Grand Canyon

http://pages.teamintraining.org/stx/CanyonS309/tlunkenheimer


Please give generously!!! We can beat blood cancers!!!

Thanks
Tammy :)

Update

Just a quick update to let you all know that my first post-treatment PET scan came back negative for cancer! Good news! Even better news is that Pat's mid-treatment PET scan also came back negative for cancer!!! It is the first time in 2 yrs that he has truly made progress so we are very excited about that. Of course, he still has a long way to go but we are remaining positive and keeping the faith as usual. He will finish this course of chemo and then get scanned again in a few months.

In other news, I will be going through this blog and deleting any non-cancer related posts and personal information. I will keep the blog up and available since I do get quite a few hits from other people with Hodgkins or other kinds of cancers and it appears that this blog is helpful in some ways. I will continue to post cancer related info as needed.

I am planning to start a new family blog, less focused on cancer- yay! My new blog however, will be password protected in the future. Please drop me a comment or shoot me an email if you are interested in being able to access our personal family blog and I will add you to the invite list.
I will try to get it up and running asap, probably in a few weeks (once GS cookie season has ended!)

Thank you all for your support and continued positive thoughts and prayers!

Happy New Year!

I can hardly believe it is already 2009! It seems like it was not that long ago that we were discussing the Y2K issue and wondering how we were going to switch from calling it the '90s to the... '00s? 2000's? (did we ever really decide on this decade's nickname?) Now this decade is nearing its end already. Time flies! After having MySpace for several years I finally caved and opened a Facebook acct- wow have I run into some folks on FB that I had never expected. It really has been a nice treat seeing what everyone has been up to in the many years since we've all been together. It has been extra special to link up with many of the old gang from our college days working at Disney World--fun fun!

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful and magical holiday- Christmas and/or Hanukkah. We had a great time with all of my family here plus Pat's parents. It was a bit crazy with 14 people opening gifts on Christmas morning but my sister did a great job helping me keep it all organized and running smoothly! (Thanks!! :) nice having a teacher in the family!) Even the 9 bags of wrapping paper mess was carted away quickly by the teen boys! We also had lots of yummy goodies, snacks and delicious food. There is something so comforting about building a roaring fire in the fireplace and then sitting around snacking on chocolate chip cookies with the whole big family chatting and listening to Christmas carols. If only the weather had been a little colder than 75F on Christmas Eve...we actually had to crank up the air conditioning so we could have a fire! Gotta love Texas! :)

So now that it is 2009, I really hope we can have a healthier New Year! Both Pat and I will get our PET scans later this month and then we can see what/if any kind of treatment is in the works. I am really praying that we get a break here soon. I am feeling pretty good actually and Pat is doing okay too- I just know how the weekly chemo treatments are wearing on him. Having gone through it all too, I am glad that I am able to understand what he is experiencing and when to let him veg out and rest and when to kick him in the behind and motivate him!

The kids are all doing well. Kelsey is knee deep in applying to college. She has her end of everything completed and is now just waiting on her high school to send off transcripts. I am hoping we hear back from a few of her choices soon so that she can decide where she wants to go and we can make some plans for her in the Fall. Derek gets his driver's license this month so we will have 2 teenagers sharing the car until Derek gets his car road worthy. He is also getting his braces off soon and will be taking his SATs next month so he is busy busy! Kevin had his 13th birthday over Winter Break. We got him 13th row center court tickets for him and Pat to go see the Spurs play the 76ers last Saturday. We won at the buzzer and they had a BLAST! We were even able to see them on television several times! Kevin also got a basketball hoop and ball that we put at the end of our driveway. He is really enjoying it. Meri had a nice Christmas and is excited to have her own little portable DVD player. All the kids (except Wil of course) got new iPods which they love. Meri luckily got a little speaker set with hers--she loves to sing but sings exceptionally loud while wearing headphones! Wil continues to learn and grow every day. He is running and climbing on everything! He is also starting to talk and communicate more and more. We taught him a few Baby Signs and he is using them all the time now which is very exciting. It is helpful to know when he wants a drink or snack or when he needs a clean diaper. Wil has a funny little personality and is still an easy going sweet little guy!

As for me, I am looking into doing a little volunteer work or perhaps getting a part time job or going back to school on the weekends. I love being home but can really use a break out of the house now and then! It has been 2 years since Pat was first diagnosed with cancer- throw in a pregnancy, cross country move, buying a new house and my own cancer diagnosis and treatment...and some days I am surprised that I have not had a nervous breakdown! :) haha.
Like I said, we could really use a break! :) Keep us in your prayers!
I added a feature to my page where you can click to become a follower of my blog. I think it will notify you when I post a new entry. Look for it on the right side of the page. I am hoping to post a little more often now that the kids are back in school and we are getting more on a routine.

