Two Weeks from Today - WE WALK!!!

Today is Friday, August 29, 2008 - this summer has just flown past! This next week I will need to keep up my training walks here in Anacortes. The picture above is from our Scrapbook retreat in Monroe. Dyona, Jennie, me, Shasta and Kim - we walked in the rain and nobody melted - hip hip hooray!!

I'm here at Nancy's. She did come last Saturday to the family picnic - what a joy to have so many family members there, and it meant alot to all of us that Nancy would make the effort. She did spend most of the day in bed, but was able to get up and visit with family for a little while. Thanks expecially to Mom for driving both ways!! One of the best moments from the day was when 2 year old Aiden (Mike & Jennie's son) sang "You are my Sunshine" to Nancy. Wow. Our dad's brother, Uncle Fred and cousin Karol were also there. A great day. Larry did most of the work preparing the house and yard for the party. We were able to get 14 dungeness crab (just before someone stole our crab pots - go figure!). Here's a picture from last Saturday - Nancy is sitting on the couch next to Ragna - then Annie, Devon tickling one of the twins.

Tuesday I meet with DSHS prior to an Administrative Hearing about Nancy's medical insurance. They sent a letter saying it was being discontinued at the end of this month! They had incorrect information about her SS disability and her private disability insurance. I was relieved this morning when I found out that they did reinstate medical coverage for September and when I spoke to the representative, he said if I bring the proper documentation, he is sure that her medical will be covered. Praise God! One less worry for Nancy and Mom.

More updates as this week and next progresses. Keep walking and praying!

Full Moon & Anniversary

Full moon rising over Mount Rainier last night! Michael took this picture from his front porch. It is gorgeous!

I'm here in Anacortes this week. Today is our 38th wedding anniversary and Larry is coming up to celebrate, probably go to lunch and visit.

Nancy didn't have chemo the last two weeks as she hasn't felt up to it. The oncologist decided this current treatment is not working enough to warrant the side effects. She had a CT scan Tuesday that showed some further spread of the liver and abdominal metastases. She gets a couple weeks off, then they will reassess and maybe try some oral chemotherapy at that time.

She will have this time to regain some strength and hopefully feel well enough to come to the family picnic a week from tomorrow on August 23rd. We are hosting the picnic at our house at Nancy's request. Mom will be here and will drive her down to the "cabin" as we all lovingly refer to it. Our house is built on property where our grandparents built a summer cabin in the 1920's. Lots of history, memories of fun times. We feel very blessed to live there.

Oh my goodness. The hospice massuse just gave me an incredible foot massage. I walked about 4 miles this morning (and it was warm!) and my feet feel brand new. Hope I can find someone like Linda to take care of my feet on the walk and afterward!!

Speaking of the walk, it's just four weeks away! We had a scrapbook retreat last weekend in Monroe and even though it was raining pretty good last Saturday, several of us went walking. Be sure to check out "By Shasta" - a very cool blog that has a couple pictures of our walk last weekend. Shasta's blog is always full of great info on scrapbooking and the 3Day walk.

Time for lunch out with my sweetheart of 38 years!

The Battle Continues - Spirits are High!

Wow - Saturday, August 2nd already. Nancy continues her valiant fight. Last week the oncologist told her that the tumor markers are down - which is good. He said "this chemo is working, biochemically." We won't know for sure until a Pet Scan sometime after her 4th round of chemo which is next Thursday, if the chemo has halted the spread of the disease. She continues to lose weight, but has enjoyed some food this week. We had an old fashioned pot roast on Wednesday and some wonderful fresh salmon and vegetables last night. She is having a little difficulty swallowing, but small bites work well.

Yesterday I walked about 6 miles here in Anacortes and to my surprise the town was having an arts festival. I did stop at a couple of booths. It was very festive and a nice distraction. Today a local furniture store is delivering a new mattress for the guest room! Mom and I will certainly appreciate having a comfortable bed.

The walk is getting closer - about 6 weeks - and it feels like my body is ready. Everytime I have a little ache or pain while training - I just think about what Nancy and so many other women go through to battle this disease - it is very inspiring.

Next weekend we have a scrapbook retreat and several of the gals are doing the 3 Day walk so we will get out and get some training walks in. Keep praying and thanks for all the support!

Chemo 3 and Some Good Lab Results!

Beautiful Sunset tonight over mount Baker - and we have a full moon (with no eclipse) so what a gorgeous night. I've been here since Monday - can't believe the week has gone by so quickly. Nancy had her third round of this new miracle chemo yesterday. We had some great news about her lab tests. Not only has her white cell count begun climbing again, but some of her liver function studies have improved as well. If she had felt like it - we both could have done a happy dance yesterday!!
Today we were both up early and cleaned out one of her dressers. She went to sleep about 8:30 this morning and asked me to be sure to wake her by 3:00 for an appointment at the cancer center for her neulasta shot. Not sure on the spelling of that and I'm too lazy tonight to look it up. She slept until I woke her at 2:45! Wow. That was the best sleep she's had since before this round of chemo started several weeks ago. She felt good enough after the shot to take a little drive to a beach and one of our favorite lookouts. An all together beautiful day. She's sleeping now and I should be.
Tomorrow some of the kids and grandkids may stop by to say hi if she's feeling like it. They are staying at my house on Whidbey with my dear husband and keeping him out of trouble. I had a great e-mail from my second oldest granddaughter, Morgan, this morning letting me know that she found a very rare piece of yellow sea glass at our beach this morning while her daddy put the crab pots out to soak. She is a super star soccer player and now a super star sea glass seeker! Way to go Morgan!
Time for some sleep. Thanks again for all the prayers and good wishes. Sweet dreams.....

