The wine fund redeemed today

Kay and one of her walking/ running groups spend all year gleaning change from their running paths, and then add enough for an evening out, and get together for a glass (or two) of wine. Tonight they spent the evening on the patio of Toscano's, a nice place on a sunny evening, and drank up their years worth and a bit more I suspect.

Anyway we have had a great weekend, Kay sees Dr. McCroskey (her oncologist) at 11AM tomorrow, and we're off on another week's adventure.

Pray for a good doctor's visit tomorrow. We look forward to yet another week where my iPhone weather report is all sunshine.

Ed

Very big day

Kay and I drove down to Portland last night, and went to dinner with Jean and , Jean's boyfriend Marc's Mom. We had a nice time then camped out at our rental home there. Spent the day today, from 7 AM until 5 PM painting and getting the place ready for new tenants. Jean lived there for the last 3 years with roommates, and we had planned to sell the place when she graduated, but the real estate market being what it is, we are looking for new tenants.

Anyway, Kay is just getting stronger by the day. She helped with some painting, and supported me as I painted most of the day. Then we drove home this evening. Kay even drove the first stretch of highway. We'll see how sore she is tomorrow, but it was fun to work together today.

Tomorrow we sing in choir at church for Pentecost Sunday, and plan a relaxing day after that. Monday Kay sees Dr. McCroskey, and then our week three in the three week chemo cycle. We hope it will be even better than this last week has been, but this last week has been pretty nice.

We pray that each day brings more joy, and another day to fight this cancer.

Ed

Kay worked this morning

Kay is pretty excited, she says she worked this morning, and actually could "think." After that she went to lunch with a work friend, then shopping with Jean. Then cooked dinner with me. By far her most active day, and she still feels pretty good. Not quite up to the walk with friends she had on her agenda, but good enough to finish the Netflicks movie Brett, Kay and I started a couple of days ago.

More good news yesterday. Kay's CA125, the tumor marker being followed to assess the response of her cancer to the chemotherapy continues to drop quickly. Dr. McCroskey was really surprised to see it down to about 270 a week prior, so repeated it to be sure it was a valid result. On repeat it was lower yet, at 162. Kay seems to be responding well to the chemo so far, no serious adverse effects, and good tumor kill. We are trying to stay on an even keel emotionally, but this is great news.

Jean is off to Portland for a doggie sitting job and to clean up the home there as we try to find a tenant. Kay and I may go down Sat to paint and visit.

Overall the sun is shining, God's grace is shining on us, and each day Kay seems stronger. Pray for more of all of these. (Oh, the Mariners beat Oakland today too 6-1.)

Ed

Dr. Freese

These photos are not Dr. Freese. They are Maeby, as discussed in yesterday's blog. The big event today was a going away party for Krister Freese, soon to be Dr. Krister Freese. Krister is the son of our Pastor Paul and Patty Freese, and on this beautiful Memorial Day we went to his going away party. He is going to Honolulu for his orthopedics residency, and we had a Hawaii theme party to wish Krister and Monika a bon voyage today. It was nice to get together with friends, and being outdoors mostly it was probably a good place for Kay to get together without much chance of catching anyone's cold germs. Kay was full of energy today, and we all had a nice time.

Otherwise mostly a putter around the house day, and nice family time. This week should be a good week for Kay, and I hope to get her walking more, continuing to eat well, and just have a good week.

Brett has just 3 more weeks of his quarter at Seattle Central, and Jean starts to study for her CPA exams this week. I just have a routine week, though being just 4 days it should seem short.

Pray for the chemo to work well, for Kay to continue to recover from the second course of chemo while avoiding any complications, and for a quiet and enjoyable week.

Ed

Maeby

That's the name of Brett's shared dog. She is a small white Dachshund shaped, shaggy haired dog. Incredibly cute and energetic. Brett got her while he was at Univ. Arizona and shares her with his two roommates from UA. She is in WA now for the summer while her other masters are on study abroad. Brett got home with her tonight, and so far Simon is mostly just excited and curious, and the introduction of a new dog to the household is cool so far.

