NOT a "Twilight Zone" Day

Sometimes we refer to our days at the Cancer Center as Twilight Zone Days. Those are the days that we think we're going to be there 1 hour and it ends up being 5 hours or worse. Time seems like it exists in a different dimension at the Cancer Center. But today was NOT one of those days. Happily everything was according to schedule and I had a wonderful nurse who was very efficient and caring. I had my PTT and the blood tests that precede chemo at 8:00 and we were on our way home at 1:30! Chemo went smoothly. Greg brought me lunch from Schlotzsky's Deli again today. mmm. And this afternoon I listened to the new CD Jerry sent me Saturday entitled "Mellow Music for Julie". I hope he takes it as a compliment...but I went to sleep during the very soothing music and the nurse had to wake me up to tell me it was time to go home! My favorite song on the CD is one about the old white station wagon our family had when we were kids. I could listen to it over and over. I asked Nick to help me put it on my blog. Is that okay, Jerry?

Update on Boris: We saw glimpses of his hyper miniature schnauzer personality this evening when he noticed Sid, our big hairy kitty. He really has a thing about cats. Greg took him on a long walk and he perked up a lot this afternoon.

Thank you for your prayers. Love, Julie

NOT a

Poor Boris

The past couple of days haven't been the greatest. I've been very tired and stuck to my comfy couch. Chemo tired. Greg didn't feel well for a few days and even stayed home Thursday. But life has been even worse for my little Boris. He got hit by a car Thursday late afternoon. We took him to the vet right away and they treated him for shock and gave him lots of pain meds to get through the night. Friday he spent all day at the vet's in ICU and they gave him some x-rays. He doesn't have any broken bones and he seems to be doing okay now but he has a very sore hip. He's a lucky little dog.

I'm excited that Liz and her kids plan to visit next weekend! It will be so great to see Emma and Evan. I haven't seen them in a long time.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Thank you for your love and prayers. Love, Julie

Back to reality

Monday I had trouble keeping the "half-full" attitude because I knew that Tuesday I would have to start chemo again and I had been enjoying my feeling great days. But I'll continue to be thankful for those days and to take full advantage of them! When I was feeling so good I amost forgot I had cancer. Two different times I almost forgot to take my heparin shots.

But now I'm back to the reality of "Oh yeah, I have cancer." Yesterday was actually pretty good. I got to see both of my doctors and they were both very happy with my progress! Dr. Tezcan said "Wow! No wheezing today!" I got one of the good chairs for chemo! One of the kind that have heat and massage. Things go much more smoothly now that we're all getting used to the heparin scheduling etc. Dr. T said that heparin will always be a matter of adjustments and challenging to regulate. But I'm so thankful that it is working so far!

After weeks of not feeling like eating, my appetite returned about two weeks ago and I have had a craving for donuts and chips. My house is so full of junk food right now! I think the craziness is subsiding and I'll have to give all that junk food to the Russell kids.

Greg and I appreciate your prayers and your encouragement. I am so thankful that I have never felt alone in this challenging time in my life. I've always had the Lord right there beside me and so many friends and people that care. Love, Julie

Taking advantage...

I am trying to take advantage of how great I am feeling right now. It's been almost two weeks since my last chemo treatment and since I finished radiation and coffee even tastes good! So this weekend has been terrific.

Friday when I found out that my brother,Tim, wasn't going to be able to visit, I asked Emily if Hannah and Adam could spend the night. Just like old times. Emily told me that while they were gathering their jammies etc., Matthew was emphatic about joining them for the sleep-over at Grandma Julie's. He just turned three in January. Anyway all three of them ended up spending the night and I was so excited to have enough energy to really enjoy them.

And I went to church this morning! I haven't been able to go to church since before Thanksgiving! It was so great!

But truly the highlight of my weekend has been helping Greg with the tedious task of gathering the information for taxes. What a thrill. Just kidding. I really appreciate that Greg takes care of our finances.