Have a great week!

Today's Glass Half-Full: "You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make." - Gorden B. Hinkley

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Hello all!
Just wanted to update and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah! We have been busy at our house shopping and wrapping and decorating and baking..etc. It is extra special this year because we have so much of our family here to celebrate with us! Pat's parents arrived in November and are renting a small furnished home not far from us until February 2009. We have been enjoying their company, especially Sunday dinner at Oma's for delicious German food..yum!

Today my sister and her family flew out of super snowy Las Vegas and arrived safe and sound in San Antonio! This is the first year in many years that my brother-in-law Kevin has been able to get Christmas off from work so it is a real treat for everyone to be together! My nephew Cody loves being around all the loud goofy cousins and when he is here he shares the middle child spot with my Kevin. Fun!

On Sunday my parents will be rolling in from Florida in their RV to spend the week. This is only the second time that my entire family has spent Chriatmas together since 1994! It should be a fun and crazy week with all of us here. I cannot imagine Christmas morning with 14 people opening gifts! We will be baking some breakfast casseroles with cinnamon rolls and coffee. I can't wait! Christmas is by far my favorite holiday!

Our weather here has been a nice mix of pleasant days and chilly nights- giving us the perfect opportunity to build nice roaring fires in the family room. Hot apple cider and crackling logs...it feels like a television commercial for AT&T!

On the health news front- Pat and I both had follow up appointments with our favorite doctor from Radiation Oncology, Dr Dullea. He is pleased with how I am doing since my treatment has ended. Everything looks and feels great on the outside and I am scheduled for my first post-treatment PET scan in mid-January to check on the inside. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a clean one with NO cancer! :) I also need to begin a more aggressive health and fitness program to help combat fatigue and to firm up all the parts that got puffy and jiggly while fighting cancer from the safety of my couch! Luckily my doctor said to wait until after the holidays- that's why we love him!
Pat's health also seems to be improving since his radiation. His breathing has improved immensely and he is not as tired as he had been. He is still receiving weekly chemotherapy which knocks him out of commission for a few days but otherwise he seems to be feeling really good overall. Pat will also get a scan in January to track the progress of this most recent chemo on the tumors in his chest. We are all praying for some good news. January marks two years since Pat's diagnosis and it has been a long hard battle thus far. We could really use a break!

We would like to wish all of you a wonderful holiday- whether you celebrate Christmas or Hannukah, we hope you will remember how good it is to be together during this special time. One lesson we have learned is to be thankful of the time you have together and to remember to tell the people you love how much they mean to you. None of us knows what the future will bring so savor the here and now as much as you can. Take care and Happy New Year too!

Today's Glass Half-Full: Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours. ~Swedish Proverb

A New Liver For Maggie!

I know I need to update you all on us...BUT- back in September I posted a bit in my blog about little Maggie who is the same age as Wil. She has been waiting for a liver transplant at Johns Hopkins. Well, she got her new liver on Sunday!! So far so good, a few small bumps in the road but hopefully it will all work out okay. Please keep Maggie and her family in your prayers! I'll post again soon.

Hey It's November!

I just realized I have not posted a new blog since before Halloween! So sorry! I have been wrapped up in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I am still very behind in my word count- I need to write 50K words by midnight Nov 30 and I am not on track like I usually am but I am hoping to pull it out in the second half of the month. My main characters haven't won me over this year which is making it more challenging to write for them. I will keep plugging away.



We have had a busy month on other fronts as well. I am in the midst of painting my bathroom, catching up on my scrapbooking and trying to somewhat organize my garage. We also got a new puppy- a boy boxer we named Maverick. He is adorable and Lucy adores him! She desperately needed a friend and he has such a mellow personality that he has calmed her down considerably. I am surprised at how easily Maverick has slipped into our family. He's a sweet little dog!



In other news, Kelsey is finally driving and has started officially sending in college applications! It is a very exciting time! Derek has raised $2600 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society through Team in Training. He is running in the 1st Annual San Antonio Rock and Roll Half-Marathon on Sunday. We are all so proud of him! The race is completely sold out- 30,000 runners! Wow! It should be really amazing!

Also this weekend we are finally getting Meri's loft bedroom enclosed so that she has four walls and a real door. She is sooo excited! Big thanks to our dear friend Curt and his son Travis who have volunteered for this project! My in-laws are coming tomorrow for a three month visit as well, so we really are very busy the next few days! They are staying in a furnished rental home about thirteen miles from us so it should be really nice to have family so close!

