Ducks NOT all in a row!

It is one thing to have Cancer, it is another thing to have Cancer just as you are about to retire. After Glenn was diagnosed with Cancer, we knew we had to deal with retirement. We thought it was going to be extended out to February or March, but we found out earlier this week that his retirement date is still December 31, 2009.

So we are scrambling to get all of our paper work in order, or all of our ducks in a row by December 31st.

We will start Social Security on January 1st. But since Glenn didn't sign up on his birthday, he has to wait until February 1st to get Medicare Part B. Insurance is a big issue at this point, since surgery is scheduled for January 5th. He can go on Cobra for the first 18 months after retirement and that will help. But...we also found out this week that Cobra is a supplemental plan! We thought all along that Cobra was just like the coverage we have now!

We have be gathering information for over a year now and it is amazing to me that these two facts were not known to us. The SS web sight is not clear on this issue and we had never heard the word supplemental, in connection with Cobra. "Buyer Be Aware".

So if you see us and we look a little more than stressed it is because all of our ducks are not quite in a row. I must have my ducks in a row. Oh, bye the way, I am sparing a lot of details here!

On the cancer side of things, Glenn is getting stronger and better every day. But every once is while he will still get pain and nausea in his stomach, even though we do everything in our power to keep ahead of it. He has to eat often, so we carry crackers and snacks every where we go. He takes his medicines. When all else fails, he has to sleep it off.

As some of you have asked about me, you will be happy to know that I have been able to pamper myself this week with a hair cut, some special poducts and some tanning sessions. I am going to lunch with some friends today, also! Much needed time out for me! Glenn will be glad to have me out of the house so that he can watch all the golf or game shows he wants, so we will both be happy!

Glenn's condition

It is 12 days out since the last cancer treatment. Thing are getting better, but they are not totally good. He has some good days and some bad days. The bad days are getting less and less. It is hard to tell what makes the difference. The swallowing is getting easier, which means that there has been some healing of the radiation burns.

Dr. Shankaran called on Monday and said that each day should be better. She said that his platelets have doubled from the previous low, so they are moving in the right directions. The Chemo is out of his body. By the time he gets to surgery on January 5th, he should be totally healthy. She is looking forward to seeing us on the 17th of December.

Glenn will have his PET/CT scan on the 17th, and we will meet will Dr. Oshleger and learn every thing about his surgery. Surgery will take it's toll on him also. I have to say that I think I am dreading it more than he his. He has such a good attitude, never complains.

Handel's Messiah

My first introduction to "The Messiah" was in 1962, my first semester as Ricks College. I was in a choir class with Brother Robinson as the director. We were to present a few numbers from "The Messiah", he asked the class who had heard of it before that day. Several students raised their hands, I was not one of them.

This is what I remember from that first performance:

• Singing "For unto us a child it born"
• My very good childhood friend, Olani Beal sang one of the bass solo's, even though he wasn't in our class.
• People from my ward 90 miles West of Rexburg were among the audience.

The next time I sung in it, we were in Meridian, Idaho. I have no memories except driving to one rehearsal, so maybe, I just went to one practice and realized that I couldn't make the commitment...

A couple of years after we moved to Moses Lake, about 1980, I had the chance to sing, under the direction of Mark Fancis. That was one of the most amazing experiences I have had. The first year, Glenn didn't come out and sing with us, but after that I was able to persuade him to give it try, and he was hooked! We were able to sing for Mark 5 or 6 times. At practices, he divided us into sections, and practiced those runs until we had them in our heads. He also arranged us according to the tone quality of our voices, so we had a great blend of voices. I have been sensitive to that ever since. There were so many people from our stake, in those performances. We made such great memories and great friendships. During the 1983 performance, I was pregnant with Kimberly.

Our children love this oratorio. I think they have all sung it at one time or another, except for Jeremy, but he appreciates it. We took all of them to every performance when they were at home. Clark sat through many a practice and has known the songs since birth!

One year Jim and Kathy Frank took the challenge of conducting the choir and playing the piano for a Stake Production. I have to say that was one of my favorite performances. Glenn sang the first two tenor solos: "Comfort Ye" and "Every Valley Shall be Exalted". I fell in love with him all over again! He has sung those solos three or four times

We have sung in Ephrata for Chris Youngbird. She brought new terms and expressions to the music. We really enjoyed singing for her, even though we had to drive to Ephrata to practice and perform.

