CHEMO FOUR

(plus one more)

This week is winding down, I wish it would have lingered a little... Joe has been feeling so good. His appetite has increased, so has his energy level. He’s had a happy whistle, was motivated to do some work at his desk, and got out for "movie night" with some of the guys from work.

Today has come and gone. Hard to believe that just this morning, Joe had chemo! Even though fatigue set in, he stayed awake to watch a Red Box movie with me!

I jumped ahead to blog about today, but I’ll be back shortly to blog about our holiday weekend. We took bunches of photos and there’s so much to tell that I didn’t want to rush the post!

A t the advice of his doctor in Houston, Joe is going to have a fifth treatment. Between today's infusion and his return visit to MD Anderson in mid June, there is time for Joe to get more chemo. We think that's a good plan!

Love, Vicki

Just Checking In

FYI from Eureka Springs

We've been having an awesome time here camping, sightseeing and shopping. Best part... Joe has been feeling good! We'll be back on the blog next week with lots of pictures and stories!

Love to All,
Vicki & Joe
Sally & Ben

Chemo # 3 and much more

I hadn’t planned to be away from the blog this long, but after Joe’s treatment, we got busy and life went on. It turns out that my absence was a good thing because I was able to get some great “Kodak Moments.”

Chemo treatment 3 went smoothly and the days following were good, very good. Joe didn’t experience the dreadful nausea or discomfort that he did after the first two treatments. He still had the fatigue, but we can deal with that.

It was just us for the weekend. With Joe doing so well, we encouraged Ben and SallyAnn to stay in the city and enjoy some time at home. They are such great kids, and have been here with us after the other treatments. They are both so uplifting.... We are blessed and thankful!

Life can be so spontaneous and random. When you’re fighting cancer and ill from chemo, you grab ahold of the moments that might otherwise seem meager, or “every day.” These things are no longer either of those; phone calls from family, enjoying music, a tiny cup of coffee, greeting cards and emails, pouring down rain, yard work, planning a camping trip, ice cream, the Sunday paper, silly photo ops, relaxing with your beloved puppy, beautiful flowers, rides in the truck, and visits from friends and family.

We are anticipating a fantastic, long weekend with Ben and SallyAnn in Eureka Springs, AK. We’ll be staying in a nice RV park with beautiful trees and a pool. We’ll be cooking on the grill, roasting marshmallows for s'mores, and just “kicking back” and enjoying the good life....

Be sure to check in after the holiday, and PLEASE, we’d love for you to leave comments... tell us about YOU and your lives!

Love, Vicki & Joe


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Three treatments down!

Last Thursday, May 14th, was Joe's third chemo treatment. Prior to this treatment, Joe discussed his chemo side-effects (headache, nausea and lethargy) with his doctor. The doctor added an anti-nausea medication to Joe's regiment to aid in combating this side effect. Joe was also given a few more tips to prepare his body for treatment, such as hypo-hydrating 24 hours before chemo. The new prescription and helpful tips seem to have help alot, as Joe tolerated this chemo treatment so much better! Treatment started at 10 am and Joe ate a meal of roast beef, mashed (masked?) potatoes and green beans while undergoing treatment. When he and Vicki returned home from the hospital, they were even able to enjoy a short walk together. What an improvement!

Joe has one more chemo treatment in Coffeyville on May 28th. On June 22nd and 23rd, he will return to M.D. Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston to evalute his progress. As always, we will keep you updated all along the way!

Memorial Day weekend will be here in just a couple short days and the Grays will be hitting the road, Jack! Ben, Sally and Milo will be traveling with Joe, Vicki and Willow to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for the long weekend. We will be staying in the camper-trailer. This will be the first trip of the year for the trailer and we are ready to roll! The weather should be beautiful and Eureka Springs is sure to be an experience!

We hope you have a super, spectacular weekend! Stay safe and have fun!

A weekend full of celebrations

Okay, it's almost the weekend again, but I wanted to tell you guys about last weekend. Friday, May 8th was Joe's birthday and Sunday was Mother's Day. So, we had some serious celebrating to do! SallyAnn's mom, Susan, was able to join the Gray's for a weekend in Coffeyville. This was Susan's first trip to Coffeyville, so we showed her around town a bit. She got to see both Taco Bell AND Walmart! I'm sure she was impressed!