Kay and I have had a nice day today. We skipped church, as I think Kay should avoid indoors group activities this weekend when she likely has low white blood cell counts. We took a morning trip to Capital Forest, southwest of Olympia. It is a large multiple use forest, and the closest place to find nesting Hermit warblers. This will be a life bird for Kay, and a state bird for me. (first time seen for Kay, first time in WA seen for me) We located several singing birds, but could not get a look at one. They are a 5 1/2 inch bird that sticks to the top of large fir trees.

After that, Kay and Jean caught some sun on the back deck, and I puttered about the house. I got a short bike ride in, and then picked up Brett and Maeby at Seatac.

Today was my dad's 79th birthday. I think they had a family get together at Mom and Dad's place this evening.

We are looking forward to the third day of this holiday weekend tomorrow, more sun forecast, and a going away party for Krister Freese, the physician son of Patty and Paul Freese who is leaving for Honolulu, HI for his orthopedic residency. A Hawaiian theme is planned, and Jean and Kay painted some "theme" graphics for the party today.

An early bedtime is planned tonight, as we had a busier day than usual today. A good type of tired though, as we had a really nice day.

We pray that you all have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day.

Ed

Date night

Brett is away for the weekend, and Jean is staying with a classmate in Seattle tonight, so Kay and I are home together tonight. I have to say though it has been wonderful having the kids home through this time, we have really enjoyed the afternoon and evening together.

I got home by 1 PP, did a bit of work from home, then Kay and I took a nap together. At least I slept soundly, and I think Kay relaxed. We then left for Tacoma and went to Harbor Lights to the early bird special. The portions fit Kay's appetite fine, and were good to keep me from overeating, but the garlic shrimp was great. Kay had great energy, and was her old self; interesting conversation, big smile, and we had a great date. From there we walked next door to the bar at the Ram, and I had a beer, Kay a root beer, and we talked some more while I showed her what a physical fr eek-of-nature Lebron is in the NBA playoffs.

The home by 7:15, a game of cribbage on the deck as the sun set, watched part of the Mariner's game as Randy Johnson came back to Seattle with the Giants, and more conversation. Overall a great day. Kay has felt much better today, and I hope the worst of chemo cycle 2 is behind us.

Now we are looking forward to a 3 day weekend ahead with an unusually great weather report as sunny and 70's each day. Small pleasures, but we are really learning to cherish every good day.

Pray that everyone following this blog has as good a weekend as Kay and I plan to have.

Ed

Thursday

The best thing about today was the weather. It has been beautiful, and when I look at my iPhone weather report all I see is yellow circles, i.e. sun through next Tuesday. Kay had a bit of a rough day today, minor nausea, significant fatigue, and what looks a lot like her week post chemo last cycle, less the biliary drainage problems. She has more swelling and pain than she had before the last couple of days, and is generally uncomfortable.

That said the day has not been too bad. Kay went to Jean's oral surgery appointment today, and drove her home afterwards. Jean did well, luckily she only had one wisdom tooth. (No comment on wisdom) I got home about 4 PM today, we had an early dinner, and are just settling in to the Mariner's game and hopefully an early to bed before a good nights sleep.

Kay got outside for just a few minutes tonight to look at the garden. It is looking good. She had it set up pretty well before she got sick, and with help from some friends, some work by Brett, Jean and me, and nice weather it is looking good.

Jean and I played a game of cribbage today while dinner cooked. She won by 1 peg, when she pegged 8 on a third consecutive 5 for 6 for 3 in a row, plus 15-2 to go out when she needed 7, leaving me one peg short of going out. Fun.

You know news is scarce when I post a play by play of cribbage.

Pray for continued recovery from chemo, continued regression of the cancer, and may you all have a great weekend.

Ed