Sid Bacon

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  I feel like I’m having a very lucky day today (I have my green shirt on to avoid being pinched, but I don’t think that has much to do with the luck).  Maybe it is because my son’s middle name is Patrick, or maybe it is because I am getting to spend the entire day with him.  It is probably largely the latter.  But it doesn’t matter … I am lucky and I am having a super day!
 

Cathy and I went on our daily walk this morning.  I have cut back the mileage on and immediately after chemo days to just 2 miles in 30 min (keeping the requested pace of 15-min miles).  I don’t burn up as much energy (or calories), making it easier to navigate those days.  It is so nice of her to walk with me.  It is very special and is a great way to start the day (after breakfast #1).  And then today after breakfast #2, Cathy and I went shopping with Dan.  Among other things, we were looking for seven identical ties to be worn by the groom, groomsmen, and fathers (that would be Liz’s dad and me).  We found a great one, but there was only one and we have been unable to find the same one at other stores in the area.  So, we continued our shopping online.  I think we may have found a different tie to order that will be just as good (and presumably we can get all seven online).  Success! I also found a fedora that will look nice with my black suit.  More success! And we got some new earrings for Cathy.  All in all a very successful shopping trip!   And for me, it was just nice and fun to be out and about.
 

Dan and I are about to sit down and watch some college basketball.  We also watched some last night, and boy is my bracket all messed up! Although I talked about upsets in yesterday’s blog, I did not predict any of the magnitude of two #15 seeds beating #2 seeds.  Thank goodness KU (as a #2 seed) survived Frightening Friday.
 

I hope you all are having as good a day as I am.

The weather changed rather dramatically over night in Phoenix.  We’ve gone from highs in the mid 80s to a predicated high today of mid 50s.  We had some nice rain overnight and have had a bit more during the day today.  It has been a perfect day to be lazy, and I’m fitting right into that mode.  I’ve had a couple naps and may fit another one or two in before the end of the day.  I guess I just didn’t get enough sleep last night … 
 

One of the advantages of the cooler weather is that I have gotten to wear one of my two new KU beanies that my sister-in-law Karen sent me.  It felt especially good on the early morning walk this morning, and of course I’ll need to wear it during the KU-Purdue game tonight! I hope I don’t need to wear them both, but I’m willing to do so if it helps …
 

Dan and Liz left after lunch to drive back to San Diego.  It was great to have them here, as always.  Their wedding plans are coming together nicely and we are all getting very excited for the big day!  It is going to be a perfect day, and we are confident that the weather for their outside wedding will be perfect (quite unlike the weather we are having at the moment … perfect for being lazy inside, but not so perfect for an outside wedding).
 

Being that this is a Lazy Sunday, I’m going to cut this journal entry short.  I’ll close by saying that I’m feeling well and having yet another good day.  I continue to garner strength from your love and support and know that I am not fighting this disease alone. Thanks to all!

OK, enough said about KU and the Sweet 16.  Thanks to all of you who cheered the Jayhawks to victory on Sunday evening (even those Purdue fans who had to cheer for both teams … I hope there was some consolation, albeit possibly small, in the outcome being favorable at least for Team Bacon).

As I write this blog, the official temperature in Phoenix is only 54 degrees outside.  That would be considered a fairly cold winter day in the Valley of the Sun.  Consequently, Cathy and I are currently doing something we wanted to do this winter, but things obviously got away from us … more on what we are doing a bit later …

This fall I did a variety of house projects, such as replacing light fixtures and painting much of the inside of our house.  (Thank goodness I got those projects done when I did.)  We also redecorated here and there, including our bedroom, where we got rid of a desk and file cabinet and replaced them with two comfortable chairs, lamps, and a stand for a small stereo.  The chairs face the fireplace.  A great arrangement, but it just hasn’t been cold enough to have a fire lately …

But now it is, so we are sitting in our comfortable chairs and enjoying a fire in the fireplace!  I’m writing while Cathy is working on a quilt that she is giving to Liz and Dan for their wedding (they know about it, so I’m not revealing any secrets here).  It is beautiful and will be a real treasure for them.  We are also listening to various classical and jazz CDs.  It is great!  So relaxing.  I’m really enjoying it, and am thankful we didn’t have to wait all the way until next November or December.  We’ll do it again, then, of course, but now it doesn’t feel so much as we were robbed of this guilty pleasure. 

