Friday - Treatment Day 19 - End of Week 4!!!!

It's amazing the difference a day can make. While Dan continues to struggle through the treatments, today was significantly better than yesterday for both of us. :-)

This morning, after I dropped Sam off at horse camp, I was able to swing by Target and get the much needed Carnation VHC (Very High Calorie) protein drink that was in lock-down at the pharmacy yesterday when I tried to retrieve it. This beverage will now become instrumental towards getting Dan closer to his daily caloric and protein requirements for the remainder of the treatments.

Then, when I returned home shortly after 9 a.m, I had a message from Sendik's that they had put a special rush on Dan's only beverage of choice...and, they will have two cases by tomorrow. Plus, they said they will keep ordering Peach Mango Fuze for me as long as I need it. Many kudos to the wonderful people there. And, also to the wonderful people who read my blog and tried to find more Peach Mango Fuze for Dan all over the state.

In light of Dan's swallowing issues, pain, throat/tongue/mouth blisters, taste alterations, and other numerous challenges, Dan has been a trooper about trying to take in what he can...but this week has not been one of our more successful ones.

His healthcare team does not care where the calories come from, they just want him to try to get to 2400 daily, along with adequate hydration. The VHCs I picked up have 540 calories per 8 oz can and the Fuzes have about 200 calories per 18 oz bottle. And, both do double duty as caloric intake and fluid. So, this weekend, I will rest a little easier knowing that we might start to get back on track towards his daily goals.

While Dan was in radiation today, I was able to say goodbye to a friend/ex-employer who, until recently, I haven't seen in decades. He was receiving radiation as well and he finished up his final treatment today. I hadn't stayed in touch with him, but I recognized him the moment our paths crossed. He is an incredible man.

We have an odd treatment schedule and so did he. Our times bounce all over the map, but 75% of the appointments we have had have overlapped with my friend's appointments.

Although, the circumstances weren't great for re-acquainting, I did enjoy catching up with him and getting to know his family and a friend who also drove him frequently. Saying good bye today was bittersweet. I am glad his treatments are finished, although I will miss seeing the familiar and comforting faces daily. I pray that his healing path continues.

Then, I had a chance to talk to Dan's other Nurse Practitioner. (Yesterday, I met with his Chemo person and today I met with his RT person.) I talked about how hard this is getting, how much pain Dan is in and how little he is consuming. Like the other people on the team, she assured me that Dan is right on target for a person going through this type of treatment. Again, not much consolation, but I took the news better today.

We discussed the pain in his esophagus that seems to prevent him from eating, and she gave us another prescription for a liquid medication that will help lubricate the area prior to eating or drinking anything. I didn't realize until today that the esophagus is one area that is also getting treated with radiation.

I also confided with her that Dan has been cheating on his weight recently. Early on, he came wearing shorts and a t-shirt...and, when he was weighed, he would empty his pockets, remove his phone and take off his shoes. Now, he comes in wearing long sleeves and jeans and he never empties his pockets or removes his shoes. She laughed and said, "That is such a guy thing". :-)

So, after his treatment, Dan got weighed again, without his shoes and without pocket weights...and, it appears he has dropped another 4 pounds this week. On a good note, the new medications he has been prescribed and the products we have ordered should help. And, they are also going to start giving him more IV fluids during chemo and possibly a couple boosters during the week if his weight continues to dip.

I can't say I understand how everything works. Although, here's what I do understand...low fluid and low caloric intake directly correlates to more suffering and more hospital time. That's why I ratted Dan out. I was actually surprised his loss this week wasn't more than four pounds. Although, anything over two pounds in one week is considered out of range. And, everyone agrees that from here on out the eating and drinking will get more challenging daily. So, it's important to me that his team has an accurate take on his weight so that we can all work together to get him through this.

Dan's NP also wanted him to consider doubling the number of Fentynl patches he is wearing. Dan's not ready for that. While Dan realizes the patch provides a huge, steady relief for the pain, the night terrors and jerky movements that wake him up are a little hard for him to handle.

So, Dan decided to continue to take breakthrough pain relief pills along with the patch until his body adjusts to the side effects. On a scale of 1 - 10, with 10 being over-the-top pain...Dan wakes up every morning at a 7. They would prefer to see him down at a 3 or below. I do admire how pro-active they are in working with Dan's pain. Although, I can understand Dan's reluctance to take on more side effects at this point in time. Especially since we seem to be adding new medications daily.

I have probably mentioned this before, but I'll say it again. The people who are taking care of Dan are amazing at Froedtert. When he is in treatment and I come armed with a list, I am always able to get in to see the people I need to see even though I am not the one who has appointment times. And, they are good about working through the list with me during Dan's 45 minute treatment time so that Dan doesn't have to stay longer than necessary. Their responsiveness, upbeat attitudes and joy for the work that they do go a long way in helping me help Dan.

After we were done in Radiation, it was time to head to the Froedert ENT Hearing Specialist for our "his and her" weekly ear drum steroid injections. While neither of us realized any great benefit from the first treatment, we both stay optimistic that future treatments will help our tinnitus issues and hearing losses. I just learned today that we might have to continue for up to 8 injections. Yikes!

When we signed on for this, we both thought it was a one time deal. On the up-side, the ENT is careful to schedule the appointments to work well with Dan's radiation treatments, helping to minimize the time we are at the hospital. Post radiation, Dan is in a fair amount of pain, very fatigued and he starts getting chills if we don't get out of the hospital quickly.

After the injection, you have to lie very still for a half hour. In a nice quiet room, I found it a good place to lie still and cry, AGAIN. It was cathartic for me, but it was concerning to my ENT...so, now I have an appointment next week with the psychologist in plastic surgery. Yes, I know...plastic surgery...it makes no sense...but, my ENT (who I like a lot) says this guy is great and will be able to help me with the stress of all that is going on in my life.

I don't know if it is the stress or the boat load of steroids I am currently on to help with my hearing loss.

Up until recently, I thought I was handling everything well. But, my recent crying binges and outbursts when things aren't going smoothly seem to indicate that a little help could be in order. I'm fine with trying anything that can be done while Dan is in treatment as long as it doesn't extend his hospital day.

Hey, maybe, I could get a few botox injections while I'm hanging out in the plastic surgery area as I'm quite sure this summer has aged me by a few years. ;-)

After getting some rest in when we returned from our 5 hour day, Dan looked surprisingly well and was able to eat some soft macaroni and cheese and more Peach Mango Fuze. He promised to drink one more protein supplement, but has since dozed off again. It's alright, with all of the night-time side effects he has been experiencing, there will be more opportunities for him to be awake and take in a few more calories tonight.

