Dear Family and Friends,
It is Monday afternoon, and I’m going to start. One of the most recent of side effects is a fuzzy sensation around the eyes and head that hangs around. That used to be the sign for nap time, but now I just have to push through it. So, bear with me. I hope I can tell if I’m not making sense. I spent this a.m. working on health care bills and insurance reports. I shouldn’t be surprised to be fuzzy. After a short nap a friend came by, and brought dinner, and then we took a short walk. I am getting close to the end of chemo- May 18 and the following week. The side effects that seem to build up with time are low red and white blood counts which, with the hair loss, will just have to take time to recover. All of my other lab. report #’s are good- very good, and the soreness from the surgery is finally gone. My weight is also up, and altho it fluctuates, I am now up to about 118. I seem to plateau at a weight, and stay there for a while, so this is a new up from 112. Fatigue is the major effect I deal with, now. Things so vary, but generally I still have a good Fri. afternoon and evening. All things being relative, I can have an energetic afternoon, and still need to go to bed by 9:00. It’s really helpful to split the day into morning, afternoon and evening. Those of you who remember my nightowl tendencies will know how things have changed. Anyway, it is exciting and scary to be heading into the new phase.

I realize at Mass, how little I sing anymore. I used to sing all the way to work- to wake me up, and most of the way home, to stay alert. Music has been a consistent part of life, and a real joy and challenge for me. I was just realizing how everyone I know has shared a little of the music background. As a starter, my Mom was a force behind beginning the music program at Sacred Heart, our tiny high school/gradeschool in our parish in Falls City, NE. They didn’t have a band, but had a vocal music program K-12. We learned part singing as early as 2nd grade, and participated in music competitions in our conference. We also could take private piano lessons, which my sisters and I, and lots of kids did. In high school a group of us always sang the funerals, in Latin, of course, and there were various choirs at many levels. Sr. Mary DeLourdes, one of our music teachers, was a lifelong friends of mine, to the point where people in our same religious community called her my grandmother. I am veering along here, but when I was looking thru my letters, SMD was one of the most faithful
letter writers. I will keep going on a music theme, because this is a good way to remember and connect.

Our biggest home improvement, a wine refrig. in our garage. We don’t have a “wine cellar” collection, but Clark does a great job of having some good bottles. This was to have been Clark’s Xmas present, but I didn’t get it done this year. We were keeping the wine in an old garage refrig that we just used as an insulated cabinet. We used to have some bushes that helped keep the garage cooler until I had the bushes cut way back. So the story goes on and on, but a friend who had just built himself an unbelievable refrigerated wine cellar, needed to get rid of his former one, soooooooooo after rearranging the garage, and making a few other changes,
our friend and Clark got the deed done, and we’re thrilled.

As spring arrives I hope you all are enjoying the beautiful change of seasons. I think I had better close, so I can get this out. Thank you again for all of the prayers, energy and notes. I do so enjoy hearing from everyone.

Love
Annie/Noel

Dear Family and Friends,
This has been an unusual week, an Easter week, indeed. Last Fri., Good Fri., I got a call from my doctor, saying I couldn’t have my usual chemo, because my white-cell count was too low. Well, I expected I might also be feeling weak, wiped-out etc. Instead, I had a very different week, feeling more energy each day. Clark and I were worried enough about not making it to friends’ house for Easter, that we had a plan B. Instead, after usual nap, I was really good. Dinner was early and so it worked very well. The other good news is that my weight is up, about 4 lbs., over the last 4 weeks.

So what does one do with better energy? I did have big catching up to do esp. with parts of the house I haven’t touched since surgery. I also worked on some desk work, and organizing projects for this spring, that have to get some research and action, and of course, some correspondence. One of the best things was walking energy, so although we had a rainy week, I still got in good walks, and some mat exercise at home. Tomorrow, if my labs are OK, I’ll have my full dose of both chems. I’m not looking forward to it, but am curious to see the results. Anyhow, it has been a great week, and fun to be able to share it.

I had hoped to do so many things, but it’s so hopeful to just feel better for a while. I didn’t get any scrapbooking done, but those of you who do it, know how much it takes to get going. I do best when I can spread out all over a big area, and plan to work for several days. I went in to work with a personal trainer after a scrapbooking weekend. When he asked how my body was, I had to mention a stiff neck, upper back problems, and aching shoulders. He was mystified how I’d gotten in such bad shape since our last good session. I couldn’t bear to admit what I’d been up to- no, not backpacking, yoga, pilates, hiking, kayaking, sky diving or anything dramatic- just intense hours of scrapping. Well, he was lucky he didn’t choke, when I finally told him what I’d been doing. He assured me that had to be a first for Gold’s Gym. So after some well-deserved teasing, we got to work, and it was a good work out.

Hope you are all well, and know I still need your prayers and energy. I hope you will include another friend’s friend who has advanced ovarian cancer, but may not be able to have surgery because of a nerve disorder. She is 50, has a great family, but no symptoms or warnings. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Annie/Noel

Hello dear family and friends,
I’m trying to give you a sample of what my side effects are like. I had chemo as usual on Friday, but didn’t have the usual energy boost, so had a nap and late walk and fuzzy evening. Saturday was similar, so I hope I get a pass on not blogging. Sunday we went to 7:30 Mass for Palm Sunday I woke up after extensive and on-going dreams that I had to get ready for tennis, because I was going to play Martina Navartolova (one of the all-time great women players). This mental thing is sort of typical; I get very energetic in my mind and plan all kind of things – and my sub-conscious seems to still be working things out. These projects don’t get done, and often don’t even make a list. Later on Sunday reality was tough because one of my tennis groups called to check in and see if I wanted to come over to the court, and watch or even play. Sunday was probably my worst day on chemo, and so I wasn’t able to play or catch up. I know I will play again, and that is a good motivator. I love tennis for fun, and have been taking lessons for about 10 years. Some of you remember playing in Falls City; we all learned and played with Dad. In college I had a chance to take tennis in PE, but figured I already knew what I needed, and took Ballet, which I loved. Anyway, I had a lot to learn, am still learning, and found that I could play 5 times a week last summer. So, of all my projects it gives me the most energy. If you remember the Gospel from Sunday, it is totally, “the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

It has been fun to see how many other folks enjoy BB. We are big ND fans. Clark and Luke both graduated from ND. Luke, who is our total natural athlete, participated in many sporting activities at ND. He started out in men’s lacrosse, trying out for Varsity level, but got injured. He then started with the boxing program, and Bookstore Basketball, which is very competitive intra-mural BB, ending in a big playoff and tourney. In senior year, maybe junior also, he played with a group of guys who scrimmaged with the women’s BBteam, so we have continued to enjoy the women’s team. Tonight is the NCAA women’s finals, so we are expecting great things.

I probably won’t do another greeting, so I want to wish you Happy Holy Week and Easter. Hope the earth is springing wherever you live. I am trying to also e-mail each of you, eventually, so do know how much I appreciate hearing from everyone. Do keep up the prayers- that is my deepest energy.

Love Annie/Noel