Happy New Year to all!

Bob had good news from his doctor yesterday. The swelling has gone down and everything is stable-nothing new and what is there is the same. The chemo is working!

We want to thank the friend who sent us the package from The Popcorn Factory. It is awesome! The card had a nice message but did not say who it was from... so many thanks!

We are off to celebrate at Dale and Lynn's tonight. Here's to a great new year!

a very Merry Christmas

Jordan with Aunt Shelly and Uncle Jeff.

Bob & Janice looking at the calendar Jess made for us.

Linda, Ryan, Bob, Tim, Alicia, Jordan, Jay and Janice

The Danielson family had a great Christmas. We hope you did too! We are thankful for the time we with loved ones. Linda's daughter has returned to Arizona and Shelly and Jeff have returned to Kentucky. We are thankful for their safe travels. Linda and Ryan will be with us for a few more days and we still have more than a week to spend time with Tim, Jess and the kids. We are looking forward to watching all of the Indiana Jones movies on the big screen and the new surround system.

Bob is doing well. He tires easily but has been feeling pretty good. In the past few weeks he has done the snow plowing more times than we can count, did the snowblowing once, and worked out in the shop.

A happy and healthy new year is our wish for you. We appreciate your prayers and support.

Winter

It began snowing the end of November and there haven't been too many days since then that it has not snowed. We are tired of it already! It seems like Bob has had to plow half a dozen times already. Last week it snowed so much that he was afraid he had nowhere to put the snow (because the ground hasn't frozen yet) and he went out and used the snowblower. He probably spent 10 hours over the course of three days. Then it was in the 40s on Sunday, turned to slush, froze overnight and now it is like a washboard. But, never fear...more snow is on the way!

Bob now has his new glasses and that does help. His peripheral vision has not totally returned yet. He continues to see some improvement though. Yesterday the optometrist did a test and she was really optimistic that he would continue to see improvement. He is hoping that he will be able to drive again and get out on his Harley next summer!

Last night Bob started the 5 days of chemo again. The worst side effect is being tired all the time. He feels like he is wasting a day if he isn't able to get out and do something. It just isn't like him to watch TV and take naps! He doesn't have much of an appetite either and so if I am not there he skips meals. I leave meals in the freezer for him but he just doesn't feel like eating.

We'll have lots of company for the holidays. Of course, Tim and Jess and the kids are right next door and we get to see them all year round, but we will have more time to enjoy them. Shelly and Jeff will be with us for a few days at Christmas. They will have made the long trip three times this year and we think that is awesome. Bob's sister Linda and her kids Ryan and Alicia will be here as well. They are coming from Minnesota and Arizona. It will be a Danielson family holiday! I'm sure Jess will post pictures. I still haven't had time to figure that out yet.

May the joys of this blessed season shed light and hope and fill our lives with peace.

Thanksgiving & Tree Pics

Relaxing after a wonderful dinner!

Poppies helping the kids make a tower of blocks.

The perfect Christmas Tree for the newlyweds!

Happy Thanksgiving

Bob started the second round of chemo - 5 consecutive days every 28 days. It has made him much more tired this time and it has bothered his stomach. Despite this, he had a pretty good week last week. He and Dale replaced the brake lines and calipers on the plow truck last Thursday. Good thing too because Bob needed to plow the snow on Friday. He also used the snowblower! On Saturday we put up some outdoor Christmas lights. The last few days Bob hasn't felt the best---headaches (most likely from the weather), stomachaches and very tired. When I talked with him tonight, he was still tired but the headache and stomach aches were gone.

I know that I have much to be thankful for. At the top of the list is Bob and the time I can spend with him. I'm thankful for all of you who read this and support Bob in his battle to conquer his cancer. I'm thankful for the love and suppport of our families and friends. I'm thankful for the support of my friends and colleagues at Fremont High School. And, I'm thankful for God's healing powers and for all of the prayers you have said. Please continue praying as Bob continues his battle.

I hope all of you can spend time with your loved ones over the holiday weekend.

I am sorry that it has been so long since my last update.

Bob is feeling better all the time. His headaches are almost a thing of the past. Praise God! He has been busy working outside these past few weeks. Taking care of all the leaves seems to be a never-ending task, especially when you live in the woods. He also has spent some time in his shop working on various things. He seems to have a mental list of things to do around the house and is getting some of those things done too. He has found that he can't work 12 hours days anymore-but that is a good thing. He says if he takes his time and doesn't get frustrated he can do anything. Bob and his (newly retired) friend Dale have started a new tradition and go to lunch at Sportsman's Bar every Friday. They tell me that they are not getting into any trouble, but if you know these two guys you have to wonder.

