Hello all!
I realize that it has been a while since we've updated. I apologize. I got very busy at school and told Mom she needed to take over since she was feeling so well. (We see how well that worked! Haha!)
So, we left off with a Happy Easter that ended with a quick trip to the ER. Well, that turned into another 4-day stay at the hospital... Mom had a little bit of an infection and was low on her fluids. The way she put it she's like a droopy plant that needed a little water and TLC!
Since then, things have been going very nicely. Mom is back at work part-time and is two weeks into her 3-week round of Gemzar chemo. She took this week off b/c of a low white blood cell count, but should be good to go next week. And she is tolerating the chemo really well. Her only symptoms have been bad headaches and crankiness.
Now for the important details- she looks GREAT! She's trim... she's got all her hair... you know, all the really important things are terrific.
We're looking forward to a big family reunion here in a few weeks and then... "The Siege." 6 weeks of continuous chemo infusion and daily radiation treatments. ugh! But she young, and healthy, and she has all of us supporting her- so she'll do alright.
Now that summer is almost upon us, I'll be back in charge of the blog and sending out more regular updates.
Happy Memorial Day!
Jenn
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Happy Easter!?
Happy Easter! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday this past weekend.
We here in the Wade camp had an excellent... or should I say "egg-cellent" time. We scaled back Easter celebrations this year, but were still able to have them at the house and it was wonderful to have all 8 adults, 4 kids and 4 dogs under foot for the day. We hunted for Easter eggs in the yard, ate a big ham dinner and ended the day in the emergency room.
Wait, what did that say?
Yes, Mom was fighting intermittent nausea all day and ended up with a fever and her doctor- taking no chances- asked us to bring her down to the ER. They poked and prodded her until they found a small abscess in her abdomen. So Mom is back in the hospital (just for a day or two) on some "big guns" antibiotics to clear it up.
A minor setback, but she's doing much better now.
We here in the Wade camp had an excellent... or should I say "egg-cellent" time. We scaled back Easter celebrations this year, but were still able to have them at the house and it was wonderful to have all 8 adults, 4 kids and 4 dogs under foot for the day. We hunted for Easter eggs in the yard, ate a big ham dinner and ended the day in the emergency room.
Wait, what did that say?
Yes, Mom was fighting intermittent nausea all day and ended up with a fever and her doctor- taking no chances- asked us to bring her down to the ER. They poked and prodded her until they found a small abscess in her abdomen. So Mom is back in the hospital (just for a day or two) on some "big guns" antibiotics to clear it up.
A minor setback, but she's doing much better now.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Weekly Update
Well, I could be to-the-point and tell you that mom is "doing well, getting better." But I'm sure you'd like a little more information than that.
But really, Mom is doing well and getting better... every day! In fact, she'd probably be pretty much okay if it weren't for some persistant mild nausea, the drain, and occasional pain from her incision. (Ok, so she's not up to a marathon yet, but who is?)
She and Dad took a field trip to Kroger (the grocery store) today to get ready for Easter this weekend. We were all jealous because she got to ride in one of those little motorized carts!
Mom was a little disappointed this week because she had to put off her trip to Indiana to stay with Jim and Faith et al. Jim has come down with a case of sinusitis and bronchitis! (It's always exciting around here, I tell you!) But the plan is, she'll go home with the Indiana Wades Easter afternoon and spend a good week with them. I know she's really looking forward to it because she keeps mentioning "cabin fever." I hope it just her surroundings and not her roommate (me!)
So, as you can see, all is well here.
Happy Easter to all of you!
But really, Mom is doing well and getting better... every day! In fact, she'd probably be pretty much okay if it weren't for some persistant mild nausea, the drain, and occasional pain from her incision. (Ok, so she's not up to a marathon yet, but who is?)
She and Dad took a field trip to Kroger (the grocery store) today to get ready for Easter this weekend. We were all jealous because she got to ride in one of those little motorized carts!
Mom was a little disappointed this week because she had to put off her trip to Indiana to stay with Jim and Faith et al. Jim has come down with a case of sinusitis and bronchitis! (It's always exciting around here, I tell you!) But the plan is, she'll go home with the Indiana Wades Easter afternoon and spend a good week with them. I know she's really looking forward to it because she keeps mentioning "cabin fever." I hope it just her surroundings and not her roommate (me!)
So, as you can see, all is well here.
Happy Easter to all of you!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Progressing Nicely...
Hopefully, Mom will be able to write her own post later today or this weekend, but I wanted to give you a brief update about this week.
We are doing very well!! Mom's energy is increasing and we were able to enjoy time outside Wednesday and Thursday when the weather was nice. (She even had us doing yard work!) Yesterday morning Faith came by with David and Alli to give us some good laughter. At one point Alli looked at Faith with absolute 3-year old frustration and told Faith, "Mommy, you are wasting my time!" Too cute for words! After Mom's doctor's appointment yesterday (she is progressing nicely) we had a cookout with Dad, Molly and Steve.
