Sorry.........

Dear Family and Friends,
I have been reminded several times now that the blog is NOT being updated often enough. I just get too busy with all that is going on. Life continues to be an ever changing series of unpredictable and challenging events. YES, I continue to be ever so grateful that Marty is still here with us and is trying to get his life back. We both know that things will never be the same as before the big "C", but life changes us ALL in little and huge ways.... everyday.
I am so proud of all he has endured because of his determined personality and that he continues to try each day to feel productive. And..... I might add, though there are many moments of misery in his day, when he gets rested up, dressed up in a suit and out to a funeral or family event, he looks pretty great and people comment on how good he looks. He still has a few hurdles to jump before he can even get fitted for new dentures that will fit his new titanium jaw!! He has regained some of the weight he lost during the grueling ordeal of radiation, but is still down 40 pounds from where he started out. He's happy with that. He is up to 12 minutes on the treadmill and trying to work with 4 pound weights to regain strength in his arms. It still shocks me each time I open a jar or pill bottle for him....it was always the other way around! We often get into some awful situation because of the aftermath of this surgery and radiation. When I am tempted to whine about how hard his life is......I try remind myself how close he came to NOT having to deal with any of this!!!! Dr. Sharma reminded us again at Marty's last check up that this particular cancer is usually found on autopsy. WOW!
We see so many around us dealing with cancer and other illnessess, losses of many kinds, financial and emotional problems and much more. We will forever be grateful for the love and support of all who helped hold us up when things looked too hard and too unbelievable. Thank you , again, for each kind and helpful contribution you made on Marty's behalf and keeping him in your thoughts and prayers.
I am grateful for my job and oh, so grateful for the health insurance I had on Marty, as I am certain NO ONE will be willing to insure him now. We are grateful that through this, he did not max out his lifetime benefit---I really feared he would. So, even though my hopes of early retirement (only because I have worked since I was 13 years old) will probably not be an option, I feel so lucky to LOVE the job I have. Knowing as a youngster that I wanted to be a nurse and then reaching that dream has been one of the many blessings in my life. I may have hard days at work, as anyone may. But always know I LOVE my work and even if I end up working my entire life, I will never regret my decision to be a nurse.
Well, duty calls. I will try to write more faithfully.
Love, LaRee and of course, Marty