Expresso Yourself

Memorial Service 12/18/10

2010-12-30T15:10:00.000-08:00

To Kate's friends,

I wanted to share with you part of my eulogy to Kate, but it was long & now feels so personal. I am sharing a poem that was read at the end of the service

FOR THOSE I LOVE, FOR THOSE WHO LOVE ME

When I am gone, release me let me go.

I have so many things to see & do.

You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears.

Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love. You can only guess how much you gave me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown.

But now it’s time I travel on alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must.

And let your grief be comforted by trust.

It’s only for a while that we must part.

So bless the memories that lie within your heart.

I won’t be far away, for life goes on.

So if you need me, call & I will come.

If you can’t see me or touch me, know I’ll be near.

If you listen with your heart, you will hear all of my love around you soft & clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone….

I’ll greet you with a smile & say “Welcome home.”

Our Kate

2010-12-13T17:21:00.000-08:00

This sad message is to all of you from Pat, her mom, & Rob, her husband,

Our beloved Kate passed away on Sunday, December 12 at about 8:45 in the morning. She is finally at peace at last.

We will let you know more information about her celebration of life services coming up this weekend.

I know she would have loved to talked to all you before she left us. Know that she spoke about many of you with great joy & stories often to her family & was glad to have so many caring friends.

Pat and Rob

Very sad news

2010-12-04T17:58:00.000-08:00

This is Pat, Kate's mom, writing again to all of you for Kate. Hi to everyone that has wanted to keep up on what is happening with Kate & our 22 month journey with cancer. I am so sorry to give you bad news that has been coming for some time.

Kate is very sick & the physicians & specialists have all said that there is no further treatment they can do for her. They believe she has pancreatic cancer & that is what has been causing all the secondary problems of vomiting, extreme weight loss & fluid in her abdomen. The best that can be done now & in the future is help her be very comfortable at all times. We don't know when she will pass away from all of us--it just depends upon her body's ability to keep functioning despite her disease. Right now she is able to keep down popscicles & an occasional frappachino (eggnog is her favorite) if she takes it down very slow. Rob, I and her family are all spending time with her in the hospital so she knows she is loved. Right now she is still receiving IV medication for nausea so she will be staying in the hospital at Vacaville Kaiser for the time being. Friends are visiting only for very short periods. Thereafter she will be going to in-home hospice & will be able to be with her loving cats & family at home. Rob & I will learn how to give medications IV & be supervised by the hospice nurses who will be available 24 hrs/7 days & a hospice specialist MD will supervise everything.

I am sure many of you would like to send messages to Kate. I will do my best to make copies of your responses & read them to her or give them to her to read.

I will keep you all updated since I know that all of you care for her & she wants you to know she cares for you too. Keep Kate in your thoughts & prayers.

Pat

2010-11-11T18:22:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone. It's Kate's mom, Pat, writing to you for Kate. I'll try to give you enough information in her blog like she does. She wanted to keep you all up to date about what is happening. Kate went into the hospital in the beginning October to remove fluid from her abdominal cavity. They did put a cannula needle into her abdomen after carefully looking to see where all the fluid was located by an ultrasound imaging. On 10/9 they took out 5 1/2 liters of fluid. She felt so much better. Three days later her MD took out 7 more liters (think 2-liter soda bottles) but it was too much--that much fluid loss pulls fluid from her veins & arteries such that she had severe pain & cramping beyond belief. Her pain meds were increased & she started to feel better but had difficulty eating much more than a couple bites of sandwich or a juice box. They had to change her pain meds because she started hallucinating (without LSD :)) & became very confused. So her pain meds were changed again. After 3 weeks she came home but was having real problems keeping food down--even the special nutrition through her feeding tube. So the radiology doctors had a tube put into her abdomen so she could herself slowly drain fluid from her abdomen so she wasn't in pain on Thurs. But on Friday she couldn't keep anything down.....so back to the hospital in Vacaville she went. An X-ray showed she might have an obstruction in her intestine so she had another tube put down her nose & throat into her stomach to drain out bile & fluids (which helps digest food) so she stops throwing up. [Sorry for all the nasty details]. The doctor & a consulting surgeon do not believe the obstruction is cancer--THANK GOD! And it worked! She's able now to take in fluids, jello, & ice chips without losing it all. She's going to have another X-ray tomorrow. The doctors want to see that any closure of her intestines has gone away. Today she was walking around the huge nursing station, talking to everyone & able to stay out of bed for at least 5 hours. We were able to laugh about things & I am so happy to see her back to being close to herself. Her pain meds are in control & she won't leave the hospital until she can take in nutrition by mouth & tube.

I know she thanks all of you for your support, concern & prayers. There is one more step we need to take to fighting her cancer. Yes, they found cancer cells in the fluid taken from her abdomen & her blood tests indicate she has cancer again. Her PET scan & CT scan were inconclusive. Cancer is such a terrible disease--normal cells growing out of control! Her oncologist wants to get her back on chemotherapy once she gets stronger to fight off this disease (chemo worked last year to stop progress of cancer). Rob her husband & all her family are all there to help support her. Please add your support & loving concerns too to this long hard fight.

She would laughingly tell you she's now 196 lbs. & has no fat on her body. She is still our beautiful Kate no matter what size she has become. We're looking forward to having her home soon--maybe before Thanksgiving. Her wonderful sister-in-law is taking over the job of a traditional meal for the whole family. Her grandfather from Arizona is coming to be with her for her birthday on Nov. 30. I won't tell you her age, but it's a major milestone.

I will try to keep everyone updated until Kate can write her own posts--hopefully soon! I'm so proud of her keeping up her will & determination to keep fighting in her own quiet way.

Thank you all for your posts & support! And also to Rob who works long hours & is there for her at the end of the day no matter how tired he has become.

Love to all of Kate's supporters, family & friends.

Pat

Sadness and Relief

2010-09-27T23:34:00.000-07:00

I just read my dear friend Mary's blog and her brother wrote that she passed away today at 2:45cst. I am so very thankful that her pain and suffering is over I just didn't think that she would pass so fast going into hospice care.

I'm grateful she was a loving wife and was given the gift of being a mommy to their adopted little girl Annika. I will miss her like mad and am sad I didn't get to talk to or see her in her final hours. She is with God and the world will miss her.

What a day

2010-09-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

I read my girlfriend Mary's site that keeps family and friends up to date on her condition. Today was bad news. Last night they, Mary and Jerry, decided that her body can fight no longer and they aren't going to take anymore precautions to slow the cancer down. I'm so tired of crying, I never thought that this would happen so soon, not to my Mary.

I met Mary in college around 1992 and when we're together it's as though we've never been apart. I hate that I can't go see her before pain and suffering ends, I'm just glad that it will be over for her. She's fought a good fight and now it's time to let her body be at peace. To think that last year before she found out she had everything she has ever wanted. An awesome loving husband and a brand new baby girl, Annika, who they adopted Jan. of '08. Just kills me that she won't remember her mommy, I sure hope that the family and friends remind her everyday of what her mommy looked like and later in life all the fabulous things she did.

Mary was my maid of honor and she rocked!!! We spent a week together before the wedding, I think Rob was jealous of our relationship, well that and we hadn't seen each other in a few years. She has touched so many lives and have only made their lives better for knowing her. During the week she was here we called her Navy Seal Mary as there was nothing that she couldn't do or find out how to do it.

She will be in my mind , heart, thoughts and prayers that this last transition goes easily.
I love you Mary!!!
Kate

What's on my mind

2010-09-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

I read yesterday an email from my oncologist about my lab results and it just makes me cry. My
CA19-9 is a marker for the pancreas and it's at 286 which is pretty high. My oncologist thinks that my "disease" (cancer) has progressed. Well what a fine way to tell me in an email. She has a very poor mode of communication and if anything is off she's positive that the cancer has progressed. Just gets old.

Tomorrow I have a PET scan where I get to drink this nasty banana contrast liquid and then lay in the chamber for 45 mins. or so. The whole process takes 2 hours and my appointment isn't until 5:30 in Walnut Creek. Needless to say, it's going to be a long day.

The last couple of days I've been feeling kinda crappy. Very tired, no appetite, just blah. I've been reading the posts from my girlfriend Mary in MN, who's going through this same shit but her's is progressing. Just makes me sad. I love her so much and I hate to know that she's going through so much pain. She and I are way too damn young for all this crap. And for the really shitty part is that she adopted a sweet baby girl on Jan.30,2009. I know she is the best mom and I'm sure it's just killing her that she can't be with her baby girl. I think and pray for her every day and we seem to keep getting shitty news.

My PET has me a little scared tomorrow. I'm scared that the results will show glowing in my abdomen, meaning cancer has spread. My weight is down to 220, but my abdomen looks as if I'm 7-8 months pregnant. I so wish that were the case instead of this fluid build up.

My wound on my abdomen is almost healed and I'll finally be able to take a shower. Having the home health aide wash my hair in the kitchen sink is getting old, although I do enjoy having lotion rubbed on my legs and feet. That part is relaxing.

Well that's it for now. Going back to playing sudoku online.
Until later,
Kate

September 15, 2010

2010-09-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I know it's been a very long time since I've posted and I apologize, but I am here now to bring everyone up to date on my health.

Starting in Jan. and Feb. I began to gain water weight. We're talking fast! I gained 70lbs. in 5 weeks and it was awful! I couldn't dress myself, I couldn't get in and out of the car by myself (I think that was the most frustrating part). Plain and simple I was just miserable.

I went into the hospital in March and they gave me IV lasix and I lost 10 lbs. in a week which was awesome but they were unable to tell me what happened and why I gained all this weight. So without a great plan or a follow up plan they sent me home after a week. So I'm back at home and still not losing any water weight and I'm taking a fairly high dose of lasix and this goes on for the next few months.

My abdomen is so distended I look as though I'm 9 months pregnant. I believe on June 6th is when I bumped my stomach on the counter in the kitchen, we have tall counters. Didn't think much of it and then I noticed a bruise and by the 8th it was black and raised. That night I went to sleep and woke up with this wet feeling. The bruised area had opened up and was leaking all over me. Then it hit me, the smell. It was infection, there's just something about that smell that you never forget or mistake what it is. So I call Rob and I get some paper towels and I start pushing on my abdomen and try to get the puss and nastiness to come out but there was so much. Needless to say we went to the ER in Vacaville.

