Jon's having an excellent time in Arizon and eating Howard and Kay out of house and home. His weight was down to 160 so he needs every calorie he can get.
I am using my time to get caught up at work and spending time with all of my girlfriends that I have been neglecting since Jon was diagnosed.

Jon continues to feel better than he has in months. I really think the appetite stimulant has been helpful, (megesterol not pot!) he is eating well and regaining his strength.

We drove to Seattle in the snow early this morning for a blood draw and follow up appointment with Dr. Lin. His blood work was all good and his calcium levels were normal. Dr. Lin was able to graph the calcium levels since late January and determined that they were already on the rise throughout February. He concluded that the hypercalcemia was from the hormones produced by the tumors as Jon had been out of treatment since December and the protocol he had received was ineffective. As a result Dr. Lin would like to retry the Xyloda and Celebrex telling us that there has never been a case of hypercalcemia reported with those medications but to proceed cautiously. This makes me a bit uneasy but Jon is still in his "guns blazing" mode and wants to start asap.

During our drive this morning Jon was lamenting that he wanted to go outside but couldn't take the cold weather and thought he would take a trip to a warmer climate. We brainstormed on some destinations and finally concluded that a visit to Howard and Kay Brown in Arizona was his best and most enjoyable option. He left this evening on Alaska Airlines and has arrived moments ago. It will be good for him to have some time with his extended family and enjoy the sun and warmth. Staci may be coming over to visit with him as well. I expect him back by mid-week and Dr. Lin wants him to hold off on the Xyolda til he's back and do a follow up appointment after he's completed a week of the oral chemotherapy.

Jon awoke this morning and said this is the best he's felt in as long as he can remember!

I had an absolutely wonderful day with Wyatt. He is a sweet, happy baby and a joy to be around. He is laughing, smiling and becoming very active. We really don't have much of a routine yet so we just played the entire day by ear. Ericka came over around 4 to pick him up and we were having such a nice visit we decided to do our grocery shopping and have dinner together. Levi called after his Tuesday night class, around 9:30, wondering where his family was. I told him I had kidnapped them and wasn't giving them back...he didn't even laugh!

Jon did fairly well today. He ate a good breakfast, worked at his desk in the morning then had a massage at my office this afternoon. He called me afterward saying he had run into his friend, Brian, and they were going out to dinner. It's 10:30 and he just got home. That is more than he's done in weeks.

We have a blood draw and appointment with Dr. Lin Thursday at 7:30 am. From there we will strategize further treatment options.

Jon was released from the hospital today and I was able to take an extra long lunch to pick him up and get him home (thank goodness for Dr. Gagnon!) He is still extremely weak and tired but declined the wheelchair and managed to walk to the car. When I got him home I gave him a nice long bath with the extra special soaps Staci had made and a skin brushing. He both enjoyed and appreciated it, saying its nice to have a few moments of time when something actually feels good. It was sweet and sad all at the same time.

I'm just leaving work and am on my way to pick up Wyatt.

Jon was in good spirits when I returned to the hospital last night. He was relentlessly teasing the nurse so he's getting back to his usual self. He ate a big dinner of pot roast, mashed potatoes and veggies with some ice cream for dessert. That's the most I've seen him eat since before I went to Miami. We talked all evening and he seemed just about normal. The nurse removed his IV and they are starting him on oral meds instead of IV. He should come home tomorrow.

Tonight/tomorrow are my first official babysitting days with Wyatt. It will be a nice welcome home for Jon to have his grandson waiting!

Jon just called me to ask me to bring a few things back to the hospital. He sounds pretty slurry again. He said, "Doc, are they sure I didn't have a stroke?" I said "Yes, I checked you for that when I got home from Miami and that's why I didn't make you got to the ER. The doctors here have also ruled that out." He replied "How could anyone possible be this stupid?" It's frustrating for him when he's used to being so sharp and it makes us all sad. Dan was just saying yesterday how much he misses their conversations since this has all started. I have to agree, its been nice last night and today to have a few of our usual talks when he is coherent.