Woo-hoo!

We have high speed!
It will be so great being able to receive and make phone calls when our boy is doing his online courses in the mornings. Some of his math quizzes are timed, so I'm sure he'll appreciate being able to change pages quickly.
We have had a lovely Christmas so far and are expecting more family home today for New Year's. Last evening, everyone came over for a birthday celebration, so we had a houseful. I got to just sit and visit with everyone, though - Peter was the host. I tried to help his mother dry the dishes but she wouldn't let me. Fortunately, someone else came along.
I'm feeling a slight cold coming on, so will try to keep warm and rest.
God bless us everyone!

We're shot!

Yesterday, after my fifth chemo treatment, we all went to get our H1N1 vaccination. We were concerned, because we will be spending time over Christmas with a newborn baby or two, that we should be careful not to get or spread anything. It was fairly painless and we didn't have to wait too long.
It was good to go the day after my chemo - within two days before or two days after is the recommended time to go because my immune system should be good for a bit. Also the vaccine should be most effective about the time my immune system would be low.
Daniel is coming home next weekend for Christmas! We're meeting him in Saskatoon on Saturday, so we're all looking forward to that. We also hope to finish up our Christmas shopping.
My last treatment will be on Christmas Eve, with the blood work done on the 23rd. That means I will feel quite well for Christmas Day, peter out a bit around the 27th and be recovered shortly after New Year's Day, if all goes according to plan. Lots to look forward to!

Poetry

Speaking of depressing poetry, (We were!) I came across a song today that so fit the bill, I decided to refrain from writing such a thing myself. I'm not at all depressed; someone else brought up this subject and I thought I would try to take it up!
Here goes: Better Than What? subtitled The Chemotherapy Song

So on to the next step, it's called chemotherapy
taken by mouth and IV
It lowers the chance of recurrence which
makes it sound pretty inviting to me
The word "Chemotherapy" sounds so benign
like a gentle and comforting mix
But chemo can best be described as a trip
to Chernobyl in late '86.

This song actually has six verses, all about the side effects of chemotherapy, but I think I might just spare you. It was written by a lady who had cancer and survived and thought she might like to try to encourage others. The next song on the CD is entitled "Radiation Therapy." It did help me quite a bit - it struck me funny and I've been laughing quite a bit today when I think of it.

I'm still feeling quite well, I just find that I stay worn out a lot longer than I did for the first few treatments. Only 2 left! Yahoo!

Home and Safe!

We just got home from Saskatoon, where I had my fourth chemo treatment, and Bruno, where we visited with Daniel at St. Therese, his school. Because of flu in the family, we spent our Saskatoon night at Riverside Bed and Breakfast, which is owned and operated by friends of ours. It was a lovely stay. Then, Thursday night, we drove to Bruno and spent three nights at St. Therese. It's always a slice of heaven staying there. Our boy is fitting right in and looking forward to getting to work on "A Man for all Seasons," this year's production. Casting will be announced next week, I think.
As usual, I had a lovely peaceful day receiving my chemo and visiting with Judy Catton, and also Janice Akerman on her lunch break. This evening I am getting tired and achey, but it's all worth it! Only two treatments left! Then I'll have to find something else to talk about!
God, as always, is good.

that pig thing!

We just got home from Saskatoon last evening. I had been just for blood work because next Wednesday, of course, is a holiday. My next chemo treatment is Thursday.
My doctor told me that my CA125 is now down to 13, well within the normal range. That means that the chemo seems to have dealt with all my cancer. She said I will finish off all the treatments as scheduled and then after that they will just keep an eye on me with regular blood tests to make sure I stay clear of cancer. Then, if it does not come back in the next five years, I will be declared "cancer-free."
I'm all happy about that. I would be even happier if Davy weren't sick with something swine-flu-ish. He came down with a sore throat and fever while we were in Saskatoon. He's quite miserable except when he's on Tylenol and then he seems to feel not too bad. We'll probably all get a turn now. I think I might be okay, even if I do get it, because this is my third week after chemo and my resistence will be improving rapidly. My hemoglobin level is good, and my white blood cell count is low, but improving. I haven't, thus far, had any trouble with having to postpone treatments because of my blood count. Diet helps the hemoglobin, of course, but the white blood cells have to do their own thing without much help from me. I think resting and exercising might help.
We would like our boys to get through this flu season relatively unscathed. We are praying for many of you who have asked for prayers for various reasons, and we thank you for your prayers, too. God is good!

Good news!

