Thursday Update

Dear Blog Diary..... (LOL)

It has been so long since I have had an extra minute, (or a computer connection), but at long last, here I am, home and writing what I can remember about this week....

Saturday... a great visit with Jim's sisters, Marikay and Trish...

We enjoyed lunch and visiting outdoors on the porch.. (yes, dear diary, we have a porch!).

Sunday... Well, Jim went with me to Staples and the pet store to buy food....

               I couldn't find my phone..

later I found it when I returned from Walmart under my back car tire!!!

Then.... the computer in the study could not get an Internet connection.... and as predictable, I had another melt down, tears and all.... I needed to prepare for Orthopedic Skills Day on Monday and all my information was on the computer at work or on my e-mail...

Jim, Marikay, Trish & Butter

Monday...After sleeping 2 hours, I drove to Springfield with all my stuff and the day began slowly, but thanks to four well-prepared co-workers, the presentations were set-up and delivered with expertise from 7am to 7pm..

Orthopedic Skills Day 2010

Oh.. and at 5pm I got another phone, (Blackberry) which was a little tricky because by contract wasn't "due for an upgrade" and Jim's account purchased the phone and then the very nice tech helped me transfer the information from my crushed device to the new phone and then change the account back to me for the newer Blackberry....  (Why do we always buy insurance when we can't use it??)

Tuesday... The Orthopedic Skills Day continued, with much less drama from me, and all our staff, (minus 11) attended!!!  Yea!

Wednesday was better, just regular work....

Thursday Jim has had more side effects from chemotherapy, fever, diarrhea and stomach pains... I am home now doing the extra laundry and watching him sleep and feeding him Pepto and Tylenol...

So... where was Jim during all this??  Thankfully, he was feeling better and was supportive, attentive and  tolerated my melt down by ordering pizza, tacos and Wendy's!!!

The phone is working, but I left the cord to recharge at the office, and the Internet is working on the laptop..

Jim told me this morning, he feels better and wants to go to the book store in Springfield "after his nap"!




Kiwanis Distinguished Service Award!

 

1200 Noon... Jim is off to Kiwanis lunch meeting... (I shaved him!!!)

*Blessings...

*Extra cords for all kinds of gadgets in the basement...

*Fast food delivered to the Murphy's door morning, noon or night!

and

more to come!

Thanks dear Blog for understanding my absence...

Karron

Update on "Ways for the Murphy household to not save money!"

A.  Housekeeper... this has not been a wise decision...
     1. One sweater destroyed by bleach...                     ?cost_____
     2. Cobwebs and spiders in the living room...          ?cost_____ 
(cannot measure  my embarrassment finding them after having my sisters-in-law down for lunch..)
     3. Another broken vaccum to add to the ones in the basement  ?cost____
 B. Dogrooming (This went back into the household budget...)
     1. Butter required extra time for grooming due to the many knots and "stuff" stuck
         in his fir..  ?cost__

Friday and all is going well...

Today Jim is going to Springfield with Denny, (neighbor, friend, walking buddy and church member) to get his Zometa..
I hope they have time for a big lunch at Chili's!
I'm off to work...
Jim's sisters, Trish and Marikay, will be coming tomorrow... yea!
We are looking forward to a great visit!

Karron

**Blessings
**Poodles who snuggle ..

Butter & Jim at Christmas a few years ago...

**Entertaining kittens...

Thursday...?more rain??

Great day for Jim yesterday!  He drove the car to Mediacom, which is across town!
The "task for the day" was to exchange our computer connection for a newer model.... Success...
The computer is back up and running faster now...

Today we have decided to do "phone tasks" and give the Honda a break.. (not really)

Did I say he also went to Quizinos to get a sandwich for lunch?..... yea....

We are so busy now at the hospital, the day goes by quickly....

Home today and giving Jim's pills to him to keep him "up and moving"!

Looking forward to working tomorrow at the hospital, but today I am preparing for our nursing staff skills day.... It is a pleasure to see our orthopedic staff grow with knowledge and skills... We are looking forward to the day our unit is designated, "Orthopedic Center of Excellence"!

**Blessings

*Friends at work..

*Great pictures from San Diego!
Karron

Tuesday in Illinois!

Yes! It's Tuesday and Jim is still feeling ok after having chemotherapy, Alimta, on Friday!

He was able to do some writing and work on the computer briefly yesterday.

