What a great week-end!!

Beautiful weather this week-end. We finally shut off our air, with much protest from Sam, but it's so nice to air out the house! He worked outside all day yesterday, doing yard work and helping the elderly couple across the alley. They always need something done, and we enjoy helping them out.

Then, we went to Bennigan's for Dinner last night - thanks you Gonzelez family, Morgan family and Ms. Brandon. We were total pigs, and brought home enough for lunch today!! It was so good, and even better knowing that we weren't paying for it. Thanks again for your generosisty.

I went to the fabric store and bought 2 pieces of fabric to experiment making scarves. 1 is lime green silk and the other is different shades of pink with glitter. WOWIE!

Wouldn't it be a nice if my girls surprised me some week-end and we just had a "girls" (and papa) week-end? They could come Friday late and go back and Sunday - would be a blast, and so good for grandma......We could do fun stuff and just hang out! Sounds like fun to me - maybe someone should tell them!!

Everyone have a good week-end and enjoy the sunshine!!!

Love,
Me

This is for my brother!

2nd Verse

A happy happy birthday
All Beautiful with love
And bright with many blessings
From God our friend above.

Have a great day at work today!!

I love you!

Luv, Stacy

It's been a good day!!

The chemo is over, well first treatment is and I didn't get too sick!! Not nearly as bad as we were told! Yeah! I'm planning on going into work tomorrow too. Don' know how long I'll work, but since I'm prn now, I don't have to stay all day!

And what a great birthday! Flowers, emails, e-cards, birthday cards, phone calls, - everyone is spoiling me! Thank you so much!! You all made a gloomy day seem brighter! Thank you.....

Love,
me

Happy Birthday, Mom & Grandma:))
We LOVE YOU, LOTS:))
Krista, Ken, Evan, Abbie, Drew, & Owen

1 Chemo down, 5 to go!

My first Chemo treatment is now history!! The MRI was fine, which was a HUGE relief....It just postponed the treatment a day, but that's o.k. They gave me 6 different drugs through my new port (which worked wonderfully), and I have to go back tomorrow a.m. for a shot to help boost my white blood cells, because I'm a bit anemic. They gave me 2 prescriptions for nausea, but said that the biggest factor would be fatigue and loosing my hair in about 3 weeks! Sure hope they're right, but we'll take whatever comes our way.

Time for a nap now, but keep the positive thoughts and prayers coming this way - these next few days may be rough ones!

Love,
us

A Bump in the Road

Good Morning....

Well, we had a bump in the road this a.m. We went in for my first chemo treatment, but didn't get it done. When I told the Oncologist about my "vertigo", he didn't like that, and immediately ordered an MRI before we went ahead with anything. He wants to make sure that the cancer hasn't spread to my brain.......He thinks the chances of that are pretty slim, but at this point, doesn't want to take that chance. So, the MRI is this afternoon, and hopefully the chemo will be tomorrow a.m.

We were so revved up to get this first treatment over with, this is such a HUGE let down. So many mixed emotions, and so many thoughts of "what if it has spread to my brain"....Very scared right now, but so thankful that Sam is here with me.

We need your prayers....

Hi Sis

Well, we are back at the cabin and Kurt is really tired. He did a wonderful job with the whole trip. We are sorry we could not see you , but maybe one day soon.
I read something the other day. It went something like this.

The past doesn't matter , we can't change it. The future doesn't matter either we will get through it. The only thing that matters is what is inside of us.

We love you and will be beside you in our hearts and minds tomorrow as you start a new path to being well again.

Love, Sis

Good Luck Mom!!

Last night the Poison concert was lots of fun. It was a late night since I drove home at midnight! I was ready for bed about 2:00 and then up for work at 6:00. It was a long day today!

I tried to call tonight (between my naps) but the line was busy. Sorry I missed you. Good luck with your treatment tomorrow! If I don't catch you in the morning I will call tomorrow night and see how things went.

I love you!!

Luv, Stacy

First day back at work!

Hi Everyone!
First day back at work, and everything went good - I'm very tired, but it was good to get back. I did sneak out about an hour early though. Everyone was in my office first thing with hugs to welcome be back, which was very nice.

Thank you Denise and Steph - for your poems - awesome....and to everyone else for their postings. I look forward to reading them every day!!

And, little miss Abbie, thank your for your call this a.m. - I'm so happy that you're wearing "big girl panties!"....

Cliff Lund, JoAnna's husband, stopped in at work this a.m., just to see how I was doing. He had talked to Sam and knew that I was back at work. He's so thoughtful, and knows just what we're going through and where we're at.

I'm pretty scared about Thursday. You hear so many horror stories about chemo and it's affects, but I'm trying to think positive, just for my mom, because that's what she'd be saying. It's almost all surreal that it's happening. I know that I have a lot of prayers and support out there, and I appreciate everything! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Love,
me

Good Morning!

