Well, Folks, if you are reading this, my grand scheme to resurrect my laptop has failed. (Not so fast, juvat, Patience is a virtue. Update complete.) Anyhow, Mrs. J and I are taking a little weekender to visit Grand Kids and their parents in College Station. My intention was to write Monday's post during nap time and publish it from there. For whatever reason, if you're reading this version of the post written Friday before we left the 'Burg, the grand scheme went south. Plan went off without a hitch!
Yay! Score one for the home team.
However, I had a visit with a dermatologist this past week to get a tab removed from behind my ear. As he was doing that, he asked about a dot on my right cheek. (You can see it in the above photo, just below the right lens of my glasses and right of my nose. A wee beasty.) I told him that I thought it was a rub mark from my CPAP mask. He said he thought it was a bit more than that and asked if I'd mind him taking a skin sample.
I ok'd it and grinned and bore the sting. Got a call from him late Thursday afternoon. Seems its Basal Cell Carcinoma. Suffice it to say I used another word for fecal matter in response. He's referring me to a surgeon and we'll see what he recommends.
Hence the title to this post.
However, we did make it to College Station. Had a great time with MBD and Family.
Been a long time since we've seen León, He's 8 months and 30 lbs. Gonna be a linebacker I think.
And Big Sister, MG, who is a very mature 3.
It was a fun weekend, good food, good story telling, good playing with the Grand Kids. MBD and SIL got an evening out just the two of them to celebrate their anniversary. Mrs J and I got an evening alone with the Grand Kids to spoil them a bit. What's not to like?
We're heading home as you read this so responses to comments might be a little later in the day.
Peace out, y'all. What will be, will be!
More family time, muy bueno. The wee ones aren't so wee anymore. Cancer is a four-letter word in my book juvat. By the way been meaning to mention that the Oregon Air National Guard received their first F-15EX in early June.
ReplyDeleteNylon, Thanks, no they aren't "wee" any more although the youngest could use a bit more training. Got on the surgeon's schedule for the first week in August. Something called a MOHS procedure. Gonna do a bit of research and if anyone has any thing they think I should know, please feel free.
DeleteI wonder what the improvements in the EX model are over the C/D I flew. This probably isn't the place to discuss though.
juvat
Don’t worry about the MOHS surgery. I have had three that I remember and I don’t remember much about them except that they don’t hurt. Local anesthesia and a little “tugging” feeling. They do a little at a time to keep your pretty face intact. For me they weren’t too worried about the pretty, so they got it all on the first pass. Of course, your mileage may vary on that score. Good luck and we will pray for a good result. Mark
DeleteMark, thanks for the info. Knowing what’s going to be done takes a bit of stress out of it, much appreciated!
Deletejuvat
Enjoy the wins, hug the wee ones. Take care of problems as they rise up (cursed cancer) and carry on friend.
ReplyDeleteMichael,
DeleteWill do!
Thanks
juvat
Prayers up, juvat. For both you and the Missus.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Boss, both of us are very appreciative.
Deletejuvat
I've have some brushes with nitrogen at the dermo's office. I bought a few hats with brims to keep the sun off'n me head. We are pretty close to the heliosphere down here.
ReplyDeleteSTxAR,
DeleteYeah, I've got to get on the Hat bandwagon. Wore one virtually all the time in the AF, not sure why I'm reluctant to wear one now.
juvat
You haven't lost a good sized chunk due to the sun yet... My good sized chunks came from my chest & back, I wear a wide brim hat these days when I'm in the sun.
DeleteGood luck!
Rob,
DeleteMrs J has already set that ultimatum. Her wish is my command!
juvat
Awesome grandkid pics!!
ReplyDeleteSo a computer crashing is just a major drag! Congrats on getting it all back up and going...always seems like a miracle to me.
I guess the lessons this past week were that life can be short, ya never know when it might end, that while miracles can happen, don't take anything for granted. Spend family time as much as possible, get all the hugs ya can.
And keep your wellness checks, not just with the GI and cardiology docs, but also with the derm guys. Cancer is indeed evil, but if caught early and quickly, it can be overcome, especially with prayer...so am keeping ya'll on the list!!
Suz
Suz,
DeleteThanks, I appreciate the advice and instructions. Will Comply.
Yeah, the Grand Kids are pretty awesome on a whole lot of fronts.
juvat
Geeeezzzz...Y'all can't seem to catch a break healthwise. Good thing the BCC was caught. Good news is that it's one of the more treatable forms of Crabs. (sorry, couldn't resist) Prayers up for you and yours.