For the past several years, we have performed it every other year, under the direction of Pat Patterson, who has become a very dear friend! I missed one of the years, because Clark was at stage where he just didn't want to go to the rehearsals.

The climax came in 2006, when several members of our community took the opportunity to go back to New York City and sing in Carnegie Hall! I need to write a whole post about that. We had 4 hour rehearsals, and the time just flew by! That was a thrill of a life time.

We are singing in it again this year, Glenn, Clark, Kimberly and myself. We have missed the first few rehearsals, but we have been listening and singing as we have gone back and forth from Seattle!

One of our favorite, incredible experiences was about 22 years ago. As we were backing out of our driveway to go to Spokane, we turned on the radio just they started the overture. We sang along, all the way to Spokane. Just as we reached our destination they were finishing the last Amen in the Amen Chorus. On that very same trip, as we backed out of the driveway to come home, we turned on the radio and they were just starting the beginning of the Messiah. They played it all the way home, we sang along and they finished the last of the Amen Chorus just as we pulled into our driveway! True story!

Thanksgiving

Kimberly woke up early to make rolls. She does a great job, but this time she forgot the yeast. Her second attempt didn't even launch, at which point, I was planning to take over, because I was just finishing the pumpkin pie filling. I tasted the filling, which is something I NEVER do, oops, I forgot the sugar! I dumped both messes and Glenn and I went to Safeway, Walmart, and Food Pavilion to round up rolls and pie. All the time we were out we were comforting our selves with the fact that Heather was home baking a pumpkin cake that we would all enjoy! That turned out to be failure also! So we think this picture is a good likeness of our family this year! The way I felt last night, it could be the exact picture of every Thanksgiving to come!

Oh, by the way, I am Thankful for:

• My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who sustains me day to day
• My dear sweet husband
• My children, their spouses, and their children
• The great music, art, and literature of the world
• Our freedom
  
• Electronics!
• My wonderful home, and all that entails
• The means to care for our selves
• Good health

Just to name a few!

Lazy Hazy Crazy Days

We were told at the first of Glenn's treatments, that by the end he would be tired. It is hard to imagine that, because Glenn is so strong and full of energy. But, yes, it is true!

The last two radiation treatments must have really packed a wallop. We were talking about it this morning and the last really good day he had was last Tuesday, one week ago. Since then he has had to take a lot of naps, his stomach in burned on the inside so it is hard to swallow without discomfort, it has a lot of pain and he still gets nausea. So he takes his meds, tries to keep his stomach full and spends a lot of time resting.

BUT...this morning he woke up without the pain in is stomach... AND he is cracking joke about himself left and right!!!!!!! Glenn is back! We were visiting with Heather, Kirk, Clark and Kimberly and he was on a roll! It felt so very very good to laugh and laugh and laugh! SO...I am thinking (hoping) that he is going to start feeling better and better and better!

On Dec 17 he has a PET/CT scan and we will know if the cancer is dead. If that is the case, he will have surgery on Jan 5. I will keep posting.

Saturday November 21

Today is our grand daughter's 7th birthday. We miss all of our grand children, who are out of state, very much. We hope to be able to enjoy them all soon.

Glenn had a restful day. He helped with a couple of chores, but other than that, he took it easy. He is pretty tired and the worst part is that it hurts to eat and it hurts not to eat. So we are finding foods that are easy to eat, mostly liquid and bland. This should get better as time goes on. His surgery is on Jan 5th, that is going to take a toll, too, but we are hopefully than he will then be cancer free!

He is hoping to do as much of his church assignments as possible tomorrow, he will have to come home and rest in between meetings, but he is looking forward to the day. Again, thank you so much for your love and concern for him, he really appreciates it! So do I.

BYU FOOT BALL and CLARK

We are watching yet another BYU Football game and Clark heard them talking about famous BYU Football Quarterbacks. Hmmm He has met two of them.

Clark and Max Hall

Clark and Ty Detmer

Not every body is that lucky!