Post 597, Nan has quiet day, Keanna brings cheer and excitement

Dear Ones,
10:25, Nan is resting in the recliner, I've finished my mac and lima beans with cold milk, have her TPN set out to warm up a bit, house is quiet, so quiet.
Pam came today and stayed the day. She is a wonderful source of support and love for Nan, she rubbed her knees and legs, helped her change the tummy bandage, kept her company and supplied what meds Nan needed while I was gone. She found the tomato stash and made herself a couple yummy tomato sandwiches using tomatoes from LeAnns garden next door.
Keanna spent the night and at 7:30 this morning she crept into our room, to my side of the bed and ask quietly if I could turn on the DVD of her Dora hero. I started the DVD for her and she was quiet for a long time before coming in again with bubble gum for Grammy! I helped Nan make the move down to the recliner and this time we had to hold on to each other as her knees and legs were giving way as she walked to the stair chair. She had a rough night, was awake a lot and had some unsettling pain. Starr was not a nice dog last night, could not quiet down and kept wanting to bother Nan, very unusual for our normally attentive little doggie.
When Pam arrived this morning Keanna and I left for Avalanche Ranch, the VBS program at the Tracy SDA Church. The room was filled with activities and Keanna was not sure she wanted to plunge right in but when she found her friend then she was better. They have a part where a person dressed up as the Pharoah refuses to let God's people leave and that scared Keanna a bit. After the program was over we left and Keanna asked nicely for a stop at Burger King, since eating anywhere is better than my cooking we went in and got a kids meal. She ate and played in the play area and when it was time to leave she walked out keeping her word. How she wanted to stay and play more, I could see it but she honored our agreement. Then home for a pickup by Nikki and a short nap for me in my chair. Pam and Nan were snoozing too. Later I went to Longs for my medicines only to discover I had not ordered them yet. I was able to find some little packages of towelettes we heat in the microwave, that Nan likes to use to bath since she cannot shower and be in the tub. All too soon Pam had to head home and so we talked a bit by her car about the changing in Nan's condition. The weakening in her limbs and the restlessness today and last night. We are all alarmed by the size of the tumor that is visible. It seems much larger than before and with no options that is very ominous. Nan herself has mentioned to me after looking at the tumor, you might not have me much longer! Those are chilling words yet she and I both know that tumors cannot grow forever without doing even more damage and pain.
What can I say except if you have been meaning to talk to Nan but have put it off this probably is a good time to do so. We have no idea of what the future holds but the signs are not encouraging for either of us.
For those of you praying about income and checks in the mail, a couple came yesterday and a couple more today so payroll was a success once again.
This evening I got a call from Dolly, our friend and the lady who with her husband howard taught us the appraisal business. She is enjoying time with her husband Ken up in Oregon, they have adopted a dog from the shelter, they are just enjoying getting to know each other better and our prayers and best wishes are for their happiness as the days progress.
I also got to talk to my brother Jerry just before he left to drive up to his home in Weed for a few days off from work with the trains. I also talked to Art and he and Connie are home from their week of camping in their new coach. They had a great time, learned a lot and even had a night of rain on the roof. For those of you who have camped you know the rain is very loud on the roof of a motorhome, but kind of cozy too.
So now I'll sign off, go prepare the TPN which means, inject human insulin .32 ml, inject two bottle of vitamins, roll bag to stir and mix up injections, twist off blue cap, insert infusion line, put pressure on bag and force all air from infusion line, change batteries in pump, attach pump, program pump, secure bag in backpack and close zippers, then find Nan and after flushing white lumen line with 10 ccs of saline attach infusion line and let it run for the next 24 hours. I will also prepare several saline pushes of Dilautid, Adavan and at least one of Zophram for nausea. These I place in our tiny frig upstairs to save trips up and down during the night. I will move the pump upstairs, empty the collection bottle and restart suction of the stomach line. I will move 2 green pillows, the heating pad, ice water in a heavy cyramic cup, bring one bottle of spring water from the frig, rub knees, feet as needed and then fall heavily into bed for 2 hours. I think we can do about as well as they do in the hospital as long as her condition does not worsen where she needs more intensive care.
Make no mistake, Nan is alert when she is awake, gives me ideas and helps me do things, reminds me of the days to leave the door unlocked, advised me tonight on how to make lima beans correctly so they don't collapse and taste terrible. Nan is a sharp amazing woman who is in trouble with nasty tumors which so far cannot be controlled anywhere in the world. The near future is in God's hands and we trust Him to do it right. Nan looks forward to seeing Sharon, Dana, Marilyn and if possible Jan as well.

We send our love to each of you,

tim and nan