Now begins the interval between healing from the surgery and beginning the next step of treatment, so daily updates would read pretty much the same, "Doing well, getting better." So, rather than bothering you with daily updates, we thought it might be better to send you more occasional posts, as we have more important information to relay.
It has been gratifying to know that the blog has been important to you. It has been awe-inspiring to hear how many of you have been following it. I want to thank you. I have always thought my Mother was a pretty wonderful person but to see and hear how she has touched so many of you makes me feel humbled. Your support has been one of the biggest factors in keeping her spirits up. She has said all along that she feels a deep sense of peace, and that she believes that comes from you and your love. :) :)
We'll talk soon!
Jenn
We are doing very well!! Mom's energy is increasing and we were able to enjoy time outside Wednesday and Thursday when the weather was nice. (She even had us doing yard work!) Yesterday morning Faith came by with David and Alli to give us some good laughter. At one point Alli looked at Faith with absolute 3-year old frustration and told Faith, "Mommy, you are wasting my time!" Too cute for words! After Mom's doctor's appointment yesterday (she is progressing nicely) we had a cookout with Dad, Molly and Steve.
Now begins the interval between healing from the surgery and beginning the next step of treatment, so daily updates would read pretty much the same, "Doing well, getting better." So, rather than bothering you with daily updates, we thought it might be better to send you more occasional posts, as we have more important information to relay.
It has been gratifying to know that the blog has been important to you. It has been awe-inspiring to hear how many of you have been following it. I want to thank you. I have always thought my Mother was a pretty wonderful person but to see and hear how she has touched so many of you makes me feel humbled. Your support has been one of the biggest factors in keeping her spirits up. She has said all along that she feels a deep sense of peace, and that she believes that comes from you and your love. :) :)
We'll talk soon!
Jenn
Monday, March 30, 2009
Good News... and Sad News
Mom slept "the sleep of the just" last night and woke up well rested and feeling better, better, better!!
And, best of all... NO MORE ITCHING! Mom has been itchy for almost a month b/c of the bilirubin salt that built up in her skin. So, the itching gone- and a good night's sleep- is a wonderful gift!
Mom has had some tremendous support. Her sister Susan came and spent almost everyday of Mom's hospital stay at her bedside. She was the best advocate and cheerleader! We are forever indebted to her for that.
Now, Mom's sister-in-law Joan has come to stay and help. Unfortunatly, Joanie learned that her brother-in-law Reg passed away this afternoon. Reg is survived by his wife, Suzanne and their daughter Elizabeth. Please take just a moment and offer prayers and kind thoughts to all of Reg's family as they cope with this loss.
And, best of all... NO MORE ITCHING! Mom has been itchy for almost a month b/c of the bilirubin salt that built up in her skin. So, the itching gone- and a good night's sleep- is a wonderful gift!
Mom has had some tremendous support. Her sister Susan came and spent almost everyday of Mom's hospital stay at her bedside. She was the best advocate and cheerleader! We are forever indebted to her for that.
Now, Mom's sister-in-law Joan has come to stay and help. Unfortunatly, Joanie learned that her brother-in-law Reg passed away this afternoon. Reg is survived by his wife, Suzanne and their daughter Elizabeth. Please take just a moment and offer prayers and kind thoughts to all of Reg's family as they cope with this loss.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thank God Almighty!
We are HOME AT LAST!
It was a little disappointing yesterday when we found out that Mom would not be discharged in time for Anna's birthday party, Mom wasn't sure she could handle another day in room 453. But she made it. And everything looked so good this morning that they discharged her! She is home here and settling in nicely, wrapped in a blanket and curled up next to the fire.
We really need to thank the remarkably generous and thoughtful staff at Jewish Hospital. They found small and large ways every day to make all of us- especially Mom- comfortable and welcome.
Thank you, Thank you for the prayers and support that have seen her through thus far!
It was a little disappointing yesterday when we found out that Mom would not be discharged in time for Anna's birthday party, Mom wasn't sure she could handle another day in room 453. But she made it. And everything looked so good this morning that they discharged her! She is home here and settling in nicely, wrapped in a blanket and curled up next to the fire.
We really need to thank the remarkably generous and thoughtful staff at Jewish Hospital. They found small and large ways every day to make all of us- especially Mom- comfortable and welcome.
Thank you, Thank you for the prayers and support that have seen her through thus far!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Hangin' Out
Mom and I had a great afternoon yesterday! We dozed (nothing like a nap to make you feel better) we goofed off, we laughed... She is in a great mood and really recovering nicely. We're still pretty confident that she'll be released on Saturday. Then she'll meet with her oncologist the week after that to firm up her treatment plans.
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