Week 3 - Third Week of Recovery - Post Radiotherapy/Chemotherapy Treatment

Hi Everyone

Hope you've all had a great week and that you're well and happy.

Dave and I have had a good week, both health wise and socially!!  Me healing up well after my fall and Dave getting stronger each day.

Tuesday was a very exciting day, as we got to see our wonderful girlfriend, my 'sister', Shannon who had just returned from her incredibly amazing three month honeymoon with Brian and catching up with the adorable Birthday girl Cathy for a coffee... Dave had to put up with us three girls gaggling away!!! He loved it!!!

Later that day another dear friend of ours, Sue, that we hadn't seen for ages popped in with dishes of yummy foods for me and a catch up with us both.

We met with the Radiation Oncologist on Thursday... he was very happy with Dave's progress and said he would like to see Dave again in six weeks time :-)  So next visit is on 8th December 2016.  Unfortunately, we won't know if all the treatment has worked until early in the New Year.  So have to continually think positive thoughts until then!!

The dietician was happy too that Dave has upped his Ensure TwoCal bottles now to five a day!  Dave's still not eating anything yet as the taste is just too awful still.  Though he has marginally enjoyed cups of chicken broth that I've made and he did manage a bowl of Miso Soup on Saturday.

The speech therapist has asked Dave to up his throat exercises, sometimes called shaker exercises, to help improve his swallow and to alleviate any issues down the track.  This helps lift your voice box, also called your larynx.  The exercise also helps lift the muscle called the esophageal sphincter at the top of the oesophagus or windpipe.

Afterwards we dashed to the train station to pick up Kay (sister-in-law) and Rebecca (Bex) our niece.
Later that afternoon enjoying a nice walk in the sunshine, and along the way bumping into a couple of our walking group friends... Frank where were you!!!

Dave, me, Tracy, Robert and Bex in the background :-) 

Dave also received a wonderful pic from Jono too, to cheer us up, of the three of them... such a cool pic :-)

Jono, Toby (8wks) and our daughter Kimberly :-) 

Quite a productive weekend too!!! Bex, Kay and I managed to re-stain our outdoor table & eight chairs, wash down both alfresco areas too... much needed jobs to get done... so feeling very accomplished.  Afterwards for our rewards visiting the local Smelly Cheese shop for a delicious gelato!! Thanks Bex and Kay for all your help over the weekend.  We even managed to pop out to the local handmade market on Saturday morning at De Bortoli cellar door, even though it was pouring with rain!! I was happy, as I bought our first grandchild a couple of Christmas presents!!!

Saturday was also a wonderful day as friends of ours from NZ, now living in Brisbane, were in the Hunter for a conference and were able to pop in for lunch to see us too :-) It was so great to see you Wendi and Rob.  Was awesome that you were able to return in the evening too to watch the All Blacks beat Australia in the final Bledisloe Cup.  Even though we, the girls sat chatting most of the night :-) Thanks for the wonderful lunch, gifts and great times, we look forward to our next catch up xxx

Rob, me, Wendi and Dave

me and Wendi (loves this pic)

Thanks also Bex and Kay for our wonderful pressies, we are going to save the Bunnings voucher to buy some plants for either inside or out.

Dave, Bex, Kay and me (love this pic too)

Onwards and upwards to the weeks ahead.

One from our book... You are My "Once in a Lifetime" I will Always Love you by Marci

There's Nothing We Can't Do... Together

We may not have always understood

the gift wrapped up in a greater plan.

Time has taught us about the bond of love.

We have learned together, sharing the good times and the bad,

and no matter what, there has always been love.

xxx

and, from my little pocket book... "Love is all you need"....

Because of a great love, one is courageous

by Lao Tzu

xxx