DAY 325 - Day 228 in Recovery Paradise

A beautiful day in Sacramento. I worked in the yard a bit and mostly on my computer. Had a good IT friend send 6 hours here yesterday- networked all our computers together, so everyone can access other printers, etc. Fixed the wireless network issues and deleted all the junk accumulated on my computer.

Still have dry mouth issues and just may have for a really long time and perhaps forever. Have to take my "spit" pills (always thought that was funny when I was on the other end starting my treatment) three times a day, but is well worth it. I eat bread at most meals now - there was a time when I couldn't eat one bite. Other than that, I feel good today.

I worked a lot on compiling family photos from vacations and birthdays. My "what are you going to accomplish, now that you have a second chance" goal is to clean-up, arrange, compile all the family photos and convert to CD and DVD for everyone. Am almost finished with a CD-with soundtrack of our trip to the Grand Canyon. I thought I had lost them...twas a great and beautiful trip. My goal is to upgrade my other blog [Robert Welton Remembers] with original audio and video.

Lise gave me a haircut and commented on how long my hair was getting...it wasn't all that long ago when there wasn't any. It feels good to be feeling good again. It has been almost a year since I was diagnosed and it seems like it was eons ago. I still subscribe to the Tonsil Cancer blog and see many people coming along behind me suffering the same symptoms in the stages of treatment and recovery. I used to follow the blogs of those ahead of me to gain strength that there was light at the end of the tunnel...much different hearing it from someone that has walked the walk.

DAY 321 - Day 224 in Recovery Paradise

Saw my Head and Neck doctor today. I got very good news. She said everything looked good and pink with no lesions...no lumps in my neck. She asked me to come back in six months, and as long as everything remains good, I will continue to see her every six months until I have my two-year CT Scan in October 2010.

I have been feeling very good and now that I am taking my "spit pills," I am able to eat bread and the things I couldn't just three months ago. There are some possibly permanent (?) changes in my eating habits, but because everything is so much better, it is a small loss.

I no longer like sweets, chocolate, ice cream, pie, etc. All those items tastes between bland and bad. I used to be able to do some serious damage to a box of See's candy, and now I refuse to even take a small bite of one piece of candy. There are no complaints from Lise and Sarah, knowing that desserts are safe from Bob. I really would rather have a beet salad.

I don't post to this blog as much as when there were daily changes. However, I did start a new blog that is much more fun to post to. It is called Robert Welton Remembers and is a series of great stories I remember from my fabulous and eventful life. It is: http://robertweltonremembers.blogspot.com/.

DAY 294 - Day 197 in Recovery Paradise

Had a bad time with mucus this am and couldn't keep my breakfast down. Felt fine afterward and worked mostly a full day. I am scheduled to go back to work full time starting the first of the month. I am still tired a lot, but manage to get through the day. My dry mouth persists and I need liquid/water to keep my mouth from sticking closed when I try to talk.

It seems ages ago when I was too weak to walk and unable to talk much. We still keep the stair lights on at night ever since I fell down the stairs in the dark during my recovery. I feel fine most of the time and often have no thoughts of my previous issues and discomfort. Oddly enough, the most permanent change I am still going through is my distaste for ice cream and chocolate. All things considered, it is a small price to pay for the way I feel now. My family doesn't complain as they know the box of See's candy is safe around me.

Song of the Day: Bob Dylan - One More Cup of Coffee

DAY 289 - Day 192 in Recovery Paradise

Slept until noon today- no naps during the week and worked mostly full days. My mouth still gets quite dry - but a bottle of water and my "spit pills' seem to make it tolerable. the spit pills still make me clammy and I sweat a lot for an hour or so after I take the pill, but is worth it.

This last year has been both hard and a blur- I was diagnosed in May of last year- went through treatment over the summer and just got back to work (part time in Jan) and mostly full time now...I remember the days dragging on and holding my feeding tube up for gravity feed most of the day with 6 feedings a day. A pain in the neck (pun intended), but saved my life...now I can eat deli sandwiches, bread and most not too spicy foods ( and me with a year supply of chipoltle peppers in the pantry).

Hair grew back darker and a bit curlier, lost a lot of weight (tough weight loss program) gaining most of it back and now that Spring is here- feel pretty damn good about everything. There were many dark days of depression and some feeling sorry for myself this past year and thank God for my wife and family....We are all truly blessed more than we think about and sometimes it takes a bus in our path for us to give thought to the gifts we have around us.


Song of the Day: Bianca Ryan - And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going

DAY 278 - Day 181 in Recovery Paradise

Feeling tired again. Just can't seem to catch up on my sleep. I make it through the day - but could be asleep in minutes if I allowed it. Am having a tough time gaining weight. Just don't seem to have the appetite necessary to bulk it up. My voice is getting stronger and my mouth is not so dry. I am taking my "spit" pills and it seems to be helping.

Got a call from my oncologist for a new appointment. For the first time, I feel a bit nervous. I haven't got any tests to report on, so there is no legitimate reason to be nervous.

This is my last month of part time work. Go back to work full time April 1. I just hope that I can get more energized this month. It has been good to ease back into work - as I use my voice a lot and it is getting stronger.

I feel like I have been given a good second shot about doing things with my life. An extension of time. I do seem to appreciate the smaller things and don't sweat what used to be bigger things.
I appreciate family and friends and look forward to giving back more than I used to.

Song of the Day: Bob Dylan Forever Young