My goal this weekend is to do whatever it takes to stay away from Froedtert. Going their last Sunday threw us both off kilter for the week.

On the home front, Sam finished up her last day as a jr. camp counselor at the stable. And, since we had a long day scheduled at Froedtert today, she spent time with her friend and also took a riding lesson.

Today, she helped her little campers decorate a horse because it was a themed day. Then, she came home (a little tired from getting up early every day this week) and rested for a bit before going to a neighbor's house to babysit...which was fun for her.

Even though Dan and I were quite exhausted from our Froedtert-fest, she managed to have a nearly normal 13 year old girl day, and that was nice.

Tomorrow Alex comes home from boy scout camp, and then Sam will be getting ready to leave for soccer camp on Sunday. We hope it will be a good weekend for all.

Margaret

Thursday - Treatment Day 18

It's a mini milestone today. 18 treatments down, 17 to go. Dan is officially over the half way mark.

I wish I could say that it was all coasting from here on out. But, truth is, we are in the middle of treatment hell and likely things will get much worse before they get better. It appears that to kill the cancer and stop the spread into the lymph nodes, they almost have to take out the patient.

I get frustrated with what they are doing to his body for a tumor that was so small. Yet, they keep telling me that the location of the source tumor makes it ripe for moving through the lymph system. And, they have reminded me that it was already in three lymph nodes before they started treatment. This is why they are taking a body that appeared to be fine several weeks ago and knocking it out hard...they want to make sure when the treatments are done that they have wiped out every single microscopic cancer cell...even those too small to detect on a diagnostic scan.

During the week, Dan has been declining rapidly. The mucositus (painful blistering in the inside of his mouth, tongue and throat) makes even the softest of foods feel like daggers when he attempts to swallow. Foods that you might think would be soothing (like ice cream) make his mouth burn. His salivary glands have taken a big hit and he no longer has the necessary saliva to swallow most foods that the average person doesn't think twice about. Even when he is not attempting to eat, the lack of saliva makes for an incredible amount of discomfort.

The amount of pain medication Dan needs to function increases daily. With the narcotics there is some relief, but with more drugs there are also more side effects.

The radiation has made a huge alteration to how foods taste and most foods are not palatable. It has also impacted how long it takes for foods to travel from his mouth to his stomach. In addition, radiation fatigue has set in and is very overwhelming. Dan would sleep more, but one of the pain medications he is on is causing night terrors and/or strong jerky movements that jar him awake. The pain benefits FAR outweigh these symptoms. So, we are hoping that this is a short term side effect and that he will be able to continue with the pain medication.

Today while Dan was in treatment, I went through my list of concerns with someone on his medical team. It was a long list. As awful as everything on the list is, I was told that Dan was right on track with someone mid-way through oral cancer treatments. I think this was meant to be reassuring for me, but it wasn't.

They gave me a list of more instructions to add to his daily regime. And, they gave me another prescription today to help with some of the stomach issues and esophageal discomfort that Dan is dealing with. They told me to keep pushing liquids and calories, even if the calories are all from supplements.

The only unusual aspect of Dan's treatments is his on-going issue with chills and fevers. Initially, Dan would have to have a blood panel run every time he had a fever. As of Sunday, his blood counts remained strong so they have decided to give his veins a rest and wait until Monday to run more labs.

Because fevers and cancer treatments are a bad combination, they will keep Dan on antibiotics throughout the remainder of his treatments as a precautionary measure. And, now he will take over the counter Tylenol and ibuprofen daily in an effort to thwart the fevers before they come. In Dan's current state, any additional discomfort is monumental.

On a typical morning, while I drive Sammy to the stable, Dan works on lubricating his mouth and taking some pain pills to start the day. Mornings are incredibly painful for him. When I return I am able to make the one meal he is able to eat consistently...runny scrambled eggs.

After he has eaten and stocked up with beverages, I have been making feeble attempts to get some office work done from home in the a.m.. Then I take Dan to and from his treatments...which on a non-chemo day takes about three to four hours. When we get home, Dan crawls into bed and I try to get him something to eat and drink. Then, I usually pick or drop one of the kids from one place to another.

Anytime I am out of the house, I try to make quick stops to get Dan more medication, or food or beverages to try, or ANYTHING that will make him more comfortable. Then, Dan generally naps on and off through the latter part of the afternoon and evening, and again I try to get a little work done...both for the office and around the house.

At any moment that Dan is awake, I have food and beverage in hand in hopes that he will consider opting for one or the other. They say at this point, treatment hell will get significantly worse if he doesn't stay hydrated and if he looses more weight.

After seeing how much pain Dan is in and how difficult the rides to and from the hospital are for him...and, trying to manage and track the drugs, the fluids and the calories and any new symptoms that need to be discussed with his medical team...along with attempting to participate in some way to my job and my life...I find that my expectations of my kids are wildly high and their performance (in contrast to my overly-high expectations) dizzyingly low.

The results of all of the emotions are taking a toll on me and I am glad that the kids will have this blog as a resource tool for when they are in counseling in their adult years. Then, they won't have to describe what a short-tempered, explosive mom I was...they can just print this out and tell their therapists' this is what I endured during the summer of 2007. ;-)

Hopefully, in their hearts, they know this is their temporary mom who has been overtaken by alien emotions...and, not their regular mom who marvels at their many great qualities and considers them to be the greatest two kids on earth!!

Today, I broke the routine that we have been establishing over the past couple of weeks. I had the opportunity to go into my office for a late afternoon client visit. Before I left, Dan was so tired that I thought I could maximize my time out of the house and get a few extra things done at the office, so I stayed until around 7 p.m.

Then, I went to Target to get a special ordered Very High Calorie liquid protein supplement. Although Target was open, their pharmacy closed at 7:00 p.m. and no one had access to my order. (Arrrgghh!!!)

Then, I went to pick up Dan's new prescription at Walgreen's. I have put most of his prescriptions into weekly pill containers and I know he will be running out soon, so I tried to get the refills taken care of while I was at the pharmacy to avoid a future trip. Turns out, I asked too early, my insurance company won't let the prescriptions be refilled until Saturday. (Double Arrggghhh!!!)

