Gosh, It's Almost Christmas! and 2012!!

Well, as my last post indicated, we did drive north to see Arizona fall colors but darned if I can find any of the photos I took.  They weren't spectacular but it was an enjoyable thing to be able to do.  Although, as I think about it, we did experience fall weather and colors in Chile in March so I'll post a picture from that time instead!

Nothing like a smokin' volcano to enhance a fall colors picture!

We were able to see Virginia's sons, Michael (Alaina) and Jesse (Chelsea) sometime soon after my last post.  It was a short but enjoyable visit.  Michael was our ring bearer, hmmm, nearly 30 years ago.  I'll have to include a photo from that time too!

Larry, Alaina, Michael, Chelsey, and Jesse Paul.

Ah, he was such a sweet little guy.  That is mom Virginia, my maid-of-honor, on his other side.

After a long, hot Arizona summer, we finally experienced some real weather so had to record that.  We started with rain and ended up with hail creating the cool snow effect.  We've also been visited by a Cardinal -- wish my camera had better zoom.

We met up with friends on the east side of metro Phoenix at the Superstition Mountain park - such a pretty area.

And then Larry's birthday came along.  Friends and family came out to help us celebrate him getting another year older...and wiser!

Below is Larry, Jimmy (I am suppose to refer to him as Jim), Liz and brother Jim.  I'm so looking forward to having hair again someday....

And so, we moved on from Larry's birthday to Thanksgiving with Mike and Sue's family.  The weather, good food and opportunity to spend the day with this special family certainly did make us feel thankful!

Mike and his brother Steve cut all the meat off the turkey and kept it in a roaster until we were ready to eat - love it that the guys take care of the food!

Gotta love it when we get to sit outside to have the Thanksgiving meal.

Mike's brother Steve baked the majority of the pies as well -- homemade crust -- delish!

Glad I grabbed this generational photo:  Sue, Harper, Carly and Sue's mom Dagny (visiting from Iowa.)

And the evening ended with a firepit -- great end to a great day!  Thanks for the invite Mike and Sue and thanks to all of their family for sharing the day with us.

The following day, we arrived at the airport bright and early for a flight to Portland, OR, for a very short visit with Larry's brother Wayne and daughter Sophi. 

Wayne and Sophi have this beautiful huge tree in their front yard -- just so photogenic!

And loved this shot of Mt. Hood.

 

Our stay ended too quickly so we grabbed a group photo as they dropped us off at the airport for our flight to Vancouver, BC.

We were off for Vancouver where we met up that evening with friends Maria Gracia and husband Dave.  Maria Gracia and son Jeremy have appeared in posts from our Chile days.  We met up with them in Antofagasta (2009 and 2010) when they visited Maria Gracia's family.

Did I mention that Dave is a great cook!! 

Our remaining days in Vancouver were spent with Larry working and me being able to walk downtown Vancouver enjoying the brisk weather and Christmas decorations. 

These photos are for Virginia!  A mini tour of downtown Vancouver.

We returned from Vancouver and brought some chilly weather with us.  We had to cover or plants due to freeze warnings.  I won't bore you with a picture of a plant covered - just sharing.

I did get a early Christmas present though and will share a photo of that.  I've been wanting one for quite some time and circumstances allowed me to get one (i.e., gift card for purchase of new television that appeared in earlier post) so we went for it. 

It is sort of a present for Larry too because it means I'll bake English Muffin Bread again.  Haven't made that since our days in Chile (April). 

We've decorated for Christmas and are looking forward to our first Christmas in the U.S. in three years.

This is a first though, to have two trees which is nothing compared to my two sister-in-laws (Liz and Linda).  However, different for me.  I filled Christmas tree #2 with ornaments Sue has been gifting us with over the years -- now that's a lot of ornament gifting!

