Health Update: Monday was my monthly visit with my oncologist. Once again, my labs show the major cancer markers are normal, although one (M-spike) was gone and now has returned. This reflects 14 months of remission, for which I am deeply grateful. We don’t know what the return of the M-spike means (yet). My renal function is still “shitty-stable” (my term). The chemo has once again caused my immune system to collapse so I spent the morning in Skagit Valley Hospital on Monday getting IVIG infusion to help boost my immune response, but was done in time to get some work done on the cottage by late afternoon. If it were not for the side effects of the chemo and some residual problems related to my renal failure, I would be normal. The greatest side effect from the chemo is an overwhelming fatigue and revolving GI distress. But around those things I am able to build an almost normal life.

This past two months have been quite difficult for Denise and me for many reasons. Typical life in a broken world. It is too complicated to explain here and so muti-factorial and convoluted that it would rival a James Joyce novel. By last week, I was at a point of total exhaustion, so much so that I could not see straight. You know what I’m talking about because I know you have all been there. Rest was starting to leak in around the edges just in time, but now we have another crisis within our family. But these are typical things, things that I’m sure each reader has dealt with. I call them life sorrows or disappointments. But worry is better spent on behalf of your children than the more mundane things, like building a cottage. Speaking of which:

Cottage Update: I will say that the idea of building of cottage is serving its purpose well. An overwhelming endeavor, keeping me moving and exercising and my mind off cancer, self-pity, and depression. If I just could avoid all the injuries.

I went through a stage of cottage building in August when it became far more than I had anticipated. One of the most difficult parts of the cottage building was putting the eight foot by sixteen foot, four-hundred-pound roofing panels in place. This kept me awake at night for months, considering how I could do this by myself. Then in July my son, Tyler (an excellent finish carpenter) and two of his carpenter buddies said they would put the panels on. I was anticipating being ready for the panels by the end of September, however, their work schedule gave them one opportunity to help, the second week of August. For four weeks I had to work far harder than I had the energy for, to get things ready for them. I am deeply grateful now for their work and it is a huge burden off my shoulders. However, during my ramped-up work schedule in July and early August, I had several injuries and became increasing exhausted, from which I am now slowly recovering.

While I feel sad about this incredibly busy summer ending, part of me is looking forward to our winter, when we become wrapped in dark rain and cool days. I hope it will be a time of rest and recovery for my injured knee, arm, and foot. I’m starting to miss my previous life as a hermit.

Mike