New prayer request - my cousin Wendy had a son, Jack, Wednesday night by c-section and he inspirated some amniotic fluid in the process. He now has a lung infection and is in the neonatal intensive care section of Tacoma General. Very stressful for a first time mom and her family. He is a 9 pounder so he has some resilience and they have requested prayers for his recovery, mom's recovery and for successful breastfeeding which will bring him needed antibodies. We racked up the miles for me and know it works...
Ian is responding well to his treatments. He gets a spinal tap of chemo every Thursday and needed a blood transfusion last week, so that was a new experience for his family - 9 hours at Mary Bridge. They are assembling a hospital survival kit for those trips b/c who knows how long they will take each week. It's a roll of the dice. He's much cooler with is new hairdo to boot.
Nick spent the week at tennis camp with 2 buddies and Joe worked wrangling 40 kids at Vacation Bible School at church. He seemed to enjoy himself but learned he doesn't want more than 2 kids when he is an adult, so it taught him things on a variety of levels. Boys have a week off of activities until August 4-8. Joe in b-ball and Nick... we'll find something to occupy him.
We are well. Had a busy week last week and another coming up, so I've been a couch potato this weekend. Our washing machine is on its way to a quick retirement. The main issue is we bought the house from a single occupant and it came with a front load small capacity washing machine. With a family of 4 and two boys, right?! So it's days were numbered. It's been peeing on the floor like a geriatric puppy for months and Dan took it apart this weekend. Brilliant design, plastic compartment to hold the drum in place and steel screws. So the plastic housings break and you are ... screwed. Just what I need this week. Fortunately, Friday was 7 loads of washing day, which may have been the straw that broke this swaybacked camel. We'll do our part to stimulate the economy. The boys are off tomorrow for a M's game with the g-rent's and overnight. I'll work a long day and then take a pal to her colonoscopy on Tuesday - I'm everyone's butt buddy now; required ride home from the light at the end of the tunnel.
Peace and Blessings,
Michelle
Showing posts with label Ian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ian. Show all posts
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Whitsunday Island Sailing trip
Ian is getting sprung early from Mary Bridge! He will be home Friday and go in weekly for treatments. He has been a real trooper during this period and his body is responding well to the chemotherapy. Many thanks for the prayers and holding his family in our hearts!
I was up 6 hours today and went to the dentist, the bad news is I have a toothache, the good news is it is just an overactive nerve that can be topically desensitized. I was fearing a root canal on top of everything else. Whew! Maybe my luck is holding out! The boys last day of school is Friday and Joe will transfer to Federal Way Public Academy for 8th grade. Nick will stay at KMVA until he joins Joe for 6th grade - he'll be in 5th next year. Summer will be busy with sports camps, some math skills classes for Joe and possibly science summer classes, a trip to South Dakota and a possible camping trip to Orcas Island. So much to do and only 8 weeks of school break?!
Your reward is more Australia photos! Today we are in Airlie Beach and take a sailing trip to the Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsundays is a popular vacation spot for native Aussies and I can see why, beautiful pristine beaches, amazing resorts (way out of my $ range) and friendly folks.
Meg, Sylvia and Joe BBQ kabobs on the beach for the hungry masses - since we didn't eat until 9 p.m., most had preciously hit the bottle shop and any form of protein was hastily consumed without regard for taste or doneness. I stuck to roasted veggies that night as the gals were not the most thorough cooks... such is the luck of the draw with communal cooking.
Took this sailing vessel to the Whitsundays. It carried a crew of 8 and about 50 passengers and was a very soothing trip. I napped both ways on the deck. Luckily, I was buddied with Caroline a med student who was fastidious about sunscreen application every 2 hours, so I didn't burn to a crisp.
Petra, Jurgen, Caroline and Me. By that time, the four of us were getting tired of the other 10, so it was good to be apart for several hours break. We were kind of the four odd men out. Jurgen spoke mainly German and the British kids spoke too quickly for him, Petra was 30 - nuf said and Caroline was responsible and fun to be around.
We clicked and would separate when the "kids" got on our nerves.
Whitsunday Island Beach - the sand had so much silica, it was not hot to the touch on your feet, the water was pure turquoise and clear. This is the beach I visualized during my MRI and CT scans. So good to have that in my imagination to pull up for those periods. Never knew how useful it would come to be in the near future!
