Happy Birthday to Grandpa and Emily!

My Dad's birthday was Feb. 22 and Emily's is March 8 so we decided to have a birthday celebration for both of them this evening. We're having pizza and cake and ice cream and we're going to play our own version of Pictionary. We know how to party! It's so fun to have my parents and the Russells here together.

It has been wonderful to have Mom and Dad here this week. It was so funny because a nurse asked me the other day if my parents were high maintenance and I said "Are you kidding? They are taking care of me!" They've been so amazing--taking me to all my appointments and always saying "Don't worry about us...this is why we came." And Mom is spoiling us with her good cooking. But yesterday stretched me to my limit! But of course Mom and Dad remained calm and supportive even when I got emotional.

About yesterday...The most frustrating thing about what's going on right now is the process of coming up with the right dosage of Heparin to control the dumb old blood clots. It's a very tricky drug. And this process is so rare that my wonderful experienced nurses are even having to learn new things. I'm so special! But anyway, there was a mix-up about my schedule yesterday and I ended up sitting at the Cancer Center from 9:00 am till 12:15 pm for something which took only about 15 minutes. Then we had to be back to the Cancer Center for my radiation treatment at 2:00. Then back to the Cancer Center at 5:00 to test my blood for heparin level. Thank goodness it was within theraputic limits so the pharmacy made me five shots to get me through the weekend. Monday I'll have it tested again to see if the same dosage should be continued or if they need to change it. So far I've had to have the blood level tested every two days. Hopefully eventually there will be a dosage that will keep things at the level they need to be and I'll only have to be tested weekly.

Please continue to pray that the tricky heparin will do what it's supposed to do and thank you so much for your love and support! Love, Julie

The adventure continues...

I feel so good today! I drove to Safeway and picked up my prescriptions all by myself this morning! It was great to feel so independent.

Hannah and Adam spent the night Saturday night and they were such a delight to have! They are so self-sufficient that I didn't have to take care of them at all. I did the spinner and they played Twister and we just had a fun relaxing time together.

That afternoon Emily took me to one of my favorite places, Costco! And I didn't run over or even bump anyone with the little scooter! I wanted to enjoy feeling good because I knew I would be starting another cycle of chemo on Monday.

And that was yesterday. I felt like a really high-maintenance patient yesterday. We arrived at the Cancer Center at 9:30 and I had my blood draw. All the levels were okay so I could do chemo. We had a doctor's appointment. He didn't tell us anything new. My chemo was six hours. Dr. Tezcan knows that I am wanting to really fight so he's not holding back with giving me the tough chemo drugs. They tested my heparin level in the afternoon and it was too high so they measured a couple of syringes for me to give myself at home. This time 12 hours apart. And they'll test it again Wednesday morning. I was scheduled for radiation at 2:12 but I had tons of chemo to go...so finally the nurse from radiation came to get me, I-V and all. So I was doing chemo and radiation at the same time. That was different. Greg and I finally got home at about 6:20 p.m. It's so weird to think I was just sitting there all day long, yet I was exhausted when we got home.

Mom and Dad arrived at about 1:00 p.m. So great to see them. They took me to my appointments this afternoon and they got to meet Dr. Davenport, my radiation doctor. Tonight Mom fixed a delicious meal for us. I'm always amazed at her ability to look in my fridge and create something wonderful when Greg and I would probably say "We don't have anything to eat."

I am so humbled by the love and support we have felt. Thank you so very much for your words of encouragement and your prayers. Love, Julie

A Beautiful Saturday

After so many cloudy days, it sure was nice to see blue skies today! Makes me anxious for the ugly sn0w to melt. Spring will be here eventually!

My Mom and Dad are planning to come on Tuesday. I'm so excited because I haven't seen them in quite awhile and they are such special people. Always so encouraging and fun and helpful.

I'm doing just fine with my heparin shot schedule. My tummy is getting very colorful! During these first few weeks of using heparin I have to go to the Cancer Center for a PTT blood test thirty minutes before my 2:00 p.m. shot every few days. They called me late yesterday afternoon to say that my doctor said my level was PERFECT!! Hurray! Let's pray that it continues.

Thank you for your love and prayers. Love, Julie

I'm home!

So great to be home! The first thing I did to celebrate being home was to take a snuggly nap with my favorite blankie on my couch.

It took some time and some creative maneuvering by my nurse and the social worker to figure out a pharmacy that would be willing to provide me with pre-measured heparin shots. It's really labor intensive for them because they will put together one ten day supply at a time and that means thirty shots every ten days. But they came up with a great plan that involves the pharmacy in the Cancer Center and the pharmacy that is in the same complex. Whew. We're praying that this drug will be successful in controlling my blood-clot producing body.

