4th inning.

Last Thursday was the 4th inning - the 1/3 mark of this season (or one long 12 inning game).  I wish I could say it's been an easy weekend, but I've really struggled with nausea, fatigue, and rough emotions.  I came to the conclusion that I really don't want to go through 8 more chemo treatments. The actual treatment day wasn't too out of the ordinary.  My good friend KT met Erik and me beforehand and stayed with me while I snoozed through the IV benadryl and walked me home. Aside from napping all afternoon on the couch, I was ok.  Friday and Saturday on the other hand were tough.  I had great company, but I was just frustrated.  I also know that part of my frustration and sadness comes from the realization that my hair is really thinning.  Sometimes I wish I could just shave it off and be done rather than see handfulls everyday, but part of me still hopes that I'll escape this side effect.


Today is looking up.  This morning Erik and I enjoyed breakfast and newspapers at a local coffeeshop followed by a very meaningful church service.  Our pastor shared her remarkable story of God's healing from stage IV non-hodgkin lymphoma that happened only after every other treatment failed.  It was so encouraging to see her standing tall as a survivor and I'm able to see that however long this season may be, it will end well.  After church Erik and I had a picnic in Clark Park and played catch, which was great practice for Citybears softball this afternoon.  I think it was in that game that I felt truly ok for the first time since Thursday.  It's always a hurdle to get from Thursday to Monday after each treatment, but this one for some reason was heavier.  But I can say from experience that Monday does come and I'm still very fortunate to have so much of my life unscathed by cancer.


Big thing for next week is a PET scan on Thursday... the hope is for at least 1/2 of the cancer to be gone.  Hoping, hoping, hoping.


Thanks friends.


Love,
katy

Happy Birthday shout out to my little bro.  13 years old on April 15th!

baptism.

26 and a half years ago my parents made the decision to baptize me and welcome me into the church.  I love looking back upon these pictures knowing how meaningful this day was.

My dad on the front left, my mom, older brother John, John's friend?, our priest... and little me

I love my dad's glasses in this one.  Also pictured is my sister Ally and Godparents Kevin and Karen.

Last Sunday I was able to recommit my parents' intentions.  I had hoped to be baptized again for a few years now but had been waiting for a community that truly fit.  That has been so true here in Philadelphia at Vineyard. 

This was such a meaningful experience for myself and 3 close friends Marco, Bobby, and Jonathan.

Bobby, me, our pastor Brad, Jonathan, and Marco

This week has felt more up and down than others.  We enjoyed a great time at the shore with 2 good friends, had a successful Citybears softball game on Sunday, and a great surprise reception for Erik at his work on Monday.  Tuesday was the most difficult day, in which I attempted to work but needed to leave after just a few hours.  Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I rested and spent time outdoors reading... with a little tennis and softball thrown in for good measure.  Saturday I felt good as new and was able to be back at work.  More work planned for tomorrow, Monday, and Wednesday with hopefully an outdoor day on Tuesday.  Inning #4 Thursday morning.


Take care friends,
katy

3rd inning.

The 3rd inning was pretty uneventful... to be honest I slept through most of it.


The day started off nice with breakfast with Jess at Gold Standard, followed by coffee and reading (Catching Fire) on Penn's campus, and then lunch with Marco at PotBellies.


Then around 12:30 pm labs were drawn (white blood cells are lookin' good... so no shot today to boost them) and Erik and I met with Dr. Nasta, who is so so good and seems very pleased with how treatment is going.  Last Sunday I could actually feel that some of my lymph nodes are smaller or even gone, it's so encouraging.  And now plans are made for a 2nd PET scan on May 3rd (1/3 of the way through treatment, aka:  halfway between the 4th and 5th innings) to see how everything is working and to see if we need to make any adjustments.


Originally my chemo was going to be a little delayed around 3:30 pm, but they were able to squeeze me in around 2:30, right after my appointment with Dr. Nasta finished up.  Erik needed to be in a meeting for a short time in between, so Marco came back with me this time.  Everything was pretty status quo, except that instead of turning down the IV Ativan (both for anti-anxiety and anti-nausea effects) that they offer each time, I decided to see if it would make any difference... and it did.  I was out.  I hardly remember waking up, leaving the hospital, riding in a cab (with Erik thankfully), walking upstairs, and going to sleep again.  I will say it made everything go more quickly and I'm not nauseous, but feeling that out of it is odd.  I'll have to decide which is better each time I think.


No picture from yesterday... since I wasn't even thinking enough to ask.  So instead I will show you what on the schedule for this weekend:

That's right... the Jersey Shore for 2 days of resting a relaxing :)  Then back to work on Tuesday.


Thanks for checking in.
Love,
katy

PA roadtrip.

Thursday evening we were feeling spontaneous watching the Phillies recap from Game 1.  Erik told me that both the Flyers (hockey) and Phillies (baseball) were playing in Pittsburgh Saturday and that it was going to be quite a day.  Then, we decided we had to be there.  I have to admit... my state geography is a little rusty... I thought Pittsburgh was a little closer to "central PA" not practically Ohio.  


We started Saturday morning around 7am with a rental car (the ole Jeep guzzles way too much petro), Flyers and Phillies gear, and of course Dunken Doughnuts.  

Stop #1  Middletown, PA ... my old stomping ground during clinicals last year in Hershey
Stop #2  State College, PA for delicious diner food and to check out the Penn State Football spaceship

Stop #3  Clearfield, PA for an Amish quilt... couldn't pass it up

Stop #4  (and favorite!!!)  PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA the home of Punxsutawney Phil the world's most important groundhog

Stop #5  Pittsburgh, PA.  Really neat city, loved the downtown, walkable distances to the sports fields, and the rivers


Flyers:

Phillies:

Back on the road... this time the more direct route :)  Home around 4:30am... it's a good thing Easter was relaxing and we were able to have a 5pm bedtime.

MONDAY APRIL 9TH = OPENING DAY!

Clearly not much changed for me from Saturday to Monday

Phew... now it's time for a 2-day work week then chemo #3 on Thursday.


Love,
katy

newlyweds.

Last Monday Jess took Erik and me out for a classic Philly photo shoot.  Below are my favorites so far.

Coming soon:
Saturday's Pennsylvania road trip (4/7/12)
Phillies opening day (TODAY!)
3rd inning (Thursday)


All is going well.
Love,
katy

citybears.

Today was a great one.  Erik and I went to the early service at church, did some work at home in the late morning, then I had lunch with Jess and KB before seeing the Hunger Games while Erik played hockey... then we got to dye Easter eggs with Jess and Jim.  It was hilarious and very nostalgic.  

E:  "Erik and Katy sitting in a tree", K:  "Oklahoma love", K: just red and pink, K:  "Mr Cow", E:  "Katerik", and E's favorite:  "The Flyers"

However, I think the most heartwarming moment of today came when I went to Citybears softball practice and I saw my whole team dressed in this:

These are really really special bears.  Not only are we defending South Philly Spring champs... but we stick together.  Thank you guys, really, this is so special.  Can't wait to win again this year!


Alrightly, that's all my cheese for one day.  Oh and in case you are reading this bro... 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY JB!!  I HOPE IT'S BEEN A GREAT ONE!  I LOVE YOU!  love, katy