Thanks, Formo--the blog posts were encouraging.

Hope this past week went well for your Dad, too.

Just wanted to publicly thank you whom shall not be named for posting on my dad's blog. He told me how odd it was getting a comment from someone out of the blue at such a distance when he has family members that haven't bothered commenting. And not just 'odd'.. but I believe his exact words were, 'very VERY cool'.

To say my dad has been humbled lately is a gross understatement. People have come from the woodwork giving support, prayers, and donations. I love seeing him get humbled because A) he deserves so much and to see him get just a TINY bit of what is deserved is awesome, and B) I'm a sap and like watching peoples reactions when they are humbled.

Just wanted to bump this so I can post an update when I get home.

So last week I took dad into the docs to do his chemo treatment because my brother went into ICU and my mother and baby sister were at the hospital with him. Because of this, it was only dad and me. Had a blast, actually. Arrived late late Thursday night at his house, he was just making up a big frozen mug of vanilla DQ soft serve ice cream and his homemade hot fudge. This was funny to me in many ways.. First off.. It instantly brought me back to the years after my mom left us and it was just my dad, my sister and I living together. Every weekend he would make up his hot fudge and we'd have sundaes. Second way it was funny was because of the chemo he becomes VERY sensitive to anything cold, causing his nerves to act as if he's being electrocuted so he has to avoid anything cold until that side effect wears off. The longer he's on chemo, the longer that effect will be until it is a constant. As of that Thursday night, he had about 3 days of no side effect and because it was his last night without it for at least a week he was splurging. So as soon as I got my stuff inside, I grabbed the leftover pizza he had made and then made myself up a big ol' sundae just like in year's past.

We just pretty much hung out during his 4 hour session. Played Scrabble, chatted.. One of my other sisters got off work around noon-ish, so she picked me up, we went out to eat and then brought dad back some food. After his chemo was done, then I drove dad back to the cities (dad's chemo therapy is at the hospital in the town by where he lives) to the hospital where my brother was at.

It was VERY cool to see how he interacted with the other people there getting chemo. He saw one guy (whom he must have gotten to know a bit) and asked how he was doing. The older fellow just responded, "I'm doing what I can" My dad looked at him with a smile and said, "FIGHT! Just keep fighting!"

Yesterday (Thursday) was his first CT scan after we found out the news and just this morning he got his results in.

Dad's latest Facebook status: "Scan results: tumors are shrinking (largest went from 28m to 21.5mm). Some of the smaller ones gone. Still not out of the woods, but chemo IS working. CEA (cancer evaluation anallysis) went from over 1000 to 520. Thank YOU Lord Jesus and all my family and friends!"

good to hear this Formo. You NEED to learn his hot fudge recipe. That way you can be the one making it for family outings and making memories 20-30 years from now. (Until then it is your dad's job and he can't quit before then.)

I was going thru a few things of Dad's this morning. Made me a little glum.

I would love to make up some sauteed mushrooms or chicken Cacciatore (no clue what that is, BTW) in honor of your dad. You just make sure you enjoy ice cream and hot fudge in honor of mine.