Bob decided to postpone his driver's advisement appointment until he gets his new glasses. He has an appointment next week to get his eyes checked. Hopefully he will have new glasses within two weeks.

His MRI showed that there is still considerable swelling from the radiation so is inconclusive. Another one will probably be scheduled near the end of November. The doctor had said before that the results of the MRI about 8 weeks after radiation show the best results because the brain has had time to heal from the radiation and surgery, thus less swelling.

Bob will be taking chemo for 5 days every four weeks. It is the same medication as before, just a higher dose. The doctor doesn't think he will have any nausea since he tolerated it so well before. He will be tired for the days he is taking it, but not for the rest of the time. This will probably be for one year. He was not happy to hear that. I think he was hoping that he would be done with the drugs. He is continuing to decrease the steroid (used to prevent headaches and swelling). The trick is to do it slow enough so that he doesn't get headaches. While it was very helpful and did what is was supposed to, he has noticeable side effects and is eager to be off that medicine in particular. He has the bloating and weight gain, plus weakness in his thighs. The doctor noticed this and said it is a common side effect and that Bob will regain his strength once he is off the steroids. We noticed it but thought it was because he was tired.

We are thankful for the healing that God has done in his body and continue to pray that Bob is cancer free. Remember, you can keep us posted on your life by writing a message in the guestbook or by sending an email to janicebob.danielson@gmail.com.

Color Tour

Last Saturday and Sunday was our annual Color Tour. (See photos below.) Bob, Janice, Tim, Jess, Jay, Jordan and her friend Anna made the trip this year. This is a long standing Danielson family tradition. It's changed a little over the years but always includes a visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes. The weather was great on Saturday as we made our way to Petoskey. We had a great dinner at La Senorita, ate too much and went back to the motel to enjoy the pool and hot tub. Sunday was cool, windy and rainy at times but we still enjoyed some shopping in Traverse City before our visit to the dunes. The younger ones climbed to the top of the dunes and raced down. (The oldest two stayed at the bottom to get photos of the descent.) We enjoyed a picnic lunch and the scenic drive. Colors were great and we arrived at home early Sunday evening.

Bob is happy to be done with radiation. His headaches continue to decrease in both frequency and severity. He is able to get out and do more each week. I believe much time in the next few weeks will be dedicated to leaf pick-up. He says that is the price to pay for living in the woods. His next project will be to get the snow plow truck ready to roll. He doesn't really want to do it because he is not looking forward to winter; but knows that it needs to be done.

Bob will continue to receive chemo treatments for the next 6 months to one year. He will take the same medication as before, just a different dose, for 5 days each month. He tolerated this medication quite well so we are hoping this will continue.

In the next two weeks he will have an MRI, a Driver's Advisement and then a doctor's appointment to determine if/when he can drive again. He has been doing very well on the lawn tractor and the quad and feels his eyesight continues to improve. He has backed his pickup into the shop a few times and has had no problems with it. I don't even want to attempt it because I swear there are only a few inches of room to spare on either side of the mirrors.

Bob is getting out more and more but is confined to home until he can drive again. I am in Fremont during the week so the days are long for him. I think that Bob misses his daily visits with his Harsco friends now that he doesn't need a driver for his radiation. Feel free to stop in and visit anytime.

We give thanks to God for your continued support, love and prayers.

Color Tour Weekend Pics

only 3 treatments to go!

We've noticed a pattern. Some of Bob's worst headaches have been on a Saturday. (It is probably a result of five days of radiation in a row.) This past Saturday was no exception. However, Sunday was a great day. After church and lunch he spent the rest of the afternoon outside. He mowed his lawn and was enjoying being outside and on the lawn tractor so much that he mowed Tim & Jess's lawn too. Afterward, Tim and Jay spread some fertilizer so all of the guys were able to enjoy Poppies tractor. Then we watched the rest of the race at Talladega and had dinner with Tim, Jess & the kids. Yesterday was a good day also. Bob had an appointment in the morning with his medical oncologist. All is going well. In the afternoon he had radiation and met with the radiation oncologist who said that all is going well and that he will be done with treatment this Friday. Hallelujah! I have promised to take him out to dinner wherever he wants to go. He thinks prime rib will be his choice! Next week he will have a healing week (no chemo or radiation) before he starts another round of chemo. So we're hoping for great weather next weekend because we are planning to go on our annual Fall color tour and trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes with Tim, Jess, Jordan & Jayden. Shelly may be able to join us this year too! We continue to pray for God to remove all traces of cancer and for complete healing. We hope that you will continue to keep Bob in your prayers as well. Many thanks for your help and support. This would have been so much harder without you!

