Christmas at the Campbells

Dylan and I took our presents to the Campbells on Christmas day. Tyler played Santa Claus delivering the packages but also wanted to unwrap them all. Enjoyed a low key day before the Campbells flew to Florida to visit with Alex's family. Alex was up in the wee hours after their flight thru NC was cancelled due to heavy snows there. He managed to book the family on a direct flight to Orlando from Reagan, flying out just before the airport was closed. I managed to get their Pilot home to Round Bay just before the snow storm slammed our area.

The Campbells, Oma and the Jones Boys

While Fareeba was in Dubai seeing about her late father's estate, Brian joined Dylan and me in going to the Campbell's for Christmas eve day. Tyler and Jenna were thrilled as they each had an uncle to play with.

Campbells at the Annapolis Boat Lights Parade

Dylan joined the Campbells at the Parade of boats in Annapolis Harbor. Everyone decorates them with lights shaped like angels, Christmas trees, etc. Fortunately they were invited to a party near the water so could go inside when they got cold and try to keep the kids from eating too many cookies. Brother Brian and SO Fareeba arrived at the party after the Campbells and Dylan had left to get the kids in bed.

CA125 hovers in the 90s

At least it's double digits but barely. While above normal (0-35), my couple of cancerous nodes are still considered stable. Replaced the side/back deck and added an adjoining new front deck recently. Plan to get the siding powerwashed and the trim painted in the spring so the house will be refreshed. Cold weather is coming after hitting the Midwest and states south of us. We'll celebrate Christmas at the Campbells watching Tyler, 4, and Jenna, 19 months, enjoy their gifts from Santa. The next day the Campbells fly to Florida to visit his family for a week. While they are away, I plan to curl up with a good book and a warm blanket. And take care of three dogs, two geriatric and the other who has difficulty sharing his "mommy." Blessings to you and yours for Christmas.

Gingerbread Train

Dylan bought a gingerbread train kit for Tyler. He helped Tyler put it together (and kept him from eating all the candy decorations!). It decorated the dining room before Christmas until it hardened like a rock. Tyler attempted to eat some but it was too hard by then. It was cute, however.

We celebrate Megan's 34th birthday

Megan celebrated her 34th birthday 11/25/10 with Tyler, Alex and brother Dylan. Jenna too. Tyler spilled the beans and told Megan Oma had made her a "donut" for her birthday. It was actually a funfetti bundt cake, one of her favorites.

Jenna Smiles

Jenna can wrap you around her little finger. All she has to do is smile at you. What a love!

Tyler turned 4 on 11/11/10

Tyler is a big Gators fan like his dad, a UF grad. T could do the Gator chomp at a very young age. He also had a bunch of friends party at the Jump Zone the Saturday morning before his actual day. A good time was had by all.

The Campbells Trick or Treat

Jenna is a pink butterfly and Tyler a green dragon. Alex and Megan escorted the animals around their neighborhood on a fairly good weather Halloween.

Baltimore's on-air star

Was recently featured (10/25/10) on Baltimore's Channel 11 "Woman's Doctor" by Donna Hamilton. My oncology nurse had called to ask if I'd appear with my oncologist Dr. Dwight Im discussing ovarian cancer.To see what aired go to http://www.wbaltv.com/health/25504575/detail.html. Click on the video showing my colorful chemotherapy spreadsheet. The accompanying written article incorrectly states I still have my uterus and ovaries. They were cancerous and surgeon Dr. Neil Rosenshein cut all out Sept. 26, 2006, before I started first chemotherapy.

Late September was the 4th anniversary of my ovarian cancer IIIC diagnosis. Late October was my 26th anniversary of working at the U.S. Naval Academy. And the beat goes on.

CA125 dropped 24.8 pts to 92.3

CA125 dropped into double digits (always good news) when I got results of labs back during the 21st avastin treatment 10/14/10. Yeah! Bad news is that my magnesium was down to 1.1 necessitating getting 6 grams of mag (2gm/hour) so it added three hours to my OPC visit. Avastin only takes 1/2 hour so I was able to leave by 4:45 p.m. I had promised to go home to let the dogs out and feed them before heading to Megan's for dinner with the grand kids. SIL Alex has been in California on business most of the week. I texted Megan that I probably was going to be late but still managed to get there around 6 p.m. to help with dinner and bedtime rituals. Once all were settled around 9 p.m. I headed home.

