We left the city on Friday and got home before 7. Amy made a spicy mix, and it was good; then, I had some Carvel ice cream and took my two medications. I moved to my home office and finished up the email that goes out on Saturday morning. Finally, I got into bed, and Amy massaged my knees and legs with Cannaskin (eucalyptus CBD muscle rub) that Alyssa had given me. She spent about 30 minutes, and then I went to sleep.

On Saturday morning (I had woken up a couple of times and used the new urinal), I decided to do the leg exercises before getting out. When I was finally able to get out of bed, my knees felt a tiny bit better. I went to the kitchen to have my regular breakfast and then headed to the shower. Amy was going to look at another car but waited until I got out. I decided to put the Cannaskin back on my knees and then waited about 30 minutes before putting the pants on. I will use this over the next few days and see if it helps. Amy got back around 2, not happy with the cars she looked at, and then headed to the beach to visit Alyssa, Adam, Teddy, and Benny. I stayed home. I decided to have lunch, and it became an issue.

I put the protocol in a plastic cup and squeezed it so I could easily pour it into the syringe. Then I put the cup on the table and started with the protein shakes. I finished one and then poured in the first part of the next one. At that moment, the plastic cup popped open, and I was so scared by it that my feeding tube shot up, and the protein went all over the table, floor, wheelchair, and my shirt and pants. A complete mess. On top of all that, I could not stop laughing. I moved slowly to the sink and took the Windex, then moved back to the first chair at the table and sprayed and wiped. Then, I sprayed the floor and did my best to lean down and clean it up. Then I went to my chair and sprayed and wiped. Then I took all the paper towels and got them to the garbage. After I felt I did what I could, I went to the bedroom and changed my pants and shirt. It took a good hour plus, and when I went back to the kitchen, Amy showed up and informed me that our daughter and her family, as well as my brother and his family, were coming over for dinner – oh, my mom stopped by for a little while as well. I ate in the kitchen, and the family had a good time in the dining room. After they left, Amy had to clean up the house, and I went to the bedroom. She came in to help me use the PainQuil, but I was still laughing and made a mess with the feeding tube. She left, and I put the medication in the tube but dropped a few on the floor. I took the water bottle and spilled some on the medication – it took care of washing it away, and Amy came back and wiped it up. I  will add that getting into bed is getting more difficult since I have more trouble lifting my left leg. Amy was kind enough to use the Cannaskin again on my legs, and then we went to sleep.

Sunday, I woke up around 2:30 am and used the urinal. The problem was that I missed it and made a mess. Amy got up and helped me get out of bed and headed to the shower. She removed the sheets, cleaned up my mess, and then put on new sheets. We went back to sleep and finally got up around 9:30. I did my leg exercises and then brushed my teeth – no longer using my electric toothbrush. I then went to the kitchen and had my typical breakfast. I sat in the chair for a while, and since Amy had a few things to do, I took a shower and then used the Cannaskin. My muscles are becoming increasingly weaker. I’m not sure how long I’ll still be able to walk using the walker. I had lunch with the feeding tube around 3:30. We watched a couple of movies, and then I had dinner around 7:30; Amy made some really good mixed stuff. Then, I had some ice cream, which allowed me actually to swallow my medications. Finally, I got into bed, and Amy used the Cannaskin on my legs and went to sleep.

Monday was not the best to start. I did not take the PainQuil and woke up 3 or 4 times. At 2:30, I was having trouble with the saliva, coughing, etc., and had to finally lift the top part of the bed and get out. Then I got back into the bed and did well by laying on my left side. I ended up getting out of bed by 6:30, as this week marks the start of Radicava. After about 1 hour, I took the Doxy and then headed to the shower. A higher toilet was being installed between 10:00 and 11:00, so I wanted to be ready before they arrived.

After showering, Amy helped me get dressed, and I wrote an apology for all the noise I made that night. She didn’t hear it; she slept well. Then I went to the kitchen for my amazing breakfast – drugs, protocol, and protein shakes through the feeding tube. When I was done, Stuart Bodner from Creative Water showed up. I have known Stuart since he was born. They did a great job! I was working on my computer while they did the installation, and after they finished, Amy headed out to look at more cars; I stayed in my home office. At 1:30, I took a short break and had some lunch, including protein shakes, and then returned to work. I will add that the amount of paper towels I use to drain the saliva from my mouth is crazy – each one lasts about 15-20 minutes. Amy got back around 3:30 and discussed all the cars she saw. I had dinner – Indian food, pureed, and ice cream (I even took a video of how the ice cream pours out of my mouth since I have to keep my chin down while eating). Finally got to the bed, took the PainQuil; Amy massaged my legs with the Cannaskin and fell asleep.

