Monday, August 31, 2009

What's Going On

The week went by soooo fast! Didn't do much but just rested. I started riding my bike again for 30 minutes each day. Wow it my legs feel like I'm turning cement. I'm so out of shape. I can't wait to get back to my personal trainer, Tim Rogers and super slow. I am going to ask if I can go back after my big tests next month on the 29th and 30th.

I went to the oncologist today, Dr. Akthar. My lambha count went from 215 to 211. Wow big decrease. This is like chipping through cement. He was not concern and said we have to wait another 3 months after these 3 courses of Decadron and Velcade. Then he said they will decide what's next.

I hope everyone saw my new grandchild's sonogram picture. Erin is doing great. She will go to the doctor again on September 8th and I will have a new picture to share. I can't wait until I see that beautiful baby. That will be another moment that takes my breath away. I'm so lucky and blessed to have these moments. I will never take them for granted.

I'm working on downloading the pictures from the fundrasier. I hope to have them on the blog by tomorrow. They are wonderful and we had a great time that day. What a moment to remember!

Well I'll say goodbye for now. The Country Music Awards are on and I love country music! I saw my favorite hunk, Toby Keith at Konocti on Friday night. We sat row 5 from the stage. It was awesome! He is so good looking!!!!

Love,
Debbie

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

I'm Going to be a Grandma

This is the most beautiful picture in the world. My first grand child. If there was ever a moment in time that took my breath away, it was seeing this picture for the first time. My sweet grand child.

Erin and Mark told us about a month ago that she thought she was pregnant but didn't want us to tell anyone until her doctor's appointment yesterday. Mark and Erin went to the doctor and took a sonogram (picture above). Baby Douglas is due April 13, 2010. They saw the baby's heart beating. Erin said it finally felt "real".

Mark and I are so proud and happy for our family. Of course, updates on my blog will be coming. I can't wait to post a picture of me holding my new grand child.

This is what moments are made of. I hope to have many, many more moments like this that take my breath away!

Love,
Debbie

Monday, August 24, 2009

Jazmin's Dream

Jazmin's dream came true on Saturday. Jazmin dreamed of purchasing the headstone for her sister Jamae. On Saturday at the fundraiser, her dream became a reality.

My sincere thank you to all who attended and to all that donated to this beautiful cause. I will never be able to express the deep gratitude I have for my family and friends who supported me in making Jazmin's dream come true.

It will be a beautiful day, when the headstone is finally placed on the grave site for two beautiful angels in heaven. The headstone is so beautiful and it features two angels hugging each side of the headstone. Jazmin and Jamae deserved to have a beautiful headstone in their honor.

I will have pictures from the fundraiser posted this week. It was a fun day and a moment I will never forget. When Jane told me we made our goal, it was a moment of joy and one that took my breath away!

Thank you so much,

Love
Debbie

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Dreams Do Come True

Jazmin, my donor, had a dream. That dream was to purchase a headstone for her sister, Jamae. Not knowing a short time later, she would be with her sister. The headstone Jazmin picked out for Jamae will be a dream come true for her. I'm so blessed to have family and friends who have supported this fundrasier. I'm hoping on Saturday we will have enough donations to make this dream come true for Jazmin.

It will be a very special day when the headstone is installed and one that will definitely take my breath away!

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. I really appreciate the love and support. I hope to see everyone on Saturday to celebrate this awesome day.

If you are unable to attend, donations may be sent to Jazmin I. Mitchell Memorial Fund, c/o Exchange Bank, 2201 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, Ca 95403.

Thank you again for your support.

Love,
Debbie

Friday, August 14, 2009

Feeling Good


This week I took my second course of Decadron and Velcade. It is amazing how these drugs effect you. The nausea is gone and the appetite is back. I still feel the soreness around my neck and upper body on the 2nd and 3rd day after taking the drugs. It's not as bad as before because I know what it is caused from. I have one more week for this course and then I have a one week break. This will continue for another two months and then Stanford will decide the next treatment. So far everything is stable.


The fundraiser is going great! To date a total of $1,225.00 has been donated. I am so appreciative to everyone who has donated. The fundraiser next weekend will be so much fun! I'm hoping to collect the total $3,000 - $3,500 needed to purchase the headstone by next weekend. It will be a moment that takes my breath away when the headstone is installed.

Please send your checks to: Jazmin I Mitchell Memorial Fund, c/o Exchange Bank, 2201 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, Ca 95403. Thank you so much for your love and support towards this cause.
Tonight I'm going to dinner to my favorite Italian restaurant, Riveria. It's been so long since I have been there. It will be nice to see Rita and Lucia too! Tomorrow is Christie and Brian's wedding. Christie is Bob and Cindy Keyes daughter. It will be a beautiful wedding!
Sunday I have some things to do before the fundraiser and Maxwell will help with that. I want the yards to look nice before the fundraiser. I'm also going to try a few new recipes for dinner. I love Gilada from Everyday Italian and her pasta dishes. So I have one I want to try.
Have a wonderful weekend and make moments that take your breath away!
Love,
Debbie


Monday, August 10, 2009

Enjoying the Moments


I have been so busy. Well I guess you can call it busy. I went to the lake on Thursday for two days. I met Marion and Terri there. I had a great time! Thursday night they made a wonderful dinner for me. Mia and I played all day and night. She loves the lake and the little trailer. The weather was a little cold. I even had to put my electric blanket on my bed at night. The days were windy and warm. I left on Saturday to go home. Erin's birthday is today! Happy Birthday Erin! Markie gave her a birthday party on Saturday night. It was so fun seeing all the kids and Martie and Jeff (Erin's parents) were there too! Lots of fun.


