Normal is just a setting on the dryer!

Well, the year has gotten of to a quick start. Life is just not slowing down.

Dwayne began his 6th round of chemo yesterday and will continue it for this week. He's tried. but doing well otherwise. The first week of February he will have his next MRI. Praying that this will remain the same as the one in November-no cancer!! He was released from physical therapy last week. Possibly speech the end of the month.

I had thought we were in our new "normal" of a routine. I don't think the Roberts do "normal". Jared's dermatologist at UCLA thought he might qualify for a drug trial for the basal cell nevis syndrome he has. Yes, another very rare condition-less than 1,000 documented cases. So, we have had two trips up there for pre-trial testing. Hopefully, only one more this week, maybe two. They are trying to get everything fit in before he goes back to school on Saturday, for his last semester! We thought we knew where we were going the first visit. Found out there are two different departments of oncology at UCLA-the neuro-oncologists in one building that Dwayne sees, and an entirely different building where a whole floor of offices are devoted to cancers that are not in the brain. Sometimes I am a bit overwhelmed at that place, but grateful we have such good people caring for them.

We have decided that Roberts in the original Saxon must have meant "unusual medical conditions"
Thank you again for your prayers and support. There is still more to this journey.

Happy New Year!

December was wonderful celebration of our savior and spending time with family and friends.

Jared is home for the month and then will go back for his final semester in Monterey. Hopefully, a job will follow soon. We stretched out Christmas celebration though out the week. Finishing yesterday with family coming from Burbank and San Diego. Great day, lots of fun and laughs. Overall I think something that we have learned over the past year is to take time to enjoy the small moments. Some of our best times this year have been taking walks along the beach, watching the rabbits eat our backyard-they are cute, but boy can they make a mess of a yard, enjoying a cup of tea with a fire in the fireplace. One thing we have enjoy more than ever is the chats, meals and time with friends and family.

Nathan and Jared got
Legos for Christmas

This brought back some memories!

Cindy and Rebekah

Tim and Rachel

Diana and Paul
Missed you,  Joel and Bethany

The cookie decorating was
very entertaining

My three guys!

The view from the hills behind our house

Dwayne and Jared 

This past Friday Dwayne and Jared took a walk in the hills behind our house. This was a major accomplishment for Dwayne, he said it felt so good to put on his hiking boots! Six months ago he was not walking around the house without a cane. We are grateful for the progress. He finished his 5th round of chemo last week and continues to do speech and physical therapy twice a week at Mission.

A very happy new year from the Roberts

Lots to be thankful for!

 Where did November go? We had company the last two weeks of the month and it was wonderful to have such good visits.

Our niece Katie, her husband Carl and their youngest son Athan were here for a few days. Katie grew up here and wanted to come back to the area for her 30th birthday.

Kerri, Tim and I

My sister Kerri was here for a three days. Our brother came down from Burbank for the one of the days. It isn't often that we all are in the same place at the same time.

Jared was home for the week at Thanksgiving. Was good to see him. He went back to school and will be home again the second week of December. Then his final semester!

Thanksgiving was celebrated with my brother and his family. Dwayne carved the turkey!

Nathan brought a furry guest. His new cat 'Mister'. He finally came out from behind the couch and decided that we were ok.


Friday brought an unexpected, but very welcomed visit from Susan and Paul Munsey. Susan and I have been friends since we were 14. ( I won't tell you how long ago that was!) We even got in some beach time! It was a beautiful day.

Susan and I

Dwayne and I

Dwayne also had a round of chemo during this week. This time went very well. The chemo will continue for awhile longer. The doctor has not given an end date yet.

Nathan or Tim had everyone laughing

Even on chemo, he enjoyed his traditional sour cream chocolate cake! 

Sunday the 27th. we had a few friends over to celebrate Dwayne's birthday. Was a great way to end November! We have been so blessed by family and friends this year.

Not to sure what to say.....

Thank you, God! Wow! Amazing.......not enough adjectives!

This has been a roller coaster week. We had not heard any results the past two days, and agreed last night that we would call today. Found out this morning that meant ME calling the oncologist. Was hesitant to do it, but wanted an answer. 

Called about 11 and left a message. We have our niece Katie, her husband Carl and their 10 month old son visiting us this weekend from Chicago. We walked the beach trail later this morning and were on the San Clemente Pier around 11:45 when my phone rang. It was a blocked number and I was a bit apprehensive to answer it in public. But did, the sun had just come out from the fog and as I looked out over the waves, Dr. Cheng's nurse said "All the lesions are GONE! The MRI was clear". I had her repeat it, just to make sure I heard it correctly. She said it again!  I just stood there and cried! Katie said when I got off the phone, "you said all clear didn't you?" We had a great group hug on the pier!

Tuesday we will see Dr. Cheng and find out what the next step is in this journey. 

Again thank you for all your prayers and support! That just seems inadequate!!!!

Big Week Coming Up!

Well, Dwayne's last round of chemo went well. Not too many side effects after the first night. Makes a difference when the anti-nausea meds are taken! We are still waiting on one more signature for the new rehab, it is not moving very quickly. Going to push again tomorrow and see if I can get things moving.

Tuesday afternoon he will have his next MRI. It has been three months since the last one was done. Our prayers are that the chemo has taken out the last three lesions.

On Thursday we are looking forward to a visit from our niece and her husband from Chicago. They will be with us for four days.

As always, we are grateful for all of you in our lives.

October Update

We are in our new 'normal' and have developed a routine. I am teaching in the mornings and usually home by 1pm. Dwayne is doing things around the house,  kitchen cleanup, vacuuming, watering the plants, etc. That is a big help. In the afternoons we try to walk at least a mile, either on the beach trail or in the neighborhood.

 Yesterday, Dwayne was evaluated by a new rehab center. The physical and speech therapists had him go through their testing. He did well with the physical therapy and after going over the notes from his last PT, she was encouraged that after a month of no therapy he had not lost any ground. She will be working on strength and balance. His endurance is much better. We went to Sea World this past Saturday and he did the day without using the wheelchair!  Speech is still the area that needs the most work. Short term recall and aphasia are still a challenge.

Today he began his third round of chemo. This will go on for five days. The week of November 7th he will have the next MRI. We are praying that the last three spots are gone!

Thank you for being an important part of our lives.

English Translation, Please!

This was too funny not to share. Dwayne has been doing much better with his word finding, but there are still some he just can't find what he needs.

We have been trying to walk the beach trail near our house as often as possible. Sometimes going about two miles in about an hour and a half. A couple of weeks ago, we had finished the walk and because it was very humid that evening, decided to stop for frozen yogurt.  Dwayne was tired and didn't want to go in, so I asked him what he wanted. He told me vanilla, then I asked if he wanted something on it. He said he did, but could not remember the word. So, I went back to the stragity that the first speech therapist, Mary Beth, had said to use,"yes/no" questions. This usually works pretty well, and has taken out some of the frustration at times trying to communicate. So, I began with did he want fruit-"no", nuts-"no', chocolate chips-"yes, but with the feet and limbs attached". That one really threw me. Wasn't sure what to do with it. He still could not get the word out he wanted, and finally told me that I would figure it out. I was not as confidant. So, I went in and started looking at the toppings. Came out with 'cookie dough' on the top. He said he knew I would get it. Sometimes you just have to laugh!

Someone have an English/Aphasia dictionary I can borrow?

Sun setting over Catalina, from the beach trail.