What a difference a year makes...

Here is Megan this Thanksgiving. Her hairstyle is so adorable. Can you believe that one year ago she was completely bald from chemotherapy? She continues the journey--with many, many potholes. But her smile is still radiant.
 

And the winning team is....

once again the LSU TIGERS! Poor Kevin! It really looked like this could be Arkansas' year. It seemed like the timing was right for that Arkansas Razorback ornament to go to the top of our Christmas tree. But, alas, it seems one more year that Kevin and the rest of the Razorback community will have to endure a Tiger win.

 
 
  

Halloween 2006

Yes, even boring dweebs like me celebrate Halloween. The first pic is from the annual Spice Girls Bunko Halloween Extravaganza. What a great group of women! Good to laugh with, good to cry with, good to have lunch with, good to have a drink with. I'm blessed to have them in my life. The other two pics are of Annabelle and Addy. They truly do not understand people's fascination with animals in costume. Just seems WRONG, doesn't it.

 
 
  

Fall 2006 Vegas

Just a few pics of Kevin and me and the beautiful decorations in the Bellagio atrium.

 
 
 
  

The End of Fall

Autumn is the most melancholy season of all. For me, it is a reminder of the passing of time. Time--the one commodity we can't seem to capture and save. I've watched the maples and oaks turn magnificent shades of red and orange. Then, just like a fire, the colors die away. The aspens are still golden, but with every breeze, more and more leaves fall to the ground. In just a few days the limbs will be bare. And in just a few weeks, the ground will be white with snow. Ah, if only we could make the fall last a little longer...

LSU Homecoming September 23, 2006

 
 
 
  

Surprises

Aren't surprises the best? Megan and I just pulled a great one. My family knew that I was arriving for a visit. They were unaware that Megan would be tagging along. So, I met my parents at the curb of the New Orleans airport, put my luggage in the trunk, then looked around and announced, "Oh, I've forgotten something. I need to run back in." I went back into the terminal and brought Megan out with me. It was GREAT! Then when Syd got to my folks' house, I sent her upstairs to get her "birthday present" off the bed. I could hear her yelling to Megan (who videotaped the whole thing), "I just talked to you on the phone!"

I just love good surprises.

Happy 24th Anniversary

Okay--so I'm not the best at keeping an up-to-date blog. Friends, I know many of you are concerned that I am still somewhere in the Baltic Sea. Never fear, we made it home from our journeys in reasonably sane shape. Had a great time. If I ever figure out how to post photos, I'll put a couple on this blog.

Today is our 24th wedding anniversary. My, how time flies! Or does it creep? Depends on the day, I guess. We're having quite the ride though. Planning on going out to dinner and thats about it. Kevin leaves tomorrow for Tulsa; I leave Wednesday for Louisiana.

Megan spent 3 nights on the lovely 8th floor of LDS hospital recently. Diagnosis--bowel obstruction. Things seem better. She started a new drug, Doxil. Its giving her terrible mouth sores. Poor thing can only eat very soft, cold, bland stuff.

Syd is still Syd. Going 20 different directions without a map. I'll see her in a couple of days and celebrate LSU's Homecoming with her.

So, until the next post...

Share a bottle of wine with someone you love!

Set to Sail

We made it to Copenhagen! Unfortunately, a major piece of my luggage did not. But thats okay; if it doesn't show up in Sweden, I'll just make due. Of course, it is the bag with my new Talbots, Coldwater Creek, and other purchases. AND my dress shoes for formal night tomorrow night.

The flight over was uneventful. First class is THE way to fly to Europe. And Scandinavian Airlines is wonderful. I still didn't sleep much on the trip (played video games instead,) so I'm pretty tired now. But I think I'll sleep well tonight.

Sure wishing I had packed more Hershey bars... maybe the girls will bring a big bag when they meet me in Paris...

Ship pulls out of the harbor in less than an hour. Gotta go meet friends and toast the coastline as we pull away. Bon Voyage.

Countdown to our European Adventure

Next week at this time, I'll be arriving in Copenhagen for the start of our European Adventures! There is a ton of work to prepare for a monthlong "vacation." The cruise portion of the trip is taking care of itself; I only have to show up with luggage and passport. The land portion (where I meet up with Megan and Sydney and travel through France, Switzerland, and Italy) is a tad more complicated. Hotels in 5 cities, rail passes, museum tickets, and car rental are reserved. I still need to figure out where we'll stay in Geneva. And I have to figure out the train schedule. And a quick lesson in French and Italian wouldn't hurt. Thank goodness Sydney knows French; it may save us in Paris. I don't know how much posting I'll do, but I'll attempt to keep track of our adventures via this blog; anyone who is remotely interested can check in and see how its going. I'll also post the link to the princess cruise line; they have a web cam from the deck of our ship, The Star Princess. Occasionally you can see the port where the ship is docked; keep in mind the time difference or you'll just see water or darkness. So, back to packing and organizing--and then LET THE FUN BEGIN!

If this drug works....Priceless

Megan's first week on topotecan and thalidomide was uneventful. I'd take her to the oncologist's office, sit and watch the poison drip into her arm (thinking the whole time, "let it get the cancer, let it get the cancer."), and an hour or so later, I'd return to the condo in Salt Lake. These drugs aren't nearly as toxic as the taxol/carbo--I just hope they work. We have had a bugger of a time getting the thalidomide. And man, oh man, is it expensive!!!!! Albertson's pharmacy's price was $6800 per month; insurance pays 70-80%, depending on if its considered generic or not. But my hunter husband was able to locate the drug at Huntsman Cancer Institute and it was $1700. We're unclear as to whether the insurance pays the same percentage there. It is insane! But my fearless husband and his merry band of employees are on the case. Either way, we'll get the drug; hey--isn't that what credit cards are made for????

One day of poison dripped into daughter's arm--$10,000
One month of thalidomide------------------------$6,800
One more year of health------------------------Priceless

Welcome to the 21st Century

Well, it seems I have moved into the 21st century. Blogging--what a concept. From this title, you get the idea of what is helping me make it through hell. Megan's illness has taken its toll. In the past year, she has grown up; and I have grown old...and fat. Heck, if I have to eat a bag of chocolates to stay sane, so be it. So, here's my first post. I'll add more as life warrants it. Now onto a nice merlot...