Actually it was Round 9

Jenny was actually wrong with her last post. This last treatment was actually number 9. This treatment was a little bit tougher than the last one only because I think that I was still tired from Jenny and I's trip. It was really nice to be able to get away even if it was just for a quick weekend.

We had a blast as Jenny has already told you about in the post that she made. And yes the Dumbo ride did scare me. I felt like I was at the SC State Fair and the ride was going to fall apart at any minute. We made the most of the time that we had there by going to 2 1/2 parks in the first day, and then going all day long the next. We left EARLY Monday morning with the Disney bus picking us up at our hotel at 2:25 AM after just getting back from the parks at 1:00 AM. Now our flight didnt leave until 5:00 but for some reason they thought that there would be major traffic at that time in the morning. We ended up sitting in the US Air line for 45 minutes before we were able to print out our boarding passes. At this point I just gave up on getting any sleep and just stayed up the whole time and was at work at 9:15 Monday morning. Now I did fall asleep at 7:30 Monday night on the couch with my computer in my lap doing work, but the trip was worth the lack of sleep.

This past weekend we made a trip down to Columbia to watch South Carolina play Vandy on Saturday and Sunday. It was good to be able to see my former coaches along with Coaches Corbin and Johnson from Vandy. We were also able to see some of Jenny's friends Saturday night before we went and stayed with her sister and David. We got up on Sunday and went and met Matt, Charlotte, Andi, Sarah, David, Jen, and Joe for a quick brunch before heading over to the game with Matt and Charlotte. We had a great time in Columbia and being able to see the Gamecocks take another SEC series win.

Hopefully this week will be pretty calm and I will be able to catch up on a little bit of rest. I hope that everyone has a great week.

Tim

Prep for Round 8

We're running behind on our posts but I thought I'd at least post the pictures from our anniversary trip. It was a MUCH needed vacation for us as its been a long 15 weeks of treatment and an even longer year and a half for the both of us. The wedding checks from last year were put to excellent use as you will be able to see! :)

So here is the recap, 4 parks in 2 days and an all-nighter Sunday night (we went from Magic Kingdom, grabbed a quick shower and went straight to the airport) showed us just how old we really are now. We're still recovering from all of the activity!

Day 1 was Hollywood Studios with Tim's friend Monica, Epcot and we finished out the day at Magic Kingdom. Day 2 was Animal Kingdom and back to Magic Kingdom. We finished just about every ride within all of the parks (except the ones that spin) and even managed to ride a few more than once. Everything was absolutely fantastic (well except for the dinner the night of our actual anniversary which was actually pretty terrible but that's ok :)) and it was really hard to drag ourselves back to reality this week.

Waiting for the Magical Express to drop us at our hotel!

 Dumbo - aka the only ride that Tim was scared of :)

 

 *disclaimer - I'm not a fan of the blue suede purse but I didn't plan well so when packing it was that or the Myrtle Beach fanny pack...I took the lesser of the 2 evils...although I still want fanny packs to come back in

 Tim playing in the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground set.

 Tim & I as our future selves...still not sure what happened to his face.

 Epcot at night

 In honor of Tee it Up for Tim.

Tim made a new friend at Animal Kingdom and is thrilled about it.

We will be back soon with additional updates and pictures from the golf tournament as soon as we catch back up with life!

Happy Anniversary to My Wife

Round 7

Round 7 has been completed. This might have been the easiest of the treatments so far. I don't know why this was the case but I'll take it. I am lucky to have this be the easiest with the golf tournament being held this past Monday.

Steven's friends started coming into town on Friday and the last of them got in on Sunday. Friday I took it easy because I knew that it was going to be a long weekend, and I was correct. On Saturday Steven, Jay, and I went over to Buffalo Wings and watched the Final 4 games. While we were up there Jenny, Barry, Ern, and GH stopped by to hang out.

