End of Week 6 - Effects of Radiotherapy getting worse!

Hi again!

The effects of the radiotherapy are now really kicking in for Dave.  In respect of the inside of his throat.... now starting to be really sore and not being able to swallow his meds or talk!! 

We now have to administer his medications, for reflux, nausea and pain relief via a syringe through the PEG.  I did have to crush one of his meds and then put in water but now have a dissolvable version.  The others just dissolve or they are liquids.

Meds taking:

For the lack of Thyroid 

• Thyroxine 100 micro grams each day except for Tuesday & Friday he takes 150 micrograms.

For his reflux

• Omeprazole 40mg day.  Though now have had to change this to Losec (20mg x 2 tablets), as we need to be able to dissolve the tablets, and Omeprazole generic brand we had did not dissolve.
• Zantac 300mg 1 a day.  Though we have changed this to Zantac effervescent tablets 150mg - twice a day.

For the Nausea

• Ondanestron (Zofran Zydis) wafer 8mg twice a day when required.
• Nausicalm (cyclizine) 50mg 1 tablet three times a day when required.
• Pramin (Metoclopramide HCL) 10mg, 1 tablet three times a day when required.

• now just using Maxolon ampoules which can be put through the PEG.  Maxolon seems to be more beneficial than the three above!

For the Pain

• Was just taking Panadol liquid but have now upped it to Ordine 5 (morphine), 5mg/ml... 1ml every two hours.   Though Dave started to react badly to this so now have changed it to Fentanyl patches!  Apply one patch to the skin evert 72 hrs (3 days).

Confused about meds cause I am!!!!

I feel like I have taken a crash course in medications and administering them!! Maybe I should become a Nurse!!! Also think we could open our own Pharmacy now too!!!  :-) 

I owe a HUGE thanks to John at the Pokolbin Village Pharmacy for all his support, help, advice and chats and my phone calls in requesting and sourcing everything for Dave.  Also suggesting other options too.  Thanks so much John :-) 

Earlier in the week we had a bit of an issue with the scheduling of Dave's appointments.  They had Dave scheduled to catch up with the specialist on Wednesday at 11.00am, however by 11.30am we hadn't been called so I went and checked with the receptionist what the delay was... she then advised me that Dave didn't have a scheduled appointment that day, in fact it was scheduled for the next day, being Thursday!!!! That the specialist never meets on a Wednesday!!  Well it would have been nice of them to update us prior to this happening!!! As this had been scheduled since we started!!!  As you can imagine I went right off!!

I requested a meeting with the ward manager so I could express my upmost concern.  I had to express our concern as Dave can't talk much at the moment!  As this wasn't the first time this had happened!! The previous week it was the Nurses scheduled appointment that didn't happen!  One of the main reasons I/we were so very annoyed was because every minute away from home means that Dave is not getting his fluids/food via the PEG/pump and getting dehydrated!  So on Wednesday he had four hours without fluids!!!!  He is able to sip a little from his water bottle but this is all.  The ward manager obviously apologised profusely and said he would raise this at their regular meetings to ensure it wouldn't happen again.  I certainly hope it doesn't happen again for Dave or anyone else.  As this whole process/experience is stressful enough without having to deal with issues of scheduled appointments not happening.

Wednesday was a sad day, also, because Cam returned to NZ.  It was so nice having him around for the past two weeks... didn't want him to leave!  Cam's hoping to return for Christmas, which will be really lovely. By then Dave will be much better and will be able to take Cam out for a round or two of golf! 

Later Wednesday night I took Dave for a little walk to get some fresh air and stretch out but afterwards I needed to go for a power walk to let off some steam!!! Thanks Sherry for joining me and listening!! We got home just in time before a major thunderstorm hit us!!

Thursday was a better day.... we had the said scheduled specialist appointment, Dave's treatment and a Nurses appointment... well we were in and out within an hour, like clockwork!!! My chat the day before must have meant something.  Also it was a strange feeling as there were hardly any patients around, normally the reception waiting room is buzzing with people! Especially on Dr appointment days!

