On Year and Counting.

Happy Birthday on May 1 to my Mom. It's been a year since her last chemo and each of her check-ups have been clear. It's definitely a happy day :-)

PARTY TIME!!!!

Okay, People!!! For those who are not on facebook and know about it, here is where I will tell you!

Mark SATURDAY, AUGUST 16th, 2008 off on your calendars. We are having a "HEY! BARB'S ALIVE" party at her house (check in the phone book or e-mail me for directions) from 1 pm to 4 pm (though the end time is bound to be later!). Best wishes only...fond memories welcomed...no gifts please! The gift of your friendship is enough and well cherished. BYOB and a lawn chair. No RSVP necessary but would be appreciated (for snack food purposes).

Two Months and Counting....

Mom went to Kingston for her two month check up. Hard to believe that two months have passed since her final chemo treatment. Her hair is starting to grow back (though not fast enough for her!), though she did manage to get a sunburn on the top of her head last weekend LOL!

She had all the 'good' stuff today with her oncologist. Things are looking wonderful!! Her blood pressure is up a bit but the stress of the travel could have done that. Otherwise, she does not have to go back for another 3 months and she sounds like the weight of a world has been lifted.

Al, on the other hand, goes up tomorrow for his return visit with his kidney specialist. And speaking of hands.....Big Al managed to slam his hand in his car door. Good thing they were already at the hospital! They took him in and got him bandaged up. His skin is so thin and he is on coumadin (or 'rat poison' as he refers to it) he damaged himself well. But he will make it!

My stepsis, Kathie, is meeting them in K-town tomorrow to be there for the dr appointment.

That's all for now! I will pass on what I hear tomorrow!

Just a quickie...

Mom called just after 5 tonight. She sounded very tired. BUT....her chemo is done! She is 'officially' in remission. Funny how it sounds so much better than the reality....but we'll take it.

Al got some good news from the vascular surgeon. I think it's good news, anyhow. They can't do anything with the veins but they feel his one functioning kidney can 'handle the load' and should do him as long as he needs it to. So, he is on some new blood pressure meds and otherwise on the straight and narrow.

We are still planning a party for Mom later this summer....I am in the process of putting together a slide show for her - any pics or thoughts you would like to send my way would be gratefully received.

Checking in....

It's been a LONG time since I last wrote. It's been a bit harder - I work every day and we have had some pretty sick kids the past month and a half. But I thought I should wander by and at least give a quick synopsis of what has been going on.

As I write, Mom and Al are in Kingston, waiting for tomorrow and Mom's LAST CHEMO!! YAY!!! Who woulda guessed all this in the past year? She is feeling good...anxious...excited. Nervous. I think her biggest fear is what the next couple of months will bring. All the stats make it clear that this form of cancer has a very high incidence of reappearing in other areas. But, she has beat so many odds thus far, why can't she be the smaller stat all the way? She is most anxious to have her hair back LOL!

Al is facing the unknown. He was in Kingston last week to have angioplasty on his one functioning kidney but they were unable to do it. It turns out, they were unaware he is full of artificial veins (the result of his bypass surgery 20+ years ago). They went in thru his arm but made the choice to not go thru with the insertion of the stent. He is to see his specialist Tuesday. He will also be having a referral to a vascular surgeon but that date has not yet been set. I'll keep you posted.

Other than that.....Mom is loving the warmer weather and is getting out to play in the dirt as often as possible. She had her 72nd birthday last Thursday and I think it was her best. She didn't do anything spectacular...she (and we!) was just happy to be here to celebrate.

Hope everyone is well and happy. Happy Spring to everyone!

One more down.

Mom had her second-after-surgery chemo on Tuesday. So far, so good. She had her good day yesterday and today was a little tired. Of course, she and Al went out for lunch...went to the Superstore (or, as Al refers to it, the "Stupor-Store" LOL!), Food Basics....I was tired just hearing of their day!! Still, she is doing okay :-)

Al is trying to get things under control. He did have a meeting with a dietician in Kingston on Tuesday. So he is working at keeping his diet within the lines of 'allowable' foods. He does have a renogram scheduled for May, sometime. His potassium levels have already come down...things won't repair but he can at least stabilize.

You know what? The lack of news is wonderful, especially in Mom and Al's case :-)

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

With permission....

Nana and Morgan.

Sadly, her hair is starting to fall out again so we thought we would get a picture before it was totally gone.

Mom and Al came for dinner tonight. It's funny how the simple things like dinner can mean so much.