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~ Diabetes, Cancer Fighter, Father of Twins, Kayak Fishing, Lover of Life

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Tag Archives: Family

Hospital Visits, Craft Fairs, and Nine Hours of News

07 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Family

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Calendar, Craft Fair, Family, Hospital Stay, Life, love, mental-health, News, Siblings, Stress, writing

Patriotic Black Slate Coaster

If you’ve known me for more than five minutes, you know I live by my calendar. It’s not just a planner — it’s my Bible, my life map, and my emotional support spreadsheet. I color-code, I plan ahead, and if something’s not on the schedule, it’s basically not real.

So imagine my stress level when my mom landed in the hospital and my siblings decided we all need to “take turns sitting with her.”

Now, before anyone clutches their pearls — she’s fine. She’s getting great care from an entire team of professionals who actually know what they’re doing. The woman is being treated better than most people at a five-star resort.

Meanwhile, my siblings and I are out here acting like we need to take shifts in case she suddenly decides to join the Hospital Olympics. Spoiler alert: she’s not going anywhere.

The thing is, I’ve got a craft fair coming up next weekend, and that means I need to be creating — not sitting in a hospital room pretending to enjoy watching nine hours of nonstop news coverage. Nine. Hours. I don’t even like watching nine minutes of the news. I can only listen to so many “breaking” stories about things that broke three days ago before I start questioning my life choices.

But there I sit, smiling, nodding, pretending I’m not slowly dying inside while she argues with the TV. I could be home making candles, painting signs, or doing literally anything that doesn’t involve election updates.

And when I say, “Hey, my schedule’s packed,” my siblings look at me like I just said I’m skipping Christmas. Listen, I love Mom. I’ll visit. I’ll call. I’ll even bring snacks. But she’s being well cared for — by actual trained professionals — while I’m over here trying to figure out if I can make fifty more gnomes before Friday.

So no, I’m not heartless. I’m just scheduled. And if loving my mom and respecting my calendar at the same time is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

Time Doesn’t Stand Still

22 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Depression, Family, Leukemia

≈ 1 Comment

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Cancer, Classmates, CML, Dating, Depression, Family, Grandkids, Great Grandkids, Kids, Lab Results, Leukemia, Life, love, Medications, mental-health, Old Age, Parents, Worrying, writing

The older I get, the more I realize that time doesn’t stand still. It seems like almost every week I hear about someone I used to go to school with or work with who has passed away. Just the thought of it can be depressing.

This past Saturday, I did a craft fair and happened to run into one of my high school classmates and her sister. We had a chance to catch up for a bit, and somehow the conversation turned to the classmates we’ve already lost. Sadly, cancer seems to have claimed most of them.

I’m 62 now — older than many of my classmates since I was held back a year — and although my health hasn’t always been the best, I count myself lucky to still be here.

Most of my classmates already have great-grandkids. Me? None of my three kids are married yet, so I’m not even a grandparent. Only one of the three is dating anyone right now, and I’m not sure when or if the other two will. That’s okay, though. I don’t ever want them to feel pressured. Still, before I go, I’d love to see all my kids married and maybe even get the chance to hold a grandbaby or two.

My parents, who are both in their mid to upper eighties, would love to see great-grandkids too. I have to remind my mom not to put pressure on my kids — she has a way of speaking her mind about things like that.

As I’ve mentioned before, I have a form of leukemia called CML. Right now, it’s under control. Sometimes one of the markers the doctors watch goes a little wild and sends everyone into a panic, but eventually, the numbers settle back down, and all is well again. I’ve come to accept that nothing I do can change the fact that I have CML. All I can do is take my daily pill, stay consistent, and be thankful that the medicine is working. Worrying won’t change the outcome.

