it's so nice !!

Yesterday I woke up sooo early !!! I couldn't figure out why I had woken up , then I heard it . My cell phone . I forgot to turn it off . Urggg !!!! So I shrug it off and decide to get dress and embrace the day . I went and met a few friends for some coffee and we sat around and chatted for a bit . When I left I could almost feel my insides gittering from to much coffee .

I got home and in my coffee induced stage got bundled up and went for a walk . It lasted about 2 blocks . It was so windy and cold ! I had to retreat back to the house . It is stuff like that , that kills me . I sometimes just start to feel normal but then mother nature reminds me that I don't produce as much heat as I use to . I hate it . I love to walk and it annoy's me that I can't really do it . I hope this weather becomes better soon .

I worked on a project for a friend for a bit and Karyn'scat Rainie helped out the whole time ! Her way of helping is laying on the part I want to work on . Then when I ask the cat to move she gives me a look like why ? I can do this side you do the other . I finally gave up and joined the cat in pretend working . When I went to sleep that night Karyns cat slept with me the whole time . She must of thought I needed some extre attention . I was surprised when I woke up in the morning to find her stil laying there on the bed next to me . She opened her eyes looked at me then head butted me . She then proceeded to purr and kneed at me till I got out of bed and fed her . She is such a character .

A bit of a break

Well so far my little break from treatment has been ok . I was thinking that as soon as treatment stopped all the side effects of the treatment would go to . It's my inner blond thinking . I should of known better . It didn't go away on the weekend so why would it go away in 3 days . Right ? I have wishful thinking ...
These last few days I have been just as tired as always . I have not done much , yet I try and get out of the house at least once a day . Fresh air is good for the soul . Helps clean out the bad air . Clear the head in away . Even though it was windy yesterday it was nice it sit in the sun for awhile . I am looking forward to spring and summer . The one big thing I did do was I went to the Rainiers season opening game with Ming and Erin . We had a good time . I only made it to the top of the 7th inning then became to cold to deal . Even with Ming and Erin on either side of me to block the wind and snuggle next to it just wasn't enough . I am lucky to have such understanding friends because they did not mind leaving . When I got home I ran a mini bath to defrost my toes . My toes are the real reason for leaving . They became little ice cubes in my shoes . I even had my liner sox and wool sox on ! I tried to dress right . I think I might wait a few more weeks before I go to another night game . I really like going to the Rainier games . For the price of a Marnier ticket I can take 2 friends , park , get a dog , and a drink . Plus games are always better when you go with good people .

Formula for Life?

Formula for living life to the fullest.

Laughter, humor, good friends, life worth living... God bless Elizabeth... and all of you who pray for her, and who care... Friends, Family, Fun.

F times 3 makes for a good recovery... hum, I may have a formula. f x 3 = +Rq

We all want answers, like working a math problem. But life doesn't lend itself to quick or repeatable answers. We are not numbers, but so totally independent that it is hard at times when faced with extremes in opinions, speech and habits to think of all of us as the same species. One person can complain about something someone else compliments. One of us can think that it is time for politics to change while another thinks it is just starting to make sense. We are short, tall, thick, thin, dark, light, smart and not-so-smart, yet we all must face the next day and what it brings without knowing any answers.

Do you remember 7th grade geometry? Postulates and theorems? You remember, proving problems using quotes like: "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line" or " A circle can be drawn with a center and any radius." etc. Well, I think a formula for a happy life can be as different as the people but some factors will enter into almost all and they are: humor/fun, friends and family (family doesn't have to be "blood relatives") And I think Elizabeth has solved many problems with her three F's. And YOU are part of the solution to this problem Life has given us. We are grateful to so many wonderful friends and family members. Several friends have purposed a garage sale to benefit Elizabeth... read further to see how to help and participate.

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My P.E.O. chapter is planning to give Elizabeth a May1 Garage Sale! If you have items that you'd like to donate, please put them aside to take to St. Andrews Episcopal Church on S.12th/Jackson on April 29 between noon and 5 pm. They may take things on Friday, too while they are pricing. The sale will be 9 - 3 on Saturday, May 1st. Please spread the word about attending or donating. It meets all three of the F's... ! Let's solve another math problem: bills and expenses of living.