WALKIN' & JAMMIN'

This picture sums up my activities over the past couple of days - walkin' and jammin!"

My pink high top Chucks have been beautifully embellished by my good friend Mallory! Aren't they the bees knees?? I don't do my distance training walks in these beauties, but I do wear them whenever possible! Thanks Mal for a great job. Her blog is http://leingangcrew.blogspot.com/

Mal is quite the photographer and has a beautiful family, check out her blog. The shoes are sitting in front of my last batch of raspberry jam. I made strawberry on Sunday and the raspberry yesterday. My kitchen smelled dreamy. I did have a little mishap on the final jar. As I was filling it (I use a funnel to avoid spills, etc), I reached way over to grab a particular spoon, the kettle's weight was too heavy on the funnel and the jar flipped up spattering hot jam all over me and the floor. The good news is the jar didn't break. The bad news, I got a little burn under my chin - just put a couple ice cubes and then aloe vera to soothe it and it's all better now. I reminded myself of the 3 Stooges and there is only one of me!

We've had some gorgeous weather and I've been able to hang clothes outside on the line and do a little weeding. These normal, routine tasks are ones I enjoy immensely that relax and renew me for my next time with Nancy.

Our youngest grandchild Garrett will turn two on Saturday. We are going to their home on Hood Canal for the celebration. On Sunday, Lorianne (Garrett's mommy) will drive up here to our house and spend the night. She and I will head up to Nancy's home on Monday and Lorianne has volunteered to take Grandma home. Lori will also do a pedicure for Nancy. I am blessed with the best family in the world. All the kids are so generous with their time, talent and financial resources. Each of them makes me feel so blessed.

I talked to Nancy and Mom on the phone last night. They have had a pretty restful couple of days, then yesterday Nancy decided to get the pantry in order, so Mom sounded a little tired but happy to get that task accomplished. Nancy is really "getting her house in order" - she is a supreme organizer and I know it feels good to her to enjoy that sense of order.

Today I'm going to walk a new route that rack up about 10 miles with a couple of significant hills. The 3 Day Walk is only 10 weeks away! Going to head out early as the temps are supposed to be in the 80s today.

Happy 4th of July! A True Independence Day

Independence Day, 2008 is dawning with pinks and blues this morning. We have had almost two days of rolling thunder storms, some humidity, rain and today is calm and somewhat cloudy. The sun has appeared almost every day this past week, and without extreme temperatures.

I am happy to report that Nancy is on the downhill side of the very difficult side effects from this chemo. This week has been infinitely better than the week after her first round of this new medicine. We owe much to Hospice, as they are the experts on pain control. She has been able to rest some, eat a little and we have had some laughs.

She was feeling good enough to sit up out here in the living room on Tuesday and we did get her head shaved. It is remarkable to me how much easier it was to do this task than it was the first time a couple of years ago. There was a whole bunch of emotion and tears (on my part) the first time and this time, we just got it done, laughed a little but no tears.

I am really feeling the multitude of prayer being offered on her behalf and for our whole family. I am calmer and more able to do what needs to be done without upsetting Nancy. My sleep patterns are a little altered, but I'm feeling very rested.

On Wednesday we tackled a big project. Nancy wanted to clear out her clothes closet, donating many of her beautiful things to me and Lorianne. Now that she is retired, she doesn't need the dress up clothes. She has always had an incredible flare for fashion. We reduced the size of the bedroom closet by more than half. Today we may do the hall closet where she has more clothes.

She had asked me last Sunday to try to find a heating pad, as the bone pain in her arms and shoulders is eased with heat. I love Anacortes. Everything is easy to get to and I found her local Walgreens without a hitch. The variety of heating pads was amazing and purchased this great, plush, soft pad with auto off control and she just loves it! It's extra long and lays across her shoulders without having to move it from side to side. Score! I also picked up a beautiful rose plant, April in Paris, and planted it outside the living room window. It looks very happy and healthy in its new location.

She had a check-up with the oncologist yesterday, labs were done and revealed her white count to be very low, so she got a shot of Neupogen which will boost white cell production. We go again today for a follow-up shot. Since it's a holiday the cancer center is closed, so we will go to the hospital nursing station for today's shot. That's all we have to do today.

Larry is heading into the mainland today to celebrate the 4th with Mike and Jennie and other family members. He will spend the night with them and pick Mom up tomorrow to bring her up here for the next week. Our trading off for a week to 10 days is working well for both of us, and Nancy is so appreciative. Mom and I each feel grateful we are able to help in this way.

Please keep praying and while your at it, be grateful for our freedom in this country. Happy 4th of July!

A Summer Update on Nancy

Today is Saturday, June 27th. I'm in Anacortes for the next week or so. I got up early this a.m. and did a 5 mile training walk here. As I walked I heard some music and right there alongside the road was the Anacortes Relay for Life, with tons of tents and booths and people walking for the Cure! Wow - I can't tell you how much that lifted my spirits.

Nancy had the second in a series of four rounds of chemotherapy on Thursday. She did very well and slept fairly well on Thursday evening. Yesterday, the pain returned (caused by the chemo) - but this time we have a great arsenal of pain meds to keep her comfortable. She has been able to eat little bits of food and we're working hard to keep the nutrition up. We decided this medicine (just approved by the Feds in December) is a Miracle Drug. The cancer cells are putting up a fight as they are being obliterated, thus the pain. Nancy continues to amaze me with her grace and upbeat attitude.

If she's feeling up to it today, I will shave her head, as the little bit of growth is now starting to fall out, and heck - it's warm here - supposed to be in the mid to upper 80's! Our goal is to keep her comfy and cool. As always your prayers are appreciated.