Back home in Coeur d' Alene

Oh brother! Sorry I kept hitting the wrong key as I tried to get started on this blog. I wish Abbie was here to show me how to delete things like that!

My goodness! We got home at 9:45 or so last night from our dream vacation at the Oregon Coast. It's great to be home but I'm sad that it's over. I'm sorry that Jerry and my Billings sisters didn't get to come because our planning was so last minute. But I got to see my other four siblings and Mom and Dad too.

Thank you, Dad! Mom and Dad have hardly been apart, even for a night, in their almost 59 years of marriage. But Dad went home with Robert and Easton on Thursday and Mom got to stay and go home with Darrel and Kathy on Saturday. It was so great to have Mom there to make sure I was eating and resting and taking care of myself. She really spoiled me. I guess we never stop being our Mom and Dad's children, do we? It was hard to say goodbye yesterday.

A real surprise and one of the best highlights of the week was that four of my cousins came to visit on Friday. Lauri had called and said she was coming, but it was so amazing to get to visit with all three of her sisters too! I have had a special bond with them my whole life because our mothers were twins and we shared so much of our childhood. They feel more like sisters to me than cousins. There is a picture of all four of them with my brother Darrel, sister Liz and me.

I am so thankful for the past week. We stayed in a beautiful home, God gave us lots of sunny weather, and we shared so many wonderful times with loved ones.

Tomorrow I will meet with Dr. T's assistant, Susan, who I really feel comfortable with and like, and she might be able to assess whether last week's chemo is having an effect. I am praying that the chemo is winning against the creepy cancer cells yet having confidence that God is in control.
Thank you so much for your prayers. I have never been depressed, I've never felt consumed by cancer--I know these are answers to your prayers and I'm so grateful. Love, Julie

Back home in Coeur d' Alene

Dream Vacation

Yes, I'm sitting here by a fireplace in a beautiful home by the Oregon Coast. I can see the ocean from where I'm sitting and it's so peaceful. Weather at the Oregon Coast is so unpredictable and even when it's stormy, it's beautiful--but we have been blessed with lots of sun these past few days.

One little blip in my perfect week was that this new chemo is actually spread over exactly four days and I started it on Friday. I carried it around in a fanny pack. My little four-day friend. So I had to return to the Cancer Center Tuesday at exactly 11:45 a.m. so they could take it out and then I had another chemo drug in an I-V. Jake (my good unselfish son with a lead foot) volunteered to drive me back and forth so that's what we did. I think the trip was a little less than 500 miles and we made amazing time. We left Coeur d' Alene at 2:45 and drove into the driveway at this house at 10:00 p.m.

Sunday was a special day because Betsy and Cam and the boys came from Cannon Beach where they were camping and met us at Rockaway at a great beach! There were hardly any people on the beach and it was a wonderful sunny, not windy day. It was so fun to watch the kids play in the sand. To see all five of my grandchildren playing on the beach. One of my favorite things was watching Uncle Jake with Matthew in one hand and Sebastian in the other--all three of them laughing while they jumped waves and then ran back.

Betsy and Cam had to go back to Seattle Sunday evening and Emily and Nick left yesterday. It's so quiet with no little children in the house. But Liz is coming today with her kids! And Mom and Dad and Robert are planning to come. So it won't be quiet for long!

Greg just told me something so cool that his assistant, L.J. told him. She just reminded us that Dr. Tezcan and the other doctors are physicians with knowledge and experience. But I have the Great Physician to depend on! My Creator who knows me and loves me more than I can imagine. And my life is in His hands. That's so comforting!

Thank you for your love and your prayers. Please pray that this new chemo combination will shrink my tumors! Thank you! Love, Julie

Catching you up...

The past few days have been challenging and I'll catch you up on the latest...

