Making it Better

Roland's stomach has not been feeling well.  I am pretty sure this is normal and is related to his tender esophagus.  He asked for some ginger ale.  Ginger is supposed to be a great stomach settler.  I don't usually buy soda so I read the labels to see what I was getting for him.  One brand didn't even have any ginger in it the other had high fructose corn syrup as the second ingredient.  I got some S. Pelingrino and set out to make my own better-for-you ginger ale.  First I chopped up some ginger (that seemed like a good place to start) then I heated some water and honey and steeped the cheesecloth wrapped ginger in it.  This became the concentrate.  I put some crushed ice in a glass, added some concentrate and topped it off with the soda water.  I think it is a fine alternative and more importantly he likes it.  Now I am working on making my own better-for-you protein shake.

It has been a beautiful sunny day today so he has taken the opportunity to sit on the back porch  like a lizard to get a little color to his pale face and newly shaved head.

Holding On

It has been about two months since being discharged from the hospital. Lately, Roland has been doing about the same.   His work days were exhausting and he came home and just wanted to rest.  He loves it when the college kids come to visit as they did this weekend.  When we play games together he forgets his discomforts for a while.    He usually enjoys the distraction of visitors, but yesterday and especially today were not good.  He didn't want any food.  I played the guessing game, but didn't have many victories.  Anti-nausea medicine was the clear winning answer.    He would get cold easily.  I have been taking his temperature several times a day, but it hasn't gone above 99.  Reece's idea for cheering him this week was checking out several Calvin and Hobbes books from the library.  This did bring lots of laughter.  It was a great distraction.  I came into our room a few times when Roland was asleep and an opened book of these comics was on his tummy.  Our neighbor is a fabulous trumpet player.  He and his wife asked if they could visit.  I suggested that he bring his trumpet and play some uplifting tunes for Roland.  When they came, Roland didn't want to get out of bed, but of course he could hear the trumpet well from the bedroom.  :-)  It was beautiful.  Today it occurred to me that many of our family, friends, and neighbors have been figuratively running ahead on our adventure trail and planting flowers so they would be in bloom when we would reach that stretch of the path or laying stones into inspirational messages for us to read on the steeper rugged climbs.  We are so appreciative of these kind acts of compassion and thoughtfulness.

Connecting with His Inner Child

Today Roland went to work substituting for one of the ESL teachers at SUU.  When he came home his leg was more swollen.  He will be working tomorrow too.  He sent me these Photo-shopped images.  I think the first one is for his dad's amusement and the second one is for Euna. The last one is just gross. (Tori warning)  So now I know what he has been doing while keeping his leg elevated.

"Sometimes I wonder if I am reverting to a child."

Another Wanna-be?

'The kids say that I am finally looking a little like Gollum, but I
don't know.  Maybe it's the way I've started eating fish more.'

The Quest for the Perfect Hat

 While studying, Roland has shown me many images of Scythian artwork and stone engravings of the people depicting their clothing styles and armor.  So I shouldn't have been surprised when I asked him what kind of hat he would like and he said he wanted a Scythian cap.  "What does that look like?" I asked.  He said it was a little like Robin Hood, but when I showed him Robin Hood hats for sale, he made a scrunched up face which means, "That's not it."  After some research we found it was more like what is now referred to as a Phrygian hat, but he didn't want it made from felt or fleece. He wanted a hat that looked like what these people are wearing, but with a Robin Hood feel to it.  After all this is an adventure!
.

  Since I couldn't find what he wanted for sale, I decided to make one.  I had a skirt that I knew I would never wear made from a tan suede fabric.

I used the only hat pattern I own which happens to be a Vogue lady's hat from the 1950s, I think.  Thanks Mom.  I figured I would alter it and make it work.

I lined it with the same suede as the exterior.

It took a few revisions like adding a hat band and some feathers and lots of trying on.  Here is the final result.

 

It covers his bald head and he is really excited about the connection he has with the Scythians. Let the new adventures begin!