Peace and blessings!
Michelle ;-P
I was up 6 hours today and went to the dentist, the bad news is I have a toothache, the good news is it is just an overactive nerve that can be topically desensitized. I was fearing a root canal on top of everything else. Whew! Maybe my luck is holding out! The boys last day of school is Friday and Joe will transfer to Federal Way Public Academy for 8th grade. Nick will stay at KMVA until he joins Joe for 6th grade - he'll be in 5th next year. Summer will be busy with sports camps, some math skills classes for Joe and possibly science summer classes, a trip to South Dakota and a possible camping trip to Orcas Island. So much to do and only 8 weeks of school break?!
Your reward is more Australia photos! Today we are in Airlie Beach and take a sailing trip to the Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsundays is a popular vacation spot for native Aussies and I can see why, beautiful pristine beaches, amazing resorts (way out of my $ range) and friendly folks.
Meg, Sylvia and Joe BBQ kabobs on the beach for the hungry masses - since we didn't eat until 9 p.m., most had preciously hit the bottle shop and any form of protein was hastily consumed without regard for taste or doneness. I stuck to roasted veggies that night as the gals were not the most thorough cooks... such is the luck of the draw with communal cooking.
Took this sailing vessel to the Whitsundays. It carried a crew of 8 and about 50 passengers and was a very soothing trip. I napped both ways on the deck. Luckily, I was buddied with Caroline a med student who was fastidious about sunscreen application every 2 hours, so I didn't burn to a crisp.
Petra, Jurgen, Caroline and Me. By that time, the four of us were getting tired of the other 10, so it was good to be apart for several hours break. We were kind of the four odd men out. Jurgen spoke mainly German and the British kids spoke too quickly for him, Petra was 30 - nuf said and Caroline was responsible and fun to be around.We clicked and would separate when the "kids" got on our nerves.
Whitsunday Island Beach - the sand had so much silica, it was not hot to the touch on your feet, the water was pure turquoise and clear. This is the beach I visualized during my MRI and CT scans. So good to have that in my imagination to pull up for those periods. Never knew how useful it would come to be in the near future!
Peace and blessings!
Michelle ;-P
Monday, June 16, 2008
Set your pace, it's not a race...
Had a busy weekend, a minor setback Saturday night and I'm sticking to an easy pace now. Drove the boys to school this morning and got up at normal time... now it's time for another nap. Found a note from my days in the hospital when I was w/o computer with a coherent joke... What do you call a compulsive emailer/blogger with no computer access? Textually frustrated ;-P Ba da bing! And that was even on pain meds.
The BRA chix are mobilized and have a plan to take care of Joanne's family - we are good on a regular day, but when we are really in the zone, WE ROCK! All I'm doing is errands and laundry for the next two weeks, then after we return from South Dakota, I'll be up for more serious duty. Ian is enjoying the play room, library and other amenities at Mary Bridge and taking in his chemo. Parents weathered the first weekend of duty swapping well, we got their freezer stocked with food, lawn mowed and support persons alerted and scheduled.
Planned to go in to work one day this week, but it may have to wait until Saturday when someone else can transport and I only have to use the brain while I am there. I'm a one-trick pony these days, either drive or complete a task, not both. People keep telling me to pace myself and I felt great Saturday and over extended - walked 1.5 miles with Joe, baked, tried to get by with no naps to improve night sleep - and it backfired big time. Panic attack at 3 a.m., confused pain meds., insomnia, pain - not a good mix. I slept all of 3 hours and then went to church - which was actually the best thing for me. I got energized just being in my faith community, lots of love for me and our family in that building. We are blessed!
I'm not on the computer with photo access, so the Australia photos will continue tomorrow.
Peace and blessings!
Michelle ;-P
The BRA chix are mobilized and have a plan to take care of Joanne's family - we are good on a regular day, but when we are really in the zone, WE ROCK! All I'm doing is errands and laundry for the next two weeks, then after we return from South Dakota, I'll be up for more serious duty. Ian is enjoying the play room, library and other amenities at Mary Bridge and taking in his chemo. Parents weathered the first weekend of duty swapping well, we got their freezer stocked with food, lawn mowed and support persons alerted and scheduled.
