Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Here is our house on Saturday morning early....it was very cold in the 20s and it doesn't look like the snow is going anywhere soon.... We have over 10 inches now. We only lost power for a short time and have been able to get to and from the store as needed. We were surprised today that our bank was closed!

Ho, Ho, Ho!! Here's a great picture of our cookie bake Saturday before last. We met at Shelia's and baked all day - I'll put in another picture of the COOKIES!! Our Santa Helper apron's are a gift from Nancy - as she wanted this Christmas to be special for everyone. She was really with us as we baked. Jennie inherited Nancy's Kitchenaide mixer and we did the first batch of cookies in it! You can see it in the picture just to the right of Shelia!

In the picture are Jennie, Lorianne, Gayle, Darian and Shelia in the back row, then Allyson, Morgan and Cameron. Great fun!!

Here are the cookies halfway through the day - we all brought bar cookies already made so the day was much more productive!

You can see there is snow on the ground then (December 13th)! Here are some pictures at our house from this last week. More snow than we've had before here on Whidbey Island ... it's supposed to be more "temperate" since we are so close to the water...ha ha! This first one is our deck yesterday morning - the first day of Winter!

This is today - the car was clear of snow yesterday so you can see that we got a little bit more overnight!


Hope everyone is staying warm. We wish you all the blessings of the season. May you experience the peace and comfort of family and friends as we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Two Celebrations of Nancy's Life!

Here is the announcement we are publishing in the Anacortes American, South Whidbey Record, and the Seattle Times.

Beloved daughter, sister, aunt, great aunt, friend. Nancy was beloved by her family, friends, coworkers, and especially by her prayer group. She departed for her next great adventure Thursday morning, November 6th with her mother and sister by her side.

She was born in Seattle, Washington - the first child of Ernest and Vernita (Markham) Osterhout on Halloween, 1946. She is survived by her mother, Nita, her sister Gayle Childs (Larry) of Langley, three nephews, one niece, 12 grand-nieces & nephews, a large extended family & countless friends. She was preceded in death by her father & her younger sister Janene. She grew up spending summers at Osterhout’s Fernwood, in the Baby Island Heights neighborhood, and she lived at the family cabin for a couple of years during the 60’s.

Nancy brought light and love to everyone she met. She had a varied career and loved her last job at the NW ESD, for the Autism Outreach Program. Another favorite job was working for the Big Three at Snoqualmie Pass in the 70s. She was an avid skier and ski instructor. She considered the work she did with her prayer group as her true vocation.

Nancy believed that her breast cancer was an assignment from God, so she would battle as long as she could to show other women how to do it with faith, hope, love and grace. We have all been blessed by her presence in our lives.

The family is grateful to Dr. Kim and the staff of the Cancer Center in Anacortes, and Skagit Valley Hospice for Nancy’s outstanding care. A celebration of her life is planned for Saturday, November 15 at the NW Educational Service District, 1601 R Avenue, Anacortes, from 1-3 pm.
A second celebration is planned for Saturday, November 29th at the Vantage Glen Clubhouse, 18100 107th Place SE, Renton from 1-3 pm. In lieu of flowers, she requested that memorial donations be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, 2009 Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk, (follow links to the 3 Day on this page) or to the Island Hospital Foundation, 715 Seafarer's Way, Suite 101, PO Box 1143, Anacortes, WA 98221

Peace At Last - Beginning Her New Adventure!

Nancy Lyn Osterhout

October 31, 1946-November 6, 2008

Free at last and off on a great new adventure! My beloved sister died yesterday morning at 1:48 a.m. She slipped peacefully away from her earthly body while my mother and I surrounded her with our love. She really wanted to die at home and that wish was fulfilled.

It was so inspiring for Mom and I and our children to observe just how very much Nancy is loved by her prayer group and her friends from work as they came by to visit her during the last couple days of her life.

The picture above was taken at Nancy's shop in Issaquah, about 12 years ago. It really captures her beauty, both inner and outer.

Nancy's favorite holiday was Christmas and this year she will be with so many of our dear ones who proceeded her to heaven, our Dad and younger sister in particular! Mom and I are rejoicing that Nancy doesn't need to suffer any more. We are being spoiled here at our house by my beloved husband and the cards and phone calls are already streaming in.

I will be putting the link to Mike's 2009 Breast Cancer 3 Day page here as we have decided the best place for memorials will be to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Please continue to pray for those of us left behind. I will be posting particulars on a Celebration of Her Life as soon as details are known.

Amazing Grace

Today is Monday, November 3rd. Nancy was transported to Island Hospital yesterday. As the liver failure progresses, the confusion caused by encephalopathy worsened, and well as her motor skills. She tried to get up and fell down. Mom was here alone with her and had to call 911 twice to help her get back into bed.

She is in the ICU and resting comfortably. I will meet with a social worker from Hospice today, as they would like her out of the hospital, and I know it is Nancy's desire to die at home. We just don't know if it is possible to give her the round the clock care here at her house.

