Today is L and L tomorrow NBM

It's almost here!  Kidney out day is tomorrow, today was laxatives and liquids and lots of trips to the bathroom!  Tomorrow will be nothing by mouth!
I will be so glad to have this over with.  I know my "travel companion" will be also.  Even though I may be a little uncomfortable for awhile at least the scourge of cancer will be gone for now.  It has been a two year  trial to guess what will happen next.  I also realize that two years isn't all that long for some people have real long struggles with this disease!  But like my Aunt Irene use to say, "Getting old is not for sissies" and she was right!

Nothing is constant but change!

Okay nothing is always what we at first believe it will be.  Apparently, the kidney was hiding a cancerous tumor after all.  I have surgery scheduled to remove the right kidney and the ureter tube that empties into the bladder.  The surgery will be Feb.19th in Scottsdale.  Once the kidney is out the doc says that the cancer is self-contained and I will not need chemo or radiation therapy.  Once it is gone it is gone and that is really good news!
My travel companion has been very helpful and supportive.  She likes the surgeon and has confidence  in the decision.  Now I just can't wait to have it over and be able to play with the kids when we get to Oregon!
In the meantime I drink lots of water and try and stay healthy.

First week in AZ

We have only been here a week but already we have been to dinner at two of our favorite places, played golf, played poker twice, played pinochle one night, went swimming twice, and saw the movie  "Lincoln".  Tonight we dance!  Wow!  I also visited my urologist and found that I can keep my kidney after all as the tumor was lasered off by my doc in Indy.  Must have more tests but glad that the cancer seems under control.
The weather has been beautiful!  It has been in the low 80's during the day and 50 at night and no clouds.
Spoke to Ken and Evie will have surgery Tues.
More later!

We are in Arizona!!!

We finally made it!  We aren't in Apache Junction yet but at least in the state of choice!  All is well!

Off and Running, Soon

Will the 26th ever get here???  We are leaving that day if there isn't snow on the roads!  I got a little nervous the other day when the grass in front of the condo got white with flakes falling from the sky!  Fortunately, they melted quickly and it got a little warmer.  I am so looking forward to sun and warm weather!

I am also looking at more surgery in AZ.  Apparently, I have kidney cancer and will consult with a urologist in Scottsdale to see what my options will be.  The doc here has shown me three options, going up through the bladder and trying to reach the spot in the kidney and removing that spot, or going through my back and removing the spot and be in the hospital 2-3 days with a drainage tube, or remove the entire right kidney, ureter, cut a little hole in the bladder and remove ureter from bladder.  That option is about 5-6 days in the hospital but like he said it's like donating a kidney to myself.  Lots of people live long lives with just one kidney.  We will see.

We decided to have surgery in AZ because it will be nice to recoup where the sun is shining and it is warm instead of in the cold where it is gray and snowy!!

Back Home Again!!

Sounds like a song doesn't it????  We are in Indy for about two months.  We arrived in Sept., a little earlier than we had originally planned.  We have been able to visit with friends and relatives and catch up on the news! 

I go back in the hospital Oct. 15th and hopefully the stints will be taken out at that time.  The doc here wants to look at my kidneys and be sure that they are clean.

I may not have much to share until we are back on the road.  We plan to head South after Thanksgiving and arrive in Apache Junction on the 1st of Dec.  Hopefully, we will avoid all snow!!

St. Regis, MT Campground

While traveling East we stayed at a truly unique campground in Montana!  Although this camp is not too big it has some very interesting additions.

The artist that sculpted these animals did an incredible job of using the stumps of trees that had been cut down.  I found them very interesting!

Here is another!!