Planned to go in to work one day this week, but it may have to wait until Saturday when someone else can transport and I only have to use the brain while I am there. I'm a one-trick pony these days, either drive or complete a task, not both. People keep telling me to pace myself and I felt great Saturday and over extended - walked 1.5 miles with Joe, baked, tried to get by with no naps to improve night sleep - and it backfired big time. Panic attack at 3 a.m., confused pain meds., insomnia, pain - not a good mix. I slept all of 3 hours and then went to church - which was actually the best thing for me. I got energized just being in my faith community, lots of love for me and our family in that building. We are blessed!
I'm not on the computer with photo access, so the Australia photos will continue tomorrow.
Peace and blessings!
Michelle ;-P
Friday, June 13, 2008
It takes rain to make a rainbow...
Just got a call from one of the BRA Chix. Ian went in this a.m. for a bone marrow draw and he has leukemia. He will stay at Mary Bridge and have chemo for the next 10 days and then we reassess to see what the next steps are. Joanne is staying at the hospital for now, Paul will do the home thing with their other child, Rachel. The BRA Chix are having a mobilization meeting by 3-way phone call on Sunday. Between the 3 of us, we'll get it covered and do what we do best, take care of each other for as long as it takes, doing whatever it takes.
I really wish the outcome were different. I just had a feeling that 2 positive oncology reports were just not possible in the same week, darn it. My own experience has taught me a great deal and we'll learn even more from this journey.
Please continue to pray for good outcome for Ian, strength and rest for Joanne, patience and grace for the rest of the world in dealing with the Bridges family. Love, peace and blessings - and there are small blessings even in this experience, we just haven't found them yet.
Michelle ;-P
I really wish the outcome were different. I just had a feeling that 2 positive oncology reports were just not possible in the same week, darn it. My own experience has taught me a great deal and we'll learn even more from this journey.
Please continue to pray for good outcome for Ian, strength and rest for Joanne, patience and grace for the rest of the world in dealing with the Bridges family. Love, peace and blessings - and there are small blessings even in this experience, we just haven't found them yet.
Michelle ;-P
Thursday doc recap in a little more detail...
http://www.babycenter.com/0_cord-blood-banking-an-overview_1362261.bc
Information about cord blood donation - forward to anyone you know who is pregnant or making efforts to get that way.
This week is a good news/bad news: Pal Ian is having bone marrow draw Friday morning. Seventh circle of hell for his parents and more of that infernal waiting for results. PRAY! I will not complain about pain today in honor of Ian. I wish I could drink Bailey's in honor of Joanne. Later...
Had the idea of researching cord blood donation and it looks like it has made great progress since I looked into it when pregnant with Nick. At that time, there was no way to donate the cord blood and the placenta was "medical waste"; unless of course, you wished to pay a private company $400/yr to store it for your private use. If Ian ends up needing bone marrow transplant it looks like this is the new trend instead of finding cooperative matching live donors. Less invasive, less costly and less chance of rejection. Interesting how something we have always wasted can be recycled.
The status of my doc visits yesterday is "it's all good". Surgeon removed 12" of my large intestine including some areas of diverticulitis and 27 lymph nodes, good margins to check for other spread of cancer. All came back negative. Healing is going well, I will be able to resume most all activities, exercise, even work in mid-July. Except housework - vacuuming, hauling heavy objects - that needs to wait 8-10 weeks. Darn. I had a long list of questions for the surgeon and he went down the list answering each one fully and completely, even with humor on some. He was THRILLED the pathology news was so good and seemed proud of his work on my abdomen. I'm thrilled even with the scars, and may even proudly wear my bikini from Australia this summer... in the privacy of my own back yard ;-P
The oncologist doesn't have all of the pathology tests back yet, so I need to go back in mid-July for those. The ones he has back look good, it was a Stage 1 T2 tumor and he's checking to see if it has an 18Qminus marker as well as if it is diploid or anuloid. HUH? The tumor had grown into but not through the muscle wall and was contained from spreading to lymph nodes. The other tests will show if it is genetic mutation and if it was a rapid or slow growing cancer. The thought of both docs is that it could have been there from 3-10 years before starting to show symptoms. Since some people NEVER show symptoms, I was actually lucky. Recurrence rate based on those results put me in about 10% chance of recurrence within 5 years. I will have to have annual blood tests, CT scan and after 5 years will be considered cured with no recurrence. Should be a piece of cake if I follow through on my plans to make me a more hostile host to cancer cells - the old diet and exercise game.
