The kitties have a new favorite nap spot - side by side on Sharon's pillow. If we don't cover it in the morning before we leave, Sharon will have a major allergy attack in the evening. Aren't they cute?

Sharon cut my hair today - a #2 on top and #1 1/2 on the sides. Last time around the #1 1/2 was almost too long for the top. Today the #2 was perfect. My hair is indeed growing! My eyebrows are bushier than they were before chemo and I have hair in spots that have not seen hair in years.

Continuing issues are neuropathy in my fingers and the soles of my feet, aches and pains all over that come and go, I can still feel the spot where the cath port was removed, fingernails still slowly growing out (but no more to come off), and toenails coming off - just on my big toes and the little toe on my right foot. Also, my strength and stamina is not fully back. Complain, complain complain!

I started using an exercise ball for my hands this week. It is too early to report on results. I have an appointment with my new Oncologist, Dr. Eisner, tomorrow. I'll drop all my issues on him and see what he says. I think physical therapy may be good for the nerve issues. He will likely schedule me for a PET-CT scan. More later!

Today is a day off and we are having pre Fat Tuesday crab cakes today. Sharon will back some bread, we'll make a salad and Steve and Marge are coming over. I should come up with a Mardi Gras cocktail! The weather is chilly but nice today - partly cloudy. I think is may be a Cognac and cigar day in the yard.

Austin. What a cat! He was born in Pflugerville, Texas, was moved into the Campbell garage by his mom, and adopted by Sharon and Colby. He flew home with us, howling all the way in his carrier. Everyone on the plane knew there was a kitten on board. This photo was taken in 2003 while I was doing a photo shoot in our basement for a client. Austin was not shy and he made himself at home. He had a good life with us and we with him. Austin moved on about two years after this photo was taken and we do miss him.

As for me, hair continues to grow, neuropathy continues in my fingers and feet. Nails continue to fall of and grow. The pnemonia seems to be gone. I am regulating my temperature (I'm not sure I have written about this before.) Oh, and with my new contacts and glasses I can see! My vision had gotten horrible and now it is corrected to pre-chemo levels.

Kathy is due, or should I say Brady is due in two weeks. I am going to be a proud great uncle - or is it a great proud uncle? Either way I am excited for Kathy and Kevin and their adventure in parenting.

The Blizzard of 2011 in Glen Ellyn. February 1st and 2nd, 2011. The snow started Tuesday afternoon and kept going until late Wednesday morning. We were snowed in - and could not open our back door. I pushed open the front door, stumbled through snow up to my hips to the back door and dug us out. Sharon and I then tackled the driveway. It took us several hours and the help of two neighbors with super duper snow blowers.

Yesterday Sharon and I visited our optometrist. He had an answer to my vision issues - I now have cataracts. The cataracts have changed my vision to the point that my near vision has improved and my distance vision has gotten worse. Dr. Robbins said that. in effect, my contacts are now for close up work and I need glasses for distance work. I've ordered new contacts and glasses that will allow me to see again somewhat normally. Time will tell is this will stabilize or worsen.

The cataracts are probably due to the high levels of steroids I took during chemo. There are three types of cataracts and I have two of them:

A subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens. People with..., or those taking high doses of steroids, may develop a subcapsular cataract.

A nuclear cataract is most commonly seen as it forms. This cataract forms in the nucleus, the center of the lens, and is due to natural aging changes.

I'll write more after I've got new lenses.

My fingernails are slowly growing and I have adapted to fingernail issues. The neuropathy in my hands and fingers is still an issue. I have some feeling in my fingertips - but mostly pain. It does hurts to touch, or press, or pick up items. The bottoms of my feet are often sore - but mostly in the morning when I get up. Slippers help! I saw a pulmonologist on Monday who said my lungs sound clear but I still have signs of pneumonia. I'm almost finished with my second round of antibiotics for this. I see her again in about six weeks for a followup x-ray and checkup. My coughing is much better.

Today is Superbowl Sunday - go Packers! We got a couple of inches of snow this morning, a little more shoveling for us. Sharon is fixing ribs - which will have to be done in the oven unless I dig a path to the grills.

I had a great birthday - even though I spent a lot of it at work. News first - I am out of the humidor at Binny's. I am now the Spirits Consultant and on the floor in the spirits department. This does make me happy.

We had a wonderful birthday party at our house Saturday evening. Lots of friends, lots of food, lots of drink, and lots of fun. A good time was had by all - work friends, friend friends, neighbor friends! I got several surprise goodies - a saber tooth tiger skull from Lee, Cognac from Steve, and an old bottle of "Sam's Selection" Cognac from Larry. Sharon gave me two tickets to Whiskey Fest and offered to be the designated driver. I told Larry he would be my guest and he was thrilled.

I am feeling pretty darn good lately and pleased that my hair is growing pretty quickly - though it still has a long way to go. Biggest issues are my lungs fingernails, and finger neuropathy. I can deal with all of them. I am so glad that chemo is over and my body is fighting to retore itself to as normal as it can get.



Hair, hair, hair! I am growing hair! Each day I see a bit more and I find it exciting. My nails are slowly growing and old ones are slowly falling off. I believe the antibiotics for pneumonia are working, though I am having to use the inhaler in the evenings when I am tired.

Sharon used the clippers to even out my head hair. Though there is not much some of them were a bit long and wild. Now we are even at a number 1 guard level or below. She also did ear hair clean up - why did those have to grow back too?

My favorite photo subjects are still cooperating with me. They just lay there and look cute. Their only worries are finding the best warm spot, are their food dishes filled, are their water sources filled. and for Shelby, "Can I sneak out the back door."

Update. Today I went in for the pulmonary function test and an x-ray. Dr. Ha called me this afternoon to tell me that the x-ray showed signs of pneumonia and I needed to start on antibiotics and not to bother with the pulmonary function test! Oh well, that test is done. Looks like I have pneumonia and not just an annoying cough and occasional wheezing.

Happy New Year!

It has been a lazy start for 2011 - at least for me though not Sharon. On New Year's Eve I chilled at home with Kathy and Kevin while Sharon worked her tail off at Bistro Monet until about 1:30am. Kathy and I were going to take a bottle of Champagne over there at midnight, but my pizza dinner decided to rid me of any thoughts of leaving the house.

On New Year's Day we saw K and K off and then had a nice breakfast (at noon). Sharon headed to the restaurant later and I watched football and napped. When Sharon came home she made black eyed pea risotto! It was delicious. Our New Year's Day tradition has been to have some sort of black eyed pea dish. This was a tradition I brought with me from Texas and learned from my parents.

Tomorrow I head for Central Du Page Hospital for a pulmonary function test. I have had to use the inhaler three times since I got it and I have been grateful. Other than lung issues the remaining issues with chemo are the neuropathy in my hands. My nails look horrible and some of them are barely hanging on - but they will not just come off. Damn. Hair is growing back on my head and face and even eyebrows. No more nausea. A little more energy. I am getting better.