4th Anniversary of OVC surgery Sept. 26

Four years ago I never thought I'd still be alive in 2010. Sunday was the 4th anniversary of my ovarian cancer surgery. Tyler turns four on 11/11/10 so I can easily track how long I've known about my cancer by adding several months to Tyler's age.

CT scan stable; Avastin continued

I used to love the word "lithe." It's an adjective meaning bending readily; pliant; limber; supple; flexible: the lithe body of a ballerina. Of course I never could be described as such. Now the favorite description of myself is "unremarkable." Cancer changed me. The radiologist uses the word "unremarkable" of my recent CT scan findings. His impression: "stable exam without evidence for metastatic disease." I show small periportal lymph nodes; the largest has grown from 1.4 cm in April 09 to 1.7 cm on 9/13/10. My CA125 is 117.1 (normal is between 0-35).

Yesterday I was jealous of the gal across from me. Her CA125 was 9 and they were releasing her from chemo to go home and let her hair grow back. Yes, I have fine, white, thin, straight hair and my fingernails and toenails look better. Neuropathy still a problem in feet and fingertips but my acupunturist is trying to regenerate nerve endings and build my immune system. One nodule adjacent to my vena cava has been stable so radiologist thinks it likely is benign. Benign is another new favorite word. Cancer-free would be the best. Right now, I'm happy with stable and unremarkable.

Girls with Pearls outing

Sunday was the 2nd outing for the "Girls with Pearls" group. 26 women went to see the noonish showing of "Eat, Pray, Love" followed by a early dinner at a local Italian restaurant. Scenery and acting was good, story a little slow in parts but I could watch Julia Roberts read the phone book. Friend Beth Palmer Martin and I enjoyed the food and company as well.

Where there's life, there's hope my mother said

I found this quote in the paper a while ago. "Hope arises when your situation seems uncertain, when your well-being is threatened. Hope is born in the belief that no matter how dire the current circumstances may be, it’s possible that your life can still turn out well. Hope prevents you from collapsing into despair by sustaining your belief that there’s something that can be done to turn your situation around."

Jenna says my name, Oma

After a lazy Saturday reading and resting, drove to Campbells on Sunday. They had spent a good day on Saturday with kids at the Howard County Fair. Turned out to be a rainy Sunday so played with kids before naps, then read while Megan did stuff around the house and Alex stocked up on supplies at BJs. After dinner I was heading out and asked Jenna to give me a hug goodbye. She did. So did Tyler. As Tyler was walking me out the door, Jenna, in Alex's arms, very clearly said, "Bye, Oma." Alex, Megan, who was standing right next to me, and I agreed we had all heard it. A red-letter day for me.

Feel better but CA125 continues to go up

Thursday 8/12 went to Weinberg OPC for Avastin #18. CA125 is 114.4 up 13 pts since last treatment. Magnesium level down to 1.1 so got 6 grams (3 hrs) of mag also. Fortunately had a good book from the library. Still got out in time to make 3:30 physical therapy appt for my rotator cuff. Got gas and then picked up some groceries for office lunches. Made it to Ditto's follow-up vet appt for his "dry-eye." He's got to have antibiotic ointment in his eyes am and pm as well as moistening ointment. Wuss dog hates it so I put a dog treat in my mouth so he'll look up and sniff the treat. He gets it after. Made it home before thunderstorm.

First vacation since diagnosis 9/06

A major step for me. July 31 I rode shotgun with my son-in-law Alex and two grandkids to Boston area. First drove to niece Alice and husband Don's house in Summit, NJ, visiting overnite with them and daughters, Ellen, 17, and Janet, 15. Also got to see Alice's mom Betsy and dad Alan. Betsy is bedridden and suffering from dementia. Not sure she recognized me but this was a pilgrimage of sorts. Daughter Deb & family and Megan had boarded a schooner in Maine on Thursday to spread Lloyd's ashes and one of his sailing hats on the waters of Penobscot Bay on what would have been his 75th birthday. Campbell kids too small to go on schooner so we met them at the Krisko's house in Danvers on Sunday. After showers and fresh laundry, Monday we drove to Cape Cod, minus Perrin, 16, who is taking a college course this summer. Andrew, 12, came to the Cape to play with Tyler and Jenna. Krisko's had gotten a 3-bedroom, 2 bath house near beach for the week.

Wednesday morning Megan and family drove me to the Hyannis Airport to take a puddle jumper to Boston to catch a JetBlue (our servers were calm women) flight to BWI. After cool temps in New England, my glasses fogged in the heat and humidity when I got home. I timed it right because temps got hotter after I left Cape Cod; house had no AC. It was a pleasant 5-day outing. Nostalgic for the days Lloyd and I and Megan and Dylan sailed Cape Cod and NE Atlantic coast.

