hey everyone,

I am really feeling bad.  Don suggested updating the journal to take my mind off things, so here I am.  Hope ya’ll like whining.  I am having pain in the bladderish, pee pee area!  This started mildly about a day ago.  They have done all the usual tests and I have increased my water/cranberry juice intake,etc.  Nobody on my case seems to know what could possibly be causing it. but ….Ouch!! It started getting really bad at shift change tonight, and the pain medicine I have been given so far is not helping enough.  ouch!!! and yes they have done all the normal checks and I have no infection.  These nurses are great though.  They have done a bladder scan (11cc only, to my nursey friends) and they are calling the Doc.  I have been promised good medicine and a comfortable night so….

Today I was very weak and tired and did alot of sleeping.  I did finally manage to get my walking laps in with Dad before they left for the evening.  My appetite has been very good but that seems different today too.  I am so bloated I don’t feel like eating.  Not too much nausea though.  O’well, I hope for good news soon,love karen

Don: This site is primarily for letting all of you know how Karen is doing but it seems to be taking on a little bit of a personality of it’s own beyond just an information distribution site about Karen’s Day. There are so many people who let us know that they are praying for Karen. It is very uplifting.

We both want to thank all of our friends, family and all other who are praying for her to have strength and to come through this frightening event in her life. We ask that everyone continue to keep her in their prayers and not to forget any others that might need praying for either.

If you do have someone that you wish to raise up in prayer, please include that in your comments on this site. We know that we are not the only ones with a need for prayer at this time. We would love to help others the same way that they are helping us, by prayer. God bless us all.

Don: They have given us a calendar that tells us what day we are on since the beginning of the treatment. Today is Day 12. Never having been through this with anyone in my life. Having the calendar really helps to give us a target, a goal that we can strive to reach.

I really don’t know what is happening from day to day. I am just here doing what I know I should do. Karen is really doing well in spirit. For the last two days she says she feels bad, like the flu, but even with that feeling it just seems that she is of good mind and spirit. I am very proud of her.

I was just watching this man go down the hall that had already lost most of his hair and recently got a buzz cut on the rest of his head. He was looking for the shower near the nurses station. He did not have his mask on, which is standard operating procedure when a patient leaves their room. I thought all the nurses were going to jump the counter to mask him. He was a big guy and appeared a little independent (grumpy might also describe his attitude right that moment). He just headed into the shower room (where he does not have to use a mask)  but I bet there will be more than a little excitement and education to come if he enters the hallway again with no mask.

This just drove home in my own mind how important it is to mask and constantly clean our hands. You might know that your hands are clean but you just touched something else and you don’t know who else touched it and what germs they may have left behind. When it comes to the mask you have to assume the same level of care is needed. If you are visiting someone remember that you just walked passed many people in the lobby, elevator and hallway, sharing the same air you are breathing. How do you know that none of they have a contagious item that you may end up carrying into the room. For this same reason there are many rooms where you must wear a new gown each time you enter.

What I have learned is that you just can’t be too careful. If you are a patient, do what they tell you. Don’t be embarrassed, don’t be stubborn and just remember that it truly is your life you are here to save. If you are a visitor and you think you there is just no way that you would or could transfer a germ to your loved one, so you think you don’t have to follow the visitor instructions…stay home and send email.

A trip to Shands or any cancer center is about clinging to life, whether you are the patient or the visitor. It is important. It is serious. Treat it as such.

As for Karen, she takes the precautions she has been instructed to follow. All of our visitors have, also. They made the trip here to visit because of how much they care for her but the real caring is shown in how conscious they are of the rules. We love you all. Thanks for the love you have been showing Karen.

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.