Then, I went to Sendik's. While Dan is not able to tolerate virtually any fruits or sweets, there is one beverage that he is still able to enjoy. It is the Peach Mango flavored Fuze. Of all the beverages in all of the stores, it is the only one outside of water that he can stomach at this point. And, it has calories in it, so that's a very big deal!

Two days ago, I bought every bottle that Pick'n'Save had. Today, I found only 6 bottles on the shelf at Sendik's. I have tried many places...Sam's Club, Target, Walgreens...they don't carry either the brand or the flavor.

I talked to the Sendik's store manager to see if I could order more and he was very accommodating. The only problem is that they already have placed their order recently so mine would probably take a week. (Triple Arrgghhh!!!) If the Fuzes are anything like the Gatorades, by the time I have enough on hand, Dan's taste buds won't be able to tolerate them.

I learned something about myself today. When I hit the Triple Arggghh stage, I cry. I feel sorry for the store manager. He was very nice. When I explained that I REALLY needed this drink for my husband to help him through his cancer treatments, he told me he would call his other stores and get some for me very soon. When I'm weepy, I get worse when people are nice to me. So, I cried some more. And, then I cried all the way home.

I picked Sammy up from the stable after Dan's treatments and she kept a helpful and watchful eye on the house and her dad today while I went to the office. And, then, I encouraged her to go to the movies with a friend before I returned from my late afternoon/evening out.

When I got home, Dan was not doing well emotionally. I think the impact of the treatments are so bad that sometimes he wonders if he will make it through. And, being alone is a scary time for him right now. When I realized that my being gone added more stress to his situation, I cried even more.

I feel guilty for enjoying the time at the office and the opportunity to be living in the regular world. I feel guilty for not getting into the office more. I feel guilty for running so many errands in a row today. I feel awful that he is in so much discomfort. And, parent guilt...that really tops the chart. I feel like the kids could not have landed into a house with a worse mom...what was that stork thinking?!?!

I think Dan hit a concrete wall on Tuesday with his treatments. Today, I hit a concrete wall as the caregiver.

Tomorrow is Friday. Hopefully, we can stay out of the hospital over the weekend. We need the break.

And, even though we are in treatment hell...Dan's long term prognosis remains strong that he will be cured.

Someone wrote me once that when God closes one door, he opens another...but, sometimes it is hell in the hallway. That saying rings even more true today than it did when I first received it.

We have so much help, prayers and support from people and we have an incredible and gifted medical team...so I know our hallway hell is minimized. It's just that I don't want my family to be in this hallway anymore. :-(

I hope that new door opens soon!!

I remain incredibly thankful for the support we receive daily from family, neighbors and friends. In light of falling apart emotionally today, my spirits, as I reflect on the day, are buoyed by thoughts of special favors, kind e-mails, and nice words. I do not know how someone could get through this alone. I am grateful for the many wonderful people in our lives.

Margaret

Wednesday - Treatment Day 17

Another rough day. The treatments are really starting to take a toll on Dan. It is becoming an effort for him to get himself up and out for his daily trips to the hospital. Sleep is the one thing that wants to override everything else.

The fentynal patch has started to kick in which has given him some relief on the pain. However, he has lost all desire to eat and drink.

I stopped trying to hit his daily calorie and fluid goals. Instead, I just push every couple of hours for something to make it past his lips and to his stomach. I don't know if this is a temporary set back or if this is how it will be for the rest of his treatments.

I'll talk to someone at the hospital tomorrow.

Usually, I check in with someone on his medical team when he is in radiation. Although, today, I went on a mad search to find a humidifier. At yesterday's consult, they talked about how crucial humidity is to someone whose salivary glands are being radiated. The nurse practitioner mentioned that sometimes patient wake up and have to pry their tongues off the roofs of their mouths with olive oil in the mornings.

I don't want to pry Dan's tongue off the roof of his mouth. :-(

So, in the 45 minutes Dan was in treatment, I was in/out/or calling as many hardware, appliance, and drug stores as I could find in the area. At my last stop, and with no time to spare, I finally found what I was looking for...a large capacity, quiet humidifier that could run 24/7 in our bedroom.

In my search, I can't even begin to explain how maddening it was to be told that what I needed this time of year was a DE-humidifier and NOT a humidifier since this isn't "humidifier season".

For an oral cancer patient, I think every season is humidifier season.

I didn't try to explain why I needed what I needed...all I can say is that it was not a boost to my day to be treated like a woman who wasn't smart enough to know the difference between something that puts moisture in the air and something that takes moisture out.

Sammy spent another fun day at horse camp and stayed at the stable with Elle afterwards. Then, she got her hair cut and she looked so beautiful that I drove her right over to Walgreens to get her passport photo taken. She's been wearing her riding helmet so much, I forgot what pretty hair she has.

Alex is still away experiencing new adventures at boy scout camp.

It's a quiet night here as everyone is a little exhausted from the week.

Tomorrow at noon, Dan will hit the halfway mark of his 35 treatments. That's something to smile about. :-)

Margaret

Tuesday - Treatment Day 16

Well, it's official, post-chemo Tuesdays are ICKY days!

Dan had his 16th radiation treatment and we had our weekly consult with the Radiation Oncologist and Nurse Practitioner. While Dan is feeling like he's been run over by a train, they indicated that his symptoms are right on target for the time frame and they are pleased with his progress.

They could tell by looking in Dan's mouth that the pain he is dealing with is enormous. In addition to the pain pills they have already prescribed, they started him on a Fentynal patch today.

The patch takes 24 hours to start working, but then it only needs to be changed every three days and it should help manage the pain on a more consistent basis. The only challenge was finding a non-rashy area to apply the small patch too. In addition, they tried to encourage my medication-resistant husband to take more pain pills in an effort to alleviate the discomfort of eating.

They indicated that his most important job through the rest of the treatment is to try to keep his weight up and his fluid intake high. While that might not sound hard, Dan is too fatigued to eat, nothing taste rights and everything aggravates the blisters in his mouth...especially on Tuesdays, the day after chemo.

They gave him more oral numbing and healing medications that he was too sleepy and/or too distressed to try today. Tomorrow, he will have to add that to the routine.

We were both tired today, I was worried about Dan last night and stayed up until 3:00 in the morning reading posts and e-mailing people I have met through the Oral Cancer Foundation web site. (www.oralcancerfoundation.org)

While I thought that it made me better prepared for this morning's early a.m. consultation, I think Dan's medical team wished I would have slept instead as my list of questions and concerns was a little lengthy. ;-)

Like all of the other post-chemo days, Dan struggled with the fever and chills. And, today is the first day that he has started to feel like he can't go through with this. He has 4 chemo treatments and 19 radiation treatments to go.

