As My World Turns

Sister and I had a pretty good Monday yesterday . I slept like a good lil Washington baby thanks to the rain . I love falling a sleep to the rain even when it's a storm I love it !! I woke up in a good mood . Sister picked me up and we went to Radiation . The waiting room looked kinda full I was a lil paniced at 1st since sis and I had to be in Seattle by 1:30 . A full room can mean a machine down , complications with the computer , or that they are short staffed for the day . I went and changed in to a robe and took the last empty chair . The high energy nurse came around the couner and said lets go liz . I looked around the room to make sure I wasn't getting dart eyes . I had one or two . The nurse told me that she grabed me b/c my treatment was quicker then the rest and they where short staffed for the day . It works for me . Sorry suckers !!
I come out from thr patient only area and grab sister . We hop in her car and head North to Seattle . We made it up there faster than planned we left early due to the crazy weather . We checked in then I checked out . I found a nice recliner by the window curled up and passed out . I was so out of it I didn't hear the nurse call my name . She had to come and give me a lil shake . As I woke up an took a fast invintory I had a slight horror moment . I noticed that no one was around me , I wondered to myself if I was snorring ? maybe I farted ? I know that I drooled . Oh well ....
We met with my Chemo Dr. and his head nurse . Befor he got there she gave me a few test . I told her that I still have tinggles in my toes and a few in my hands . She made me walk on my tippy toes and then on my heels to see if it had effected my balance . Then she had me take off my shoes and socks to test my nerves in my foot to make sure no damage was happening . I kinda grimaced at this , I just got these sock maybe a month ago I have washed them a few times but they tend to shed a lot of lint . I tell her and she says thats ok it will be worth it then . I give her a odd look as I pull of my soc and half a lint catchers worth comes out of one sock and ask her how so ? She gets this menecing look on her face and tells us that my Dr. is a lil O.C.D. . She said it will freak him out that there is something on the floor . So I take off the other sock and it has maybe one or two less peices of lint . She started to poke my foot with a peice of a cotton swab that she snaped in half . She asked me to tell her if it hurt . Well duh !! You are stabing my foot with a twig ! Both feet and hands passed the poke test so she deemed me ok .
I tell her since we are doing this kinda stuff would she mind looking at my ears ? Last week my inner ear cannels started to hurt then over the weekend the right ear felt like it went under water . So she looks at my ears and says that really the only thing I can do is wait and take some Sudafed to help a little with the pressure . This made me feel a little bit better but also bummed me out that I had to deal with this till it took it's course . As we are talking about this my Dr. comes in . Sis is the only one facing him as he walks in so she got the joy of his 1st reaction to my sock's poop on the ground . Sister said his eyes slightly bugged out . What I found amusing was as we were talking his eyes would wonder over to it and he would just kinda look at it beifly and try not to obsess over it . Then he notice all 3 of us looking at him and he knew he was set up . He tells sis and I that he's a little compulsive and I tell him I want my Dr. to be . If he has a set way of doing things and it has to ne a certian way I figure he is less likely to say Oops . I don't like hearing that from my Dr. ( Or hair stylist ) . He and the nurse conversed for a moment and they looked over my blood work then they told me that they were going to lower my dose of the Vanchristian . Due to the fact that my feet were tinggleing and my hands were starting to show signs of it . We said our good byes for the week and went up to the 5th floor for my treatment .

Blessings

This weekend I went away to play with friends doing wire worked jewelry. It was a blast. While away we talked about Elizabeth and her situation. Elizabeth had told me..."NO, sniffles. No colds." No illness or a person can't be with her. So our hostess' hubby left for the weekend, so as not to expose me to his cold. I was touched by their sensitivity. It turns out that Vicki, my hostess, has a niece that has had her lungs transplanted. She is only 34. She also can't be exposed to Tom's cold. I think to myself, that a lot of families have health issues that are not evident by looking. Amy (the niece) looked normal. She must be very careful of germs, just like Elizabeth. It was strange, yet similar, to have these same issues. Having to be mindful of cleanliness is a good thing that we often over look.