My four grandkids (l to r) Jenna, 1 1/2, Perrin, 15, Andrew, 10, and Tyler 3 1/2, got to play together at the Krisko's home in Danvers, MA, before we headed to Cape Cod to enjoy the beach cottage in early August.

Tyler Loves Uncle Dylan

Tyler really gets a kick out of his uncle Dylan, who plays with him and reads to him. Tyler's favorite color is green. No wonder they have fun together.

Avastin #17

CA125 went down 10.6 pts to 101.4. That's always a good day. Mag down so got 4 grams (2 hours) but still got out of OPC by 3 pm. Called my physical therapist's office as I was leaving Balto to ask if they could fit me in sooner than my 7 pm appt. Was able to get in at 3:30 pm so went straight to PT for painful rotator cuff. Have been seeing PT and acupunturist; it's been helping preventing waking with pain in my left arm/shoulder.

I'll be in Cape Cod when my next blood draw was scheduled but Dr. Im said I could just cancel it. Yeah! Driving up with Alex, Tyler and Jenna (Megan flies up to Maine on Thursday) on Saturday. Will spend overnite with Alice & Don and kids in north Jersey before meeting Megan and the Kriskos at their home in Danvers Sunday night. Monday we all head to Cape Cod where the two families have rented a house near the water. I'll visit and fly back from Hyannis mid-week. I should get a baseball hat saying, "If you're a Kennedy, sit next to me."

Ticks galore

Nurse practioner Rachel Sweeney thought I should have Doxycycline for 21 days instead of the 14 the PA prescribed so gave me a script for 7 more days of antibiotic. Luckily Giant Pharmacy is providing antibiotics for free. Talking to neighbor Lorraine, it turns out her daughter and granddaughter both have had tick bites recently and needed varying days of Doxycycline. So check yourself whenever you've been outdoors to see that you don't have any "hitch hikers" on your body. Swelling and redness are lessening on my left foot.

A lady wren has made a nest in a small cardboard box which was laying open on its side on a supply shelf in my carport. She has nervoulsly flown away when I park my car each night so I moved the box to a higher shelf, hoping that would make her more comfortable. There were at least three eggs in the nest. How neat.

Ticked off

Thursday night the top of my left foot itched. Next day I wore mules to work. Saturday I noticed my #2 toe on my left foot was red and swollen. Got neosporin and sprayed it on several times. By Sunday when I went to Round Bay beach with my kids and grand kids, not only was the toe red and swollen, the top of my foot had what looked like a red rash. Megan and Dylan were insistent that I see a doctor immediately. Went to Righttime Medical and filled out forms to see a physicians assistant. He said it wasn't a tick bite that causes Lyme disease because wrong shape of rash. When he had me hop up on a table so he could inspect my toes, he said it WAS a tick. How can you be sure? I asked. He pointed to the sucker in between #2 and 3 toes. He had tenaciously held on despite my walking in sand and standing in river mud while playing with Tyler at Round Bay beach. After carefully removing the tick and sending it off to a lab, PA gave me 14-day supply of Doxyclycline 100mg (2/day) because my immune system is compromised. Have an appointment with my regular nurse pracitioner tomorrow morning to check it out; also e-mailed my oncology nurse to inform her. Luckily I'd gotten flea/tick preventer for dogs Saturday after they had been groomed on Friday. Hopefully, this will help keep ticks out of my bed in future.

Cancer numbers up but still on avastin

My CA125 numbers continue to climb (up 27.6 pts since 6/10 to 112.0). No longer in double digits. Crap. Cancerous node increased from 14mm x 11mm to 15mm x 12mm. Itsy bitsy growth is "not statisically significant." Dr. Im decided to continue Avastin for 3 more treatments, then order another CT scan. If numbers & node continue to grow, he will add carboplatin (chemo) to the mix. But probably not until October so I'll be wigless thru the summer months. Yeah!

Nothing much good on T.V. so have been reserving books at the library online and then reading a lot this summer. Pretty much lite fare except for Alice Roosevelt Longworth's bio which was thick hard cover and discussed more politics and less about her life than I would have liked. Work full-time and babysit grandkids one day each weekend.