Dave also requested that his radiation appointment be re-scheduled for the Friday... as he wanted to be able to purchase Bruce Springsteen concert tickets at midday that day on-line!!! The girls on the machines were very accommodating :-) Fingers crossed Dave's able to purchase them!! As this will be a great concert to look forward to early next year.

Dave's nausea seems to be subsiding a lot now too, which is a great feeling for him.  All the fluids constantly being pumped through him is flushing the chemo out.

Ooops I spoke too soon!!!! Friday morning bam the nausea hit him... in fact he spent most of the morning vomiting and dry reaching!!! Awful!! We think he might have had a reaction to the Ordine - Morphine, as he was ok up until taking this.  I phoned the hospital and spoke to the Nurse as I wanted Dave to see the specialist again.  I was concerned that he hadn't gotten any fluids into him all morning!  We got a specialist appointment at 2.30pm which was great.  Took him straight through to the triage area where he could lay down.  They took full bloods, and obs... all were great thankfully.  As he was dehydrated they hooked him up to an IV drip and gave him maxolon (nausea med) via the drip too.  The Maxalon seemed to help a lot as did hydrating him.  The Specialist also gave us new scripts for Fentanyl patches and Maxolon ampoules.  Thanks to the great advice from our pharmacist.

The only thing happy about this pic is Dave's socks!!!
surprisingly, they are called Happy Socks!

Friday night was a little better, but only very slowly administering fluid via the PEG.

Oh and yes Dave managed to purchase our Bruce Springsteen tickets too!!!! So excited to be seeing 'the Boss' live!!

Saturday Dave was feeling better again, but still only getting slow fluids in via the PEG.  Which worries me as I don't think he's getting enough throughout the day/night!!! But who am I to argue with the patient!!! As Dave says he can only administer what he can handle.  I realise this, but still worries me that he's not getting enough.

As I was awake at the crack of dawn Saturday morning I decided I would join my walking group for a walk as it was such a stunning morning.  I made sure that Dave was comfortable, administered his drugs and topped up his feeding bag.  Dave all settled and back off to sleep... off I went.  It was really lovely to get out in the fresh air for a power walk and catch up with everyone... great medicine for me!!  Then after coffee I returned to my gorgeous hubby, checked all was ok then I got stuck into cleaning our home top to bottom!!! Must be Spring!! Great way to exercise!!! And such a lovely feeling to sit back on Saturday night knowing its all done, that it smells nice and clean.  As it was such a great day I had all the windows and doors open to air the house out and to give Dave lots of fresh air too!!

Nothing like an early morning trip to A&E on a Sunday morning!  Yesterday we noticed a very large hard protruding vein in Dave's left arm.   He said he had noticed pain in that arm a couple of weeks ago but because of everything else we didn't follow through on it.  Then yesterday it was quite hard.  I awoke this morning and thought nah need to get this checked out as I was concerned it could affect his heart being a clot or something like that.  I phoned and spoke to a Nurse and explained it all to her.  She advised us to go and see a doctor straight away!  So a couple of hours later we are now back home after being checked out by a Emergency doctor.  They did an ultrasound on Dave's arm and said that it was in relation to the cannulas that have been inserted the past two times during chemo... that this is not uncommon to happen and its nothing to worry about at this stage.  However if Dave's arm starts to hurt, swell up and turn blue... before dropping off to get it immediately checked out again!!!

Now we can relax, nap and watch a movie or two in the media room!!! Before an early start tomorrow... having to see the specialist at 9.00am... so have to be out the door at 8.00am.

Only one more week of radiotherapy to go.... yahooo!!!! Then its time to recover and heal.

My weekly verse from You Are my "Once in a Lifetime" by Marci

From the Moment We Met I knew We Were Soul Mates

That first moment when we met is etched in my heart forever. 

There was that sense that I have known you for a long time

and that our relationship was meant to be.

You have been there with me through the ups and downs,

reminding me each day of why I love you. 