I finally feel like I can breathe again. Sleep is a bit elusive - note the time of this post - but will get back to normal. I feel I need to find a purpose for why this occurred and what I'm supposed to do about it. For now, that is support Joanne and her family while they help Ian.
Getting the whole family in on that act. My dad was sent to Archie McPhee's last week to collect stuff 8yo boy appropriate - who better for the job. The only place in town to get propeller beanies, chicken catapults and other wacky stuff. Mom and I spent Monday separating items into mailable boxes and apparently, he has already received 3 - way to go, TEAM PHENICIE!
Looking forward to celebrating with my faith community on Sunday! It's been a rapid and bumpy ride, but seems to be smoothing to a dull roar now! AMEN!
Feeling lots of PEACE and many BLESSINGS!
Michelle ;-P
Information about cord blood donation - forward to anyone you know who is pregnant or making efforts to get that way.
This week is a good news/bad news: Pal Ian is having bone marrow draw Friday morning. Seventh circle of hell for his parents and more of that infernal waiting for results. PRAY! I will not complain about pain today in honor of Ian. I wish I could drink Bailey's in honor of Joanne. Later...
Had the idea of researching cord blood donation and it looks like it has made great progress since I looked into it when pregnant with Nick. At that time, there was no way to donate the cord blood and the placenta was "medical waste"; unless of course, you wished to pay a private company $400/yr to store it for your private use. If Ian ends up needing bone marrow transplant it looks like this is the new trend instead of finding cooperative matching live donors. Less invasive, less costly and less chance of rejection. Interesting how something we have always wasted can be recycled.
The status of my doc visits yesterday is "it's all good". Surgeon removed 12" of my large intestine including some areas of diverticulitis and 27 lymph nodes, good margins to check for other spread of cancer. All came back negative. Healing is going well, I will be able to resume most all activities, exercise, even work in mid-July. Except housework - vacuuming, hauling heavy objects - that needs to wait 8-10 weeks. Darn. I had a long list of questions for the surgeon and he went down the list answering each one fully and completely, even with humor on some. He was THRILLED the pathology news was so good and seemed proud of his work on my abdomen. I'm thrilled even with the scars, and may even proudly wear my bikini from Australia this summer... in the privacy of my own back yard ;-P
The oncologist doesn't have all of the pathology tests back yet, so I need to go back in mid-July for those. The ones he has back look good, it was a Stage 1 T2 tumor and he's checking to see if it has an 18Qminus marker as well as if it is diploid or anuloid. HUH? The tumor had grown into but not through the muscle wall and was contained from spreading to lymph nodes. The other tests will show if it is genetic mutation and if it was a rapid or slow growing cancer. The thought of both docs is that it could have been there from 3-10 years before starting to show symptoms. Since some people NEVER show symptoms, I was actually lucky. Recurrence rate based on those results put me in about 10% chance of recurrence within 5 years. I will have to have annual blood tests, CT scan and after 5 years will be considered cured with no recurrence. Should be a piece of cake if I follow through on my plans to make me a more hostile host to cancer cells - the old diet and exercise game.
I finally feel like I can breathe again. Sleep is a bit elusive - note the time of this post - but will get back to normal. I feel I need to find a purpose for why this occurred and what I'm supposed to do about it. For now, that is support Joanne and her family while they help Ian.
Getting the whole family in on that act. My dad was sent to Archie McPhee's last week to collect stuff 8yo boy appropriate - who better for the job. The only place in town to get propeller beanies, chicken catapults and other wacky stuff. Mom and I spent Monday separating items into mailable boxes and apparently, he has already received 3 - way to go, TEAM PHENICIE!
Looking forward to celebrating with my faith community on Sunday! It's been a rapid and bumpy ride, but seems to be smoothing to a dull roar now! AMEN!
Feeling lots of PEACE and many BLESSINGS!
Michelle ;-P
Sunday, June 8, 2008
HAPPY LUCKY 13 JOE!