Sunday Morning, and it's cold here!! We had the 80's on Friday and now the 50's. Brr...

Sam walked the Race for the Cure yesterday with a group from my work. He even had a good time. He thought he was "A rose among a bunch of thorns!"...I wish that I could have taken part, but just wasn't ready for it. But, I'll be there - all dressed in pink! I've heard that next year we're doing it as a family - with the grandkids too!!

Surgery on Friday went good. The port is in, we'll give it a few days to heal, and the chemo will start on the 15th. Sam will be here the first time, and we're both glad of that. Who knows, I might not have any reactions, but the Dr. did promise me that I WOULD LOSE MY HAIR!! Sam has gotten it into his head that we're having a "head shaving party" in a couple of weeks. He can say that - his hair is only 1/2" long any way! And, Uncle Larry in PA says if Sam shaves his head, he will too! Anymore takers?? We have the clippers!!

I'm heading back to work tomorrow - no, I'm not driving - not a good idea yet. Still pretty wobbly and sometimes double vision from the Vertigo, but it is getting better each day.

Thank you everyone, again, for everything that you do for me/us - it means so much!

Love,
Karen

Hello,
I just wanted to let everybody know that Mom had her port put in this AM. Everything went very well. I talked to Dad at 11:30 and he said that they should be getiing home soon and Mom wanted to go to bed.
Thanks everybody for all your prayers, notes, food, and thoughts for all of us as we go through this. The support means a lot to ALL of us. Keep up the good work!!
Love,
Krista

PS. Mom, I hope that my blanket is keeping you comfy and warm. We love you!!

Hi Everyone,
I received this in an email today, and thought that I would share it with everyone.

"I said a prayer for you today"

I said a prayer for you today
and know God must have heard-

I felt an answer in my heart
Although He spoke no word

I didn't ask for wealth or fame
(I knew you wouldn't mind)-

I asked Him to send treasures
Of a far more lasting kind!

I asked that He'd be near you
At the start of each new day

To grant you better health and blessings
and friends to share your way!

I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small-

But it was for His loving care
I prayed for most of all!

It's Tuesday and I'm not going anywhere!

Hi all!
What a time this has been since Friday! I ended up in the ER Saturday a.m. and was diagnosed with Vertigo - a viral infection that means I'm really, really dizzy!! So, more pills to take. I'm sitting here with one eye shut, or there are two screens! I'm off work for the week, since I can't drive. I'm taking the same dizzy pills that my dad took. Dr. said to just lay low for the week and let it run it's course! Easier said than done when there is 2 of everything and it's all spinning!

We had a good time with Krista's family and Stacy over the week-end. They did most of the work and I sat in my chair and cuddled the kids when they were in the house. They spent a lot of time at the playground across the street. So much fun to have them around.

Heart scan yesterday - just had to lay on a table, and no, I didn't fall off! Surgery to have the port put in is this Friday a.m. with the first Chemo treatment on the 15th. I don't know what my job status will be - they don't like the fact that I'm missing so much work. Neither do I, but it's not my choice. Being a Hospice Organization, I'd hope that they would be more compassionate, so time will tell.

Keep the prayers coming this way - God is truly challenging Sam and I. Almost daily, we ask "why us" - with Sam gone every day - so far from home and me home alone, we just don't understand why we are being so challenged like this. Many tears have been shed, but we keep going because what else can we do - we will fight this and WIN!

Love,
Me

I guess the Journey has officially started!!

We went to the Oncologist this a.m. - Dr. Mercer, and things are all planned out. He highly recommended chemo since there is a very strong chance that this type of cancer can/will occur. SO, I have to have some type of test done on my heart on Monday, the 5th. It will test how well my heart is pumping, because the chemo will damage my heart and decrease the pumping ability about 4%. Surgery to put the port in is scheduled for next Friday the 9th, with my first chemo treatment on the 15th. The chemo treatments will last about 3 1/2 hours each, every 21 days for 6 treatments. Then will be the 7 weeks of radiation. Dr. Mercer promised me that this chemo medicine is so strong that I will lose my hair (yippee) and I will be sick. I'll just start feeling better, and have to go through another round. But, if that's what it takes, I'd do what needs to be done!!

There are about 20 people from my work doing the Race for the Cure next Saturday. Sam, Stacy and I were planning on doing it with them, but I may have to observe from the sideline. I'm not a survivor yet, but next year will be my year for the PINK t-shirt & cap, because I WILL be a survivor!!

Thank you everyone for your support, your phone calls, your emails and your prayers. I know that you're there pulling for me and supporting Sam too! It will be a tough battle, but we'll make it!

Love,
me