This is what I remember: We got to the ER and they weighed me, I was at 310, and I had been 232 in Jan., so I was quite shocked. They put me in the wheelchair and took me back into the ER area and that's all I remember. Once I was in the ER they prepped me and took me to surgery, I had an infection in my abdomen that was going to kill me and they had to get it out immediately. This is Wed., then on Thurs. morning they took me back to surgery to clean more out of my open wound.

I was in ICU until Friday night or Sat. not sure, I was pretty out of it. I had all sorts of hoses coming out of me. They hooked me up to a wound vac, which is this machine that suctions the fluid out of the wound. I can't even explain the pain and I have a very high pain tolerance and the meds they were giving me weren't working right away.

So with this wound vac, they had to change the dressing every Mon., Wed., and Fri. Betty was her name, and she was awesome (wound care specialist). The first time I had the wound vac bandages changed I about lost it. I know I screamed a little and cried a lot. They had put so much tape on me and when she was pealing it off it was like pealing your skin off slowly. Needless to say I hated M,W,and F and Betty knew it. We up'd my medication a half hour before she began the procedure and it just took the screaming part away. I kept telling myself, this won't last forever, over and over again.

I believe after a week or so they decided that I needed to have supplemental feeding as they believed that I was not absorbing the nutrients that I needed. I was very malnutritioned. The biggest concern was my prealbumin which is an indicator of protein absorption. My level was at it's lowest 1.9 (in June) and the range it should have been in is 18.0 to 41. So they put in an NG tube (feeding tube through my nose and into my stomach) and did feedings while I slept. Slowly my prealbumin began to increase. I started out with clear fluids at first and advanced to eat regular food during the day.

At some point one of the Drs. decided that he was going to take some of the fluid out of my abdomen and run some tests. So I went to ultrasound so they could pin point a location of the fluid and then the Dr. went in and took out 3 liters of fluid. It felt so good to not have that pressure anymore, but unfortunately it didn't last, only 2 days and the fluid was back.

I stayed in the hospital just over a month as they monitored my blood levels and took care of my open wound. I was scared to come home. I was taking so many different medications and vitamins and I didn't have to worry about preparing food and so on and so forth. Everything was being taken care of.

I was discharged I believe on July 9th and they had everything set up for me. I have a hospital bed in my living room to keep my head elevated while I get feedings as I sleep. I have a nurse that comes M,Wand F to take blood for labs to monitor my levels since I'm on a high dose of Bumex (stronger than lasix). The nurse also checks on my wound and it's almost done healing. It started around 27 cm long across my abdomen and 15 cm wide. Now it's 8 cm long and 3 cm wide. When the nurse isn't here I do my own dressing changes twice a day. I also have an in Home Health Aide come to the house 2 times a week to help with washing my hair in the sink and washing my back and feet and legs. Everyone has been so helpful I don't think I would have made it without them.

When I left the hospital I weighed 246 and I now weigh 215. I haven't weighed this since high school, so a very long time ago. I still look like I'm about 7 months pregnant with the fluid in my abdomen but we think the fluid is slowly being absorbed.

I will try my best to keep up to date and I'll write more if I have forgotten some important info that has happened.

Thank-you all for your thoughts and prayers!!! I wouldn't have made it this far without all of you.

Until next time,
Kate

It's been awhile again..........

2010-01-31T19:18:00.000-08:00

Don't mean to scare anyone but things here have had it's ups and downs. I managed to do 3 chemo treatments in a row and have found that I won't be doing that again. Really kicked my butt!!! I still have 3 more sessions to go, so just 3 more treatments and then I'm done with the current plan. We're supposed to do a CAT scan afterwards to make sure nothing has come back and then I'm not sure where we go from there. Still lots of good thoughts and prayers needed.

I did get some good news, my job offered me my job back and I'm so excited and nervous at the same time just because it's been so long.

Sorry this is so short, but I just wanted to get a little blurb in about how things are going and I will write more later.

Take care and thanks for the prayers and well wishes as always.
Until next time,
Kate

Just amazing...

2009-12-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

So as most of you know I have been slowly or quickly, depending on how you look at it, losing weight and mom and I went and did a little retail therapy at Coldwater Creek Outlet in Vacaville and I now fit into size 18 jeans. I haven't been this size since high school, we're talking over 20 years ago, just amazing. The funny part is that I seem to be more self conscience about my shape, the curves and bumps and lumps of me than when I weighed almost 400 lbs. I'm now somewhere around 235 or so and as chemo continues I will continue to lose weight.

So speaking of chemo I wasn't able to have treatment this last week because my levels were too low. My White Blood Count (WBC) was only .4 which means I don't have the greatest defense against getting sick. I have been very fortunate that no one around me has been sick and I haven't run into anyone being sick in stores and what not. I was thinking that Christmas shopping was going to have to stop and that the online option was it. But I've been out and feeling pretty good.

I have labs tomorrow so I hope that they are good and I can continue my chemo and get this over with. That means chemo on Tuesday and then that completes the first round. I believe I will then have another week off before I start the next round of 3.

This has been a relatively good week, only a little tired, but no bone pain, but achy like I have the flu without having the flu. So let's keep fingers crossed that after treatment that things will be ok and no bone pain, that's the only thing that seems intolerable.

Thanks to everyone for all the prayers and the hats I keep receiving it's very cool, I have quite the collection. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, may you all be safe and happy.

Until next time, maybe even next year,
Kate

Update on chemo

2009-12-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if you've noticed but at the bottom of the posts there's a label and it used to say My Journey. I changed it to Our Journey as I'm not the only one going through this and having to live with this crap. I've been a little angry lately that this disease has affected so many and changed so many lives, it just makes me mad. I am of course grateful that I have all the support that I do have I'm not sure where or how I would be without it. Thank-you.

So yesterday I had my second dose of Gemzar and I had to go to Vallejo for the treatment as they were understaffed in Vacaville. It was a very different experience. I was in a very tiny room with no windows and very gloomy. My mom was with me and she read to me for a little bit and then the meds kicked in and I was tired so I rested as she read to herself. Before I knew it, it was over and we got to go home.

Last week wasn't so horrible, but I did have 2 days of bone pain in my legs only and I was able to get to sleep with the wonderful Ambien. On Saturday I had a low grade fever and I'm not sure if that made me vomit or it was just the Gemzar rearing it's ugly head. I've heard this is one of the more easier chemo treatments to have, but it seems to kick me down a few times.

So on Sunday I was up early and we, Rob and I made Thanksgiving Day turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, sweet potatoes, greans and grean beans with onions and bacon. It was an awesome day, oh yeah we baked a pumpkin pie also. Family and friends came to celebrate and I did pretty good, I only had to lay down for a little bit.

The next day, Monday, was a stay in bed day, but I guess that's the price I payed for trying to do an all day event. But like my mom told me if that's the price to pay for a very good day, it's worth it.

So with chemo I had a headache last night and a small fever again, but other than that things are going well. Today I'm supposed to meet up with my old boss Dr. Dian Allen and I'm really looking forward to it. It's been along time since we've seen each other and I'll be picking up my things that I left there when I had to leave.

So that's it we're up to date again. Up and coming things are keeping an eye on my blood counts so that I can continue treatment and the losing of my hair. I'm thinking I need to let Rob buzz my hair again so I don't have all these little hairs everywhere, which will be annoying I'm sure as I've heard that from my dear friend Mary who is going through this battle also with cancer.

Thank-you for all the awesome thoughts and prayers that you all have been sending my way, we know that it's working without it doubt. I can't thank-you all enough.

Until next time.
Kate

The best news!!!

2009-11-30T17:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to me without a doubt. I had my appointment with my oncologist today for the results of my PET scan and there is NOTHING glowing inside me!!!
WOOHOO
JUMPING UP AND DOWN
So this means that I don't have any growing tumors in my abdomen or anywhere else either. Dr. Huang said 1 cm. or bigger would show up, but we've read that PET scans show things smaller than that and still no glowing.
I'm so damn excited it was the best birthday present I could have asked for.
I start chemo again tomorrow, so I hope all goes well, but I had the Gemzar chemo in the beginning of this whole process and it wasn't so bad so I can only hope for the same.
Until next time,
(still jumping up and down)
Kate

It's been awhile...

2009-11-25T20:43:00.000-08:00

So it's been awhile since I've written and although not too much has happened I do have a few updates. The most recent being that my Gramps' wife Marte has lost her fight with cancer this past Tuesday. She was in hospice care and wasn't doing well and then suddenly her fight ended. I'm very sad as she was an awesome person and someone whom I loved and cared about. We had said that we were in this fight against cancer together and I will keep fighting. I know that Marte was in a lot of pain due to the cancer so I'm glad she is now pain free and cancer free. My Gramps is doing ok although I know he is very sad to lose his wife whom he loved very much. I really wish I could be with him in AZ to help him through this, but Marte's kids are going to be there to help him through this difficult time.

I'm not sure if I had meantioned that I was going to have a PET scan done, but that was done on Tuesday. I didn't think it was that bad, but the liquid I had to drink was this thick milky banana flavored substance. Not bad going down but my system didn't like it one bit and I will definately have to take some digestive enzymes next time. I think it was way too much for my little pancreas to take.

I meet with my oncologist on my birthday, the 30th so I'll find out my results then. They better be good I'm not sure I can handle anymore bad news. But then if it is, I'll get through it and move on to the next step. I also have a radiology appointment also, not for radiation but just as a follow up appointment from radiation that ended earlier this month. I also have labs I have to do since I start chemo again on the 1st. So that will be the start of my 9 sessions of Gemzar. I'm really hoping that I am able to handle it well and get through the holidays.

I just got an invitation to meet up with some old friends from high school in January and I'm totally excited!!! I so hope that I'm doing ok and that when we meet in January I'll be able to enjoy our time together.

Well, I've enjoyed my month off from chemo and radiation, although I'm still tired from the radiation and tend to sleep a lot. But it's nice not being poked and proded.......lol Not too much has been going on but trying to spend time with family. I talk to my mom every day and we get to see each other on the weekends and it means the world to me that we live close together and have that kind of bond. I can't even express how awesome my mom is.........she's AWESOME! In fact I'm so lucky with the wonderful family and friends that I have I couldn't ask for more. My family has been so wonderful and supportive that there's no way I could be doing this well and staying this strong without them.

As far as how I'm feeling I'm doing pretty good except for the being tired, but I'm hoping that that will go away soon. I do have a little more pain in my abdomen that scares me a bit but it just could be my body reacting to the radiation. I will update again after my appointment with the oncologist and hope to be bringing good news.

