Mommy-Of-Three

This weekend is filled with tradition in our house.  The OSU-Xichigan game is front and center on our "can't miss" list.  "The Game" is steeped in tradition, and is the final checkbox for the regular season. Unfortunately, this year's loss, tacked onto the past 3 years' losses, means we have seniors who never beat Xichigan and that's a darn shame! We'll focus on the better tradition for this weekend- decorating for Christmas.   While the college kids are home for the Thanksgiving holiday, we take advantage of their visit and put up our tree and other decorations.  The bins come up from the basement, and while we unpack the physical decorations of Christmas, we also unpack all the stories and memories of Christmases past. Part of our family's tradition is making homemade pizzas.  The kids always shape their pizzas into Christmas shapes and "decorate" them with their toppings- olives, sausage, mushrooms, pepperoni, cheese.  Dad goes f...

Holidays were always a special treat at the Norchs' house. The house filled with busy energy as the holiday approached, and the preparation and anticipation of a fun family gathering was palpable in the air. Now, we are faced with celebrating the holidays without Jim and Becky. As the three boys divided up the food responsibilities, the to-do list resembles the one Jim and Becky used to have. Our recipes and ingredients list are hers. Somehow the boys have become the filler of Jim and Becky's shoes- the people that have to continue the traditions without them. It’s an impossible job and an impossible task. But a task they undertake willingly, in order to pass on the times and traditions that Jim and Becky loved. I can still see Becky standing in the kitchen with her apron on, recipe book open. Cooking away, making the kitchen smell of deliciousness- the savory scents of a full turkey dinner and the sweet smells of homemade pies. She made it look so simple. I can see Jim ten...

Today was a day full of appointments and treatment at main campus.   We started our day with Dr. Gupta, my oncologist.  Dr. Gupta reviewed my CT scan and had mostly good news to report.  The bone mets are stable- no new tumor growth on bones, and what is there appears to be healing.  The bladder primary source is stable also, but she would like to review some slides from the biopsy to see if there is any genetic testing that could guide some additional treatment.  Finally, she found two small spots on my liver, which could be densities vs new tumors.  She ordered an MRI and consult to radiation because they could be targeted and treated while they are still small and new. Next appointment was with Dr. Angelini, the hematologist.  She is following my platelet count.  She was involved on my case last week when they went through the pre-approval process for my N-Plate platelet stimulator injections.   The injections seem to be working ...

We hosted Thanksgiving Day 1.0 (Kimble version) at our house today. The cleaning and preparation for visitors over the past week brought with it great anticipation and excitement.  I was so excited to host my family and enjoy a day with visitors and good food.  My sister and brother-in-law drove from Pemberville, and our OSU college kids carpooled from Columbus.  My mom prepared much of the food, I made the salad, and my sister was in charge of rolls.  Everything was delicious, even with my chemo taste buds that make everything taste funny. The excitement of the day caught up to me after dinner and I required a nap.  Once I had a few minutes to read my devotional and reflect, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.   Overwhelmed with feelings of pride and sentimentality as I watched my family enjoy each other's company.  As the kids laughed at Papa's jokes, and Uncle Jeff and the boys talked everything Jeep, life seemed normal and "cancer" wasn't th...

Tomorrow is a big day for me.  I have a CT scan to check the cancer's response to the chemotherapy.  My team will be hoping to see no new growth of new tumors or existing tumors.  We would be thrilled to see shrinkage of existing tumors, but because my treatments have been so irregularly timed, it may take longer to see this. On a completely unrelated side note.... My lovely daughter, who knows how pathetic my gardening skills are, got me a waxed amaryllis plant.  This bulb, encased in wax, needs only indirect sunlight, never needs watered, grows almost an inch every day, and blooms with a bright red flower weekly.  In the Victorian language of flowers,   amaryllis means "love, beauty, and determination", and can also represent hope and achievement.  It's a perfect flower for my lounge!! I'm prepping for Thanksgiving, ordering my groceries online, and anticipating our dinners with both sides of our family on Sunday and Thursday.  I think the ...

Some beautiful fall flowers to brighten my lounge!  Thank you, Anna, for the festive foliage!! Why stop at fall?  My sister visited and brought this seasonal celebration with her!!  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! And to top it all off, I now have a digital photo frame in my lounge, so if you want to send a picture of you or a picture of an inspirational quote, I would love to see new things pop up on the frame!!  Photography has been such an important part of my life, it only seems right to have a fun way to enjoy photography during this time. The code changes every day, so send me a message get linked to my photo frameo circle!! This week's agenda: -Monday:  Labwork -Tuesday: Review labs and possibly get NPlate and neulasta injections (in Cleveland) -Tuesday: Psychologist appointment (virtual) -Friday: CT scan (in Canton) Prayer requests: -Good labwork results with platelets, white blood cell count and cell line counts, and potassium and magnesiu...

My sister brought the holiday spirit for me!  Love the glow of a Christmas tree!!

It's hump day and we're working our way through the week with good energy and vigor.  I had pre-labs drawn on Monday to prepare for treatment on Wednesday, and there were several abnormals that needed immediate correction- potassium and magnesium, as well as continued low platelets.  Because nothing is ever simple. My oncology team had me come to Main campus to get the electrolyte correction infusions.  They were able to correct the electrolytes first.  then they held a special case review to get me approved for a medicine to stimulate platelet production called NPlate. It is time-released in a little implanted injector, similar to a dexcom. Once I was able to get this new med, they could give me my chemo. So yesterday proved to be a very long, very busy but very boring day, if that's possible., stuck in a lounge chair for 9 hours.  However, it saved me a second trip to Cleveland this week for chemo, so we toughed it out.  Today has been rest and recover in...

Currently....... Reading:  The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. Snacking: Pumpkin Spice Chai and a lemon cake from Starbucks Watching: Camera/photography videos Self: Gave myself a manicure Listening: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, audiobook from Hoopla Activity: color by number on the computer Gaming: Ticket to Ride (Ride On) on the computer Treatment plan: labs on Monday or Tuesday and Treatment on Wednesday Asking for: thoughts and prayers for continued strength and improvement. I'm feeling quite good and have had much stronger energy and stamina since a blood transfusion the other day.  As far as treatment goes, Wednesday's treatment was delayed because my platelet count was low (70) and needed to be 80 to do the treatment.  So team decided to give me a little longer between treatments to recover.   My biggest complaint this week is how funny chemotherapy makes food taste.  Everything tastes like cardboard except for some sweet things.  Anyth...