BCG Treatment #2 & 3

01/12/10
Last Tuesday was BCG treatment 2 and today was BCG treatment 3 - we are halfway over now. Last week was a little more difficult than week one - uncomfortable but definitely side effects, it didn't keep him down for long though. Today, for treatment #3 - a little more side effects, we are definitely upsetting the bladder! Good, kill all bad stuff in there! He's handling them fine, just following doctors orders.

Our attitude is staying strong. Nothing you can do about it so you've got to just go with the flow. You know, before this happened to Bob, I never knew what to really say that would be meaningful and to some small degree helpful to people I've known that have had cancer. It's that dreaded word everyone is fearful of. My thoughts for the day to anyone reading this is that when you know someone with cancer (even knowing them quite well), that when you talk to them, it's ok to ask about it. It's actually better to talk about it than NOT talk about it when having a conversation. I used to feel that MY fear will show if I try to talk to them about their cancer - and yes we do see other people's fear when they ask. BUT not asking is even worse. So ask! It's ok. It's our reality not our fear any longer. I've had two or three friends say to me "I'm not sure what I should say to Bob". I feel really bad for them because I remember that feeling. Now unfortunately I know the answer - and the correct answer is just don't change the way you are - ask away if you want to know, let him know you are thinking of him and you know this isn't fun, crack a joke - give him a really hard time, he's still the same Bob that we all love.

I'll keep you posted next week!

BCG Treatment #1

A little over 6 hours ago Bob had his first BCG treatment. It was a bit uncomfortable, as expected, but he was a trooper and got through it with no problem. He did the required "basting" (rolling every 15 minutes) for 2 hours after the treatment with no problem also. Right now he feels great - like nothing new happened at all today, that's great news! He will continue to do this every week for the next 5 weeks and then have another scope to see what the bladder looks like. Thanks to all of you for the kind thoughts and prayers, they are working!

Twas the Night before Christmas...

Well work is done and I have a nice two weeks off now....ahhhhh. Much needed. Tiffany and Mo are home with us, Kyle is gone to Boston for a few weeks to celebrate Christmas with his family. I'm sure they are enjoying having their son home. Jenni and Justin will fly in on Wednesday and stay until Sunday. We are so glad they were able to come back for the holidays. Justin gets a well deserved break after finishing his first semester of school. Jenni just started a new job, loves it AND gets to come home for the holidays! We are all looking so forward to sharing a glass or two of wine with them and celebrating the season.

Bob went back to work this week. It was a busy few days, getting caught up on 500 emails waiting for him. He's feeling good. His back pain came from two bulging discs which he's been given two epidural shots for. They have worked wonders. He will go in for his first BCG treatment on December 29th. The treatment takes a total of about 3 hours and I will go with him. We are thinking positive that it will go by fast and he won't have too much side effects from it. He will then go every Tuesday for 5 more weeks. After that, he waits two weeks and then goes to the doctor on Feb. 17th to get another scope so the doctor can take a look at the bladder again. He will then let him know the success of the treatment and we go from there.

It will be a great Christmas, we look so forward to sharing family times with everyone. We will miss Kyle and his laughs he gives us though.

Here's a few pictures we took recently - to finish our 2009 Publisher Book I made. My sister called the theme this year and asked us to make up a book of the Best of 2009. I'm glad she asked us to do it now I will just keep it up every year and have a book of the best of each year.

I'll update after the 29th and let you know how the big guy did. Merry Christmas to everyone!

Holiday Time!

Well Thanksgiving is past, and Christmas is on the horizon. This time of year is always so full of wonderful times with friends and family, I really look forward to it. Thanksgiving started out the season though very quiet in the Lytle's house. Tiffany and Kyle went to Chicago to visit Jenni and Justin - we were so happy that they were enjoying this time together. Kyle had never been to Chicago so it was extra special for him. The great part - we got to watch MO for 4 days!

We woke up in the morning and did the usual - made the stuffing, got the bird ready, and made our bloody marys. In our old neighborhood, for the last 10 years, we would all meet at a neighbors house every Thanksgiving after the turkeys were in the oven and would share either mimosas or bloody marys. Fun memories there. We spent the remainder of the day cooking and eating and playing with Mo. He did learn something new on this day - going to jail! He is one year old now so that makes him maybe 7 in dog years. Yep - a 7 year old boy that gets too big for his britches! When he does something wrong and you try to scold him he talks back! He doesn't stop either. It's so funny but it was out of control on this day. So the side of our yard had a large gated area - we called it jail. When he wouldn't stop barking at us, we would pick him up and put him in jail. We would always warn him that he's going to jail if he didn't stop. This is the smartest little puggle - he figured it out in about 2 hours. Too funny.

We went to the neighbors house and played bumper pool for a few hours and had great laughs. It was the perfect ending to the day.

Friday was a shopping day. I didn't get up early - with the stores opening up at 3am I wasn't about to do that. Got a lot accomplished and crowds weren't too bad.

We spent lots of time watching movies, and just hanging out together. It was so relaxing and so much fun. Very much needed.

Next year is sure to be a tough start but since I'm married to the toughest man on the face of the earth, I'm sure he'll fare well and beat this new challenge all the way. I'll keep everyone updated on my blog as to how he's doing. I wish everyone a fantastic holiday and memories that last a lifetime.

October Update!

Well I've had a week off work so far, another one to go and what a great feeling that is!! Bob and I spent most of the week together since it was our 31st anniversary, afterall. I got my hair done on Tuesday, met with girlfriends for wine, helped stuff wedding baskets (remember those?) and just woke when I wanted, no worries. What a life. Wish it would last.