Thanks to everyone for all your prayers and positive thoughts. I love you all and wouldn't be able to do this without all of you.

Until next time,
Kate

Some great news

2009-10-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday started out with getting rid of my chemo pack that was attached to me......woohoo, that alone was exciting.....I'm FREE. I didn't have to worry about when I would get up and go somewhere that I would get reminded that I had a pack that I had to take with me. I looked at my port in my chest and it looks like a bruise. I'm not sure if that's because it is a bruise or that my skin is so pale that you can actually see the color of the port under my skin. The port is purple. Kinda weird.

Next, I had my appointment with my oncologist and Rob and my mom accompanied me so that they could ask questions if they wanted to and to hear what she had to say. We talked about taking some digestive enzymes to help me out with digestion. Digestion is a little harder without my gallbladder and missing apparently a very large portion of my pancreas. Dr. Huang showed us a comparison of CT scans of my pancreas before and after surgery and it's almost half of what I started out with. But everything seems to be working well and it's a good thing I'm not so into sweets these days, might be a little rough on my little pancreas.

Then, Dr. Huang told me that there was one good thing that she saw on my last CT scan when I was in the hospital and it was the margin of the mass inside me and that the margin was shrinking. IT'S SHRINKING!!!! I about busted out of my skin, did a little a dance (I'm dancing, I'm dancing). All I can say as I sit here softly crying is that these are tears of joy and thank-you thank-you for all your prayers because they are working!!!! We will make it through this, without a doubt. I have no doubt!

Now for some more cool news is that I have the entire month of November off from Chemo. I asked Dr. Huang if we can do a PET scan (this scan messures the growth of cells by lighting up the glucose they use to divide and create new cells) and we'll be doing the scan but I have to be finished up with radiation first or it messes up the results of the scan. So I finish radiation on Nov. 6th and then we're going to do the scan the 23rd or 24th of Nov. Then I have a meeting with the Dr. on my birthday (the 30th) and then I start Gemzar chemo again on Dec. 1st.

I was wrong as to how the new sessions of chemo are going to progress, but I get it now. So I still have 9 sessions of Gemzar to go. So it's 3 weeks in Dec. and one week off then another 3 weeks and one week off and then the final 3 sessions. So if my body can tolerate it all and I don't have to skip any weeks I'll be done with chemo on Feb. 9th, 2010. The Dr. did say that this is going to be a little harder on my system and we'll be looking very closely at my lab results, which right now btw ARE AWESOME!!!! So if my counts are too low then we would skip that week and then try again the next week.

I have been so very fortunate to have so little issues compared to what could have happened that this will be the real test of how my body can handle this.

I'm proof that positive thoughts and all your prayers are working so please please don't stop, I love you all so very much and can't say thank-you enough. We are so very blessed to have such awesome family and friends and we wouldn't be in such a great place without all of you.

Until next time,
Kate

Just a little update

2009-10-22T10:48:00.001-07:00

Things are going well, my energy is pretty good on most days and all my levels are very good. The only thing that is a little low is my platelets, but they are still ok. Most days I'm up in the a.m. and just get through waking up, taking meds and vitamins and getting ready to get picked up to go to radiation can be quite the chore. As of my last check up with the nurse I'm weighing in at 255 now and I'm pretty sure that's what I weighed when I met Rob in 1999. Amazing huh. It feels awesome even though everything isn't quite bouncing back like I thought it all would. Guess the weight came off too fast. Regardless it makes me happy.

I don't really have any secrets as to how the weight has come off, but I do tend to survive on cheese quesadillas. There's enough cheese in there to make the two sides stick together so pretty low on calories. But they are one of the things that doesn't bother my system and I don't have to take anything. It's kind of an on going joke with mom and I since she thinks I should eat things that have more nutrician in them. Moms.........lol But seriously, it really has to do with portion control and I just have a much smaller stomach, so it decides when I'm done even though I would love to eat more, I just can't. Old habits try to sneak in, but I do my best to stop them.

On Tuesday the 27th I was going to be done with radiation and chemo together but I found out yesterday that I have to do so more radiation, an additional week and a half. I guess it's good to do it now, just to keep the process going, but I was really looking forward to it being done. But if the Dr. thinks that I need more who am I to complain.

So that's the latest update. I don't start chemo again until Nov.17th and that's the Gemzar again and possibly another chemo agent. I'll be talking with my oncologist on the 27th to see what the plans are and also get her to give me a PET scan. I would really like to know what's going on in my body rather than all this speculation about whether or not the cancer is back and where it is. Just need to know.

Thank-you, thank-you to everyone for all your prayers and wonderful positive thoughts, we wouldn't be able to get through all of this without all of you.

Until next time,
Kate

How things are going....

2009-10-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly enough, things are going very well. I've just started my 3rd week of chemo and radiation and I haven't had too many side effects happen. My abdomen is a little sore where the radiation goes, but no outward signs of burns or anything like that. My blood counts are awesome, just like a "normal" person, which all in all is awesome to say the least. Going to radiation everyday is getting a little annoying, but what can ya do, it's not going to last forever.

Carrying around my chemo everywhere with me is kind of drag, occasionally I forget that it's there and try to walk off without it. I get a friendly reminder that I'm attached to the machine and it drags me back. The 27th is my day of freedom from the chemo/radiation and then I'm supposed to have 4 weeks off before we start with the Gemzar again, but that may be up in the air. My oncologist may want to add another chemo agent to add to the Gemzar and I'll know more about that when I see her on the 27th.

All in all things are going well.

Thank-you everyone for you help and support I don't know what I would do without all of you!!!
Love you all,
Kate

Wigs!!!

2009-10-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

So what be the fun of having no hair if I didn't have any wigs. We have only named one, if you have any suggestions for the other 2 let's hear 'em. The very top one has a name and that's Lola. Not sure why, but it seems to fit. Lol. I must say that my head is not bumpy at all and it's a pretty good shape........lol And let's talk low maintenance shall we??? Not that I fussed a lot about myself before, but this put a new spin on low maintenance.

Hair Day!!!!

2009-10-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, so here's the long awaited pictures of "The shaving of my head"!!! It was actually very relaxing, very different experience, but one that so needed to be done. Rob did an excellent job and he'll be in charge of the up keep. Right now with the chemo that I'm on, it's not attacking my hair follicles like the Gemzar did so I actually have some hair growth. Enjoy the pictures!!!

Another step has started.

2009-09-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

A few things have happened as of late. Mom and I had a good "retail therapy" day on Sunday. We went to the outlets in Vacaville and went to Coldwater Creek. What a cool store, very earthy and all those browns, how could I resist and how did I not know about this place earlier??? It is official, I'm wearing a size 24 in jeans now, I can't remember when or how long it's been since I wore that size, heck I may have even skipped that size, just don't remember. After Vacaville we went back to Fairfield and went to Lane Bryant and I got one of those bras that was shown on Oprah, the one that doesn't give you lines on your back. It's very cool and super comfy. Mom of course remembered that I needed to have labs done before chemo so we raced to Vallejo so I could get my blood drawn and I was ready for Monday.

Monday came and went. The radiology/oncology dept. called me and said their machine was down, so I wasn't able to come in and start radiation. Since I wasn't able to start radiation they didn't want me to start the chemo either. So now it's Tuesday and Rob and I went to radiation. It's just a big x-ray like machine that rotates around to do the top and bottom of my body. Didn't feel anything, just layed there. I've heard that there's a cummlative effect and that it's like a bad sunburn. Oooohhh something to look forward to........lol

After radiation Rob and I went to Vacaville to get my chemo. I've started the 5-FU and it's being infused. That means that I have a little pack that's attached to me with a dispensing unit that gives me small doses of chemo. At first I was told that I would have it for 5 days and then I would get disconnected and then hooked up again after the weekend. Not my luck. I'm doing 7 days of chemo, so every Tuesday I'll go in and they will just change the dressing and give me a new pouch of chemo. Oh yeah, so I can't get any of this wet, so showering is going to have to get creative. So far I'm not feeling any effects of the chemo, which is good, but it could be cummlative also, but I'm hoping since it's going in so slow that my body will be ok with it.

It's time. This weekend Rob is going to shave my head, or I should say, buzz my head. Miss Emily will finally get to play with my hair and give me a mohawk and we'll spray it pink. Yes there will be lots of pictures taken, before and after. I think it's time to model my wigs too, so there will be pics of those also.

I know this gets repetitive, but I can't thank everyone enough for all your thoughts and prayers, it really means so very much to Rob and I.

Love you all,
Kate

Another trip to the ER you say???

2009-09-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night Rob and I had dinner and I felt like I had over eaten, but I hadn't, and I figured it would just go away. So when you know you've over eaten and then your abdomen gets even tighter and hurts more before it gets better, well it never got better. I made it through the night thinking by morning my body would process and all would be well. Not my luck this time, I could barely bend and getting out of bed was extremely painful. I texted Rob and then I called the advise nurse and of course they say come to the ER immediately.

So we get to the ER immediately and I was checked in within 30 minutes but then sat in the hallway on a gurney for about 6 hours and that's how long it took to get pain medication also. Finally, a wonderful nurse was assigned to me and got me on IV fluids and got pain medication and I had some relief. They did a chest x-ray, CT scan with contrast and then because they couldn't control the pain they admitted me to the hospital. After about 17 hours from the time I got to the ER I finally was in a room and getting constant care.

Shortly there after they took me do an ultra sound and then Dawn from Radiology came over to see if I was up to still getting my port put in. Of course, let's put in the port, I'm here. The port being put in wasn't so bad, hurt a little but over all was ok.

I then spent the next 6 days in the hospital and I saw my oncologist and she believes that my cancer is back and is attacking my liver causing it to enlarge which causes pain. So, our plan is to continue with the treatment we talked about and possibly adding another chemo agent after I'm done with chemoradiation.

I start chemoradiation on Monday and today I have to go in for another CT scan for my radiologist to ensure they are hitting the right spots when I start radiation.

Exciting news: It's nails and toes day!!! Woohoo!!! Mom and I are getting our nails and toes done and spending some time together today. It's a good day!!!

So we got some crappy news and I really haven't digested it all yet, but this damn thing will not take me down, not an option.

Thank-you everyone for all the prayers and positive thoughts, please keep them coming as this journey may have gotten a little longer.

