Just keep swimming

Mom's continuing to fight. Easy breathing is hard to come by, but she's taking it one day at a time.
She goes in to get more fluid drained off her lung in Sioux Falls tomorrow and from there, I will be there to report from the sidelines.
She did manage to walk to the restroom by herself today - but not without some difficulty...
We love you Momma! Keep up the hard work!

Leavin on a Jet Plane

Me... I am... on Wednesday (I think).
Going to spend time with Momma and help her heal.

She had a rough day; hard time catching her breath and getting around. She got some answers from Dr. McHale though and looks like she'll be headed to Sioux Falls on Tuesday for some more fluid drainage.

Thanks for your love,
Abby

Still Waiting

We're still waiting on more news from the doc's, but the news we did get is that there's more fluid on Mom's heart and lungs. It just won't go away! Dr. McHale will call with a plan tomorrow. For now? Wait.
Love,
Abby

Dumpy

In a word... how Mom feels today.
Achy - icky - dumpy - gross.

We all have "those days" it just makes me more sad when SHE has "Those days".

Hopefully the painkillers and muscle relaxers kick in REAL good!

Slow goes it

Mom's still healing from her last round of Chemo. This morning she was short of breath, and was working on getting some of the fluid away from her heart to help her breath better by taking some water pills.

There's improvement, but it's not as fast as we'd like it.

She's still headed into work!

Nothing slows this lady down :)

Pain Managment

Mom's pain seems to have backed off enough for her to enjoy her Easter.


She'll know more this week as she goes to visit her regular doctors.


For now, the pain killers have become her best bud.


-a

ERoom

Mom' headed to the ER (Emergency room) this morning with a really bad pain in her right lung (yep, that's the 'good' one). She had x-rays done and blood drawn and they weren't able to see anything that would cause the pain. Her x-rays looked as normal as her x-rays look now a days.

They prescribed her some pain medication and sent her home. She was feeling pretty good once they left - but I think that was the Vicodin talking.

Hopefully she'll get some rest and heal up over the Easter weekend.

Chemo Hangover

Mom's been feeling craptastic all week since her Chemo treatments.
She has been feeling pretty weak and has "jell-o" legs.

Yesterday she went and got some fluids and they did it a little differently to help her not retain as much in places she doesn't want it to stay - so they injected 1 liter over 4 hours. She said it was a LOOONG day.

She did get to nap a little, and is back at work today though still not feeling up to par.

I told her she could just order the new kid around... she says he's all ready really wonderful and helps out a ton.

Back to Chemo next week - hope she gets a little reprieve from feeling crappy.

That Darn Cold

And no, I'm not talking about the weather... Mom's caught a bug, she was feeling pretty crap-tastic at her Benefit, but wasn't goin to miss it for the world.

She visited her doctor this past week and got on some antibiotics and is working on fighting it off - she sounded kind of like a bull frog yesterday when we spoke, but she assured me she felt a little better than earlier this week.

Our grand total for the Benefit has passed our inital count of $27,300 and is now up to $28,350 (or something like that). Thank you again, each and every red cent is appreciated.

Mom texted me this morning and it looks like the head is getting shaved again this weekend with Tony. The Chemo that "works" on her also makes her lose her hair, and it's starting to go, so wig shopping is on the agenda.

Thanks for your love, support and prayers. -a

Baby Steps

Mom's had a few icky days this week, but she's had a few good days too.
She's been spending lots of time in her chair and Erica's been hanging out with her, keeping her entertained.

Mom's rocking work though - working 30 hours a week!!

The Benefit is rocking! We are selling raffle tickets for $5.00 a piece, the prizes are a Pork Bundle, a Beef Bundle or $100 cash. We would love to sell one or ten to you!

How's Mom?

I've been getting this question a lot latley.
She's back at work kicking butt like always!
Fatigue has been a friend (or foe) of her's this week, but she seems to be hanging in there and enjoys not just sitting around all day.

Her Chemo starts this week (tomorrow I think) and we'll see how it treats her after that. Today, she gets to see her eldest grandchild turn 13 - which is pretty awesome, and she's been hard at work with Kathy, Gregg, Brenda, Grandma, & Shannon for her Benefit which is on APRIL 3rd!!!