ReplyDeleteJoe,
DeleteYeah, we've had, between us, averaged about 15 medical visits a month for the last 4 or 5 months. While I like the staff we see, it does get a bit old (or maybe it's me that's getting old). Hopefully the two upcoming surgeries are very successful and we can return to a more "normal" routine.
Please, Lord?
juvat
Sounds like you had a lovely weekend, Juvat.
ReplyDelete(Ending up twice on the prayer list for two different items is not the trend we would like to see. It is not a contest to be "most prayed for"....)
THBB,
DeleteIt was a great and relaxing weekend for all concerned and much needed.
No, all things considered, I'd like things to be a heckuva lot less "exciting". Or maybe, "Nerve wracking" is a better term.
We do appreciate the prayers, though. Thanks
juvat
Disclaimer. I'm not a doctor and haven't stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in years. What I do have is frequent skin problems. Having the beasties killed off with liquid nitrogen is both a pain and expensive. I use a few drops of 30% hydrogen peroxide on the area. Hurts like &&*& for 30 minutes. This has kept me going for ten+ years. YMMV but it may be worth looking into. Once a redhead, Ancestry.com tells me I'm a 99.99% Northern European Caucasian. The Sun is not my friend.
ReplyDeleteWSF,
DeleteOuch! While I was setting up the appointment this morning the nurse told me what MOHS procedure involves. Scrapping of a layer of skin and then look at them through the microscope. If the bastiges are there, scrape off the next layer and repeat until there's no bad cells remaining. Sounds like fun, don't it? Hope they've got good drugs.
juvat
Good luck with the dermo!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
DeleteRob
Spoiling Grandkids is a great past time. León's bulked up pretty well, now he needs to work on his height and Jack Lambert growl and fierce look at being "ready to turn it all loose at the snap". College Station is definitely one of the right locations (at least most years) to pick up some pointers playing any football position.
ReplyDeleteCletus
Cletus,
DeleteYeah, it was a good time, took a lot of "things" off the "worry about" list for a while.
I've said it before, but A&M would not have been an optimal choice of school during the time period I went. I most likely would not have been given a pilot slot there. Given that, I wouldn't have met Mrs J and given that, neither of my Kids or Grand Kids would be around. So, I firmly believe the Lord put me where I needed to be and I'm grateful.
That having been said, a similar set of circumstances exist for both Little J and MBD had either or both not gone to A&M they wouldn't have gotten to where they are Family wise and/or career wise. So...Again, I'm grateful.
Good to hear from you again. How's your grass holding up?
juvat
Grass holding up well, so hay guy will make a paying crop off the first cutting. Last good rain dumped 1.98" on us with 1.3" of that coming in about 30 minutes. But, we're still in moderate drought mode with thirsty soil, so the creek never came up at all due to runoff.
DeleteCletus
I’m just gonna echo the Sarge, and add travel safe. 🙏🏻
ReplyDeleteSkip,
DeleteMade it home safe and sound. Thanks
juvat
Prayers and best wishes.
ReplyDeleteJB
Thanks, JB!
DeleteNot sure if you're a novice at the dermatologists office or not, but BCCs are not all that concerning. I've had my share- something about flying around in with a big glass dome over your head tends to encourage them. Keep a close look at your skin, have your wife check shoulders and back, and stay on top of them.
ReplyDeleteTuna,
DeleteI need "Mrs J" to stay on top of me?
Just kidding, although....
I'm not overly worried, but not looking forward to the "skinning alive" procedure.
The dermatologist said virtually the same thing, so thanks for an additional confirmation.
juvat
Prayers sent for a successful surgery. Keep us posted please!
DeleteMary
DeleteWill do.
Thanks
juvat
If you catch them early, you can freeze (vice cut) them off. I'm running about 70/30 with that methodology.
DeleteTuna,
DeleteWhat I got told yesterday was they would scrape off a layer of skin, check it for cancer cells. If present scrape off another layer and check it, Rinse and repeat til they got to a clear layer. Procedure could take up to 4 hours. Yay!!!!!
juvat
Mostly a good week! And you're going to get the treatment you need! Go forth and do good!
ReplyDelete"Go forth and do Good!" Aye, Aye, Mon Capitan!
DeleteOr...at least I hope so!
juvat
Prayers up for a good result on the BCC surgery, Sarge. Hang tough!
ReplyDeleteAnon, Thanks, much appreciated
Deletejuvat