It is because of you that I know the bonds

we form are as everlasting as the spirit.

Love to you all, till next week xxx 

End of Week 5 - Last Round of Chemo!!!

Wow were at the end of Week 5!!!! About to start Week 6.... so this means only two weeks of radiotherapy treatment left for Dave!!! :-)

The weekend before this just gone was resting up for Dave prior to chemo, along with a couple of little walks in the sun & fresh air.  Cam and I worked hard in the garden... yes I convinced Cam to help me remove all the dead shrubs in the front garden... yahoo!!!! Thanks Cam for all your hard work!!!  As I've been wanting to do this for ages!!

photos of garden overall :-) 

Sunday night was upon us and we mentally prepared ourselves for Dave's chemo session the next day.

Monday was an early radiotherapy session as Dave had to check in for round two of his chemotherapy treatment afterwards.  That god darn awful toxic solution that no one should ever have to have put through their bodies!!! Not in this day and age anyhow!!!

We were on tenter hooks in regards to Dave's blood levels on whether he could have round two or not... given the week before they were really low and he wasn't allowed it.  While we were waiting I gave Dave a wonderful relaxing foot/feet massage to make him calm, plus it helped me focus on something else for a little while!  Must have been good as he was fast asleep in minutes!!

Well the bloods were still low but they were on the up and apparently at a manageable level for them to be able to administer the chemo drug!! Your life is in their hands and you have to trust them!!!

normal range in brackets...

	Monday
	15 August	5 September	12 September
RBC	4.35	4.10	4.15	(4.50 - 6.50)
WCC	4.1	1.8	2.7	(4.0 - 11.0)
Neutrophils	2.3	0.8	1.6	(2.0 - 8.0)
Lymphocytes	1.2	0.5	0.4	(1.0 - 4.0)

So here we go again... round two...

While Dave sat comfortably enduring the cocktail of drugs via IV the three of us (me, Dave and Cam) had a little game of cards to while the time away.... Kings & Arseholes (or some people might know it as Presidents and Paupers)!!! Normally Dave is the King but this time around Cam had it... and I was yes, you guessed it right!!!  Fun though!

We only managed three games as Dave started getting really tired and nauseous.. the concoction hadn't even finished!  So we let Dave sleep.

Cam and I left Dave to rest around 6.00pm.  We drove home and on the way stopped off at Oishi a yummy Japanese/Thai restaurant in the Valley... we were both so tired and so hungry that we devoured our curries... I had a Panage duck curry, and Cam enjoyed a Massaman beef curry. Oh and for entree we shared a healthy assortment of sashimi.  We both felt whacked after a full on day, this is how we felt I'd hate to think how Dave was feeling!!! When we got home Cam made us both a fresh ginger, honey and lemon drink as we both felt a bit icky!!! Three teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar straight, a couple of panadol, and a sleeping pill... that should do the trick!!!

I woke fresh as a daisy the next morning!!! Raring to go for a walk to stretch out and get some fresh air before we went in to get Dave!! Cam said no at first but then decided to come with me. It was a beautiful morning.

Before our walk I messaged Dave to see how he was doing.   Not so good was the answer :-( He'd had a bad night and he was finding it hard to move because every time he did the waves of nausea just hit him!! I told him to rest up and that we would be there around 11.00am, in time to take him for his RAD treatment.  It just breaks my heart knowing that Dave is so unwell :-( :-(

Here's a few pics from our walk around the Vintage golf course...

 

Dave's radiotherapy appointment was at 11.30am, however because he was so unwell, I changed it to 2.00pm but then the nausea got even worse so changed it again to the latest possible, being 4.30pm.  Unfortunately Dave was not allowed to miss his daily RAD treatment so he had to endure the 10 minute car ride!! After treatment we returned to the hospital for Dave to rest up as he wanted to stay another night in hospital as didn't feel comfortable enough to come home.

