YEA

Yea! --- Jump for joy!!! Pop had a good day yesterday. Slept well last night and was feeling well this AM. He is at the "meeting" this am and am confident will have world news events to discuss with me when he returns.
Pop is sharing his feelings and desires more now that things have soaked in. The news of his illness has spread all over the north end and he is the one comforting people who are not taking it well. Pop plans to fight this with all of his might, staying upbeat, and open. He has confidence in the local group of MD's and plans to receive his care here. He has a strong will and I support his decisions. (I do plan to contact MD offices this week to assure we are on their cancellation list to possibly get him in sooner than the 14th and 15th---I consider that behind the scenes support).
I know all of your thoughts, good wishes, and prayers will help him stay strong. Keep them coming!
Love,
Mom

The "boys"

The boys are eager to also get in on this blog to let you know they are watching over, entertaining/occupying pops time, and delivering healing of warmth, love, and undivided attention to Pop. Can't you tell by that smile on Spencer's face that he is so happy to be one of Pop's boys? They are constantly at Pops side.
Love,
Mom (and boys)

Pops

Yesterday was a hard day for Pop. After a Lortab and nap--he was "100%" better. His night was "great." He has never taken regular medication (except for prednisone) and is reluctant to take pain medication. Yesterday was enough to convince him of the necessity of pain management. He also stopped all of his Ibuprofen and most likely experienced additional inflammation rebound. Today is a new day---he looks and acts more rested.
He just left for McD's for the bub club meeting and should be back in time (11:30am) to watch K-U whop Iowa Stata and K-State whop Texas Tech (2:30pm). Will relinquish the remote to Pop and will watch the games like a tennis match---back and forth, back and forth, etc.
Continue to keep Pop in your thoughts. He knows I am blogging all of you and requesting your thoughts and prayers. He agrees it helps---keep them coming.
Love,
Mom

On the Road with Dick and Jane

Dick is excited. Dick and Jane are going to take a trip to the store today. Look how excited Dick (AKA Pop) is to take another road trip with Jane (AKA Ma). Jane will most likely have to pry his fingernails off the arm of the recliner to get him out the door----can't you just see how happy Dick is to be spending more time with Jane in the car?
Had a crisis this am----the newspaper was not here when Pop woke up---Several trips to the driveway assured him it still had not arrived---I got in the car, went to Quik Shop, bought a newspaper and and Pop made me promise I would add a note to our newspaper bill that their service was terrible. Think our time together is rubbing off on him---he is becoming a"little Julie."
Pop started new pain medication yesterday---we are going to need to tweak it---as it did not last the entire 12 hours. Well use another med to bridge the 6 hour mark. Dr. Buth was emphatic about pain relief.
Will keep you updated on paper deliveries, store trips, and of course the most important---keeping Pop pain free. He stays in great spirits despite the short intervals of pain. He wants to get out, continue to be active, and to do what he wants to do.

Oncology appt.

Waited until 3:00pm for call back from Dr. Buth's schedulers. By passed Dr. Buth's schedulers, contacted Dr. Dennis Moore Jr office on my own to confirm 10/14/2008, 12:00pm appt. We picked up RX for Oxycontin, will begin this pm at 8:00pm and administer every 12 hours. Pop can still take Lortab to bridge over if needed between the 12 hours. We have more treatment clarification today, pain management plan and things should go smoother for Pop.

On the road to MD office

Did not get oncology MD appt confirmed yesterday. It was an all day event of phone tag with Dr. Buth's office. Decided I would travel to office this am and wait until appts were made. Dr. Buth had an opening at 9:00am. Went back home to get pop for appt. (Pop had a better night---woke him at 10:30pm and 4:30am to give him pain meds.) This was probably the most "real" appt we have had w/MD's. Dad participated, was open about the seriousness of his disease, knows he will be seeing a lot of MD's, told Dr. Buth about his increased pain, and requested Dr. Buth remain in the driver's seat as primary MD. Dr. Buth examined pop (again), indicated pain control is key issue, indicated PET scan would not be helpful at this time as it is a tool to determine cancer (CT's and complete body scan have already determined pop has cancer). Dr. Buth wants pop to keep the appt(s) with (oncologist) Dr. Dennis Moore, Jr---it is being rescheduled and (urologist/prostate) Dr. Steinberger (10/15/2008). Dr. Buth indicated a bone biopsy would most likely be ordered to determine what type of cancer is in the bone and then treatment would begin. Dr. Buth gave pop an RX for Oxycontin 20mg to take every 12 hours, stop the Ibuprofen, and only take a Lortab between if needed. If that pain control plan is not sufficient we are to get in touch w/Dr. Buth and he will try something else. Should receive call back from Dr. Buth's office to confirm oncology appt. date/time.
Must tell you these short road trips bring back fond memories of pop and I car pooling to work. His knee jerk response is a little slower but the words are flying----wish I had a video camera in the car---he seems to think I am trying out for the Indy 500 on the interstate. You ought to see the HHR "fly" in morning traffic with an old racing intent pilot and a cussing co-pilot at the helm. We really make a extreme team.
You are all part of this extreme team---keep the co-pilot in your thoughts with all your good wishes and prayers.
Love,
Mom

Result of CT scan

CT results: Lung scan: negative. Abdominal/pelvis shows "metastatic blastic lesions on spine and pelvis." They are referring pop to oncologist possibly for PET scan, bone biopsy, and treatment options. Pop had a rough night last night---I told the nurse and requested we to see oncologist as soon as possible to get things rolling. She agreed and they are working on the referral as we speak. Will keep you posted.
Love,
Mom