"Roger's Morning List" has been created

Dad's sense of time still seems to be pretty off-kilter. His "I'll do that in just a minute" turns into a few hours. So I've solved that, or attempting to solve it, with "Roger's Morning List." This piece of paper consists of things he needs to do on his own, without prompting by Mom or me. On the list includes things like making the bed, showering/shaving, physical therapy exercises, and taking his pills from Mom with a smile. There's a big box next to the item for him to check off, and there is one list per day. I printed off a week's worth, so hopefully some sort of routine can be established before I leave for Portland next Tuesday.

I can almost guarantee there will be family fighting on Friday during the Nebraska game. Dad got a wonderful homemade fleece blanket from his sister, Cathy, today and it is unbelievably soft and warm. Fighting to be in possession of the blanket and under it during the game will definitely happen. Mark my words. Goodies from the gift basket from my co-workers at Intel (greatest team to work with EVER!) will be used as bait to try and get the person with the blanket to leave it alone just for a few seconds. That's all it will take. Possession is 90% of the law, right?

Not much change the past couple of days; he's definitely awake more, but still walking a bit hunched over, still struggling to find words sometimes, and definitely gets worn out after just the slightest bit of activity. He did take a nap today, and he said he felt bad about doing so but he really wanted to have one. I told him that's not so unusual, and that I would have LOVED to take a nap today had the time been in my favor. Alas, it was not with Thanksgiving prep, work, and an airport run to pick up Mike and Cindy!

For those that are anxious to talk to Dad on the phone, he is talking now and can handle the conversations pretty well. One thing that I'd like to request is keeping the talking about the last month, or even his treatments/health to a minimum. He's really focused on it right now, and we're not sure it's all good to be in a constant state of thinking/talking about what's just happened. A short conversation about it and how he's doing today mixed with talk of grandkids, retirement, the weather, as well as things going on in YOUR lives are especially important. If you need a topic, I'd be happy to provide several. Just send me a note. :)

I've seen some mis-information going out via email from Dad, so to clarify: the first scan done in late October was just a baseline scan, but it was "good" news in that no change to the tumor in a negative way was going on, and that we will follow up in three months (end of January) for another scan. That one will be a bit more telling, as the radiation will have had more of a chance to work, he would have been through one full 6 week dose of chemo, as well as four monthly maintenance doses of chemo (each done for five days, one week a month). Until then, it's focused on getting his strength back, keeping him engaged in day-to-day, and getting back to "normal." He starts his next dose of monthly chemo on Monday, December 1st.

Hope everyone has a very happy thanksgiving!!! The Dillon's will be eating off of normal dinner plates this year instead of china (the HORROR!) to save some time in the kitchen and reduce the work of hand-washing all the dishes, but 17 family members will be in the house Thursday and we'll all be very thankful that we could all be together for the holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving!