Carlene's week

Carlene is making her way through the week after chemo. Her "chemo head" has abated this time. However, she has been more nauseous and tired this week. But she is getting through it. It would help us both if the weather would get a little better. Carlene would like to get outside a little more rather than traipse around the mall so much. Hey, but at least she's up and moving around. She looks great, and her attitude is wonderful. One has to have a positive attitude to get through something like this and get the best results. We signed up with Skype yesterday and got it to work the first try in a session with Kevin and Lori in Littleton. I splurged and got a Mac Book Pro so we have a built in camera. We would love to connect with anyone who also has Skype for a visit. Just send an email to me with your contact info. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers.
God Bless.

Better on Sunday, with help from John Elway yesterday

Carlene is doing better today. In the past, Sunday was typically her worst day after the infusion on the previous Thursday. We're thinking that skipping a day of steroids on Friday resulted in the acceleration of her worst day to Saturday. I'm praying that she continues to do well today and doesn't have a relapse this afternoon. We gotta get out of the house today. The weather has been lousy and Carlene sure didn't feel like doing anything yesterday. We walked a little at the mall yesterday morning and then spent the afternoon sitting around watching a DVD of the Broncos beating the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII back in January of 1998. We were at that game, but we never had seen the recording of the original broadcast. We forgot about a lot that happened during the game. But we remembered just how nervous we were for the Broncos when we were there. We had witnessed all but one of the Broncos' humble pie experiences at Super Bowls firsthand and that day we thought it was going to happen again. And I drank a little wine yesterday while we watched the game. I know, your disappointed.....But a friend gave me some great Pinot Noir, and I couldn't help myself. In fact, I have a little left, and I don't have a headache......hmmmm. Like I said, Carlene needs to get me out of the house....
I just remembered that a Packers fan offered me $5,000 for my two Super Bowl tickets the night before the game. But Carlene wouldn't let me sell them. I was all for watching the game at my brother Neal's house in San Diego with $5k in my pocket, but Carlene told me that wasn't gonna happen....she's a bigger Bronco fan the I am, really. We're glad we didn't sell the tickets. Kevin was with us as that game, and it was a wonderful experience for us. It's funny, but he was watching the DVD (he loaned us his copy) the other day, and after it was over, thanked us for taking him to the game. My grandmother died in December of 1997, and my dad and his brother gave each of us grand kids $1,000 from her estate. I used my little inheritance from my grandmother to buy Kevin a scalped Super Bowl ticket. Is that sick or what??

Rough Saturday

Carlene is having a rough day today. She has been quite nauseous. She was having trouble sleeping the day before, day of, and day after infusions. She asked the doctor about it last week the day before the infusion, and he suggested that she not take steroids the day after treatment this time to help her sleep. But now she is having a great deal of nausea. So, maybe it's back to the steroids three days in a row next time. I hope she can start feeling better this evening; it's been a tough day. This has probably been the worst day after a treatment that she has experienced. Sure glad Carlene has only two of these treatments left to go.

Chemo today

Hi everyone. Carlene had her fourth chemo treatment today. She did extremely well. We followed our routine and went for a 3 mile walk after her treatment, then to Outback for dinner. It worked the first three times, so why not try it again? Carlene feels really good about being two-thirds of the way through the chemo infusions. It's amazing to see how well she is handling this. She has a great attitude and is taking care of her health. We went up to Littleton last night to watch the three boys so Kevin and Lori could go out for dinner. Kaden, Oliver and Kaleb are doing well. Kaleb is healthy and happy. He is sleeping much better. It was really good to see them.
Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers.
God Bless.

Sunshine for Carlene

We are in Scottsdale for some sunshine. It was great to drive right into summer late last week. The weather has been perfect. Carlene is doing very well. We head home tomorrow (Tuesday) to get ready for her 4th infusion on Thursday. We have been walking every day at Chaparral Park, which is close to our hotel. We decided to avoid the desert trails and not expose Carlene to the dust and rough terrain. Plenty of time for that after she is done with treatment. It's been great to relax, dine outdoors, and enjoy a little summer. Who knows what weather we'll get when we get home? The struggle between winter and summer will soon be over though.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. After Thursday, she will have only two more treatments ahead of her.
God Bless.

Weekend report

Carlene is recovering well from her 3rd infusion of a little more than a week ago. Her "chemo head" has lingered longer this time than last. We hope it doesn't get worse each time, but that seems to be the trend. It's not horrible by any means. Carlene describes it as pressure and "fogginess" similar to a sinus infection. She felt good enough for us to dine at one of our favorite restaurants (Marigold) last night. She has been sleeping fairly well. This morning Carlene went for a 3.5 mile hike in Palmer Park, on a trail with a few steep hills. She felt great and enjoyed being outside. It was a beautiful morning. We are in Breckenridge tonight with our daughter Kristin, her husband Andy and grandson Jackson. Kristin and Andy are going to ski tomorrow, while we babysit Jackson (like a tonic for Carlene). We'll head for home tomorrow night. It's beautiful up here. Lots of snow but it's 50 degrees. It feels good to get out of town for a night.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. God Bless.

Saturday morning

Carlene is feeling the chemo hangover more today than yesterday. But she is doing well, considering. We went to the Good Friday service last night. It was wonderful. Carlene won't be able to attend Easter services this weekend because of her susceptibility to infection. Her energy level was high last night. Today she has more of the "chemo head" and she had trouble sleeping last night. But she's now finished taking the steroid tablets, so she should sleep better. (Carlene has to take steroids morning and evening of the day before, the day of, and the day after chemo.) She received the Neulasta injection yesterday afternoon to stimulate the growth of white blood cells, and she doesn't have bone pain this morning, praise God. Her white cell count has been good. Please pray that is stays high so that she won't have to miss any treatments. Keeping those nasty cancers on the ropes, and knocking them out for good, will be the most effective if Carlene can get though the entire treatment cycle without interruption, as difficult as that is.
She's now past the halfway point with the chemo regimen. When she started, that seemed like such a distant milestone, but she's there! It's amazing how time seems to be creeping along as she goes through this. But she has the best attitude. Her faith is getting her through this, more than anything else. The chemo nurse keeps telling us that Carlene is doing better than most with this combination of chemo drugs.
Thanks again for your prayers and support. Happy Easter.
God Bless.

Chemo 3

Today is Carlene's third chemo treatment. She will be halfway there after today. I was listening to my iPod this morning, and came across PART THE WATERS/I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
by the group Selah. I think the following lyrics are the prayer of Carlene's heart today:

When I think I'm going under, part the waters, Lord
When I feel the waves around me, calm the sea
When I cry for help, oh, hear me, Lord and hold out Your hand
Touch my life
Still the raging storm in me

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

If you would like to hear the song, and see the video, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=775yhAx7b8g

God Bless.