Latest update on us!

We had Gage here for a few days last week as mamma Elizabeth had some commitments to attend to in L.A..  Gage lit up our lives with his laughter and love, hugs and kisses.  If ever you are feeling weighed down by the tribulations of life and you need your soul fed, just have a two year old stay with you for a few days! His inquisitiveness and fresh look at life was just what the doctor ordered for me.  We fed the fish bread in the pond outside of the Clubhouse, fed the ducks the leftover bread from the fish in the pond behind the clubhouse and took a short joy ride in the desert.  Gage loved driving the golf cart and even managed to get the hang of steering it in the right direction.

Me and my boy!

Since Paul was feeling up to it, we spent a couple of hours at the "Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert."   The Children's Museum offered "hands-on" activities.  There was so much to do from learning about a pulley system, with Paul assisting in the pulling, to becoming an Archaeologist and digging for long lost treasures.  Playing with trucks, shopping in a small "right size" Grocery Store with shopping carts that were his size, making a pretend Felt pizza in a Pizzeria and climbing over and under in a String Maze are just a few of the things Gage enjoyed doing while at the museum.   Gage even got the chance to paint an old Volkswagen car!  How cool is that?

Putting on the safety belt.

Pulling up.

My little Archaeologist

Getting a closer look.

Don't forget the tires!

 Since Paul is not able to get in the water, Gage became my swimming buddy!  Gage and I had so much fun swimming together that Paul took a video of us.  I had bough Gage a pair of swim trunks and then found a swim vest.  I attached the vest to the trunks and he took off swimming.  Yep, I'm an protective Grannie who was terrified of "letting go"   We can't wait for his next visit and more swimming together

 After two weeks of being able to eat, Paul has once again quit eating via mouth.  He can no longer swallow as a result from the radiation causing the esophagus to become inflamed.  He is not even taking his medications by mouth.  Everything is being crushed and/or diluted and given via the J-tube through the intestines.  The Ensure and Boost drinks don't go down well anymore but he is able to get down very small sips of thin liquids ...water, green tea and coffee.

Paul's blood count has dropped so low that the Oncologist has stopped all chemo treatments.  He received a shot today that is suppose to help his body produce White Blood Cells.  He will receive the shots over the next 4 days, yep, including the weekends!  I didn't think the doctor's office would be open on Saturday and especially Sunday, but it will be for these shots.  Paul is now taking a strong antibiotic since he has been running a low-grade temperature over the last 2 days.   Needless to say, I will be making sure he gets plenty of rest and stays away from crowds.  I teasingly told him he is under "house arrest" and "quarantined."  If I have to I will make him wear a mask when leaving the house, I do not want him exposed to the lingering flu germs that the nurse said are hanging around!  The Oncologist was adamant in stating if Paul's temperature rises above 101 degrees, he is to be taken to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics.

Moving forward to the next stage ... Paul has appointments at USC for a follow-up Endoscopy, P.E.T scan and a C.T. scan all before the end of the month.  We will then meet with the surgeon on June 6th to discuss  the details of the esophagectomy and set a date for surgery.  I know that Paul is looking forward to this all being behind us and returning to a normal life, even if it  is going to be a "new normal."  I have read many encouraging  things from different support groups on the internet.  Yes, there is  a lot of complications that can arise from surgery and in the weeks following, but we are going to focus on the positive.  Besides, we know there are so many people praying,  things have to go well.

I want to send a special Thank You to Chris and Bryan, Thank you for the help, you will never know how much it is appreciated.  To Mic, thank you for your ongoing "helping hands"  Joyce, Cindy, Joanna, Ted, Elaine, Ron, Kathy, Terri, Sue, Dick, Jean, Anne, Zana, JC, Garrett, Donna .... the list goes on and on..  we can never thank you enough for the prayers, cards and well wishes.  One more special thanks, my Big Sis, thanks for putting up with my tear filled calls, always understanding and being there, even if it is a thousand miles away!

 Jo and Paul too!


Surrender to what IS
Let go of what WAS
Have faith in what WILL BE.