"It's was a bowl of goldfish!"

First chemo under our belt. Rather, under Mom's belt. On the way home I asked her how she felt.

Mom: "like a bowl of goldfish"

Me: "What does that mean?"

Mom: "Don't goldfish swim around happy all day..that is how I feel."

Me: "I have never heard that before"

Mom: That is because I just made it up! "

Me: Ahhhhhhhhh...

And so we continued our short drive home from Hoag Hospital.

The chemo was in her doctor's office and the doctor even came out to say hello. Mom was the oldest by far, and nobody could believe she was 91 years old. The chairs were all full within and hour of our arrival and the Mary Poppins like nurses made sure everyone was taken care of. It was a very upbeat and positive place, especially since it was only used for chemotherapy. The treatment took four hours in which Mom got to know everyone's life story.


We have a family tradition. Nana started it (or so the story goes) by wearing her best beads to the hospital when she had surgery. She said she was pretending she was going to a party. Last year our daughter Greta took the same approach to brain surgery, draping a scarf around her neck and beads as we headed to the hospital in Missoula. Tuesday Mom put on her fiesta dress and did the same. You gotta admire this spunk!

Today I think the chemo is taking charge. She feels all sorts of aches and pains and is just plain tired. As I write this at the Balboa library (my favorite library besides my school libraries) she is napping. Her neighbor, Vito, is keeping an eye out for her.

It is beautiful here today. The sun is out and the ocean a deep blue. From Mom's window we can see the ocean and the boats go by. This is her favorite spot. I think she likes to keep an eye on everyone in the hood and report on it to Vito.

This past weekend was Bart's 40'th birthday. We celebrated Dooley style..cooking together, laughing, going for a run and the best moment was when we all swam together in the ocean. There was something magical about that moment.

We treasure these memories and plow ahead giving mom the best we can.

A few things..if you call the best times are early morning and late afternoon. She naps sometimes mid morning and afternoon. If you want to visit, keep the visits short and it would be nice if you called first.


I will continue to keep you all posted.

Special thanks to: Annie for the pea soup when we arrived home, the flowers, robe and peppermint ice cream. Pat for being the best caretaker..making those pears, custard and whatever Mom desired. Penny for continuing to care for mother in the most upbeat way you can imagine..Sally wins the most creative card contest...but all of your cards are appreciated so much, as well as your phone calls and visits.

Not the news we wanted..

Wednesday Pat and Penny took mom to see her doctor. We all fully anticipated good news, since Mom is doing so well.

I will try to explain what Pat and Penny shared with me.

The doctor was surprised with what was found, and it is rare indeed. The name of the type of cancer is : utering papillarly serous carcinoma. On the pathology report it says: Endometroid adenocarcinoma with underlying papillary serous carcinoma, grade 3.

The doctor translated this to mean the cells were more like ovarian cancer than endometrial cancer. This means that the treatment will be chemo rather than radiation. Radiation would not be effective with this type of cancer. The prescribed treatment is chemo.

We all feel really sad that mom needs to go through this treatment. But it was not a decision made without a lot of thought, deliberation and weighing what is best for mom. Mom decided with the help of the doctor, Pat, Penny and Annie that chemo is her best option. Her quality of life will be better with chemo than without with this type of cancer. We can expect for her hair to fall out, and for her to be really tired. The doctor said that she will not get sick with this type of chemo. She will have 6 treatments and they will be 3 weeks apart. Her first treatment is Tuesday. I will be there to take her.

That is it for now. Mom is in good spirits, has a good appetite and is being cared for well by Pat. She is pretty independent and is getting around just great.

I will keep you all posted.

She's home!!

Yes, that's me..floating down the Boise River, savoring the day. It was a lovely day and I felt good. The scenery was lovely, nobody else on the river and I was soaking in all that sunshine and enjoying the flow of the river. Not a worry about my mom..because she is doing great!!



After a few email messages and a phone call I realized that I hadn't let you all know that Betty is now home. She went home on Friday and slept most of that day. She rallied enough to watch most of the Boise State game but couldn't stand the pressure. I must admit that it was a close game. (Boise won) This weekend she has rested a lot, watched football and is in good spirits. Penny was on hand to do her hair and help her bathe. Pat cooked some deliciously Dooley meals and Greta sent her some healthy muffins.



The cards keep arriving and flowers from a neighbor arrived yesterday. All are appreciated so much.



I know mom is frustrated and thinks she isn't "worth a thing!" but we all think differently. Pat thinks she is doing great and so does Penny.



Thanks again for all of your love and concern.



Stay tuned...

Betty Takes on Health Care Reform..

Yes folks, she is still in the hospital. But that doesn't mean she isn't doing well. She is..in fact she is complaining so we figure she must be getting better. Here are Betty' s health reform ideas..Listen to this politicians!

1. Coffee should always be hot! (c0mplaint #1)

2. Never ever ever ever serve cream of wheat with cold milk...this is a travesty. The milk should be warmed up and in a nice little pitcher!
(Complaint #2)

3. And finally, when a 91 year old spunky lady calls for the nurse..the nurse needs to come right away..Don't keep Betty waiting!! (complaint #3)




Hopefully she will go home tomorrow. The physical therapist paid her a visit and was amazed at how well she climbed stairs and got around in general..two days after surgery!



She is in little pain now also and generally pretty darn spunky!




