February 9th - an Update

Long time no see. I’ve been rather lax in reporting and updating my blog. As they say – “No new is good news.”

The real good news. Carol and I are new grandparents. We have a little ‘Kiwi’. Jackson Mayweather Foltz was born at approximately 2:00am (Auckland time) on Sunday, January 23^rd to Craig and Kristin Foltz. He was 7 pounds, 13 ounces, he has blue eyes (like his grandfather) and not much hair (like his grandfather), and a sweet and pleasant attitude (again, like his grandfather).  We have lots of pictures and Skype back and forth with our grandson. Jackson and Kristin are doing fine. Yet to be determined how Craig is doing.

Our trip down was very un-eventful once we got the car going. We loaded the car Sunday and apparently the trunk didn’t get latched completely so the trunk light remained on and Monday when we went to start our trek – no power to start the car. So an hour later, after a AAA boost we hit the road.

We had decided to take the westerly route down as it had recently snowed on the I-75 corridor, including Atlanta. We like I-69 – I-65 route better anyway – even though it is slightly longer.

When we got to Indianapolis, we took the east-west interstate to Cincinnati and Covington, KY where my youngest brother, Tom and Patti live. Spent the night with family, having a very good time. They are excellent hosts and we had plenty to talk about. I was treated as the main patient and all was well. Later in the evening my youngest nephew, Will and his wife Ashlee stopped over also and it was great seeing them for a while. Last time was when they got married.

Tuesday morning we got on I-75 for about five miles and took another east-west expressway that headed to Louisville and I-65 again. The rest of our trip was un-eventful with overnight stays in northern Alabama and again in Florida near Tallahassee. We still had snow on the ground near Birmingham and it was still mighty cold. The last stretch to Clermont was going to be Florida warm so I dressed in shorts. That was a good move as it was near 75 degrees when we arrived – two days before the Citrus Bowl – which is about twenty minutes from where we winter for the next four months.

The first night we stayed with friends from Pennsylvania, Reverend Jim and Jan. They rent a home less than a block from where we are in the gated community of Mission Park.

The next morning Jim and I went for a short neighborhood walk. I had contacted my property manager about getting in early and he said it would be fine as it was currently empty. So when Jim and I got to 3021 Merlot Way I retrieved the key from the lock box and we entered. I heard a slight chirping sound, Jim heard nothing, until the total alarm system went off. Oh shit! A good way to meet the neighbors, police, fire and security people. Soon the phone was ringing – the alarm company – who are you, what’s the code? – I have no idea. About a half an hour later my manager showed up and disabled the blaring siren. All was well. Jim and I could now scout out the place. We moved the pool table and foosball table and other games to the side of the garage so that we can park inside. We also found the pool cover and got that covered to try and assist the heater in warming up the pool.

When we finished our walk, Carol was ready to move in, so we drove ‘home’ and unloaded the car and got all settled in. Later in the day Carol went shopping for some vitals and encountered the ‘zoo’ at the local Wal-Mart.

New Year’s Day and time for the Spartans. I’m glad we didn’t get tickets. I was also glad that it was sunny out – I laid out by the pool most of the day. HAPPY NEW YEARS to all.

Monday morning and about 6:00am I got up to pee, felt a little dizzy and disoriented and fell in the bathroom. Ceramic tile floors and I hurt my butt. Got up only to fall again. By now, Carol is in the bathroom with me. She says I don’t recognize her and my eyes are all glazed over. So now we call 9-1-1 for assistance. The fire department was there first, followed shortly by the ambulance crew. Carol had moved me to the bed and then I was hooked up to all kinds of contraptions. Soon they had me laying down and were getting my vitals and asking all sorts of questions. I declined going to the hospital as I was feeling OK and also had a doctor’s appointment in two days at the Central Florida Cancer Institute. This had been arranged by my doctors in Lansing.

The results were my blood pressure was extremely low and they thought that I possible had hit my head when I fell the second time and thus lost my whereabouts.