Cathy and I have been continuing our daily walks, any where from 2 to 3 miles, always at the pace of about 15 min/mile.  We’ve been holding each other’s gloved hands these past two days, given the chilly early morning temperatures.  Throughout the days, I feel that she is by my side even when she isn’t, but it is so nice that – for the most part – she really is by my side!  I know our mundane routines must be getting old for her at times, but she never lets on.  She is a real trooper.  I couldn’t do this without her, though I wish I didn’t have to drag her through this fight. But we did profess that we would love each other in good times and bad, and I guess that spills over to what we are experiencing now … a mixture of good and bad times, all rolled together to make this journey what it is … the most astonishing, eye-opening experience of my life.  I am learning so much.  Thank you, too, all of you, for being a part of this journey.  It means a lot to me.

Well, we have managed to work our way back to our comfortable chairs for an end-of-the-day retreat, although without the fire in the fireplace.  And instead of both of us listening to music on our stereo, we are each listening to our own headphones through our individual smart phones … I have music playing and Cathy is listening to a podcast of “This American Life”.  Like yesterday, Cathy is quilting and I am writing.  We are both enjoying the experience.  And even though we are in our own little auditory worlds, we are sitting together, so all is good!

Today has been a good day.  I have felt well most of the day.  We had a nice walk this morning and I have been eating well throughout the day.  The highlight of the day was a visit from our friend and colleague, Laida.  It was great to see and talk with her.  And she was kind enough to bring us dinner for tonight! We are all set … Cathy doesn’t have to cook!

As I think many of you know, I have a transdermal patch that releases pain medication throughout the day and night.  It just gets taped to my back with a self-adhesive. It took some time to get the dosage and frequency of patch replacement just right, but I have been pain-free ever since they got that under control.  Finally being pain-free was a huge positive step in my treatment; I actually thought I would always be in chronic pain … just something to live with.  Of late, the frequency of replacement has been 60 hours.  A few weeks ago when the replacement was 72 hours, I needed to take a pain pill every so often to address the “breakthrough” pain that occurred as we approached the 72-hour mark and then again as we began using a new patch.  Last Thursday during chemo, the medical staff at Piper asked me to see if I could push the frequency back to 72 hours without the need for a pain pill.  If I can do that, they might also reduce the dosage.  One reason I might now be able to tolerate a 72-hour replacement cycle is that, if the chemo is effective, then some of my symptoms should decrease.  In other words, perhaps I’ll have less pain than before if the chemo is shrinking the nasty tumors on my pancreas and liver.  I made it 72 hours the other day, and we are coming up to 72 hours tonight as well … without the need for a pain pill!  If I have any extra pain, it may be in my stomach, not in my back where the pain was so severe beforehand. It is hard to tell if this slight stomach pain is new or just reflects the typical hunger pains I get every so often.  We’ll try a few more 72-hour cycles to be certain, but I am optimistic that things are getting better.  Indeed, I know they are better, as I have not felt the need for additional pain medication as we’ve extended back to a 72-hour replacement cycle.  This is a very good sign.  It would be great to be able to reduce the dosage as well, as the reduction in pain medication might reduce my nausea, which is still a mild annoyance.  (Plus, it would be another positive sign that the chemo is working!)

I received a great riding cap today in the mail (from Duluth trading post).  It is a perfect fit and looks great!  I love getting new hats, but unfortunately I do not know whom to thank, as there was no indication of whom it was from. Maybe it was supposed to be a secret … if so, well done!  In any event, please know that it was greatly appreciated and I look forward to wearing it in the very near future.  Very stylish!

Thanks again for all your support.  It is great to hear from you and to get your messages of love and support.  I couldn’t do this without you! We fight together!