Quick little update:

So far, this week, I believe it's fair to say that Harv has felt less awful than last round of chemo... But he still hasn't had a lotta fun. Slightly fewer digestive issues and a good bit more nausea. 

The doctor adjusted some of the premeds this time in the hopes of helping with digestive issues from last time. There is another work around that I think Harv will try next time... 

He's disconnected from the pump and that always feels better. I think he'll start to feel more like himself either later today or tomorrow.

This weekend we celebrate our 18th anniversary. We're gonna treat ourselves to dinner and a night away at The Willows Inn. I'm very excited about the whole thing, but the foodie part of me is almost giddy! 

Thanks for checkin' on us. We love you.

Look at this! Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has received $20 million dollars for research for immunotherapy treatment.

Find the article here.

Tomorrow Harv has another round of chemo. Last time, it wasn't very much fun. While he didn't actually get sick, he did have more nausea.  He also had some digestion issues which were not very much fun.

He had an appointment with his Bellingham doctor on Friday and they're gonna switch up some of his pre-meds in hopes of making things easier on him. The doctor said that sometimes changing it up could either be more unpleasant or it could be unpleasant in a different way.

I'm praying that it'll just be plain ol' better and easier on him. Would appreciate it if you'd pray for that, too.

Thanks so much!
Lots of love to you.

Today was the third day of chemo for Harv... (bring-it-home pump for days 1-3). Day one was pretty normal. Day 2 was if-y. Day 3 has been less fun. We broke out the anti-nausea meds today...  He's resting now and I hope that tomorrow feels better. 

He's been trying to eat, but nothing sounds good. At the suggestion of my sister (who is very experienced in chemo stuff), I made him some mashed potatoes yesterday... He had a little bit then and then a little more today. I made him a scrambled egg and toast late this afternoon. 

Anyway... I don't like it when he feels bad. How do I solve that? If I talk too much about what I can do to solve his nausea, then it makes him nauseous... If I don't check, then how can I make things better?

Please pray that tonight he gets a good night's sleep and that tomorrow he feels more like himself.

Have I ever told you that cancer sucks?

If not, cancer sucks.

Went to Seattle today.... Harv's CEA is pretty close to the same... 2.5 (3 weeks ago it was 2.4 -- Dr. Lin calls those numbers the same.).

To be careful, Harv is gonna get a few rounds (2 or 3, I think) of chemo and then we'll have a CT scan in May. Which, hopefully, will be followed by maintenance chemo (pill form) for as long as we can do that.  Chemo will be administered in Bellingham. (YAY!)

It was a fairly uneventful trip for us -- which is always nice.

And, that is the end of my post for today. :-)

Have a happy week, people.

TWO DANG STINKIN' FOUR! (woooo deee woooooo woooo wooo!)

So... we went to the doctor today. 

A week ago, Harv's CEA count -- which is only part of the picture of the cancer in his body -- was 2.4!!! Two point four! Remember, now, that "normal" is 0-5. (insert big smiley face right here)...

When we got the pathology report we were told that the tumor they removed had no margin -- which means that it's very possible that the "roots" of the tumor are still hangin' out in the liver. 

But still! 2.4 is pretty doggone good.

It doesn't mean we get to relax. It doesn't mean we don't have anymore trips to Seattle. But it does mean that the situation is not dire. It means that we continue to live in hope for a lot more years with the man that we know and love. It means that we continue to fight and continue to hope.

Dr. Lin ordered more blood work today and Harv will have more again in two weeks. Meanwhile, Dr. Lin will talk to Dr. Park and a team of doctors at UW and develop a "next steps" plan. Next steps might include radiation. Next steps will most likely include chemo -- probably a pump situation again. And, it's possible that after those steps or some combination of those steps in the order that seems best, that Harv will end up on some maintenance chemo.

I continue to be amazed at the prognosis we were given from other doctors who didn't seem to share the hope and possibility that we feel with Dr. Lin. We are aware that Harvey has cancer. We are aware that a "stage 4" diagnosis isn't really very positive... But! We also know that hope changes things. We know that often times there are miracles in life. And, we know that we've had two pretty doggone good years for a family who began this journey in fear and trembling. And, we are expecting more time with more good years..and we will continue to live and enjoy the life we've been given. ('cept I might be grumpy every now and then when Harvey doesn't put his shoes in the closet.)

Thank you for doing life with us. You have been a wonderful support to us all. 

We love you.

Tomorrow we go for a visit with Dr. Lin and will find out the results of the blood work he had done last week. Hoping for a simple and effective method to kick any remaining cancer cells way the hell out of Harv's body... Goin' Fightin' Winnin'!

Love you people!