As time goes by.....

This week has flown by, the title this post, is in reference to a BBC tv show. I feel like I have been given a new chance at life. No real reason, but most of my pain has gone away. The only thing I have lingering around now is a splitting headache that seems to randomly appear. I am working on triggers to see if something I am eating is causing it. No luck so far. But, there is a possibility that it is from the treatment and I will just have to work around if for a while. (that's not a fun idea)

We had a Halloween party this weekend. It was a lot of fun. While the weather could have cooperated a little better, we made due with what we had. I hope everyone that came had a good time too. Here are some photos of the donut on a string eating contest. They are pictures of my nieces and nephews, and they all did their best to eat the whole thing without their hands. It was hillarious, and we even had a couple of them eat the whole thing. They even bobbed for apples between rainstorms. They did it quick and I was unaware, so no pictures, sorry about that, but I heard it was funny.

So this weekend we had a great time with friends and family. I have had a chance or two to talk to some of you this past while, I have enjoyed our conversations and appreciate your concern on how my family and I are doing. Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts. We pray daily for blessings to find you and yours. Merry Christmas and have a lovley day.

Andy

I was actually sick, can you believe it?

The irony is I am receiving immunotherapy drugs that boost my immune system. But for the last few days, I have been sick. Today finally I feel really well. I am still having the pains in my abdomen, not as frequent as I was, so this is an improvement. Before I forget, Peggy finished the bathroom, and some pictures are attached. I think she did an awesome job.

Ok back to the goings on, I have been sick most of this week, the first part of the week was from the treatment last Friday. The end of the week was, I think, from me actually being sick. I am feeling a lot better this evening.

I went with my daughters to "standards night" tonight. I was glad to accompany them. It was a lot of fun. Also I was able to be reacquainted to a mission friend. Chad Lewis was the main speaker, I served in Taiwan the same time as he did, in fact my first apartment was with him. We spent 2 months in the same apartment when I first started my mission. I learned a lot from Elder Lewis about hard work and pushing through the hard times. Later on he passed me off on my memorization of the Chinese discussions. I have always looked up to him, and it was a pleasure to listen to him speak. He was as eloquent and passionate as he has always been. If you get a chance to read this, Chad, thanks for taking the time to speak to the youth. It helped me to remember a few things that I had forgot. I need to focus harder on a couple things in my life that lately I have let lax. Carry on, Persevere, and always do your best.

As a side note, I will be having my scan on Friday. But I won't know anything until mid November. But don't worry, I will let you all know what we find out. Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts. Also thanks for all that you all do for us. The little things make a big difference. Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.

Andy.

Sin City, it is what it is.

I just got back, and boy am I tired. The treatment went off without a hitch. I was able to talk to Clyde again, and he has had some trials this last three weeks, he had a tumor in his bowels grow so much that it blocked everything off. (Clyde also has metastatic melanoma and is on the same schedule of treatment as me.) After some surgery and some recovery time, he is doing really well. So if you could keep him in your prayers too, I would appreciate it.
Ok, Dad, Scott, and I had a great time in Vegas. Kallee and Ashley are still awesome as ever, thanks again for letting us stay there. And if you are in the area, Ross jr hawiian, is the place to eat, man was it good. And the next day at the Eureka, Hi Lizette, in Mesquite was good and funny. There was a seafood buffet with crab legs. Don't tell Dad I said this but he was a Crab leg virgin. So Scott and I had to show him the intricacies of the fine art of eating crab. Scott uses the forkin approach, while I on the other hand use the crush crack and pull method. Both are effective and have pros and cons. Scott's way is much cleaner, but mine is a lot more fun and faster. It was fun to watch Dad try the different methods, and possibly ruin a fork.
Saturday we went shopping so Peggy could get some finishing stuff for the Bathroom. With any luck it will be finished this week. Hooray, no kids in my bathroom.
Sunday, I went to my meetings in the morning. By 10:30 I was not feeling well. It was expected but a little earlier than the last few times. So I went home to a sick Morgan, and we both vegged on the couch. The Doc, told me to have some Tea for my pain, and when it is made properly it works. On the same lines as my Dad, I am a tea virgin. I am learning, I still think it tastes like crap, but if you put enough honey in it, it is tolerable. On a good note, they gave me some medication that has also helped with my abdominal pain. So this weekend I have been able to eat real food without too much pain. So for now, all is well and my next thing to happen is a scan on the 29th. But I will not know anything until mid November. So no real news until then, but I will probably blab some more when I get the chance. So until then, Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Andy.