The Mohawk

I have cut Roland's hair since we first started dating.  I have always preferred it to be longer than he wanted it, so he would often ask me to cut it "as short as you can possibly stand it."  Tonight he started noticing hair on the keyboard of his laptop.  Then it started falling in clumps. I was not enthusiastic about cutting his hair short, but he was in such a fun mood about it and involved the kids.  Sterling was especially excited about styling it into a mohawk with gel. I tried to be a good sport, but needless to say it was much shorter than I could stand it. I was enjoying the "event-ness" of it, but then I started getting a little emotional.  If it weren't for the exuberance of the kids, I would have needed a time out to compose myself.  I saved the trimmings in an envelope.  I don't know why, but I figure I can always toss them later.  

Tori reminded me of this scripture: "The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame." Alma 40:23

These ones are similar:"And not one hair, neither mote, shall be lost, for it is the workmanship of mine hand." Doctrine and Covenants 29:25

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10:30

"But there shall not an hair of your head perish."  Luke 21:18

"Let him trust in me and he shall not be confounded; and a hair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed." Doctrine and Covenants 84:116

And then there is this one that makes you think,  hmmm?  Really? "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."  Luke 12:77

And these two funny ones:"And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean." Leviticus 13:40

"And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean."  Leviticus 13:41

And so now he is in the market for some hats.

Ready

So Serious

Warrior

Just for fun

Almost gone

Sharing hers

Wow!

Based on MariLou's comment below, I felt like I should add one more photo.

Casey Conner Wanna-be

Disguises Distractions Diversions

Roland would rather not eat or drink, so there are two tricks I use to combat this.  One is to make eating also part of our entertainment.   We have had more eating "dates" lately because of this.  The other is to bring it to him and present it so it looks as pretty as possible.  I like to give him drinks or smoothies in goblets and serve meals in red bowls and plates because warm colors are more appetizing.  It might not really matter, but it is something I can do and that is important to me in this adventure when so much is so out of my control. 

Friday night there was a nice surprise at the doorstep.  Someone had taken the time to prepare a special movie night for our family.  There was a movie (The Sorcerer's Appentice), movie popcorn,  and movie candy all packaged up so colorfully.  What touched us most was the card written with kind sentiments and encouragement.  What a thoughtful thing to do and since we don't know who to thank, we just feel thankful to everyone we see.

We have gotten to know our neighbors better this year.  One of these is a woman who recently lost her husband.  Our kids find her delightful because she laughs so much.  She has shared old time movies and eggs from her chickens with us.

Tori came for the weekend and brought Star Wars candy dispensers that make techno noises or Darth Vader breathing while dispensing. Someone left them in her apartment when they moved out.  She also brought lots of surprises from her roommate's gluten free bakery. She brought the card game Five Crowns which Roland learned from his Dad and Donna when he stayed with them.  Most of all she brings joy.  She loves being with us.  She helped Reece ask someone to Prom. She conducts PTIs (Personal Tori Interviews) with each sibling and makes each of us feel like we are the one she came to see.

All these diversions help distract him from the general crummy feeling he has most of the time.  I think his favorite is the research he has been doing.  Today it is Herodotus' history.

He is feeling well enough to substitute at the ESL program at SUU next week for a few hours.

We are going to try lavendar oil on Roland's feet tonight to see if it helps with restless leg syndrome.  Now, if anyone knows a remedy for ringing in the ears... we are *ahem* all ears.

Painting Adventure

To celebrated the end of week three of radiation Roland dusted off his oil paints and brushes and pulled out a very old painting of Lewis, Clark, and Twisted Hair at Canoe Camp that he started when we lived in Idaho.   He put on some painting clothes and drove a half a block to Del Parson's house to paint with him in his studio.  This is so good for him to be able to socialize and improve on a talent at the same time.  I imagine him sitting on the floor cross-legged (Del usually stands when he paints, and Roland does too, but he can't right now. ) with a pallet in one hand and a brush in the other surrounded by an assortment of photos for reference.  (When we lived in Idaho, he went to the actual location of this event and took photos of this place as well as of statues on the campus of Lewis-Clark State College reenacting the scene.)  Del gave Roland a few suggestions and then asked him to critique the painting he was working on which is of Jesus taking the hand of the woman caught in adultery lifting her up.  Roland gave his opinions and Del agreed! :-)  He came home very happy and promptly fell asleep.