What a weekend!

This past weekend was very busy for us, as friends and family took time to share fun times with us. On Friday, Mike took Burt, BJ and neighbor Terry to an Ironbirds game in Aberdeen at the Cal Ripkin ball park. Although it rained they still had a good time. BJ was called down on the field to participate in some games, and came in second! I think Burt really had a good time because he was exhausted when he got home!

Saturday afternoon friends we haven't seen for a long time stopped in to visit, Sam and Sammy Keenan from Florida and Grace Keenan from Wilmington. I did not know this but she is a fellow colleague at UD! She works for the Physical Therapy department in McKinley Hall. We've been friends with the Keenan's since the kids were little and are sorry that they moved so far away.

Saturday was spent getting ready for Anna's bachelorette party, the girls all converged on the house and set up the pool for a luau. When Anna arrived they took her out to the Melting Pot for dinner in Wilmington, they loved it! Especially the cheese and the desserts! Here's a photo I took of all the girls before they left....

Today Sunday has been a day of rest, cleaning up after everything. Dani and Brad are lounging in the pool while Burt is napping in the garage. Me, I'm keeping busy doing all the stuff that has to be done around here, don't forget the wedding is two weeks away! Hopefully the weather will co-operate and we'll have some awesome weather like we've been having this summer so far!

Tuesday, July 14th

Last chemo treatment for the first round today! He has two weeks off until we start the second round. We were in and out in an hour. I picked up Anna's wedding dress and Dani's maid of honor dress and have them safely home. The weather is absolutely beautiful for July, cool in the mornings (60's) and just warm enough in the afternoon that we don't have to have the AC on!

By the way, I did find a dress for the wedding, so that's one more thing to cross off my list. I wonder if Anna will let me bring my camera to the wedding?

Sunday, July 11th

Well, my baby is now officially 21 years of age! Burt took Danielle and Anna Renee to the Tap Room for their birthdays, as Anna will be on her honeymoon when her birthday rolls around August 15th. The waitress was kind enough to take a picture.....My how time flies!

Burt has one more chemo treatment and then he's off for two weeks in preparation for the wedding. He has been having trouble falling asleep and then staying asleep. His next round of chemo starts right after the wedding, August 3rd. We are all looking forward to this wedding, it will be fun to see all our family and friends for a fun and exciting event!

Here's a photo of them with the waitress.....

Wednesday, July 8

Wow, today is 07-08-09! I didn't realize that until I saw it on the news tonight. Just after lunch the time was
12:34:56/7-8-09! LOL

Today Dani went with her Dad to see Dr. K, who is going to supervise his radiation treatments. They decided to give him two weeks off after his next chemo treatment so he will be feeling good for Anna's wedding on the 1st. He has one more treatment Tuesday, then the two weeks off and resumes chemo on August 3rd. Three treatments in August and then a week off. He will start radiation August 28th, every day for 28 treatments (weekdays). They are not going to give him the oral chemo, they will keep doing the port chemo once a week. So he will have that while undergoing the radiation. He may be done with it all by Thanksgiving.....

The doctor also said that Burt's chances are really good, most people who have pancreatic cancer and do the surgery and follow up are given a five year prognosis. But because his tumor was encapsulated (even though the margins were not clear) and it looks like it had not spread to the liver or gall bladder, he may be one of those few survivors whose cancer does not come back. That's why it's important that he do the chemo and radiation, to kill any of those cancer cells that might be floating around somewhere.

On a much lighter note, my BABY will be turning 21 Friday! Can you believe it??

Tuesday, July 7th

Round 2 of the chemo treatment. Seems to go well, he's in and out in an hour and a half. We will see if this round hits him on Thursday and makes him tired again. Tomorrow we go see the radiation doctor, he will explain what we are going to do after these two months of chemo are over. I am learning so much about the treatment of cancer. It's never ceases to amaze me how many people around here have cancer. The disease does not discriminate, it's can hit anyone. No one is safe from it.

Anna's wedding is fast approaching! Only 25 more days! I really, REALLY need to go find a dress to wear! I was going to go shopping today after Burt's chemo treatment, but ended up cleaning the pool. With all the rain we've had lately we have some algae growing on the sides.....so I shocked the heck out of it and got in with the vacuum. Sure did get my exercise today.....

I have to go to work tomorrow so I can rest a little......:-)

I think the chemo kicked in today.....

as Burt could hardly get out of bed. He had a doctor's appointment with the surgeon this morning at 9:30 and it took forever for him to get up and get ready. After we went to the doctor we were going to stop at the store and get him some new T-shirts, but he was too tired. So we came back home and he fell asleep on the couch. Slept there all morning, had a small lunch and then went upstairs to lay down. Slept all afternoon!! I finally managed to get him up around 5:30 to eat some dinner. Told him not to go back to sleep for fear he won't be able to sleep tonight.

The doctor had told us that fatigue might be one of the side effects of the chemo. I guess it's one we can live with. It's a whole lot better than some of the others!