyto ablation followed by an injection of epoxy directly into the bone), but we only met the the doctor to talk about the MRI on Aug 2, 2011.  I wish now we had not allowed the 6 week delay, but Carl was really dragging and we dropped the ball.  We set up a procedure for August 26, 2011, the earliest time available with all the doctors vacations and what not.  Now the leg has gotten worse, and so we wait again, to find out more.  

At least the summer weather has been great for all this waiting around that Carl and I seem to be doing.  I hope your summer has been going well. 

9698 

Michigan Vacation 2011

We have visited Carl's Dad in Michigan every summer for years, often over the 4th of July weekend.  



Carl and the children, Michigan, July 2011

This year, we loaded the car and headed to Michigan on Thursday, June 30, 2011. 

We hadn't been sure we could fit the Michigan vacation in because of Carl's chemo and surgeries schedules; but fortunately, Carl had recovered enough from his neck surgery (on June 18, 2011) that we could go. 

View of Chicago from the road (I94)

Carl and I usually split the driving, but this time I drove the 350+ miles each way.


Fountain at the Chicago Botanic Gardens


We decided to stop more often so Carl could stretch his legs.  The first stop was the Chicago Botanic Garden, were we ate lunch.

Lunch at the Gardens

We stay at Carl's Dad's log cabin on Little Wolfe Lake when we travel to Michigan.  The cabin's address is in 'Grass Lake' Michigan, which is kind of confusing.  There are so many beautiful lakes in Michigan.  Grass Lake is in the middle of the Michigan, between Ann Arbor and Jackson. We almost always spend time in Livonia, Michigan as well, where Carl's Dad lives.  Livonia is a nice suburb of Detroit.  This was the first time that we didn't travel on into Livonia, but Carl was tired enough from the ride to Grass Lake. 



View of Cabin from the lake



Grass Lake Michigan is a great place to have awesome $1.50 ice creams.  The dollar gets you a LOT more ice cream at Grass Lake's "The Lovin Spoonful" ice cream parlor then at home.

Carl and company at the ice cream shop

(Carl is wearing a winter coat because he was having a hard time regulating his body temperature in air conditioned places.)


This year, Miranda, Nathan, Anthony and Tom built two cardboard boats for a Cardboard boat race on the 4th of July in Grass Lake. 

Cardboard boats.  Ours were the only ones not painted

Miranda, Nathan, Anthony and I raced them, Tom and Carl cheered the boaters on. 



Miranda placed 3rd in the one person boat race!

Surprisingly, our unpainted boat (above) held up almost as long as the painted boats.


The start of the 2 person Cardboard boat race

There was an extra two person boat that the organizers gave to Anthony and Miranda for the two person race.  Anthony and Miranda are loading in the pinkish boat above.  They  finished 1st in the two person race.
 

Nathan and Nick in the two person race

  

The Cardboard Boat Race winners



Other activities over vacation included boating, tubing, eating and relaxing. 



Carl's Dad, Carl, his Aunt and Mom



Nathan and Carl

We took the pantoon boat to a sand bar in the middle of Big Wolfe Lake, where boats hang out while people play in the water, and a DJ broadcasts fun music.  One thing we really missed was seeing all the cousins, the schedules didn't work as well this year.  Otherwise, we had a nice 4th of July vacation, and then headed home on the 5th of July.

A Covered Bridge Somewhere in Michigan

Carl used a walker most of the vacation, (he uses the walker on uneven surfaces and grass), so we had the walker tied to the top of the car.

We got home, and the next week (July 11-14, 2011) Carl had inpatient chemotherapy at Froedtert Hospital.  Well, at least we managed to fit the vacation in!

Click on any photo to see it larger.
8609