Lauri, the beautiful bouquet you sent to me has the most fragrant lilies! The nurses all talked about how when they opened my door, instead of the usual hospital smells they get used to, they got a huge whiff of lilies. They liked coming to my room to smell them. And now they are making my house have a sweet fragrance. Thank you so much.

Emily and her family came over tonight bringing Em's homemade chicken noodle soup and some biscuits! The soup is delicious and sure hit the spot. She also picked up some groceries for me. So helpful.

Greg was so thoughtful and has clean sheets on our bed and he vacuumed the whole house. He knows the way to my heart.

I never get tired of saying thank you to all of you who are praying for us. Please know that we feel so blessed to know so many people care about us. God bless you all tonight. Love, Julie

Looking forward to home...

There was a possibility that I would leave the hospital tonight. But now it looks like I'll be in here one more night. I can go home when the new anti-coagulant that I'm taking measures at a theraputic level in my blood. I've been receiving the drug in an I-V and I've been able to maintain a good level for the past few days. But they disconnected me from the I-V this morning and I received a dosage in a shot. When they checked my blood level it was too low. So in the second shot they gave me more Heparin. Hopefully this is the right dosage! If so, I'll continue to give myself three shots a day eight hours apart and return to the hospital to have the blood levels checked every other day. If you had trouble following that, don't worry, I still don't exactly understand either. And it's been explained to me several times.

I got to walk around several times today and it sure was great to be able to move around without Mr. I-V. He really slowed me down! And I'm looking forward to taking a real shower tomorrow morning. Mr. I-V couldn't get wet so neither could I.

I am so humbled when I think of how many people are praying for me. I have confidence that God can use me and it's so exciting to be part of His plan. I love you all and am so thankful for your prayers and support. Love, Julie

I'm Glowing!

I'm still in the hospital and I've been able to sleep better at night. Ambien. Just kidding. But last night was much better.

This morning I had my first radiation treatment. Greg asked me if I glowed in the dark. It was such an amazing process and seemed so simple. I kept wondering who in the world invented the treatment and who would have been crazy enough to be the first volunteer. The plan is to shrink the icky tumor in my lung that is cutting off the air flow to my air passage-ways so that I can breathe without the wheezing sound that sounds like harmony, not cough so much, and not get so short of breath. That will be cool. I can take Boris for walks and play with my grandchildren! Another benefit of a shrunken tumor is the possibility of less blood clots.

Liz left this afternoon and I sure miss her. I'm so thankful for my family!

Please pray that my doctor will be able to come up with the right combination and dosage of drugs to stop the blood clots. I'm a challenge to him right now but his specialty is research and he's in communication with oncologists all over the world. And pray that I will take advantage of opportunities to speak up and share my faith and minister to the people around me.

I appreciate your love and concern for me and my family. Thank you so much for remembering us in your prayers. Love, Julie

I'm Back!

It's Sunday afternoon and Greg and Liz left the hospital to give me some time to rest but right when I closed my eyes and plugged into my "Pride and Prejudice" CD the hospital tech guy came in my room to hook my new computer into wireless. Whatever that means. Anyway this is the first time I've been able to access my blog in awhile. It's so exciting that I'm not sleepy anymore!

These last few days have been full of surprises and new experiences. Not necessarily wonderful experiences. It's great that we can be more at ease about the blood clot situation because of the little "umbrella" that will head them off at the pass if they try to sneak to my heart and lungs. Now I'll be able to try some different dosages and combinations of anti-coagulants as we figure out how to stop the stupid clots from forming!

I'm trying to keep a positive attitude about having to stay in the hospital. I actually feel pretty well and I know I would be fine at home. But I have to be hooked up to an I-V with Heparin twenty-four hours a day. Don't know how long. It's so weird that it seems like they totally leave you alone in the daytime and at night there's a constant stream of people needing to weigh you, take your vitals, take your blood,or to give a breathing treatment. They always say "Get some sleep now, Julie." They are all so nice and I feel well cared for.

Liz came on Friday and she's been so sweet and helpful. She asks good questions when the doctor says "Do you have any questions?" and I'm a blank. We made the whole oncology floor smell like garlic last night because Greg, Emily, Liz and I had take out from an Italian restaurant. Mmmmmm. It was nummy. And Greg brought my girl movies and we watched "Sleepless in Seattle" on my new computer! It was a memorable Valentines Day.

I feel like this blog entry isn't very smooth. But I will get better at using this fancy new computer!

Thank you for caring about us and for your continued love and prayers. Love, Julie

A Long but Productive Day

Julie got hooked up with the great team at the Heart Center again this morning. We got a clearer idea about how they knock out those nasty old clots. They put a long skinny tube in a vein in her leg and it pulsated with ultra-sound waves that beat those clots down.

They came back later with a tiny balloon that moved through the tube to clear out the vein. While it was the coolest thing to watch on the monitor, it about sent Julie through the ceiling. She had to tap her hand on the pillow to signal to the nurse to up the pain meds dosage. But she got through it well enough and the blood is pumping through her veins with gusto now.