On Sunday Steven, Jay, Kevin, and I went over to Crosswinds and played the par 3 course to get ready for the tournament the next day. Somehow Steven and Kevin were able to tie Jay and I after 18 holes. We also went to Dick's to get team shirts which ended up being pink. Later that night my mom and dad grilled out and had all of us over for dinner. After dinner we all went downtown to the Ale House to hang out for a little bit.

Monday had finally gotten here. I started the day with a meeting at the office at 8:15 before leaving and heading over to the golf course. We couldn't have asked for a better day for the tournament. The temperature was not too hot and there was only a slight breeze (20 - 30 mph). I got there a little later than I wanted because I thought that "Team Pink" needed to show up together and show team unity. I was amazed at how many people showed up to play in the tournament and a lot of people that I haven't seen in a while. We got started very close to 11 and finished at around 4:45 which is amazing considering how many teams there were on the course.

The dinner / silent auction started right on time and even more people showed up for that. It was wild to look around and see so many people that showed up to support me and my family. I don't have the words to explain just how humbling it is to have that many people to show up to help you personally.

I wanted to take the time to thank all of the people that helped put this event on. The people that got there early in the morning and stayed until late in the night. This event couldn't have happened let alone go off with such a great success. And to everyone that showed up to play golf or come to the dinner I can't thank ya'll enought either. It meant so much to Jenny, myself, and our families to have everyone show up and support us. I had a great time and I think that everyone else had a great time too so thank you so much to everyone.

This week should be pretty normal other than Jenny and I celebrating our first anniversary on Sunday, we've got some pretty cool plans for the weekend that we will fill everyone in on next week.

As always I hope that everyone has a great week. Tim

Prep for Round 7

This past weekend was really quiet for me. I just got some errands done, did a little babysitting for a friend and made a little progress on a bench (see picture below) that I've been working on for months now. It's not exactly what I've been imagining (anyone who knows me well, knows that the wrinkle you see in the fold below is driving me NUTS! :) ) but it doesn't collapse when you sit on it and for that alone I'm proud, haha.

Tim went on a Mancation for the weekend down to Fripp Island with my dad, uncle, some of their friends and one of Tim's friends. From what I understand they had a great time although they really didn't catch anything and had to go out to buy their dinner rather than eating what they caught. All-in-all I think it was a nice little break for Tim as the 18 rounds of chemo seem to have caught up to him at this point.

Yesterday we had another doctor's appointment to go over Tim's results and the plan for this next time. Poor guy has had his rash return and its has spread a little further this time than the last although it isn't a severe as it was before. This time the worst of it is on his scalp which makes showers painful for him but it is also on his arms, legs, back, stomach, shoulders, face and within his ears and nose. He is also developing some canker sores which makes eating a difficult procedure. He applies some Canka and has about 5 minutes to eat before it wears off and he has to reapply. Dr. Edenfield prescribed the magic mouthwash for him yesterday so we're hoping that might give him the respite he needs.

Even though the rash is back we are still taking it as a great sign. I told one of our ministers today that although I think Tim's doctors have done great work and our change of lifestyle (technically more his since I've been sneaking McDonalds hot fudge sundaes and worrying about coming home with chocolate on my breath) has contributed greatly to the success so far I really think this incredible network of support that is you all and prayers from you all that we have been given is what has given us the success we have seen so far.

Dr. Edenfield was very positive yesterday but is going to hold the Vecitibix on Wednesday to allow Tim's skin to ease back down. Once that happens he is going to switch him to Erbitux which is essentially the same as Vecitbix but requires a weekly infusion rather than bi-weekly. So technically he will still get chemo every other week but we will go in every Wednesday for this additional drug. He is hoping that maybe Tim won't get the rash like we've been seeing with him (although again, it is a great thing) but will still get the benefit the drug provides.