Ben, Susan, SallyAnn and Milo arrived on Friday night. Saturday included a trip to Country Time Antique Mall and Walmart for the out-of-towners and our chaperon, Vicki. We thought Joe might rest while we were gone, but maybe he was just enjoying the silence! That afternoon we all enjoyed the BEAUTIFUL spring day with a field trip to the back yard (also known as the back 40) where the camper-trailer is just waiting for a long weekend! We brought dogs, music, snacks and beverages and sat in the camper with the shades up and the windows open - it was SO nice! Joe, Vicki, Ben, Sally and the doggies will be taking the camper to Eureka Springs, Arkansas over the Memorial Day weekend, so this was just a preview!

We made the quick trip back to the house to make dinner. The boys fired up the grill and the ladies got the sides ready - it was time to enjoy our Omaha Steaks dinner! The Illinois Gray's (Steve, Nancy and Jennifer) sent Joe an entire meal from Omaha Steaks: 4 big, beautiful steaks, roasted potato wedges and sweet corn. Oh. My. Gosh. Everything was delicious! The steaks were grilled to perfection (good job, boys!) and the sides were amazing! Once we digested a bit and loosened our pants, we enjoyed the carrot cake made by Vicki for Joe's birthday. Wow.

Sunday morning we all attended church together and came home for lunch. Both Susan and Vicki received potted geraniums for Mother's Day from Ben and SallyAnn. Let's hope Sally didn't jinx the plants with her black-thumb just by touching them! Later that afternoon, the Kansas Citians headed back north after many hugs and pictures! (Click here to see pictures from our weekend!)

Thanks for the great weekend!

Sweet Rewards

These are Joe's reward for gaining weight!
I know, that sounds crazy, but I was so happy that
he put on 2 pounds this week, that I had to get him
one of his favorite treats! Only two requests.... don't
get white powder all over and HIDE THEM FROM ME!!!


Eat up Joe!

All Things Good

There was much to celebrate this weekend...

Today is YOUR Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Joe!

Happy Birthday Joe!
I hope you have a great birthday today!

Faith of a Child

Guatemalan Worry Dolls

According to legend, Guatemalan children tell one
worry to each doll when they go to bed at night and
place the dolls under their pillow. In the morning the
dolls have taken their worries away.

These little dolls were sent to our Aunt by a
Nun from South America.

Aunt Punky, Thank You for this precious gift.
These little dolls will surely help us sleep peacefully!

Love, Vicki & Joe

Pie cures all ills!

Photographic evidence of Joe enjoying SallyAnn's world famous apple pie! (The "world famous" part might be a bit of an exaggeration. Definitely, state famous.)

See pictures from Tuesday, May 5th below.

Weekend wrap-up

Ben and SallyAnn (and Milo) traveled down to Coffeyville this past weekend to spend time with Joe & Vicki (and Willow). Willow was so relieved Milo was able to make this trip!

Since Joe's chemo treatment was on Thursday (April 30), Joe wasn't feeling the best throughout the weekend. He didn't get a headache like the last time, but was suffering from nausea. Even though Joe wasn't feeling super, we still made the most of our time together by chatting, watching tv and movies and laughing at the silly dogs! SallyAnn filled the house with the delicious smell of homemade apple pie on Saturday. Due to the nausea, Joe wasn't able to enjoy the pie on Saturday, but has made up for it since!

Joe wasn't feeling well on Sunday morning, so Vicki, Ben and SallyAnn went to church and let Joe rest at home. Thankfully, they were given communition to take home for Joe. Everyone at church has been so kind and helpful. Vicki was able to chat with Kasey who battled breast cancer and has been an inspiration. Kasey has had some of the same experiences Joe has: visiting M.D. Anderson, chemo treatments and simply fighting the cancer with everything you've got. Kasey and her husband have been so great and we are blessed to have them in our court.

Thanks for checking in with us! Don't miss the slideshow below! (If you get email updates, you must visit the site to see these pictures.)

Chemo - take two

Joe had his second chemotherapy treatment on Thursday, April 30, in Coffeyville, Kansas. This time, they were in at 10:00 am and out by 1:30 and Joe & Vicki had a room all to themselves! Another smooth appointment.

This was the second treatment of the four scheduled in Coffeyville. We have an appointment back at M.D. Anderson in Houston on June 22 to reevaluate. The same battery of tests will be performed to assess how the chemo treatments have effected the cancer. Keep those prayers coming!