She finished out the evening back on the oncology unit with a medication drip to keep clots at bey & everything flowing. Julie, Liz and I watched "What Not To Wear" on TV, ate M & M's and chatted with the parade of staff that pass through her room.

Julie was blessed again with cards, calls & visits from family & friends. I got her two love birds that whistle (1 out of every 10 times) when you squeeze them together.
We love you guys & value your prayers! Greg

Weird Day

Julie started the day off going through the normal routine of blood work and another treatment of chemo, but there was a change of plans. Because her blood platelets were low again, she couldn't go through with the chemo. Also, she'd been pretty sick for the past few days and she required IV's to get hydrated. That really seemed to perk her up and she was her usually upbeat self again. Her leg had been pretty sore too so she had an ultra-sound done and found another hefty looking blood clot on the move. Her doc wanted to act on it right away so he sent her to have an "umbrella" put in the middle of her torso. It is a spider-looking metal-thingy designed to catch any pesky clots. They will also put a "catheter" screen-type dealie in her groin area also made to snag clots. She'll also receive a medication drip to reduce the soreness created by the clots so she'll have to stay in the oncology unit through the rest of the week. Then she'll be ready to begin radiation on Monday.

I know this all sounds like a drag, but Julie is so encouraged at the prospects of regaining a healthier quality of life if all these proceedures work.

Julie's sister, Liz (the nurse), is taking time off from work and away from her kids again to come and hang out with Julie. Julie has been so moved by the level of support that she is receiving from both family & friends.

I pray the Lord blesses your socks off for all the love and prayers you have offered Julie & I.
Thank You!
Love, Greg

Encounters of the 3rd Kind

Well, I'm substituting for Julie again. She's been a little wiped out lately so I'll try to relay to you her thoughts and words. But it will probably come out the way I talk anyway. So, I'll try and be brief.

Julie's sisters, Liz & Janice, came to visit and they were great company. They shopped, cleaned and cooked for us. The girls shared, bonded & laughed together. Once in a while they'd politely invite me into their conversations. They even let me watch a chick-flick with them. But it really was a "Girl" time. It was just what the doctor ordered, in a manner of speaking.

Julie's doctor is going to add daily radiation to her treatments for this next month. Julie's so excited at the prospects of breathing a little easier and can't wait to get started on Monday. Please continue to pray that her blood levels stay up during her chemo treatments while her blood clots get lost.

We continue to be blessed by our friends from school and church who generously provide meals for us each week. Not only am I so spoiled, but I'm fat too. We are also so thankful for the power of your prayers, because God is showing his strength in Julie's character despite the weakness in her body. So, keep it up! Love, Greg

Janice is coming!

Janice is traveling at this moment! She left Billings a few hours ago and she'll be here till Tuesday. I'm so excited to have my sister here. Liz plans to drive up from Pasco on Saturday so we'll really have some sister fun.

My friend, Susan, is going to take me to the Cancer Center in a few minutes so I can get my shot. These shots will build up my white blood cells so I won't need a transfusion. I drove myself to the CC on Tuesday and it felt so good to drive and feel independent. What I hadn't thought about was parking. I'm used to being dropped off at the front door. But Tuesday there was no parking! I had to park almost a block away and then walk in the cold. Not a very good decision. But I learned my lesson.

We had a fun Super Bowl party at our house with the Russells. Emily made a delicious white chili with chicken and white beans. MMMM. And my friend, Lana, dropped off a whole box of snacks and goodies so we had plenty to eat!

Thank you for your prayers. Love, Julie

Pinch Hit

Julie asked me to pinch hit for her and write on her blog. I came across a passage in my quiet time this morning that is such a great reminder about what is Gods part and what is our part:

"Love and truth are in all you do (Lord).
Happy are the people who know how to praise you."
Ps 89: 14b-15a

Julie's Dr. is using an aggressive chemo treatment to allow her to breath a little easier. She's also receiving shots each day to help keep her blood levels up to avoid the need for another transfusion. He'll be adding radiation to the mix in a few weeks to put the hurt on that ugly tumor.

The Lord has given Julie an amazing amount of strength to maintain her unfailing faith during her daily trials. He's also given her enough grace to genuinely be interested in everyone who calls, writes, prays or visits. She is so lifted up and humbled that you and so many people love and pray for her. And I know the Lord is using her to return the favor to you and others.

Thank you for loving my wife. I am convinced that your prayers put praise in her heart. Please continue to pray that the blood clots will continue to dissipate.
Greg

Hard to write on blog...

I so appreciate your friendship, prayers, and your comments on the blog. It's difficult for me to sit in front of the computer and type because I still have to keep my right leg up. I'll try to write tomorrow morning when I have more energy.
I love you all! Love, Julie