Everything is still up in the air for what happens next but there are a couple of different options on the table right now, its still just a wait and see game at this point. We are both extremely excited for what is in store over the next week (chemo not being included in that). We both love seeing our friends and family together in one place so the golf tournament, silent auction and dinner will be such a much needed good time for us. We also have our first anniversary the following weekend to celebrate. Its so crazy that it has already been a year, time seems to be speeding by but we're enjoying every bit of it despite the current circumstances. :)

Hope you all have a great week, we will follow up later and hope to see many of you on Monday!!

Round 6 Done, Chemo - 2, Tim - 3, Tie - 1

Well I have finished round 6 and we are halfway finished with this round of treatments, well at least of the scheduled part. I was put back on Vectibix for this round. I thought that I was going to get away with the rash not coming back too bad but the past 2 days it has come back but not nearly as bad as the first time (knock on wood).

I did get some good news again this past Wed while getting my treatment and that is I will be receiving a dozen of the doughnuts from Abbeville this coming wed. We have found the location but were told we can have a dozen delivered to us as long as we let them know by Tuesday so I will be making a call.


In other news, we also found out that my CEA is now at 3.1 which is the lowest its ever been. Jenny and I are both excited about the news but I guess we're just waiting for the bad news because it always seems to come at some point.

The Brightlife crew has informed us that the golf tounament has filled up and that people are still signing up for the dinner and silent auction. Seems like things are really coming together. I am getting really excited for that monday to hurry and get here so I can see everyone again. It should be a really fun week since I don't have chemo and Jenny's & I's 1st anniversary is the Sunday after the golf tournament.

It has been a quiet week for Jenny and I with not too much happening. I played 12 holes with my dad and brother on Sunday which is the earliest I have ever been able to play golf after a treatment. I paid for it a little later that afternoon but I was good come Monday. She has been building a bench for the end of our bed so her dad and I got suckered into helping a little with that the other night.

I left late yesterday afternoon to take a short man-cation with Jenny's dad, his brother Robert, Ken, Lee, and my friend Ern. We were lucky enough for my co-worker Laurens to let us use his house this weekend down at Fripp to do a little fishing. It has been a long 12 weeks so far with treatments so this short weekend down here will be extremely relaxing and just a little of what I really need, a vacation from everything.

I am hoping that next week's treatment will be pretty smooth like last week's so I will be able to have a good Monday at the tournament. I hope that everyone has a great week this week and look forward to seeing people on April 4th.

Prep for Round 6

Almost halfway done (well with what was originally scheduled anyways). Tim's blood-cell counts are still looking good so he is still considered to be healthy. Our biggest problem has been keeping his potassium up which could be solved if he'd actually remember to eat a banana everyday. Unfortunately the Ativan keeps him from remembering anything.

Just a heads-up that if you've had a conversation with him while he is on chemo he most likely has no recollection of that conversation and actually may not remember that he talked with you at all. I've found this to be both frustrating and beneficial for myself. I'm no longer ever accused of nagging him although I'm actually having to nag him much more than I ever did before. I've actually also found that I can convince him that he has agreed to things that may not have occured such as cleaning the house, not that I've done that or anything though...

We had a great time with my cousins this past weekend staying up watching movies, walking around downtown and even doing a little dress shopping for Sarah Katherine. Otherwise we've been pretty boring recently with the highlight of our week sitting on the couch and watching TV.

Tim was able to get a half-dose of his Vectibix this week which we are so happy about and are hoping his reaction is minimal with all of the drugs, creams and other cleansers and medications he has within his arsenal now.

In other news, we went to a meeting this week the BrightLife team held to discuss the golf tournament, dinner and silent auction and I'm am incredibly impressed with all they have accomplished. They've done an amazing job with this and I'm excited to see it all come together, I'm sure it will be great! Looks like there will be some pretty incredible auction items as well. We're excited to see those that can make it out to the event!

One last thing before I head off to bed, just wanted to wish my dad, James, a very happy birthday tomorrow. The old man is getting even older! :)