When he is feeling so down, I feel bad. When I feel bad, I get edgy around the kids. Alex is lucky, he was away this Tuesday. Poor Sammy, she did not get the fun side of mom today. Fortunately, she was at the barn and with her friend, Elle, for a good chunk of the morning and afternoon.

It's hard, I keep expecting the kids to step up to the plate more when the going gets tough. Yet, they are kids, and they just want to enjoy the summer.

By the time we get the balance right, Dan will be better. Then, we are going to go on a vacation, maybe a cruise, and we'll make sure there are enough people on staff to take care of all of us. :-)

Margaret

Monday - Treatment Day 15

Dan is sleeping right now. When he wakes up, he's probably not going to like my picture of the day that I took while he was waiting for the nurses to start the IV drip.

Although, the purpose of this blog is to document Dan's journey, and the rash is playing a very prominent role in Dan's treatment.

Today, at the hospital, once again everyone was far more excited about Dan's Erbitux rash than Dan was.

The rash, which covers his back, shoulders, face, scalp, chest and stomach is painful. It is hurts to get dressed, it hurts to move, it hurts to sit still.

Today, one of the nurses told Dan that when the rash is gone, his skin will be have all new cells and that his face will look better than the best chemical peels on the market. Although, she got a smile out of Dan, I think he was pretty happy with his previous 48 year old skin...the skin that didn't hurt every moment he was awake...or bled while he slept.

In light of the pain that Dan is tolerating from the rash and the radiation...and, also from the fatigue that has hit him extremely hard...he's not one to complain. You can see the pain in his eyes and he has to labor to chew and swallow.

I can tell when the nurses and doctors look inside his mouth and at his skin that they know he is in a significant amount of discomfort. Yet, Dan takes each day with a great attitude and more strength than I think I could personally muster.

This morning, prior to leaving for Dan's day long chemo-radiation fest, Dan's mom called after reading yesterday's post about Dan's fever. She wanted me to know that of her three children, Dan was the one who always had a fever when he got sick as a child. It's funny that she called, because during yesterday's unplanned visit to the hospital, Dan's chemo doctor asked him if he had a history of running fevers...and, both he and I said no. Since I have known Dan he has rarely been sick, and apparently those childhood fevers are a long and distant memory to him. :-)

They decided to keep Dan on antibiotics through this next course of treatment in anticipation of a potential fever or suspicious infection. They also added a steroid to his chemo drip to help ward off a fever. So far, he managed to get home, eat and get to bed without a fever knocking him down...that's a great sign!

Our day was quite long, I think we got home around 8:00 p.m.

Sammy is a junior counselor at horse camp again this week. It ended around noon, and since we knew we had a long day ahead of us...we planned for Sammy to spend a day with her best riding friend, Elle and her family. She had a such a great day.

Elle and Sammy took lessons together for years. And, today, Sammy enjoyed the opportunity to ride after camp with Elle, and Elle's sister, Gwen and another new friend, (also named Sammy) that she made at camp today. Then Elle's mom took all four girls to her house for the rest of the day. Sammy was pretty tired when she got home, but it went down in the books as one very fun summer day for her!

We're hoping that Alex, too, had a fun day at his camp. Cell phones aren't allowed, so we will have to wait until Saturday to get an update from him.

When we got home, we were greeted by the nicest note from a wonderful friend, Vicki. She had filled our fridge with an amazing meal while we were gone that included very tasty pasta salad, grilled chicken, fruit, seltzer water and special Amy's candies. And, the daisy's she left on the counter brightened our day.

Dan was able to enjoy the very kind gesture and the food (which he enjoyed even though he had to eat it quite slowly) and then retired to bed. Monday's are extremely hard on him. It was nice to have such a special meal ready and waiting so he could get in the nutrition he needed before falling asleep.

So far, everyone seems happy with his nutritional progress. To-date, he has only lost 10 pounds. The first five came off sooner than they would have liked, but the last five came off slower so they gave him much encouragement today that he was doing well. We owe much of that to the many people who have helped us with meals during our long days at the hospital.

Although we are just entering the tough times that the doctors have been warning us about, we stay optimistic and encouraged by our neighbor's success. Our neighbor was nearing his final treatments for oral cancer the week Dan was diagnosed. And, now, five weeks post-treatment, he is looking energetic and healthy.

It takes many months to get all the energy, stamina and appetite back from these treatments...although, life gets significantly better when the good days outnumber the bad.

Seeing both my neighbor and his wife out and about and doing well today helps me keep the perspective that this is a temporary time in our life. One we will look back on and never forget. One that will make us appreciate our health, our family, our friends and each day in a whole new way.

Margaret

Sunday - July 8

It was a rough day today. It started with a fever that Dan was trying to ride out throughout the night. At 7:00 a.m. I called his doctor expecting him to schedule extra lab work for tomorrow. Instead, he wanted Dan to come to Froedtert immediately.

I explained that I had planned to drop Alex off at the meeting point for his boy scout camp. And, the doctor gave me permission to take a little extra time to get to the hospital. It also gave Dan time to mentally prepare for going to Froedtert on one of our "off" days.

Dropping Alex off was hard for me. I wanted to make sure he felt comfortable heading out to his new adventure, and yet I was worried about Dan. I was glad I had a chance to briefly meet some of his fellow campers and leaders. He will be with a great group of people. We are thankful for our neighbors in encouraging Alex (and us) to try this camp. It sounds like he will have an incredible time.

As Alex rode off, I went back home and picked up Dan. When we arrived at the very dark and quiet vestibules of the oncology center, we found a small group of medical people who had a room ready and waiting for Dan. After getting his blood drawn, a strep test and various diagnostics done, Dan was told that his main chemo doctor wanted to see him and that he'd have to settle in for a few hours to allow the lab time to process his tests.

Dan's doctor did come, and he remains perplexed at this current fever...even more so than the previous fevers. He said that the last dose of Erbitux should be out of Dan's system for the week and he was concerned that the fevers and chills came on so late in the week.

On a good note, Dan's blood counts are at a healthy level. On the remote chance Dan might have an infection lurking around, he still has the capability to fight it. But, overall, chemo doctors do not like their patients to get fevers!