Now when I know I'll see Elizabeth I am very mindful of my physical wellness, my hands' cleanliness, and just an over all sense of things that might bring danger or harm to Lizzy. I think we, who are well, forget just how great our body's immune system is. We take for granted that we can grab something that is in the public realm and not think twice about the germs left by the previous person using the item. We are truly remarkable beings.

I am ever so mindful of how much I love Elizabeth and want to keep her safe. So I keep hand sanitizer handy and a prayer on my lips. She's off to treatment this morning in Tacoma and then to Seattle. Karyn and she are even planning to do a "fun thing" up in Seattle. Go to a movie... they can tell you about it.

And so another week begins. Not many radiations left. One more week after this one, I think. Yippee.

Kathryn Cecelia "KaCe" Whitacre, Elizabeth's Mom

Foggy

My head has been a lil bit in the fog these last couple of days . I am just now starting to feel better from this last weekend . I sooo learned my lesson ! On Monday when sis and I went up to SCCA we all looked over my blood work . My whit e blood cells are starting to go down now . THey told me I am not in bubble mode yet but I should shop either early in the day or later to aviod lots of people . If I go out to eat I have lunch at about 130 or 2 dinner about 4 0r 5 . Then there is always the option of take away .
The other rules are some of the older ones put back into play . I have to carry hand sanitizer with me and I need to make sure that who ever is with me use's it . ( I have become kinda a hand washing Hitler ) I have started to notice a lot more how gross certian things are . I think this experiance might turn me slightly O.C.D. .
I am looking forward to Easter next week . I think it is mostly because I like to bake and create . This year sis and I are going to make the cake shaped in a easter egg . I found a recipe for a lemon cake . I think I might use lemon curd and rasberry jelly as the filling ( yummers ) . Kayrn is good at making interesting cakes . She like a cake archetect . She can build any kinda cake ! She should get a job at charm city cakes with Duff !
Dad drove me to treatment twice this week . We do pretty well as a team . We both get tired easier than most , we eat smaller portions so we share meals which mean half the cost , and we are both pretty flexible ( on most things we still have our stuberness ) . Dad I and drove through the honking tunnel and the 5 mile drive . Dad was super wild life tour guide ! He pointed out deer , reindeer ( sure they were in the zoo but they were still on the road side ) racoons and a few other tresures . It was a lot of fun .
Sis and I met some of my friends for a late lunch on Friday . Jesse was in town from Cali , Pat an Kelly were in from Portland , Annie and her lil man , Lenny and Jessica and their lil red head guy . We went to the Antique Sandwich Co. I hadn't been there in years . I forgot how good their sammys were ! I also forgot how huge the sammys were ! I made sis eat half but I think I could of just had one fourth of the sammy and been full . It was great to see all of them . As a group they are some of the happiest people I know . I love that I would consider most the people I know as happy . Not just happy but have positive out looks on life .
This weekend I plan on keeping the low profile thing going . I am starting to feel good and I want to keep that feeling . I know what I have to do to do it . I might have to hit up a yard sale or two though .... I am addicted . Plus you would be amazed what 5 bucks can get you the last day of a sale ! I think I like the hunt ....

sleepy days

Well these last few weeks the treatments have caught up with me . I have been ubber tired and have had lack of energy . I was glad on Wed. that I started to pull out of it . Sister and I on St. Pat.'s day went to O'mally's and she had the sheppards pie and I had the corned beef . Both were yummy ! THen on Thur. went to the Ale House to watch the Huskies play . What a game I didn't think I would have nails left by the end . Let's see if they can oull it out on Sat. . Then on Fri. went to Clover Leaf to watch the Gonzaga game . Uncle Doug Ronner is a little bit supersticous so the places to go and watch it are narrowed . So he was super happy to be somewhere and they won ! After the game drove Doug and Jack to Cheers West to meet up with Julie . Watched the last 4 games of the day . Ming ended up showning up and had fun with me picking on people . Karyn dropped me off at home and now I am getting ready to hunker down for the night .