Until next time,
Kate

3rd Chemo Treatment - Last one this round

2009-09-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, here's an overview of the last week. The 2nd chemo treatment wasn't too bad, only one bought of a fever but it only got to 99, so that wasn't bad. Only a few times did I get bone pain, but it wasn't bad either. More nausea seemed like this time, but was controlled with Compazine, so no vomiting. So all in all, not a bad week.

Spent time with the Hollands on Sunday and Emily and I made brownies and had our own girls night with myself, Miss Moomoo and Krystal. Granted the boys were here too, David and Derrick, so it wasn't completely a girls night until they left, but then we went to bed shortly there after. But the next morning I had to go do labs for my chemo appointment on Tuesday so Miss Moo and Krystal went with me to Vallejo. Miss Moo went back into the blood draw room and asked what the tubes colors meant and what was the stuff in the bottom of the one tube. She's so fascinated by all medical things and especially when it has to do with me. So we let her know that the teal topped one was for my coumadin levels, which is how thin my blood is. The Red topped one tests blood chemestry and the yellow one does the CBC panel and the stuff in the bottom of the tube stops the blood from clotting. Miss Moo watched as the tech put the needle in my arm and asked if it hurt, and I told her it felt like a pinch. I told her the tech held the needle against my arm as she took the tubes in and out so that the needle didn't move in my arm and hurt me. She was just so fascinated, it just makes me happy that all this medical stuff doesn't scare her and she can be involved in what happens to me. Although she is a little too excited for my hair to fall out in patches so we can do mohawks and color them, but that's ok, that day will come eventually and she just has to wait.

Tuesday was my final Gemzar treatment for now and mom was there to hang out with me. We set up my next appointments for when I have my 5-FU infusion and I found out that it will most likely start on Sept. 21st and I come in and get the pump hooked up to my port and then I have it in for 5 days and on Fridays I'll get disconnected, so I'll be pump free over the weekends. Then I repeat that process for 5 weeks. During the same 5 weeks I'll be getting radiation everyday, Mon. thru Fri. and my hope is that I don't get the burns and soreness until much later in the process, but I know that it will happen and I'll get through that too regardless of when it starts to hurt.

After we were done mom and I went to Subway and shared a BLT sub for lunch. I've been so very fortunate that my appetite hasn't been too affected by the treatments. Granted I still can't eat very much, but that works to my advantage. At my highest weight I weighed 383, I know, amazing huh? As of yesterday I now weigh 260 almost the same weight I weighed when I met Rob over 10 years ago. I must say it feels wonderful although all my clothes are a bit loose, but I'm ok with that too. The only thing I don't like much is that I get cold pretty fast and easily, but I just bundle up and move on. Yes I will post pictures hopefully today.

So I meantioned my port of which I don't have yet because no one told me to stop taking my coumadin and my INR (clotting rate) was way to high for a surigical proceedure. So I'll be getting my port this Friday. I stopped taking my coumadin and started taking Lovenox injections, which of course aren't that bad, but leave little bruises on my abdomen.

All in all everything has been going ok. I do get tired often and sometimes just spend the day in bed, but when I have the good days I manage to get quite a bit accomplished which is very cool and makes me feel "normal" whatever that means.......lol

Thanks for everyones support and help through this process and journey, it is greatly appreciated!!!! Rob and I can't thank-you all enough for the prayers and positive thoughts.

Be well,
Until next time,
Kate

2nd Chemo treatment

2009-08-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

Today was my second treatment and Rob went with me this time. I had an awesome view of the mountains (hills) this time and I-505. I had a different RN, his name is Sam, but Danielle did come over to see how I was doing, making me feel very comfortable, it was very nice.

So I've lost another 3 lbs. since last week, so not too bad. Treatment started like it did last week and I got the anti-nausea meds. and started an IV in my other hand. I'm so happy I'm getting my port tomorrow, no more poking and pain putting IV's in my hand. Sam did a wonderful job, he minimized my pain which of course is always good, and got the vein on the first try. My temp was at 99 so he called my oncologist and checked to make sure it was still good to proceed since all my labs came back in really good shape.

Here's where just a few of my blood levels are at:
Last week: white blood count 7.2, hemoglobin 11.4, and red blood count 4.37
This week: WBC 3.7, HBG 9.8, red blood count 3.74

Once again the Gemzar started and Sam cut it down with saline since it was burning again. Then to completely get rid of the burn he put a cold compress on my hand, worked perfect. So Rob and I hung out and talked. I did get a little tired and nauseated towards the end so Sam gave me some Compazine and it knocked it out.

We then went to Big and Tall and got Rob some pants and a cool Wolverine Marvel t-shirt, very cool and then we went to Avenue, because I was in serious need of a belt and found one, YEAH, and then for lunch we went to Bay Sushi!!! I had the tempura shrimp and veggies and then a Reno Roll.

I am happy to report that I have had an awesome day!!!! I was a little tired so I layed down and took a little nap, woke up with a little headache, but not bad. So far no bone pain, no nausea, nada!!! I love good reports.

I want to thank all of you for your support, calls, emails, positive thoughts and prayers. I can't even explain how important it is and means so very much to Rob and I that everyone has been incredibly supportive. Thank-you so very much.

Until next time,
Kate

Me and the ER

2009-08-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had been feeling not so great and spent my entire afternoon in bed. At some point I realized that I was really warm and took my temp. 101.6. My usual temp is 97.6, so 4 degrees was a big deal. I call my friendly Kaiser advise nurse and the ER Dr. said I need to come in and have some blood work done to make sure I don't have an infection brewing somewhere.
The ER. It's the place I hate the most, not that anyone likes it, but from my past numerous experiences, it has been a pain in the ass. Sitting in the waiting room for hours and then sitting in the ER bed for hours, which usually ended up lasting over 12 hours. Granted the last 4 times I was in the ER I was also admitted to the hospital and I knew this time that wasn't going to happen for a fever.
I had taken some tylenol and my temp. had gone down a degree but we drove to Vallejo anyway. Side note, I can't wait for the ER in Vacaville to open!!! (for those that don't know, it's closer and just a nicer town to go to) So we're sitting outside of the ER and I check my temp again and it's gone down another degree. I figure what can I lose, I'll call the advice nurse again and maybe I can avoid this whole senerio. Needless to say they still wanted to do blood work.
I check in and ask for a mask since I had forgotten one of my own and I sat in the waiting room for less than 5 minutes and was called into triage. And then it happened......I didn't have to go back to the waiting room, I went immediately to a bed. Yes, it's sad to say, but I was so excited, that right there cut 4 hours out of our long expected stay. They took many viles of blood and a urine sample, good thing I had to go, and then I waited. I'm not sure where these tests go, but it sure did take a long time for the results to come back. While waiting the nurse had put in an IV and after all was said and done I didn't even need it. My results were all good, white blood cell count was good......woohoo.
So the ER Dr. came in and said that it all was good and that I may be a little dehydrated would I like some fluids (through the IV) I said nope I'm good let me out of here. He responded with not a problem.
We got to the ER around 9:30pm and left at 1:10am, it's a new ER record!!!

Just an update of what happens next:
Monday I have my 2nd chemo treatment.
Tuesday I have my port put in.
The following Tuesday I have my 3rd chemo treatment and then I have 2 weeks off.
I'll update after my next chemo treatment.
Til then keep those prayers and positive thoughts coming!!!
Love you all,
Kate

1st Chemo Treatment

2009-08-25T11:18:00.000-07:00

My day started at 6am, not that I wanted to be up then but wasn't able to fall back asleep. I thought a lot about how the treatment was going to go today and whether or not I would feel any of the side effects or if this would be my freebee week and I wouldn't feel anything at all.
Mom picked me up at 8:30 and we were off to Vacaville to the new building B, 4th floor. Since it's a new building it was very quiet and seemed very empty. We checked in and they took me back to the where all the chairs were for the chemo patients and everyone has this wonderful view of the mountains and I-80.....lol, but a nice view non the less. My nurse today was Danielle and she was wonderful. I had some anti nausea meds first and then she put in my IV and started some saline. She asked why I wasn't going to have a port put in and having a PICC line as that would have to go in and out and she said that she could ask my Dr. about having a port put in and I said yes, I would prefer it. A port is put in surgically into my chest and will be there permenantly until they remove it. What it does is give immediate access and I won't have to be poked repeatedly for IV's and when I have my infusion of 5-FU, which will be coming home with me, it will be easier than having the PICC line coming out of my arm. So Danielle called my Dr. and she put in a referral for that to happen.
Danielle then gave me all sorts of support information and numbers to call should I need to talk to someone and reassured me that I was not alone in this process. She also told me that I would lose my hair with in 2-6 weeks. We had to wait for awhile as the lab was taking it's time making up my Gemzar. Finally it arrived and Danielle hooked it up and said that it might burn going in and to let her know. After about 30 seconds, indeed it began to burn and she ran saline with it and it helped a lot.
Mom and I then played a game of cribbage. She kicked my butt of course........lol But we only had time for one game as the Gemzar is given within a 30 min. time period. So after that was done we were all good, I was feeling good, so we ran a few more errands at Kaiser and then we were off to the Olive Garden for lunch.
Olive Garden of course was awesome. Mom said that I needed to try the Shrimp and Chicken Carbonara. OMG!!! So rich and creamy......everyone must try it!!! I also had their peach tea and they put slices of peach in it, was also very good. We made it back to my house and mom hung out until I was ready for a nap around 3.
I went upstairs and slept for about an hour and woke up with chills and a headache. I took some anti nausea and pain meds and it didn't work. I can't explain, all over body aches, couldn't get comfortable, it was just awful. Around 6pm or so I finally gave in and vomited which of course is just gross but my body felt a little better and I fell asleep for a little bit. When I woke my head was about to explode and my legs felt like I had run a marathon and all the lactic acid was built up and wasn't going away. I just couldn't get it to stop. I took more pain meds and I finally fell back asleep around midnight. Phew, I survived. Man, if this is what it's going to be like after each treatment, I would just rather sleep right through it. Well no one said it was going to be a walk in the park, but wouldn't that be nice???

