The Latest and Greatest

Yikes I am finally coming up for air from the last few weeks.  Life quickly passed me by as I was trying to get two kids in college and the younger two ready for school.  I have to say that life is good.  It could be better, but I am so very happy and blessed because life could be so much worse.

Well let me just give you an update on how things are going and which direction we are headed.  Let's start with the last PET scan.  The scan showed that the lesions in the liver and lungs have decreased in size and there was no metabolic activity which means that these tumors are asleep or dormant.  That is fantastic and we are so very excited.  We do need to keep in the back of our mind that these types of tumors do have a 95% chance of returning but we feel so blessed that there is not metabolic activity at this point.

The tumor in the rectum showed a large decrease in size but there was still some metabolic activity.  So you have to realize that this tumor was much larger than the liver and lungs so it's going to take time to conquer that beast.  Also the rectum is a very small and vascular area so anything that tries to grow there wants to spread quickly because there is not room to grow and tumors like lots of space.  Therefore because it is still trying to grow we don't want to stop treatments or we will back to ground zero.

So the current treatment for the next three months (trust me I live my life in three month increments) looks something like this.  We are staying on "Avastin" which we go in every three weeks for and it's only a 30 minute infusion .  We then need to stay on 5-FU but that drug comes in a oral form called "Xeloda"    So he takes Xeloda twice a day (uggghhh it's 10 pills) for two weeks and then he takes a week off. 

So far he feels great.  There will be a little fatigue associated with Xeloda but so far we are doing great.  Now on top of all the drugs we may have to start radiation here in the next few weeks.  Once we start radiation it will be a daily treatment for 6 weeks.  Dr Whisenant thinks that the combination of Avastin and radiation will really help knock the rectal activity down.

Now for the greatest news of all.  The CEA level (that's the tumor marker) is down to 75.  Remember we started with a CEA of almost 400.  So that basically tells us the chemo is working and we WILL NOT let this beat us.

I can never tell all of you enough how much I appreciate your love, support and prayers.  We would not be doing as well as we are without each of you thinking of us and praying for us each and everyday.  Everyday I wake up and think how blessed I am to have each of you in my life and pulling for us.    I am so grateful for my Savior that he is so mindful of our situation and most days is carrying me over the hurdles and giving me the strength to overcome my trials.  I also thank him because I know out there in this big crazy world there is someone that has much bigger trials than I do and I pray for you whoever you might be that you will over come them and lean of your faith for comfort and direction.  I know I do.

Well I leave you with my blessings and hope all of you are having a safe and happy weekend.  I have many more fun things to post this week so check back often.  Until then do you like my photos for this post?  This was a work party Fred had last weekend.  His work party is the most amazing thing ever with lots of food, games prizes and much, much more.  However I just want you to know that standing on that little post and trying to knock off your opponent is not so easy.  It was fun so that is all that matters.

It's a Mystery

OHHH my goodness do you all think that I have been missing in action?  Well I am not totally missing just time flying quickly by.  It seems like just a few days ago the kids were just getting out of school and then I blinked and WOW I realized that it's time to go back to school, finish up my yard work, home improvements, harvest my many tomatoes in the garden (well almost time for that) and all the other many things I have to do on my daily "To Do" list.

My latest hobby that I have picked up is quilting so I wanted to share my latest project with you.  Yikes, I never in a million years thought I would find myself quilting.  However, I have found it to be very enjoyable, relaxing and it allows me to have a creative outlet other than scrapbooking.  I love to scrapbook very much, but due to everything that has been going on in our lives this has been a very therapeutic thing for me.  I have been going to a quilt club in my area that has been organized by my dear friend Juli.  I love meeting up with my quilt club ladies each month. 

Over the last few months Juli planned a "Mystery Quilt" for us.  Each month she gave us an assignment.  The first month was to buy the fabric, the following month we did the cutting and then the next two months she gave us sewing instructions.  We had no idea what the quilt would look like when we finished.  However I was not worried one minute because Juli does amazing work and I knew it would be well worth it in the end.  Each of us in the club chose different fabric so our quilts are all different.  Anyway, I was very happy with the way my quilt turned out.  I love pink and brown if you have never noticed so of course when I went to the fabric store all the pink and brown fabric jumped out at me and into my arms.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Front of quilt

Back side of quilt

Thanks so much for taking a minute to share my excitement with me.  Have a wonderful day.

Zippidee Workshop

Climb aboard for a fun workshop this month using our Zippidee kit.  I know all of you have hundreds and hundreds of Disney and theme park photos waiting for the perfect layout.

These layouts were so fun and yes I am so guilty of having all of those photos laying around needing to go onto layouts and in my kids albums.  YIKES these photos were from 2004.  I can NEVER have enough Disney layouts.  Lauren loved meeting all of the characters at Disney World.  Her favorite experience of all was eating lunch at Cinderella's castle.  She was in big time heaven all day.

