Good news at last

Evan's PET scan was good. At last!
We'll know more on the transplant schedule after he meets with his doctor next Tuesday.

Moving In

It won't be long before Alyssa again shares a room with her little brother. In light of that reality and the fact that her borrowed dresser went home to its rightful owner, Paul and Evan made a quick (well, as quick as 400+ miles round trip can get) to Racine yesterday to bring a new dresser for Alyssa from Grandma B. Poor Grandma received very little notice and had to empty out her stash of fabrics and other goodies in a big hurry. The window for this little trip was very narrow, Evan had a clinic appointment on Tuesday and found out then that he'd have to go back again on Thursday, which doesn't leave a lot of playing-around time in the furniture moving schedule.
From what I heard a nice visit was had by all. Paul, Evan and Grandma went to the Douglas Diner for lunch. Paul, of course, had to make an O&H run and then all had dessert and coffee at Grandma's. Our travelers then stopped at Cabela's on the way back. They arrived safely home just before 8:30 when I got home from work.
Karl will be moving in a bed when he goes to Minneapolis. That and her new dresser should find our hostess well equipped for a few more months of camping with the bros. We're so lucky to have her there. Now, we just need to keep her believing that she's lucky to have us!

Time in the woods

Evan went in for chemo last Tuesday and came home on Thursday. Even though he was feeling rather poorly, he and Ned managed to go bear hunting on Saturday, come home and go bow hunting that evening (Evan did shoot a deer) and go bear hunting again on Sunday. He is packing as much time in the woods as possible. He made venison with mushrooms last night. It won't be long before mushrooms are off limits again, so I guess he's got to get those in right along with the hunting.

Next Monday, September 28, will be the scan in Minneapolis. Karl goes on September 29 for blood tests to make sure everything is still a go for him. Then, if all goes well, Evan will be admitted the first week of October. And again, if all goes well, Karl will begin donating cells on October 12. I was supposed to be at a conference on October 12 & 13. I'm not going. I'll be in Minneapolis for a much bigger event! Until then, it's back to work and back to the woods for Evan. Good enough.

Coasting

Evan is working this week as he coasts his way into another chemo treatment next week. He's looking great after shaving his head last week -- the straggly falling-out in clumps look is simply not flattering on anyone. On Tuesday he'll head back into the hospital in Marshfield for what we hope will be his last chemo treatment here before the transplant.
Before then, however, it's -- you guessed it -- the opening of bear season. Everything up to this point has been keeping tabs on where the bears are. This weekend marks the beginning of being able to shoot one. Neither Evan or Ned have a permit to shoot (thank goodness!), but their friends do. Evan and Ned have permits to handle the dogs. Kit and Karl will go along for the show, from what I understand. Frankly, I don't get it, but since they never invite me, I guess I don't have to. My job is to stay home and hope I never have the opportunity to cook bear. Actually, it's more like go to work and hope against the bear reality, but that's beside the point.
At any rate, after that excitement, and the chemo, Evan will wait two weeks before going to Minneapolis again for another scan to see how much the chemo has done. If it looks good, it's transplant time. In the meantime, we'll all hope the next treatment isn't too hard on him, but that all of it has wreaked no uncertain havoc with the crap in his lung. The transplant seems a long time coming; I can't begin to imagine how long the last two years must seem to Evan. He's ready to go. Karl is ready to go. All they need is for the planets to align. Look to the heavens; it's time for things to go right.