Hello

Weather doesn't know what to do with itself here so using time to sort house ready for treatment start on Thursday then if the sun comes out ill go for a walk later, hope you and Al are feeling ok the yakon roots will be a lovely mystery while you wait to see what springs up, poor RumTum will have concussion at this rate Elona lol, next doors cat wandered in this morning while I was in the garden he nearly give me a heart attack when he come walking down the hall he got a bit panicky cause I had shut the door so didn't have any trouble vacating him lol, I'm going to miss the tales of the mini mafia I think maybe they are realising they can't win the battle you may see a small white flag as they leave with there tail between there legs quite literally. Al hope you have been given something to ease your mouth and you are feeling better. Well back to work hope you have a good day

Alli x

Hi Alli :happy

I am so glad to learn that all went so well with the restorative dentist, you must be very happy too.  One less stress for your body to go through and believe me the less stressess the better.  It also means that you can get on and fight the real fight.  I was so happy when I got my treatment start date, it was a relief to be able to finally start fighting back. But like you I was also a bit nervous about going into the unknown.  This is why we need more people like you and Sam talking about their experiances of the journey.  I think an NG is much better as it isn't invasive, again less stress on the body.  Did you get a small dot tattoo?  I had a tattoo on my chest to help line up the radiotherapy machine.  As soon as I am better, and can afford it, I am going to have another tattoo in the same place incorporating the dot.

Which part of your treatment starts on Thursday?  Did they decide to go for the two or six chemo sessions?

Go on start growing some tomatoes, if nothing else they will be something to do and think about to help take your mind off of all that is going on.  Loving watching things grow and there is nothing like home grown.  I too have no idea what a Yakon plant is, I am sure Elona has told me before, but with my brain it totally escapes me.

My appointment went very well thank you Alli.  I do have ulcers in my throat, but ENT said that they believe that they are clearing up (forgot to ask what the cause is).  They gave me a script for a mouthwash which also has a pain killer in it.  Also prescribed 3 moths of Antacid, and that is a lot of bottles.  Suffering really bad with acid reflux, probably due to starting to eat real food again, stomach not used to it.  He had a look down my throat with a camara, which was interesting as it goes up the nose but I only have one nostril and the other has the tube.  He said that he could not see any sign of the cancer, Yay!  But obviously they wont know 100% until I have the PET Scan, but still great news.  Diet and speech were there too, decided to stop the 10 hour 1 litre night feeds.  Now on 4 hour 500ml feed 6pm - 10pm plus try to eat as much normal food as I can throughout the day.  They're going to contact me on Tuesday to see if its working.

Alli, have a great bank holiday weekend, enjoy every moment.  Start growing tomatoes.  

Stay Strong

Al x

Hi Elona :happy:

I didn't make three days in a row.

Loving your recent movie choices, we have been watching disastrous disaster movies all week.  Some of them were so bad they're good :laugh:  

I told Alli that you had explained Yakon root to me before, but I had forgotten what you had told me.  My stupid brain must have made that up lol.  Well I wanted some rain, must have done the dance to perfection because the rain Gods have replied with rain for as long as the MET doth forcast!  Still saves us doing it.

We had a pair of black birds in the garden yesterday, he was searching through the bark whilst she stood guard. Luckily the cats were fast asleep on the bed.  Got me thinking instead of a bird table I could put a pole up and hang food from it.  I would have to place it more than a cat leap from the walls though.  May have some baby birds of our own soon though.  The Love Birds have been having much bird fun and produced eggs in the nest.  This isn't the first time she has laid.  On all but the previous attempt the eggs have been without embrios.  He wasn't great at his part.  On the last attempt two of four eggs did have babies, but sadly didn't make it full term.  We believe she didn't keep the nest moist enough.  This time I am proud of him and I think she has sussed egg rearing so fingers crossed by mid May we will hear cheap cheap (actually baby Love Birds are really loud and do not know the difference between night and day) sounds from the nesting box.  Then we have to hope she looks after them properly, we don't step in unless absolutley neccessary.

Have a fab Bank Holiday weekend.

Stay Strong

Al x

Hi

i think i may have said before Al about yakon roots. Apparently they look like sweet potatoes but are juicy and taste like a mixture of apple and celery. they are probably whats called a super fruit. 

My truffle kentish cob arrived so mad dash to get it into the ground. it meant moving some rocks and digging some soil so consequently iam feeling very sore but proud at the same time. 

i have a question for you two - do my little blatherings help in any way since i am not going through the same experience any more as you two am i still wanted here? 

sorry have a mimi wobble ! 

Alli dont think the mimi mafia are gouing to disappear that quickly! We have offered to help them move home so there could be a story in that. Al is also right you should plant a tomato plant it is easy to grow, will give loads of lovely tomatoes - healthy and good for you and is fun. 