Jayden inspecting the lawn mower for Poppies!

Faith

Good morning, Treatment continues to go well for Bob. He is hoping to finish radiation next Friday. His headaches are less; in fact, he has been totally headache free for a few days! He has been able to read the TV Guide (although he is mighty tired of that!) so his vision is continuing to improve. He is looking forward to getting outside tomorrow to mow the lawn and pick up leaves. He has done very well being on his own through out the week when I am in Fremont although he does say the days are long. He looks forward to the drive to Muskegon each day with his friends. Feel free to stop in and say hi anytime! We are thankful for family and good friends. Faith is not believing that God can, It is knowing that God will.

Nascar, lawn tractors & great friends

Bob had a mediocre weekend; there were high points and some not so good parts. Friday night and Saturday Bob had a headache; not the worst, but enough to keep him from getting outside to enjoy the great Fall weekend. Sunday we went to church and then watched the NASCAR race. Neither of us felt too bad that Kyle Busch had a DNF. On Monday, Bob put the bagger on the lawn tractor and mowed the lawn. He was so happy to be able to get outside and get some work done. However, he has had a pretty bad headache since then.

He has treatment today and will meet with the doctor so I am going to meet him at the Cancer Center. Unfortunately, he will have to get back to Ludington so I may just have to do some shopping on my own! (Bob's driver today is taking time off work so he can take Bob! Bob's friends are priceless and he has many of them!)

Bob has only 4 days of chemo left and he is really looking forward to 5 less pills each night! Only 13 more radiation treatments left too.

We are so thankful for your love, friendship, support and prayers!

On my own again...

I know that those were not the words that Willie Nelson sang, but they may be the ones that Bob is thinking! Bob has been having a great week! This is his first week alone and I think he is enjoying it. (He has had someone with him 24/7 since the end of June and he is not used to all that.) I think the days are long without anyone around to talk to but I am sure it is a relief to be on his own again. Also, he enjoys the visits from family & friends who stop in. Today is Bob's 21st day of radiation. Only 14 more to go! He does not have radiation tomorrow or Monday (they are upgrading the equipment) so we are hoping for a great weekend. The weather is supposed to be great so maybe we can get out for a ride in the convertible. Please continue to keep Bob in your prayers. Many thanks for your continued support.

waiting for the sun to shine

After more than 2 days of rain, it has finally stopped and we are waiting for the sun to come out. (It is about 5 hours late, according to the weatherman!) The weather changes continue to be tough for Bob. He had a headache from late Friday evening until this morning. However, today he has had a good day. We took a walk and he even went grocery shopping with me. That ought to tell you how eager he is to get out of the house!

Bob's sister and nephew have returned to Minnesota. We will miss them. We are so thankful that they could be here for a month to help out. I could return to Fremont for the work week knowing that he had someone in the house with him to help if he needed it. He is certain that he can do everything on his own so I will be leaving in a few hours and will not return until Friday late afternoon. It is nice to know that Tim and Jess are right next door and that he has lots of good friends who will help if needed. If you know Bob, you know how independent and stubborn he can be, right?

Bob continues with his daily trips to Muskegon for radiation. He is halfway through! Hallelujah! His good friends and co-workers from Harsco have taken him every day this month so he can catch up on the plant news and see new faces each day. Not only is this good for his spirits, but is also a help to the budget. The cost of driving every day to Muskegon for seven weeks was staggering but his friends have taken that worry away! In addition, my friends and co-workers gave us a gas card that will fill our tanks many times. Our most heartfelt thanks to all of you!

Thanks to Jess we have more wedding photos for you to see. I really need to learn how to do that! Bob would love to hear from you. Feel free to post a note in the guestbook or send an email to janicebob.danielson@gmail.com. That way we can respond. God's blessing to you...

More Wedding Day photos

Happy Wedding Day!

Bob and I were married today at 12:15 at Trinity EFC in Ludington. We were joined by 24 of our family members. The day was sunny and warm so we were able to enjoy our wedding dinner outside at our home. It was a beautiful and relaxing afternoon and evening. We sat out by the campfire until it was nearly dark. Once I figure out how to publish photos correctly I will add more.