Lastest CT scan says nodes stable

Yeah!! Nurse Terri Rowley e-mailed me that the latest CT scan I had 6/23/10 appears stable. Dr. Im will look at it before my next OPC appointment on July 1. He will probably order 3 more treatments of Avastin, the biological which I've been on since August. That means 3 more months of hair and nail growth. Good stuff.

Tomorrow is Megan and Alex's 6th anniversary. I'll babysit the grandkids while M&A go out to celebrate. Dylan and Christine are spending the day at Eastport 'Rockin, an area of Annapolis where roads will be blocked off for bands, booze and general hi-jinks despite temps in the mid-90s.

CA125 headed upward, not good

Started Avastin 8/20/09. CA125 was 89.3 when Dr. Im put me on the biological drug. After going down as low as 46.4 (12/3/09) and 46.5 (4/29/10), it went back up to 84.4 yesterday. Terri Rowley scheduled me for a CT Scan 6/23/10 to find out what's going on. The most recent 4/19/10 CT Scan said the 3 cancerous nodes still in my body were stable. Am not going to panic, but it's depressing. I had hoped the Avastin, which I'm tolerating well, would hold the nodes (or decrease them) for another year or more at least. I've just started to get some of my energy back despite recent flare-ups with acid reflux which my gastroenterologist is addressing with medication.

Zig zag means stable

Had my 14th Avastin treatment 5/20/10. Only needed 2 grams of magnesium along with the Avastin but my CA125 went back up. It was 62.5 which was up 16 pts. As long as it isn't a trend, the zig zag is considered "stable." I'd prefer continually downward but keeping positive.

Jenna turned one on May 15 so the family took photos to mark the occasion. Tyler is 3.5. You can see why Jenna is my sunshine.

Today Tyler and his Dad, Alex, got to see the Blue Angels perform over the Severn River from VIP seats at USNA. They pronounced the show awesome. Tyler also liked riding the shuttle bus to and from the academy to the stadium where they parked. An old Blue Angels plane is on display at the stadium so he was able to see a plane up close.

A Hug from Dr. Im

Went to Weinberg OPC yesterday to get the results of my CT scan and find out whether Dr. Im would continue Avastin treatments (I've had 12 so far) or do some other protocol. Nurse Joanne Vendetti drew my blood for labs and sent it off. Told me my magnesium count was 1.2 which is low so I needed 4 grams of mag (2 hours by IV). So she got me started on that. Dr. Im came by about 11:30 am, hugged me and said my CA125 had gone down. It was 46.5 which was down 17.2 points. (0-35 is normal) Yeah! My 4/19 CT scan results were: "Stable findings in chest, abdomen and pelvis since January 2010." Double yeah! Avastin appears to be holding the cancer in 3 nodes steady at 2 centimeters or less. Good news going into Mother's Day (5/9) and Jenna's first birthday (5/15).

Krisko-Campbell-Jones Dinner

Hugh's Dad, who is buried at Arlington, was honored in a D.C. ceremony along with some other veterans who died in Vietnam prior to qualifying to be on the Wall. Hugh's mom, Claudette, Deborah, Hugh and Andrew were among the family to attend. Afterwards they flew to the Bahamas for a vacation and then spent the night at the Campbells when they returned. Tyler and Jenna enjoyed seeing Andrew and we went out to dinner to have a chance to visit.

Completed Avastin #12, due for CT scan

Thursday (4/8) completed Avastin treatment #12. CA125 went down 7.9 pts to 63.7. Nurse Holly Freeman labeled the zigzag pattern it's been doing since the beginning of 2010 as "stable." Still above the 0-35 normal range. ONC Nurse Terri Rowley set me up with a CT scan on 4/19 so the results will be back before Dr. Im needs to determine orders for my next scheduled treatment on 4/29.

Am feeling pretty good. Sometimes painful neuropathy in my feet is annoying and makes me gimpy. Hair still recuperating but not the texture or thickness it once was. But enough so that I don't wear my wig. Fortunately I don't have to look at myself. Longer daylight hours have lifted my seratonin level so I feel happier. Took Ditto to the groomer today for his summer cut. After 80+ weather it's dropped to the 60s but buds are popping and colorful foliage is appearing. Yeah!

Oma with grandchildren

Saturday Megan and Alex asked me to join them when they had photos taken in Columbia. I posed with Tyler (3 1/2) and Jenna (10 months). Tyler got to ride on the Merry-go-round. Jenna slept while we went to Red Robin for lunch. We had a fun day.