The doctor’s on Wednesday. This was to follow up on my cancer treatment which I will do every month until returning home. In the meantime I had purchased a blood pressure monitor and began charting my blood pressure. Carol thought that because I have lost so much weight that maybe I didn’t need the blood pressure medicine so I discontinued usage. This lasted about five days before blood pressure was high again – so back on the meds. The cancer doctor thought I should get a primary care physician for when I am Florida and referred me to a medical doctor in the Davenport area. I was also out of formula that I feed myself with via feeding tube so they set me up with a dietician who could order the proper product that I needed. I’ve been feeding through the tube for a lot longer than I expected and it is getting boring.

Dr. Sha gave me a thorough examination and my cancer condition is in great shape. She was impressed by the work that had been done in Lansing to radiate and remove my cancers. An excellent job she said.

So now I just wait for calls from whomever to get doctors and dietician appointments.

We had a few inconveniences at our home that we needed to get resolved. Things like – gas grill missing, no trash barrels or recycle bins – and the pool heat is not working. Everything on our list was resolved – except no pool heat. I had our own wireless network up and running and the computers are working. Our home is cozy and we are happy – except no pool heat. Carol wanted to use the pool like the rest of the neighborhood was using theirs. Nope – it was too cold. I kept bugging the property manager. Oh – it’s working fine I am told. But it is not! Finally they sent out an electrician and they found a bad circuit breaker. Replaced it and the pool heater has operated correctly since then. About a week after we arrived. But now, it’s a cozy 87 degrees and Carol is swimming in the pool every day. It looks awful tempting, but I am forbidden to use the pool by my doctors (feeding tube).

So everything is going good. The weather, overall, has been great. I’ve golfed at Palisades, Swiss Fairways (twice) and Stoney Brook – West. I signed up with the Pro at Palisades for golf lessons which I take once a week. I have a lot of work to do to improve my game. 

Carol and I are in the movie routine. I have seen, ‘The Little Fockers’, True Grit’, ‘Country Strong’ and ‘The King’s Speech’. The King’s Speech is a great movie. Carol and I both loved it.

Carol has been golfing with me one time. The rest of the time it has been Reverend Jim and myself. And we stop in a few watering holes. Palisades CC bar, a new place that is great, ‘Millers’ Ale House’, and of course, ‘The Nut House’, i.e., ‘The Dome’. Farlins take note – there is a ‘Millers’ Ale House’ in Fort Myers – you should check out – especially for MSU basketball. The one here has over 60 TV’s.

We haven’t been out to eat once since we have been here. So I can’t report on Gaters or the other places that we frequented regularly. This, of course, is because I can’t eat or drink yet. Carol’s has gone to get pizza and other take-out but most of the time she just makes something for herself and then takes care of me. What a life?

Yesterday Carol’s sister, Sue and Carrie and brother, Larry and Judy came down to visit for the day. They have places in Eustis which is about an hour north on US-27.

On Wednesday I met for the first time with my new primary care physician. So she has ordered all kinds of blood work and changed my input of blood pressure medicine. I completed my lab work later in the day and have a follow up appointment next Wednesday. I keep monitoring my blood pressure daily. I will also have an EKG next week.

Then – Wednesday night about 9:00pm – I got up to take my medicine and go to bed. I felt dizzy again. Took my time. Hanging on to the counter and turned on the kitchen light. I went down again. I remember turning on the light, but do not remember falling until I was already on the floor. Then I was all right – took my meds and went to bed.

Carol’s sister, Sue – a retired nurse, thought it was also something to do with my blood pressure. So hopefully I will be getting this resolved shortly. It is pretty scary.

Everything else is fine. I feel pretty good, most of the time. I’m a little weak. I have no pain as a result of my cancer treatment. Just a pain in the ass – from falling – and mostly 

from the mucus or flem that is always in my mouth. It makes it hard to swallow and my body is still rejecting anything I try to eat. Although I did make a root-beer float yesterday that was pretty good. About a quarter of a cup in size. I cancelled my golf lesson yesterday and I was to play golf at Providence CC today but I also backed out of because of my fall. I am still pretty sore – elbow and butt. It turned out that it is raining this afternoon – so I didn’t get wet. Sun’s back out now.

Hope everything is great with all of you. Keep them Spartan girls winning. Looking forward to seeing all that are going to be visiting us and seeing the rest of you when we return – in May.