Al love to hear about the love birds wow they are so pretty. It would be amazing to get some babies. I know rearing birds is not the easiest thing to do. 

i have an african grey and he made me laugh the other day. I was sitting on the loo as you do and he suddenly came out with "dont hurt me!" his cage is right outside the bathroom i could have fallen of the loo i cracked up. he must have heard it on a film but you can just imagine he saying it when someone comes round that would be call the RSPB. 

gorgeous day today and the one thing that made the day better is the huge fern my mother left behind that was dry and i thought dying but in actual fact there were some new shoots uncurling. the new growth appearing made me smile. 

have good weekend too 

keep smiling x

Hello

You have been a lifeline Elona I don't know what I would have done some days if I hadn't been able to come on here and listen to all that's happening with you, it doesn't matter that you have something different you are still dealing with an illness and I hope it helps you to come on here to, ooh I like the sound of yakon roots I've not seen them in the supermarket I suppose there a bit exotic for Tesco and Asda lol, the African Grey sounds like a character its a shame we can't put pics up so I could see all yours and Al's lovely pets. Another day at hospital it is now like my second home just a pre assessment for chemo and bloods but ended up being a long day cause we got stuck in traffic coming home, it normally takes an hour but it took 2 but the driver was lovely and chatty so quite enjoyed the journey. Hope your mouth is easing Al good idea about putting bird seed up high so kitty's can't reach, I haunt had the dot tattoo no ones mentioned it yet when did you get yours (sorry another question lol). Got to get more bird seed the last lot had mixed seeds and the birds have just ate the ones they like and left the rest I have very picky pigeons 

Hope your day has been a good one

Alli x

Forgot to say Al that's brilliant news that they couldn't see cancer when you were examined x

morning all hope your having a good weekend. 

Al fantastic news re your endoscopy, i had that down the nose it was quite uncomfortable as i remember but fantastic they could not see any cancer - looking positive. 

Alli thank you that made me feel better, and am glad your appointment went ok although you had a bit of a journey. 

well i had a stand off with mini mafias cousin who i think lives near the pond. (i should charge him for having to patch up the pond liner making a large hole for a window), he was up on the bird table eating happily until i opened the window then he scooted into the flower bed and i could feel his little bedy eyes watching and waiting for my back to be turned before yes he was up gain! three attmepts later and he had eaten all the bird seed i lost that battle. 

as for the mini mafia well there was a scuffle in the carport last night and a fight broke out. they were trying to get a plan together and could not agree on the details so mini mafia junior threw my disinfectant spray bottle at his brother who retaliated, grandpa had to intervene and pull the brothers apart leaving them black and blue. 

i decided that i need colour to brighten my life so have chosen some fragrant parrot plants for the garden adn some poenies. not usually a peony person but these have ruffled flowers and look pretty and i have a bed that used to be a foxgloce and grases bed that could do with a change. colour is another thing that can make you smile. 

easy day today after yestrerday that really drained me and when iam in pain and tired i do get emotional so some gentle sanding me thinks. am hoping that pushing myself to do these things will help with my illness. 

keep smiling x

Hi Elona 

I think the mini Maffia are here to stay lol, your right about the colours of flowers making you smile I have a plant that despite the winter and me looking after it lol survived and has a mass of lovely little purple flowers that look like little stars. Don't overdo things you have to keep your strength up. A day of washing and ironing not my favourite job but am getting prepared so I don't have to worry about finding something to wear when going to hospital

Hope you have a lovely relaxing day

Alli x

Morning

`well so much for the rain we badly needed I think every where else must be having the rain except us! My plants really need it. 

I really dont know where the days go so far they seem to race away. Its hard to believe it is May already and all of us have gone through so much in the last few months. Al has gone through the worst and come out the otherside and is doing really well.Alli is going through the process and will with hope come through like Al. Sam is also comeing through the otherside. T~he journeys are all unique but similar and special to that person only. Each one special and amazing showing how hope, love, determination and dedication join forces for that person how wonderful is that. I feel humbled to be allowed to share. 

Alli I love all flowers that are blue/purple they are my favourite colour. Some of the flowers i have ordered are blue. colour is important although I would not neccesarily believe when people say what colours mean or hubby with his love pof yellow would be a pyschopath!!! 

Al hope you are getting more and more energy as days go by and resting well. I could not be more pleased for you that you are healing it is amazing your wife and yourself must be full of hope. Keep up the progress!!

had a day free of the mini mafia the brothers must still be suffering from their fight! (or grounded by grandma). 

Am going to have a gentle day of sanding and hopefully painting the last part of the dinning room area. It is a goal to get that area of the double room finished and looking nice. Once the wall is done i have a few floor planks to finish then i can concentrate on the fireplace. That is the exciting area. It is an original fireplace but unfortunately an old boiler was placed inside. I removed the bottom area leaving the fireplace and removed the horrid shelve unit thing the lady left there leaving the fireplace area. I have bought on ebay some original fireplace tiles to go on the outside and cant wait to get them up. Hope Alli you enjoyed your cleaning day lol. 

have a good day 

keep smiling 

x