Girls Night

2009-08-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

This last Friday was very exciting and packed with all sorts of things.
It started out with mom picking me up to have my labs done for coumadin levels and all my other levels for chemo on Monday. From there we went to Black Bear for breakfast and even when I ordered from the "lighter side" of the menu it was still way too much food. Guess I'm just going to have to get used to that.
Then we went to Beauty Etc. in Suisun, it's in the Raley's shopping area next to the tanning place. Never knew it was there and holy cow do they have everything you could possibly want in wigs and hair pieces and everything to do with hair. So I tried on a few wigs, which was a little weird but as I had them on and got used to the different look, it was pretty cool. So mom was awesome and said do you want to get these and I said yes and she bought my new hair for when I lose mine. Very cool!!!!
We then made a trip to costco for a few items for the girls night and the best part was that I had the refund check from having the black premium card from costco and it didn't cost me a penny. Woohoo!!!
Mom dropped me off at home and Rob was home around 1 and we went and picked up moomoo from school. She was very excited to see us and we brought her back to our house where Krystal and David had already arrived. Then the cleaning began.......it wasn't as bad as I thought but it was quite exhausting. I made my famous taco meat and cut up tomatos and onions so everything was ready for tacos for dinner.
People showed up around 6 and there after drifted in and it was a good night. I showed off the wigs and everyone liked them. Tami bought all of us girls bandanas for those days that I'm not going out and just being at home that I have something to put on my head. On girls night we will all be sporting our bandanas and I have extras for those that weren't at this first one. It was very nice to have friends and family at my house. Granted it felt like I had done a marathon that day, but it was good all the same.
I look forward to our next girls night next month. As of yet, nothing has been scheduled but will let the girls know when the next one is.

Telling Emily

2009-08-19T20:46:00.000-07:00

As some of you may or may not know that I have a 6 yr. old niece, Emily. I affectionately call her Miss Em, Miss Moomoo and just Moomoo. I have no idea where moomoo came from, it just happened.

So tonight we decided to tell moomoo that even though I'm not in the hospital, that her auntie isn't better yet. I drew the shape of a body on a piece of paper and I put little smiley faces and angry faces around my abdomen area. I told moomoo that auntie has cancer, and then I asked her if she knew what cancer was and she shook her head no. I explained that I have these angry cells in me that can make me sick and that I'm going to be getting some medicine called chemo that's going to help get rid of it. I showed her that the chemo would get rid of the angry faces but that it would also get rid of the smiley ones too. Moomoo asked why it was going to get the smiley faces and I told her that the medicine doesn't know the difference between the smiley and angry faces.

So far so good.

I then told her that when the medicine gets rid of the smiley cells that some of those smiley cells are aunties hair and that auntie will most likely lose her hair. Em put her hands over her eyes and said, "no, no, no". This is when I lost it and she asked why I was crying and I told her that I didn't want her to be scared of auntie. She said, "I don't want you to lose your hair". Krystal and I reassured her that after the medicine was done that my hair would come back and that I would be getting some wigs to wear when I was out in public. She continued to cry and shake her head that she didn't want me to lose my hair and that this has never happened before. I held her and let her know that it was going to be ok. I also let her know that there will be times that I can't be in public or large groups of people because I could get sick so I'll be wearing a pink face mask. I let her know that uncle and I ordered some pink face masks for us to wear. After a good 15 minutes or so we were ok and I asked her if she was hungry, she said yes and we made pizza. Pizza solves all our worries doesn't it??? Well, it did tonight, at least for awhile. Em wanted one of her favorite movies in so we watched "Spirited Away" while we had pizza.

Em and Krystal went and played on the computer after we put the pizza in the toaster oven and I went upstairs to pull myself together. Cancer sucks!!! I hate that it has to effect everyone around me as it just hurts to see family and friends hurt. It's just not fair. But I'm not the first to go through this and I'm sure won't be the last. A few days ago my mom told me that my Gramps' wife Marte has bone cancer and is starting radiation immediately as it was found in numerous areas of her body. So when you have those prayers going out Marte could use some too.

I wrote my oncologist today to find out my schedule for chemo and radiation. Holy cow!!! Here's the schedule:
Starting on the 24th, one treatment of Gemzar for each of the next 3 weeks.
Then I'll have 2 weeks off to recooperate.
Then chemo (5-FU) and radiation congruently. I will have a PICC line put in as I will be getting the infusion of chemo over a longer period of time. At least I've had 2 PICC lines and know what to expect. I believe this will go on for 5 weeks, at least I know the radiation will.
I'll have 4 weeks off to recooperate.
Gemzar for 3 weeks.
4 weeks off.
Gemzar for 3 weeks.
Treatment is over.
So by my calculations that's 24 weeks.

Well, that was enough for one day. Thank-you for your positive thoughts and prayers.
Kate

It's a new day and a lot has changed...

2009-08-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a very long time since I've blogged, but a lot has changed and I will be doing my journaling and updating here. If you would like to receive notices of when I post please subscribe to my blog.

This journey started in January of this year when my skin began to itch uncontrollably. I asked my physician to order lab tests for bilirubin as I had this same condition last year and I had a blocked common bile duct. The tests showed that my bilirubin and my liver enzymes were very high and I was referred to the GI dept. at Kaiser. This process of course was very slow and no one knew why I was having these symptoms.

In March, eating solid food began to hurt and ultimately stopped passing through my system forcing me to vomit. Poor Rob after sitting with me at the ER all night had to come back to a mess as I never made it to the bathroom. Go Rob!! I was admitted to the hospital and stayed for 12 days, still not able to eat and now vomiting bile. I was referred to Dr. Binmoeller at Cal. Pacific Med. Center in San Fran and 2 ERCP's were attempted. The first time there was still food in my system and they had to stop and the second attempt they couldn't get the scope past the duodenum.

I was sent home and I believe I was only home for about 5 days and I was vomiting again and in severe pain on my right side. So we're back in ER and finally admitted to the hospital after 12 hours. I believe this time they attempted another ERCP and a stint was placed in my common bile duct and I was sent home. Once again things went wrong and I woke up at 4am with violent chills and severe pain on my right side. We called 911 because I couldn't handle sitting in the ER and not being seen. This is now the 3rd visit to the ER and admission to the hospital and still no one has any answers. They had to replace my stint twice as it became blocked and my liver enzymes were extremely high. They placed a drainage tube that went in my right side through my liver and into the bile duct. This process was awful!!! I think something went wrong because I was under local anesthesia and I woke up and felt everything as they were still putting the catheter through my side. The nurse there had to physically hold me down because I was trying to get off the table, the pain was indescribable.

Once again I was sent home with this catheter and 5 days later I again was in extreme pain. We called 911 and I was back in the ER. The nurse said at one point that they were going to release me and I about lost it. I was like WTH... needless to say I was admitted for the 4th time. During this visit I experienced fluid around my right lung, very painful, and they tried 3 days in a row to remove the liquid around my lung. This requires an ultra sound, a very long needle and not nearly enough numbing medication. They put the needle in between my ribs and then they remove the liquid pocket but not much was coming out. Thankfully my body began to reabsorb the liquid and they didn't have to do a more severe procedure.

They also put in a PIC line which is a more permenant IV access, since every three days they would have to remove the IV and find a new spot. I was running out of spots, from my arms, forearms and hands. I even had an IV in my shoulder at one point because they couldn't get a line in anywhere else. They have also started me on TPN which is liquid nutrician since I couldn't eat and I was losing weight quite rapidly. So after 3 weeks in the hospital it's been decided that surgery in necessary and that I'll be transferred to Walnut Creek.

Once at Walnut Creek I of course had one more CT scan and prior to going there I was transported to have an MRCP done in Vacaville. My surgeon Dr. Fuchshuber (Fook-shuber) is a world renouned in biliary surgery. He believes that my panceas is malformed and has wrapped around my duodenum causing the blockage and inablility to eat food. I'm still vomiting bile every 2 days or so and he orders an NG tube. That's a tube that goes through your nose and into your stomach. I can't even explain how painful this procedure is and how uncomfortable it is. For the next 2 days I barely slept, could barely talk and my head felt like it was going to explode. Dr. F ordered another CT scan and saw that the end of the NG tube had folded on itself and wasn't doing what it was supposed to anymore so he ordered it to be removed and replaced. I thought putting it in was bad, taking it out was just as bad. At this point I was like I do not and will not allow you to put that back in my body. Thankfully I had stopped vomiting because of a new medication and as long as I didn't vomit, I didn't have to have the NG tube put back in.

So now it's surgery time. The first one I've ever had and it was exploratory since he really didn't know what he was going to find once he got in there. We knew that he would definately take out my gallbladder and probably the common bile duct but beyond that it depended on what he found. What we didn't want was a "whipple" procedure. This surgery is very extensive, invasive, long recovery and it would mean taking out my gallbladder, common bile duct, duodenum, part of my stomach and a sliver of my pancreas. Unfortunately Dr. F performed the whipple procedure because he found cancer in my duodenum. The blockage was a tumor that engolfed my entire duodenum.

This surgery took 5 1/2 hours and I remember being put on the bed as they rolled me with a sheet, again nothing to compare the pain to. I had an incision 10inches long on my upper abdomen from right to left. There were 35 staples holding me together and he did an awesome job closing me up. I had 2 JP drainage tubes coming out of my right side to collect fluid. I have another NG tube in, but this time it's not nearly as painful as the first one except when the nurses would try to move it. I also have a urine catheter, so I have tubes coming out of everywhere at this point. At the time it seemd as though I couldn't get enough pain meds to stop the pain entirely, but I was on a lot of IV Dilaudid. I had a pump that I could administer more Dilaudid every 10 minutes and I could get a bolise every hour.

The morning after surgery Dr. F came in and told me that they performed the surgery and that they found cancer. I don't remember if he said anything after that, I just remember saying "wow" over and over again.

The best road to recovery is of course getting out of bed and walking. I was like you have got to be kidding. The day after surgery I didn't get out of bed but I believe on the second day I got out of bed and sat in a chair for 30 minutes. Each day got a little better, but having all the tubes coming out of me made walking a very interesting situation, but I still did it. After one week the NG tube and the catheter were finally taken out. This of course meant I had to go to the restroom on my own now and that was such a foreign experience because I couldn't bend and my legs felt like jello.

I stayed in the hospital for 4 more weeks after surgery, there were some complications like high white blood cell counts, so fear of infection and at one point there was a pocket of fluid that Dr. F though he would have to go in and drain it. Thank God that my body took care of it on it's own and no more procedures were needed. I did end up with 2 blood clots in my right arm where the PIC line was so they had to remove it and put in another line. This also meant that they started giving me coumadin and lovenox. I will be on coumadin until the end of the year and boy does that suck.

