Halfway There!

Nini here, reporting live from Corralitos (well, it's a live report as I'm typing, not as you are reading...).

Today was Jen's third chemo treatment which means she's halfway done with the chemo! Hooray! Grace brought lunch from Severino's (OMG those fries are good) and we sat outside and visited. Lori stopped by with a cute blanket for Jen's new bedroom decor. Then Gammo/Mom/Jane called to say hi (that's her there on the phone...see?)



More good thoughts:
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Which Twin Has The Toni?

Ha! Thank goodness Jen has more style than to try to emulate these lovely ladies.

Which Woman Has A Wig? Pretty hard to tell.....



Here's a great quote from Buddha:
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Nini, reporting from LA)

Photos!

Here's Jen talking on the phone to Mom on Maui while getting treatment:


And Grace and I ran an errand in her NEW CAR! Nice car Grace!


Then it was game night and we played Scene It -- Disney Version! (Jen and I knew some of the "vintage" related questions...)

Chemo #2 Down!

Nini here, happy to report that Jen's chemo #2 went very well yesterday. Barbara Thompson came by to visit again, as did Earleen. We all had a great visit and Barbara brought a bunch of leftover candy and pushed it on everyone! All the other chemo patients liked it though. Thanks for coming Barbara and Earleen! Grace came by with yummy lunch from Severino's Grill where she works. Jen and Grace and I ate lunch outside on the picnic table (handy portable IV poles...) and then went back in for another hour or so.

I took a bunch of pictures, but Blogger is having photo uploading issues, so please check back in later to see photos from the treatment and other fun stuff.

I saw this quote today and thougt it was a good one:
"There is one consolation in being sick...the possibility that you may recover to a better state than you were ever in before."
— Henry David Thoreau

Jen is always grateful for your wonderful prayers, positive thoughts, smiles and fun emails.

More soon!

Nini

First Chemo Down!

Jen had Chemo #1 out of 6 on Wednesday and as promised, was on a steroid high for two days and was able to enjoy the Homecoming Parade in Aptos, Matthew being one of the Kings on the Homecoming Court. Here he is with Hannah Grantz looking fine in the Thunderbird! (Thanks for driving, Lori Hoover!)


Here is Jen in the process of getting well:


The nurses in the Chemo room at the Doctor's Office were terrific, positive, nice, helpful, smiley and full of candy. One of the nurses is a cancer survivor herself, so you know what she's talking about comes from experience. Many visitors came by including Barbara Thompson, Grace Callahan, Peter Callahan (who made the room laugh with a few funny stories) and cancer secretary, Julia (Nini) Frey. There is a lot of commaradarie in the chemo room as some patients come in for just a short treatment and others stay for hours. All seem in good spirits and are happy to help you with anything you need, like, where are the good drinks (the sodas and waters and juices in the mini fridge) and what's normal on all the equipment.

As predicted, Friday morning, Jennifer awoke with aches and pains and some fatigue -- again, all normal, though quite annoying. She was not going to miss Matthew doing his Senoir Homecoming Skit. Matthew rocked the house!

Chemo treatment #2 is November 7.

Jen says thanks for all the positive messages and prayers, she loves them. Keep them coming! Jen is very grateful for all the support she has in her life. Keep it coming and please feel free to comment on this site as much as you like. Emails are always welcome too!

More soon...

The Plan in Gammo's words...

Hi all, Jennifer had a great visit with oncologist Dr. Alexander this morning and the plan is this: she's to get a CAT scan sometime soon and blood work and then report back to Dr. Alexander. He is going to consult with Dr. Lilya (the surgeon) about hormone therapy options but he feels at this point they will proceed with chemo once every three weeks for 6 sessions and then see where they are. The main side effect will be hair loss. Nausea will be eliminated with a shot of some other new medicine. Starting date for this will be soon but not exact yet.

And she should resume immediately everything that she wants to do. Exercise is an excellent idea altho Jen pointed out to one of the doctors that when she and her friend Sheri started a walking routine several months ago, Sheri ruined her feet and Jen got cancer - so perhaps they want to rethink the walking thing. Maybe swimming.

Grace has decided we will all sport Paris Hilton wigs for the duration - not just Jen - altho I don't think Peter and Matthew will be up for that.

I am continuing to hold Jennifer in my heart as being in perfect health. And every one of you and your support are sustaining all of us and speeding Jennifer to a full recovery. I am so grateful.

With love, Jane

The Plan

Here is the plan. In the next my mom will have some more blood work done, another CAT scan, and some various other tests....then but she will start Chemo...just the regular chemo stuff..6 sessions every 3 weeks for a total of 18 weeks...her hair is expected to fall out....so for those of you that wanna, go ahead a shave those noggins! haha! just kidding, but matty will be shaving his head, and probably my dad too...so as of right now all looks good and well and routine....so there ya go!