May 10th update

Sorry for the delay in a new post. Jim has been doing so amazing that we have forgot he is ill and have forgot to post any news.

For those of you that saw him at Easter, you would be amazed at how much better he is doing...just like the old Jim....he is actually off of hospice at this point. He decided to go off hospice to have some test performed to see how his cancer is progressing. He is hoping to find some clinical trials that may help him more than the radiation. The newest MRI showed that the tumor in his lung has grown and there is also a new growth in his lung....but given that he has not had any treatment for his lung this is not a surprise. The good news is the tumors in his brain have been reduced about 25-30% which is why he has become more functional and conversational than a month ago.

He has sent his medical file off to a doctor in San Francisco that has been doing some clinical trials with melanoma and will be meeting with them on Monday, May 18th. We are also trying to get him into OHSU to see if they have any clinical trials that might benefit him.

On the homefront, Jim has bought an outdoor firepit/place and new outdoor furniture so has been enjoying the outdoors at night.

Hope you all had a good Mother's Day.

Becky

Easter photos Kelsey and Ella eating thier dinner as Bands tries to sneak a bite.

People enjoying the deck as they chow down

Mom drinking her wine

....I can't say I know what Logan is doing here.

Sooooo many Easter pictures (and this thing only allowes you to upload five at a time) snacks Chow time!

Hopefully Dave won't eat everything...

Even Mr. Bands joined in the festivities with a green tail (Ok so he really didn't join so much as me and Rita held him down as I used Easter egg dye to color it)

So much fun with a potato gun

Even more Easter Pictures! Potato time!
I think Jason was giving Dad a hard time in this one.

Robby gets a turn

Jason, Ella, Kelsey, and the lovely hostess with an undeniably great fashion taste (me) ;P

More chatting and eating

More photos from Easter weekend! Here is everyone eating, drinking, and having a good time ;)
Mel and Becky did a lot of cooking. Thanks guys!

People chatting and saying hi.

Ella and Logan playing on the swing outside

Dave let Dad drive his lawn mower around!

Here are some photos from the Easter Party: Ella and Logan found a lizard while playing in the back yard.
Robby and Jason

Everyone eating breakfast the day of the Easter party

Ella put syrup all over her sausages. I think she would have drank and entire bottle if she could!

Here's Tom and Randy practicing thier putting. Thank you guys for your cooking and cleaning and all the help you gave! Next picture is of Robs giving Hobbs his medication for his leg. Robs came out remarkably unscathed...

This is Courtney. I am just putting up a few more pictures of cards and flowers and food. Things that I like :)

Thanks for the Harry & David's Basket‏ - Pictures

Tom
Thanks to you & Cindy for delivering the h-u-g-e/heavy Harry & David's basket & movie gift card this evening.
Yum, yum.
I've attached the pics

Gang
I also snapped a not-so-great shot near the end of the Fiddler's jam that Jim & I went to @ the RoxyAnn Grange on Saturday pm. The jammers were really great. They never referred to any printed music.

Hey, this is Courtney, and I am going to try to be good and help update the blog as well. Today was pretty chill. We are getting some volunteers from hospice to cover my school schedule, and my mom and Mel are getting things geared up for Easter weekend. We had a busy day at the doctor's office today, so after that Dad spent most of the rest of the day napping and watching TV, but he seems to be in good spirits. On another note, if anyone wants to volunteer to spend time with Dad so that he doesn't have to be nagged by Rita and me all the time (and so I can go to my fav bar ;P) send me an e-mail at raspberry_sorbet00@yahoo.com That way I can set up a schedule and make plans for playing hookie.

Monday 4/6/09 Update‏

Thank you Joan for spending the afternoon with Jim while Courtney was at school.
And Janine from Home Care brought us some really great sausage/potato soup & Great Harvest Multigrain bread for dinner.
Courtney is off doing some rock climbing. And Jim & I (Rita) are watching Dancing with Stars (the NCAA championship game was a UofNC bust!)

Susan Linquist, PMMC's Hospice volunteer coordinator, called today with some 'seasoned' volunteer assistance. Monday, starting 4/14, Sue Campenelli will be coming in from 1:30-4:30pm; Tuesday starting 4/14, Raejean Helms will be coming in from 3:30-6:30pm; Wednesday starting 4/8, Nancy Quincy will be coming in from 1:30-4:30pm.

April update

Time for a long overdue update on Jim. What we thought would be an uneventful week (i.e. finished with radiation and no scheduled doctors appts.) turned out to be quite eventful. Early in the week Jim had some minor issues related to his new anti-seizure meds which landed him in the ER for approx. 8 hours. He also saw a neurologist, who said his motor functions are still doing quite well. In addition his appt with his med - oncologist doctor was moved up from Monday April 6th to Thursday. Before the appt Jim had to have a blood screening and another chest X-ray. The doctor went over these with Jim and the family during the appt and told us that the tumor in his lung has grown. Based on the results of these tests and his current status the doctor and Jim's family agrees it was best to admit Jim into a hospice program. So Thursday afternoon Jim was admitted to hospice. This is a good thing since studies have shown patients on hospice tend to live longer. I sounds like the hospice people are very organized and within a day Jim now has a ton of medical equipment at his house...that he doesn't really need now but will need in the future. Spirit wise Jim seems to be doing great. Earlier in the week he was pretty tired but after the doctors adjusted his medication his energy level perked up.

Thanks to Tom and Randy for spending the week with Jim, you have been so helpful. If anyone is interested in taking Jim on some journeys next week to keep him occupied, please let us know.

What a great weekend! It was fun seeing everyone & getting to meet Sue & Michelle. Courtney & Rob are total grownups now (well, ok - as much as any of us are). And I think Jim managed to enjoy things despite the semi-bedlum in the house.

Thanks Cory

Thanks Cory for the Dodge Ball DVD.

Saturday's Italian Feast & Golf Outing @ Stoneridge

Future Rock Stars (Kelsey, Rob & Courtney) provided an after dinner concert.

Nancy & Michelle slaved away the afternoon in the kichen. Their menu consisted of Michelle's Italian Manicotti & meatballs, real Caesar salad dressing, & Nancy's infamous chocolate chip cookies. Yum, Yum. According to Sue & Joan, there were 0 points in this meal. And there was enough garlic to keep the vampires miles away.

Jim, Rob, Tom, Sue & Rita shot a couple of holes of golf at Stoneridge before the brisk wind & spitting rain drove everyone off the course.