Sunday, April 25, 2010


It's Sunday and I'm at the office about to post commissions. Thought I would take a few minutes and update the Blog before I get started.


Tanner has spent the weekend out in Weatherford. We've texted several times and he seems to be having fun.


Tomorrow morning is chemo again at 8:30. That always takes at least a half a day.


We head back to Arkansas on Thursday and will see about his broken leg on Friday. I hope that he gets out of the full leg cast. Even a short cast would be better than that one up to his thigh.


I'm going to confirm with the Orthopedic Oncologist that's it's okay for him to start taking his bone strengtheners and if it is, he will have a month that he can take them before we head back to Arkansas for his re-staging tests.


Trevor said that if he doesn't have to work, he wants to go to Arkansas with us. He just wants to see with his own eyes some of what Tanner has had to endure this last year. He worked all last week and it looks like he's going to be working this week also, so I'm thinking it's more important for him to get the work while it's available. Sounds like a mom doesn't it?


I had a physical last week and all the lab work has come back normal so the doctor said he thinks I'm completely healthy. That's reassuring to hear since I hadn't had a check up in five years.


The only thing I seem to be having problems with is my moodiness. Dr. Barlogie's office prescribed antidepressants for me and every time I try to stop taking them, within two to three days, I'm completely depressed and teary. I think maybe I'm just going to have to wean myself off of them rather than just stopping all at once.


We are going to see what Dr. Nicholas has to say about the cast this coming Friday and then I think it's time to proceed with the college classes. Whether it's taking online classes or going to the school, I think it's time for Tanner to move on with his education. I would think only so much video gaming is good for a young man...

Wednesday, April 21, 2010


Tanner and I head back to Arkansas next Thursday to check and see how the break in his left tibia is doing.

We keep saying that we are going to see if he can go into a short cast or maybe even a boot. After being in a long cast for nine months, we aren't even considering that he might have to continue any longer in a full leg cast.

He's been working out with his brother and drinking protein drinks trying to get into shape. I told him after nine months in a long cast, he's going to be all pumped up and then have a little skinny left leg. LOL!

He's doing really well and continues to have a wonderful attitude. He's going every Monday for his chemo maintenance but isn't having any side effects.

His hair came back in with this really neat silver tint and everyone just loved the way it looked. Today he texted me that he's cut his hair really short and now it's all brown again. Of course, he's happy about that but I thought his hair looked really good with the silver looking streaks.

Neither of us are looking forward to a fast trip back to Little Rock next week, but we are both anxious for him to get a new cast.


He's been having to put masking tape around this cast because he's worn a hole in the bottom. Just wait till the doctor sees the home patch job!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010


I am so sorry that it's been so long since I've posted. Life has taken over...

Tanner is doing well. He couldn't take his chemo maintenance or the Revlimid for a couple of weeks while the shingles were at their worst but has been back on his program for the last two Mondays.

We go back to Little Rock on April 30th to see about having the cast removed and see if he will go into a short cast or a boot. I'll just be glad to see that he's progresed to either option. He has been in a long cast since the beginning of July 2009.

This April trip will be quick. We'll head up there Thursday afternoon and then come back on Friday after the doctor's appointments. I tried to talk them into letting us take care of the cast here in Fort Worth but Dr. Barlogie said no...

I understand that he wants an Orthopedic Oncologist who specializes in Mutiple Myeloma patients, but it's a long trip - and the insurance has changed UAMS to out of network so it's a $10,000 deductible and 50% co pay. It seems like they are doing anything to get out of paying.

We will go back again to Arkansas from May 24 - 26th to have all the re-staging tests done and to see Dr. B. I don't expect for too much to have changed, especially since Tanner hasn't been able to take the bone strengtheners since he came down with the shingles.

They said the bone strengtheners is what will help the lesions all start resolving more quickly.

On a happy note, today is Tanner's 18th birthday!! He and Trevor came up and we went to lunch and then tonight we will have dinner with some of the family. It will be a day spent focusing on his birthday - and food. LOL!

Happy 18th birthday Tanner. I'm so proud of you!!