Bob is going into his 4th week of radiation and chemo. He is doing remarkably well. Last week he had only one bad headache! Bob's Harsco friends have been taking him to Muskegon each day for radiation. What a blessing it is to have so many caring and generous friends. We are so thankful for your support. Please continue to pray for Bob's healing and cure!

Happy Labor Day!

Hello all from Jess! :-) Dad had a great weekend (minus a few headaches). Saturday he enjoyed heading out to Dale and Lynn's Labor Day/Dale's retirement get together and then he and Janice enjoyed a sunset at the beach! Sunday he made his first trip to church since before the surgery and today we enjoyed a family get together at our house. Below I am posting some pics of today, but keep in mind that Jordan and Jay took most of the pictures!






Dad and Grandpa Danielson enjoying lunch.





A little blurry, but can you see dad's new haircut!!?? Now that Janice has some fancy new clippers, I think dad is going to keep the buzz cut look! Guys have to show off their cool scars right??!!


Smile!
Cousin Ryan and Aunt Linda!

Good Morning! Bob continues to have some really good days and some not so good days. He had an appointment with the surgeon yesterday. He is healing well and progressing nicely. (He continues to tell us that he is not a patient man and this is going way too slowly! Now that he is feeling much better, he is more vocal about wanting to get out into the shop and get to work, do the string trimming, drive the quad (and even his truck!) etc.). Treatment is going well. Bob is able to tolerate the chemo, but the radiation may be causing some headaches. His radiation oncologist says that these should diminish, both in severity and frequency. Bob has been a little anxious about having two vehicles, but he sold the Mountaineer to a Harsco friend. (He went out and removed the ball for the trailer hitch and removed his HD vanity plate. That day he also took a walk and we replaced the rubber seal on the garage door.) He's happy it is sold and that someone he knows bought it because it is such a great vehicle. But, he likes his Ford truck the best! We're hoping for a relaxing long weekend. He does not have radiation on Monday so we can enjoy the holiday. We're expecting great weather for the whole weekend so maybe we can take the convertible and take a drive along the lake. Thanks for your prayers and support!

it's almost Friday!

Bob is having a great week. At his appointment on Monday his doctor was pleased to see how much better he was from the last visit. Headaches have been less, he doesn't seem to have any side effects from the chemo and very few from the radiation. He does notice that things are a little blurry for about 30-45 minutes after radiation, but that clears up. Bob's sister drove Bob to radiation yesterday and their parents came along for the ride. I met them in Muskegon. We had a nice dinner before they returned to Ludington. Of course, I stayed and did a little shopping!

the weekend

Bob had a great day on Friday. Dale & Lynn (friends that go way back)visited and were so impressed at how much he had improved and how great he looked. They said it was like talking to the 'old' Bob (that would be prior to surgery). Unfortunately, he had a headache on Saturday and didn't feel good until the evening. Sunday was another great day. He watched the race that was at MIS and wished he was there! Bob's sister Linda is here from Minnesota and will be staying with Bob for a few weeks. She will help with driving him to Muskegon for radiation, will remind him to take his pills on time and whatever else she can. We are hoping Bob will grill for us next weekend. I told him I would buy the steaks if he will do the grilling! Yesterday he changed the propane tank for me and checked the fluid levels in my car. He really feels like he is getting better every day. He has a headache almost every day, but says it it tolerable most of the time. We are hoping the frequency and severity of headaches will decrease as he continues with radiation. He seems to be tolerating the chemo without any problems at this time. Thanks for your prayers.

First radiation

Last night Bob had his first radiation treatment. All went well and it was finished in no time. In fact we had arrived a little early and they took us right in. They showed Bob, Jess and me the room & equipment and told us how it was going to work. The nurse took us out of the room and showed us the area where the radiation techs sit to watch the whole process. She answered a few questions for us and then Bob was back. We left at the time his appointment was supposed to start. He was a little anxious yesterday about radiation but feels much better now having gone through it once. Every day we can see progress in his recovery. Bob is really looking forward to the day when he can go out into the shop and work on a project. Thanks for your cards, calls, emails & posts. We love hearing from all of you! We love it that God is hearing prayers from you too! You can post a note in the Guestbook too.

