HAD THE BEST WEEKEND EVER! TODAY IS THE D-DAY!

    This weekend was the best ever!  I spent 3 nights at the trailer.  The weather was perfect, not too hot.  We spent Sunday night too and came home at 7:30AM on Monday to watch my grand children.  Mark was working in San Francisco that night and didn't have to go to work until noon.  We had dinner on Saturday night with Bob and Cindy Keyes.  Bob BBQ his yummy chicken and I made my roasted onion red potatos.  It was soooo good!  On Sunday my sister Kathy and Ed came to visit and had dinner with us.  Sissy and I sat and looked at my new Foodnetwork cookbook that I love!  It was a very relaxing weekend.

But as my life has been going.  Today is D-Day.  Appoointment at Stanford at 3:30PM with Dr. Schrier.  Due to the recent results I have no idea what he is going to do.  I know one thing I'm going to ask to be on chemo everyweek.  I supposed to be off next week but I don't want to.  I have to be aggressive in fighting this disease.  We will see what he has in mind.

My heart has not had those heavy palpapations in the past few weeks but just little ones.  I have cut out caffained coffee and trying to have less stress.  So we will see in the next few months but heart transplant is saying that I will have to have heart biopsy every 3 months now.

Today is Tuesday and its nausea day.  I'm not able to eat much except cream of wheat.  Then of course by tomorrow the soreness and fatigue start and that lasts until Saturday.  Staying home this weekend and celebrating Mother's Day with my mom here.  The grand kids are coming over to visit and have dinner too.
It will be a fun day!

Last Friday, I was a model again this year in the Go Red Dress for Women and the American Heart Association.  I had so much fun.  I saw old friends who are heart surviors and met new friends.  I took Mom too and she love it.  On May 17th, Mom and I are going to a dinner presentation at a winery to hear Dr. Jeffrey Wolf from UCSF talk about multiple meloluma.  Although I don't have that, he is also a specialist in Amyloidosis and treats some of my support group friends.  It should be interesting and its FREE!

Happy 5 month birthday to my little Hailey.  Markie calls her "Hailey Bug".  She is getting so cute.  I had her chuckling yestereday.  She smiles and coos now and is trying to roll over.  Yesterday was a good day.  My niece Shannon and her baby boy Cashious, Brittary and Daniel (Brittney is due in August) came to visit Mom and I.  We had babies every where.  It was fun!  Little Markie was playing hockey with Cashious and was trying to check him.  Funny but not a good idea.  These are the moments that I'm living for.

Well its time to get ready to drive to Stanford.  Will post results of doctor appointment tommorrow.

Every moment is a gift!  Go out and make those moments count!

Love,
Debbie

Moments in Time Mean More Today Than Yesterday

More than ever moments mean so much to me now. Time spent with my family and friends give me strength and courage to fight on.

I have had so many disappointments in the last few months and I think my new heart is hurting. I have been experiencing flutters and palpitations and have been hooked to a heart monitor for weeks. The doctors felt the disease has progressed into the heart and on Monday it was confirmed. Amyloid has progressed into my new shared heart. Although this is scary I am going to keep fighting. My doctors are monitoring my heart and the progression of the disease so I feel confident. I have to remember that my old heart was not treated for the disease and that is why it failed but I am on chemo every week (decided to stay on every week after this latest news) now and hopefully the progression will be slow. I plan to meet with heart transplant at the end of the month just to be sure of future treatment of the heart. I had an emergency heart biopsy last week and the pressures and echo were normal at this time. This is going to be something they will be checking more closely now.

In the meantime, moments mean more to me NOW!!!! I don't want ugly, negative people in my life and I have surrounded myself with those who love me and care about me.

MANY PEOPLE WILL WALK IN AND OUT OF YOUR LIFE, BUT ONLY TRUE FRIENDS WILL LEAVE FOOTPRINTS IN YOUR HEART!

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!

We should all live by these simple but true words!

I have been enjoying my time with my grand children. I watch both of them on Monday with Nana aka Nonie. On Thursday, I have Hailey to myself and we are bonding. Little Markie doesn't really like Nana paying attention to little sister, so its hard when both are here by myself. I am so blessed to have these moments with my grand children.

I also have been doing alot and I mean alot of cooking. My favorite project right now is cooking with different vegetables. I make a vegetable Parmesan every week for my Mom and I. It is sooooo good. All veggies and so healthy. It is so funny every night Maxwell asks what's the surprise dinner tonight. So far Mark and Maxwell are enjoying my new creations.

Today is my down day for chemo. I'm really sore and tired. I'm not complaining anymore because I realize I have to fight this disease and chemo is the only thing that will give me time. That's all I want is TIME!

Love this weather and looking forward to spending more time at the lake house. Mark and Jeff are going this weekend to fix our metal shed roof. I have a birthday party for little Cashious, Shannon's son who turned one on April 18th. My sister Kathy will be spending the weekend with me and I'm excited. It will be a girl's weekend with my sister Mary and Mom too.

Please keep the prayers for me going. I really have a fight on my hands. Also, pray for those who are suffering from life threatening diseases. I see this every week when I go to the infusion center and it breaks my heart. Be thankful for what life you have!

Love,

Debbie

Markie 2 Years Old & Hailey 4 Months Old

Markie loved his Birthday Cake
Hailey is 4 months

Wow can't believe how fast 2 years has gone by. My little Markie turned 2 on April 6th and Hailey turned 4 months on April 8th.
Everyday is a gift and these moments are so special to me!

love,
Debbie

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday

I am so blessed to have a beautiful family and to enjoy these moments!

HAPPY 35TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

On Monday, April 2nd, Mark and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. Scott and Linda Ford came over last night to watch the Sharks beat Dallas and brought us this beautiful cake. That was so sweet! Can't believe how fast 35 years has gone by. Mark and I are so blessed. We have a beautiful family, grandchildren and many wonderful friends. We don't need alot of money because we feel richer than others to have these blessings. Happy Easter to all. We are having Easter dinner at Erin's Mom and Jeff's house. Little Markie will get to have an easter egg hunt and this year I'm sure he will know exactly what's in those little plastic eggs. He will be 2 years old on Friday, April 6th. We will celebrate a family birthday party on Friday and then he will have his big party with his little friends on April 14th. I have been watching both Markie and Hailey on Mondays. Nonnie aka Nana Salvato comes over to visit and help. Then on Thursday I decided to watch Hailey only. It has given me the time to bond with her. Markie is so jealous and wants Nana only on Monday, so its hard to bond with Hailey. I am really enjoying my time with them. Can't wait for the summer months where I can bring Little Markie to the lake with me and Papa. There are so many little kids there in the summer he will have so much fun.

Stop and enjoy every moment because every moment is a gift!

Love,
Debbie

WHAT IS A FRIEND

A FRIEND IS SOMEONE

WHO KNOWS THE SONG

IN YOUR HEART, AND CAN

SING IT BACK TO YOU WHEN

YOU HAVE FORGOTTON THE

WORDS......

KARMA

KARMA

NO NEED FOR REVENGE.

JUST SIT BACK & WAIT.

THOSE WHO HURT YOU

WILL EVENTUALLY SCREW UP

THEMSELVES & IF YOU'RE

LUCKY, GOD WILL LET YOU

WATCH!!!