In health news, Pat started a new chemo treatment. He goes every Wednesday. His wheezing and coughing have really died down since receiving his most recent radiation treatment so I am hopeful that is a good thing. I am feeling pretty good, still tired some days but overall I feel much more normal. My dad had a heart attack this week but fortunately he recognized that it was happening and went to the ER. He is doing fine now and is home. Luckily they caught it early.

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and a wonderful mild Texas winter! May we all remember to count our blessings this holiday season and enjoy every moment with our family and friends!

Today's Glass Half-Full: "Sometimes people call me an idealist. Well, that is the way I know I am an American. America is the only idealistic nation in the world." ~Woodrow Wilson

October Happenings

Finally back with a new blog! It has been a busy and hectic month so far for us. Pat is continuing with his radiation treatments and we are hopeful that they are helping. I am finally getting my energy level back up and my throat is feeling better. My hair is growing back too (but my hairline in the back is odd due to hair loss from radiation- hopefully it will someday grow back but until then I will have to keep my hair a bit longer to hide the bald patches). I am so thankful to be feeling more like me again! My dear friend from California came for a visit this month {("Hi Patti!"- and thanks to Linda for sending the Chai-yummy!)} and we had a fun day eating lunch and antique shopping. It is so nice to get out and not be too tired.

Derek continues with his training for the half-marathon and has raised almost $2500 for Lymphoma and Leukemia research. We are so proud of him. The race is coming up on Nov 16th- we can't wait! Click here if you'd like to see his progress (and a picture of me wearing my favorite scarf!): http://pages.teamintraining.org/stx/rnrsa08/plunkenheimer

I also have spent most of this month so far dealing with a lice outbreak in our house. Thankfully not all the kids have it--and what a great time to be BALD--haha! But what a pain in the butt- all that shampooing and combing! I think we have finally gotten it under control, at least I hope so! We still have a few more weeks of preventative maintenance and combing since there are still plenty of kids in the schools dealing with those pesky creepy bugs- ick!

We went to the pumpkin patch and loaded up on some big pretty pumpkins. It was fun going out to the farm and taking the hay ride..etc. Wil really likes pumpkins, unfortunately he likes throwing them on the ground so we have to keep an eye on him! He is also climbing all over everything and chattering like a little monkey. It's hard to believe that he is getting so big already!

We are finally getting a little bit of Fall-like weather here. In the mornings the kids need jackets for the bus stop. I love this weather! It feels like Halloween is right around the corner, as it should. It is never as much fun trick-or-treating and sweating so I hope the weather stays cool!

Have a great week!

Today's Glass Half-Full: "I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween." ~Author Unknown

An Ending and A Beginning

Well, yesterday was my final radiation treatment! Hooray! I am so relieved to have that behind me. My fingers are crossed that this is it for me. I know that there is always a chance that cancer can return- it will be something that will be with me forever, but I am very hopeful that everything has worked for now. I am not going to spend my time worrying about a relapse. If it happens, it happens. There is treatment available and I will deal with it if/when I need to. No sense living with the black cloud of cancer hanging over my head!

So now I wait about 6 weeks and then I will get a new scan to see if I am in remission. I will be followed every few months and scanned regularly for the next 5 years. After that my chances of recurrence lessen and after 10 years I will be considered "cured". *(On a side note I want to say congratulations to my old friend Todd who not only recently got married- but also has reached the 10 year point since he had Hodgkin Lymphoma!! Great news!)

It will be nice to not need radiation. I am looking forward to my throat feeling better, not being tired and for my skin to heal (it is like having a bad itchy sunburn). On the other hand- I still get to get up early every morning and make the drive to the hospital because Pat started radiation treatment yesterday! Luckily all the nurses, doctors and staff at radiation-oncology are the BEST there is and it will be nice to see them for 3 more weeks.

Pat has had several rounds of very tough chemo- with difficult side effects- that has kept the cancer in his chest from growing or spreading. Unfortunately, the cancer was not getting smaller and was beginning to give Pat some related health issues. His doctors decided to try a short course of radiation to see if it shrinks the disease and alleviates some of Pat's discomfort. As usual, we are hopeful. I am more hopeful with the radiation since that is what worked to kick the same kind of tumor in his head. In the meantime, his doctor is looking into some alternative chemotherapy without so many side effects. Aaah...it's always something! :)

We will just keep plugging along and continue taking things one day at a time. I do want to give a very heartfelt and BIG thank you to our family and many friends who have stuck by us and supported us throughout this journey so far. It means more than we can say to have your friendship, frequent phone calls, funny cards, emails, care packages, giftcards and especially prayers. You know who you are and we could not have gotten through this so far without you all!! You play a big part in keeping us going and making sure that our LIFE IS GOOD! {{{HUGS}}}

Today's Glass Half-Full: "A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out." ~Grace Pulpit

Normalcy and Return of Lists

So, I am almost done radiation and I am feeling surprisingly well. My hair is slowly growing back- although it is so dark it is almost black. I am still not able to go out without one of my trademark scarves because my hair is a little patchy and gosh my scalp is really white! I cannot wait for my hair to thicken up so that it looks like real hair again. I don't mind being completely bald but this in between stage is kind of annoying.