I talked to my sister, Carolyn, this afternoon and she and Janice are planning a trip to Coeur d'Alene! I can hardly wait! I love my sisters! It will be amazing if Liz can come while they are here!

I'm so thankful for all of you and it continues to amaze me to hear from people I haven't seen for years. Like Suzie Attridge. My goodness. Thank you so much for your encouraging words and your prayers. It's so humbling. Love, Julie

Wow! Feeling great!

Oh my goodness, it's the first day of Spring and it's actually nice outside and above 50 degrees! And I feel so good today! I think I'm feeling the positive results of my radiation treatments because I can go up and down the stairs without feeling like I just ran a marathon and I'm not wheezing and coughing! Yipee! Plus, getting some new blood yesterday sure made me perk up. I didn't even realize I was running "half-speed" before the transfusions. And once again I was able to get a whole week of heparin. God is good and I'm so thankful for your prayers.

Tim isn't coming today because Mika is sick and Tim needs to take care of little Elijah. He hopes to come in the next few days.

Last night I went to see "Fiddler on the Roof" at Lake City High School. The talented young man who played the role of Tevya is the son of one of my good friends from Fernan. It was a top-notch high school production. What a thrill to get out of the house and do something fun! I stayed up way past my bedtime.

I hope you are having a great Friday. Love, Julie

Tuesday Update

Hello everyone! Yesterday started out with a blood test at the Cancer Center--not a PTT--a CBC. A test that measures the levels of white blood cells, red blood cells etc. Even though I wasn't scheduled for chemo, my doctor wanted me to have that test yesterday morning. Turns out, as a result of the test, I have to have two units of blood transfused on Thursday. I'm so happy that I have my very own account at the Blood Bank now because so many kind people donated in my name! I can draw on that account on Thursday! Thank you! It's so weird because I feel like I feel pretty good these days. I guess I can look forward to REALLY feeling good on Thursday with two units of new blood in my system!


I went to TJ Maxx with Emily yesterday and Nick met us at the Olive Garden for lunch. Greg watched Matthew Man. I started shopping for Betsy's birthday presents. Fun! Then, after a nap and some good relaxing time, Greg took me to the mall and we finished the birthday shopping. It's so easy and fun to shop for Betsy because she likes and needs everything. She'll be 26 on Monday. My little Betsy. I can't believe it.

I'm looking forward to seeing my brother, Tim, on Friday! I love the CDs of his original music and I love hearing his teaching stories.

Hope you're having a good week. Thanks for your love and prayers. Love, Julie

Good news!

I'm so happy that my heparin level was stable yesterday and I won't have to have another PTT ( test that shows how thin my blood is) till next Thursday! This drug is so hard to regulate but I think we're getting closer! Thank you for your prayers. God is good.

Emily is cleaning my house right now. I love when my house is "Emily clean". She doesn't have school today but her kids do, so she came to my house to clean. She knows how to have a good time! What a sweetie.

Greg and I watched the movie "Fire Proof" last night and we really enjoyed it. When it was over Greg told me he was on day 192. ha ha Real funny, Greg.

This past week has been kind of hard for me for some reason. But then I feel so humbled when I think about how many people are praying faithfully for us. Thank you so much. You are constantly encouraging us. Love, Julie

Certificate of Merit

Julie received her "Certificate of Merit & Appreciation" - for completing the prescribed course of radiation therapy with the highest degree of courage, determination & good nature - from the physicians & staff at the cancer center. So, she should start to breath a little easier, get up and around a little more, find her way back to the mall to shop a little longer, and when she's feeling up to it we're going to get away for little while to p-aa-rr-tt-yy.

When I came home yesterday and Julie woke up briefly from her nap and said: "Well, I need to get back to working on getting well" and she fell back asleep. The Lord has really kept her sweet spirit intact & upbeat, despite all of the side affects & consuming daily routines of treatments.

It's been great for me to bounce ideas off of Julie for a few speaking engagements I have coming up w/ parents in recovery, a retreat for parents & middle school kids & a high school youth group. I'm a little rusty being in front of kids, so Julie's been able to help me think of ways not to embarrass myself.