After the doctor left, the nurse tried to keep Dan in the room long enough to give him a bolus of IV fluid for hydration and some "radiation rinse" to numb his throat. The radiation is starting to produce mucositus (blistering inside the mouth and throat area). I haven't looked at it, but judging from the faces of Dan's doctors and nurses, I am guessing that it is more painful than Dan is letting on.

However, once Dan's doctor told him that all his counts were fine and that all of the primary concerns regarding the cause of fever were alleviated, the nurse could not contain Dan another moment. Dan promised to stay hydrated and told the nurses he would take his pain meds and a few minutes later we were in the car and heading home.

So, another long Froedtert day...on what was supposed to be a Froedtert-free day. :-(

Sam was a little disappointed. She was looking forward to spending her first "brother-free" day at the stable.

Although, she had a great day. She had fun taking care of our neighbor's dog and spending some time with her friend, Drew.

It was a hot day today, and eventually in the evening, Sam and I did make it to the stable. I enjoyed watching her ride her favorite horse, Mick.

Apparently, there is a new foal that was born recently, but I forgot to check out the pastures to take a picture.

The weather was quiet pleasant tonight and I had a chance to chat with one of the owners at the stable. The people that own the farm are such kind and amazing people.

Margaret

Saturday - July 7

It was a quiet Saturday at our house. While the kids were spending their last moments in Door County, Dan and I replaced our morning walk with a list of errands. Alex is going to his first boy scout event tomorrow (a week long camp) and we wanted to make sure he had all of the items on the packing list.

Dan started the day strong, but after awhile the the errands started to take a toll on him. He's a little on the tired side today. And, his throat is just starting to feel the impact of the heavy doses of radiation he has been receiving. The chemo rash that makes his doctor smile with delight...because of the belief that a big rash means a big cure...has Dan in a great deal of discomfort. He finally succumbed to his medical team's recommendations to take some pain pills. I felt relief when he did as it makes me feel sad when I can see the pain in his eyes.

Later in the day, my parent's came to visit when they brought the kids home. We are still trying to figure out how they managed to squeeze in so many activities in Door County over such a short time period. They got to do some neat things, like going to an art studio and making cool things out of fused glass, they ate at their favorite restaurants (including their grandma's kitchen), played mini golf, went to the driving range, went horseback riding and saw a musical comedy at an outdoor theater that they look forward to attending every year.

And, in between all these activities, my kids and my nieces kept a multi-day game of Monopoly going. All in all, it sounded like a very successful adventure.

My parents stayed for dinner, which was pretty easy to get on the table, as my sister Cheryl has been keeping our freezer stocked with meals.

It was nice to have the kids home again. Although, after my parents left they were pretty tired.

Alex was quite the trooper in getting the rest of his things ready for camp. When we had everything set out his older friend, Doug, came over to assist us in making sure we didn't forget any of the obvious items. Doug thought my mom-notion of a clean outfit for every day was a little over the top. So, Alex, gladly pulled out half the clothes and smiled at the idea of wearing the same (dare I say smelly) things for multiple days. :-)

Tomorrow, he will leave at 8:00 in the morning for his first week-long overnight camp. I am sure he will have some great stories for us when he returns.

Dan's brother, Tom, called which was a highlight in Dan's day. And, right now (at 11:30 p.m.) Dawn and Gary, my sister and brother-in-law, are in the process of a late night run to our house to deliver Alex's glasses...which Alex figured out as we were packing tonight that he accidentally left in their car on the way up to Door County.

Also today, our friends gave Dan something special to help him through his treatments and recovery. It is called a scapular pendant. Their personal history of how they got and have distributed the scapulars brought tears to my eyes. We were very touched by the gesture.

We're feeling pretty lucky to have such great family and friends who have been supporting us and praying for us from the moment Dan was diagnosed.

Margaret

Friday - End of Week 3

Another Friday, another check on the calendar. Treatment day 14 went off without a hitch. I am amazed how Dan's body can be taken down so hard by a chemo treatment early in the week and recover so well by the end of the week.

Dan has completed 14 radiation treatments and has 21 to go. As of today, he is 40% through his treatment schedule and only experiencing minor discomfort in his throat and from his chemo rash. He's a little frustrated that foods don't always taste as good as they smell. But, all in all, he's upbeat, optimistic and taking each day in stride.

Even though our team of doctors, nurses, techs and administrative people have all become familiar and warm faces to us, we are looking forward to the upcoming Froedtert-free weekend.

The kids had another action packed day today with their cousins and grandparents in Door County.

All in all, a very nice day.

Margaret

Thursday - Treatment Day 13

Today was one of Dan's better days. Dan is back to feeling as good as a guy (who is getting blasted with radiation and chemo) can feel. :-)

His mouth is a little sensitive, his voice is a little softer and his rash is a little painful. Although, it was fun to see that he had more energy today than he has had all week. His spirits were very high. And, he had a great appetite for some homemade macaroni and cheese along with cooked spinach...one of his childhood favorite meals.

After today's radiation treatment, Dan and I both had an appointment with the same hearing specialist to get a steroid injection in our right ear drums. As odd coincidence would have it, I lost 80% of my hearing in my right ear overnight back in March. Dan's original chemo, Cisplatin, caused him a slight hearing loss (also in his right ear) a couple of weeks ago.

My right ear isn't really functional, Dan's still is. But, we both have tinnitus, which is a constant and annoying ringing in our ears.

Through Dan's original Froedtert doctor, I became aware of a specialist at Froedtert who deals with sudden onset hearing losses. I saw him on Tuesday, and Dan had to tag along because we were there together. The doctor decided to treat both of us right away. He said my chances were slim, because much time has elapsed from when the hearing was lost. (I tried to get on his calendar earlier, but he was booked for almost 2 months).

I was feeling very lucky today, so even though the chances are about 5% that this will work, I decided to go for it.

Dan's chances of regaining his hearing and loosing the tinnitus are much higher than mine because his loss is only a few weeks old. We verified with his MO to make sure that it was ok for Dan to have the injection, and we got a thumb's up.

So, we both went through the very odd treatment of having our eardrums numbed, and then filled with a liquid steroid. Afterwards, you can't move and you aren't supposed to swallow much for an extended time. In a week, we will know if the injections are helping and then they will do another one.

I do believe we are the only husband and wife team who has ever come in for the injection together. :-)

I wish my old ENT would have referred me to someone who could have tried this sooner, the success rate is very high when caught early. I think he gave up on me too soon. We are learning that we have to be much more proactive in our health care.