These layouts work so great for Disney and theme park but they will also make great birthday layouts. I used the photos for layout two from last year when Fred took the girls to Disney World.  Brandon and I were not invited to go with them since the two of us had just returned from Europe.  OHHHH well Brandon and I had had the best time ever in Europe so I guess that was only fair. 

We love staying at the Wilderness Resort.  We have a time share at the lodge and we love it there.  We can never come home until I have taken photos all around the resort.  Thanks to stopping by.  I have to run but I will be back later to add my details. 

Scrapbook Sale

Close To My Heart is having a scrapbook sale to show appreciation for YOU.  All items are 50% off.  My Stickease ($2) Level 1 kits ($4)  Level 2 kits ($6)  Take advantage of this amazing scrapbook sale starting August 4th-August 11th. (while supplies last)

These items will go fast so RUN don't WALK over to my "Close To My Heart" web site at http://www.stampinscrapexpress.myctmh.com/  then click on "Shop Online" to take advantage of this HUGE sale.

You can Download a PDF list of everything that is on sale here   Once the page opens click on the blue "download button"  Have fun stocking up on all the great deals and let me know if I can help you with anything.

Treatment Update

I have to say that summer is flying by so quickly.  I am enjoying the summer, doing lots of yard work, keeping things in order in our lives and the family all in line.  Therefore I find myself very tired each evening.  I do hope that each of you are also enjoying everyday and remember to "Treasure Your Memories"

Well for those of you that have been asking me how Fred is and how things are going with treatments I thought I would just give you a quick update and plan of action.   This week we finished treatment # 5 of 6.  Yes that means in two weeks we will finish up this round of treatment. OHHH HAPPY DAY.

We know that the treatment is working because the CEA level continues to drop.  If you forgot what a CEA level is refere to my post " Treatment #3"  Before we started treatment the CEA was 393.  After two treatments it dropped to 202.  We tested again before we did treatment #5 this week and it had dropped again to 124.  That is fantastic news.  That means we are getting closer to normal.  I don't know if we will ever get to normal and only time will tell, but at least we are getting closer and we are thrilled about that. We consider that big of a drop in the CEA a complete miracle and blessing. 

Well the plan from this point is next week we are going to have another PET scan and compare it to the one we had before treatment started.  We hope and pray that the tumors are much smaller and some of them gone.  In two weeks we will complete treatment #6 and  this round.  OHHH how I wish I could say that we were finished with treatments all together, but I can't.  We need to keep doing something or it will give those nasty Cancer cells an opportunity to grow again and we don't want that. 

One of the drugs in Fred's cocktail is called Oxaliplatin. After eight treatments of Oxaliplatin it can cause neuropathy (numbness, tingling, and nerve damage).  Thank goodness our Dr is trying to prevent any of that from happening so that is why this set of treatment we are stopping after #6.  It  is a toxic drug and causes most of the fatigue and cold sensitivity.  So we are pleased to stop that drug for a little while.  We will stay on the other two drugs Avastin and 5-FU for probably another three months.   We can continue to go in and have the IV form of this cocktail or we can go onto the oral pill form of these two drugs. We may also need to consider doing some radiation.  I will know more after we get the results from the PET scan and chat with the doctor at our next treatment in two weeks.

Well that is it in a nutshell.  We are doing great.  Things could be so much worse, they could also be better at times, but we are grateful with how well we are doing and responding to the treatments.  I am so amazed at the medical treatments and know it is helping so much, but I also know that your prayers, concerns, and friendships have just as much impact in our healing. I have to thank you so much and feel very blessed to have you all in my life.  I know many of you I have never met before, but I feel like I know you very well and I do treasure your friendship and I plan to be there for you in your time of need.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have fantastic week.

Splendor Layouts-July Workshop

I was thrilled to see all of you this month for workshops.  Summer can be such a crazy and busy time of year so thanks for taking time to hop on over for a good time.  Below are the scrapbook layouts for this month for those of you that didn't  finished.  You will notice that I didn't go with the layouts in your brochure like I usually do.  So please refer to this blog post as you put your layouts together.  Remember to click on image to enlarge and view details.  Have FUN.
 

Layout 1: 

Perfect layout for all of those millions of summer photos you take.  You can put just about anything on this layout.

Layout 2:

This layout can be used for just about anything that brings you joy.  I put photos of Alyssa and our dogs on this layout.  She loves animals especially her dog Nitro.  Perhaps that is why she wants to be a vet.  Ohhh my goodness these dogs are going to be so lost without her this fall when she goes off to college.

