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Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone!

We hope that everyone had a great Christmas, as we did. We had such a nice time in MN - loved being with everyone, had a great time with Evan, Abbie, Drew & Owen, and were so glad that Kurt & Mattie could make the trip down on Saturday. We had a nice visit.

I still haven't had my last treatment!! It was supposed to be the 29th, but due to machine malfunctions, it was postponed until next week! We were not happy at all! Not only did I get to finish up as we had hoped, but it will carry over on our insurance deductible. I know that we will again have a tremendous amount of expense as they will monitor me closely, but it's the principal of the thing. So, I called the hospital, talked to a few people, explained that it wasn't my fault, etc., etc., They called back and the last treatment will be at no charge!!

Wednesday, I left work, not feeling well, went to my treatment, came home and have been sick ever since with the flu. They're concerned that I'll get dehydrated and need to come in for fluids, so they're watching that closely. With my immune system already down, it will take longer to get over it. Each day is a bit better, so that's good, but what a way to celebrate New Years!! 2007 has to be better!!

Sam has a big day planned for today - Iowa basketball today at noon and Iowa playing in the Alamo bowl at 3:30, so he's excited. Plus, since I'm not eating, he's eating lots of venison that he shot a couple weeks ago! Yum, yum. I'll stick to my crackers and 7 up, thank you!

Have a safe New Year and a healthy and happy 2007!

Love,
Karen

Christmas is almost here - and we can't wait. We're heading up to Mankato, MN on Friday the 22nd, and will be there until the 25th. We haven't seen "Team Bentson" for quite a while, so it will be fun to spend time with all of them! Now if only Kelly and her family were here with us, we'd be complete!!

Found out today at radiation that I start my "boosters" tomorrow. That means that they will concentrate the radiation on the exact spot where the tumor was instead of the entire breast. They'll do that for 7 days, and then I'll be all done! Yeah!!! Should be all done with treatments on the 29th! Then we can start the new year fresh! I have an appointment with the Oncologist tomorrow, and he should give me a good report too.

Everyone have Blessed Christmas with your family & friends, and to those of you that will be doing some traveling, be safe!

Love,
Sam & Karen

Ho Ho Ho

Hello Everyone!

I haven't posted on here for a while, so thought that I better write a quick update. We're doing fine - almost ready for Christmas, we hope. I enjoy the Christmas tree so much and always have candles lit and just take some time each evening for a time for reflection. This year has been a difficult one for Sam and I, but we're almost through it, and next year will be better!!

We were in Elgin on Monday and Tuesday of this week - Sam's mother took a nasty fall early Monday morning and was hospitalized. She has 3 broken ribs and lots of bruises. She's back at Eagle Ridge now, and hopefully will heal well and be able to go to Mankato and spend Christmas with all of us at Krista & Ken's. She enjoys their fire place so much, and especially enjoys watching their kids run around and play.

Sam and I plan on heading up their on the 22nd and heading home on the 25th. We haven't been up there for quite some time, so it will be nice to spend time with them and Stacy.

Please continue with prayers for our great nephew, Jaden, who had heart surgery this past Monday. He's doing o.k., although progress is slow. They are beginning to manage his pain and he did smile today for the first time, so each day is better.

Have a great week-end.

Love,
us

We have lots of snow!!

We have plenty of snow - come on down! We got 6-8" on Thursday night - glad that dad was home, and not out on the road fighting it. He did get to play in it with the snowblowers yesterday a.m., and went clear to the end of the block cleaning off sidewalks.

We left at 6:30 this a.m. to go over to Princeton, IL to dad's Safety Breakfast. After we had gone a ways, we decided that we were pretty foolish - I-80 hadn't been plowed!! It was such a mess - it took us almost 2 hours to go 60 miles! There were lots of cars & semi's in the ditch, but didn't see any snow plows out & about. Coming home was a bit better.

My Dr. reports continue to be good. I saw the surgeon and the radiation oncologist this week, and after the exams, they both said that the redness & soreness are both very normal......easy for them to say!! We're just thankful for the good Dr. reports!

That's all for now - have a good week-end, and stay warm!!

Love,
Karen