Hello, everybody: Well, I think my body is recuperating from company and running around for two weeks plus. Three weeks ago I went to do chemo on Thursday am, and afterward went to Medford to be with Dad and our step-mom. My 2 brothers also came, one from Portland, and one from Texas with his wife and two daughters. We got quite a bit done in the way of prearranging my Dad's funeral, and sitting in with Hospice so they can get some help, and my step mom can get some more breaks in. Dad loves to see everyone, and especially for times like this it would be nice to be closer physically. Pat and the kids came home on Sunday so he could return to work, and my bros.,Valerie, and I stayed until Wednesday to finalize some things. We got home Wed. eve., then got up and I had chemo Thursday morning.
Right after receiving the chemo, we once again jumped in the van, and this time went to Lincoln City on the beach. My brother Lloyd (TX) and his family were there, our sister-in-law, Sherry, Pat's dad and step-mom and our whole family. (It was a big house.) It was great to see Bob and Ginny, Pat's folks, and spend some more time with my brother. We don't get to see each other much! Sherry and all the girls had a nail painting evening, and a few got to go shopping at the outlet malls nearby, and there was quite a bit of time for walks on the beach. The World Championship Kite Flying Festival was happening, so we saw people from France, Germany, Japan, and all over, and the weekend concluded with a huge fireworks display over the ocean. The house we stayed in had a balcony, so everyone ran upstairs for the best view. We got back from the beach on Wednesday afternoon, and were going to go out for dinner, but my body gave up and rebelled. Due to some chills, rough muscle aches and pains, and general cruddy feelings, Pat put me on bed rest for the night and brought back some food for me. Chemo was the next morning, and an extra blood draw, so we thought I'd better settle down. I put ice on my feet on the way to the infusion office, and did some hot/cold in the shower to boost the white blood count. If my counts are too low, I don't get a full dose of chemo. I had two weeks of a half dose, and was determined to get a full one this time. Something worked, God answered some prayers (again) and I got a full dose. Yeah! (NOT that I love the stuff!!! I just want it to get in there, work hard and get out of my body fast!) The last CEA I got on June 23rd registered a slight increase-up to 4.2 from 3.6, so I have been a little nervous between that and the cancer in my spine. It was probably due to the nature of the trip to Medford and the ensuing stress, so I'm hoping that now that things are settling down it will reduce down into the 3's again. I heard that dehydration can make this happen also. Dr. Kenyon says that staying between 3 and 5 is going to be fine, it’s if it keeps going up that we would get worried and think about changing things. Jonathan T. (Herbalist/nutritionist) had said to expect it to go up and down a bit, and to not panic if it did this, but to rely more on the scans as to how much cancer was progressive or regressive. Dr. Kenyon has also reassured me that we're going in the right direction, so I have to sit back and trust. And take the supplements, which are still helping a tremendous amount, and take the chemos which are as well. Pray for no ongoing damage from the cancer treatments, please! It would be a drag to make it through all of this and have kidney damage or something. Hopefully I'm drinking enough to avoid that and the supplements are protective enough.
Robert and I just returned from the Hartwig's house a bit ago, where he and a group of other home-schooled boys took their test for the year. We are supposed to test after 3rd, 5th, 8th and 10th grades, so this was Robert's first. He thinks he's done all right, and doesn't seem too traumatized, so we're both happy it's hindsight now. We've spent this week in preparation for it, so that was great. Thanks, Linda! He said he had fun, but I think that was because he had a whole group of boys he was with, and no girls for once! Time to get the next batch of kids and bring them home-thanks for your prayers. Keep them coming! Mentally and spiritually I think I'm in one of the most challenging places I've been in since the beginning of this diagnosis so prayers for peace and of course ongoing healing are coveted. It’s amazing how much mental energy this disease can consume, as well as physical. It’s a huge journey for myself, but to not be able to be there for my Dad as much as I would like because I need to protect my own health goes against my grain in a big way. God has shown Himself to be very large on my behalf, and I have to trust that He will be there for my earthly father as well.
Housekeeping note: We still have many pans and containers from folks who delivered meals. If you have a pan or dish missing, please contact us And we found the lid to Deb's soup pot. Deb, I’ll try to get that back to you-it’s been a little busy.
Post script...sort of...
Daniel had Special Olympics this last weekend, and received a gold medal in the 100 meter relay, a silver medal in the soft ball throw, and a bronze for the 100 meter dash. Fun.
Time to rest!!!
Love you all, and many blessings to you-
Jeanne H.