One of the nurses on the ward on Tuesday afternoon on our return was insisting on giving Dave a Lorazepam tablet that we were strictly advised not to take during the first round of chemo in conjunction with taking Olanzapine... well not within 12 hours of each other anyhow!!  It certainly hadn't been twelve hours!!! Well she wouldn't listen to me/us!!!  She was so argumentative!!!... so I had to step it up a notch!!!! Requested that the medical oncologist visit us immediately to discuss, well he appeared straight away!!  We were right!!! In that the Lorazepam drug should not be administered within 12 hours of Dave taking an Olanzapine!!! Thank you!!  I'm no Nurse but I know what I've been told!!  I was not a happy chappie I can tell ya!!

On a GREAT note... the medical oncologist advised us that this will be Dave's last chemo treatment, that he will NOT be receiving round three of his chemo.  YAHOOO!!! This is absolutely fantastic news!!!! There is a god!!!  Thank you!!

You ask why no more chemo... well the chemo has to be administered three weeks apart, well this particular dosage of Dave's does... and as Dave was not able to receive chemo last week this makes the next round after the last dosage of radiotherapy.  That they prefer to administer the chemo before the last dosage of radiotherapy!  Apparently its not uncommon for patients to not have their third round of chemo.   That the radiotherapy is actually the primary source of treatment.

Once we got Dave settled and feeding via the PEG/Pump Cam and I headed home, both feeling absolutely whacked!!! Thankfully we didn't have to cook, just warm up left overs and steam some veggies.  We were both in bed by 8.30pm!!

On waking on Wednesday morning I messaged Dave to see how he was, we faced timed which was nice... he said he was feeling a bit more comfortable and had a goodish sleep.  I was so relieved.  I said we would be in around 11.00am ready to take him to his RAD appointment at 11.30am.

Well on arriving at the hospital there were no car parks at all!!! Everyone was queued up, it was bedlam!! So Cam hopped out and went up to get his Dad while I tried to get a car park!! Never got a car park so just had to hang around!! Even though the morning started well the day was apparently getting worse!

It was nice to see Dave when they arrived at the car.  Though then he proceeded to tell me that through the night he constantly had to ask for medications to assist his nausea and asked several times for someone to put fluids in his bag so he could be constantly hydrated through the night... NO one did this!!!! I was fuming!!!! So you can imagine my next steps!!! When we got home, once I calmed down and I knew Dave was settled and asleep in the media room I phoned the hospital to speak to the ward manager.  Explained the circumstances, very calmly, might I add, but with authority!!! She apologised profusely and said she would investigate.  We have a follow up appointment with the specialist next week so will be explicitly expressing my concerns to him too after he had explicitly charted this for the nursing staff that he must be kept hydrated throughout the night by his PEG!!

I was on a roll.... back to the wine fridge door that exploded a month ago... we were promised by Delonghi that they would replace the door free of charge and had handed it over to a service provider to do so.  Well it has been just over a week when I last spoke to the service provider so I phoned them back to find out what was happening... they advised that the door is on back order and it wouldn't be available till middle of December!!!! I said what!!!! That is outrageous!!! They agreed and offered to follow up with Delonghi about getting them to replace the wine fridge entirely.  I also phoned Delonghi and expressed my concerns!!! I await to hear back from them.  To be continued...!

Not a good Wednesday!!!

The rest of our week was extremely quiet.  Each day driving Dave in for his RAD treatment.

Dave has constantly felt nauseous all week from the chemo and not responding to feed via the mouth at all, just the Two Cal via the PEG.  He also doesn't really like being around food that's being cooked now too!

Dave has also been sleeping in the media room in the lazy boy chair all week as this is the most comfortable at present while he is constantly hooked up to the kangaroo pump and feeding via the PEG.  I'm really missing him in bed next to me, as is Dave!

Thursday we received two wonderful care parcels.  One from my ex-pilates instructor, Caryn and the other from our cousin in the UK... Gillian & her hubby Dave.  Wow we are totally overwhelmed and very thankful for both of them... They certainly put a smile on both of our faces :-)

Thank you so much Caryn
you are truly an amazing person xxxx

Thank you so much Gillian & David
your both so wonderful xxxx

Thursday night was a bit rough as I didn't sleep very well as I kept thinking Dave was up and about in the kitchen... me just thinking too much in my sleep!!! Anyhow I kept getting up and checking on Dave and he was awake both times, 1.00am and then again at 3.30am... both times topped up his nausea meds and refilled his feed bag to keep him constantly hydrated.