She was able to come out of her bedroom with the help of the walker and visit briefly with Larry, Lorianne and her two little ones Allyson and Garrett on her Birthday Friday. I had worn the pink wig from our costumes and she asked to wear it. She had on a robe that had that color in it and the effect was great. She laughed and said some funny things. Her good friends Carol and Nancy were here from her work group. She has received more than 75 cards for her birthday. She did get some sleep Friday night. She was sleeping when members of her prayer group came by to celebrate the birthday.

I ask your continued prayers for comfort and peace as the transition continues. Prayers for our whole family too, as we prepare to cope with not having her here with us.

The picture above Nancy took at the Cancer Center during her chemo treatments earlier this year. It is on the wall in the infusion room - a beautiful handmade quilt full of love.

Nancy's Birthday is Friday! Happy Halloween.

Halloween is coming. This outrageous picture is from our Scrapbook retreat weekend before last. Lorianne asked everyone to dress up for Halloween or if they didn't have a costume - for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. When I got her e-mail about this, I responded, "So, should we go as Twin Boobs. I was honestly kidding about this but found these costumes online. What a hit. And it was a reminder for breast self-exam and Mammograms. WE performed a poem about mammograms, and had lots of laughs.

After the retreat I returned to Anacortes to care for Nancy. She has deteriorated physically and had some problems with medication compliance - so the week was very difficult for her (and me). Once we got her over her resistance to one of the meds, she was much more comfortable. She also had what the nurse thought could be a partial bowel obstruction, so we dealt with that too.

Fall has fallen....Last year we were in Maui

It's hard to believe it, but a year ago this week we were in Maui! It was 47 degrees here this morning and never warmed up enough to take off our sweatshirts! The good news is, we are heading back to Maui in February - can hardly wait.

I just got home late yesterday from a 10 day stint at Nancy's. She had a rough few days with increased pain as her cancer is spreading. We saw the oncologist both Tuesdays and he told us that the tumor markers had gone way up. He wants Nancy to think about starting a different chemo and let him know next week. With as sick as she has been, I truly doubt she will go for it this time. We need to look at quality of life issues again. She doesn't have much quality now, spending most days in bed, but to add another strong chemo at this stage seems ludicrous.

Please pray for wisdom, peace and comfort. Mom is doing well. I go back on Sunday for four short days, as next Thursday is the beginning of our EAT, NAP, SCRAP retreat at Fort Flagler. The preparations for the retreat are coming along nicely. Lorianne announced a costume or "wear pink for the cure" party for Saturday night. We have come up with a funny idea - hope it works out - I'm sworn to secrecy or I'd talk about it here. I plan to do layouts from the 3 Day walk, and can hardly wait to see everyone.

Nancy is our Inspiration - NEVER GIVE UP!

I'm here at Nancy's and she started the new oral chemotherapy on Monday. She's taking it twice a day and combining it with her long term pain meds - so she usually sleeps for a few hours right after taking it. The week has been a real roller coaster ride.

I got here Tuesday and Mom drove home after a long time away. I was still walking pretty tenderly from the blisters on my feet and the tweak to my achilles tendon. I had an early morning hearing at DSHS over in Mt. Vernon and they assured me that her medical would be covered for this month and next at least. Then had a visit from the Hospice nurse and social worker about 4:00 on Wednesday. After some small talk, they told Nancy that she was "being discharged" from Hospice. We were so surprised. They explained that the nurse director reviewed the oncologist's notes and determined that Nancy's goals did not fit with Hospice. In other words, since she still wants to fight the cancer, and not give up hope, she can't have the benefit of Hospice Care.

I was upset, understanding that the nurse and social worker were just the messengers - but I let them know how crummy (must admit I used a stronger word to them) I thought it was for them to blindside us like that. I put a call into her oncologist.

Nancy had an appointment with the oncologist at 9:30 Thursday morning. He was very upset at how this news got passed on to us. I told him if something like this happens to another hospice patient - they should rework the process where the physician is informed - then he tells the patient. He did tell us that he had heard that the hospice program was going to discontinue "Open Access" which is what Nancy was enrolled in - as it has proven much too expensive. He also said he'd talk to the medical director at Hospice.

When we got home, a young man was here to pick up her oxygen!! I told him no way since the replacement oxygen hadn't been ordered yet. The day just got more interesting, and I was grateful that Nancy was able to sleep through most of it.

I got another phone call about 6:00 last night from the night nurse at Hospice who said that Nancy's doctor wanted her back in the program and now they are coming over this afternoon (Friday) to re-enroll her!

I am so relieved, and so is Nancy. It is very disruptive to change out the oxygen, and figure out different ways of getting the medicine and other needed help.

One of the most touching moments of the closing ceremony at the 3Day walk last weekend was when the survivors walked in to the stadium and we all lifted a shoe in their honor. Then the chant, NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER GIVE UP! resounded. That has been Nancy's attitude this whole 2 1/2 years and will continue to be.

Thanks again for all the prayers!