Ghosts And Ghouls And Gobblins...Oh My!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Keep On Rockin In The Free World

Just a quick note...


Today was the last day of round five chemo...21 days to the sixth, and hopefully, finally cycle...
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED!!!!
She is doing wonderfully...
She was up and cruising around the house all day and she even had me take her to the store to get Halloween candy!


Small potatoes to some...HUGE BASKET to us.


We...I mean,

SHE


is


rockin!


Give a big birthday shout out to my Aunt! I think she said she's turning 24 and a half!

xoxo

hugs

xx

When You Take In The Sunshine, You Must Also Take In The Rain

Hey all...today was day two of chemo and we were L A T E !!! Oh my! We were just sitting here enjoying ourselves chattering away and realized that all of the sudden it was 10.30, which also happened to be our appointment time. Imagine our frenzy trying to get out of the dang door! Phew!
We made it there in 15 minutes and only got in a little trouble with Paula....no not really...everything went nice and smooth, no problems. We even went to lunch right after, ran an errand and came home...where my mom has yet to take a nap and she is in the kitchen doing the dishes and flittering all around the house. haha. This is good...she is feeling great and I am thrilled!

Today, however, when we got back, I learned the sad, sad news of an old friend's passing. He was a 34 year old father, son, husband, brother, musician, master-mustache grower, friend and inspiration to many, many people.

The world is a little less brighter today but we are all much better people for having known him.

You will be missed but your smile will live on in our hearts forever.

Please keep Terrin's family in your prayers and in your hearts...send them all kinds of healing light
and please, please
SUPPORT CANSER RESEARCH!!!

canser really effing sucks.

Here is a link to an article that was written about Terrin a few weeks ago...
http://sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/the_fighter/7405

“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.”

Morrie Schwartz

The Countdown Clock Has Started

Happy October 27th...by this time next month, my mom will be done with chemo. Yep. You heard right. Oh mah gawd! Pretty awesome.
We went into Dr. Paroly's office this morning for my mom's 10.40 am CBC/Chem Panel test and walked out of there at 3.30 this afternoon. Why you ask? Well because Judy asked us to wait around to see the results of the CBC.
Well, Judy came back to us about 5 minutes later and asked if my mom would like to start cycle 5 of chemo...she said yes, of course. So, during chemo, she made out my mom's schedule for the next series of appointments. She said that Dr.Paroly only has her down for 6 cycles of chemo (which we knew a few weeks ago, but were uncertain if this would hold true...apparently, so far it has).
So, my mom finishes cycle 5 this week...Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday chemo (10/27-10/29, Neulasta and CBC on Thursday (10/30), CBC Monday (11/3), CBC/Chem panel Thursday (11/6), CBC Monday (11/10), CBC/Chem Panel Thursday (11/13), Pre-Chemo Visit Friday (11/14), CYCLE SIX Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (11/17-11/19) Neulasta shot Thursday (11/20)...that's alot...and then...
THAT'S IT!!!
Can you freakin believe it?!
This is so amazing.
Hopefully, this is the last time that we ever, ever, ever have to go to chemo ever, ever again...keep your fingers crossed.
We met a great mother/son team today at chemo...Peter and Rose. Wow. Peter is his mother's caregiver and co-survivor.
I'm unsure if I have ever used these words here, on this blog...they are, however, words that I now use in my everyday life.
Some of the canser books and websites that I have seen say that the day that you are diagnosed with canser, you are survivor. You do not need to wait until you are in remission...
YOU ARE ALREADY A SURVIVOR.
I agree. This is a tough disease and an even tougher battle...people are stamping you left and right with all kinds of brands and monikers and numbers...why not give yourself a brand that has positive connotations...
SURVIVOR.
I have also started calling myself and my dad co-survivors because here we are surviving right along side of my mom. I came up with this title because I don't necessarily like the "caregiver" title. I don't know why, I just don't...nothing against anything or anyone...I dont know, maybe its as simple as this:
a caregiver is someone who is paid to give care to someone...this is not me. I do this because I wouldn't have it any other way. I would give up everything to be able to be with my mom everyday...like Peter and I were saying this afternoon...
this is the toughest thing that we have ever done, but THE most rewarding thing that we have ever done WITH our lives.
I am not giving care to my mom everyday...I am CO-SURVIVING with her everyday.
Plus, Co-Survivor seems so much more powerful and appropriate to me.
Anyway, I'm outta here...its been a loooong day and my sinuses are killing me.

ps...i just got word from my nieghbor and his dad is doing awesome!!! YES!!

hugs
xx

oh and im bringing back an oldie but a goodie....

