Half Way

Celebrating the half way mark, we spent a fabulous weekend in Redondo Beach.  Bob rested, got some reading done, and took a beach cruiser out and biked around Manhattan Beach while I kayaked next to Carol as she swam for 2 hours in very choppy ocean water.  Then the three of us spent the afternoon touring the Trump Golf Course, walking the beautiful coast in Palos Verde, then drinking wine on the veranda of a beautiful resort, Terranea, as we watched hundreds of dolphins swim by.  It was a very relaxing weekend.

Things are going smoothly.  Bob is now taking Advil 3x a day and feeling better. It doesn't seem quite as overwhelming now that we are beyond the halfway mark.

YES

Yes, our new living situation is so much better.  We have a bedroom door and a dining table!  We can survive here.  It is cooler too-in the 80's.  Bob is busy playing golf and tennis.  He still gets very tired in the evenings after his treatment but is getting his exercise.  They really promote staying as active as possible during the program.  Bob is having his treatment now and then we are going to a talk about spirituality.  I am very interested to see what they say about this.  So far the speakers have advocated a vegan diet, exercise and staying away from sugar.  Yes!

Hot, hot

Bob and Jason spent yesterday fishing.  He came back looking very tired (no fish either).  He went to bed early and said he probably wouldn't play tennis this morning.  (He did set the alarm.)  By 7:30am he was on his way to the courts and played for 2 hours.

I was hoping it would be warm for mother's day.  I took a walk this afternoon to the market.

It was cooler walking back...

!!

Bob saw the doctor today (he is required to see him once a week) and he gained 2 pounds!  Thank you to Carol and Shannon for your suggestions on plant based foods for gaining weight!  As of Saturday we will have a new address for anyone wishing to send us something inspiring:
11171 San Mateo
Loma Linda, CA  92354

Bob just left for treatment #15!  One third of the way through.  Nights are still difficult but he is adjusting.

Learning

Things I have learned so far:


Bob needs his space (I already knew I did)

Loma Linda means "little hill" but it is not little when one tries to run to the top: 8 miles in 1 hour and 45 minutes!

There is a healing Christian community that I could live in.

Going to Loma Linda Market is like having a spiritual experience.

Even the best of relationships can be challenged.

I love the sun!

I would rather go out to dinner than cook every night in a small kitchen with no counter space and a half size stove and no spices and no sharp knives (although I haven't cut myself) and delicious vegan restaurants all around.

Thank goodness for Downton Abbey (although we only have one more DVD to go.)

It is heartwarming when my 2 year old granddaughter opens her door and the first thing she asks is if I brought her some compost for her compost pile.

Bob is amazing (although I think I already knew that).

As a team, we can get through anything.

the top

Proton Tour

Yesterday afternoon we went on a tour of the Proton Center.  It was amazing.  The center has been there for 22 years.  It is located below the children's hospital.  This treatment is continually expanding its uses and updating its technology.  The cost is now over $285,000,000.  It is a wonderful thing for the children's hospital as there is so much less damage to healthy cells.  NASA scientists have been doing research here since the 90's.  Much of what was talked about was over my head.  We could take pictures in the treatment rooms but not when we saw the actual proton "equipment".  All the machines (and there were a lot) had names and started to remind me of something out of Star Trek.  They are able to get the protons moving at 400 million miles per hour.  They have 3 gantry rooms (below) and one horizontal beam room which is where Bob has his treatment.  I am in awe of what they are doing.

I am also encouraged by the chatter among the proton patients about a nutrious vegan diet as an addition to the treatment.  Loma Linda is helping heal the world not only with their technology but also with their view of a balanced, healthy life!  This is a learning experience for me, being in a Christian setting that believes in healing the mind, the body and the spirit in every way possible!  There is no condemnation.  They are inclusive and list all local churches in their info packet.  I could almost join them (except for the fact that they believe in god). :)

#12

Yesterday was #12, only 33 to go!  Bob still gets tired and a bit grumpy.  I am solving the grumpiness by having us move to a new place in one more week.  Yeah!  Today we went to Cabazon.  It's a city about 30 miles east of Loma Linda.  I have driven by these dinosaurs for many years and never stopped.  Today we did.  It was very disappointing.  They have a dinosaur "museum"  run by a religious organization that is trying to pass their beliefs off as scientific fact.  

Then we went to Morongo Casino.  It could be fun if there was no smoking but I don't last long with that in the air.  We did sit in a nonsmoking bar and watch the Kentucky Derby.

We are keeping busy.  It's been hot!

We have a slight problem with Bob losing weight.  He is supposed to remain the same so he fits snugly in the pod.  I'm trying to get him to eat more.