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

Friday April 3rd

Friday was a quite day in most ways . I went to radiation and had my blood drawn . I wasn't feeling so hot afterward so I had sister drop me off at home . It is weird how even if I take my naps and do what I need to how I can feel tired or is it drained ? . I took about an hour nap and woke up feeling like I still needed another hour ..... it turned into two ..... Did I mention I was tired ? I slipped out of my treatment coma and decided to escape my reality by reading . I found the book that I started when I was over at sisters " Breakfast with Buddah " I read about 4 chapters then realized that maybe the reason I was so tired is because all I ate that day was a banana . Duh ! So as I was making myself a feast of the gods a.k.a. peanut butter and jelly sammy =) My neighbors daughter was home for the weekend .( I live in the upstairs of a duplex .) She and her little friend went rippen through that house like two taz's on a sugar high . I could tell at any moment where they were by the noise and the sound of spirited feet running all through the house . I smiled and had a bunch of memories of slumber parties when I was a kid . My friend Ann had a few of us over one night and we tried to see who could get the furthest on Super Mario Bros . We had a 12 pack of Coke and all of us were so wired that we would die so would could run to the bathroom every 5 min . Up and down the stairs we would go to um go and since we were all hopped up on suger it wasn't the quite run to was the heels of your feet thunder run . Good times good times . Any ways .....
I woke up with a little bit more energy than before . Mom picked me up midafternoon ( yes it is only about 3 and I have taken 3 naps ) and took me to the grocery store . Procter Safeway has been undergoing contruction and now every thing is in a new place . It is like a scavenger hunt trying to find stuff . Normally I like it I find it sorta fun . Mom and I both grabbed our own carts and headed in thr directions of where we thought the stuff we needed would be . I was doing well I was about half way through my list ( 15 min into the trip ) . Then it happened . The cramping and gut wrenching twisting that sometimes happens from the Chemo and Radiation . I have to say that I had not experianced the pains this bad before . I was about to abanden my cart and try and find mom to get me home . I stood in the aisel half sweating from the pain and partly to try and not puke from it . Then it accured to me , by the time I find mom and tell her and get her out of the store I could be done shopping . So I continued on shopping . The sickness passes after about another 15 min . As I stoll up and down the isle I see mom talking to one of the stock boys and wonder what she is tyring to get stocked just for her . Nope ends up she was looking for vinager . The stock boy and her are both thinking it should be in the isle they are looking in . I tell her to try the salad dressing isle . Now I don't have much room to talk here . I walked around the store maybe twice trying to find the condoment isle . Every time I went by it I was looking at something else or looked at the other side of the isle . I was not on my game . Mom and I finally cash out . I have her drop me off at home and I proceed to put the stuff away then take yup you guess it another nap ( up to four now ) . I woke up at about 5ish and made myself some dinner and watched a movie . Afetr the movie I started to watch a t.v. show , I never finished because I fell asleep on the couch ...... I woke up and draged myself in to my bed at about 12:30 . Then I didn't wake up till 8 am .
Now this day is a classic reason why my mom won't race my dad and I to see who can fall asleep the fastest . She thinks of hom and I as the dolls that have eyes that close as soon as their heads start to tilt back . She says it just isn't a level playing feild anymore , our abilty to sleep any where at any time puts him and I in a league that her and Karyn just on a normal daily basis can't compete with .

Doing stuff !!

Let's see here .... Well on Monday after we were done at SCCA we headed to some restaurant to meet up with some friends to see Alice in Wonderland . Jessica and I were sitting in the car while sis tried to figure out the pay station . he he he . We had fun looking at her from the comfort of the dry warm car . Watching her trying to figure out the weird pay station that takes coins and cards but not bills . ha ha ha . It was a lil amusing . It was nice to see Jessica I haven't had the chance to see her in a while and it was fun catching up . Alice in Wonderland was awsome !!! I loved it ! Go see it if you get the chance !
After treatment on Tuesday I went out to lunch with Jen and her lil guy . We went to the Westend it was pretty good . I love her son he is just so sweet and a character in a half ! We sat around giggled and had ourselfs a nice afternoon . After lunch we went to Target . Ha ha ha Jen found this plastic microphone that made your voice sound like it was in a tunnel and J-bug sat there and tried making noise in it the whole time we were in the store . He is so going to be a American Idol . So cute ! Well after all that excitement Jen dropped me off at home and I layed down on the couch for a quick moment and woke up 3 hours later . I guess I was tired .... Sleep is good though helps me heal and keeps what lil energy I do have .
Woke up at like 5:30 on Wednesday I guess I slept to much the day before . Called Erin to see if she wanted to go grab a cup of coffee . She and I went and hung out for about an hour or so talking catching up and stuff . She is such a go getter . She is almost done with her EMT class . she has been working very hard for the last while to get this goal accomplished . It is cool to watch someone follow their dream .
Kat came to get me at 10:30 to go to treatment . Afterewards her and I went to Ross to try and find a few dresses . Kat found a cute green one with a few circles in the design . I found a knock out one ! It is going to be awesome ! Plus it was only 20 bucks ! Love it ! Kat said we would have good shopping Karma since we found princesses parking I thought she was kiding nope ! Yippy ! Then after Ross we went to the mall and at Fuego I found some bracellettes and a pair of earings for 10 bucks ! So I would say it was a good day of shopping . KAt dropped me off and I took a little nap this time made sure so that way I could get back on my sleeping pattern .
Today I will just relax . Maybe get a pedi with sis . Do some chores . Sleep . Read . Live the dream ...

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