INCURABLE ISN'T A DECLARATION...IT'S A DARE

and today is a two-fer...a two for one day....I stole this one right off of my darling friend Rawstin's page...

CANSER IS A WORD, NOT A SENTENCE

Doodley Doodely Doo

Good Morning! Here's a little more good news to shove you off into the weekend...my mom says that she is feeling better today. No dizziness, a bigger appetite and a wee bit more energy. This is all good!Maybe we can even sneak in a Target...probably not. A girl can dream can't she? I mean, I'm sure Target really misses us!

Well, today we have nothing to do...knock on wood! I think we are just gonna chill, watch teevee, eat, and maybe take a nap or two...oh and do some laundry. This may seem like small potatoes to you, but that's pretty big to us.
Treat yourselves to something super this weekend...after all of your hard work, you deserve it!
Have a great weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM!

I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE CROSSED PATHS.
WE MISS YOU.
fyl

Shake It Like A Salt Shaker!

We are still reeling from all of that juicy good news yesterday! I think we have told everyone that we have run into about the good news...I mean EVERYBODY! and every time my mom tells people she cries...tears of joy, of course, and then she gets me going and then she gets the other people going. Tears of joy, I can assure you.
Anyway, although we have had some of the best news that we have had in months, we are still not drama free. The medi-port started bleeding again last night so off we went to the hospital bright and early this morning. They seem to think its probably the old blood from the hematoma on the outside of the port. My mom seemed satisfied with that answer...we are just going to keep an eye on it...a close eye.
After our excursion at the hospital, we hopped on over to Dr. Paroly's for the standard CBC test. Just a refresher, the CBC stands for Complete Blood Count test. The CBC is used as a broad screening test to check for various disorders such as anemia and/or other infections. It is actually a panel of tests that include but are not limited to checking the RBC, WBC, Hemoglobin, Hemocrit, platelet count, etc.
It turns out that her platelet count has risen from 73,000 to 243,000! Pretty awesome! The girls, Deanne and Paula decided to check on my mom's "dizzy" problem by monitoring her blood pressure in the different positions...laying down, sitting and standing. Well, they figured out that not only was her low platelet count and low blood sugar count attributing to her dizziness, bit she also may have something called Orthostatic hypo tension. It is a form of hypo tension in which there is a sudden (less than 3 minutes) fall in blood pressure that occurs when a person assumes a standing position, usually after a prolonged period of rest. Its kinda like a head rush or dizzy spell. They have given her specific instructions about how to get up, seriously. She is being a good patient so far concerning that, I swear, but she wasn't at first! So, her prescription for this new ailment is (unfortunately it isn't more cowbell) is to be very, very slow when changing ANY position and to keep an elevated salt intake as well as drink some Gatorade. This is much harder than you can imagine! My mom is very stubborn and she doesn't like the Gatorade. She is getting used to it though...actually I think she is just tired of hearing me squawk at her.
Well, I'm outta here...it's hot and I'm tired of sitting here with this computer on my lap.

Keep up the good work everybody!!
and keep your fingers crossed for a speedy and very, very, very, very, very lengthy remission!


hugs
xx

"When there is no peril in the fight there is no glory in the triumph."

--Pierre Corneille

We Just Voted and So Should You! ps...this blog is full of juicy good news too!!!

