Hello dear family and friends,

Some days it is hard to blog, but today there is lots to say so I have to be sure to get to the point. I will start with what most of you really want to know– and that is how I am feeling and doing- more than what I am doing with my spare time. Anyway, I keep getting very positive numbers on my blood work, which gives you all of the factors- so my vital organs are doing well despite the Chemo, my red blood cell actually went up on its own, (which means that the anemia is still there, and a big factor, but not getting worse, and my CA125 show that the cancer is much more inactive-great numbers there. For those of you more technically inclined, I still have some fluid, ascites in the abdomen, but it also has lessened and the docs are pleased. I was such a mess when I came in they keep telling me it is a wonderful surprise to see how well I’m doing. Yea! Now, feeling. I still go to Chemo once a week on Fri. I think the week is much less predictable, but thankfully the last two Fri., including yesterday, I did get the big energy boost when I needed it. Things are still going well on Sat. My expectation from the last several times is that when the boost is there, the down hill is more intense and may go Sun.-Wed. or Thurs. I just can’t predict. The down time is esp. marked by fatigue. My abdominal pain is still like bloating, gas, and cramping, which I’m working on with diet. I also have a good appetite and have now gained a full 10 lbs. So, with my wonderful friends and neighbors who bring healthy organic food M,W,F, this is still very doable. So, in the last lap of the Chemo I am to expect the maximum side effects because the toxins are at their peaks, but I’m getting such good help, and I’m sure the energy of your prayers and support are the surprise factors. My clearest jobs, get good sleep, walk and exercise as much as I can, gain some weight, and eat and cook healthier than ever before.

So, other news. Two great weekends, seeing Clark’s brother, Jim, Jolanne, and their son Matthew, who is in the Bay area for a year of doctoral work, and Luke, who was home for the weekend of Spring break from 2nd year of Law School. Ellen was able to join us for dinners and visiting. We enjoyed St. Paddy’s day and a great East Indian dinner that Ellen cooked on Sun. Clark, Ellen and I also went to a great Spices/Nutrition- Cooking demo. with my nutritionist. Sharon Meyer, thru the Marin Gen. Integrative program, for those of you in Marin. Again, we learned primarily about Indian spices and how good they are for lots of digestive issues, and anti-cancer cooking. Turmeric and cinnamon are some of the best to start with and can be used in about anything.

And the most exciting news is that Salesian High School sent both boys and girls basketball teams to the CA state championship games on Fri. in Sacramento. There are 5 division, made by size of the school. We are D4, which is the second smallest and is 500-7 or 800, I think. Needs a fact check, but we are a school of about 530.
To qualify for the State Championship a school has to have beaten the best school in our geographical area, and size division in the state- North and South. We have been in it three of the last four years and won it three years ago, and yes,the boys won yesterday by a score of 70-56, which doesn’t indicate how tight a game it was, but they did a great job. The girls, who are a very young team, also went, and played hard, but faced a team ranked third in the country and went down by about 30 pts. First time the girls have qualified, but not the last. It was also such fun to see a lot of the Salesian faculty, and so many parents and alums I have known thru the years. As you can tell, Clark and I love basketball, so I still had to do my chemo in the a.m. and the Clark had to take the day, and we went to Sacramento. Love to you all. Do keep up the prayers. So good to hear from so many of you, and slowly, but surely I will get notes off to everyone. Hope the blog helps.

Love Noel/Annie