Oh well, wish us luck...we are hoping and praying that the injections work for both of us.

Sammy and Alex finally made it to Door County for a mini vacation with their cousins and grandparents. Dawn and Gary, my sister and brother-in-law, drove their daughters and my kids to meet my parents. Sammy and her cousin went horseback riding and Alex and his grandpa are planning on playing some golf. And there are a few other favorite spots the grandparents will take the kids.

When we spoke to Sammy and Alex tonight, it sounded like they were having a great time. They've been working hard around the house to help us, so we are glad they are getting a well deserved break.

We are very sad tonight that our very good friends lost their dad/father-in-law/grandpa early this morning to liver cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

Margaret

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!

Yipee!!! They don't do radiation treatments at our hospital on holidays.

Dan enjoyed having a free day to get in some much needed rest. And, as a result, Dan is feeling significantly better. :-)

Sammy's a little under the weather today...we think she is having a mild reaction to the steroids the doctor gave her to manage the allergic reaction to the penicillin she received for strep. :-(

We're hoping that this will be the last of her woes for the summer.

And, then she and Alex are going to have to take a pledge to stay healthy for the next few months.

The doctor told us this past Monday that if the kids get anything contagious...they will have to be separated from Dan.

Hmmm....Too bad we sold that backyard swingset with the nice little wooden playhouse last year...we might have been able to make good use of it this summer. ;-)

Margaret

Tuesday - Treatment Day 12

There's no sugar coating this day. It wasn't a fun one for Dan. He had another bad after-chemo day. His doctor does not understand why.

His MO said that Erbitux reactions, if they occur, generally happen within an hour of administering the treatment. Yesterday, post-treatment they intentionally kept him in the treatment room for monitoring prior to letting him go on to radiation.

Dan's reactions come on later and are lasting longer than is typical.

Tonight, I spoke to Dan's doctor who remains concerned that Dan might have some type of infection and prescribed antibiotics (for the possible infection) and steroids (for the possible chemo side effects).

Dan does not like medications and does not want to take either one. He also isn't interested in eating or keep up with his fluids today.

Prior to treatments, Dan made the decision to put his fate in God hand's along with this particular team of cancer specialists. So, when they say eat, I make sure he eats. When they say take medications, I make sure he takes what is prescribed.

At this moment, I think Dan wishes I would ignore the doctors and just leave him alone.

His "good" rash is spreading and, unfortunately, it is very painful. His throat is starting to get uncomfortable from the radiation treatments. His taste buds are changing and more are dying off. His fever is nearing 103 and he is very tired.

On a good note, tomorrow is another day. And, if the week goes at all like last week did, he should be feeling much better soon. And, on the calendar, we were able to mark off his 12th radiation treatment. He is over the 30% mark.

Tonight, Sam voluntarily took on the role as short order cook and she made sure everyone got fed. Dan got his dinner delivered to him in bed. She enticed me with a plate of spaghetti as I was heading out the door to get Dan's prescriptions. And, she made noodles for Alex, just the way he likes.

I admire how she jumps into action to help when I am feeling edgy about Dan's situation.

And, I appreciate that Alex will help out with tasks when he is asked...which was often this evening.

They are pretty amazing kids!

Margaret

Monday - Treatment Day 11

Today, we had a partner in crime with us. Alex came to the hospital to help get his dad through his chemo and radiation treatments.

Dan's doctor was very happy to see that his rash from the new chemo drug has surfaced so quickly and aggressively...he believes it is an excellent sign that the drug is doing what it should be doing. (Unfortunately, Dan is not quite as excited as his doctor about the rash...but, that's pretty understandable.)

After some lab work, Dan had an IV drip of chemo and then magnesium which took a long time. Then, Dan had his 11th treatment of radiation and another dietary consultation before we could call it a day.

In total, we were gone 10 hours. Towards the end of our day today, my sister stopped by with more meals to stock our freezer. Pretty soon, we are going to have to get a bigger freezer. :-)

As we were talking with Cheryl, I asked Alex if he thought the day was as tiring to him as it was to me. He said he didn't find it tiring at all. Then, five minutes into the car ride home, he was in a deep sleep.

It was nice to have Alex along. When Dan wasn't on the phone working or groggy from the medications, the two managed to play some games to help pass the time. And, I was able to sneak off to the little library room I found recently to work on my laptop.

Unfortunately, they were a little backed up in radiation so Alex didn't get the grand tour that Sammy did. But, Brian, the RT tech, promised to show him around another time.

On the home front, the Benadryl helped Sam through the night with her rash. Although, every four hours she would wake up as the old rashes would be fading and new ones were appearing with gusto, By 7 in the morning, and after 3 doses of Benadryl, she started to show more rash than regular skin.

My next door neighbor, Julie, was Sammy's "mom for the day". She took Sammy to the doctor who determined that Sam's allergic reaction was from the penicillin she had received for strep throat two weeks ago. Unlike Dan's rash, the doctor didn't think Sammy had a "good" rash, so she put her on a steroid. Julie got Sammy's prescription filled and bought her some special bath salts to soak in. Within a few hours, she was starting to feel comfortable again and the bumps and red patches started to subside. As an extra bonus, Julie taught her how to make her famous chocolate chip cookies. Sam is excited to try making another batch soon.

After another long Monday, it was nice to return home. Our neighbor, Dottie, treated us to a special dinner tonight that included a beautiful bouquet as a centerpiece and a meal so pretty and delicious we felt like we were dining in a fine restaurant. If Dottie wrote a book with all her knowledge on how to entertain, I am quite sure it would be a best seller.

After a few good hours at home, Dan's fever and chills came back. Today, they doubled the time to administer the chemo in hopes they could thwart the fever. But, I guess that didn't work. So, tomorrow, they'll probably want to do more lab work again. :-(

On an up note, they don't do radiation on holidays. So, Dan will get a mid-week break from treatments on Wednesday, July 4th. This means that he already has 25% of his treatments done for the week. :-)

Margaret

A nearly normal Weekend

Dan's upswing continued through the weekend. He still needs more sleep than the average bear, although when he's up, he's feeling great.

After a couple of weeks filled with highs and lows, we were both surprised and happy that Dan was able to take a quick work trip over the weekend. He left on Saturday morning for Cincinnati to tie up some loose ends and was home by noon on Sunday.