Again, thank you for your encouragement, because there is power of life in your words. God is also answering your prayers, because Julie has been lifted up! (Me too). Love, Greg

Emily's White Birthday

Emily's celebrating her 31st birthday today and we had a snowstorm last night so she's having a "white birthday". We are definitely getting tired of winter around here. So much for the weather report...

We had a wonderful time having a birthday dinner for Em last night at P.F. Chang's in Spokane. Her favorite restaurant. Nick's Mom and step-Dad were there and his Grandma. We had a great time. We all love the food and the atmosphere there. When I got home I was exhausted. Quite a lot of excitement! But it was so fun to do something special.

It was so good to see Kathy and we had a great time. She deserves a medal for patience for her quiet determination to teach me to crochet. I am even making something. I know crocheting is relaxing to many people, but it's still a little stressful for me. But I'm not going to give up...practice, practice, practice! She also made wonderful soup for us, hemmed two pairs of my jeans, made pillow cases for Em for her birthday and one for me "just because", straightened out a cupboard that was driving me crazy, helped me make my famous granola, and spent hours with me in the waiting room at the Cancer Center. I loved hearing stories about her grandchildren and seeing pictures of them and just visiting. Darrel felt like he needed to stay in Pendleton at the BB tournament so he didn't come. But he promised he'll come soon. Didn't you, Darrel?

The heparin continues to challenge my doctor. Thanks for your prayers for that. My last radiation treatment is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. And tomorrow morning is chemo-time. I am so thankful that I have felt so good this past week! The Lord is good! I guess some people really feel crummy when they have radiation and chemo at the same time and especially after a couple of weeks of both treatments. I have so much to be thankful for!
"The Lord is good, and His love edures forever: His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:5

Thank you so very much for your love and prayers. Love, Julie

Thank you Jeanne!

Oh man I sure wish you could take care of the Heparin shots for me! You nurses have such a gentle touch with giving shots. You make it seem so easy. I'm getting better, but my tummy is very bruised from the first few days of my Heparin shots. Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Who is calling who "little cuz?"

I'm very excited that Kathy is planning to come for a few days. Darrel may get to come too...depending on the outcome of his school's basketball game at their State Tournament. Kathy promised to teach me to crochet. Oh my, she has her work cut out for her. We'll have fun together and it makes me so happy to have company!

I made a grocery list for Greg and he plans to shop tonight. But I'm trying to talk him into letting me come with him. As long as I have those handy dandy little motorized carts, I get along just fine.

Only three more radiation treatments! I will actually kind of miss the sweet young people who are the radiation techs. They are so kind and make me feel so comfortable.

Thank you for your prayers about the Heparin. Greg has taken on the whole Heparin stuff and he does all the communication with the two pharmacies involved and I appreciate him so much. We're getting close to having a system. We appreciate your support and prayers. Love, Julie

Quiet House

It's so quiet this evening--Mom and Dad left and it seems so empty in our house! It was so great to be able to visit so much. They are such special people and I feel so blessed. I think their little dog, Fannie, is relieved to be away from my annoying little Boris though. Boris was so excited to have a potential playmate that he just would not leave poor little Fannie alone.

Mom brought a whole box of photos and she spent hours placing them on a calendar that my sweet sister in law, Ellen, made. Mom left several months of the calendar for me to do myself and I'm excited to spend some time finishing the project. I've never done scrap-booking and now I know what to do.

Greg put a couple of pictures on our blog that featured some special people who were donating blood for me at the Blood Bank last week. Isn't that cool? Hopefully I won't need it, but it was so kind of them to think of me. Ten people particiated in the blood giving. Very humbling.

Tomorrow I'll be spending hours at the Cancer Center for chemo and radiation and an update on the continueing heparin situation. Most of the time I really don't mind being at the Cancer Center. It really helps me put things in perspective and I love all the nurses and staff.

Thank you so much for your friendship and prayers. Greg and I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful relatives and friends who care about us enough to pray. Love, Julie