Heather and Ma (Gale) also got to come.  They showed up a little later in the day, so our visit was stagered a little.  This gave me an opportunity to catch up with Ma and her family, and spend a little time with Miss Heather.  I am going to try to get a little more one on one with my baby girl today, before she leaves to head back to T-town for School.  One thing for sure, she is very beautiful.  Dad and I were commenting on just how very pretty she is in a hospital mask with those big green eyes that smile all the time.  Princess comes to mind…

They have a little patient consult/visiting room here and it was just the right size for all of us, Mom, Dad, and Don included, to pile in and visit as a group.  I enjoyed this very much ,even though most of us were in masks, LOL!  I sat next to Daddy and we held hands while we visited.  His hands are so big a strong, I love to hold them…

Around 7 pm we wrapped up the day.  I was so exhausted and needed a rest.  It ended up working out well though, because I got sick to my stomach (thank goodness everyone had left first),  and had a nice little “chemo clean out session”.  This ended with a nice hot shower and change of clothes.  O well, what does the bible say about vanity?  chemo is humbling… love to all, Karen

From Ginny’s perspective:  Karen had a GREAT day.  She was up and having a good time quilting, painting, and even went to a sing-a-long this afternoon.  No problems at all…then around 7:30 p.m. started feeling bad.  Went to shivering and complained of spiking a temp…although the thermometer at that time didn’t agree.  By 9:00 p.m. temperature was 101.5 and she was started on Flagyl.  Blood has been taken via the central line and also from her hand (peripheral)…the results will be cultured and compared.  Had to be taken from both sites to rule out infection isolated in the central line vs. systemic (throughout her body).  Urine cultures also taken to rule out infection there as well.  Her white blood cells are no longer abundant (by tonight all white blood cells will be zero) and unable to fight infection which leaves her body completely vulnerable to any invader.  I must leave tomorrow afternoon…and it pains me to leave her not feeling well…

To all of you who want to visit her…she would love the visits however, if there is any chance that you are sick or you have been exposed to anyone who has been sick…Karen is not able to fight off any “bugs” at this time and it could put her in seriously grave danger.  Please, everyone, consider her first and call or write instead.  She does feel the love and would love to see everyone, but her safety must come first and we all want for her to be able to GO HOME!  Thanks again, Her big sister Gin 

10:00 p.m. Fever appears to be breaking…one anti nausea med (phenergan) is wearing off and another one (zofran) is taking hold…The amount of pills and meds that are being pumped in and swallowed is unbelievable!  I don’t think I have ever seen anything quite like this….but she appears to be feeling better even if she is still loopy and mixing up her words.

The last 4 days or so Karen did a lot of sleeping and when I would talk to her it was very short and she sounded, well, sick. Today was totally different. She is wide awake and feeling pretty good. She is having an exciting and fun day (I will let her tell you about that) and it comes across when you talk to her. I just can’t tell you all how happy that makes me! I don’t like seeing my baby feel bad. It is around dinner time there. Maybe she can update you all soon. The boys and I will be heading out in about an hour.

wow, I don’t know how it is for everyone else, but It seems like time is flying for me.  This is a good thing.  I had a rough nite but am feeling better now.  I have completed by 7 and 3 chemo dosing and am now just waiting on my blood counts to drop out.  I’ve only actually thrown up once and I am considered nuetropenic at this time.  I get really gittery on my insides mostly at night but it seems that ativan and an occassional pain pill helps.  I am trying to only take what I need because they already have to give me so much as it is.  I didn’t know ativan melted under the tongue can have an immediatley reaction to stop nausea.  praise God.  I am really excited today because 3/4 kids are coming.  2 boys tonight and Heather tomorrow. Randy is away at Harding University and will have the hardest time visiting.  But God is doing something so special with him that I know he will be strong.  I can sometimes feel him holding me up in front of my savior and praying over me.  Thankyou Randy, my firstborn Son.  I know what you are doing I my behalf, I can feel it:)

And Don,  I can’t wait to see you.  I know I don’t call alot but that’s because I miss you so much.  I don’t like to think of you not here with me so I just try not to think about it.

Jake and Dylan, and Heather, I can’t wait to see you.  I hope you are not too bored.  this room is small and not too exciting but just the fact that we are together will be enough.  and there will be others here to entertain you some.

Ginny washed all my clothes today so I have plenty of clean clothes.

gotta go, nurse needs something

karen

Don: Jacob, Dylan and I are heading back to Gainesville Friday night. Heather will join us the next morning. It is going to be a great visit for Karen and the boys. I am very anxious. I need a hug! Everyone say another prayer. Thanks to all the visitors to the site that have been saying prayers daily.