After about 3 months of not being able to eat solid food and being on TPN and then clear liquids, I'm not sure that I will ever eat jello again, then full liquids and mechanical soft food I finally get to eat solid food. You just never know how much you miss chewing until you can't eat anything solid. It was awesome!!! My stomach at this point has shrunk and I can barely eat 1/2 cup of anything. I've lost 50 lbs. or more from Jan. to June. I haven't weighed this weight since I can't even remember when. Very, very bad way to lose weight, but it has been a wonderful benefit.

During my recovery and each hospitalization my family and friends were/are the most supportive and have always been there for me. There were many times that I broke down just from being tired of being sick and no one knowing what was wrong with me. All the prayers and positive thoughts have helped me through this and continue to help me every day.

June 4th is when I had surgery and my recovery has been long but has also gone much better than Dr. F ever thought it could. Every day he came in he had a smile and was so happy that things were well that my recovery was better than he could have anticipated. Rob has been such an awesome support and I know this has and continues to be very hard for him, I can't tell you how much he means to me and I'm not sure I'd be where I am today without him. I couldn't have asked for better family and friends to help me get through this, everyone has helped me when I'm down and have just been there so I wasn't alone. My mom has been there with me everyday and she is without a doubt the best mom in the world. Krystal stayed at the hospital over night on numerous nights just to be there with me and that was priceless. Visits from family and friends was great even though they saw me at my worst but of course were/are extremely supportive with positive thoughts and prayers.

I've had an oncology appointment and it was decided that the best route is to do chemo and radiation. Since duodenal cancer is rare, not much research, if any, has been done to know the best course of action to take. So we're doing everything we can to ensure the cancer doesn't come back. This last Thursday I had a radiation appointment to put the markers on me and do a CT scan so they have a baseline to work with. They had told me that they were going to "tatoo" me at this appointment and my take on that was that they would use the purple surgical marker to mark me since that stuff takes forever to come off. No, they literally tatooed me, prison style. The nurse marked me with "X's", 3 down my abdomen and one on each side, right and left. She then put a drop of black ink on my skin and used a needle to get the ink under my skin. There goes the bikini I was looking forward to wearing....ha ha ha. She said I could have it made into something prettier once this was over. I think not. I don't particulary want a tatoo down the front of me like that.

My first chemo appointment is on August 24th. One of the common side effects is loss of hair so in preparation, mom and I went and had our hair done today. I believe this is the shortest I've ever had my hair in a very very long time. Very liberating and different. Over the last months I've been losing large amounts of hair due to stress so this helps with the transition of having no hair at all. I'll be posting a new picture soon as I don't look like the current picture.

I want to thank everyone for all your support and prayers and keep those prayers coming as this journey continues towards recovery. I can't express how much you all mean to me, your love and support is overwhelming and greatly appreciated.

I will continue to journal and update you about my experiences and the process and progress that is to come.

Until next time
Kate

ATC's I made for convention.

2007-08-02T23:36:00.000-07:00

Hello, I know it's been awhile, but I thought I would share the ATC's (artist trading cards) that I made for swaps for convention this year. My girlfriend Michelle was lucky enough to go session 1 and I have yet to see all the swaps she is bringing back for me. Here are the 2 that I did for convention. Remember the size of the picture might be deceiving as to how big these are, they are only 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". I used all In Colors and I seem to be very drawn to Purely Pomegranate.

The other colors used are:

Wild Wasabi and Soft Sky and Whisper White.

Stamp sets: Three for You Punch Box (this punch box is SU's promotion this month!!! ask me about it) and Pick a Petal stamp set.

ATC's are alot of fun and it's easy to make a regular A2 card to send out, just make it bigger. It works just as well to create ATC's also, take your favorite card you've created and shrink it down, it's easier than you think.

July 4th Progressive pages

2007-07-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here's the final projects for the progressive 12x12 scrapbook page. This is the 6x6 that I posted once before but I changed the numbers to the brushstroke numbers.

This is the 8 1/2 x 11" version which is just the transition to the final 12x12 page.

Here's the final page. I've added more star brads, some square brads and I used the new Star Punch from SU and dotted the red stars with the white signo pen. I used the Big Deal alphabet and craft ink for "celebrate" which is also embossed with clear EP (embossing powder).

Pick a Petal

2007-07-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

I'm on a role now, so watch out!!!! This card is SUPER easy card and would make a good make and take, which I'll be doing for a class at some point.

Here's the recipe:
Pick a Petal - stamp set
Three for You - (thinking of you)
Whisper white (base)
Basic Black
Purely Pomegranate classic ink
Basic Black classic ink
White craft
Black grosgrain ribbon
1 1/4" circle punch
Double rectangle punch

The color of the petals is distorted it's more of a magenta color not so pinky looking. But doesn't everything look better in person??? Well that's it for now, we'll see what this extended 4th of July mini vacation brings. Have you placed your first order???? What's on your list????

From the NEW Fall/Winter Catalog!!!!

2007-07-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest creation with the new Three for You punch box. It comes with a 3 flower punch, 3 classic spots (black, wild wasabi and purely pomegranate) and 9 stamps.

Here's the recipe:

Whisper white (base)

Purely Pomegranate-P.Pom (1st layer)

Certainly Celery (top layer)

1/4" strip of P.Pom goes on top of the Celery

White gingham ribbon

Double rectangle punch

Three for You punch

White signo jel pen

Dimensionals (the Celery is popped off the P.Pom)

This is what I'm taking to a shoebox gathering this Saturday in Vacaville. There's more to come, lots of new stuff!!! Creative juices are flowing once again......woohoo!!!

A little about me!

2007-06-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

Okay I know I have been missing but I found this on another blog and thought it would be cool to post.
A - Age: 36
B - Bed size: Cal King
C - Chore you hate: Cleaning Litter boxes!!!!
D - Dessert you love: Almost anything from Cold Stone
E - Essential start your day item: Coffee
F - Favorite actor(s): Morgan Freeman, Sean Connery
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 5'9"
I - Instruments you play: used to play piano and flute
J - Job title: Flex Merchandiser
K - Kid(s): None but we do have a niece and nephew
L - Living arrangements: 3 bed, 2 1/2 bath home
M- Favorite Months: August and November
N - Nicknames: Not one that everyone uses
O - Overnight hospital stay other than giving birth: Nope and very thankful
P - Phobia: I can't think of any
Q - Quote(s): Hmmm can't think of one
R - Right or left handed: Left of course
S - Siblings: Just me a my half brother
T - Tattoo(s): Sand script writing on the left side of my chest that says, "I will give my life for you", Rob has the same on his chest. We did this after we were married.
U - Unique talent: I am the walking dictionary and math machine in the family.
V - Vegetable you hate: Cooked carrots
W - Worst habit: Procrastination!!!
X - If you were told to Xerox a part of your body what would you agree to: Probably my boobs, I'm sure my butt is too big......lol
Y - Yummy food you make: Screaming tacos!!!
Z - Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

The Surprise Project

2007-06-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

Here's the surprise project we made at our classes this month. The bucket is from the $spot at Target. I punched holes with the crop-o-dile to put the star brads in, I know I was amazed it did it too.

The paper is whisper white and bravo burgundy.

Ribbon is grosgrain: white, burgundy and navy.

They were simple and cute and something you can have out for the 4th around the picnic table. There is a tea light in the bottom. Now a little more serious note.

Please light your candle and think of our men and women that are serving and those men and women that have died for our country.

Father's Day around the Corner

2007-05-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

Here's another card we'll be making for June's class. With Father's Day just around the corner, you want to make sure you get this out in time. I used Lovely as a Tree, Paper is: Naturals Ivory, True Thyme and of course both oval punches, some antique brass brads and True Thyme ribbon. Other punches are the ticket punch and the double rectangle punch. There will one more project, but it's a surprise.

6x6 Scrapbook page for June Class

2007-05-23T11:07:00.001-07:00

Here is the newest project for June classes. I don't have the brushstroke numbers yet but I will soon and the "2007" will be replaced with the stamps. This little project took some time to create. Colors used: Brocade Blue, Ruby Red and Whisper White. The "4" is embossed with the red and blue, there's silver eyelets that the ribbons go through and the silver stars are from MM. Just wanted to share, I am very pleased with the way it turned out. This will be a progressive page in our classes, the next step is a 8 1/2 x 11 page which incorporates the 6x6 page and then it graduates to a 12x12 completed page. Thanks for looking!!

Devine Secret Sisterhood

2007-05-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a cute card I received from my Big Sister. A little about DSS (Devine Secret Sisterhood), it's on SCS (Splitcoaststampters.com) and it's people getting to share their creations with others and meeting new people. I'll share my cards that I've sent to my Little Sister once this round is over at the end of July.

SU Fall/Winter Catalog Preview!!!!!!!

2007-05-16T19:58:00.000-07:00

So I finally got to see the Fall/Winter Catalog Preview 2007 and let me tell you it's all awesome!!!!! There are going to be a few must haves.

At the top of the list is the punch box, I don't care what anyone says, the punch is very versatile and two of the spots are the new "In Colors". I also must have the 2 words sets and of course ALL of the PAPER!!!! Well then there's the sparkly new brads........need I say more. Go look for yourself if you haven't already seen......click HERE!!!!!!!!!!

Let me know what you want. Remember this is just a preview and only demonstrators will be able to order these products prior to July 1st.

May Promotion~~IT'S PAPER!!!!!

2007-05-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

This slide show was done by my good friend Michelle - See her blog at All Inked Up.

This is our May promotion with SU. For every $35 spent you can purchase this new designer paper sampler for $9.95. There are 48 - 6x6 sheets great for cards or a very coordinated 6x6 scrapbook.

Stampin'UP! Retirement List!!!!!!!!

2007-05-01T00:59:00.000-07:00

If you don't know and haven't seen it yet, here's the link to the SU's retired stamp list. Click HERE
Start making those lists......"I must have that", "I can't live without that" and "Oh no, I can't believe that's retiring".
They will all be gone after June 30th, 2007.
Have fun!!
~Kate~

A little more Artfully Asian

2007-04-21T00:02:00.000-07:00

I just love this set, it's very easy to use and doesn't need much else with it. Here's the recipe:

Stamps: Artfully Asian, Canvas BG

Paper: Mellow Moss, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Mellow Moss, Jet Black Stazon

Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, ticket punch, slit punch,VersaMark, Grosgrain Eggplant ribbon.

Tami's 1st party this weekend!!!!

2007-04-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

Here's another card being made at Tami's this weekend.

Recipe:

Stamp: Reason to Smile

Paper: Ballet Blue, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White

Ink: Ballet Blue, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig

Technique: Rock-n-Roll

This technique can be seen here at SCS: Rock-n-Roll

Tami's havin' a Party!!!!