That's how Mom is :) ♥

New/Old Treatment

Mom had a doctor's appointment this week and Dr. McHale decided they were going to put her back on the once every three week Chemotherapy regiment they tried previously.

The good news is that this chemo was the most effective to date.

The bad news is it's the chemo that makes her nauseous and make her lose her hair.

We're crossing our fingers for a better expierience with this round than we had with the previous round, but we feel hopeful.

She's doing pretty well - taking lots of naps, and the time cut back at work has really helped.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, it means the world!

Options

Mom went in to see Dr. Horn on Thursday (right?) Dr. Horn said "Hosptial? Or Pills" Mom opted for pills.
She's been battling the fluid retention game again. She hates it.
The pills Dr. Horn gave her seem to be working, she's losing some - she can tell it in her face.

Dr. McHale also called her this week and said that he's got a few options for her to go over when he see's her next and that the results from California came in from her tissue sample and she responds well to two different Chemos. One they've tried, the one that made her hair go away, and he said they'd talk about it when he saw her again.

Good to have options.

UP.... DOWN....UP....

Mom’s been feeling up and down… and up… and down… and today, she just wants to nap.
Good thing she’s headed in for chemo- actually I think she’s sitting in Chemo right now, probably napping.
Please keep her in your prayers to feel better for her weekend!
Lots of Love,
Me.

New kind of treatment?

Dr. McHale went over the results of Mom's recent CT Scan with her today and he said the results were STABLE. WOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
That's such a beautiful word.
He's sending some tissue of hers into a Doctor in California for a new type of treatment that they're trying in California.
We don't know much about it, but Dr. McHale is excited to try it out and we're willing.

As for Momma? She's doing fine.
She's been awfully sleepy and has an icky feeling day here and there, but overall is feeling pretty good. We're thankful for that :)

Going Strong

There's something beautiful about being home with your Momma.
I spent the first week of the year with her, and it was the best. week. ever.
I haven't had a chance to blog much - I haven't been real inspired.

I do have to say that I'm pretty happy there hasn't been much news over here. Posting news here can have good and bad connotations, so I'd rather not have to blog than be posting frequently.

Mom is doing well.
She's continuing Chemo in hopes that it will zap some of the Cancer inside of her body.
She's pretty tired most days, but has been working only 30 hours a week (as opposed to her 45+ she has been working). She's been living with Kathy & Todd, and it's helped her exponentially to be around people, and not have to worry about heating that damn trailer house ($244 this month and NO ONE WAS LIVING IN IT).


We had an excellent visit, and I'm working on a little piece about my visit with her to Chemo appointment, her nurses are a hoot!In more news... Missy Sinner took these fantastic photos of us while I was there.
Thank you Missy... from the bottom of our hearts... Thank you.

Bragging Rights

Last night at the Relay committee meeting I learned about our amazing success as a Relay Team in 2010!

The Hope Corps is #6 in the top #10 fundraising teams for Highline Relay for Life. There were 35 teams and we were #6!!! We raised $3,665!!!!

The Hope Corps has many amazing Members, but one in particular, raised $1,425 all by her lonesome... Lets give it up for Becky Marchitto who has earned her "Grand Club Tee shirt"

We will be honored at the 2011 Relay for Life Kick off party at Mt. Rainier High School Theater at 7pm. Because we rock like that.

However, we couldn't have done it with out you ... the supporters!
Thank you ... Thank you... THANK YOU!!!

Also, Mom is doing good. She's been taking the week off to heal up... and feeling better, Much better. She has also moved in with Kathy for the winter to keep on the mend!

Thanks again,

Love Me.

Home Sweet Home

And tired...

We're happy to have her home :)

Hope...with a capital H

Mom's headed home today (INSERT HAPPY DANCE HERE)

She spent the last day (Monday) at the hospital getting Lung massages and nebulizer treatments. The Doctors saw progress they liked, and by this evening she'll be sleeping in her own bed, which is what she really wants.

Thank you for your support, love and prayers,

♥a

Not So Fast

So... This morning Mom said the doc was in and told her he wasn't quite ready to send her on her way back to Watertown. He said the x-ray they took yesterday still looked too similar to the one they took upon admitting her to the hospital.

They're going to take a look at the bronchoscopy results so they know how to best treat the beast within.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers,
I'll let you know more when I do.
♥ abby