These last couple weeks has given me insite of what I am in for in the coming weeks . My doctors told me that I will start becoming more tired !! ( I don't know how much more I can sleep ) While discussing this with one of them he told me he could give me speed , then he looked at me all serious and said but no crack . Hehe I love a doctor with a sense of humor . I hope that it doesn't come to that . My sister is a gawd sent during these times for me . I barely want to get out of bed let alone anything else . She helps so much AND she's postive while she does it . No Debbie downer here ! Love her ! I don't know what I would do with out her . I wish everyone could have as good as a relationship with there sibling as I do with mine . It truely is a special bond . She knows all my good traits and my bad yet she still sticks around to see what will happen next . I love it .

Midweek St. Patrick's Day, March 17th

Erin go braugh. Ireland forever. Perhaps I should say, Elizabeth go braugh? But if I just said it and didn't write it I'm sure Eli would think "go bra?", "what's Mom smokin'?" So perhaps we'll just pretend that I didn't say it at all, ok?

This week has been one of activity. Elizabeth has her radiation every week day at 11 and on Mondays she has chemo, too. So Mondays are very busy for Karyn and Liz. Tuesday was busy too with an outing to the country club where teams were drawn for the BB tournament... a tournament that will result in the Final Four. Karyn and Eli enjoy sports as much as their father and so the three went out to have fun with the other members of their ilk. The club had prepared a room just for them. They had a good time. Tuesday happened to be pizza night and Eli didn't want more cheese in her diet so they opted for the Outback and called me to join them.

We had a nice family meal, more than enough food. We laughed a lot (we tend to do that) and had a great time. Elizabeth was wearing her new wig and every time I looked at her I was surprised to see her with bangs. It is so weird how real the hair is with highlights and such. Yet she doesn't wear bangs normally and it seemed so odd to glance at her and see the bangs. It played with my mind. It didn't seem like she was wearing a wig, but it seemed like something was different. I wonder how I'll do when she gets the short haired one she is looking at? It is hard for moms to accept change in their kids, even when they know what it is about.

Anyway, tomorrow it is my time to take Elizabeth to her appointment. I am happy to do it. She informed me last night that after her remote took a dip in a class of water it didn't work anymore, so I'd have to reprogram her new remote. (It seems I'm the only one who can get it to work.) Am I lucky or what? So tomorrow we will have a day together.

Each day is a day closer to beating this "C". If you live in Tacoma you may have read about the new cancer center at TG. It was featured in the paper this weekend with Dr. Rieke and some of the staff being shown using the new equipment and talking about the new facility. Jim and Liz told me that they were there last Friday when the reporters and photographers were there, but they couldn't muster the strength to awake from their naps. I guess they were both napping in the comfortable chairs. (It's hard to take Jim anywhere that he doesn't catnap on you.) So now Elizabeth goes to the "new and improved" center at TG and gets her radiation.

Tomorrow is my turn to take her... I'm wondering just how comfy those chairs are... I may have to test them myself. I'll let you know if I, too, fall under their spell and nap.
posted by Kathryn Whitacre, Elizabeth's mom

The weekend

This last weekend we spent quite a bit of time relaxing and hanging out together.    Saturday morning I picked up Liz from her house and started the day out with a T-town first for Liz - a trip to Le Donut for some fresh made doughnuts and coffee.  If you have not been there, I strongly encourage you to go some time. They are on S. 11th in hilltop across the street from Safeway. 