2007-04-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the cards being made at Tami's class this weekend.

Recipe:

Stamps: SU Artfully Asian, Canvas BG

Paper: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Whisper White

Ink: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Mellow Moss (marker) Black Stazon

Accessories: Grosgrain Eggplant, double rectangle punch, corner punch, sponge and can't forget the Stamp-a-ma-jig.

Technique: Sponging

The Recipe Lunch Tin

2007-04-15T23:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this tin has taken quite along time to finish since it was started on March 24th. Over the years I have been collecting recipes from family and friends and I wanted a special place for them. As I make my recipe cards from the SU set What's For Dinner, I'll post them on here to share them with everyone. Can't have the secret to all good things...well maybe a few, but I will share most of my recipes.

Here's the recipe for this tin:

SU designer paper Au Chocolat - top piece you will need 2 pieces of 3"x12", bottom piece you will need 2 pieces of 1 3/4"x12" (a little hint: I used the xyron sticker maker to adhere these pieces, I also adhered the top back piece first, then the front top, then the back bottom and the front bottom. By doing this it makes the seams on the sides less noticable.
Ribbons: SU Grosgrain, light pink, taupe, chocolate, white, gingham pink and a few non-SU ribbons. The pink around the lid was adhered using Tombo Mono Multi.
Paper: SU, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Vellum and Whisper White.
There's one piece of Hodge Podge Hardware along the middle ribbon.
The word recipe was generated from the computer on vellum then run through the xyron sticker maker. The color of "recipe" is Chocolate Chip using the wonderful printer guide found on SCS.
Finally the stamp is a wonderful retired set called What's Brewin'.
Final hint I used the templates from TheCardLadies.com for the top of the tin.

Keep coming back to check out some recipes!!!!!

~Kate~

Mailboxes recipe....

2007-04-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hi Abra Leah Cross.......so sorry I didn't get back to you sooner about the mailboxes. Here's what I used:

1- 3 3/4x12" strip (to go around the main body of the mailbox)You'll need to use the 3/4 in. circle punch to go around the flag. Don't be alarmed that it doesn't cover edge to edge, there are borders to cover that.

2- 3/4x12" strips that will be your borders, these are the paisley strips.

2- 3x3 1/2" squares that I lined up with the lid and traced the rounded area and then cut it off. I used the corner rounder for the other two corners.

Ribbon or 1/4" strip will fit the border of the lid.

Hope this helps =)

~Kate~

April Promotion!!!!

2007-04-03T15:06:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know about the promotions going on this month. The first one is for April only and it's all about words. Click on WORDS to see the flyer from SU. Note that there are 2 sets retiring from this list, it's just a tiny preview of the awaited retired list coming May 1.

The next promotion is all about recruits and the benifits you would receive if you decide to join SU. Bonus Stamp Sets from the Up coming New Catalog!!!! This promo is good from April 1- May 31st. Click here to see MORE INFO ON JOINING SU.

New things will be posted soon..........keep looking!!!

Saturday Lunch Tin class - What a Blast!!!!

2007-03-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday afternoon we got together again to make more lunch tins. This one is Colleen's made from the Petals & Paisleys Designer Paper (DS) from SU's current Spring Mini. The tag is made from the Cuttlebug out of Pink Passion paper stamped with Riveting (hostess set) and punched out the center with the 1/2 in. circle punch. The grosgrain ribbons are Rose and Apple Green, the brads go all around the tin and are from MM (Making Memories).

This beautiful tin was made by Jolene to be used for a gift. She used Petals & Paisleys DS. Ink used was Pixie Pink and the stamp set is a retired set called Tall Tales from the Holiday Mini 2005. Ribbons are all SU and are: Grosgrain-Apricot, Moss, Rose and Turquoise. Finally organdy Celery. Card stock: Whisper White, Old Olive and Regal Rose.

This next tin was also made by Jolene for Nicky who was unable to make it to class. Paper-Pool Party (DS), Ribbon-Grosgrain Moss, Organdy Celery and Vintage Violet. Got Flowers? supplied the Primas and the brads and silver letters are from MM.

This tin was made by Michelle, a fellow SU demo and SCS'er. Paper-Sentimental Journey DS, Ribbon-True Thyme, Cranberry Crisp, Moss, Gingham Moss, Mustard. Primas once again from Got Flowers? and her own embellishments from CTMH (Close To My Heart). The coffee cup is from a retired set from SU called What's Brewin'.

This next one was made by Tami and was decorated in paper purchased from Michael's called Red Cherry from Creative Imaginations. Embellishments on top of the tin are from Claire's Boutique. Paper is Ruby Red, the letters are Brushstroke Alphabet with Ruby Red and Black card stock. Ribbon-Red Gingham, Black, White, Red Grosgrain and the Love ribbon is also from Creative Imaginations. Brads are from MM and Primsas from Got Flowers?.

This last but not least tin was made by Erica. Paper-Spring Showers DS, Brocade Blue and So Saffron. Ribbon-Bluebird, Apricot Grosgrain, Cream and Blue Organdy. The small and large tag punch was used with the Rough Edges Alphabet. Primas from Got Flowers? and brads from MM. We had a lot of fun and laughed A LOT!!!! We will definitely have to do this class again. I forgot to mention that the tins were purchased on Joanns.com. Hope you have been inspired.

~Kate~

Lunch Boxes Friday Night

2007-03-24T00:29:00.000-07:00

Here is Hannah's lunch box. She used Au Chocolat Designer Paper and Pretty in Pink. The letters and brads are from MM (Memory Makers), so ribbon is SU and the rest was from a RAK so I'm just not sure.

Rachel's was inspired by her kitchen, which is all apples. She used Recolections Designer Paper, Primas and MM brads, the saying is from Polka Dots and Paisley and the ribbon is SU
Grosgrain (grow-grain) Taupe and Chocolate.

Marilyn made hers from Slumber Party Designer Paper and Pale Plum. The dotted ribbon is from Mike's and the grosgrain is SU's Eggplant. Primas and MM brads were also added.

Daisy's Lunch Box and she has "Queen" on the other side with some of her drawings. Daisy used YoYo Yellow and Tempting Turquoise. The brads and letters are from MM.

This last but not least Lunch Box was made by Hailey and she made her's for her friend Sarah. Hailey used Rebecca Designer Paper and Apricot Appeal. She used SU's Moss and Apricot grosgrain ribbon and the letters and brads are from MM.

Below is the gang from left to back to front: Hannah, Rachel, Marilyn, Daisy and Hailey.

Here's a look at future crafters!!! Hannah and Hailey are twins and they are 11 and their mom is Rachel. Daisy is 14 and Marilyn is her mom. We had a blast, can't wait to see what the women tomorrow create!!!!!

Apple Hill - Continues

2007-03-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

This is the end of our trip to Apple Hill and is the 4th page of the layout. All of the embellishments are from Out & About Simply Scrappin' Kit from SU. The only thing I added were the snaps from MM (Making Memories). As you can see the boys had a rough day and were only awake about 15 mins. after we left Apple Hill.........lol

I'm still working on the first 2 pages and when they are done I'll display them all together. These kits make scrapping so much easier!!!

~Kate~

Scrapbooking has begun!!!!

2007-03-18T22:53:00.000-07:00

Finally a scrapbook page. It's been over 2 years now since I've scrapped and the curse has finally been broken..........lol. This is a trip our family took to Apple Hill in Placerville last October. The first 2 pages are still in the works and this is the 3rd page in a 4 page layout. I'm trying a different way of scrappin' for me, by looking at each page as if it were the only page instead of laying out all 4 pages and trying to tackle them all at once. When each page is done they will tell their own story. I am using the Out & About Simply Scrappin' Kit from SU for this event. On this page I've used Bugs & Kisses and Alphadots stamp sets.

I started with this page because it really tells a cute story of him and his "Dirty Worms", and it goes without saying how much he enjoyed them. Keep watching there are more pages to come. I'm on a role now............lol (See Tricia we do scrap)

~Kate~

March-Altered Rectangle Lunch Boxes

2007-03-15T21:06:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the Altered Rectangle Lunch Boxes that we've made so far. There's so many things you can do to them. At our next class on March 24th, I'll (Kate) will be making a recipe box. My kitchen is in browns, coffee memorabilia and pink (Kitchen-Aid breast cancer awareness kitchen stuff). So I'll be designing a recipe box with the new Au Chocolat Designer Papers in the SU Spring Mini and using the stamp set "Expressoly You". Krystal and I recently purchased the SU set "What's For Dinner" that is used to make recipe cards. Should be a lot of fun!!!!! So to those that have RSVP'd make sure you have an idea of what you would like your tin to look like. Maybe it will be in your bathroom to hold hair toys, make-up, brushes. Krystal made one for her mom for Mother's Day. The one that says "Tami" was made for her for Christmas and was filled with all sorts of SU goodies. As you can see I have one just for my pictures to help keep them organized for scrap booking. The templates we'll be using are from The Card Ladies , they definitely come in handy!!! Hope these pics will inspire you to make your awesome creation!!!! THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!!!!!

Two of my favorite things~~~Trees and a Sunset

2007-03-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

This was taken after the kids birthday party on March 10th. This is over the fence in the backyard at Krystal's house. Enjoy ~Kate~

March ATC Technique Swaps

2007-03-12T23:08:00.000-07:00

We've been working on some ATC's (artist trading card 2 1/2"x 3 1/2") for a swap on SCS and thought we would share our techniques with you. The first one is masking, which means that you are able to put an image over another image and they aren't blurred on top of each other. This is the order in which the card was made: On Whipsper White: Creamy Caramel sand was spritzed, Tempting Turquiose(craft ink) embossed umbrella, Summer Sun (classic ink) sun and finally the Bashful Blue sky spritzed. The stamp-a-ma-jig (SAMJ) was used to place the umbrella, I then stamped the umbrella on a post-it so part of it landed over the sticky part underneath and I cut out the umbrella just inside the lines. After you stamp the umbrella and emboss with clear embossing powder (EP) lay the post-it note umbrella over the embossed umbrella. Now take your sun and use the SAMJ to place the sun over the umbrella and a little off the card now stamp. Leave the post-it umbrella and make a post-it note sun, leave both post-its on the card and spritz the Bashful Blue to make the blue sky, stamp "Summer" in Really Rust using the SAMJ. Use the double rectangle punch at the bottom for the mustard grosgrain ribbon and mount on Cool Caribbean.

