Six Months!

Dwayne's new look!

Alice, Esther, and Barb
Three of the best friends you could ever hope for!
Happy Birthday to us.

It does not seem possible that we began this adventure six months ago today. At times it has gone very quickly, others times, it feels like we have be at it much longer.

 Well, we have made it through the first three weeks of the school year, and seem to have settled into a pretty good routine. The mornings that Dwayne has therapy, I drop him off at the hospital and then pick him up on my way home. He will be finishing his two months of rehab on Thursday and just doing speech a couple times a week. He will have his second round of chemo this week. Tomorrow in the doctor's office and then the five days of the at-home drug.

We finally did the head shaving last week. He never lost it all, but had places that were 3" long and spots with nothing. Kind of had the doc look from Back to the Future! It is returning, about a quarter of an inch long, and very blond. I guess we will see if blonds have more fun!

Last Friday, we helped in the surprise 50th birthday for Esther.  Since three of us have birthdays in the same week, it was easy to convince her that we were going out to dinner for our birthdays. She was not even suspicious. Fun evening and great friends.

Catching up!

Did August go quickly or what??

Tomorrow is back to school for me, just seems like last year ended. A few changes for me this year, I will be having a team teacher and I am very excited for that. I have known Shannon for a number of years and we will work together well.

Dwayne has made a lot of progress this month. He has now been in rehab for a month and they keep raising the bar on what they expect of him. They want to extend his therapy for another month. We are waiting on what insurance says on that.  During the past week, Dwayne and I have walked the local beach trail near our home four times! We have done about two miles, each time a little faster. This is such great progress, considering he needed a cane to get around the house just two months ago! His stamina is improving every week.

Sea World

The week before Jared went back to school, the three of us spent a day at Sea World. Longest outing he has done in six months. It was great! Slow paced enough for Dwayne and we always enjoy the animals. Dwayne used the wheelchair for the most part, but also walked in some of the less crowded areas.  Jared and I took turns pushing! It is hillier than you think there!

The weekend of August 20th, my cousin Diana and I took Jared back to Monterey. Hard to believe this is his senior year! We helped get Jared settled and then spent Sunday exploring Monterey. What a beautiful place. We stayed at Asilomar and it is so peaceful and a nice walk across the street to the beach. It was a good trip. Nathan came and stayed at the house with Dwayne.

Sea World-August 2011

Watching the dolphins

Jared back at UCS Monterey

Dwayne and I after the first time we walked the beach trail

The beach across the street from Asilomar.
Beautiful!

Dwayne began his new chemo last week. The first one was given in the doctor's office and it divided into two days. They want to make sure he will not have any major reactions. He did great. The second drug he took at home for five nights before bed. That one is unsettling his stomach some. He was given some anti-nausea that seems to be helping.