Whee!

My doctor, Andrea Wang Gillam, told Donn, JoAnn and me today that the medicines I am on have reduced the number and sizes of the tumors in my liver, pancreas and abdomen. She also took me off of some of the more irritating oral meds. It made us all feel more comfortable about JoAnn going back to Africa soon to continue her work and kick start the construction of the Maternity Clinic. In the meantime it's a big hurrah and a promise of more time to spend my nieces and nephews' inheritance!

Walleye pike

We didn't catch it but we hope to eat one just like it.

Spending time with Arch & Deb in Michigan

There will be no boating this year, but we might get in a little ice fishing!

The front of the house

Our front yard and frozen lake

Front porch and lake from inside house.

Finalizing maternity ward plans

Jo with Frank and Pat Hasse finalizing maternity ward plans

Love Conquers All and Dog Whisperer

Today was a chemo day, and everything went smoothly. Because some of my counts were down, they reduced the amount of the chemo drug which has that negative effect. I have also begun a new chemo I take in a daily pill, called Tarceva. I am getting some of the side effects like a rash on my face, mild nausea, mild headaches, and so on. The doctor says these are good signs that the drug is taking effect, and I am hoping the diarrhea symptom kicks in, at least for a little while, because I am having the opposite problem.

Because this is not a very entertaining update, we have included a little picture story about JoAnn and Alison and Mary Sue's dog, Roxie. If you know Jo well, you know that she has a feeling toward most dogs, especially big dogs, somewhere between fear and dislike, until she gets to know them. Roxie outweighs JoAnn significantly, so it is a great accomplishment that they have made such good friends.   ~  Lynne