Friday was again full of surprises for Dave.... Cam giving his Dad a couple of pressies... a set of Tin Tin place mats (Dave loves TinTin) and a signed picture of Tim Horan which Cam bid for in an auction, raising money for child cancer.  Dave was so thrilled to receive them both :-) Thanks Cam for putting a smile on ya Dads face.  Then Cam surprised me too with booking me a facial at the Golden Door Health Spa/Retreat too... feeling so spoilt right now!! Thank you Cam so much... I can't wait to experience my facial on Tuesday afternoon!!

Cam took off to Sydney for the weekend to catch up with friends of his from NZ which was a nice break for him.

Dave and I were both absolutely drained/whacked so our weekend was extremely quiet, most of it just blobbing in our PJs catching up on some TV programmes.  Resting our eyes at times too.

I also finally started a jigsaw puzzle!  A 2,000 piece one at that!!

Thanks Sherry for lending it to me :-)

Sunday night is upon us again and week six will start tomorrow.

My weekly verse from You Are my "Once in a Lifetime" by Marci

I love you and I believe in you

There have never been words more powerful than

'I Love You'...

or more meaningful than

'Thank You'...

or more sustaining than

'I Believe In You'...

So I'm saying these things to you now:

'I love you more than words can say, 

I am so thankful for you.

And no matter what.

I will always believe in you!'.

***

Where there is great love there is always miracles...

by Willa Cather

Willa Sibert Cather was an American author who achieved recognition for her novels

 of frontier life on the Great Plains, including O Pioneers!,

The Song of the Lark, and My Ántonia. 

Till next week.... hopefully a better week for Dave and getting him out for a little walk each day to get his strength back up!! 

Love to you all from us both xxx 

End of Week 4 - Half way there!!

Wow last week was very tough and so was the beginning of this week!!!  The strength within us is unbelievable!!!

Annie was a huge lift for us both over the weekend, for me in particular... I can't thank you enough darling friend xxx 

Start of week four at the RAD unit... here's the three Amigo's... :-) 

Annie, Dave, Me

Well we now know why its been a tough week for Dave!!  When we checked Dave in for chemo on Monday, as per normal they take blood to check his levels.  Well they were really low, so low that he wasn't allowed to go through this round of chemo :-( which in a way is a bugger as we were mentally prepared, but good on the other hand that Dave has another week to get stronger.  So home again we go!


The following bloods highlighted as being low (with normal range in brackets) are :

RBC : 4.10 (4.50 - 6.50)
WCC : 1.8 (4.0 - 11.0)
Neutrophils : 0.8 (2.0 - 8.0) 
Lymphocytes : 0.5 (1.0 - 4.0) 


RBC = red blood cells

WCC = White Cell Count (WCC) is usually performed as part of a Full Blood Count, but may be performed alone. It is used to try to detect infection or inflammation, because the number of white blood cells in the bloodstream will often be elevated when there is a serious infection somewhere in the body.

Neutrophils = (white blood cells)

Lymphocytes = (a form of small leucocyte (white blood cell) with a single round nucleus, occurring especially in the lymphatic system.)

The strangest thing is that they didn't give Dave anything to help his bloods improve, just to go home, rest up, sleep lots and keep the fluids up and eat.  So this is what has happened.  We were also strictly told that if Dave gets a temp over 38 that we were to rush him to hospital!! Thankfully that hasn't happened!! And to stay away from anyone with colds, infections and especially children with bugs! 

Tuesday was also touch and go whether they would administer the Radiotherapy treatment due to his low blood count.  But after taking his general obs(ervations), i.e., blood pressure, temp and heart rate they said he was ok to proceed.  If he had a high temp then they wouldn't.  

