Hi everyone,

Don went back to Panama City this morning.  I miss him already.  Mom and Dad spent the day with me and Momma is spending the night.  I am getting my last doses of chemo tonight and in the morning.  I am feeling pretty good.  Just starting to get tired and heavy.  I haven’t been nauseous or having any pain.  We will discharge tomorrow and go to the camper.  Don will come back by Christmas eve.

I am so thankful for my remission, the possibility of a donor, these wonderful Doctors and nurses, all my friends and family, and a God who truly loves me.  keep in touch, and I will too.

love ,

karen

We are in room 8220, on the eighth floor.  And we just started the chemo.  I am so thankful to be in remission, and when my blood counts are up,I feel sooo good.  It’s nice to feel normal in between treatments.  It gives you hope. 

I really wish I could have seen all my friends (co-workers) at BMC this last trip home.  I was just so busy trying to get Christmas done and catch up with stuff, that I just couldn’t get by there.  I miss you guys.  Maybe when i come home in January I will get to stop by.  

We will be here until January 6th.  Sorry Tina, but I won’t be home for new years.  We will get together soon though. 

I love you guys,  thanks for checking in.  Mary, we will be praying for your Dad.  May God bless all of you.  Remember to love your life, and be sure to stop and smell the roses.

love karen

Hi everyone!  We came back to Gainesville this morning.  Today’s admition was cancelled when we got to the hospital, so we will be admitted tomorrow (Wednesday) and discharged on Monday of next week.  Then we will have 2 weeks here in Gainesville, with daily visits to the clinic for blood work, etc.   I feel sooo good!  I am almost back to my old self!  I need to remember that I can feel this good when I don’t feel good!  It’s easy to forget and just think I will never feel normal again.  Chemo really affects the way you feel.   You get “chemo brain”.  It gets harder to think and say things that make sense.  Also you feel so shaky.  And your hands and body actually shake, like your blood sugar is low.  and I think it makes you cry too.  I didn’t used to cry much, and now I cry at the drop of a hat.  These are just a few of the things…but anyway, by day 28 of the “chemo cycle”, I feel pretty normal!!! 

I had a wonderful week at home.  I visited with some of my friends, and my family and I celebrated a wonderful early Christmas.  The kids opened their gifts on Saturday, so we had Sunday and Monday to watch them play with their new stuff.  Jake got a long board (skate board thing), and lots of new clothes, and Dylan got lots of games and a marble roller coaster that is really cool!  Heather and Randy both got money (college kids).  We all had stockings full of candy, and grandma, grandpa, Laura, Darren and Kody all came over for our traditional Christmas breakfast.  We love to do ham and eggs, and bacon, and sausage gravy, with biscuits and toast, and dippy eggs.  Then we make room for pies (store bought of course) and egg nog.  We made Christmas cookies this year- wow!  what fun!  What a mess!!  I think Kody really liked it (he’s 3)but we are glad not to do it again until next year!

Also, good news!!  I may have a Bone Marrow Donor soon!  Isn’t that great!!  The coodinator told us today, they have 5 possible matches, they are doing some prelimary blood work on now.  Five potential donors!!  We will let you know when we hear something.

Love you guys,

Karen

hi everyone,

I am feeling sooooo much better!  Friday was my last bad day and its been up hill ever since.  I had Don here for the whole weekend and now I getting to go home!  We will finish up with EKG’s, research drugs,  and blood work tomorrow.  I am so happy and I’m even feeling strong.  I’m going to try not to over doit.  I’m going to have an early Christmas with my boys but I am inviting anybody who wants to spend Christmas day in Gainesville to come on!  We should be admitted again on Dec 15, but only for 6 days so will be out of the hospital before Christmas day.  Don and I are going to decorate the camper some.  We are learning that gainesville has some great shopping and restaurants.  If my little family was here with me it would be perfect.  I think I’d be alot more happy getting my treatments.  O’well this week at home is going to be Grande!

I have made some wonderful friends here.  Patients and their families who are going through this too.  It’s awesome to hear there stories.  Most everyone is so upbeat!! which is really surprising to me, since they are going through the same things I am.  We visit together while waiting at clinic.  

I am also learning to crochet.  It seems to be pretty soothing and not too demanding.  Even coloring can feel frustrating at times.  My insides get so shaky and my attention span seems to be really short.  not sure why.  I feel really bored at times, but yet unable to focus on anything.  weird hey.  I think so too.  anyway, I’m doing great right now. see you all soon

love ya

karen

Hi everyone,  I am feeling better today.  My stomach seems to be settling down some and it helps having enough blood to walk and breathe.  My white count is still probably low but hopefully recovering.  I almost ran a temperature last night so we spent alot of time praying.  Praise God it never went over 100.1f and our orders were to call at 100.5.  Keep praying that I will stay well and get to come home soon.

