Merry Christmas 2011

We all hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas. We have had a good day and Marilee has been up for most of the afternoon enjoying Christmas dinner, opening of presents, and watching some NBA on the tube with the family. It was a blast watching Max and Beans opening presents and enjoying playing with the gifts. Jenna also had a good day getting a doll that has red glasses just like hers. They look a lot alike. We are grateful for all of the words of encouragement and for your prayers and thought in behalf of Marilee and all of us. Being at the hospital last night seemed like it has been years since we were there but at the same time like it was yesterday as the ambulance made its way up the hill to the Huntsman Cancer Center. Our lives have been changed a lot in a short period of time and we are grateful for the blessings from all those around us from our families, friends, medical staff and those that we don't know. Yesterday families came through the hospital singing songs and bringing the Spirit of Christmas.

"Twas the Day before the Night before Christmas......"

It was the day before the Night before Christmas and Marilee and her nausea nemesis friend found themselves together.  An in-home IV treatment for nausea and a bag of IV fluid fluids for hydration didn't seem to make a difference so Kelli made a call to the Huntsman Clinic which resulted in a visit to the Acute Care Outpatient for some more IV treatments.  The good news is that her platelet count was up above normal but her potassium and magnesium levels were down.  After some consultation, Marilee was moved up to the four floor hospital and got to spend the night before the night before Christmas.  More consultation this morning and she will be released this afternoon to go back to Kelli's house.  They are going to make some changes in her medication to see if they can help with the nausea but it does appear that she may have to deal with this during her Chemo treatments.   One of the nurses commented last night about the number of calories it takes for the body to fight cancer and that is one of the reasons that patients are usually tired and the importance of eating and drinking enough to assist the body in its fight.  It was good to see a few open beds in the 4th floor hospital.  The last time we were here most of all of the beds were full.  There were several families here today bringing  homemade blankets and other such items for the patients.  A wonderful Christmas tradition.  We are all hopeful that Marilee will enjoy the night before Christmas with her family!

Latest Visit to Huntsman 12-20-2011

Stop, Wait, Good, and Better

Marilee made her scheduled visit to Huntsman Cancer Institute today to see Dr. Ward and staff.  As we thought, her platelets were too low for a chemo treatment.  That has been rescheduled for January 4, 2012.  So she will have a couple of weeks to enjoy the holidays without the after effects of the chemo.  She did get another unit of blood today and will be getting a pill form for potassium.  As I understand, they will have home health take blood tests twice a week from now on so they can get her ready for the next treatment.

Good news is that also on the 4th of January, they will do a scan to see how the chemo has been working and the better or best of the day was the report that her liver enzyme tests were normal which from a non-medical person sounds like very good news and that progress is occurring.

Heidi took Marilee into the clinic today before heading back to St. George this evening.  Kelli had a t-shirt made for Dr. Ward that says "I am always "cautiously optimistic'.  He apparently really liked it. 

I guess Marilee made a post while I have written this so this may be somewhat duplicating the info.

Merry Christmas to All

Rick, Marilee, Kelli, Pete, Max, Jillian, Heidi, Josh, Alisa, Ryan, Jenna and Skipbo (the dog)

Tusday

Good news and bad news today. Icannothave a treatment. Platelets are still low and so are my (HH). I an going to get unit of blood,but that means I should feel good for Christmas. No more action un til Jan. They want my body to rest a bit. Funny, I thought that's what I'e been doing the last 2-3 months. Oh, well. It will be nice not to be for the holidays
Love you all. I still am receiving cards and emails lov it and Love you.
Marilee

Monday, Monday

Just a quick note for tonight - my dad and I have re-dedicated ourself to updating more often.

Katie (our home-health nurse) came this morning to get her lab-work to check to see if she is okay for chemo tomorrow. Her labs appear, on first glance, to be okay, a little low on potassium, but we didn't get a call from Dr Wards office to cancel, so we're assuming we are on!

Mom felt pretty good today. Katie hooked her up to anti-nausea meds and a then she had a bag of fluid to get her nice and hydrated for her adventure tomorrow.

Heidi will take her in the morning. We'd appreciate all you good thoughts and prayer that all goes well tomorrow.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

You will notice that Marilee posted to the blog last night.  It shows that she is doing better but her labs and tests are puzzling as she is low on her platelets, her blood is up and down as is her magnessium and potasium.  We are at the Hunstman Cancer Center for platelets this morning hoping that everything will go well for her scheduled treatment on Tuesday which would be the fourth of six scheduled.  A quick review of the last week or so for her.  She got blood a week ago Wednesday and she had a good day of Thursday, then some deydration on Friday past and then nausa on Saturday with some in house IV treatment.  She had a good Sunday and a pretty good Monday but then she needed IV treatments and platelets on Tuesday and had some in house IV treatments during the week.  We had a small Christmas get together on Thursday night as Josh and Heidi were up from St. George.  They both have to work the Christmas weekend so they are doing Christmas at both of their families this weekend. 

Huntsman is running a small crew for the weekend.  We are in the bone marrow unit today and they rare running a mixed crew from all of clinics so we see some familar faces and some new ones.