Sunday was a relaxing day. Mark went to Potter Valley to visit his Mom. She is very ill. Please say extra prayers for Mom Douglas. I stayed home to catch up on some things. Later that day, our neighbors, Steve and Jane, Jeff and Christine and Pam all came over for dinner. I made a spiral ham, my homemade scalloped potatos, roasted vegetables. Sooooo good! Jane made Mom's fruit salad. Yum! We sat around and just talked and listened to music. So relaxing! These are moments that mean alot to me. I want lots more!!!


Today I did some work and things around the house. I'm planning the fundraiser and organizing the details. It is going to be so fun and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. Thank you to all who have donated so far. We are currently at $1,150.00. Our goal is around $3000 - $3500. This will purchase and install the headstone for Jamae and Jazmin. The day it is installed will be a moment to cherish in my life! I know Jazmin will be smiling down on us! Thank you! The information for the fundraiser is at the top but please send checks to the bank:

Jazmin I Mitchell Memorial Fund c/o Exchange Bank, 2201 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, Ca 95403.
Make moments that take your breath away each and every day! It's not the quantity of life but the quality. Make it a special one!
Love,
Debbie

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

First Day Back on Decadron and Velcade

Yesterday was my first day back on Decadron and Velcade. Oh have I missed them. Yeah right!
Last night I was up until 1:30AM and fell asleep and woke up again at 4:00AM. Needless to say I'm tired tonight.

I leaving to go watch Mark and Markie play baseball in a championship game. It should be fun but cold.

Tomorrow I leave for my trailer on Clear Lake. I'm staying there until Saturday. I'm so excited to go up and relax. Marion and Teri are there and we are just going to relax and read books. It will be Mia's first time there and I know she will love it there. I'm hoping my little sister Kathy will come and visit too. Maybe even spend the night with me. That will be so much fun!

Well I will write when I get back from the trailer on Saturday.

I plan to make moments that take my breath away while I there.

Love,
Debbie

Monday, August 3, 2009

The Call Finally Came

The call I was dreading finally came this afternoon. It was from Dr. Aktahar's office to schedule infusion of Velcade. I was surprised to hear that Stanford wants me to take Velcade twice a week instead of once of week. I will also begin taking Decadron too. I'm going to ask if I can take Decadron on Monday, so when I crash and feel terrible it will be on Wednesday and not on the weekend. I will find out tomorrow once I meet with the doctors. I realize this is going to be a lifetime of medication, doctors and tests. If I could "make a wish" it would that for the next year no medication, no doctors and no tests, but I know that won't happen. This is going to be for a lifetime and that's what is hard to accept.

I had a wonderful day yesterday. I went to Tori Puentes bridal shower. It was so nice and Tori got so many wonderful gifts. I'm so happy for her and Zach. The wedding in September will be beautiful. After the shower, I came home and Big Todd made a wonderful dinner for us including Tom and Jeanie Benton. We had filets, corn, bake potato, onion rings and I made a new recipe of Fried Mortazella sticks. Everything was so good! We talked about old times. Jeanie and I graduated from Ursuline together. So it was fun talking about the things we did.
That's what moments are all about. These were very special moments. Thanks Big Todd for a wonderful dinner. You and Shari are the best!

Well tomorrow will be my first day for Velcade. Hopefully, not too many side effects from it. Have a wonderful week.

Love,
Debbie

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Week Went By Fast

It was a busy week running errands and doing things around the house. No doctors appointments until the end of August. I do have to do lab work next week to check cysolporine counts. The last two were weird numbers. On biopsy day the count was 998 and at the end of the week it dropped to 134. 134 is still low but Dr. Dana said not too bad. She would like me to be around 150 - 200. I will do it again on Monday to check.

September will be a busy month for doctor's appointments. I have heart biopsy, cardio gram, appointment with Dr. Shrier and Dr. Areria. At least I get a little break during the month of August. I will start the drugs Decadron and Velcade this next week. I'm not looking forward to that but I have to keep fighting this disease.

The fundraiser is going great! To date the total amount of money raised is $730.00. Please support me in raising money to purchase a headstone for my donor, Jazmin Iris Mitchell. She and her twin sister Jamae do not have a headstone for their grave and this will be a dream of Jazmin's if we can raise enough money. Jazmin before she passed away picked out this headstone for her sister Jamae, not knowing a year and half later she would pass away. I want to honor my donor and her family and raise enough money to purchase the headstone Jazmin wanted. Please send your donation to the Jazmin I Mitchell Memorial Fund c/o Exchange Bank, 2201 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, Ca 95403 if you cannot attend the fundraiser on August 22nd at my house. All donations will be greatly appreciated.

This weekend I have Tory Puentes bridal shower on Sunday. Todd and Sherri Schapmire along with their son Todd's in laws, Tom and Jeannie will be coming for dinner. I haven't seen Tom and Jeannie for a while so it will be nice to see them. Jeannie and I graduated from Ursuline many, many years ago. Of course, Big Todd will be cooking and he is the best! It's always nice having someone else do the cooking. It will be a fun day!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and remember to make memories that take your breath away.

Love,
Debbie