After our melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts Liz and I were off to my house to make Dad's birthday cake.  His cake was a banana cake decorated as an abacus. We had a good time hanging around the house baking the cake and decorating.  While the cake was baking Liz took a little nap and was joined by Raini, my cat and nap buddy.  The last week was a long week for Liz, she was very tiered from the radiation and chemo treatments, in addition she has started to experiance the loss of her hair.  On Tuesday we trimmed her hair.  Much of the week was spent resting and sleeping so she was excited to have some energy and to be out doing a few things.  A few weeks ago Liz had a port put in to assist with the injections and blood draws.  She has been healing well from the surgary.  Every time the staff look at the port they are amazed at how well she has been healing. 

While decorating the cake we were graced with visits from mom, Maria and Em.  After decorating the cake and hanging out for a little bit we dropped Liz off at her place to relax (with her surprise care package of gummy worms - yum yum).

On Sunday I picked up Liz in the afternoon, we went out to pick up some items for Dad's birthday and then it was off to the parental units' to celebrate.  We had an enjoyable time making linner (lunch & dinner), watching the selection show, and celebrating dad's birthday.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Friday, March 12, 2010

This past week has been filled with family, and illness. It all began two weeks ago when Elizabeth went to the hospital with symptoms that we thought were linked to her treatment. However, we found out that what she had was the flu. Karyn and I took food over, and Karyn nursed her back to health. Then Karyn got the flu. I took food to her and made her bread pudding (comfort food from childhood). I stayed and visited with her. And two days later Karyn was well. That was the night before my sister was due to arrive for a much anticipated visit.

Pam's plane arrived Wednesday at midnight. I drove her home and then at 3 AM I'm up with the flu! Pam leaves when she awakes and goes to Karyn's to stay so she doesn't get the flu from me. She is there for three days and while she's gone our visit is put on hold. I felt at least Elizabeth got to see her aunt. Aunt Pam and Elizabeth share a rye sense of humor, a ready wit and an independent spirit. If I didn't know better, based on personality, I'd have thought Pam was her mother. They really share a number of strong personality traits.

But I digress, back to the flu story... Jim has plans to go to Las Vegas with his friend, Doug. They are going to hang out, watch the Zags, enjoy the sun, do a little work at the tables and a needed break from the daily grind. Suddenly, Friday night Jim gets sick. It is the third time in 40 years that Jim has been "sick". He really gets pissed, but takes to his bed and in a supreme "mind over matter" exercise gets well enough to go on his trip. And never looked back. His flu lasted only 24 hours.

Wish I could say the same. I was sick for another day, then Pam came to stay. We planned to have some "sister fun" while Jim was gone, but it wasn't to happen. Pam got sick. She was sick from Sunday until Wednesday and left on Thursday.

Now why tell this story here? Well, as a close family I thought you'd all appreciate how we share everything— from our germs to our love and affection. Elizabeth is the current focus of our energy and concern. We are all doing our best to help her. But while she has her personal challenge, there is still the challenge of daily life for her and the rest of the family. Whether it is battling the flu or grocery shopping, or napping in the doctor's office or battling for high score on Facebook's Bejeweled, we interact and share not just the space our bodies occupy, but the emotional expanse that we each require.

Now the flu is behind us and we are each glad to say "goodbye". Another week will begin on Monday. Elizabeth is well, Karyn is well, Jim and I are well. So we will enjoy the weekend, enjoy Jim's birthday, basketball and a special meal. Afterall, getting well is about enjoying life.

Posted by
Elizabeth's Mom, Kathryn Cecelia "KaCe"

Hair ! Dawning of Aquarious ?