what a pain, literally

Today, sucked!!!!! now that's out of the way. Peggy recently decided to tear out the kids bathroom, and redo the walls. I helped her yesterday, and think I over did it. There is no think, I way over did it. I woke up to pain and more pain. Peg and the kids got ready for church and left me home (so I thought) after about a while (I had no idea how long it had been) I was awaken by the back door opening and someone walking around in the house. I got up and wandered out to see who had come in the back door. It was Caity, she was left home to babysit her dad. Once I was comforted with the knowledge that I had a keeper. I took something for the pain, a nice tall coke. (no really it helps) Anyway, I have spent most of the day in pain. So I hope tomorrow goes a lot better and less pain. The bathroom by the way is about half done, we will work on it a little at a time to finish it by this next weekend. Wish us(by us I mean Peg) luck.
Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Andy.

Hey Dear, no deer

To follow on with the corny titles. Yes it's true, I went hunting last week. While it was very relaxing it wasn't without problems. I have started having some side effects that are really annoying. Abdominal and intestinal pain. The benefit of being up at deer camp last week is that all we did was road hunt. I was also assisted at almost every turn in camp. So a special thanks to Robert, Kirk, Rocky, Joel, Ian, and Morgan. They all helped me out a bunch and let me relax as much as possible. It was a great time had by all. I especially appreciate it, because I don't know how many more times I will be able to do that with Morgan. But I do know that when I am no longer able, he has some Uncles and a Grandpa, that will take him along. He shot his first bird, winged a chukkar, and Rocky finished it off for him, but he was really excited. In fact if the weather co-operates we will be going up this weekend to visit the Elk camp, and maybe try to shoot a bird or two. I did have a chance to try some new dutch oven recipes that worked out great.
So..... for the update. I am doing well for the most part. I am having pains like I mentioned before, but that seems to be the only side effect I am having. Unfortunately the only way I have found to get the pains to subside a little is to lay on my back or side. They don't go away, but they lessen quite a bit.
We are looking forward to the next treatment, my Dad, and Scott are going with me down. I think it will be as fun as the last time we drove. This will be the last treatment of this series. We will then have a scan (end of Oct), then go back and have the consult (Mid Nov). We may have a last treatment party while down there. If you would like to know more, let me know. Merry Christmas and Have a Lovely Day. Andy.

Oh deer, oh deer

I thought since I have not wrote a blog in such a long time, I would take a moment to catch you up on things. Andy has been muzzle loading since Tuesday night. He and Morgan went to stay and hunt with my father and brothers. This might take some of you by surprise since Andy doesn't seem to be the great white hunter type. You would be right and wrong in that presumption. Andy grew up with the ultimate great white hunters. In northern Idaho, Andy and his family would deer, elk, rabbit and anything else hunt. It wasn't until Andy married me that he lost some of that drive to grow the grizzly beard and go into the wilderness to become "one with nature". What can I say, I grew up with hunting, but never really got into it like some. Andy just figured if I didn't want to go he didn't need to go. Until about three years ago, while talking with my brothers, Andy started to remember that feeling and decided to join in. So, last year he and Morgan went up and stayed for two nights and the monster reared its ugly head. Since last years hunt, Morgan has taken Hunter's Ed and passed, and both Andy and Morgan have planned and talked of deer camp. Well, they have been gone for nearly five days and no deer. Morgan shot some chuckers and wanted to shoot a rabbit. Yet, they did not bring home a deer (which is fine with me). Venison is my least favorite meat. Now, you also might question "how is Andy able to go hunting? Doesn't he have cancer?" Yes, the cancer is still here, but Andy has been blessed with good health during these treatments. He does have side effects that make it troublesome but not impossible. He is feeling strong and able so, why not. Andy had made a promise to Morgan just after his diagnoses that they would still go to deer camp this year. That was a goal for Andy. It seemed at the time to be an easy one to accomplish, but looking back I am surprise he has been able to do it. Morgan couldn't be happier, nor Andy. This is their time to make memories and to draw closer to each other as father and son. As always, I pray with gratitude for all of you and your support. You are the strength that keeps us afloat. Thank you.