Update on Tim

This week has been a challenge.  The oncologist says it has been a "coming down" or the low from the chemo pill Tim took last week.  Tim has not felt like eating much.  And I couldn't force him to drink, either!  You know the old adage, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."  It is especially true for Tim who, normally, is not a big drinker.  I, on the other hand, usually always have a full glass sitting around that I am sipping on all day long.  So, it is hard for me to understand what the big deal is about making yourself drink to stay hydrated so you don't end up becoming dehydrated, especially when you aren't eating very well, either.

Anyway, Tim has been getting weaker and weaker as the week progressed.  To the point of hardly being able to walk on Thursday.  So, I sent a note to the oncologist and the radiation oncologist about his condition.  They both agreed that if he wasn't any better by today that I should bring him in to the hospital to get some fluids.  Also, the oncologist upped the steroid from 2mg once a day to 4mg three times a day immediately!

When Tim got dressed today, I asked him how he was feeling.  He said not very well.  I asked him if he was going to let me take him to the hospital like the doctor suggested.  He said yes.  So we went before he could change his mind.

Getting ready to access his port for blood work and the fluids.

Sleeping during the 2-hour infusion of fluids (1 liter).

We left the hospital with an appointment to see the oncologist next Wednesday so he can check up on Tim.  He told Tim today, "I'm not so worried that you aren't eating much, but you have got to make yourself drink to keep hydrated!"  Tim said, "I'm just not a drinker."  The doctor said, "You are going to have to make yourself!"  Thank you, doctor!

When we left, Tim said he was feeling a little better.  On the way home I asked him if he was hungry.  He said that he was!  So I asked him what he was in the mood for.  He wanted a Subway sandwich!  Alrighty then!  We stopped and he ate about half of his 6" sub!

As soon as we got home he went to bed.  He slept about 2 1/2 hours!  He got up to watch TV.  Around 6 I went to check on him and asked if he was hungry or anything.  He was!  Told me he wanted some stir fry that he hadn't been able to eat all of last night!  He didn't eat much, but he ate!  I was happy!  (It doesn't take much to make me happy!)  :D

By bedtime I could see a marked difference in him.  Even his voice, which he could hardly project from being so weak, was much stronger!  Thank You, LORD!

We finally got some rain this evening!  Unfortunately, it didn't last very long and what we had was mostly hard rain.  What we could use is a nice, steady rain for a couple of days!

You can't really see it in this picture, but the rain was really blowing across the parking lot in waves!

The ladies of the church are trying to get me out of the house for awhile tomorrow and take me to  breakfast at IHOP!  I told them I would as long as Tim is feeling better.  I encouraged them to go anyway if I couldn't.  They could pray in that case one of them said!!  Calvin is going to come and stay with Tim while I am gone.  I told Calvin to wait until he heard from me before he headed over.  Isn't that just so sweet of them?!  It HAS been a rough week on me emotionally!  I was at the end of myself trying to get Tim to eat and drink!  I'm so glad the Lord prompted me to contact the doctors through the suggestion of my daughter!  Thank you, Jessica!  The doctors called me personally yesterday to talk to me!  I appreciated that so much!

Hopefully the added steroid amount will keep Tim hungry enough to eat so that he will get stronger!  Hopefully he will take the advice of his doctor today and drink, drink, drink, too!

Thank you for your prayers!  XOXO