It wasn't until Wednesday afternoon that he started to feel a bit better and by the end of this week he is feeling much more alert and a bit stronger. Though still suffering with waves of ongoing nausea!! Dave's even managed to start eating small portions of soft foods again which is a bonus!! 

Thanks Craig for sending us a new thermometer :-) You're the best!! 

Dave's hair has also been falling out at the back and around his neck, chin and jaw line.  At least around the jaw line he won't have to shave anymore as this won't grow back, but the hair on the back of his head will fortunately!!

The specialist appointment on Thursday was encouraging in that Dave's skin around his neck is still looking healthy and not sore.  Each day, twice a day Dave's applying Sorbelene moisturiser, fragrance free - restoring with vitamin E and a biogenic Aloe Verga Gel with vitamin E.  

The thrush in Dave's mouth has cleared up now too after utilising the pharmacycare Nystatin oral drops (vanilla flavour)... not that Dave can taste the vanilla!!! 

Thursday was very exciting as our Son arrived from NZ :-)  Cam's going to be with us for a couple of weeks.... oooh what jobs can I line up!!! :-)  This is a great lift for Dave and me.

Its been a very quiet week. Apart from driving to and from the hospital for RAD treatment and picking up Cam.

I managed to get out for a walk three times this week in the evening with Sherry... thanks for the texts and getting me out Sherry, much appreciated xx Also took Tash with us too :-) Tash is our neighbours dog... she is a very loveable Dalmatian, but forgot to take a pic of her... next time!  Thanks Kim for letting me take her out xxx

Dave even managed a walk on Thursday night with Cam, Sherry and I. Actually it was the biggest walk Dave has done in four weeks!! Well done babe!

Each Friday the Radiation Therapists conduct a CT scan of Dave to compare and measure.  It was great that Cam could come along with us today too, so he could see what was what.  The Rads were also really great in explaining everything to Cam which was awesome.  I also managed to capture a couple of images of Dave's CT too off the PC screen!!

The weekend will be very quiet and relaxing for us all.  Though I might see if Cam will help me remove some scraggy bushes in the garden.  And perhaps a massage too!

Fingers crossed that Dave's blood levels come right and he can have his chemo administered on Monday!  One question we thought we would ask the Medical Oncologist is whether Dave can have his chemo weekly going forward instead of every three weeks.  As this might be better for Dave's body to adjust too.  Can but ask.

After I gave Dave his book the other day... 'You are My "Once in a Lifetime" I will always love you' by Marci.  Dave highlighted the following verse back to me...

You Are Always There For Me... and I am Grateful

When I think of us, I realise that our relationship is one of the things

I cherish the most in my life.  It is hard to put into words how grateful I am

for all the times you have come through for me... 

for all the times you have listened instead of telling me what to do... 

for all the times you have hugged away my troubles... 

for the laughs over nothing... 

for the many tears dried... Thank you for it all!

xxx

Till next week.  Take care of each other and a continuing thank you for all the wonderful messages of support xxx 

End of Week 3 - A tough week!

Yay.... end of Week 3.... only four more weeks to go!!!

Dave has had a reasonable week at the beginning but the end of this week has been a bit hard going in regards to eating and feeling very tired.

His mouth and throat are getting more & more uncomfortable as the days go on unfortunately.

Thursday was the most exciting day of all as we got to see our darling, gorgeous girlfriend Annie who is visiting us from New Zealand until Monday :-) :-) :-) After Dave's treatment we met Annie at Hamilton Railway Station after she caught the train up from Sydney Airport.  Perfect timing!!!

The only things Dave has been able to tolerate eating during the earlier part of this week is as follows, but only entree size portions:

Breakfasts: scrambled eggs or mushed up weetbix with milk or porridge with milk and cream.

Lunches : homemade chicken soup but that was a bit hard going as it was still a bit grainy, as I hadn't made it smooth enough. Yummy mushed up banana with warm custard.  Or runnyish Mac n Cheese with a tin of mushed up salmon; scrambled eggs too.