Now awake, he tells me, "I slept like a log!" He is reading the paper and drinking his juice, coffee and taking all the pills and vitamins I have placed by his cereal..

..

So, I'm off to a 2nd day of work...... Yea, Yea, Yea.....(really)

I have read 2 books this weekend...

Garth Stein's, "Racing in the Rain" (Very Good!)

Janet Evonivich's, Wicked, (not so good)

**Blessings

**Ambien CR (for Jim, not me...Ha!)
**Coffee prepared in filter packs... just put it in and there's coffee!

Karron

Monday Morning...

I haven't written lately..
My thoughts have been...... (I guess I don't really know!)

But....
Today, I will write a little before work....
(Maybe, after work too!)

Last week (Wednesday), we got a denial letter for disability!!  It seems they thought we had over 5,000 in checking....
I thought it was more like 5.00!!
After alot of tears and phone calls, on Saturday we received another letter telling us that Jim would "qualify" in Feb. 2011 and receive a check in March!
Well...
Maybe "they" know something we do not.... I guess he is healthier that we thought, and surely live another year.... (gee... what positive attitude from our government...)

More....
Jim told me today was good but "boring"!

We received more forms to complete for IC's long-term disability plan...

The fatigue from Friday's chemotherapy is increasing a little, but he still is eating 2 meals a day!
(When I called on my way home, he answered the phone, "just bring 1 fried chicken leg and thigh home for me!")

Another blessing to add today....  Kentucky Fried Roasted Chicken! (HA!)




Blessings...

Our church prayer partners...
Our supportive family and friends...

Karron

Yes, It's Wednesday Already!

Yes, it's Wednesday and I think I am ready to go to work....

Jim has a little temp. but ok...Will be at MMC for Zometa and then to Dr. Esplin's!



**Blessings!

**Infusaport IV!


Karron

Tuesday..off to work I go!

Jim's birthday this June in San Diego!

Jim is feeling ok this morning....
so....
off to work I go, (I think!)


Chemo on Friday....(Alimta)

Zometa on Wednesday (Denny is taking Jim)/

Jim is sad.  He wrote a "good-bye" letter to IC staff yesterday...


**Blessings

**MMC.. (Indeed, a Great Place to Work!)

**Inspire, Cancer Suport Grouphttp://www.inspire.com/inspire/group/lung-cancer-survivors/


Karron

Monday at the Murphy's

I was ready to go to work (really),..... but I was called off due to low census....

Jim has a big smile on his face!!

I even had a Wendy's salad ready for his lunch, and I had cleaned the carpet in the living room early this morning...

We are looking forward to the appointment with the psychologist this week... he will be new since Dr. Johnson has moved to Kansas City...

Now he is walking with his walking buddy and friend Denny.  Butter loves the walks with "Uncle Denny"!

I plan to add to the family picture page today....


Karron

**Blessings

"Unwither" spray from FV!! (not really)
**Pre-cooked bacon...
**

A Beautiful Sunday....

The weather is great.... blue skies and 80 degree temp!

Time to clean the inside of the car... what a mess .. the apartment "stuff" is still in the back of the car!

I have never seen so much junk... I guess I should have left it there, but next year or so, I will probably need something.ha!

Jim is looking better... enjoying the desk chair and the computer... looks like some of the hand-eye coordination is returning.... last week he was unable to sign on without me typing it in!

He watched THE football game on t.v....Bears of course...

I am planning to work tomorrow...
Jim promised that he will make a "day agenda" to keep busy....

** I suggested: (not really)

Shower, nap, /breakfast, nap,/ take pills, nap,/ check e-mail, nap,/ lunch, nap, /walk Butter, nap,/ read mail from the real postman, nap/...sit on the porch and then I will be home!  (And then we both can nap, eat & go to bed!)


Karron

**Blessings:

*Pizza delivery
*Jimmy John's delivery

Saturday 9/11

Patrick and children

Sharron, Annie & Allie

Today while remembering the day 9 years ago.. 9/11, I think I will compose another page of family photos...

Jim and I have such wonderful families...

Melissa & Jon

Great memories...

Godson, Jordan

Many more memories to be made!!

Jim, Mike & Michael

Karron

Marikay, me, Jim, Fri, Emily, Francie & Rick

End of the work week.....

Jim's new "office" chair... Thank you Marikay & Francie!

