Go Broncos!!

I admit that we are all a little crazy about the Boise State Broncos here in Boise. Mom, being the sports fan she is has become a bronco fan too. Whenever they play mom loves to watch and we make phone calls back and forth whenever something exciting happens. It is always a good game..truly the Broncos are never boring. Last week I called to remind mom that the game would be on in a few minutes. She wasn't happy..

"Well," she said, "They had better win, I am in no mood for them to lose!"

Thank goodness the Broncos pulled it off and won..because her beloved Angels and Dodgers have totally let her down and Chemo hasn't helped either..The side effects of chemo are surfacing daily and mom is facing them with humor and frustration. Who wouldn't be frustrated.

Just as predicted her hair began falling out about day 14 and continues to fall out daily. One of Luke's friends knit her a hat out of bamboo (who knew) yarn and it is her current favorite hat. She said she doesn't even look in the mirror..and just puts it on.

She figures she can save all of her grey hair and use it to make Christmas cards..ya know Santa's beard!

Tomorrow is another chemo treatment. Chemo treatment #2. Keep her in you heart tomorrow morning and especially the days following. It can be a bit bumpy for her the days following chemo.

I can't help but think of all the other people I love who have gone through this. It was hard, but they all pulled through. In fact this week Sally (my pal who had breast cancer) and Pat (my sister in photo who had breast cancer) have been helping me get through the dreaded swine flu.

Remember..bald is beautiful. Hair is highly overrated..right..right? Bald is the new black,

Bald rocks and rolls, bald is awesome..

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends!"

On your left you can glimpse at Betty's wall 'o cards. Yes, those are all cards which had been sent to her as of last Thursday. I think I counted over 50! On the left is one of the many flower bouquets she received.

All of the calls, cards, flowers and food from friends has been such an incredible help. I was there all of last week and daily would bring in the mail with at least two cards daily. Bags of homemade cookies, flowers were at the doorstep daily, and the phone calls! Goodness..they just kept coming.

Penny made this sign to put on the door so mom could get some rest. All of those calls and visitors are great..but too much is tiring.

So, ta da...a "I'm Napping" sign was made.

So, how is Betty doing two weeks into chemo? It isn't fun..the chirpy Betty on the phone line is really feeling pretty tired and has some of the common symptoms of chemo. It is expected that her hair will fall out this week.

With that said..Penny, Pat and I all agree that she is doing amazingly well. She is caring for herself now..made herself a soft boiled egg for breakfast this morning. She is doing her laundry and is basically living on her own. Of course Penny is there a lot of the time and she has a cadre of people checking up on her. But, her desire is to be alone like before. So, we honor that desire for as long as possible.

Here are some picture of mom and a few from her "support team." I need to get a picture of mom with Lucas. He has been wonderful bringing healthy drinks and spending prized baseball TV moments with her. Oh and Pat too..she was there for two weeks.

Vito and mom have a standing root beer float date every Friday night. She even chills the glasses!

Chicken Enchiladas..yum!

What would we do without..Penny!




Princess Betty and Annie..

"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.