The new chemo drug must be working well as the acne-type rash Dan was forewarned about numerous times has started to surface on his chest and neck.

We keep thinking that someday, after this is all behind us, we will take an amazing family vacation to someplace we have never been. Dan's passport is currently expired and for the past few weeks we have been meaning to get his passport photo taken. We finally took care of that today as we noticed the chemo rash heading up his neck towards his face. Now he has a nice passport picture with a great smile and NO rash. Mine is expiring soon and the kids need passports too. Soon, all of our passports will be in the works and we can continue to dream of future far away destinations.

Dan's rash is a temporary side effect that will likely remain in some form throughout treatment and is NOT contagious. So, imagine our surprise when Sammy showed us earlier this evening that she had a rash too. And, as spots started to surface on her body out of thin air, we started to get a little concerned.

Fortunately, we live by really smart neighbors who have 3 boys in scouting (1 who is an Eagle scout and another who is well on his path to being an Eagle Scout, too). I figured their knowledge of rashes, bug bites and first aid in general far surpassed mine...and, I was right. They were great first-aid detectives and helped determine that she was having an allergic reaction to an external substance that could simply be treated with Benedryl. So, hopefully she'll be feeling better soon.

Rashes aside, this weekend was the first time things felt nearly normal since Dan was diagnosed.

Sam had an opportunity to meet up with friends for lunch on Saturday and then went to sleep over at her cousin's house on Saturday night. And, Alex had one of his favorite soccer pals over to play by the creek, watch fireworks and sleep over at our house.

I, per a typical weekend, created a huge to-do list of which much got started but very little got done. :-)

And, my sister, the one who creates huge to-do lists and actually DOES gets everything done in one weekend, was so kind as to put some more meals in my freezer when she dropped off Sam earlier today.

When Dan is better and we're not going to Froedert every weekday, my family will be quite disappointed in the return to my lackluster cooking. :-(

Margaret

Friday - End of Week 2

What a difference a day makes!!

When I picked up Dan tonight for his evening treatment he was back to his chipper self. In fact, today was his best day since he started his first day of treatments. It was a nice way to end the week. And, we were happy to cross off another day and another week off the treatment calendar.

For the first time, Sam came with us to Dan's appointment. During Dan's treatment, Brian, one of Dan's radiation technicians, explained to us how the IMRT radiation works. For a short while, we were able to watch Dan on a monitor. When the treatments were complete, Brian brought us into Dan's room to show us how they do the positioning work to make sure Dan is in precise alignment prior to each session.

To be honest, it was the first time someone explained the treatments in a way that made sense to me. And later, when we shared Brian's tutorial with Dan, he found it interesting as he learned some new things too.

Sam and I both liked Brian, he is a very nice man. And, we liked the pin he wore on his lab coat. It said "Cancer Sucks". Our sentiments exactly!

Margaret

Thursday - Treatment Day 9

Dan's fever and chills continued through the night and when we went to the hospital they did a thorough work up on him. They are thinking that he has an unrelated infection, however, whatever it is...it did not change his white blood counts, so that was a good thing.

We spent longer than planned at the hospital, as his treatment team is very thorough. When we did get home, the mild headache that was bothering him throughout the morning turned into a monster headache. Fortunately, we have pills and prescriptions for everything. He took some more tylenol for the fever and something quite strong for the pain and then slept for the remainder of the day. He has a late afternoon treatment time on Friday, so if anything unusual continues to persist, they will be sure to check him out again.

I had to wake Dan around dinner time to get him to eat some food and drink more fluids. The sleep and the medications gave him some relief on the headache and he was able to come down and chat or about an hour. Then, he was tired again and retired for the evening.

I'm so impressed with how often his nurse at Froedert called me to check if there were any changes and to see how Dan was doing. We both feel like he is in such good hands at Froedert.

While Dan was sleeping, my parents came into town from Door County to help with some things around the house. The most pressing was a failing garbage disposal that made an awful noise every time someone turned it on...this was not a good thing for Dan as the first round of Chemo gave him an unsettling sensitivity to certain sounds. Now, we have a very quiet garbage disposal...it's so quiet, I hope that the kids and I remember to turn it off when it is done. :-)

We had so many pleasant surprises today. In addition to my parents coming to help and bringing a wonderful pan of home-made brownies with them, my sister, Cheryl, brought us some amazing meals. My kids are feeling like they hit the jackpot, because her daughter, Stacy, also made the kids a pan of yummy brownies. And, a surprise visitor, Vicki, brought the kids some of Amy's famous caramel apples along with an encouraging note to them. The kids were pretty happy about their "haul".

Dan's taste buds will change and potentially disappear temporarily during treatment. The first thing to go for Dan was his taste for sweets...so, the kids couldn't have been happier when the house was filled with tasty surprises that they could enjoy. The meals were greatly appreciated.

The kids seem to take turns offering an awesome amount of support to the household. Today, Alex spent the day inside helping my dad, my mom and me in every possible way. We were all really impressed with his attitude and his desire to help. Way to go Alex!!!

Sam was busy at the horse barn today and then went skating with her cousin...who stayed the night and will go to the barn with Sam tomorrow.

My parent's leave today and we will miss them. Occasionally, Dan and I are overwhelmed at how much time is spent each day going back and forth to the hospital and how little we are able to get done at home. Having extra help around for a day was a wonderful Godsend.

Margaret

Wednesday - Treatment Day 8

Today was a marathon day at Froedert. We left the house at 7:00 a.m. and returned home about 6:30 p.m.

Dan had a nuclear test done for his heart. After the results were interpreted, he was cleared for the new chemo treatment. The medication they gave him prior to the IV drip quickly put him to sleep and he dozed on and off through most of the treatment. Then, he had to stay put for awhile so the nurses could monitor him for serious side effects. Fortunately, he didn't have any.

As un-fun as a chemo treatments are, they really treat Dan well at Froedert. The two times we have spent a big part of the day in the chemo area, we were put in a nice-sized, private room. The nurses are very kind and bring plenty of beverages and toasty warm blankets. (It might be hot outside, but inside Froedert it generally feels like a refrigerator). I like that the nurses are nice to me too and that I get as many warm, toasty blankets as Dan does. :-)

From the chemo area, we headed off to radiation and Dan had his 8th treatment. As I was waiting for him, I was struggling to stay awake myself...which doesn't make any sense, because it was Dan who got the sleepy medication and not me.

We were both glad when we were finally able to leave the hospital.