From Ginny’s perspective:  (Karen hasn’t felt well enough to blog in a few days but wanted me to update everyone.)  She is still walking (taking her laps around the “Y”).  She is absolutely exhausted and is very nauseated.  The nausea has increased greatly today.  She awoke to vomiting (the first time since chemo began) and has had to have Ativan and other meds round the clock to combat the nausea.  She doesn’t have a long attention span and can’t converse for very long at a time before she is utterly exhausted and must sleep for a while.  We have to encourage her to get up and sit or walk but she is doing it especially when the meds for nausea take effect.  They tell us that movement is important to ward off pneumonia that would complicate the chemo treatments.  It is a dance of sorts between the symptoms and fatigue.  I thought at one point she would throw me out of the room for questioning her if she wanted some crackers…she snapped and asked if “we had to talk about that right now!”  I understood the irritability to mean that she is very sick for that moment, because later she needed me to be the big sister and crawled up on our recliner with me and cuddled…just like when we were little girls.  When she was little she used to come and get in my narrow twin bed with me when she was scared or needed to cuddle in order to go to sleep.  At times as a young girl I would get aggravated with her and saw her as “dependent” and “needy” even though that was probably not the words I would have used back then.  Maybe “a pain” would have been more like it!  She is and has always been so small and when I hold her she is like a little sparrow.  She spent a while today cuddled as we talked about how she felt and how she wanted this to be over and resume her life again.  After a while, she was too tired and needed to get back in the bed for another nap.  It is funny that as an adult, I would hold her FOREVER!  Isn’t it interesting how God shows us mercy and  enables us as adults to show mercy, love, tenderness, and patience to our loved ones if we let Him.  I sure didn’t show these qualities to her when I was young.  I was telling dad today about us sharing a room when we were pre-teens and how I would tape off her side of  the room and DARE her to cross the line…I am not even sure if “my little shadow” had an exit (with all the tape) to the doorway.  I am sure that her “issues” of exit were probably not of my concern…(Ha) and yet I would have fought to the death for her if anyone else treated her as I did.  I wish that I could take this from her…but I don’t know if I would have her strength.  She truly is a fighter and I am so proud of her and her strength. 

She did have a few bright moments today…we applied a little makeup…she was so beautiful!  I spent some time massaging her back, brushing her hair, and holding her hand.  I love her so much!

Back to the chemo:  This evening the last bag (#7=7 days) was hung for the second round of chemo…Tomorrow is day one of the third chemo.  Her mouth is sore but she is still eating pretty well…some meals better than others.  She still has her hair but it appears to be changing.  A little wispier and I am finding a few peices here and there.  It looks a little thinner in places but we can brush it.  The chemo has made her “neutropenic” now so she is considered “immuno compromised” and extra diligent care has to be taken not to expose her to any germs.  She has to wear a mask out of the room.  Strict handwashing is observed.  She can not eat yoghurt (due to the cultures), no fresh fruit or veggies, no fountain drinks, no softserve icecream.  Basically, she can’t have anything that hasn’t been pastuerized or sterilized in some way. 

She misses her family…she talks about the kids coming to see her.  She is worried that she won’t have the energy to converse and spend time with them.  I told her it will be ok.  They will be patient and wait for the moments that she will be able to.  I hope that I am right!

Thanks everyone for the encouragment and prayers!  She is fighting the fight with strength and courage and grace that only God can give to someone in her shoes.  Again, thanks and love to you all.  May God bless you and keep you.  Gin

Hi everyone,  computer  is working for now.  I love a miss everyone.  thankyou for all the calls and comments and prayers.  I am really tired but so far so good.  My stomach gets to hurting some but they are really good here about bringing in medications to help.   Thanks for the pony Lisa M.  It is adorable!  I will be sleeping with it.  I look forward to when I can come home and things will be back to normal.  love you all Karen

Don: I thought I should take a moment to tell you all a few things about communication with Karen.

Comments posted on the web site will be available to the Public. Karen is very happy at all the notes and prayers she is receiving from friends, family and co-workers.

If you want to be sure that something is not posted on the web site then you should email her. KCornelius@mchsi.com

Flowers are not allowed at the cancer unit but if you desire to send a card the address is:
Shands at the University of Florida
1600 SW Archer Road
Gainesville, FL 32608
352.265.0111

I included the phone number to the hospital and Karen does have her cell phone. She is starting to sleep more than be awake so please don’t take it personal if she can’t talk to you when you call. One of the family will likely answer the phone and we are happy to take messages and let you know how she is doing.

Don: Karen told me this morning that the laptop is not working. Now, that is a drag! I talked to her about 3 times today though. Let me fill in the blanks on what happened today.

Laura went home this afternoon.
Ginny arrives tomorrow.
Ken bailed on them about 5:30pm.
Mom spent the night with her.
Karen felt pretty good all day and took a couple extra laps around the floor.
She is already tired of the food and has started ordering off the menu. I do mean ‘off’. She is ordering then that are not even on the menu. Tonight she had tomato soup, grilled cheese and mashed potatoes. She is still eating pretty well but tastes are changing from the medication.

Forgot to tell you all yesterday, they moved her into a new room. This one has a shower and a toilet! No more going down the hall for a shower or having to use the port-a-potty behind the screen in the corner. Seriously, this was a big deal to us!!

Good night, Karen. Hope you get the computer to work tomorrow. No telling what I will tell the fans if you aren’t here to tell your own story!