Treatment Starts Tomorrow

This is Jess posting this evening. Janice is back to work and we miss her a bunch! (She will be back tomorrow evening) Dad is doing very well on his own (well, he is semi on his own). Today he did a load of laundry and warmed up his leftovers for lunch in the mic. This was a huge accomplishment for him as sometimes things don't come to him right away. He wasn't feeling as good as he did yesterday and was battling a small headache a lot of the day. This evening he seems more relaxed and is enjoying some time visiting with Tim. I went over and caught the two of them for a pic to share with you.

Tomorrow evening he will have his first radiation/chemo treatment, so please be praying for that. We are hoping not only for good results, but that dad's body will take it in stride.
Matthew 25:36 "...I was sick and you looked after me..."

a beautiful summer day

Bob had a headache for most of the day yesterday so he wasn't able to get outside. He was able to watch most of the race at watkins Glen though. Today we went for a walk around the yard and even out to get the mail. After liunch we went in to Ludington to run some errands. We did stop at DQ and then drove to the lake and through the waterfron park. He is resting now and I am trying to finish up some things before I leave in the morning. Tim and Jess will be taking over until I get back on Thursday. I will post an update after Bob's treatments begin. Keep praying!

Great news!

Bob had a great day yesterday. He was able to get out into his shop. He checked the air pressure in his truck tires, fixed a small problem in the air compressor and just enjoyed being out there again. Today we are planning a walk out to check out the garden. He hasn't seen it since July 9. We are also planning a trip to Dairy Queen!

Other news:

Radiation will begin this Thursday (8/14). Bob's daughter-in-law, Jessica, will drive him the first day and I will meet them there. (I have to work this week T-Th.) I can take him on Friday. Jess will probably take him on Monday. Co-workers and friends from church have volunteered to take him when we can't so I will be setting up a calendar to get things organized.

Bob's sister, Linda, and nephew, Ryan, will be arriving from Minnesota next weekend. Jess and I will both be back at work so they will help with meals and meds and whatever else they can.

Tim and Jess and Bob's parents are our neighbors and check in frequently. Tim is taking care of the lawn and is really enjoying his dad's lawn tractor! Jess has been at my side during the past 6 weeks. She has been a godsend! My brother and his wife were here last week. They parked their 5th wheel out back. Jerry fished almost every day and gave us a good supply. Joann made dinner for us each evening and that was a real treat! We do appreciate all the calls, cards and prayers! What a blessing to have friends and family who are so willing to help!

First, a brief update. On June 26 a CT scan showed an acute left parietal lobe mass. Bob was referred to a neurosurgeon in Muskegon. Surgery was scheduled for July 10. At that time the doctor removed about 90% of the tumor. The tumor was malignant-a glioblastoma multiforme. Unfortunately this kind of cancer is aggressive and fast growing. On July 12, Bob needed a second surgery for the removal of a blood clot. The doctor said the clot affected the brain similar to a stroke. Bob was released from the hospital on July 18.

Bob is happy to be home. Recovery is going well, just much slower than he would like. Each day we can see the progress he has made. He has some good days and some not-s0-good days. He is frustrated that he is not able to do all that he would like to do and he is really tired of not feeling well. One of the side effects of the steroids he is on (to control the swelling) is a yeast infection causing a sore throat and cough. That is finally better. He is still having headaches which they say is normal. It seems like too much sensory input (too many people, people talking loudly or TV on and people talking) can bring one on. We think the weather the past few days may have brought some on as well. Sometimes normal activity can trigger one. So, it is a delicate balancing act. When he is feeling good he wants to get outside or go out to his shop, but is afraid it will bring on a headache.

Bob has had two appointments at the Johnson Cancer Center in Muskegon. (Unfortunately, radiation cannot be done at the Cancer Center here in Mason County.) Planning for radiation is a complex process (and taking far longer than we thought). He returns next Thursday for a final planning appointment. We think the radiation will start on August 18. He will need to go there Monday-Friday for the next seven weeks. Treatment will take about 15 minutes. He will also take a chemo pill and an anti-nausea pill each night before bed.

We are so thankful for the wonderful support of family and friends. We thank you for the calls, cards, and prayers. Please continue to pray. We are praying for a complete cure (God can perform miracles!) and for Bob to be able to resume some of his activities during treatment. Please pray for patience, strength and courage for Bob. Please pray also that Bob will be able to keep a positive attitude in the days and weeks ahead. He told me the other day that he was going to kick this tumor's a_ _ !

This is my first attempt at blogging so please bear with me. Our hopes are that this will be a great way to update our friends and family about Bob's recovery and treatment.

The Ride

Last Sunday we were honored to have some of Bob's great friends drive through to give him some words of encouragement.

Click Here to see the video.