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.