Good News:

This started out on Feb 4th We went to Seattle for John's primary care check up.. Good news, they have changed some of his medications, he had some lab work done. He is feeling better on the new meds. His melanoma check up is on the 29th of this month.

I started the new drug to quit smoking.. Chantix the first week you take 0.5mg 2 times a day for a week, you continue to smoke while it builds up in your system, by the 4 th day I was smoking less than 1/2. and I quit on Feb 10th. I am doing pretty good. I have also joined a stop smoking support site.

For a little while I have tried to limit some of my time on the phone or computer.. changing habits... and triggers for smoking.

I have quit quite a few times. but go back... starting with just ....one puff. I am determined this time. I know it is an addiction. So like any other addiction.. N O P E not one puff EVER. The medication definately helps.. this is not a cake walk... but I will get through this, one day at a time.

Bad News: We have found out my mother in law has lung cancer. We got the news ironically on the day I started the Chantix.

She was short of breath and not feeling well. She went to a small local hospital, they kept her a few days until a bed was available in a larger hospital where they could drain the fluid and do some testing. It came back as cancer. She saw the Oncologist and he has ordered a PET scan. She went back to the hospital on Monday as she was not feeling good and short of breath. Her lung filled back up. They drained it yesterday and today she is having the PET scan and some other test. We don't know at this point if it is non agressive, aggressive or operable.

Mom's sister lost her husband about a year ago. Mom lost her husband 4 years ago (I think 4 yrs) so Donnie (John's aunt) is staying with mom. John's sister and husband live with mom. They moved into a large house about 6 or 7 years ago to help mom and John's step-dad Curt. Mom is basically blind.. sees lights and shadows, she has had 2 cornea transplants. Curt had Parkinson's and the las couple yrs some dementia. John's family is very close. His other sister and John's daughter live close by so everyone is pulling together and visiting and there for mom and each other.

I made plane reservations for John. he goes on March 2nd. and will stay a week. He is concerned about leaving me alone. My sister in law and brother in law live down the road and will help if I need. I had another friend offer help also.

I will be fine.

I have not been on line as much... as most of you know. We only have dial up.. we may be looking into satellite or broadband... the only 2 options available at this point.... but right now that is not the priority.