Thursday, October 29, 2009

Gettin Better Everyday

We had a great report from Dr. Harper on Friday. Earl had a CT scan last thursday and we got our results Friday. Basically, the tumor is gone! Good news! She says "no surgery" is needed. We will have a PET scan in December to see if all the cancer cells are gone, which we feel really strongly that they are, but still have to wait for that. Earl has gained 7 pounds since the end of his treatment. Dr. Harper said she is so impressed at how well he tolerated the treatment. We had no burns to the neck (thanks to pure Aloe that we used several times a day) and he was not hospitalized at all. Most Head and Neck patients end up hospitalized several times throughout treatment due to dehydration (it's hard to drink/eat when your throat is burning). Earl pushed himself really hard to get better and did everything the Dr's told him to do. That is why he did so well and why he is recovering quickly. He is still very thin and that will just take time. He cannot tolerate spicy foods at all and is very sensitive to salty/peppery foods. He has no taste for sweet foods, said they taste weird. All in all he is good and may be able to get back to work next week. He spends his days working on his new toy (Porsche) and hopefully that will be ready to take for a spin by early spring. So I am starting to plan for the Holidays and can't wait to enjoy them with family and friends. They will be extra special this year. Love you all, Donna

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Earl is eating now

Okay so Earl is eating now. Let me just tell you what he ate last night when he got home. Started with Clam Chowder, then had some Chinese food. Decided he was still hungary so opted for a couple pieces of pizza which didn't satisfy the hunger so he had a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Finally, he was full except he needed some dessert. Two bowls of strawberry ice cream. I almost thought he was pregnant. Kidding aside, it is really good to see him eat regular food. He is gaining weight, no surprise with that appetite. Love you all, Donna

Monday, October 19, 2009

Grass Cuttin

My grass cuttin days are over. At least for now. I came home yesterday and Earl was finishing up the grass. Whew! I was planning on doing it when I got home but he mustard up enough energy and did the job. He paid for it, cause he couldn't get off the chair the rest of the night. Barely had enough energy left to take a shower. Yard looks great! He does a much better job than me. We have our first follow up scan Thursday. We are both anxious for the results. Worst case scenario, surgery. Best case, come back in six months. I am praying for the latter and so is Earl. Our lives are slowly getting back to normal. Hopefully Earl will be back to work, full time, next week. I know he is so ready to get out and see all his dealers. He has gained two pounds and gaining some strength back. His appetite is improving everyday. I can't wait til we can go out to dinner again. You just miss the small things in life when they are taken away. We have learned to really enjoy the simple pleasures. Thank you all for your support and prayers. I will keep you posted on the results from out DR appt as soon as we know something. Love you all. Donna

Monday, October 12, 2009

Our weekend

Hello Everyone,

We had a good weekend. Me, Mom and Olivia went to Atlanta for a girls weekend and Earl played in the member/member golf tournament at Pine Forest with his friend Jeff. It was a nice weekend for both of us and we were both very tired last night. Earl is eating pretty good now. He ate half a hamburger yesterday after the tournament and that is a big progress from soup. He is eating breakfast, lunch and dinner now, in small amounts. He did have a craving for a veggie pizza last night but by the time I picked it up the craving was gone and he couldn't eat it. That is usually what happens but he is improving. Hopefully when he goes back for his checkup next week he will have gained a few pounds. He is so skinny. I am really looking forward to the fall and the holidays. I can't wait to decorate for Christmas, I know it's too early now, but I am going overboard this year!!!! Love you all, Donna

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

A little normal

So life is getting a little more normal. Earl is feeling better everyday and eating a little better everyday. It's so hard for me because I want to encourage him about eating and stuff but I don't want to sound like a nag. It is a fine line. I just want to be the wife again and not the caretaker. We are gradually getting back into our roles as husband and wife instead of patient and care giver. I am heading to Atlanta this weekend with my mom and Olivia to visit my sis, Deb. I think getting away and doing some girl stuff will help my melancholy. Earl is playing in the member championship at Pine Forest this weekend with his friend Jeff. I hope that win! That would be awesome. The big problem Earl has with food now is texture. He has cravings for certain things and then can't eat it because it feels weird. Exhausting. It is such a slow process back to anything that resembles normality. Love you all! Donna

Monday, October 5, 2009

Earl's Present to himself


So as Earl was at home resting from all the chemo and radiation he got on the internet and decided to look for an old porsche he could restore as a present to himself for all the hell he has been through. He went on Ebay and found one in Irmo of all places, so last week he bought it and it is at his brother's house. It is an '81 911 with a targa top. It is in perfect condition except needs some TLC and paint. He bought new tires for it yesterday. He is soooooo happy. It is all he can talk about. It is so nice to see him happy. He got the PEG out friday. It hurt bad, but it is out now and he feels so much better. He is eating okay, but still not enough by my standards. That will come in time. He is just getting so much better everyday! Take care and love you! Donna

Thursday, October 1, 2009


Everyday is a new day

Good Morning,

Earl is doing so great. He bought himself an '81-911 porsche (red) as a present for himself. He is like a kid in a candy store, so excited. It needs some work so that will give him something to do during his month of recovery. His Doc is taking the PEG tube out tomorrow, so that is more good news. He can't wait to get that out. We have a follow up tomorrow with the oncologist for just a check up. We get our CT scan on Oct 22, so please keep him in your prayers that all the cancer is gone and that it never returns and we live happily ever after. His Radiologist saw him Tuesday and she was so excited about how well he was doing she followed him all the way to his car, jumping up and down. A little crazy but a GREAT doctor. It is so nice to have our lives back to some normalcy. He still gets tired easy but doesn't really let it slow him down. Hope y'all have a super weekend. Love you all. Donna