Encircled in Love: August 2012

Tenth and Hopefully Last Chemo Treatment for a While

Irene had her tenth chemo treatment on Tuesday, August 21^st with a follow up visit the next day for the anti nausea medication and the Nulasta shot to protect her heart. As usual, a blood draw, meeting with the doctor and the chemo treatment through an IV takes most of the day. In the meeting with Dr. Homsi prior to the chemo infusion, he suggested that she schedule the next MRI and CT scans in six weeks which will be ten weeks since the last scans. If everything looks about the same as the last scans, he is going to let her go without chemo infusions for a couple of months. We are so hopeful for good reports following the next scans.

She tolerated the chemo treatment well with no nausea and very little weakness. We continue to wrap her leg each night and she wears the constriction stocking during the day. Even with that, occasionally the swelling in her leg appears greater for a few days, and we worry that something may be going wrong.

She was able to enjoy a trip to the Washington DC area with two of her sisters and their husbands to visit her 90 year old brother, Byron, and his wife Hazel. We enjoyed a wonderful week visiting with the family and seeing some of the sights in that beautiful part of our country.

L to R, Norma Coombs & Nadine Woodhead, (my sisters), Irene, Byron (my 90 year old brother and his wife Hazel

Norma & Theo Coombs, Bob & Nadine Woodhead, Hazel & Byron Hall and Irene

Back: Daryl, Bob Woodhead, Hazel & Byron Hall, Irene Front: Norma Coombs & Nadine Woodhead (my sisters)

Byron was a bombardier in a B-24 Bomber during World War II and flew 30 missions over Germany. He kept a wonderful journal of that experience, and Irene has recently put that journal into a book with a number of accompanying pictures and documents. We were able to meet Jack Umphrey, the pilot, and only other surviving member on the crew at Byron and Hazel’s home. It was very educational to hear more of those WW II experiences. Jack wanted Irene to autograph his book to which he had contributed some of the information and is delighted to have.

Byron Hall & Jack Umphrey -- Bombadier & Pilot in WW II -- the last of their crew.

Jack & Rusti Umphrey with Irene & Byron's book

The link for Byron's book is: http://www.blurb.com/books/3365346 Byron was a very good writer if you are interested in history or just in looking at the pictures. View full screen!

I understand that this will mainly be interesting for my family. Thanks to each of you for your continued love and support.

Not to be outdone by the grandsons, and in keeping with the Olympics, I had a "Gold Medal Sleepover" with our granddaughters ages 5 to 12 -- (six in all) before school started. It all began with timed races in the pool, dinner, making lollipops and watching the Olympics. The next morning after a Gold Medal Breakfast (fixed by grandpa), we had "Gold Medal Makeovers," complete with makeup, hairdos, jewelry and fancy dresses of their choice & a photo shoot. Following that, each girl took the podium and was presented with a Gold Medal for her outstanding qualities. It was a great way to end the summer.