January 2011

January started off like any other year.  We celebrated the New Year with Dave and Kathy up at their house in Fort Collins.  But unlike most years there was a lot going on in our small family.  Jeff still had "Hairy" hanging around and had an appointment for January 3rd to see what his test results were going to bring.  They were looking better but still not quite where the doctor wanted to see them be.  So again he went back on January 10th and the doctor decided that his levels were headed in the wrong direction.  OH NO!   So January 11th Jeff went in for another Bone Marrow Biopsy.  Jeff wasn't going to let this slow him down.  He had been planning on making a new cabinet for the studio so he went home with his parents on Wednesday night and on Thursday Jeff and his Dad worked on the cabinet.  We found out at the end of the week that Jeff still had 30%  "Hairy" hanging out with him.  So Monday January 16th he went back in for another round of chemo.

Jeff wasn't the only one having fun at our home.. I didn't want to feel left out.  I had a Esophageal pH monitoring test that measures how often and for how long stomach acid enters the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach (esophagus).

The test is performed by a thin tube that is passed through your nose or mouth to your stomach. Then it is pulled back into your esophagus. The tube is attached to a monitor that measures the level of acidity in your esophagus.
You will wear this monitor on a strap and will be asked to keep a diary of your symptoms and activity over the next 24 hours. The next day you will return to the hospital and the tube will be removed. The information from the monitor will be compared with the diary notes you provide.

Zac was out of school for the day so he was able to come be my support system since Jeff was down in Oncology getting his treatment.

IT WAS AWFUL!! 

However I have to say I was spoiled by Red Robin.  I sent the boys to get me a peach milkshake when we got home.  It was so delicious.   Zac went with him and picked up a strawberry milkshake.  So later that night I sent Jeff out again to get me another one. While he was waiting Jeff and the bartender got to talking and told him what we had going on and he gave us the next peach and strawberry milkshake for FREE!  WOW! THANKS REDROBIN!!!