Are you the worrying type? What’s the main thing that weighs on your mind — your kids, your health, your future, or something else? I get my worrying honestly; my grandmother on my mom’s side was a worrier, and my mom’s the same way. I guess it just runs in the family.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

23 Thursday Nov 2023

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Family, Photography

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Family, Food, Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and spent some time with their families. I spent the majority of my day with my family. My mom and dad are in their mid-eighties and don’t get around as much as they used to. Today is one of the few days that I allow myself not to be too concerned with what and how much I eat. Christmas is another holiday that I do this. The rest of the year is spent watching how much carbs I consume. Tomorrow is a new day and I’ll get back on my diet then.

I hope everyone has a good and restful night.

Peace to you and your families.

Stressful Week

28 Friday Sep 2018

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Family, Photography, Retirement

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Apartment, Employment, Family, Furnature, Moving

DSC_8321

This has been such a stressful week for me.  It started with one of my daughters getting sick at school and having to go pick her up and take her to the doctor.  The school is an hour away so when I left at 3 pm that meant that I didn’t get home until 10 pm.  That’s picking her up at school, driving her to the doctor, driving her home to eat supper then me taking her back to school and me driving back home afterward.

The next event was having to hunt for my son’s W2.  He got a new job and was supposed to have started last Monday but things kept popping up.  They finally told him that he needed a W2 for the years 2012 and 2013.  After tearing our house apart, I found the 2013 W2 but the 2012 W2 is still elusive. My son went to the IRS website and he found his 2012 W2 but it was missing some information and therefore was rejected by the people doing the background checks.  Eventually, they compared the 2013 and the 2012 W2’s and realized that both had the information needed to confirm employment for these two years.  He starts Monday with his new job.  During all this, I was trying to finalize the paperwork for disability.

Today and tomorrow my son moves into a new apartment.  He has purchased a coffee table and a kitchen table that he had stored here.  The coffee table needed some work so I’ve been repairing, sanding and repainting.  This afternoon, my son came over and we loaded the tables up on my trailer and delivered them to his new apartment.  At least that’s two items that he doesn’t have to worry about tomorrow when the movers come. Hopefully, this move won’t take all day.

Sunday, we’ll be making a trip to visit my parents.  They live about an hour away so Sunday will be another long day.  I didn’t think being retired I would be this busy.  I’m looking forward to next Monday when things finally slow back down.  At least I hope.

3/16/2018 Oncologist Update

18 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Family, Leukemia, Photography

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Bosulif, Cancer, CML, Doctor, Drug Card, Drugs, Family, Insurance, Medication, Prayers, Test

Oncologist Update: Because of some miscommunications with the insurance company, go figure, I have not been approved to be on my new medicine yet. I may end up walking the paperwork to the department myself if they keep losing it. Anyway, it’s been six weeks or more since I’ve had any CML meds and we, more so me than the doctor it seems, are starting to get a little concerned that my numbers might get a little high. If the insurance company approves the meds, it could take up to three weeks before my meds arrive. Nothing to do but wait. But, as luck would have it, the representative for the new drug was there in his office. He gave my doctor a card for a free 30 day supply which should arrive by Tuesday of next week. This should give my insurance company time to process my approval for this drug.

Bloodwork. It’s been six weeks since my last lab. My last one wasn’t good at all. Every one of my numbers was either very high or very low. Yesterday’s numbers were normal for the most part. This was in large part the effect of the drug I was on. The side effects just made my daily life impossible to deal with.

New Drug: Bosulif is the name of the new drug. Right now I’ve been on two of the most common and there are only a few left that is approved by the FDA. Thanks to Karen Davis-Hudson she eased my mind about some of the side effects that were mentioned in the insert. However, Karen, I think you mentioned that 1/10 developed fluid retention, my doctor said 4/10. Not that much of a difference. The other side effects I think I can handle.

The Good News: The doctor and I both agree that the fluid in my lungs is gone and we’re going to have a positive attitude that it will not return and that this medicine will be the last one I have to be on because this one will work. I can breathe, my color is back and most importantly, I feel good. So much so, that if the weather holds, I’m going to try to get my bicycle out one day this weekend.

This is all due to all the prayers that have been lifted up for me and my family. Thank you so much.