I do love my job, I really do. I cannot imagine having to get up in the morning to go to a job you can't stand. That would be dreadful. I like the interaction with the kids, counselors and teachers. Too bad it doesn't pay the bills, but I will get a decent retirement out of it.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Bob and I took day trips. We drove up to Payson, had a good lunch, drove into the national forest, talked and talked. It's nice when there are no distractions and you can so much easier clear your head. One day we took our light rail subway system to the end, stopping in Phoenix and then again in Tempe for a glass of wine, or two. It was a fun day. One day we just exercised and went on a long bike ride, grocery shopped, and then went out to an outstanding dinner at a new restaurant in town. We went to breakfast at the Chandler Municipal Airport - somewhere we've heard about it but never went until now. Incredible old fashioned breakfast food - they even have a FLO working there - I swear!!!

Ok one complaint and I need to vent. So we went to Stodemiers Restaurant in Phoenix while we were jumping on and off the light rail. Some of you may know him - a Phoenix Suns player. We ordered a chicken quesedilla and a beer. Typically I get a headache when I order a draft beer - who knows why - and so I usually order a bottle of beer, which I did. WELL, I asked for a glass - I've never been a fan of drinking out of a beer bottle. The waitress said sure, and brought me a nice frosty mug. Now, the vent - time to pay. They CHARGED me $2.00 for the GLASS!!!! Have you ever heard of that before?? We had already paid when Bob looked a little closer at the tab and we were shocked. Remember, this isn't a high class restaurant that charges you for everything, it's just a sports bar...

So.....what did I do? lol. Well I had just refreshed my lipstick and so I decided if they were going to charge me $2.00 for a GLASS for my beer, they would have to clean it by hand instead of just putting it in the dishwasher. I preceded to kiss the glass with lipstick prints all over it. All of us women know how a pain THAT is to get off the glass! hahahahaha. Yes, the Ritchie in me still lives strong.....

Next week I plan on getting some things done around the house. Make my picture album for Christmas, clean out a few drawers, perhaps finish reading a book. I will work a few hours, to get some comp time for our BIG adventure coming our way.....

Oh, you don't know?? lol. Well Tiffany, Jenni and myself are going to be sitting in the audience of THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW on October 29th. I will let everyone know when it airs. We will have no idea what the show will be about beforehand - how cool is that! We have always wanted to go to a show of hers and Jenni tried ONCE and got 3 tickets. So very excited, we are.

Chow for now!

Update Time here too!

Well, life has finally calmed down. It got a little nuts in the last few months, just as expected. BUT a very fun time and worth all the craziness. Jenni and Justin came home (yeah!) and we had a great time catching up on laughs. Tiffany and Kyle got engaged - yeah!! What a great feeling that both our girls have found such wonderful men to share their lives with.

Tiffany is in her final year of school and we are delighted to be done writing checks to ASU. Having both your children finish their degrees, find a wonderful partner, make great future plans, all of these things make us proud as parents. Bob and I are enjoying our time together, just the two of us, knowing the girls are happy too. It was a tough go for a little bit though, I won't lie. When that feeling of being finished as parents when that's where you've put so much of your energies hits you - can be an eye opener. But we made it through and are looking forward to all the great change coming our way.

We still don't have a dog and the plans right now are not to get one too quickly. We do get to see Mo every week and so he fills us with enough kisses to last at least 1/2 the week. There will be too much traveling in the next few years and without the kids living close, we don't want to impose on anyone to watch a little critter. We become too attached to our pups to take them to a kennel so that wouldn't work either. So.....pupless a little longer.

Work for me is insane - seems like I add more and more to my plate every year. Bob's work is crazy, but we are thankful we both have jobs in this tough economy.

I'll be traveling to Chicago to visit Jenni and Justin in a few weeks - I can't wait. I really really fell in love with Chicago when we were there this summer. I won't be visiting in the winter, I want to keep the good attitude....haha.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at Thanksgiving - Tiff and Jenn will be together in Chicago so we definitely don't want to be alone! See you soon!
Bob and Carol

May-June Update

So May has passed and we are into June - time is sure flying as usual. May is always a crazy month for me. There is so much to do in the last month of school, most of it on the computer, fitting in helping students. The last thing I ever want to do is come home and hang out on the computer - hence no blogging for awhile. Well, schools done for the kids, I have a few more days of work - much needed at the end of the year to clean my room and get ready for the next group of seniors.

We had an addition to our home this month. Tiffany (and MO) are living with us for the summer until around the time school starts for her. It's giving her a few months to save money and its giving us a great time. I honestly think I could have a huge house - like 10000 sq. ft. and have both my kids and their other half live with us. I love the fact that my children have grown up as nice people that I like to be around. They have both chosen to be with someone that I also love being around. How lucky are we - that just doesn't happen all the time. When I hear of parents irritated with their adult children I feel so sorry for them.

Turning the big one on my birthday this year is also giving me some thoughts. It does not bother me one bit though. I don't feel like I'm getting too old, or sad in any sense. 30 was weird but since then I haven't thought much about age. It is different though now that the 40s are done and I have to say that next number. Now I will say, the fact that I will be celebrating my birthday in Hawaii - yes Hawaii - certainly helps!! Good friends of ours called and said "wanna go" and we jumped on it. We will be going with Tiff's godparents, Laurie and Brian and will have a complete blast I'm sure. We just talked about our next travel adventure about a month ago and decided to go to Hawaii next spring break. Well this opportunity came up and it was a no brainer to say yes.

When we return, we will be saying goodbye to Tiff for 3 weeks as she goes to Boston to pick up Kyle and then they fly together to Greece to be with Jenni and Justin for 10 days. No doubt having the time of their life I'm sure.

I'll post more when i have the Hawaii pictures.