Well I have had another long week . It has been filled with joy and pain . Joy was my aunt Pam is down from Alaska . =) It has been great seeing her . She is a crazy fun lady ! The pain is in the tummy area . It think it is from the radiation but it could be the steroid pill that I take , no idea . It kinda feels like cramps or like when something terrible happens and you get that sinking feeling in your tummy . ( Well at least I do ) It is a tolerable pain , I know it is just a side effect of one of the things that will make me better .
I went to a red neck wedding with my friend Todd . It was a blast . Bob Cody's step daughter Bobbie got married to Scott out kinda by Northwest Trek on a lake . It was a nice small wedding . They had hay bails set out and a few folding chairs . ( * When the ceremony was going to start Todd wanted to sit in the back so he could get some pics of them walking down the isle . So we find two chairs at the end . I was adjusting my purse and scarf as Todd went to sit down . Well as he sat down the legs of the chair sunk into the ground . Todd's arms were a waving and he hit kind of a high note as he realized he might be going down . I was just about jumping up and down I was laughing so hard ! I was so glad he sat down 1st ! ) The grooms men all had camo vest on and shades . They wore their Sunday blues ( aka wranglers ) As I looked around I joked with Bob and Todd that Todd and I were the only people there to watch everyone else was in the wedding . I think they had 10 in the wedding party ? Bobbie had a pretty lacey dress . THe braids maids had these great lil black dresses ( they will be able to wear them to all kinds of things , they were supper cute ! ) The gurber daisey colors were purple and white . They had made the dance floor from plywood it was pretty cool . They had drove 10 foot rebar into the ground then strung light from pole to pole to light the dance floor with twinkle lights . It was great to be witness to such a happy day . As night fell I started to become cold I looked at Todd and said Pumpkin . I knew I would get colder and I will admit that I get grumpy when cold , but in my giveb condition it is multiplied . Todd took the que and we said our good bye's to th ebride and groom . Bob was all kinds of proud when we were leaving . I think it is cute to see the bodeing parents . How they look at their kid with pride and yet you can almost tell they are seeing them as a 5 year old or something . It's cute . Todd and I left before the cutting of the cake or the food was out . I know I am lame ! but that just proves how much Todd rocks . We ended up having a Fruggle Burger . I have never had one it was pretty good ! Todd droped me off at home and I went up put a movie in and passed out . IT was a exciting day .

I started losing my hair .It started on Friday . I am not going to lie . It is disturbing . I knew this would be the hardest part for me but it wasn't until i was washing my hair and when I ran my hand through my hair and a chunk came out did I realize how much . It almost knocked the wind out of me . I started crying right there in the shower . It was like I pulled a section of a weave out . For the last cupple of days I have been in denial over it but I had to come to terms with it . I was lucky in some ways . Ming and Lolo took me out for a day of pampering . We went wig shopping out at the B&I and I found a nice wig . I think the two of them might end up buying a few wigs them selfs . It was a lot of fun seeing the different styles and colors on al of us . After the wigs we went and got Pedicures . Oh it felt soooo good ! The back rubbing chairs , the lil foot rub and a few laughs between friends . It was blissful . I picked a hot pinkish color for my toes . Totaly not what I normally get but I thought that I needed to step out of my norm . We ended the day down at El Gaucho . We were a little early to be seated for dinner so we sat at the bar and shared a appetizer of calamari . Lo and Ming had a glass of wine . It smelled super good ! They said it was good . I had a ice tea ( yum ) . After our snack they came and told us out table was ready . We were seated and the server told us about the specials and what her favs were . The 3 of us debated on what we should all get . Lolo and I ended up sharing a meal g for two . It was awesome ! I have to admit I can't remember what it was called but my taste buds can still taste the flavors . I might say it was the best beef I ever ate . It all was good . The tomato with parm and herbs was a surprise hit for me . The asperagus was nice slightly woody but went well with the other flavors . We shared a side of the mushroom rissotto it was creamy earthy and rich . I could start to feel my gut expand . All 3 of us were about to hit a food wall . We sat there and talked for a few hours as we milled and savored our food . We had a couple of to go boxes made up . Mmmm tasty left overs ! The server dropped off dessert menus and Ming and Lo both puffed up their cheeks as if to say no more . I took a peek . MMmm Key lime pie , Banana Fosters , or Creme Brule . I went with the Brule . We got a round of coffee to go with dessert . THey server brought out a HUGE platter filled with fruit , nuts , and then a cheese and date plate to go with . Ming worked on craken the nutts open , I diced up a pear to share and the server carmalized the Brule . It was awesome ! I have to admit I am still full !!! We left there at 7ish and it is now 12ish . I had a glutness dinner . I know now what the Greeks must of felt like . I t was a day I will not forget for a long time .

