This morning's post was all typed and close to being published when I accidentally hit one vile key that deleted the whole page.  Let's see what I can recall and get this published before I delete it again.........

Yesterday morning around 11 we ended up in Fannin ER thinking that Cliff had developed cellulitis in his legs.  Earlier in the week he noticed consistent leg swelling with little relief.  By Friday it was worse but didn't call our doctor because he had a one p.m. appointment scheduled with our optometrist.  Friday night both legs were painfully swollen and red.  Saturday morning when he called our doc, we were told to go to the ER for evaluation.  We had to wait, though, because the new microwave was being delivered and needed to be inspected for approval and our acceptance signature.  Whenever we go anywhere now, I have an insulated bag with Ensure, pretzels, Propel, peppermints, fruit yogurt cup and spoon in case he needs them. One thing I've found helpful during this new routine we're adapting to is to see blessings even when overwhelmed in anxiety.  Cliff's greatest fear yesterday was that the ER visit would turn into another overnight hospital stay.  Walking through the ER open doors, we were pleasantly surprised to see an empty room.  Cliff was signed in and immediately taken to an exam room........a blessing.  He had a chest X-ray, five vials of blood taken by a young energetic phlebotomist who was entering med school in the fall to become a physician, and a "Doppler radar" ultrasound of both legs to detect any clots that might have been causing his pain. Over the weekend Fannin  radiololgists are on call and that became a marathon waiting game for him to arrive.  He was the calmest laid back young man.  He told us he had been out on his pontoon boat way on the other side of Lake Nottely, which is not far from us, and pontoon boats don't have turbo speed so it took him some time to get back to his dock. He's a born-and-bred Murphy High School graduate who went away to med school but loves his rural hospital and the people here.  When all results came back normal, thank goodness no cellulitis, the doctor upped Cliff's Lasix dosage and released him.  On our way back out of the ER, we saw that the room was full of waiting children and adults and patients lined up along the corridors waiting for exam rooms.

Today he has a little more energy but still leg pain and edema.  I guess it's going to take a few days to draw the fluid from his body.  Tomorrow is another chemo schedule but he's going to discuss an alternative plan.  This is very difficult on his body and emotions.  Monday morning I'll be calling some Support Services for oncology nutrition, mental health, and exercises to help him navigate this treatment.