Posting from Hood River, Oregon where we have met John's brother and sister-in-law for a few days of vacation. We are staying in a Victorian house so my legs have grown stronger on the 2 flights of stairs. Yesterday we visited Maryhill Museum, truly out in the middle of nowhere. Today we are taking the train that runs up the valley towards Mt. Hood. As the weather has been great, it should be beautiful.
The restaurants here are fabulous!
Kay

Over the last week I have had MRI's of my neck and brain. I heard today that the brain MRI is normal for age (that is a good thing but as a patient I resent the terms!) As I was having some neurological symptoms, it's a big relief. The neck study was also not worrisome showing "degenerative changes," Again terms that the patient would be just as happy not to know, but it basically means arthritis. Finally the result of my post treatment tumor marker is back, Ca-125, at less than 12. Great news.

Now if only I felt better. Friends have shared their experiences and assure me it just takes time. I'll have to regain some patience.

Kay

I took a walk outside today. Apparently the fatigue I have now often occurs earlier in the course of treatment and is one of the reasons people don't complete the course. I believe it. It may take a month to go away. Feet and hands still tingle. I am back to reading books, thank heavens. Currently A Walk in the Woods which is hilarious.
I am being spoiled with risotto again, though bland still tastes best. Of course the tomatoes came on like gangbusters, appreciated primarily by John. Strawberries taste good again as does cereal. Makes breakfast easier. Tonight it will be bok choy, the famous risotto and chicken.
Not much new.

Kay

In response to many requests and and John's insistence I am back to blog. This time my strength has been slow to come back for some reason. There is painful tingling in my toes and to a lesser extent in my fingers. I understand these my eventually become simply numb, preferable, I guess. My oncologist has ordered an MRI of my neck for Monday thinking something else (disk?) my be making me feel weak.
I've become more interested in foot ball this fall. And old movies. "Second hand Lions" is a great film. I've memorized parts of the Fellowship of the Rings movies. I also traveled along with several train trips in Canada via the DVD. Mother enjoys sending me Laurel and Hardy. Others have sent their favorites, too.
No gardening yet; probably because I don't like fall yard cleanup, right? Actually John has kept the yard looking great.
My vision just recently improved so I can finally read.
I'll let you all know what is found tomorrow.

Kay

This has been an unusual wedding anniversary. As if having it on 9/11 isn't difficult enough. Right now I am watching the Notre Dame/Michigan game while receiving fluids in the hospital. For the first time in many days I feel like watching tv, sitting up and attending to my surroundings. I was pretty light headed earlier. I hope today is the last visit for fluids. That means lots of apple juice tomorrow.
John was in the Roundup Parade this morning with his fellow Democrats. The weather was great, not as hot as usual.

I appreciate everyone's congratulations. The end is in sight.

Kay

It must because it is our anniversary (number 34) , but Kay asked me if I wanted to add anything. I want everyone to know how much we appreciate everyone's good thoughts and prayers. It is very humbling.

Kay has had a bad week, and I am so glad that this is the last cycle of chemo. We hope to get her fattened up and stronger, and back into the community she loves .

John

No more rotisserie! I received the last chemotherapy in the series of six today, and am I ready to be done! To avoid nausea all of my pre-meds were given IV so I have been riding a little purple cloud today. This AM I couldn't even move around, now I am fairly comfortable but haven't attempted to eat for hours. The nursing staff put banners all over my room congratulating me . And they found the book that I left here last time.

This week has been the hardest so far, and the next few days will be icky too, but both John and I are glad to have the taxol/cis-platin behind us. And it will be nice not having to come to the hospital several times a week.

I'm not doing much but count the days right now. This week is always the hardest one, no exception this time. I did throw the ball for the dog briefly to her great joy but that tired me out for the rest of the day.
I hope everyone is enjoying the Labor Day weekend.
Kay

Not surprisingly the nausea is back. I still managed to down a very good baked potato and cucumbers in vinegar and onions. Our neighbor has been providing the cucumbers and John's German ancestry the rest. Unfortunately I have not been able to appreciate most of our tomato bounty.

Yesterday was the last of the cis-platin, yeah! Only a couple weeks of the bleahs left. I wonder what the dogs will think when I finally am doing something other than reclining on the chair. Lola has been deprived of many ball throwing games.

One more IP infusion left next Tuesday. Here we go.
Kay

Much of the day was spent in a medication fog but all went well.

Autumn seems to be here. People are wearing sweaters (though I have been doing so all summer.) We had are first hard rain that didn't just cause spots on the cars.

Not a bad day.

Kay