I had a cat scan on Monday and because I've been coughing, wheezing, and running out of breath, I expected that the darn old pneumonia was still bugging me. But it wasn't pneumonia. We met with the doctor Tuesday and he told us that the good news is the blood clot is gone. But the bad news is that the tumors are growing again. The symptoms are back because my airway is getting blocked. He was very kind but he explained some very tough realities. He has already used all the statistically most effective chemo drugs to fight the cancer. What we're left with is deciding between three not very cool options:
1.stop treatment
2. take part in a phase 1 clinical trial at a university in Seattle or Portland (this sounded like a good idea until he explained what it involved and the risks...) 3. try another chemo drug that hasn't proved to be as effective statistically, but has worked with some people
We decided on option #3 and I'll start with this new drug tomorrow. If my symptoms start to improve, we will know that this drug is working.

Greg and I have been feeling like we did that first week I was diagnosed almost a year ago. It was so disappointing and shocking and difficult to process. I am not afriad of what's ahead and I know that the Lord has me in His loving hands. But it's still hard.

But this weekend we are going to the Oregon Coast for a week and we'll be enjoying lots of family. I am so excited about this trip! Jake is coming from Nashville, Besty and Cam will be camping not too far from where we'll be staying, and the Russells will get to go for a few days. We've also let my brothers and sisters know so if it works out, maybe some of them can come for a few days.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us. We love you and are so thankful for you. Love, Julie

Can it be Wednesday already?

This week is flying by! Busy, busy. We had a short but great visit with Tim, Mika, and Elijah. Tim has to teach till June 17 because of making up four snow days. Whew. It's so fun to talk to him about teaching. He gets so excited when he talks about it. They are such conscientious parents! And they just love toys that make lots of noise in case you were thinking about giving Elijah a gift. Just kidding. Elijah is a sweet boy and it was so fun to watch him play with my dog, Boris. And one more thing, Elijah can read lots of words!

Mom and Dad came Saturday night and left Sunday morning. They were on their way back home from Amanda's graduation in Billings. They are amazing.

I went to Dr. Denny, my family doctor, this morning for my "yearly" check-up. The really fun one. I'm in great health except for stupid cancer.

Jake is coming from Nashville for a week at the beginning of July. He'll be able to go to his 10th high school reunion and celebrate his 28th birthday with us! Hurray!

I felt great today! Yesterday I had to go to get an I-V of magnesium and this time I really noticed a difference in how I felt before and after the magnesium. Dr. Denny told me that low magnesium causes muscle weakness and now I understand why I was feeling so lousy and tired before--and why I feel like my old self today!

Thank you for your love and friendship and prayers. Love, Julie

Surprise, surprise!

My brother, Tim, called me this morning and he and Mika and Elijah are coming for the weekend! He tried so hard to come to visit during his Spring Break, but Mika was sick. It will be so nice to see them and have them all to myself. Elijah is 3 1/2 years old already.

I'm a little tired today so I'll just rest up before my company comes.

It was Hannah and Adam's last day of school yesterday and they could go home after lunch if someone came for them. Adam told me he wanted to spend the whole day at school, but Hannah was excited to have me pick her up. So I got a burrito at Taco Bell for her and sat outside with her while she ate. I brought her to my house--but before we got home we did a little shopping at Target. It was really fun. Hannah's last day of elementary school.

Hope you have a good weekend. Thank you for your prayers. Love, Julie

Finally wrote it...

This evening I finally wrote my official retirement letter to the school district. It isn't a surprise to them of course, but writing the letter was a formality I had to take care of and I've been procrastinating for several months. I've enjoyed many years of teaching music for the Coeur d' Alene School District and it's still hard to think that I'm really not going back.

Yesterday was a long day of chemo. But I had my favorite nurse and I had my new bag that Kathy made filled with lots of things to occupy my time. My nurse gave me the option of having a good chair or a little room with a hospital bed...I chose the bed and it was so comfortable!

It's been very quiet today. No chemo, no company. But Greg surprised me and came home to eat lunch! And I feel pretty good, just tired.

Thank you for your friendship and prayers. I love reading the comments you write. You are so encouraging to me. Love, Julie