My mom and I usually go to a house around the corner every year and vote. This year we thought that it may be a little more work than normal to get around the corner so we decided to register to vote via mail in ballot. So, we just voted, stuffed our envelopes, stamped them and put them in the mailbox. Done and done! Awesome!
Did you know that the saying "Vote early and vote often" was originally said by Al Capone? He sure did...and that is your lesson for the day. You're welcome.
Hold on...I just got side tracked...Dr. Lean's office just called. Dr. Lean, if you all remember, is my mom's Radiologist. Guess what?
Holy shit! Hold on to your pants people....this is so effing awesome!
They said that the smaller tumors on my mom's brain are GONE!!! GONE!! oh my god! GONE!!!
praise Elvis!
They also said that the larger one has shrunk considerably! Considerably! They said that the MRI results are pretty much the best that you can get. Also, apparently, she no longer needs to go to Radiation! YES!!! I mean, we love Dr. Lean, but the thought of no more Radiation is amazing. Her very next appointment with Dr. Lean will be in February where she will get an MRI to check the progress of the tumors. This also means, as my cousin pointed out, her hair will start grow back! My mom is very excited about that...while bald is beautiful, bald is also cold and bald quite often provokes stares. That's kinda hard...so bring on the hair!
I cant tell you what a relief this has been! When my mom got off of the phone and told me and Bev the news, we just started crying...well, i was doing the booty shaking happy dance while I was crying, of course.

Hopefully from here on out, she stays nice and healthy...no more canser...EVER!!!
I have this feeling that my mom's road to remission has been paved not only with a healthier diet, but with all of that dang love, prayer, jokes, laughter, claps and whathaveyou, that you all have been sending her way.
I guess what they say is true, love CAN move mountains...shoot, love can move canser right out of the body too!
Thank you, each and everyone of you for all of you positive thoughts, care and concern...keep it coming because while we have received some supercalifragilistcexpialidocious news today, the battle is still not over.

Damn! Today was a good day!

Rejoice everyone...be happy and let out a sigh of relief because guess what? THE TUMORS ARE SHRINKING!

my mom is so rockin the shit out of this canser!

hugs
xx

ps...don't forget to vote!


There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.
- Robert Alden

High Fives All Around

Good Afternoon and Happy Monday.
Guess where we went today?
Yep, you guessed it, Dr. Paroly's.
Wanna know what he said?
Too bad...tune in next week.
Just Kidding.
Good news and high fives all around! There is no new growth. YEAH!!! NO NEW GROWTH.
He also said that the scans seem clear and that the right lung seems to be aerating really well.
**aer·ate
/ˈɛəreɪt, ˈeɪəˌreɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[air-eyt, ey-uh-reyt]
–verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.

1.	to expose to the action or effect of air or to cause air to circulate through: to aerate milk in order to remove odors.

2.	to change or treat with air or a gas, esp. with carbon dioxide.

3.	Physiology. to expose (a medium or tissue) to air, as in the oxygenation of the blood in respiration.

Remember awhile back when Dr. Paroly said that my mom needed to cough and push that "plug" out? Well, apparently that's whats going on. He also said that all of her levels look really good...except the blood platelets...they are very low. Actually, they are so low that chemo has been called off this week. This is good and bad, obviously, good because that means that she can rest, sort of a mini-vacation, bad news, no chemo...but maybe that's good news too.
Hopefully with all of the rest that she will get this week, along with an iron and protein rich diet, the blood platelets will go back up to a more normal level. A normal persons blood platelet level is usually between 150,000 and 400,000...my moms are somewhere around 73,000. Dr. Paroly said that this is not necessarily life threateningly low, but he fears if we started chemo this week, that by the end, it would be. We agree and are looking forward to a mini-vacation.
All in all, though, it was a good news day, none of this was bad news to us, not even the platelet business...and to think I used to hate Mondays!

So, now we can all let out a collective sigh of relief, do a booty shaking happy dance or leak out some tears of joy...my mom is on the road to remission!
Shes rockin.

Thank you, thank you, thank you from the tips of my toes to the top of my head...keep up the good work!

hugs to all of you
xx


"Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings."