I just got home from my third chemotherapy treatment. On Wednesday, my doctor told me that before I had surgery my CA125 level (stands for "Cancer Antigen"and is an indicator of the extent of the cancer in one's system) was around 2000. (extremely high) Then after the surgery it was down to 200 and after my first chemo treatment it went down to 41. Normal levels are 0 - 35. My doctor is happy because this indicates that the chemo is effective in dealing with my remaining cancer. I've had two more treatments since then, so who knows? Maybe I'm down to -50 by now.
I had a lovely day again at the clinic. My sister Judy, and Judy Catton and Janice Akerman all came to visit me (Joanne) and my nurse was Joy, so it was a real "J" day. Judy bought me lunch because Peter was Christmas shopping, then he came back shortly after lunch after all my "J" visitors left.
Next time I may have to stay in Saskatoon a bit longer because of the Nov. 11 holiday. We might go up to St. Therese and spend some time there if it works out. My bloodwork is scheduled for Nov. 4th and my chemo for Nov. 12. That is rather awkward for Peter, so we may have to work something out.

no news!

I haven't been blogging lately just because I can't think of anything to say.
I've been feeling quite well, so have been doing a little bit more than I was. Joseph and Peter and I have been working on our train set downstairs. Joseph is doing the landscaping, Peter is attaching the ballast under the track and I have been scrunching up newspaper. What would the world do without the newspaper scrunchers? Joseph uses this paper to shape the hills and mountains, then we will be covering it with plaster cloth, then painting.
Also, I have also been playing cards and doing science experiments with David and Justin.
Today we went to Maple Creek for dentist appointments for the boys. We also visited with Auntie Margaret.
This coming Wednesday, we'll be driving up to Saskatoon for my next appointment and chemo treatment.
The weather is beautiful today, so I'm thinking of going out for a short walk.

Today's Menu

Today was a good day! Egglady brought Borscht, bread, pumpkin pie and another friend came this evening and brought meatballs and rice and dessert. My favorite part (besides all the food) was getting a chance to visit with these ladies.
I was planning to take the boys to Karate this evening, but I kind of wore out.

Today

I'm feeling quite well today - just very, very sleepy. Go figure? I think I must have just been recovering from surgery and not so much from the chemo last time. I'm drinking more calcium, which may be helping with the leg pain.
I'm not much help for the boys in their school work. I can barely concentrate to sit up, let alone do math. However, this will pass in a day or two.
Thanks for all your prayers!

Back from Round 2

We just got home from Saskatoon last night - I had my second dose of chemo on Thursday. I can't get over how much better I feel than last time. Last time, of course, I was only 2 1/2 weeks post-op, so I was much more worn out. I'm still on steroids for another day or so, and after that I expect to have to battle that achiness again, but this time my doctor prescibed a more effective pain medication. I don't know whether it will completely take care of the pain. It is a narcotic, so I might be rather dopey. So everybody, please don't get offended if I start to get that glazed-over look in my eyes when I'm supposed to be listening. After Wednesday or so, I should be recovering.
I was finding, because of feeling much more energetic, that it was that much harder to lie around in bed all day receiving my treatment. It was still a very pleasant day, but I just wanted to get up and go for a walk around the world.
It's good to be home again. I find it quite manageable to walk to my in-laws and back now, so I've been over for a couple of visits.
If you don't hear from me for a few days it will be because of either achiness or dopiness.

Hair today, gone tomorrow!

My hair is starting to fall out in buckets. I'm letting you know this way because some of you won't see me for a while, and it might be a surprise otherwise. I'm 25 pounds thinner (not thin - thinner) and soon to be bald, but don't be alarmed. It's still me. I've been telling Justin they will have to fatten me up with the pigs in the spring. That will be a nice problem!

Today

Last night I was experiencing quite a lot of abdominal pain and back pain in the night - could be because of having done too much yesterday. I went to the doctor and he sent me to the hospital lab in Maple Creek to have some testing done. Don't know the results, but he prescribed a different painkiller, for which I am eternally grateful.
One blessing in all this for me, is that now people are more likely to believe me when I tell them that I know God is good, that He cares for us personally and that He brings good out of everything. I always want people to believe me when I tell them that, and yet, if everything goes well for you all the time, it doesn't seem as though people are so likely to believe you. It makes sense that our faith has to be tested by suffering.
I don't believe that God always heals us when we have enough faith. I believe that these times are opportunities for us to choose Him and thank Him, even if we are not getting our "druthers."
Sometimes God heals people best by taking them home to Heaven.
Having said that, though, I believe that Love is requiring me to pray earnestly for my healing for the sake of Peter and the boys. I actually think I will come through this - I have good reason for hope, mostly because of all the prayers. I'm sure my wonderful doctors have been answer to somebody's prayers for me, and the success of my surgery and all the other signs of God's love.
I hope I don't sound too much like Pollyanna - I certainly wasn't sounding like Pollyanna in the night. (ask my husband) However, these blessings are good solid blessings.

Early Thanksgiving!