2018 Pinewood Derby

12 Monday Mar 2018

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Family, Photography

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Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouts, Drone, Family, Pinewood Derby, Race, Son

I remember going to these things when my boy was in cub scouts. I would always end up working on the car because he would never do it the way I wanted him to do it.  We had fun working together anyway.  It was a good time for us.  He was at the, what I would like to call, the fun age.  We would always find something to do together.  He loved the scouts as did I.  This gave us a wonderful opportunity to be together plus it gave him an opportunity for him to be around kids his own age.  I really miss those days.  He’s grown now, moved out of the house not long ago and into an apartment not far from here.

Boy Scouts has changed somewhat since I was a boy scout those many years ago.  One thing that hasn’t changed is the program and what they have to offer.  You may not like what’s happened within the past few years, neither do I in some aspects but there’s one thing they still offer, and that’s a program that keeps the boys out of trouble and in doing so they have the opportunity to learn something.

I digress.  This article was supposed to be about the Pinewood Derby which was held yesterday.  Eighteen cars were entered from all over our district.  Nearly all the boys won some sort of trophy.  They had to win their division just be able to race their car in this race so they had to win something before they got there.  Everyone had a great time.  Hope you enjoy the video.

Life’s Changes

05 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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Changes, College, Creek, Family, Five Mile Creek, Girls, health, Life

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I believe Heraclitus that once said “The only thing that is constant is change.”  This is so true.  How we handle change is what’s important.  There are those that can’t deal with it and go into some sort of mental breakdown while others it’s like water off a duck’s back, or they hide it very well.  My wife is one that can either hide it very well or she has found a way to deal with it.  I guess I need to talk to her to find out how she does it. She does not, however, like the time change.  She fusses about it all the time.  Me, it doesn’t bother me one way or the other.  That’s what I call the little things.  Little things in my book doesn’t bother me so much.  It’s the big things that, if I sit alone in a room and have time to think about it, I worry about it.  So much so that it bothers me; I lose sleep over it, my attitude changes and my temper get’s shorter.

This year alone has been full of changes and misfortunes.  If I had to list them by importance I’d have to say having my girls moving off to college was one of the biggest changes in my life right now.  All the crap with my health is a close second.  But dealing with my girls gone is quite challenging for me to deal with. It’s what I’m used to I guess.  I’m used to seeing one of my girls sitting in the recliner when I get ready to leave for work in the mornings.  I’m used to the same daughter saying grace at meal times.  I’m used to the hug I’d receive right before I’d leave for work in the mornings and the smiles I receive when I got home.  Now, I see empty beds at bedtime, an empty chair at the dinner table and only a phone call late at night to tell me how their day went.  I guess you could say that it’s the beginning of the end of life as I know it.

Anyone with kids will tell me that I’m not alone.  This has been going on for hundred’s of years.  You’d think they would have come up with a cure for this by now.  I know it’s been going on for years but for me, it’s only been going on for five weeks, two days and thirteen hours. I really miss my girls.  I try not to dwell on the fact that they’re not here and that if  I need to talk to them all I got to do is send them a text and when they can they’ll call me back.  Another thing, they’re only an hour away from me.  It’s not like some kids and be hours by plane from their folks.  Oh gees, I’m glad that they’re close by.

I guess there’s one good thing about missing my girls is that while I’m missing them I’m not dwelling on the issues I’m having with my health. That alone will cause anyone to go into deep, dark depression.

I’ve starting trying to get out more and getting more active.  Yesterday I went on a small hike, about 200 yards or so.  I walked down to this creek that our boy scout troop helped clear a path to several years ago.  It’s being used and I even saw some fire rings being used. One thing that I saw that I didn’t like is the amount of trash left by the campers.  Why can’t people pick up their trash?  I can never understand that.  Oh well, thoughts for another story.