January Should Go On Record As The Busiest Month

Happy Friday!
Well, let's just get down to business. When my mom woke up this morning she noticed that she had a little bit of bleeding around the port area. Nothing major, just a wee bit of blood...but considering what happened last time, we have decided that it is alright if we are overly cautious...so we took ourselves right on down to the hospital. As you can imagine, my mom was very nervous, as was I, but Linda and Laurie were really good to her and everything, so far, is fine. It seems as though her stitch may have ripped a teeny bit, causing some of the very, very minor bleeding. Laurie ended up just putting some more steri-strips and a piece of gauze over it. We have to go back Tuesday morning before chemo to have it checked out...this means we have to get up EARLY. This will, I'm sure, prove to be hard, as we two lazy little buddies these days. Oh well, we will make it...I have faith in us!
hopefully, this weekend will be a nice relaxing one for my mom, aside from all of these October birthday goings on...
Alright, kids, I'm out.
Please keep your fingers crossed that my mom makes it through the weekend blood, stress and fever free. Also, remember that Monday is another big day for us...its the CT Scan results show. If you could please keep sending out all of those juicy good healing vibes, good news vibes, a million claps...or whatever it is that all of you have been doing for my mom...we would really appreciate it.
Also, please keep up those positive vibes for Michelle's papa, Cookie, my neighbor's family and last but not least, our chemo buddy Mike.
ohhhh guess what?
In the midst of all of this craziness, we heard some really good news yesterday...some very good family friends are having a baby! Yes! I love hearing about love, new life and new hope...plus, pretty soon we will get to play with a new baby, and smell it, and squeeze it....I could go on and on. Lets not.
Instead, let's do this:

Say Happy Birthday to Miss Melody Dill Melvin whose Birthday is today!
xo


and on Sunday don't forget to wish this little Bun (Michael) a big ol' Happy 30th Birthday!

xoxo

I'm bringing back on oldie but a goodie:

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile"

Chemo Buddy

I totally forgot! We saw our old chemo buddy, Mike today! We haven't seen him in so long! It was nice to visit with him for 15 or so minutes. Apparently, he wasn't doing so well just a few weeks ago. he had been in the hospital getting a blood transfusion as well as a platelet transfusion...poor fella. He says that he is feeling much better now. Good.
Please send out some healing ju-ju for Mike...I think he needs it!

hugs xx

"Middle age is when you've met so many people that every new person you meet reminds you of someone else."
Ogden Nash

Blood Draws, Chem Panels and Medi-Ports, Oh My!

Heya...we just got back from good ol Dr. Paroly's where my mom got her CBC/Chem Panel.
POP QUIZ! What is a Chem Panel?
Cmon.....this is the test that determines the levels of everything going in the human body. WBC levels, RBC levels, Potassium, Calcium, Liver, etc.
We will get these results on Monday when we visit Dr. Paroly before starting chemo on Tuesday. This is when we will also receive the results of the CT Scan that was done yesterday. Oh boy...I hope that the results are even better this time than they were last time...however, we will not WAIT around for those results, no holding our breaths...none of that, remember, this is our life and my mom has canser, it DOES NOT have her, right? right.
However, don't let that stop you from sending out all of those good healing vibes, love, light, a million claps or prayers to the King, Elvis...keep those coming, but stop holding your breath, its only going to give you a headache!
Alright, I'm off to save the world one Medi-cal letter at a time. Okay, not really, I'm just off to send out my mom's "insurance" information to every single doctor, nurse, and or IV that has touched her in the last two months. If I don't blog tomorrow, please call for help and if they cant find me, tell them to look under the giant stack of mail.
hugs
xx

PS...
if you see this old lady today, please offer her your chair. poor girl, shes getting old!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER!
XO