She is grateful for all of the nice cards, prayers, good wishes, and messages from all of you. No complaints with that!!

Betty Rallies!!!

She's sitting up, eating jello..(or rather trying to..it is pretty jiggly) noticing the cute men at the hospital, and making jokes. Today is a new day and fortunately Betty is much much better. Last night she was not a happy camper at all.

The doctor thinks she will go home Thursday. Pat is there to help her with the jello which is so jiggly she can barely get it in her mouth.

Her room has an awesome view...and we are all so grateful that mom can enjoy the view and is getting better.

Just out of surgery..

I just talked to Pat and Mom is just out of surgery. The doctor was very positive and felt that the surgery went well. There was a complication so they had to make an incision rather than a llaparoscopic surgery. So, she will be in the hospital a few more days than planned.

She will more than likely have to have radiation too. The doctor said that when they get the pathology report back he will know more. It may only be a few treatments.



That is all the news I have for now..I am amazed that this blog wasn't blocked by my school district.



OK..now back to being a librarian.

Clear Liquids...

Tomorrow is mom's surgery. Today was the clear liquid preparation for surgery day. I don't think it has been a lot of fun. She is still cheerful and glad she is surrounded by her family.

Pat flew in yesterday and stay for a few weeks. Penny is nearby of course and taking care of so many details. Jon, Shellyn and family dropped by today to keep her company which sounded like fun when I called. It is never dull that is for sure.





Keep mom in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow. I will let you all know how the surgery goes as soon as I find out.

Oh My Mama!!

Mom is doing great. The waiting is not fun, but she has had lots of company. Yesterday, Sunday, she had a lot of visitors including Trevor and girlfriend Melissa, Luke, Tera, Jim, Sista Penny, Bret, Kris, Gavin, Jennifer, Bart and Adia. Jennifer and Bart fixed her dinner.

I love talking to her on the phone..she is upbeat and full of lively conversation. Friday, she hurried me off the phone..had to scoop root beer for Vito, her neighbor. They have root beer floats every Friday night. Think Mom has a thing for younger men!

It's All About the Food!!

I just talked with my mom on the phone..the call went something like this:

"Hi Mom"

"Hi Honey"

"Guess what I just had for lunch?"

"What?"

"The best BLT ever..thick juicy tomatoes from my garden, bacon from the coop..great bread..."

"Oh I wish I was there"

"Me too, hey..what kind of potatoes do you use for our famous potato salad"

"Well you can use............. And so it went. An entire conversation all about food. We must have spend a good five minutes on the potatoes alone. (I think I will go with red and leave the skin on) That is how it is and always has been in my family.

Food, food, food..and how basic is that. And, how wonderful. We have the best times..eating, cooking and laughing. They all go together in our family..and it began with Nana and then Mom and now all of us still carry on the tradition.

I don't think any of us ever miss a meal.

I took a picture of what Mom said was her last lemon

pie. She has baked

probably three since her last pie!

With a little over a week to go before surgery, she seems to be doing well. Today she is enjoying a football game and she had fun watching BSU play a few night ago. Go Broncos!

Thanks for the cards and treats. Aunt Mary brought some figs over today, Jennifer called to offer any help, Penny did her hair and took her shopping, Vito took care of her yard and enjoyed root beer float with her last night..and Annie brought some lovely roses before she left for vacation. That is only a partial list of all who are helping Mom.

Isn't it grand!!

What to do...

This Picture was taken at Mom's 90th birthday celebration. Of course we had wonderful food and lots of laughs. We are good at both eating and laughing!

Mom is feeling pretty tired..so the best thing to do for her now is to send cards or letters. Phone calls tire her out I think and she feels like she has to chat. Also, she takes naps in the afternoon (when I visit her I go to the beach then) and phone calls usually wake her up.

Of course if you are one of her "regulars" who call often then I think it is OK. Maybe just ask..if she is OK with getting your phone call. I write her a letter every week and she loves it.

Today went well..she got to know every one's life story who drew her blood or gave her some sort of test. Doesn't that just figure!

So, keep those cards and letters coming!! Feel free to comment on this blog too and I will send them on.

Always room for one more..

This picture was taken at Greta's graduation, four years ago. Little did mother know that Bart (Jennifer's husband..which makes him grandson in-law?) would live with her for a year. Mom says that having Bart live with her this past year was one of the most wonderful experiences of her life. They become close pals, Bart and Mom.

This is just another example of Mom sharing her home. I cannot remember a time growing up when we didn't have someone living with us. To name a few: Allen, who became a doctor, Barry who is an investor I think, Warren who was happily married to Pat for 33 years, Mary who became a nun, Jaimie, Sergio, Gloria all from the Patron family in Mazatlan. Mom even raised three children, who were under five when they came to our house. My father was treating their mother who had TB. Oh, there are more, Annette an exchanage student from France, Tony from Mazatlan, and her mother who lived to be over 104!

It's been a week now since Mom visited the doctor. Tomorrow Penny will take her to Hoag Hospital for tests required before her surgery. Surgery will be a week from next Monday. She says she isn't nervous about the tests at all. After the tests they will do their weekly shopping at the produce market, Trader Joe's, and Dollar Store.

So, things are looking good. Mom appreciates all the calls and visits from everyone. Keep those cards coming. She loves cards!