I Feel as Though I’m Losing My Kids

03 Sunday Jul 2016

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Family, Photography, Twins

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College, Dorm Life, Family, Twins

_2TH0457

My oldest just graduated college and my two daughters just graduated high school. My son is currently looking for a job while my daughters are working at a local water park from 9am until 8pm.  Both my daughters will be attending the same college where my son graduated and they will leaving sometime this month to start school.  Where has the time gone?  I was hoping that my daughters would spend some time at home before going off to school but they want to earn some money before leaving out.  I can’t blame them for that.  It’s just going to be harder on mom and me when they do finally move out.

I guess that’s part of being a parent.  Time for the kids to leave the nest.  I had my doubts about my son but he turned out pretty good.  My daughters are another story.  They will be sharing the same dorm but I feel that neither can live without the other.  They depend on each other so much. Both have separate majors so each will have their own classes.  They will just have to work it out on their own I guess.  Mom and I will be basket cases before it’s all over with.

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Negativity Gets You Nowhere!

26 Sunday Jun 2016

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Depression, Photography

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Anniversary, Beach, Condo, Doctor, Down, Family, Heat, Humidity, Kids, Sand, Steakhouse, Sunset, Vacation, Water, Waves

th I _1TH7349_50_51_tonemapped

I’ve been down on myself the last few weeks. I thought being on vacation would snap me out of it but the whole time I was gone I kept thinking of the time lost that I would have when I returned back to work.  The exciting news that I got from my doctor while I was away seemed to have helped but now that I have my doubts about the results I just can’t help but feel down again.

The heat has a lot to do with it I feel because I wanted to do something with my kids today being that they were home and not working but everytime I went outside I was just drained from the heat and humidity.  Plus, with all this humidity, it makes it difficult for me to breath.  The next two days the rain chances has increased to 70% so maybe after the storms roll in here at least it will cool things off a bit.

This coming Thursday, June 29th, I will have been married for 25 years.  I have already made reservations for Saturday at a place called Perry’s Steakhouse.  It’s a bit pricey but my wife is worth it.  Putting up with me and all my ailments; she deserves more than a pricey steak and a night on the town.  She’s going to flip when she sees the prices on the menu though. But maybe the flowers that I have ordered that will be sitting on the table when we arrive will take away some of the shock.  We don’t usually go out on the town like this.  It’s usually places like Logan’s steakhouse where you pay $12 to $15 for a steak or go to Cracker Barrel.  Those places are more to our taste.  If I get out of Perry’s for less than $200 I’ll be lucky.

July 4th is coming up in a week and I have that day off which means a three day weekend.  If I can just make it through this week.  So you see, I have a couple of things to look forward too.  With this in mind maybe I can get out of this slump that I’m in and I can have a brighter outlook.  It’s going to take me some time for me to build up more vacation time but at least my doctor’s appointments are down to a minimum right now.  That’s another thing that has me upset is the fact that right now if I have a family emergency I can’t do anything about it.  I can’t take off right now if I had too.  Tomorrow, if I’m not wrong, I should have 10 hours built up.  That’s not much but it’s a start.

I hope everyone has a great week ahead.

 

 

A Lot Going On

10 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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Alabama, Disney, Family, Flowers, Graduation, High School Graduation, Orlando Florida, Rose, University of Alabama, Vacation

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It’s been a busy past few weeks here in the deep south. In fact, the whole month of May is going to be very busy.  My son graduated from the University of Alabama this past Friday evening, my twin daughters had their spring concert last week, and they had their awards program tonight to list a few.  I’ve got cataract surgery on Thursday, a bicycle ride that I’ll be working communication this Sunday and my daughters graduation in two weeks.  Not to mention a couple of other doctor appointments thrown in there for good measure.

I knew this month would be busy and I’m trying to build my vacation time up so I’ve been working a lot of overtime so as to not have to take personal time when taking time off.  It’s an okay plan but I’m not getting home until late and the girls have already gone to bed when I do get home.  I’ve got a week in June that I’ll be taking off to take the kids to Disney in Orlando Florida so I’ve got to have at least forty hours to be able to take off.  It will be close but I’ll make it.

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