Layout 3:

This layout is probably my favorite one.  I can't believe I have not scrapbooked these photos of  Brandon.  They were taken three years ago when he and Lauren were playing in the back yard on a very hot day.  They enjoyed the day by cooling off the slide with the hose.  WOW I didn't realize how much he has grown.  Make me kinda sad.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Next months layouts will be "Zippidee"  They are perfect layouts for amusement parks and fun family activities.  I know you all have tons and tons of park photos needing to be put in your scrapbook so make sure you sign up for a class.  Those of you not currently in my classes that want to join in the fun just contact me at:

myhandsyourheart@aol.com

Chocolate Heaven

Life just does not get better than this.  Ohhh my gosh.  I had a dear friend/customer bring me one of my favorite things to me when she came to workshops this month.  She just got back from Europe and brought me a boat load of Milka bars.  

 Last year when my son and I was in Europe we discovered true "European Chocolate"   I would buy several of these "Milka" bars every day we were there.  Yes, we ate many of them, but we did make it home with several that we enjoyed for many months. 

These Milka bars come in all flavors and my favorite is the one with carmel.  Ohhhh my gosh  they are so amazing I can't even begin to describe them.  Next time I go to Europe I for sure plan to fill my entire suitcase with Milka bars.  In the mean time I have put these little beauties in the refrigerator and warned my family if they touch them they may lose a few fingers.  Hahaha just kidding, but I still suggest that you keep your fingers off and nobody gets hurt.

Chic Chick Carnival

This week I am participating in a fun activity called chic click carnival.  It has been a great way to meet other bloggers that enjoy the same things I do.   My name is Lynette and this is my blog where I celebrate my love for scrapbooking, paper crafts, family,  life's challenges and blessings.

Looking back at different posts on my blog I think my favorite post is Retreat Report 

That weekend was such a blast.  It's so important for us ladies to get away on occasion and have a creative outlet, giggle like teenagers and forget about all our responsibilities.  We made so many fun things, had a great time together and of course ate plenty of food and snacks.  My favorite peep of the weeks is Fab Design for Less

Beat the Heat!!!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic summer.  Sorry I have not posted in such a long time.  I have been exhausted the last week or so and have not gotten anything done.  I do have several things to post so check back often.   So what tricks do you have to "Beat the Heat"?   Our beagle Shilo has a great plan to keep cool.   He climbs under the deck, digs a hole in the dirt to cool himself off. 

His plan must work well because he looks pretty cool and content here.

Treatment Tuesday #3 and Small Miracles

Hello to all friends and family.  Do you all remember the famous game of Pac-Man?  Ohhh my gosh I think it was my favorite game at the arcade.  Yes all you young readers that never have to go to the arcade because you all have a PSP, Playstation, Xbox and now the Wii.  Well back in my day you had to go to the arcade.  Anyway, I was thinking about Pac-Man today and it reminds me of going through all of this treatment.  Pac-Man is the chemo and the little dots is the cancer.  So the plan is for Pac-Man to eat every single dot.  Yikes don't ask me where that random thought came from. 

Well here we are again. It seems like we just did this. Funny how time flies when you have treatments every other week. Well if you are wondering if Fred has even moved from last time the answer is no not really. He likes a certain spot at the center so I guess you will see the same surroundings each time. During the treatment this time he took a good one hour nap.  I didn't take any photos during the nap because I didn't want to risk waking him up.  Sleep is something we value very much. When he woke up he said he felt as if he had slept for 3-4 hours.  AHHHHH don't you love that feeling.

During the treatment we met with Dr. Whisenant.  We had a very nice little chat and Dr Whisenant thinks that things are going really well.  One thing I noticed during treatment is Fred turns a little yellow for about a day.  No worries because that is pretty normal and he pinks back up around day three.  I guess that's what happens when chemicals (Pac-Man of which have you noticed is yellow) are taking over.

Well my job during treatment is to keep him eating and well hydrated.  I did a much better job this time because he didn't lose any weight.  Good thing because when he loses it I find it.  Hahah.  No he doesn't turn yellow because of the bananas.  I feed him all colors of the rainbow.

Now for the small miracle.  Yes I have learned to look for the small little miracles and blessings we receive each and every day.  We do blood work before each treatment.  All of Fred's blood work has come back within normal range.  So that means he body is doing a great job replenishing.  We also did a CEA level.  A CEA is a blood test.  CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) is a protein molecule that is released in the blood from the tumors.  So before we started treatment the CEA level was 393.  After two treatments the CEA level was 202.  YIPPPEEEE that's great news today because that means the chemo treatments are working. 

Ohh goodness I am so happy right now I think I need to go find a Pac-Man game to play.  Thanks for stopping by and we want to thank all of you for your prayers, thoughts, friendship and the many acts of kindness.  There have been so many acts of kindness I don't dare list them but just know we have appreciated everything.  I truly believe that your prayers are helping more than anything so keep up the great work.  You are the best and we love you all.