A Long Weekend of Joy

To begin, last Friday we did did not receive the details on Mom's biopsy's from her head. We do know the results were sent over to her Oncologist last Friday. We will find out today when we call or when Mom is admitted into the hospital tomorrow at 3:00 PM for her second round of Chemo treatment. To reiterate from last Thursday's blog, Mom will be in the hospital for 5 days starting on Tuesday, December 22nd. If her body accepts the Chemo well, she is sent home on Monday, December 28th. She then is home to cope with any and all side effects from the Chemo. Unfortunately, Kimmy and I need to return to SD tomorrow. I have a few things to tighten up before the New Year. Mom, Poppie and I believe the hospital visit, for a week, will be palatable for Mom without my presence. I will be returning to Rochester around the time she is to return home to assist Poppie with Mom. Yes, we take everything in stride lately.

Her treatment plan for the following two weeks post returning home is as follows; Mondays and Thursdays the Visiting Nurse comes to the house to check Mom's vitals, the condition of her Hickman and to draw blood. Tuesday and Friday Mom returns to the hospital to be examined by her Oncologist and receive an IV of whatever she needs in reflection to the blood drawn the previous day by the Visiting Nurse. I am sure, this may become a challenge to travel if the weather dumps a lot of snow and cold onto Rochester. Remember, two weeks ago a 16 minute drive form the house to the hospital took 90 minutes in a white out. Wow, sunny SD sounds great.

Since last Thursday, Mom has been able to relax with no medical interventions. Yes, emotions of anxiousness, fear, anger, and simply feeling this "AML" is unfair did surface its ugly face over the past several days. Mom has been able to recollect herself to enjoy most of each day.

Thankfully, the weather has been kind to us in Rochester. The past several days has challenged, Kimmy and I not the natives of Rochester New York. The intermittent light flurry's, contending with the single digit cold, the bone chilling windshield factor and light winds were quite biting for us. There is still a beautiful blanket of snow running over the landscape of Rochester. It is gorgeous. This weather surely brings in the Holiday Spirit for Kimmy and I, wink. I think the "Rochesterians" would like a change of pace and have a San Diego Holiday Season.

OK, the fun update for the past weekend. The mornings were spent by Mom and I getting her ready for the day. The afternoons were spent with Mom, Poppie, Kimmy, Me, and whomever stopped by chatting, reading, doing exercises, and simply relaxing. Friday night, Mom and Poppie enjoyed vicariously hearing about the Magic Show Kimmy and I went to see. Yup, Brian had a show and as always it was FANTASTIC! The entire audience, including Kimmy and I, had our jaws and eyes wide open with amazement througout the hour show. Brian's slide of hand tricks, ability to have abjects appear in all places around the room, and his escape acts are incrediable. A show all must see. :)

Saturday, Mom, Poppie, Kimmy and I drove 50 minutes out to Mike and Cindy's house in Naples. It is breathtaking to see their property and the 360 panoramic views. As far as the eye can see, one is onverwhlemed with gorgeous landscape, hills, and, if lucky, wild animals. Mom and Poppie had not seen the improvements Mike had done to the property nor to the house for the past two and half months. After several hours of a wonderful visit, Mom and Poppie heading back into the city. Kimmy and I stayed on for the night.

The four of us headed out to Cindy's Aunt and Uncles farm for a Solstice Party. Yes, it was an outside party. Though the windshield factor was kicking in and the cold was biting it was not snowing. Their was a large open faced shelter which held the food and drinks for all. What a spread it was! Unlimited, hot and cold drinks, several cooked turkeys, pulled pork, crock pots filled with different hot sides, many deserts and more. The highlight of the night, besides great company, was a 10 foot in diameter fire pit. The entire night the fire fueled with creative burning items. Most of the items were hooked up to a 12 foot pole. This created an incrediable inferno of flame. Yes, I am a pyro at heart and one who likes to stay warm too. Kimmy and I felt as if we were at a "Burning Man" event. We were not cold at all as long as we were near the fire pit. It was AWESOME and FUN!

Sunday, my cousin Jody and her husband Bruce hosted Poppies 80th Birthday and my Aunt Fayga's (Jody's Mom) 81st Birthday Party. Jody is an incredible and creative cook. There were 12 of us eating for at least 30 people. So much food, but we could not stop, wink. We all felt the need to recline after eating. I wounder why? The night was wonderful to share with the family. Once we could get ourselves upright, we went to burn a calorie. We took turns to play WII. Actually, Mom and Aunt Fayga enjoyed an exciting golf game. We headed home around 7pm. Mom, Kimmy and I settled in for the night in our PJ's and watched feel good holiday movies and went to bed late. Poppie was watching his "feel good" movies alone. Yup, all scary science fiction movies. We all slept well and are geared up for another relaxing and fun day together.

Today, is our last day together for this visit. It is snowing again. Kimmy and I can watch the snow for hours. Mom requested we have an all nighter tonight. She is trying to extend our time together. Poppie will be taking Kimmy and I to the airport tomorrow, Tuesday, at 4:30 am for a 6:00 am flight out. I will continue to blog from SD after catching up with Mom, Poppie or a family member each day. This be a challenge for me not to be by Mom's side.

Love, Good Health, and Happy Holidays to you,
Karen, Kimmy, Mom, Poppie, Brian, Reece, Mike and Cindy xoxoxo