A over due update on cancer

I've been putting off writing this update, waiting for the other shoe to drop, I've tried many times. I'm feeling stronger my last chemo treatment done in October. I still have the port, have a follow up with oncology I hope the port can be removed. Dealing with Lymphedema I had 5 lymph node's removed a long with my age, it became a problem getting fluid out to help I use compression sleeves and gloves are working good, happy about that.

The good news is Nacho and I have been walking almost every day, Nacho loves it. As of December 9th we have walked 793 miles in 219 workouts.  Walking with Nacho has kept me going, it's hard being negative around him. Nacho is easy going and friendly he's just looking to make more friends.

Last colors of fall

Nacho Man

Sun sets

Fall ends

Winter Arriving early

  

Here to stay? Maybe

 Sorry it took me so long to finish this.

My second Birthday to fall on Mothers day.

This time I spent it here at home, walking Nacho and just hanging out at home. It was a good day, many people wished me a Happy birthday on Facebook, that was nice. One friend put a nice looking cake, another had a bit of fun with a cake with candles on it burning in a way that looked like huge fire. Sad part was the Fire in Canada, it gave us some colorful sunsets, I did take some pictures.

Didn't see the smoke until after the sun was on the other side of it, last I heard it's under control not sure if it's out or not.

Nacho loves the nice long walks we've been taking, not a fan of having his picture taken. He is a sweet dog being a big black dog does not stop him from making new doggy friends. Nacho still points at the rabbits he see's, I say "leave it" most of the time we move on our way. 

At this point Birthdays are reminders of the history I've witnessed. My goodness how things have changed, not all for the good or bad. Life is so different now, in someways it's harder to tell what's real.

Reading the label on a loaf of bread at the store, should it still be called bread, when flour isn't one of the first 4 ingredients? Did my own test on a loaf after 2 weeks passed it's use by date, didn't show any signs of mold, another 2 week later no change. Week 5 the bag was wet still no sign of mold! Sorry that's not bread, Now I get bread where it's made fresh every day!  

    Spent most of last year walking with Nacho, taking a few photo's along the way. Nacho and I walked 553 miles taking 247 hours in 176 walks, replacing 3 sets of wheels on stand up walker, 3 pairs of walking shoes. For the first time walking all 12 months of the year! Nacho  loves walking it's good for me also. 

2015
The year in picture's

Taken March 2 a 5.72 mile walk.

Frozen Minnhaha falls

Minneapolis skyline April 7.56 mile walk

The east bank of Mississippi River

Nacho having a relaxing breakfast.

Spring showers

May Flowers

May day

Nacho's late night playing ball!
 Brings on a cool spring night Nap time.

Taken on June 8 2015 a 7.13 mile walk

Dinner after another 5 mile walk

Mississippi River locks closed for at least 3 years
Using some of that time, to find ways to deal with the invasive, Asian carp!

The tree that shaded our backyard died from Dutch elm disease

Two hours later all gone

Late July fall color's starting early on the Mississippi River

A wider view

August spots of color show up

 By September the Mississippi River bank in bright color's

October did not disappoint fire on top

Mississippi River Sunset
On the Ford Parkway Bridge

Minneapolis, Minnesota Sky line

Golden color

Fallen colors

Color gone shades of white and black

Mississippi River,

Mississippi river Overlook Park 

Nacho doesn't mind the snow

Not in black and white.

Looking North Mississippi River

Oak trees hold on to leafs until spring

The end is near

 The Mississippi isn't so mighty here 

Last picture of 2015

      It's Already March 2016, Nacho and I have walked every month this winter, putting in 118 miles so far. Walking is the easiest thing I'm able to do without my standup walker and Nacho, don't know where I'd be. The good thing is I only think about that then I can't open the bathroom door because, my hands are to weak to open it. Nacho saves me from thinking too much, about the abilities I've lost. Nacho makes friends with most dogs and humans effortlessly. When he senses danger he goes into guard mode, we make a good team and keep each other safe. Nacho and I spend much of our time outside when we can, the weather this winter has been mild. Getting out is nice, stuck in the house not a problem so far.

Learning a few lessons, so rolling is faster than walking. Losing balance, let go of walker  regain balance, pick up walker roll on.

I'm doing good having Nacho is my bright spot everyday. 

Fall wasn't finished, when Winter showed up!

Blowing a very cold breezy up my... Anyways did get a few pictures of our short lived Fall.

These two kids fell out of their nest.

Both were released back into the neighborhood.  

Nacho was the first to find them

He was quick to let me know they needed or made a sound.

After they went to the rehab center

Nacho and I got some much needed sleep  

Nacho and I took a walk to 

see the Mississippi

The mighty Mississippi

from the bluffs a few blocks from our house

Glad we went, getting out of the bluffs

wasn't as easy

The colors were bold

Love clouds 

 Some hung on to summer as long as they could.

The winds of fall 

Begins the season of sticks  

The last of the flowers

It's been a good year for the most part, my hands don't work as well as I'd like. I'm still able to walk, good thing Nacho loves going for walks. Started using map my walk, to see how far we were walking. The weather this summer was great for walking, early in the morning and as the sun was setting. Starting in late July until now, Nacho and I have walked 268 miles, in 87 hours, doing over 100 workout. If I didn't have the upright walker from the V.A. none of this would have happened.

Just a few years ago, it looked like the only choice I had was a wheelchair, at the time my leg's couldn't carry my weight and using a walker wasn't working because my wrists were too weak to hold me up. Because I thought my leg's would fail long before my arms would, mainly because that's what seemed to happened to most of the people I knew of with M.S. No way did I ever think about losing the use of my arms or hands. Yet here I am spending hours writing this post. Having already tried, using the different voice programs to write for me. None have worked, mainly because my voice fades out, or the words aren't clear enough for the program to understand the words I had said. It's odd how what I thought would happen didn't happen the way I was ready to handle it. Life and the way things workout, can't be planned out. So all I can do is work with what still works, finding a balance between what works, what does not work and what works, or only works part of the time. Understanding balance is more about, doing what I can when I can for as long as I'm able. Not knowing if I'll be able to finish what I started has become a stress I work to control. The hardest piece so far has been, if I need help I'll ask for it! Anyone jumping in grabbing my fork and knife out of my hand as I'm cutting my salad! I've learned, to only go out to eat with people who would never do that because, when I need help I will ask for it! My cutting my salad maybe hard to watch, it's one of those things I'm better at doing myself!