Ryan was offered an additional job at Fanzz this week but turned it down so he could be around to help out Kelli with her kids and Marilee.  Kelli's husband is going to be gone on business the entire month of January.  Alisa is moving from her apartmment into a house with Lillian Lopez after the first of the year. 

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, good wishes, etc.  You all are the best and it is very much appreciated

It's really me.

Yes it's me. We havent'tposted for a while. Between my huntsman visits and Rick's travel no one has stopped long enough to report. I'm going to try, but let me warn you cancer brain can be quite annoying. I'ma having a good day home health came and gave me IVmeds. It was nice not to make the 1hour trip to huntsman. They are so great there. They really treat every aspect of the disease including attention to the family. I've been getting blood and platelets and potassium magnesium. All to make sure I'm ready for the next treatment. It is scheduled for Tues the 20. It's like getting all gussied up for a wedding or something.
Thank you so much to all for the cards letters an emails. I can't find words to really thank everyone. Hopefully I'll get to come home soon and do it myself. Ithank every at this point for toughts and prayers. I just got an update: I'm probably headed to the Huntsman for a blood transfusion. A surprise around every corner.
Love to all
Marilee

Monday, December 5, 2011

A quick note to the blog. We find ourselves back at Huntsman today. Marilee is dehydrated again and her blood pressure was a little low so Katie, the home health nurse came over and did some vitals and some other "stuff" and called the clinic and they wanted her to come in and get some fluids and be watched for a portion of the afternoon. I think she is on her third bag of fluids and they added some potassium and she has been sleeping away. She was able to handle a few bites of a grilled cheese sandwich and some soup for lunch. They had some Christmas choirs singing through out the clinic and hospital today. Is there nothing they don't think of for the patients. The new wing is wonderful and offers such great services to the patients and their families. They were giving out new purses to the patients today, some name brand name ones. No good gifts for the guys today. Something wrong about this picture! Craftsman tools or whatever would be equal treatment. We were so sad to hear about the passing of such good people in the county over the weekend. Tom Black, Karl Barton and Mrs. Jones from Blanding. Our condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with each family especially at this time of the season.

Saturday Night Post

Marilee had a good Wednesday and Thursday, but the darn old nausea start back up yesterday.  We thought a little ride might due her good yesterday afternoon but it didn't last long and she had been able to keep anything down Friday or Saturday until about 11:00 when she decided to call our good home health nurse, Katie to explain where she was.  Even on her day off and with her kids in her car; she came running to give Marilee an IV for nausea.  She had to make a couple of trips to her car to make sure all was well with her kids but was able to get the IV started through the port and in an hour or so Marilee and I were able to get it taken back out and she hit the sack for a long afternoon nap.   Thanks Katie for being so caring. Wow!
She wanted a call back to see how she was doing and when I called her about 4 PM, she said she had been worrying and was about to call to see what more she could do.  Marilee looked a lot better tonight and was able to get a pop sickle down, some water and a few bites of some other things; took her night dose of pill and we changed her nausea patch and she was down by nine. 

Kelli and Pete made a quick trip to Moab last night, ran in the 10K and did pretty well and will be back tomorrow. iIt wasn't as quick as a trip as they would have liked.  They thought they had a flat tire before getting into Spanish Fork Canyon, stopped to check it and they had lost some of their lug nuts off of one of their axles.  They were able to get back into Spanish Fork and spent most of all of the afteroon and early evening getting the car fixed and back together.   It is a good thing that Kelli writes all my instructions down because I would forget in a hurry.  Heidi went back to St. George on Wednesday and Marilee's mom left yesterday so it is Bean's, Max, Ryan Jenna and I to hold the fort down.  Ryan went to work early today for the Saturday busy day at the mall.  Little snow and much cold as it was clear and cloudy. 

Another blessing was that Kelli's house was in a four block area that did not have their electricity go out during the wind storm.  They lost a few shingles but they were left undamaged for the most part.  Neighbors were cutting up trees and cleaning up yesterday and today.  I talked to a gentleman that I know from Centerville who said the damage was unreal and looking at UDOT's signs on the freeway, the wind must have really been blowing at it twisted the big old signs like pretzels.  

December 1, 2011

Marilee made it through her chemo in great style. The port that has been permanently placed into her chest certainly allowed for the administration of the chemo in a faster and easier way. Thanks to all those at the infusion center for making it a comfortable setting and treatment. Her medical team in Dr. Ward's office are the best making sure that everything is taken place and in order. They had her get a shot yesterday that will assist with her white count and they had it so that we could run down to Centerville to get the shot. Later in the day, a social worker from the home health agency came and made a visit. Her nurse from home health is also the greatest and was in to visit today. They have made it so if she needs to have IV treatments that they can be done through home health in the house and she will draw the blood for tests and other services. We hope that the next week or so go greater better than after the other treatments. She is schedule for treatment number four on December 20 if everything stays on schedule. We will know next week if she will need some blood to help her keep on the improvement road. Dr. Ward is always saying that he is cautiously optimistic about her progress. I think I am going to get him a shirt that says "I am always cautiously optimistic". Ryan has got a job over the mall working at Aeroplaste or something like that. He seems to be having a good time.