Greetings:  Karen was to the doctor on Monday, after having been there for Chemo on Friday, and shots on Saturday and Sunday.  Too put it lightly, she is completely whipped out.  The shots are to help her blood counts, but they take all of her energy and put her on an emotional roller coaster.  She pretty much has slept the last two days and has no appetite.  While at the doctor's office we were able to schedule tentative appointments through the middle of June.  Karen mustered up enough energy to go to the DMV this morning and secure a much needed disabled placard.  We were in and out in less than 10 minutes.  Kudos to the DMV staff at the Rocklin office.   It was back home and to bed.  Keep Karen in your prayers.  Thanks! :o)

Hi readers and followers.  Hope you all had a glorious and happy Easter.  Karen, Mom and I celebrated the day with our usual Sunday Mass viewed on television as well as watching the Pope's Mass from the Vatican.  We ate the delicious food that Lindsay sent us from Omaha Steaks.  The neighbor next door, Jeanne, brought over a home-made carrot cake, about a 1/4 sheet.  She spent quite some time visiting with us on Easter.  Here comes the good part, Karen is not a fan of carrot cake, but for Mom and I that's another story.  By Tuesday, Mom and I had eaten the entire 1/4 sheet of cake.  Hmmmm hmmm good!  With that we defrosted the carrot cake that came with the Omaha Steaks.  By Wednesday afternoon half of it was gone.  We put the remaining half on another plate to make room in the frig.  Later on Wednesday night, after prayers, I went to get a piece and low and behold Mom had eaten the remaining half.  Needless to say carrot cake doesn't have a chance at this household.

We went to see the Hemo/Onco Dr. on Monday, he reassured Karen that what she is feeling is normal, and in fact he stated she is doing great, doing better then most.  Her the weight loss has stopped, she hasn't run a fever, and her blood pressure numbers are normal.  The rest of the week we prepared for the 4th round of chemo scheduled on Friday 04/13. 

Karen did well today with the chemo, it took a little longer however about 3-1/2 hours. She and I did get in trouble for making the staff laugh to much and too loud by telling some old stories about ourselves.  It was great service, the ratio was 2 nurses to 1 patient, and somebody had to keep everyone awake, Karen and I took on that role. We didn't need to be asked, our combined past experience at the CHP has taught us, "you see a need you handle it."  Okay back to the serious side of things.  Because of low blood counts and chemo drug interactions, Karen needs to get a shot of Procrit tomorrow (Sat 04/14) in the early a.m, and a shot of Neulasta on Sunday (04/15) in the a.m.  She will see the Dr again on Monday.  We will have been to the Dr's office 4 days in a row.  I honestly think Karen just likes she being chauffeured around town.  LOL  Just as we got use to the timeline of the side effects of this chemo treatment (Adriamycin and Cytoxin) it was the last of this kind.  As the caregiver, who knows what I will be up against with the new chemo (Taxol) that will start on 04/27.  Karen and I are up to the challenge.  Still working on the pics of Karen and the hats. 

Heard from some more folks at the CHP.  Thanks to all of you for the cards and letters, thoughts and prayers. :o)

Well Karen underwent her 3rd round of chemotherapy on Friday 03/30 and Saturday 03/31.  She has felt downright tired and has laid in bed and slept most of the week.  We controlled her nausea and resulting anxiety with various drugs.  Today we went for the follow up lab work and bone shot only to find out once again that her numbers are in the dump.  She will go again tomorrow for another shot to help her blood numbers and hopefully provide her some energy.  Karen has been a real "trooper" these past six weeks of treatment. 
I needed some help, since Mom came down with a serious infection (Klebsiella Oxytoca) in her right leg.  I took her to the ER on Sunday 3/25 and to the doctor on 3/26.  Anne came up to help with taking Mom to another doctor appointment while I took Karen to hers on 03/30.  Mom has received two shots and is on a 14 days regiment of antibiotics, in the meantime I have to make sure Karen does not catch the bugs.
This past Sunday (04/01) Teresa came by colored my hair and took me for a short outing while Mom and Karen slept.  No worries, fortunately Dave was here to babysit them.  He also tended to lots of tasks on Mom's list of "Things "To Do." He left in the wee hours of the morning today.  We got to spend sometime together and had a wonderful 8th wedding anniversary yesterday. Ann came and stayed with Mom and Karen while Dave and I went out.
Both Mom and Karen have doctor appointments on Friday, so Anne is staying the night to take Mom to her appointment. 
We were surprised to find a large box at the front door on Tuesday afternoon.  Turns out Lindsay sent us a complete dinner from Omaha Steaks that we plan to heat up and fix on Easter Sunday.  On Wednesday another box arrived from the boys, (Carl, Chad and Casey) They sent us flowers for Easter, which will decorate the table at Sunday's dinner feast.  Big Thanks to all of you!!!! 
Lastly, the news about Karen is travelling on the CHP grapevine, as former friends (Stephanie Helms, Pat Daly & Chuck Shipley) contacted us this week.  It was nice to hear from them and know that the CHP family is wishing Karen all the best in this journey.
In closing, we are wishing you a Joyous and Happy Easter. :o)  Thanks for reading and for posting comments.  It is greatly appreciated and is the highlight of our days.