I'll end with a report from my recent appointment with Dr. Paripati.  I had four chemotherapy treatments.  Scans were done after the second treatment which showed "disease as stable" meaning the spots on the liver weren't getting smaller but weren't getting bigger either.  Dr. Paripati wanted to follow through with four treatments and then ordered scans again.  Scans again showed "disease as stable."  Following the scans done after the 2nd chemo treatment, Dr. Paripati sent off tissue samples from the tumor removed during surgery for molecular analysis.  The resulting report suggested chemotherapy drugs that have not yet been approved by the FDA which means they are all in trial studies and insurance will not cover the associated cost.  As a result, Dr. Paripati wants me to begin a new chemo treatment therapy (sort of cutting edge) in the form of a pill called Afinitor which was approved by the FDA earlier this year.  Afinitor is an mTOR inhibitor which means that it stops cancer cells from making new cancer cells and also cuts off the blood supply to the cancer to slow down the growth and spread.  I'll take the pill daily and after three weeks, Dr. Paripati will order blood work to see what white and red blood cells are doing (they will be affected as though this was "traditional" chemo) and also cholesterol and blood sugar levels as trial studies of this drug indicate those levels can increase.  Dr. Paripati said I'll be on this form of chemo indefinately.  I'll start taking the pill next Monday.  Wish us all luck!  Thanks for the prayers and positive thoughts.  Feliz Navidad!!

Carefree Livin' Update

Had to go back and check and see I haven't posted since late August.  Not a lot of activity in our lives right now other than Larry's work and my medical appointments although we plan on a northern Arizona fall drive next weekend. 

Larry travels to work utilizing the Phoenix bus service.  It doesn't save him any time but does save on stress in not having to deal with rush hour traffic into downtown Phoenix.  His commute takes a little over an hour.

Below is my attempt at "artistic" photography -- the water in our pool.

We continue to spend time on our back porch in the a.m. and p.m.

Had to grab an opportunity of a measurement photo of Jimmy.  He looks thrilled huh....

Plant in our front yard bloomed after we gave it some water -- the bees loved it -- the bees scared me...

Larry bought himself a new television to fit this spot in our new home and had it set up just in time for the Nebraska vs. Wisconsin football game.  He was thrilled.  He became quieter and quieter as the night went on....

We went to Mike and Sue's weekend before last and enjoyed an afternoon with friends.  Carly and Frank were there with Harper -- what a sweetie.  She likes to drink from a spray bottle and doesn't mind getting wet in the process which is helped by the fact that it was still hot -- not warm, hot.

Harper's mom and dad:  Carly and Frank

The weekend before, we had all met in downtown Phoenix for an "Urban Wine Walk."  I tasted the water at all the locations that the others tasted wine or beer.  The gathering was to celebrate Brian (below left) turning 60 and Mike turning 61 but birthdays at those numbers deserve multiple celebrations so we had cake and sang Happy Birthday again.

I was suppose to start chemo session #3 on Monday, September 26, but had to reschedule for the following week due to low white blood count so my third chemo session was this following Monday, October 3.  I quickly learned that my chemo nurse is originally from Nebraska -- Kearney.  We hit it off.  She is dynamic, high-energy, positive and a delight to spend the day with.  I had her for my third day in the treatment cycle as well -- made my day.  Her name is Suzanne.  All of the nurses are good and I need to start getting their pictures for each visit.  Doesn't she have great hair -- lately, I tend to notice people's hair more....

Mayo has two main facilities here in Phoenix.  The Mayo hospital is where I had my surgery but where some doctor appointments and testing is done.  My chemo is done at a different Mayo Clinic about 20 minutes from the hospital location.  I've taken to driving to the hospital location (about 25 minutes from our home) and then take the shuttle to the clinic location for my chemo.  I love not having to deal with traffic.  Below is a picture of this other home-away-from-home that I visit every 2 1/2 weeks (except when blood tests dictate othewise.)  That is my shuttle in the picture.

Below is a picture of one of the cubicles where chemo is given.  You can have privacy if you want by closing the curtain, you have your own television and a comfortable recliner and they bring you heated blankets -- such good service.

Two scans were performed last week -- a PET scan and an MRI.  The PET scan shows uptake, in that there is active cancer but Dr. Paripati, my oncologist is confused by this because the blood tests reflect a continued reduction in the hormonal markers associated with nueroendocrine carcinoid tumors so she ordered an MRI to compare with a previous one (before we started chemo) to see if the spots on the liver have gotten smaller.  They have not -- she said, "disease is stable."  She is now going to send tissue from the tumor removed in surgery for DNA testing to help her better identify a treatment plan for my particular case.  There are two types of neuroendocrine cardcinoid tumors:  typical and atypical.  She said my cancer is acting like "typical" neuroendocrine carcinoid cancer (less aggressive -- not rapidly dividing cells so doesn't respond as well to chemo -- chemo works on actively dividing cells) in that it doesn't appear to be reacting to chemo as she would expect.  The biopsy after surgery indicated that what I have is "atypical" neuroendocrine carcinoid which means those cells do multiply more than the "typical" neuroendocrine carcinoid and "should" respond to the chemo treatment plan I'm following.  I know, sort of confusing.  She explained that insurance doesn't usually pay for this testing on the front end of chemotherapy but now feels that since we've followed the recommended treatment plan, it is time to pursue this route.  Wish she would have thrown this option out at the very beginning -- wondering if we would have just said we'd pay for it if insurance didn't?

