Thankful for the Santa Barbara Visiting Nurses & Equipment Closet

Mom & her RN from the VNA!

Mom LOVES to purge the house of items that no longer serve us. It felt wonderful today to return equipment that is no longer needed! I was able to return the walker, shower bench and commode (& a wheelchair which she never did use) to the VNA loan closet. 
We are thankful to the Santa Barbara Visiting Nurses Association which has provided mom with a FABULOUS P.T.,  important equipment (for free from the loan closet) and R.N.s who have taken care of Mom weekly & taken her blood before each chemo treatment, it has been extremely helpful to have them come to the house.

We are THANKFUL for generous local resources & skilled professionals!

Thankful for Grandma's Christmas village!

Mom & Jack enjoy an afternoon walk in between Football games.

It's a gorgeous 75 degree SUNNY day here in Santa Barbara!

A fun Holiday tradition is helping Grandma set up this sweet village.

Giving THANKS!

Mom and the turkey!

During the Lions game---this was early in the game:)

Love the heart shape!

Giving THANKS!

home made whipped cream, pies and Jonas' place mat

a lovely walk after the meal

THANK YOU!

Thankful to sweet videos on the iPad

Watching video of Alexandra during chemo today!

Treatment went well today. Instead of discontinuing the steroids all together (which Mom was nervous about b/c she didn't like the idea of possible nausea and fatigue) they simply cut the dose in half.

We cooked and prepped a few dishes today in the kitchen, getting ready for tomorrow.

The boys were home from school, it was  a nice, sunny, family day, so many reason to be thankful!

Thankful for our rock, Pete!

Happy Birthday to Pete!

Mom started on a new adventure today. She went to our gym and met with a trainer. She did a 30 minute work out and plans to go back on a regular basis. She said she felt like it was a great plan for getting her strength back.
The holiday season has begun! Today we celebrated the fabulous ROCK of our family--PETE!
Tomorrow Mom has chemo at 11:30am. The Dr. was thinking of cutting back or stopping the steroids with her treatments since they keep her UP after each treatment. We joked that she could use the steroids to help cook and stay UP for Thanksgiving. We will see how her body handles it without the steroids. We hope that the trade off isn't more fatigue and nausea.
She will be on her WWF, email & text tomorrow during treatment.

We are thankful for such a outstanding father, husband & son-in-law--Pete!

Thankful for pretty views!

Lisa & Mom at the Party Pad in Santa Barbara!

Enjoying  coffee with great friends and a gorgeous view!

A few weeks after Mom's diagnosis, our dear friends & HUGE part of our support system (the Streetts) were displaced from their house due to their water heater bursting.  They have been out of their house for 10 weeks, for the past several weeks they have stayed in a rental house on top of a hill in Santa Barbara.  Finally, today Mom had the chance to visit this 'house with an incredible views'. We had a nice chat on the patio, enjoying coffee with dear friends (who happen to be celebrating 13 years of marriage today:)!

Mom and the boys are watching the NFL Monday night game as I type, it's a good night!

Thankful for pretty views, yummy coffee and fabulous friends!

Thankful for games!

OLD SCHOOL Scrabble with the boys!

WORDS WITH FRIENDS (WWF) with Jonas!

Wednesday & Thursday were UP days, with the steroids pumping thru her body she is like the Energizer Bunny. Friday and Saturday were the crash days, she slept a lot & had some nausea. Today is her weekly mega dose of NFL and she is feeling GOOD!

It's rainy here in Santa Barbara and the perfect time to snuggle on the couch with coffee and a chocolate croissant. With the smell of delicious pineapple upside down cake baking in the oven (Happy early Birthday to Pete)! 

Thankful for games to play and watch!

Thankful for pretty toes!

Fresh paint on the nails helps a girl feel pretty:)

When a person is on CHEMO it is advised that they not visit a nail salon so they can  avoid micro-bacterial problems.  After weeks of looking for a person to come and do an 'in home' pedi/mani......a lovely  lady arrived today.  Mom was surprised at how much better she feels after having her nails done. 

Thankful for pretty nails!

Thankful for pleasant people

Today Mom had an appt with her Dr. before her treatment. Everything is going as planned. Her blood work is looking better and we assume that the decrease in back pain means the chemo is working on shrinking the tumors.

Mom & Dr. G

The Chemo room was a popular place today! All of the chairs in the main room were taken so Mom was upgraded to a VIP room:)

Mom with her Cards tumbler in her VIP room & cozy chair! 

Mom road her steroid buzz to the boys flag football game! Always a nice way to spend the afternoon!
Now she is busy playing Words With Friends and she will probably be up all night.

Thankful for all the delightful folks that work in the Cancer Center and also our sweet friends on the sidelines of the boys' games who have watched her go from using a walker, to the cane to nothing!

Thankful for wonderful report cards!

