Chicago Skyline view from the Adler Planetarium
Megan Butler and Brock BainterOur adventures continue. We spent the 4th of July weekend in the Chicago area visiting family and friends. I went to three Cubs/Sox games and even walked from our hotel on Hubbard Street to Wrigley Field on July 1st. Chicago's streets are set up in a grid system. The hotel is located at 300 north and Wrigley Field is 3700 north, and these are real Chicago blocks. It took me a out two hours, but I had fun walking through neighborhoods observing different architectural styles. Diane and I walked every where.
On Sunday we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at an outdoor cafe--it reminded us of Paris. The weather on the 4th was beautiful. We just couldn't help ourselves, and we walked from our hotel, along the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, all the way to the Adler Planetarium, and back! We made the same walk after Gordon and Lisa's wedding in June 2009. It was like the past two years had never happened. Diane and I were on a roll, so we decided to head north and we returned to our hotel room after six hours of exploring a fabulous city. I will not bother to tell the humorous story of how we missed the fireworks display on Navy Pier that evening but suffice it to say we did!
Here goes the roller coaster. On Saturday, July 9th, we attended the wedding of Brock Bainter and Megan Butler in which son Ryan was a groomsman. We've known Brock since he was in utero. Diane and I had a ball. Sunday morning I dropped Ryan off at the train for his return trip to Chicago and took a walk. I came home and did some yard work with Diane. That's when it started. Oh oh, I took a two-hour nap; I just don't do that anymore. I didn't eat much Sunday night but I felt okay. Monday morning Sean O'Donnell-Brown, my walking buddy, took our 5:30 sojourn, and I seemed to lag behind a little bit. Of course, that didn't concern me much as walking with Sean is like being on the Bataan Death March. I walked in the house, told Diane I was a little tired, and did not leave my bed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.--something was wrong. Dr. Waters was kind enough to see me on short notice. He looked me over and said, "You seem to have more bug bites on your neck, arms, and buttocks. Let's do a blood work up for Lyme Disease and Lupus because of your obvious fatigue. This is the third time this has happened to you in six months." My heart sank. What the heck is going on? A week ago, I felt like a million dollars and two nights ago, I was even dancing at the Bainter/Butler wedding.
Tuesday, I was in bed all day. Diane and I both had a strong sense of deja vu. Gordy Taylor was back in bed making nary a noise while Diane quietly busied herself downstairs. It was downright eerie. Dr. Diane then reappeared after a six-month hiatus. She called her friends at the Cancer Care Center in West Burlington and after a few well-placed phone calls, it was decided that on Wednesday I should see my dermatologist as my chronic itching was diminishing and scabs were forming. Maybe this is the problem. A visit with with Carol Menke provided some answers. I need to mention that by Wednesday I was feeling better but still not my new normal self. Carol concurred with the Lupus and Lyme Disease blood tests and while there did a biopsy on what appeared to be a relatively new bug bite. Those results will be available in a week or so. An antibiotic was prescribed and we were off to Macomb.
We are determined to get to the bottom of this. Diane mentioned, "Isn't it funny Gord? We work in the yard together and you are covered from head to toe in both clothing bug spray. I wear a t-shirt and a pair of shorts and I have never had a bite. This just doesn't make sense." Thursday morning I woke up and even mowed the yard, though very slowly. The roller coaster is going up! Dr. Waters' office called to report NO LUPUS or LYME DISEASE. Great news.
While we still don't know what's up for sure, we got some excellent insight from Peggy, a cancer survivor, who works at the Cancer Care Center. We never go to Great River Medical Center without stopping by to say thanks to our many friends. We walked into the waiting room, told Peggy where we were going, and she smiled and said, "You guys look terrific, but Gordy you need to remember that funky things can happen to cancer survivors that are difficult to explain." Is if possible she's right? I hope so. Such wisdom. Bless you, Peggy.
On Sunday we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at an outdoor cafe--it reminded us of Paris. The weather on the 4th was beautiful. We just couldn't help ourselves, and we walked from our hotel, along the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, all the way to the Adler Planetarium, and back! We made the same walk after Gordon and Lisa's wedding in June 2009. It was like the past two years had never happened. Diane and I were on a roll, so we decided to head north and we returned to our hotel room after six hours of exploring a fabulous city. I will not bother to tell the humorous story of how we missed the fireworks display on Navy Pier that evening but suffice it to say we did!
Here goes the roller coaster. On Saturday, July 9th, we attended the wedding of Brock Bainter and Megan Butler in which son Ryan was a groomsman. We've known Brock since he was in utero. Diane and I had a ball. Sunday morning I dropped Ryan off at the train for his return trip to Chicago and took a walk. I came home and did some yard work with Diane. That's when it started. Oh oh, I took a two-hour nap; I just don't do that anymore. I didn't eat much Sunday night but I felt okay. Monday morning Sean O'Donnell-Brown, my walking buddy, took our 5:30 sojourn, and I seemed to lag behind a little bit. Of course, that didn't concern me much as walking with Sean is like being on the Bataan Death March. I walked in the house, told Diane I was a little tired, and did not leave my bed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.--something was wrong. Dr. Waters was kind enough to see me on short notice. He looked me over and said, "You seem to have more bug bites on your neck, arms, and buttocks. Let's do a blood work up for Lyme Disease and Lupus because of your obvious fatigue. This is the third time this has happened to you in six months." My heart sank. What the heck is going on? A week ago, I felt like a million dollars and two nights ago, I was even dancing at the Bainter/Butler wedding.
Tuesday, I was in bed all day. Diane and I both had a strong sense of deja vu. Gordy Taylor was back in bed making nary a noise while Diane quietly busied herself downstairs. It was downright eerie. Dr. Diane then reappeared after a six-month hiatus. She called her friends at the Cancer Care Center in West Burlington and after a few well-placed phone calls, it was decided that on Wednesday I should see my dermatologist as my chronic itching was diminishing and scabs were forming. Maybe this is the problem. A visit with with Carol Menke provided some answers. I need to mention that by Wednesday I was feeling better but still not my new normal self. Carol concurred with the Lupus and Lyme Disease blood tests and while there did a biopsy on what appeared to be a relatively new bug bite. Those results will be available in a week or so. An antibiotic was prescribed and we were off to Macomb.
We are determined to get to the bottom of this. Diane mentioned, "Isn't it funny Gord? We work in the yard together and you are covered from head to toe in both clothing bug spray. I wear a t-shirt and a pair of shorts and I have never had a bite. This just doesn't make sense." Thursday morning I woke up and even mowed the yard, though very slowly. The roller coaster is going up! Dr. Waters' office called to report NO LUPUS or LYME DISEASE. Great news.
While we still don't know what's up for sure, we got some excellent insight from Peggy, a cancer survivor, who works at the Cancer Care Center. We never go to Great River Medical Center without stopping by to say thanks to our many friends. We walked into the waiting room, told Peggy where we were going, and she smiled and said, "You guys look terrific, but Gordy you need to remember that funky things can happen to cancer survivors that are difficult to explain." Is if possible she's right? I hope so. Such wisdom. Bless you, Peggy.