Here it is, Friday, and the end of the work week for me...
I have not been able to go to work at all this week....
I will begin next week with a very positive attitude....
We anticipate a good week for Jim because it has been more then 14 days since his last chemotherapy and every day we see improvement, both physically and mentally!

Lunch at Friday's!

Eating at Friday's yesterday was fun.... (His only meal because he ate so much!).  Of course I ate a lot too, but I'm "not going there"!
Notice there is never a picture of me eating!!!

Last night I watched "Surrogates" on Jim's I POD Classic,  and now I think I need one!  That is a Surrogate, not an I POD... (Not really)

**Blessings**
Barnes & Noble!!
I POD Classis with lots of memory for movies and books...

It's a good thing.....

Jim & Emily (June 2010)

Ricki & Desi (great buddies!)

For once, I think it was a good thing that I had to stay home with Jim...

I heard his soft voice calling me, "Karron, can you come here a minute?"
Because it didn't sound like an emergency, I took my time and when I went in the bedroom, he wasn't in bed!
Then I saw his hand...
He was wedged between the bed and bedroom window and unable to even raise his head so he could see me...
After moving the bed, attempting several times to pull him out of this tight space, we finally "scooted" out to where I could get a better grip and help him up...
Nothing is broken, nothing bruised except his ego!!!

We are now getting dressed to go to Springfield and I promised him (not really), that I would get him the necklace that can be pushed for emergencies....

**I have more respect for that silly old lady on TV that cries, "I've fallen and I can't get up!"

**Blessings

**Answered prayers... Jim is on so many prayer lists...
**Helpful neighbors...
**"Life Alert"( LOL)
**Computer groups, esp. "Inspire", Cancer Survivor's group

Karron

Wednesday YEA!

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How I feel today???

Jim is feeling better today and sleeping less!!  I will try again to go to work tomorrow...

His spirit has improved today and the dog has been walked around the block 3 times already!

Count down to next chemotherapy//// 8 days!!!

Tuesday: Home again with Jim...

We are going to Springfield for some blood work...
He is still tired and pale..
Really, not thinking all too clearly today...

Yes! This is Jim in the late 70's!

Jim's lab work was ok.... Dr. Esplin talked with us at great length about his fatigue... She is very encouraging that this symptom will improve..  She is also very positive about taking disability from work now...

Labor Day!

I'm home today! Yea!
(We have a low census on the orthopedic unit and I was called off...)

Jim is awake and up and about, getting ready to walk with his walking buddy, Denny.
We plan to take a ride in the car and catch up paying the bills....

Blessings

**Holidays
**Friends on facebook...

Beautiful September Sunday!

Jim is feeling stronger and able to walk Butter down the street without falling!

The kittens are really big... too big for our little house, so...

I guess we really need to find them a new home...

We had lunch outside on the patio... (Arby's) with Butterscotch...

Many years ago... (many pounds ago!)

Jim is worried that he will not be "productive" if he doesn't go in to work...

(I think he must be feeling better today!)

Notes on Saturday, Sept. 4th

Yesterday Jim completed, (we think), the Social Security application by phone...

It took over an hour to complete...

We placed the interviewer on speaker phone so I could help with the details.

The fatigue is still a great factor for Jim in reducing his ability to talk for long periods of time..

His voice is hoarse, requiring him to repeat often...

I was off work again yesterday for Jim...

I believe he is afraid to stay alone at home for fear of falling...

Butter almost pulled him down the steps this morning...

He is unsteady and walking slowly, but I think he is better...

The affects of Alimta are the most severe the first week and I think he will get stronger now each day.

Even though his H/H is still ok, he is pale...
We received flowers from the Stauer's on Thursday...

Looking at our pictures from years past, I have found a few that I would like to share...

**Blessings

**Many wonderful memories and great pictures of happier times...
**Friends who mow our lawn (Denny & son)! and bring muffins!

Many, many years ago.... Look at all the hair, and we were thin!

I'm still sad...

Tuesday.... Dr. Stauer came to the house to talk to Jim..... (???)

Wednesday... I discovered that IC is using Jim's office for a meeting room, alumni stuff, etc.. (??)

Thursday... I don't want to leave Jim at home alone, but I feel I must go in to work today...
Jim is still very tired, not reading newspaper, not working on computer and not eating well....

Wedding Photo.....

Blessings????
*** 30+ years of great marriage and partnership with Jim!!