Mom has always loved to read her grand kids reports cards and hear all about the teacher conferences! Today as we sat in back to back teacher meetings, I kept telling myself to remember the teachers comments so I can report back to Mom. As soon as we walked in the door she wanted to know everything! Fortunately it is ALL GOOD!  She is one PROUD Grandma!
Monday night football with the boys was icing on the cake!
Tomorrow the nurse comes to get ready (blood work) for the Wednesday Chemo.
We are thankful for moving forward, one more week toward the finish line!

Thankful for the RV!

As long as I can remember my Uncle Gene (& Aunt Velma, my mom's twin sister) have had an RV. All of us would get in and ride across the country. As a 10 year old it was heaven! Now, as a mom, I appreciate all the work it would have been to haul 7 people all those miles in such close quarters.  Mom & I had to share a twin bed on many trips and for that (& that she made it seem effortless) I THANK HER.  Last Friday (Veteran's Day) my Uncle Gene and Terrie and John arrived here in Santa Barbara. On that day, 61 years ago my Uncle Gene and Aunt Velma were married, their marriage was always one that I admired.

We had a lovely visit. Early this morning they were 'back on the road again' headed to Merced.

Today (being Sunday) was a great day for  Mom to lounge around and watch football. It was nice to have last week off of 'treatment'. Now we are ready for this week, the start of the 3rd cycle of chemo.

Jeremy checking out the RV!

Jonas was glued to Uncle Gene the whole visit! The other boys enjoyed him (lots and lots of LAUGHING)  too but Jonas was his side kick for most of the visit!

Jack was John's shadow. They had fun completing lots of projects!

I am thankful that my boys were able to hang out with our Merced family this weekend, hear all the old stories and soak in what wonderful 'stock' they come from!

PS we are still enjoying the home made ice cream that Terrie made;)

Thankful for home made ice cream and chocolate sauce!

• During  dinner, Jack said "Uncle Gene is good at telling stories!"

We had a fabulous visit with Terrie, John & Uncle Gene! John fixed more things (2 ice makers, 1 mirror, a truck and wipers) before Noon today than I thought possible! To end the day Terrie made home made ice cream and chocolate sauce to go with it! 
We are so thankful for their fun visit. 

     

Thankful for family visits and our 2 Veterans (Pete & Uncle Gene)!

Admiring Aunt Erma's quilt with Uncle Gene!

Terrie, Mom & John

The Merced Crew Rolled into town today!  Great to see them again!

Thankful for coffee, pie & NFL!

It was a perfect autumn coffee morning!

Crisp air and cloudy skies made today an extra GREAT coffee morning.

Mom enjoyed the NFL game tonight complete with HOT apple pie with melted cheese on top and of course more coffee!

Thankful for adventure!

Mom in front of the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara! After our first Qigong class.

Mom is feeling better and was excited to try some of the classes offered at the Cancer Center. Today we picked the Qigong class as our first adventure. Neither of us had ever done Qigong (pronounced chee gung) but were excited to try. It's similar to Tai Chi.
It was an experience! We scooped Chi and pushed and pulled Chi and finally 'digested' Chi!

Mom also watched the boys play (& win) flag football today which I am sure also helps her heal!

Thankful for Jeremy's FUN birthday gifts!

Tomorrow is Jeremy's 5th Birthday! This is an early gift!

Thankful for progress!

Family Photos by the fabulous Jenn Bartell who has photographed our family since Jonas was born!

Yesterday Mom & I had a great meeting with the Oncologist. Mom asked to decrease her pain medicine dosage since she is feeling better and stronger, Dr. agreed. She was also given the OK to drive her car on 'good' days when she is feeling strong enough. As soon as we got home she grabbed her keys and was off to the pharmacy. I stood in the door yelling "BE CAREFUL!" and Jack asked me "do you want me to go with Grandma and help her?" No, I assured him that Grandma would be just fine and of course she was.

Today she has rested most of the day but she did make it outside to our annual family photo! It has been cold here so it was a great hunker down and nap type of day.

We are so thankful for her progress. She is looking forward to going to yoga and other classes that the Cancer Center offers. 

Thankful for another cycle to be ending!

Mom & Jonas after he caught a 20 yard pass for a TD!

Today Mom took her coffee in her Cardinals travel cup and wore her Cardinals World Series Beanie & shirt to the Chemo treatment! She was in good spirits and happy that the 2nd cycle is done. 4 more to go!  She rode her steroid speed rush to the boys flag football game where she watched both of them score touchdowns and extra points and WIN the game.

Forever grateful for the continued support from friends & family! Today it was in the form of pies, books, dinner, phone calls, Words With Friends and cozy PJs! Thank you!

Thankful for a soft hand.

Thankful for hands to hold!

 In this month of Thanksgiving, we have SOOOOO MUCH to be thankful for!


Mom is doing well, aside from fatigue. Tomorrow she will have the 3rd chemo treatment of her 2nd cycle. 4  more cycles (12 treatments) to go after tomorrow.  Chemo is 11am tomorrow/Wednesday.