On Tuesday, I woke up once at 4:30 and then got up at almost 7. I took Radicava and waited in the kitchen until I could take Doxy. Then I showered, got dressed (with Amy’s help), and had breakfast. Around 10:15, the gentleman arrived to put in the two chairlifts. When I got up from the kitchen chair, my right knee buckled, and luckily, I fell back in the chair. Amy ended up calling the people at Columbia, and they said I should take the Tylenol every 4 hours, and they were prescribing something for me to take 2 times a day that should help with saliva. If not, Botox! I worked on the computer all day, and around 5, I decided to meet the guy installing the chairlift. I was surprised about how it worked for me to get off in the hallway to the door. I was also concerned about the fact that the railing at the very bottom of the two steps blocked part of the doorway. After I tried everything, Amy made me a soup dinner and ice cream. Then I headed to the office to do my update and then off to bed. Amy massaged my legs and even my back, and I drifted off to sleep.

Wednesday, while I got up a couple of times, the biggest issue was at 6 am, when hammering started at the home next door. This project has been ongoing for more than a year, and they typically start around 7 am; however, 6 am is not permitted. I texted the owner. He wrote back and apologized, explaining that it was due to the hot weather. Anyway, I got up and started my medication. Then, I showered and, got dressed and took all the other drugs and protein shakes. Then I got on the chairlift to the hallway and then on the chairlift outside. I entered the car, and we got to the gallery around 11:30; Neil and Nathan came down to help me. It was going to be a fun day since my granddaughter, Teddy, was here! Amy took care of her all day. I had grilled cheese and soup for lunch, which was a tough choice because I constantly bite the inside of my mouth. Then I went back to work, and Neil came in with a box. He opened it for me, and it was a beautiful gift of food from Anthony Waichulis and the ANI Art Academy!  Later, I had some gelato, and then we left for home. It took an hour and forty minutes to get home, and then I had to use the chairlifts. For dinner, Amy made me my favorite – White Castle (blended) – it was so good, and then we had ice cream. Oh, I also took three medications with some yogurt beforehand. I was done by 9 and headed to the bedroom, where I took the PainQuil. Amy did the leg massages, and I went to sleep.

On Thursday, I woke just once during the night and got up at 7 am, took my Radicava, and then the Doxy. I went to shower (which is taking a long time these days due to my leg weakness), got dressed (with the help of my wife), and moved to the kitchen to take all the other medications and shakes. Amy received a text from Dr. Andrews stating that she had sent medication to help with her knee pain, and I received a text from CVS indicating that the prescription was ready; she went there to pick it up. Then we headed to the city and arrived around 11:30. It’s annoying that it takes me three hours or more to get ready to leave (in the old days, I got up around 7:30 and was headed to the city around 8:15). I spent the day color-correcting images, sold a painting, had grilled cheese with soup for lunch, and around 5, we headed home. I got in the car, and the drive was 1 hour and 40 minutes! Amy made me lasagna for dinner (whipped up), and I took the protocol and all my additional medicines – I have so many more now. By 9, I was heading to the bedroom, and my wife massaged my legs and left shoulder.

Friday, I woke up twice during the night and got out of bed just before 7 (it takes a bit of time to get out of bed). I took my Radicava and Doxy, then went to take a shower. Walking is becoming increasingly difficult, and how can I shower when I can no longer walk? When I got to the bed, I noticed my feet were swollen. Amy took a picture and texted it to Dr. Andrews. She replied and told her what we should try – one of the ideas was knee-high compression socks. Once I got dressed, I went to the kitchen and took all the other medications and protein shakes – a lot of liquids! Before we left, I figured it would be best to go to the bathroom. Then, we headed out to the gallery. On the way, I had to pee, so I made Amy stop by a street vendor, and she bought a bottle of iced tea and spilled it out, I then used it. That was the first time it happened. Got to the gallery close to 12, and Amy bought me the compression socks … Lance had to put them on.