Next on the Agenda . . .

Last time we left our SuperHero, SpongeBob SweatPants (I'll probably get sued for copyright infringement for using that picture), he had just been discharged from ER last Saturday. Easter would come and go, like any other day—another holiday Bob wouldn't able to partake in—or, so we thought! My sister, Jill, her husband, Jade, Miss Amelia (their adorable 4 year old) and my mom showed up at our door with Easter Dinner in a Bag (aka Meals on Wheels)! My mom and Jill spent the morning making a ham dinner with all the trimmings and brought it out to us. Oh, and they included salmon and halibut steaks for Bob, in compliance with his low sodium diet! We even got Easter baskets, with bubbles, a pinwheel, candy-filled eggs . . . short but sweet visit, a lovely day, indeed.

These next few weeks are a flurry of appointments for Bob: had one on Monday (a follow-up with oncology, after the last chemo treatment, and to line up subsequent appointments with various departments), Tuesday was an "off" day, then Wednesday brought an unexpected trip to ER again, because Bob's been battling an ongoing bout of nausea, feeling light-headed, dizzy, weakness—a call to the triage nurse gave us instructions to take him in, because he may be dehydrated and would need to get IV fluids immediately, to avoid further issues, (like what had happened back in Feb, when his electrolytes became so out of whack) . . . the blood pressure meds make his blood pressure very low, which is the intention, but too low and it impairs mental and physical functions. IV fluids were administered, blood work was done, a few hours hanging out at the ER Cantina and then he was released . . . Penny and Jim have been staying with us again, as I have to work all week. With Bob's condition still being quite fragile, we all agreed it was best to have someone with him at all times. As such, they brought him into ER and then home again, so I didn't have to reschedule a whole day of appointments; they kept me posted on his progress throughout the stay.

This pic was taken in the exam room while waiting for the oncology nurse to arrive for Bob's

appointment this past Monday. It's a supply cabinet, with lots of drawers filled with lots of fun stuff, things that make you go, "hmmm. . . " Bob wondered aloud, "I wonder if they use all those things for every exam . . ." I said, "Only if you're lucky," then, "I need to take a picture of this, for the blog!" Love the thought that someone actually had to physically type a label for the contents of the cabinet . . . {{{{BIG sigh}}}} . . . someday, peeps, I'll grow up . . .

On with the social engagement calendar: Bob had his CT scan today, cardiology follow-up appointment tomorrow (Friday), has the weekend off, and next week starts another collection of appointments. He'll meet with Doc S, his main oncology doctor, to review the CT results and also finally have his surgeon's consultation. With each appointment, we'll have more pieces to the puzzle to complete the picture of treatment, being the whole thing was all scrambled up with the heart attack incident.

Many, many trips back and forth to the U these past few weeks . . . We met with our realtor again yesterday, and are revisiting the idea of putting the house back on the market. After this last medical emergency (the heart attack) and ER trips, I am more than a little freaked out about living so far away from medical care, from family and friends . . . 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive at our house last Saturday (thank god that wasn't a critical event . . .) has really got me thinking . . . Maybe it's a bad time to sell (is any time a good time in this market?), we'll find out, but I want so badly to simplify our lives in any way possible. . . in my mind, living in the city again would make everything so much easier, from getting Bob to and from doctor's appointments, to simply getting groceries and making Target and pharmacy runs. Then again, maybe I'm just desperately trying to find a way to gain the upper hand on something that is completely, utterly out of my control . . . so anyhow, if you know anyone who's interested in living in a super-adorable walk-out rambler with 2 1/2 acres of park-like woods, send 'em our way . . .

(the pic above is Bob resting on the exam table before the anal scope . . . OH, JUST KIDDING!!! He's just resting . . . take it where you can get it . . .)