Can you believe it has only been 30 days since the colonoscopy? We've travelled so many places in that time. Thanks for every warm thought, supportive gesture and act of faith. I'm doing well, thanks. The pain level reminds me of PMS cramps and will be a distant memory in a few weeks. We find out Thursday if any further medical intervention is necessary like chemo or radiation. I'm continuing the positive thoughts and hoping to hear "we got it all". THAT would be cause for celebration. We have fellowship after every 10:00 service at St. Columba and all are welcome. When we're hosting a "Michelle's all clear" event, you will be invited. We won't tell your deity of choice (or your parents) you attended an Episcopal service and you may just like it enough to stay! ;-P
The events of the past month have taught me many things and have changed forever my response to hearing bad medical news about anyone. I always felt like I should leave people alone during medical issues, now I know that the distraction of an email or phone call puts worries away for a few minute and ARE welcome. Phone calls to let them know what's going on with your own kids are a GOOD distraction, especially if they are amusing. We tend to feel like we shouldn't bother those who are ill and I now know that those distractions kept me sane and reminded me that I was not alone in my shock about the situation.
Even when you didn't know what to say, just agreeing that this situation sucks and you were sorry it was happening was enough. Most of all, it has caused me to realize that every person I encounter may have something like this going on in their life at any given time and I need to cut people some slack. I also learned that you get much better medical care being kind, gracious and amusing than being bitchy. The medical professionals are doing jobs I would not do for any wage and are not appreciated, something Denise reminded me about police officers recently. An attitude of gratitude is on our family list for how to cope for this month and I'm trying to make it a continuing habit.
Today is Joe's 13th b-day and if you told me last year what this year had in store... I would have never believed you. We'll measure him this evening at dinner and see if he hits the 6' mark.
A prayer request - we have done so well on the prayers and I've had more than my fair share dedicated to me. Please shift that effort and focus to Ian. He is the son of my BRA chick, JoAnne and he's going to the oncologist on Thursday too to find out why he has compression fractures in his spine causing him great pain. If only one of us can get good news that day, I'm hoping it's Ian and his family. This would be so much worse happening to a child. I can handle whatever comes next. Pray for a relief for his pain, good care for his condition, courage and strength for his family and God to wrap them in His strong arms, care for them and give them grace to deal with the next steps to help Ian.
Peace, love, blessings and positive energy...
Michelle ;-P
The events of the past month have taught me many things and have changed forever my response to hearing bad medical news about anyone. I always felt like I should leave people alone during medical issues, now I know that the distraction of an email or phone call puts worries away for a few minute and ARE welcome. Phone calls to let them know what's going on with your own kids are a GOOD distraction, especially if they are amusing. We tend to feel like we shouldn't bother those who are ill and I now know that those distractions kept me sane and reminded me that I was not alone in my shock about the situation.
Even when you didn't know what to say, just agreeing that this situation sucks and you were sorry it was happening was enough. Most of all, it has caused me to realize that every person I encounter may have something like this going on in their life at any given time and I need to cut people some slack. I also learned that you get much better medical care being kind, gracious and amusing than being bitchy. The medical professionals are doing jobs I would not do for any wage and are not appreciated, something Denise reminded me about police officers recently. An attitude of gratitude is on our family list for how to cope for this month and I'm trying to make it a continuing habit.
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY FUZZY SLIPPERS
TO THE TOP OF MY FRIZZY HAIR!!! ;-P
TO THE TOP OF MY FRIZZY HAIR!!! ;-P
Today is Joe's 13th b-day and if you told me last year what this year had in store... I would have never believed you. We'll measure him this evening at dinner and see if he hits the 6' mark.
A prayer request - we have done so well on the prayers and I've had more than my fair share dedicated to me. Please shift that effort and focus to Ian. He is the son of my BRA chick, JoAnne and he's going to the oncologist on Thursday too to find out why he has compression fractures in his spine causing him great pain. If only one of us can get good news that day, I'm hoping it's Ian and his family. This would be so much worse happening to a child. I can handle whatever comes next. Pray for a relief for his pain, good care for his condition, courage and strength for his family and God to wrap them in His strong arms, care for them and give them grace to deal with the next steps to help Ian.
Peace, love, blessings and positive energy...
Michelle ;-P
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