The next ATC technique is Scratch-n-Sniff (SNS). You can make your own SNS by using 1 packet of your favorite cool-aid and 3 tsp. of clear embossing powder. If you add Dazzling Diamonds to the mix like we did you will need to add more clear embossing powder, we added an additional 2 tsps. Here's the recipe: On Whiper White spritz Close to Cocoa sand, then the Ballet Blue sky was spritzed, the Lovely Lilac flip flops were stamped with craft and the SNS powder was added then heated and cut out individually and adheared with dimensionals, Eggplant grosgrain ribbon was added at the corner and Elegant Eggplant "Summer" was placed with the SAMJ. This was mounted on Blush Blossom and then Elegant Eggplant. Both ATC's used the SU stamp set Some Like It Hot. These ATC's fit great in a baseball card holder.

Hope you'll give it a try.........have fun!!!!

SPRING FEVER PROMOTION

2007-02-28T14:36:00.000-08:00

Here's the new promotion from SU.

It's only during the month of March .

Who doesn't love paisley?????

Candice's 1st party as a SU demo!!!!!

2007-02-27T22:20:00.000-08:00

Candice is our very first downline and she had her 1st SU party this last Sunday. WOO HOO!!!! We just wanted to give her some attention as it takes a lot to be able to try to teach "newbies" how to stamp. Here is Candice and her class and the projects they made.

Candice and her family just bought a new house in Williams, Ca.....Williams??? you say where is that??? It's out by Colusa as in Colusa Casino, so if you know anyone out that way they now have a SU demo in their area.

CONGRATS CANDICE ON YOUR FIRST PARTY!!!!

Locks Of Love.......

2007-02-27T21:47:00.000-08:00

This last Saturday myself (Kate) and Tami, Krystal and little miss Emily went to Solano Community College in Fairfield, Ca. They were giving free haircuts from the cosmetology department and donating the hair to Locks of Love.

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

I was able to donate 10" of hair and Tami donated 16"!!!!!! It was amazing to see all the support from women and men. All I can say it that it was an awesome experience and I would encourage everyone to donate. Here's my philosophy: It's only hair and it means a lot more to someone who doesn't have any than it does to me, so why not donate it.

I have been wanting to do this for some time and my inspiration is my very dear friend Mary. Mary and I met in college in the early 90's and have been close ever since. In Jan. 2003 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and has fought cancer with everything she has and is still winning today cancer free. So Mary for those many months you didn't have hair, I donated my hair in your name. Love you.

Gift Card Project

2007-02-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

Tonight we are Stampin' and Scrappin' so we picked a gift of cards for our card project tonight.

We received something similar as a door prize from our last gathering with SU demos from SCS. Of course we're still stuck on brown but no pink this time. These are super easy to make for gifts-quick and easy.

First you will need the following items: 1- 12"x 12" Chocolate Chip card stock (cut to 8 1/2" x 12") 3-8 1/2"x 11" Naturals Ivory card stock (cut to 5-A2 cards & 1-3" x 3"), 1-8 1/2" x 11" Cool Caribbean card stock, (2-3 1/2"x 5 1/2" & 1-3 1/4" x 3 1/4"), SU's Happy Harmony (Sell-A-Bration 2007) Chocolate Chip and Cool Caribbean classic ink, Taupe Grosgrain (grow-grain) ( ribbon (each piece is 8"), eyelets (2) and finally 5 Naturals Ivory medium envelopes. Cut the 12x12 card stock to 8 1/2" x 12" and score on the 12x 12 side 2 1/2" in (this makes the folder part the holds the cards and envelopes. Then score down the middle so that you have 6 inches on each side of the score mark. Fold all of the score marks. On the folder flap in the middle you will need to cut a narrow triangle to split each side. Lay your paper flat with the scored 2 1/2" section closest to you, measure 1/2" on either side of the middle score line and draw an angle up to the 2 1/2" score line to make a narrow triangle. Cut this piece out. Now its time to glue in the back panels of Cool Caribbean (3 1/2" x 5 1/2" pieces). Then you only need to glue outer edge to hold the folder flap closed (use Tombo Mono Multi). Make your eyelet holes and place your eyelets 3" from the top and inset between 1/4" & 1/2". All that's left is to design your cards and envelopes. You can put this wonderful gift in a cellophane baggy and tie with ribbon.
(A2 card is a standard card size - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

We found a name we can stick with!!!

2007-02-14T23:18:00.000-08:00

Our blog has finally found a permanent name. If it sounds familiar, it is. Krystal & I were brainstorming trying to find just the right name that fits us. It's close to the name of one of our favorite sets,"Express Yourself" from SU. Unfortunately it's retired. Can you tell we love coffee??? And we have definitely found a way to express ourselves.

The Kissing Technique

2007-02-13T21:46:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!!!!!

We thought the kissing technique would be perfect for today.

Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Chip: base, Glossy White: middle layer

(ran out of whisper white), Pretty in Pink: top layer,

Big Blossom on Glossy white kissed with Chocolate

Chip on Weathered BG (background).

Kissing technique how to: First you need a stamp that has a lot of solid rubber, not a lot of pattern, like the big blossom from the SAB ( Sell-A-Bration) catalog. Then you need a BG stamp. Ink up your BG stamp really well and then press your solid rubber stamp (big blossom) together so that they "kiss". Be careful that they don't move around or you will end up with a blurred transfer. Then finally give your big blossom a "huff" (breath warm air onto the big blossom to refresh the ink-called huffing) and then you can put the big blossom on your paper. You have now transferred the BG pattern to your paper with the big blossom.

I used Riveting (SU-Hostess Level 1) for the sentiment in the middle of the flower and the sentiment from Polka Dot and Paisley (SU-Spring Mini 2007). Dimensionals were used to pop off the Riveting circle and the inner heart circle. Chocolate Gingham ribbon was also used. And finally just a little sponging with Chocolate Chip around the "find joy in the little things" just for some texture.

Sooo Cool

2007-02-11T00:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks to those that pre-paid using the paypal links, it worked really well!!!! But as you can see they are gone now as it is past the time for pre-pay. Our order will hopefully at least get processed on Monday and back to us by Thursday..........love living in California, it only takes 3 days to get SU stuff. Oh yeah, we pre-ordered a few things from the Spring Mini that you'll get to see when you come to class. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!!

Paypal Options have been added!!!!!

2007-02-08T21:32:00.000-08:00

Just so we could get Paypal up and running to make pre-paying for classes and projects easier, 3 options have been added to the left side. You need to click only one and you'll be directed to Paypal's secure site. If you have any questions just leave a comment........Thanks

They Fit in the Mail!!!!!

2007-02-08T09:44:00.000-08:00

I just wanted everyone to know that those SUPER CUTE note cards that are coming up in the Spring Mini...........CAN BE MAILED!!!!! SU announced that the dimensions were incorrect and we now have some notes cards to use that are mailable. And to those of you who don't know what the heck I'm talking about......ask me.
Have a great day!!!!

Sweet Sale

2007-02-04T00:12:00.000-08:00

Krystal and I made a sign for Tricia this past week for her store front at Travis AFB. Tricia works for a framing shop on base which has a "Sweet Sale" for the entire month of February. When you go into the shop there are candy treasures wrapped in a special wrapper that reveals a coupon for a framing discount. This sign was quite the challenge. We started off with the chipboard coasters (purchased from a fellow SCS'er) and used 4x4 squares of SU Real Red with the dot stamp from Polka Dot and Paisley. Then a stencil was used for the letters and was painstakingly cut out in Naturals White CS and stamped with Soft Swirls BG (retired) in Close to Cocoa, then the hearts were colored in with a Real Red marker. The edges of each letter were then sponged with Close to Cocoa to define the edges and give some depth. The large circle brads are from MM (Making Memories).

This pictures shows what each individual letter looks like. This sign is double sided so can be read from outside and inside the store. Taupe Grosgrain (grow-grain) ribbon was used to connect the letters together. The ribbon was glued with Tombo Mono Multi between the coasters. This glue can stick almost anything together and it won't fall apart. Highly recommended!!!

Evites

2007-01-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

Hi again, late last night evites went out for Tami's gathering and the ALL night stamping and scrapping. We'll be posting some new cards and projects soon, so keep checking back. Have a great day!!!

TGIF

2007-01-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

Friday is finally here and so the weekend begins. Check in on the blog every once in awhile as things will definitely change this weekend. Still learning on how to make it as user friendly as possible. Should have some projects up to view also, once I figure that part out.......lol

New to Blogging

2007-01-25T17:30:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, this is our first post on a new blog. Make sure you save this in your favorites as we will be posting classes and different projects.

~~Expresso Yourself~~

Memorial Service 12/18/10

Our Kate

Very sad news

Sadness and Relief

What a day

What's on my mind

September 15, 2010

It's been awhile again..........

Just amazing...

Update on chemo

The best news!!!

It's been awhile...

Some great news

Just a little update

How things are going....

Wigs!!!

Hair Day!!!!

Another step has started.

Another trip to the ER you say???

3rd Chemo Treatment - Last one this round

2nd Chemo treatment

Me and the ER

1st Chemo Treatment

Girls Night

Telling Emily

It's a new day and a lot has changed...

ATC's I made for convention.

July 4th Progressive pages

Pick a Petal

From the NEW Fall/Winter Catalog!!!!

A little about me!

The Surprise Project

Father's Day around the Corner

6x6 Scrapbook page for June Class

Devine Secret Sisterhood

SU Fall/Winter Catalog Preview!!!!!!!

May Promotion~~IT'S PAPER!!!!!

Stampin'UP! Retirement List!!!!!!!!

A little more Artfully Asian

Tami's 1st party this weekend!!!!

Tami's havin' a Party!!!!

The Recipe Lunch Tin

Mailboxes recipe....

April Promotion!!!!

Saturday Lunch Tin class - What a Blast!!!!

Lunch Boxes Friday Night

Apple Hill - Continues

Scrapbooking has begun!!!!

March-Altered Rectangle Lunch Boxes

Two of my favorite things~~~Trees and a Sunset

March ATC Technique Swaps

SPRING FEVER PROMOTION

Candice's 1st party as a SU demo!!!!!

Locks Of Love.......

Gift Card Project

We found a name we can stick with!!!

The Kissing Technique

Sooo Cool

Paypal Options have been added!!!!!

They Fit in the Mail!!!!!

Sweet Sale

Evites

TGIF

New to Blogging

Expresso Yourself