There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home

Dorothy had to click her pretty ruby shoes together three times and repeat the same...there's no place like home.  We had to do a little more.... 45 min car ride to airport, 6.5 hour flight, long line after long line through customs, 3 hours layover, another flight, and then a car ride home....17 hours from the point we left our hotel, we finally, FINALLY got home.  And both of us breathed a huge sigh of relief as we walked in the door, sat on our comfy furniture and finally succumb to the long day by crawling into bed at 10:00.  There truly is NO place like home.

I looked back at a couple of the prior posts.  Sorry sorry sorry.  Typos, wrong words, you name it.  Apple Ipad and freaky-malfunctioning Internet service do not make for a good blogging formula.  Hopefully you could figure out whatthehell I was trying to say. 

I am happy to report it appears we did not lose a single item (as far as I know).  I don't think anyone picked our pockets.  Won't know if any technology or identity theft occurred for a little while. So, from that perspective, an OK trip.  We did manage to make a couple day trips out for 4-6 hours.  Saw a few tourist-y sights.  And most importantly, Roger did not land in the hospital.  A concern he expressed the day before we left (timing???!!???). 

Here are a few pictures...now that I have my faithful, trusty ol' PC back under my fingertips.  (the above is on the "Eye" ferris wheel, so is the picture of big ben) 

As I mentioned earlier, we did do a couple big trips and as mentioned in a prior post, we went to the theatre twice (second play was very funny British humor).  The first photo is of Roger, his mother Jackie and his sister Denise.  This is at the first theatre. 

We went to a beautiful restaurant in Reading Sunday.  The restaurant is called the French Horn, its set on the Thames River. Simply beautiful.  Apparently the Queen's swans like to hang out in the river near the restaurant.  Yep, the Queen Mum has swans.  How royal, eh?  As I've mentioned before, Roger's mom is from England.  So, part of the trip was having the wonderful pleasure of meeting his mom's best childhood friend Pat and her husband Michael.  All in the included picture.  The food was scrumptious (isn't that a great word?) though waaay too much.  There is such a sad irony to yummy food and a leisurely meal when you have Roger because eating is so difficult for him and is so devoid of pleasure for him.

These pictures are from Winchester Cathedral in Winchester.  Beautiful place.  The architecture is breath taking.  Though I'm not particularly spiritual, I figured it couldn't hurt to make a donation and in return...light a candle and make a silent request for my husband. 

It was a very very big trip. Exceptionally ambitious and borderline insanity at some level. But, it was an important trip and we are both glad we made it.   Roger is simply exhausted... which I think he may have been whether we went or not.  He has also lost his voice.  Lost it about three days ago.  He was refluxing and aspirating three nights in a row.  We think this may have inflamed or irritated his larynx or voice box.  He literally has no voice.  I called the doctor's office today.  They agree its most likely due to the refluxing.  We're going to try adding another medication to see if it will help  According to the doctor's office, the increased refluxing and aspirating is part of the advanced stage of the cancer. 

Having a hard time getting Roger to eat much (and experienced the same on the trip). The count today is most of a McDonald's McGriddle, 1/2 an Arby's French Dip, a cookie, and now, a cup of soup (probably less than a cup).  And, its simply too late to eat any more.  We have a constant battle.  Me pushing food and nagging.  Roger ignoring me or sleeping through all the suggestions.  He knows he needs to eat but he also associates pain with eating so he is resistant to eating.  And so, his poor weak body continues to devour itself.  He tried to help me with watering the lawn this evening and just didn't have the core strength.  We managed a small walk around the block prior.  I'm hoping a little walking will help stave off the atrophy of his muscles. 

Too pooped. Gotta stop.  More tomorrow and over the weekend.  Cross you fingers Roger feels a little relief, a little less exhausted, and that a little happy shines on him.  I haven't seen much happy out of him in a while. 

I miss my husband, and am missing him more with each passing day.