Avastin continued

Saw Dr. Rosenshein on Monday morning and mentioned my CA125 had gone up nearly 20 pts last time it was measured. He said he'd talk to Dr. Im about future treatments. At Weinberg yesterday (Thursday) Dr. Im asks me what Dr. R said to do. I told him Dr. R had said it was up to Dr. Im. Then Terri stops by. What did Dr. R say? I told her he said it was up to Dr. Im. Talk about pass the hot potato. Blood work came back showing I needed magnesium so while I was hooked up getting 2 hours of mag, I told Terri I wasn't going anywhere and to let me know what was decided. Turns out my CA125 went down 8.9 points so Dr. Im ordered another 3 treatments of Avastin. I keep hoping Avastin is working as I tolerate it well and it allows my hair to slooowwwly grow back. I celebrated by going to the Hair Cuttery and asked the gal to trim my hair so I don't look like a homeless person. Not much to style, but at least it is more shaped.

Have been taking care of Daisy this week while Megan and Alex were in Las Vegas. Their caregiver kept the kids from Monday morning until tonight. I think I got the better deal. Dylan and Christine left today for a weekend skiboarding trip to western Maryland with friends. Not sure if I'll see snow in Severna Park, but C&D should have fresh powder to enjoy in the mountains.

CA125 up 19.9 pts

OK. On 2/4/10 CA125 came back 19.9 points up since 1/14/10. And CT scan on 1/6/10 said the 3 nodes have been stable. What's going on? Not sure. I'll think about it tomorrow, said Scarlett. Will go back to the Out Patient Clinic 2/25 and find out just what Dr. Im has planned for me. Went for a blood test yesterday (2/15) and nurse Karin said she'd read where a spike in the CA125 might show a large cell kill. Not sure I'm so optimistic. I tend to be an optimistic pessimist.

Good news is that I'm finally back at work after not being able to get out of my house for a week because of deep snow. Dylan and Christine trekked in twice to shovel out the driveway. Wise neighbors high-tailed it to Florida before the recent combo Obama labeled Snowmagedon. I was lucky to not lose power. Happy Valentine's Day.

Another birthday

When my children held a celebration last January 31 for my birthday, perhaps we all wondered whether it might be my last. Well, I made it to another birthday and spent much of the last two weeks of January in celebration. Thanks to everyone who provided cards, singing messages on my cell and opportunities to eat together in the days surrounding my big day. After a predicted less than an inch snowfall turned into nearly 8 inches the day before my birthday, the 31st dawned sunny and bright with roads clear enough to allow Dylan and me to go to brunch at our favorite local breakfast shop. In the p.m. Ellen and I went to movie followed by a great dinner at a nearby French bistro. I watched Jane Austen's "Emma" conclusion on PBS that evening with dog Ditto curled next to me on the couch. A trurly lovely day. Thanks to all my loved ones for making my life so sweet.

Girls in Teal Road Trip a success

Megan and I bonded on our road trip last weekend. We both loved Sondheim's "A Little Night Music." 1st row mezzanine tickets were over the 7th row orchestra so we were close to the stage. Megan lamented she didn't have a Welsh flag to wave at Zeta-Jones at the end. Garmin, Joy's borrowed E-Z Pass and parking at the hotel all made the trip a breeze. A little gastro problem made sleeping at night problematic for me. Went to the gastro doctor who diagnosed my cancer for help when I got back. He took me off Nexium and am trying AcipHex to see if that works better. Too early to tell. Dylan gave me my birthday present, a live lilac tree. My mom used to sing "The Lilac Tree" to me when I was little; I did the same for my kids. Megan sings the song to Tyler and Jenna so I loved his gift too.

A really happy birthday

Had a CT scan last week but hadn't heard anything from my oncology nurse so was a little concerned when I went to my treatment yesterday. Wonderful nurse Donna said blood work showed I needed 4 grams of magnesium (2 hours to go in) but had to wait for results of urine labs before ordering Avastin. Dr. Im's assistant Terri handed me my CT scan results which said "stable exam." Many areas "unremarkable" which has become a favorite word for me. Nodules noted on previous scans hadn't grown or decreased. That means the Avastin is holding everything status quo, a good thing. Yea! My CA125 went down 2.8 points to 53.5. Still higher than than 0-35 normal range but it went in the right direction. I will continue on Avastin. So Megan's surprise trip to NYC this 3-day weekend for my birthday (Jan. 31) is going to be a celebration. We've tickets to a Sunday matinee of "A Little Night Music" with Angela Landsbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Alex is taking care of the kids and Dylan is minding the two dogs. Don't know who is getting the better deal.