Marvin (stepfather) and his wife Jennie arrived for a visit on their winter visitor destination of Texas.  Nothing like going out of the way!!

Okay, onward and upward.  Treatment session #4 should take place Monday, October 24.



Surgery, Recovery, New Job for Larry, New Home for Us, Chemo....

Mike and Sue had traveled to Chile to visit us -- what timing!  A few short days following their return to the U.S., I was diagnosed by a physician in Santiago with a tumor in the lower lobe of my left lung and knew surgery was a given.  We returned to the U.S. arrivng on Sunday, May 8, and began the process of doctor appointments and tests (and our annual trip to the Grand Canyon for the guys' hike) working towards establishing a surgery date which turned out to be June 13. 

Connie and Dave popped in from Vegas for a quick visit before surgery -- nice to catch up.
(L-R, Mike, Dave, me, Connie, Larry, Sue, Karen, M&Ms, and Stephanie.)

Below was my home away from home for 13 days.

Virginia and Jane (Grant) sent flowers.

Shortly after release from the hospital, our Calama neighbors, the Olmsteds, arrived in Phoenix and we were able to catch up a bit.

(L-R: Josh, Maddy, Tracey, and John.)

July took Larry back to Calama to wrap up his job there and arrange for our Calama things to be shipped back to the U.S.  His 10 days back were full, but also allowed for time to gather with fellow workers and friends.  I wish I would have been able to return to see all of the new people who have entered our lives as a result of the Chile experience.

Larry's work group despedida.

View from the mine site.

Despedida with our neighbors in Calama.

Good-bye Calama and good-bye to a great experience living in Chile and hasta luego to all the people who came into our lives as a result of this experience...

Early August took us to Harrison.  We arrived in time to send Karyl off to the Fair to compete in the Hog Westling competition.

We were surprised by a visit from Jane and John Goldrick (Torrington, WY) and BJ and Cheryl Dunn (Chadron) that afternoon. 

(L-R: Jane, John, Cheryl, and BJ.)

Virginia (Chadron) and Jane (Rapid City) [see flowers above] came over for a visit.

(L-R: Linda, her son Todd, and Wayne to the right)

The niece (Sophia on the left), and great-nieces and nephews [back row L-R: Austin, Kennedy and Brady.  front row L-R: Sophia, Kane, Kealy and Dawson.]

Niece Elizabeth and friend Monty

Niece Karyl, Travis, Brady, Kealy and Dawson.

Doug, Kennedy, Niece Crystal and Kane.

Linda and I like to get our picture taken with Sophi -- her favorite aunts on the Todd side of the family.

(L-R: Linda, Wayne, Dorothy, and Sophi.)

Aunt Co (Rapid City) came for a visit.

And then, all too soon, it was time to leave Harrison's wide-open spaces and cool temperatures including afternoon rain showers, a lot of time on the front porch, home-made ice-cream, catching up with family and friends, and evening thunder and lightening storms. 

Nebraska wide-open spaces.

We arrived in Denver and were able to spend time with step-father Marvin and his wife Jennie and Jackie.

Certainly not enough time with family in Denver but was necessary to return to Phoenix to close on the purchase of our new home -- we're going to live here longer than we've ever lived in a home before -- we think....

Jim and Liz and Jimmy came over to our Mesa place to help pack up some things and Liz's sister Marilyn and husband Mel met us at the new home to help unload.  Mike and Sue and Harper arrived in time to participate in a champagne toast to our new home in Carefree, AZ -- just a tad north of Scottsdale.

Jim and Liz and Jimmy came up the following weekend for a champagne brunch. Nice to have family close...

Hmmm, what is with the chile hanging by Larry's head.....

And I'll end with a couple of examples of the sunrises we're enjoying here in Carefree...

Oops, forgot to mention chemo.  Started that on Monday, August 15.  My treatment schedule will be three days of chemo followed by 2 1/2 weeks off.  The current treatment plan will be 4-6 sessions as described above.  Next chemo:  Tuesday, September 6-8.