Sleepy Sleeperton

So, here we are...back from the CT Scan. It was much easier this time, no yucky, ucky "milkshake" just an iodine IV. Much better.
However, her port is really, really sore today..I can only imagine. So she is just sleep, sleep, sleeping. Good. She needs it. Its been a busy week and it's only Wednesday.
She starts chemo again next week...I hope she is rested enough for that.
We still don't have the MRI results yet...but I will keep you posted. Keep up the good vibes for continued good news in my mom's recovery!
Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart for everything that all of have done for us, for my mom...your support has meant the world to us!
I will say again though, as I do every single day...canser is wack. I have found, however, that I have learned alot about myself, the world, science, life and love throughout this journey so far. I hope that I can continue to grow my brain as well as my heart during the rest of my mom's recovery and eventual remission.
It is my greatest desire for no one else to ever have to go through this type of experience ever again...but I don't have a magic wand. So, the second best thing to help to bring canser awareness into the light...not just lung canser...ALL canser! The more people talk about it, the more research that is done, the more likely that we will see an end to this ridiculous, heartbreaking disease.
It seems like every other week or so, I hear of a friend who has joined the "club" ( i have been referring to it as "the lamest club you never wanted to join")...damn it. Lets bring this disease to light! Stand up and fight! Make them hear you! Support Canser Research!
and don't forget to VOTE!!

*here is an update on some of friends...
my neighbors father had his surgery on the third and seems to be doing well. he starts radiation this week. send some taste buds and healing light to him.
my friend, who we will call Cookie, seems to be hanging in there like a trooper! shes a feisty girl!
YES! send her some healing light and a beer next time you see her!
unfortunately, I found out today that a long time friend of mine's father has canser as well. shit.
he has been trying some alternative treatments...he is set to begin chemo and radiation soon. lets send him some healing light, taste buds and anti nausea vibes!

hug to all of you!
xx

"If the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it can't be done."
Peter Ustinov

We're Baaack

The surgery went smoothly...except for the part where she felt "the needle" (not sure what that was). She is resting comfortably in her bed and I'm fooling around on the computer. Ah...
Tomorrow its on to the CT Scan!
hugs
xx

"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me."
Ayn Rand

Good Morning

Just wanted to let you all know that we are on our way to get the new Medi-port.
Be back later this afternoon!

My mom is nervous and doesnt really wanna go...so send her some strength and healing love!
hugs
xx

It Might Be a Crazy Life, But It's Our Life

Hola!
Lets catch up...Friday my mom came down with another fever and had to go to Tri-City to get another blood culture taken to determine the cause. Four hours later it turned out to be just a run of the mill infection...no biggie...however, her red blood cell counts are still very low. Unfortunately, my friends, I think she is going to have to break and eat some meat. I know, I know...there are supplements or different foods she can eat...there is a problem there though...she wont take any supplements unless approved by her doctor AND even bigger, she absolutely will not take anymore pills...she is just sick of taking pills and I cant blame her. The other issue is that there aren't many things that she even feels like eating, so if she eats a bit of a hamburger or some bacon with her eggs once a week or so for the next few weeks, I'm good with that.
pssst....we ate BLT's today...I ate the bacon with her...oh well, it was kinda fun to be a little rebellious!
Anyway, onto Saturday. Medical finally approved the MRI, so she and my daddio went to the MRI place on Saturday afternoon. I heard that she did really good...if you don't already know this about my mom...she is horribly claustrophobic!
I'm sure that we will get this results soon....and then back to Radiology and Dr. Lean's we go! Lets hope, though, that the toomah (tumor) is shrinking. The less Radiation, the better, right? Right. This would also mean that the canser would be vacating and that would be the greatest news EVER!!
So, today we went and had the usual blood draw and the usual run-a-round with Medical and crap...but whatever.
Tomorrow, if you all remember is Medi-port day. We have to check in for the surgery at 11.30am and it should take about 3 or so hours. My mom is really excited to get the port...the pick line is slightly annoying, it has to be flushed everyday, it hangs out of your clothes so its hard to hide, you have to be careful to when you shower, blah, blah, blah. Hopefully this little bugger doesn't get infected! We have vowed to each other to keep a very very close eye on this one!
Wednesday is CT Scan day...the big day. This one, forgive me for constantly repeating myself, is the one that tells us about the canser and the lung toomah. Lets all pray, clap, sing, laugh, dance and cross our fingers that it still hasn't grown...actually, lets pray, clap, sing, laugh, dance and cross out fingers that its just GONE! Yeah, that's better!
Thursday there will be another blood draw, this one is CBC Chem panel. Its almost, unbelievably enough, to start chemo again. erg.
Maybe we can rest on Friday...right, Miss Jen?