My throat is still sore but I have adjusted by eating yummy soft things like noodles, mashed potatoes, yogurt and applesauce. Only a few more weeks until it feels better so I can handle it okay.

One thing I have noticed is that my energy level has improved quite a bit. I still have daily periods of exhaustion where I need to take a nap but I am having more and more bursts of energy. It may seem trivial, but being able to clean the kitchen to include sweeping and mopping the floor without needing to take a break or two is a big accomplishment. I was able to go to Lowes today and I bought a few plants, curtains and hedge trimmers. Wow! Walking around the store for 30 minutes- I am feeling so normal!

I got a nice boost this week when I scooted into Hobby Lobby to buy some scrapbook paper and a very sweet man followed me to the parking lot (it's okay- not in a creepy stalker way!). He only wanted to pray for me. He held my hand and said a very nice and appropriate prayer. I am so grateful! My spirits were buoyed all day! When people talk about the power of prayer, I know what they mean. Just knowing that there are people out there praying for you does make a huge difference. Sometimes when battling a serious illness like cancer, there is a tendency to disconnect or insulate yourself. It is a huge effort to just get through the day-to-day. Once you are diagnosed, life ceases being normal. You must focus almost solely on getting through treatment and healing. When someone says or writes that they are praying for me- there is a connection, a feeling that I am not in this alone. It helps the burden feel just a little lighter!

Anyone who knows me, know that I love to make lists. I am the queen of To-Do lists. With such a big family it is so important to make lists to help keep track of all of the moving parts! Since starting this Hodgkins journey I have not made many lists- other than perhaps a shopping list. It's a challenge to make a To-Do list when trying to just 'do' the simple things like eating and driving to doctor's appointments is all that is 'do-able'. So today I made several lists! Hooray! It is very motivating to finally look past this cancer and have goals. Sort of a "Life Goes On" Liberation. I've always tried to stay positive throughout this whole thing, but it is a wonderful feeling to reach a point where I can be truly hopeful! Life IS good!

Today's Glass Half Full: "We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." ~Frederick Keonig

Halfway Point Behind Me

Well, I am just past the halfway point in my radiation treatment. I have just 7 more to go! Hooray! So far so good, although my esophagus is quite swollen and very sore so I am not able to eat anything except soup, yogurt and popsicles. I am also a little tired and have been trying to catnap a bit in the afternoon or early evening. No complaints though since otherwise, I feel great.

Pat is one week into his 2 week chemo cycle and it is very tedious. He is exhausted and not feeling so great. He is mostly trying to sleep it off and rest. If this chemo cocktail is working it will be all worth it though so we are praying and staying positive and hopeful!

On a good note, we received a generous packet of gift cards from the Army's Wounded Warrior program. It will do a lot to help offset the added cost of gas and food. We have two different hospitals that we drive to. The Army hospital is a 20 minute drive and I go there every day for radiation. Pat also goes there several times a week. We also have to travel 45 minutes away to the Air Force hospital for chemotherapy and visitis with those doctors. Pat also has to go there several times a week for dental and ear, nose and throat appointments. There are also a varity of scans and lab tests and pharmacy pickups to deal with on a weekly basis. It gets a bit tiring but I am just thankful that we have access to such high quality medical care here. Our doctors and their staff are just wonderful. We have tremendous support.

Speaking of support, Derek has joined the Leukemia Lymphoma Team in Training program to train for a half marathon and to raise money for LLS. In exchange for the training to run the Rock and Roll Half Marathon, he had to agree to raise a minimum of $2000. Thankfully he has raised over $1500 already! We are so proud of him. He is also doing really well with his training. He is quite fast and doesn't mind too much about getting up at 6am every Saturday to go run with the team! Thanks to everyone who has supported him with their generosity as well as those giving moral support as well! The event is in mid November and Derek can't wait!

I hope that all of you have a great week. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Give us strength to get through our treatments! Thanks!

Today's Glass Half Full: "Remember to love a little harder, hug a little tighter, smile a little brighter and always thank God for the gifts that you're given- for this is the legacy of Cole Ruotsala."

Who is Cole?: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/coleruotsala