We came home to a nice home-cooked meal that our neighbor, Julie, prepared. The meal was very much appreciated as we were both worn out for the day.

Around 8:00 p.m., Dan started to get a fever and chills and I paged his Medical Oncology doctor who was quick to respond. His doctor couldn't quite figure out why Dan wasn't feeling well, as those weren't typical side effects, so he decided he wanted to see Dan early tomorrow morning. He was very reassuring that it was probably just an odd coincidence.

We were grateful that the kids were not home alone all day. After horse camp, Sam was picked up by Cindy and her friend, Drew, and she was able to spend a nice afternoon at their house. And, after summer school, Alex met his buddy, Calvin, for lunch and then they had a fun afternoon biking, swimming and playing at Calvin's house.

Also, it was nice of my sister to show me where the Sam's club was near Froedert. We were able to duck out for a short time between the nuclear test and the chemo treatment. Dan needs to stay very hydrated throughout his treatments, so I had a chance to buy a truck full of Gatorade...which has been his drink of choice since the beginning of treatments. And, yes, now that I have a truck full of Gatorade I am fully expecting his taste buds to start craving something else soon. :-)

It would be hard to imagine getting through each day without all of the help, encouragement and prayers we are receiving daily.

Many thanks!

Margaret

Tuesday - Treatment Day 7

Today, the RT (radiation therapy) department was able to find an opening in their busy schedule to squeeze Dan in during the morning hours so we could make it to Alex's baseball game in the evening. It was a fun game to watch, they played a previously undefeated team and won 20-10! Alex is sporting a new injury that he got sliding into home...although, that didn't stop him from getting a few more runs in.

All in all, it was a great day for Dan. His fogginess lifted and he is feeling much better. We met with his RT doctor and he said the lymph nodes in his neck are no longer palpable. Unfortunately, that doesn't translate into a shorter treatment schedule. However, it is a wonderful sign that the RT and Chemo are making a strong headway.

While Dan was in treatment today I had a chance to visit with my sister. She works at Froedert. I think they should add entertaining me to her job description, but I am not sure that's what they had in mind for her when she was hired. ;-)

Our day ended on a high note. Sammy did a wonderful thing, she opted out of going to the baseball game so that she could treat us to a clean house. I hope when she reads this she will know how much that meant to us. Thank you, Sammy!

Today, after completing his 7th treatment, Dan hit the 20% mark of his treatment plan. (Not that we're counting...OK... maybe we DO keep a calendar... and maybe we ARE counting down the days...)

Margaret

Monday-Treatment Day 6

Dan had a much better day today. The fatigue and the foggy feeling that Dan has been experiencing eased up this morning and he was able to work from home until we left for his doctors' appointments.

Dan's chemo doctor decided to change the treatment plan. Instead of 3 Cisplatin treatments over 6 weeks he will get weekly treatments of Erbitux (also referred to as Cetuximab...or, at our cancer center they call it the Martha Stewart drug, as it is the center of her insider trading allegations).

Dan's doctor was glad he got one course of Cisplatin in. (That is currently the gold standard of treatment). Although, today, it was determined that the side effects will outweigh future treatment benefits. Dan is experiencing a great deal of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and has some hearing loss. He won't know the long term impact of either of these concerns for a couple of weeks when the Cisplatin is out of his system and he meets with an audiologist.

The Erbitux has less medical data behind it, since it is has only been FDA approved for a couple of years. However, the success of the drug for head and neck patients has been very strong and our doctor feels confident in the change of course. It works entirely different than the Cisplatin. The main side effect is a temporary acne type rash. Our doctors said they are starting to see that the stronger the rash the better the drug is working. So, we will be hoping for a good strong rash.

We also met with his nutritionist today. Dan lost some weight over the weekend and is down about 5 pounds from Day 1 of treatments. They don't like to see more than 1 or 2 lost pounds per week, so she gave us a number of ideas to boost his calorie intake. Personally, I think if they'd stop scheduling his appointments over the dinner hours, that would help a lot. :-)

Sam started her first day of horse camp for the summer, she is a counselor and is helping to teach younger kids (ages 5 and 6) to ride.

Alex had summer school in the morning and was able to play with friends all afternoon.

Both Dan and I were a little on edge this evening, long days at the hospital are a little draining on both of us. Hopefully, it'll get a little easier as time goes on.

Margaret

A lazy Sunday

After a wonderful Saturday, Dan took the opportunity to have a very restful Sunday. We took our morning walk, and then Dan went to lie down for the day.

It wasn't long before I joined him, as I got hit hard with a migraine...which left the kids to fend for themselves. On a good note, we were watching the neighbor's dog, which game them some extra company. And, the kids were helpful in getting a few things done around the house. Then, Sam did a great job cleaning her room and Alex, as usual, found some friends in the neighborhood to play with.

Dan was able to get up and grill a nice dinner, and then he was worn out again and ready to call it a night.

We're looking forward to seeing Dan's chemo doctor tomorrow as the fatigue, the fogginess and the ringing in his ears seem to be persistent.

Margaret

A fun Saturday

Today, Dan woke up tired and foggy. He also had the unpleasant surprise of a having a loud ringing sound in his ears and a super sensitivity to certain noises (like the clattering of dishes being unloaded from a dishwasher or a cupboard door closing). We are certain that these are side effects from the chemo and, fortunately, we already have an appointment scheduled with our Medical Oncologist (MO) for Monday.

Dan's still a little in awe of how out of sorts he is feeling from the treatments. However, our neighbor (who recently finished the same chemo/radiation regime that Dan is undergoing) and his wife were so encouraging on how well they think Dan is doing.

Dan managed to go for a walk in the morning with me and then took a long nap. He added an extra pill to his medicine regime which helped clear some of the fog later in the afternoon. And, then he was able to go to a tailgate party and Brewer's game with the kids and some friends. Between the tailgate and the 9 innings, Dan was awake for over 8 hours and did really well.

Our friends, Kathy and Bob, put out a spread to remember...it started with an amazing avocado soup and included tenderloin, shrimp, crab and seared tuna and some tasty sauces. On the way home, we couldn't decide which dish was our favorite. The dessert sorbet with the special mango sauce was also pretty astounding.

It was a great way to spend a beautiful afternoon and evening. The company was wonderful, the weather was perfect...it was a top notch day!

The Brewers' won 7-1. (Not that I was watching much, I talk a lot during baseball games.)

Margaret