I will be shaving my head tomorrow . It is kinda a serial moment . I am affraid . Why , I am not sure . Most likely it is because it is the unknown for me . On the bright side I have a wig and a few scarfs . I just hope that I will be able to pull it off . I have a big head .... now I will have a big bald head .... I hate this shit ! ...... I hope that my hair grows back .

March 1st

Over the course of the last few days I have been at every spectrum of feeling good to bad not only the feelings but the side effects of both . From high fever to lack of sleep followed by a few pass out episodes I have put myself on bed rest . It is boring but at least I am finally starting to feel better . The part that drives me nutts is that I do not know if I am sick " sick " or if it is Chemo sick or even radiation sickness it even could of been a combo . At any rate I am feeling better . My temp is down , food stays down , and I am able to eat again . I am not a fan of the liquid diet . There is only so much Gaterade and apple juice I can drink .
Karyn drove me up to Seattle Cancer Care on Monday for my chemo shot . We had a good plan going for us this time , Karyn is a good little planner . I had a few hours earlier in the day to myself before the drive up to Seattle . I had a little bite to eat and tried my hardest to nap but the meds would not let me . One of them makes me a little bit wired which is annoying . I need my naps and sometimes they won't let me urg ! So no nappy=poo for me . I end up watching the Disney channel's lunch time movie . Haha I love having a inner kid . As the movie comes to an end sister calls me to tell me she is out front . I turn off everthing grab some water and head out the door .
I get in the car and sister is on the phone with mom . I just sit there silent . Karyn pulls onto the freeway to start our trip up . As I notice that we are getiing closer to the on ramp sister does as sister does , she signels to get in the left lane and I look at her and say ummm Seattle , and this block is a big one to go around . She giggles and says opps auto pilot . I shake my head . She is so silly . I have never met someone who is so organized yet so scattered . I love it . We get up to Seattle and I get all checked in . Sister and I take up camp in a few recliener seats out looking Lake Union I curl up and try to nap sister played vidio games on her phone . They call me in . The nurse starts with reconigion and balance test . We tell her about the weekend sickness . Then came out med pad . Three more meds later and my head spinning it was time to go get the shot .
Karyn and I go to the injection floor and do some more waiting . As we lay there we flip through a few magizines . We discuss dads birthday coming up and what ever shall we do . No conclusions were reached , he's a hard man to get stuff for . They call my name and we go back to maze of rooms with the most comfortable beds in town . I so wished T.G. had beds like that . I find my room and lay on the bed and wait for the nurse . I look at Karyn and ask her to grab a water and maybe a breakfast bar from the patient kitchen . While Karyn is gone the nurse comes in and we get aquainted . I tell her I have a port . She get's a little excited saying how nice they make them for everyone . I tell her how I am slightly nervous about using the port . I explain the whole Pulp Fiction horrorer of it for me . She said she would lainicane the arean 1st and that shoud make it a bit easrier on me . It was so easy , I couldn't believe it . All I felt was a push not a prick . THey have to push slighlty on the port to feel the 3 dots to find the injection spot . Karyn come back from the kitchen with a few bars a bag of apple chips and some tapioca pudding . I am so hungry , but do to certian things not moving I don't feel like eating . The nurse comes back with my shot and a I.V. bag . THe shot is done pretty quickly followed by about 10 min on the I.V. drip . She flushed the line and we are done .
Karyn drives us home traffic isn't to bad and we make it to my house in no time . The Lyon's had made us a cobb salad and some cornbread for our dinner . It was sooo good ! Susan had made to kinds of bread one plain and one with jalopenos and peperchinis . It made life super easy after all the running around to have dinner all ready . Thanks Jeff and Susan !