I got a call from Johnny Dukes this morning.  He is taking care of my horse “Elvis”.  He is one of my favorite people in the whole world and can definitely take a girls mind off her problems.  We talked about horses and when we get to work together again.

Also Don showed up in the middle of the night 4 am.  And I was so glad to see him.  He can only stay for the weekend but I really need him.  Any time I can get is a blessing.  He helps me stay more positive.  Poor Mom and Dad,  I get so mopey at times.  They have been so good to me.  We have had to be at the hospital almost everyday this week.  We get there at 8 am and don’t usually get to leave before 2pm.  And I have been so tired and sick in between.  glad we are nearing the end of this treatment. 

I love you guys,  thanks for keeping in touch,

Karen

back at the hospital.  My counts were pretty low yesterday so I needed platelets again.  It made for a really long day.  We went back to the camper and I slept the rest of the day.  I have been so weak and tired and it  feels like my heart is racing.  The Doc wanted me back in today instead of waiting till friday just in case I needed something else.  It feels like I have enough blood to lay down or sit, but not quite enough for walking…Otherwise I am doing great.  no fevers.

They will probably have me come back here for my 2nd consolidation treatment by Mid December.  This means Christmas will be completely up in the air.  Not sure when to shop, put up a tree? who knows.  I wish we could somehow squeak out a normal Christmas with the kids…o’well, this is just for now.  It is difficult to be here.  I miss my family and old life so much.  God is in control.  And I thank him for my remission.  Keep us in your prayers.  I hope to come home soon.

love karen

Good morning everyone, 

we are here at Shands early today,  hoping for a shorter day.  We were here until 4pm on Monday, waiting on labs and then of course more platelets.  I have been very weak Monday and Tuesday, but feel better today.  I am hoping that my labs are all much better today and I can come home soon.  They should have the new plan for December today…. we shall see.  It is so nice to read all your comments.  I love hearing from you guys.  I will have more updates soon.

love karen

Hi everyone.  This stint in Gainesville has gone well.  So far the treatments have been okay, and I didn’t have to stay in the hospital as long.   I had a wonderful visit with my family, Gale, Big Randy, Randy, Jacob and Dylan.   Lisa Moates and her Dad, George Burdeshaw, drove here on Wednesday all the way from Panama city.  Thankyou for the beautiful Angels.  It was so nice to see you both.  Also Thanksgiving Dinner at Crystal’s was an answer to prayer.  We felt and ate like family.  what good food.  Everyone has been so good to us.  We are staying nice and cozy in the camper and Don has found a little country store down the way where he can work some.

We come to clinic a couple days a week to get my blood work checked.  Then they can tell if I need blood, or platelets, or electrolytes or fluids or whatever.  They also check my vitals and make sure I’m not having and fevers.  I have a slight rash right now that has been caused by the chemo.  I’m trying not to scratch it and I can take benadryl if necessary.  Luckily the rash came up before they started the antibiotics or research medications (2 more weeks).

Happy early birthday Jacob.  Nov.29!!! Hope you are doing something fun today. I will be thinking about you.  I can’t wait to get home to see everyone.

love Karen

I get chemo at 8 pm for 3 hours and then again at 8 am for 3 hours.  Hopefully my discharge papers will be ready soon after and we will get to go.  I am starting to get really tired again.  Seem to require a daily nap.  The kids are coming tomorrow for a couple of days with Gale and Randy so hopefully I can keep up with them.  Don and I will be spending a few nights in the hotel so we can be close to them.  The camper is just not big enough for everyone, but it works well with mom and dad and Don and I.  My blood cell counts will soon drop so I will be much more tired but hopefully not ill.  Once we get discharged our Internet access will be limited so we may not get to make as many posts.  I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and remember what it is all about.  Praise God in everything…

love Karen

good morning everyone,

It is raining here in Gainsville…looks pretty coming down out there.  We are trying to get a pass to go visit a church this morning.  Not sure when the Doc’s will get here but church doesn’t start until 930am so we will see.  I was a little nauseous last night so they brought me some ativan.  It helped and I slept pretty good.  I am looking forward to getting discharged on Monday and a visit with my kids.  We are still working out details, but it will be great.  Also Lori and Buffy, still looking forward to seeing you two today.  My email is down right now so I can’t get to your phone numbers.  

 Thanks for all the comments and visits to this site.  I appreciate each and everyone of you.  This is most definitely the hardest thing I have ever been through.  I am having to make major life changes…and I am not able to be with my kids which is really the hardest part.  The fear of the unknown, and the inability to make plans….Jacob turns 14 on Nov. 29.  Happy birthday my son.  I wish I could be there.  I am very thankful that my treatments are working and I am in remission.  It is hard to not want a quick fix…but this is something that will take some time.  Not for big babies.  Stay in touch….and keep praying for continued healing and strength for both  me and my little family.

thanks, Karen