Today, at about 11:45, my friend Jane, who knows we eat our big meal at noon, showed up with a complete turkey dinner. I mean complete - with potatoes, carrots, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, cake, cookies, jello, plus some already cleaned and shucked vegetables from her garden. It was absolutely amazing. I just stood and said, "Wow. WOW. . . WOW!"
It seemed so funny on a Saturday at noon to be sitting down to a turkey dinner. Funny, but very good. Mark came in for dinner, and I ran a plate out to Peter in the combine.
A number of years ago, I remember hearing a talk about serving with the Midas touch. That means not just serving, but really making an effort to make your service shine.
It is bringing home to me again how God blesses us abundantly. I keep getting convicted about how thoughtless I've been in the past, how I don't deserve any of this, but God does it not because we deserve it. He blesses us because He loves us. There is absolutely no other explanation. At first, a few weeks ago, I kept thinking, "Now what can I do to pay this person back, or that person," but I've gotten to the point where I've completely given up. There isn't anything I can possibly do to pay anyone back - it's WAY beyond me. All I can do is be grateful, like a little child, and maybe pray for everyone.

Better Today!

I'm still vaguely achey, but I feel much better today. The boys and I got up and went to Mass this morning and it was great to see all the daily Mass crew.
We even stopped in at Elena's for coffee afterwards. Ordinary things are very precious. I'm enjoying seeing all my nieces and nephews again and to be home with my boys is an incredible blessing.
House - messy
Yard - messy
Me :)

Ooooh, my aching everything!

The first five days or so after chemo is when a person experiences the side effects. I'm having aching bones and am spending most of my time lying on the sofa.
Fortunately, my friend Marilyn called this morning. She went through this last year and told me about a particular kind of pain medication I need to ask for next time I'm in the city, that will greatly alleviate this problem. In a day or two it should have completely passed anyway until next treatment.
There was a march on Sunday of Ovarian Cancer survivors Marilyn told me about.
It's still amazing to me how God has provided so many people to provide support just when I need it. Our house is a disaster, but boy do we have food to eat! I just have to get up to warm something up at regular meal times. The boys are doing all the dishes. Our local home care nurse is a good neighbour, who brought over some lasagne.
I'm hoping one day soon I can get up and help the boys with some school or something, but other than that, we're doing all right.

Every day in every way we are getting better!

I want to go on record as saying that I'm extremely grateful for all the support I've received while here in Saskatoon because of my Ovarian cancer.
My parents have fed me and looked after me, my friends and family have all been an incredible support for me, and I have felt the grace of the prayers that are being said nearly all over the world.
I had a very dramatic surgery, and I have to say I felt quite a lot of immediate relief from the discomfort I had been experiencing over the past several months. Lost 20-25 pounds in one afternoon! Today I started chemotherapy and I actually had quite a lovely day. Even though I was somewhat psyched up for it - knowing I'm doing everything I can do and using all available resources to fight the cancer - I was rather dreading today. Because of big black irrational fear, really. I have to tell you all that there really is nothing to dread. I lay in a comfy bed watching Flipper, Lassie and doing crossword puzzles and snoozing all day while they fed me my medication intravenously. I felt well and, besides somewhat sleepy, completely comfortable. The nurses were great - I enjoyed my own assigned nurse, who reminded Peter of Carol Burnette. The worst they want me to suffer is feeling somewhat run down - anything worse than that and they want it dealt with quickly so that I can eat healthily and be ready for my next treatments. Nearly every time I talk to anyone they say "Oh Ovarian Cancer - my mom had that 35 years ago, or my sister had that 10 years ago, and she's fine now." When my mother died of Ovarian cancer 45 years ago, they did not yet have chemotherapy, and in recent years they have really fine-tuned the chemotherapy treatments for every kind of cancer.

So you see, everyone, there's lots of reason for hope and gratitude. Nothing to fear except fear itself. God is in control.

Thank -you all and God bless you!

Gopher it you gulls!

My father-in-law says there are more gophers this year than he has ever seen. I almost didn't plant my garden because I'm quite sure it will get eaten the moment it appears above the surface. It hasn't appeared yet - is that suspicious?
Our parish priest has come out several times with his gun to shoot the little pests (oops - are there any environmentalists reading this?) He says he has shot well over 500, and my brother-in-law has shot some, too. My husband uses strychnine, in low enough doses so that it kills the gophers but not the birds that eat the little dead bodies. We think, actually, the gophers have developed a taste for it. When everyone is done shooting and poisoning, then the gulls come around and clean up all the remains. I wish they would do their own dirty work!
I'm getting a little alarmed at the damage all this is doing to my character. When driving on the highway, I used to get a little traumatized at the demise of each little rodent who got in our way. The other day, when Daniel was driving, he swerved and hit a gopher on purpose and I laughed maniacally.