On a side note, kinda sorta...
Bureaucracy and Red Tape sucks...we need Health care Reform.
Those of us who can vote, please do it and those of us who aren't registered, Whadda ya waitin for?
BE THE CHANGE!!

hugs
xxx


"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Robert McClusky, state department spokesperson

Hello Dolly

Well, things seem to have settled down a bit around here...for now. My mom has gotten some of her appetite back as well as her energy. As for me, I have pretty much finished organizing my house...thank god! The rest of this week is going to be pretty quiet...its next week that looks a little coo-koo.
Monday...blood draw (normal)
Tuesday...new Mediport
Wednesday...CT Scan
Thursday...Jennifer's Birthday
Friday...Melody's Birthday
Saturday...a break
Sunday...Michael's big Three Oh Birthday!
phew!
Also, lets not forget that my most favorite holiday is arriving in just 22 short days.

We are currently still waiting for approval form Medical to her MRI...this is pretty overdue and the sooner we get it the better. However, worrying and wringing our hands about it will only make the wait worse. So, instead, my friends, lets do this:
send out positive, healing vibes for the Mediport surgery on Tuesday, finger crossing and positive vibes on Wednesday for the CT Scan (clean, non canser results), good vibes and red tape cutting for Medical approval for the MRI and loads of birthday blessings for next weekends October birthday babies!
Alright, my allergies are crazy and my eyes are watering up something fierce thanks to all of this dang wind...so I'm outta here!
hugs to you
xxx
ps...joshua tree was amazing! truly. crossroads, tim and katie, pappy and harriets, integratron, ricochet, rim rock ranch, mike, shuffleboard, bug zappers, ouija boards, graham parsons, wide open spaces, saff and melda, ufos and aliens, dirty dusty roads, stars, d-lo, campfires, candy at midnight, fresh air and love, love, love.




"They danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"" Jack Kerouac

Biserk

Sorry....I'm back. We're back. So busy finishing moving, unpacking from Joshua Tree and whatnot. My mom is doing superbly. I promise I will write later.
Don't hate me.
xo

Its Hot in the City

Happy Wednesday...otherwise known as day two of chemo. Unfortunately, yesterday was a wee bit rough. A few hours after chemo, my mom got sick...kinda strange that after all of this time, she gets sick now...but today, so far, so good. She was given Kytril at chemo this morning...well, actually, she gets it before every chemo. For those of you who don't know, Kytril is used to treat nausea and vomiting during chemo treatments. She is also prescribed Compazine, another anti-nausea medication, that she can take at home...yesterday was the first time that she had to take it.
However, I am not entirely convinced that my mom got sick because of chemo...maybe I'm being naive, but it was sososo hot yesterday (87 degrees is very hot for us...dont make fun!) and we ate some food that we haven't eaten since before my mom got sick...hummus, tzatziki sauce, falafal, and a Greek salad...may have been a wee bit oily for her new constitution. Alot of people have said that after chemo, their stomach and digestive system is much much different...even taste buds are different...she is already experiencing that. So many of the things she enjoyed before, she no longer likes.
So lets see...the rest of this week looks like this:
tomorrow is the last day of chemo...for this cycle.
Friday, Nulasta shot and MRI
I, unfortunately will be gone until Sunday...which feels awkward, but shes got my dad to take her to her appointments...and I will be here for the results next week. I will keep you posted on the results.
Please send out good healing light, a million claps, crossed fingers, prayers to Elvis and keep up the and positive vibes for clean, clean canser free scans.
Okay, my friends, I will catch you all up on the goods on Sunday.
Lots of hugs to all of you for all of your positivity and awesome friendship!
xo

"A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won't cross the street to vote in a national election."Kendall wants you to get out and vote!