Dinners: omelette with mushed up veggies and cheese; poached white fish in milk with herbed milky butter sauce with mushed up grated cauliflower/broccoli cooked in ghee with a bit of very soft macaroni; very soft saucey spaghetti bolognaise.  Chocolate mousse for dessert.

Between meals also having Ensure Plus cartons : 1.5 kcal/ml nutritionally complete and balanced meal replacement.

During the week the Nutritionist's, Telisha & Gaby showed us how to use the feeding pump just in case Dave was unable to eat anything.

Unfortunately towards the end of this week Dave's mouth is now quite yukky with ulcers and candida and he is finding it really difficult to eat so he has been trialling the Ensure Two cal HN meal replacement drinks via the PEG. Dave is also rinsing with salt water and taking Nystatin Oral Drops regularly during the day to help heal his mouth.

As Saturday was a slow relaxing day and Dave wasn't feeling the best either he tried out the feeding pump while sitting enjoying a movie.  Annie, Dave and I managed to suss out the instructions and hooked it up correctly which was a great start!! The pump took a couple of hours to go through.

While Dave was resting, and to allow the pump to feed him, I took Annie out to a winery up the road... 'Worthingtons Cellar Door' for a coffee on the way to the supermarket.  Both Dave and I had been trying to get there for ages but just haven't managed it.  Anyhow, I highly recommend visiting when your next in the Hunter Valley! I'm not drinking at present, however I did have a very small taste of their dessert shiraz, which was amazing!!!  Thanks Julie and Michael for making us so welcome xxx

Worthingtons Cellar Door

My gorgeous darling girlfriend, Annie and I at Worthingtons

Supermarket shopping done, home and Annie cooked up a storm for us, well for me going forwards as Dave will probably be using his PEG from now on... soup made up from the beef bone broth I had prepared a few weeks ago.... spaghetti bolognaise and a fish pie... which was totally amazing!!!

Sunday, today as I write this blog is Father's Day here in Australia and Dave received wonderful encouraging messages from our two gorgeous and amazing kids... Kimi & Cam.... we both love you so much xxxx

We also went out for a little drive around the Valley to show Annie around, mainly to check out the homeware/gift shops at some of the cellar doors.... Dave enjoyed the drive and snooze in the car in the warmth.  He only got out once to have a little walk and to have a photo taken with me!

photo of Dave & I outside of Dark Horse Cellar Door

Dark Horse Cellar Door is also a must to visit... the wine is delicious... from tastings when it first opened and the gifts for sale are beautiful.  Thanks Olivia for making Annie and I feel so welcome and for the chat.

Lots of rest and an early night tonight as tomorrow is another big week, starting off again with the second round of chemo for Dave.  But first up will be the radiotherapy session.  Then saying goodbye to our amazing friend Annie who has been a huge support and a tremendous lift for me over the last few days.  Going to be so hard to say goodbye!!!  Though we do have another visitor to look forward to later in the week, being our son... Cameron.. can't wait to see ya mate!

I bought a book the other day for Dave... its called... 'You are My "Once in a Lifetime" I will always love you' by Marci.  I highlighted the following verse when I gave the book to him...

I'll Always Be here For You No Matter What...

I am always thinking of you...

believing in you... praying for you...

and hoping that you know that no 

matter how big a problem seems 

or how hopeless you feel, you are 

never alone, as my love is only 

one hug away!

xxx

Thank you once again for everyone's comments, texts, phone calls, messages, emails etc. etc. to us both... keep them coming as they mean the world to us.  You can now leave messages on the blog, if you want too, as I managed to fix the initial problem!!

And a HUGE, HUGE thank you to my gorgeous girlfriend Annie for flying over to support us both, and give me some girlie time I have thoroughly enjoyed having you here... I was considering hiding your passport!!! I know it was really hard on you leaving your three gorgeous kiddlywinks for the first time, for this length of time.  Thank you to your hubby, David too for holding the fort! 

Love to you all and will be posting again in a weeks time... xxx