A Happy Holiday

The holiday festivities are starting to wind down and we are excited to ring in 2008.
We had an excellent Christmas. It started with the Nichols Family Christmas at Dan and Sandy's, Sunday the 23rd which was delicious and fun. I even managed to steal the Apples to Apples game (our family favorite) from Levi in the White Elephant Gift Exchange (although he licked the box several times in attempts to dissuade me!) Christmas Eve was me, Jon, Elizabeth, David, Kelsey, Levi, Ericka and Maelie. As with most 18month olds Maelie had little interest in her presents but we managed to get her to open all of them. She is a delight! We all went to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve and I have to admit my favorite part was sitting next to Kelsey as he belted out Silent Night. He has a beautiful voice and it made me cry.

I was grateful to sleep in until 8:00 am Christmas morning! Elizabeth, David, Jon, Kelsey and I opened our stockings and "Santa" gift while we ate cinnamon rolls and drank coffee. Jon was quite pleased with his new padded Carhart bibs and coat...so much so that he wore them inside all morning! We had a big breakfast of Eggs Benedict and then released David to spend the rest of the day with his family. Elizabeth and I made a trip to Safeway and it actually snowed! It think that is the first time I've seen snow in Seattle on Christmas Day. Levi spent the day with Erickas family (a story unto itself!) but returned for prime rib Christmas dinner. Kelsey and Levi finished off the day with video games, Elizabeth went back to Bellevue, and Jon and I watched Forrest Gump, one of our favorite movies. I was sad that I didn't get to see my side of the family but managed to talk to most of them on the telephone. My parents were visiting my sister, Barbara in Connecticut where her oldest daughter Alison just returned from six months in France. All she wanted for Christmas was to see her grandparents so I certainly can't argue with that!

Staci and Octavio arrived the next day where we did Christmas all over again. After dinner and gifts they taught Kelsey and I the finer point of poker. Octavio says I have potential but Kelsey is hopeless in the gambling world! Staci ended up the big winner of the night. True to form, Jon watched UFC videos while we played our games.

The next day was Kelsey's 16th birthday. We all spent the day in Seattle sight seeing in the freezing, pouring rain. (Yes, Kelsey we all love you that much!) Dinner was at Rock Bottom and Kelsey positively glowed with excitement. There is nothing he loves more than being surrounded by his siblings and I am eternally grateful for all of them.

Friday night was a fabulous dinner at Tony and Tonya's. Saturday was a day of jeeping and tubing in the snow complete with a big bonfire and roasted hot dogs. Jon left for goose hunting on Saturday while Levi and Kelsey went back for more jeeping on Sunday. Stac, Octavio and I went to church this morning and then I dropped them at the airport for their return to California. I booked a room at the Westin in downtown Seattle for New Year Eve for me, Kelsey, and Levi. Our plan is to go to Seattle Center and ring in 2008 with the big crowd. Jon came back early from hunting but he's not much of a crowd person so the jury is out on his participation. I suggested a good book and a movie at the hotel while the boys and I brave the crowds.

Wow, did I mention I actually managed to work a few days at the office between all that?

Jon enjoyed the holidays and all the time with our family. It seems he was more disappointed in his PET scan results than he initially let on. Although his attitude remains good he is really frustrated with living what he considers a "small" life. Before he was diagnosed he had read an article about "Living Large" and that's what he really wants to do...kind of difficult when you have to go to chemo every Tuesday. He wants to kill grizzly bears and backpack the world. Can't say I blame the guy but I try to encourage him to find pleasure in all of the simple things that surround us. I am grateful that he was able to go goose hunting this weekend which seemed to help alleviate some of his stress.

Since we are still a little puzzled about the PET scan results I telephoned a radiologist friend of mine and asked him to review all three scans with us. We have an appointment on Wednesday during my lunch hour to see him.

I am looking forward to 2008 as a year of continued hope and unlimited possibilities. Happy New Year everyone!

The Beat Goes On

We talked to some of our cancer buddies today and got the word that Doxol is tolerated very well with minimal side effects. Jon says he doesn't mind doing more chemo as long as he can keep working out and go goose hunting in January :) He also said yesterday that he is just happy to be alive and feeling good since everyone thought he'd be long dead by now. His attitude is truly amazing.

Tonight we are meeting Levi, Ericka and all of their friends at Red Robin for some Christmas Cheer. Tomorrow Levi, Ericka, Kelsey and all of Ericka's sisters are heading to the mountains to play in the snow. Jon and I will be working on Christmas prep...OK the truth is I will be working on Christmas prep and Jon will be working on his new rifle!

We are looking forward to having all the kids here for Christmas, albeit tag team with every one's work and extended family schedule. It should be a week long celebration since Staci and Octavio don't arrive until the 26th and Kelsey's sixteenth birthday is the 27th.

Merry Christmas to all of you blog readers and thank you for your continued prayers and support.

A Mixed Bag

We saw Dr. Chue this morning and are all a little confused about the results of the PET scan. The report today told us that one of the tumors in Jon's liver has shrunk while one has increased in size. The odd thing is that this scan lists several other tumors that were not listed in the last PET scan but were called "to numerous to count" in the first scan. What is even stranger is that the radiologist compared the size of these tumors to the previous scan where they were never mentioned at all. When I got home I pulled out all three scan results and read through them several times. The only conclusion I can come to is that there were so many of the small tumors originally that they appeared in too large of a number to quantify. Many of the small tumors were killed by the first two rounds of chemo and have left several smaller tumors that are evident in the most recent scan and now quantifiable in both number and size. The good news is that they scanned Jon's entire body and found no additional metastasis. There are two nodules in his right lung that do not "light up" in the PET scan which means they are more than likely a scar from the Gemzar (notoriously hard on the lungs) and not cancer. The pancreas still looks good and his SUV (intensity of the scan) has reduced from 8.9 to 2-3 which is considered a very good response.

I guess I would say that Jon and I are a little disappointed with the results. He looks and feels so good we were really expecting a better report. The two largest tumors in his liver are still too large for ablation so on we go with chemo. Dr. Chue feels that the remaining tumors may be the ones that are resistant to the chemo that we have been using so we are switching to Doxil for the next round. Jon will have that in combination with Taxol which he has had all along, it is the chemo that destroys the blood supply to the tumors to starve them out. He will have four weeks on with Doxil/Taxol, one week with just Taxol, then repeat the cycle for 14 weeks. He will have another PET scan in April. No more Tarceva since he doesn't tolerate it very well.

We continue to be optimistic with his prognosis. Dr. Chue is as excited as ever to make Jon his next poster child. I asked Jon tonight how he feels about all this and he responded, "I'm just basing my progress on how good I feel." I can't argue with that.

We have a break until January 15 which gives us time to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family. Jon plans on working out and getting stronger so that he can continue to "kick cancer's ass" in 2008!

Jon wants to make sure that I tell everyone the jeans were on sale :)

Jon bought three new pair of jeans today :)

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

LAST CHEMO TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18

PET SCAN WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19

CONSULT WITH DR. CHUE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 9:30AM

Beating The Odds

I saw our primary care physician, Dr. Day, today for my yearly physical. She was the unfortunate doctor to find Jon's cancer. Naturally she asked how he was doing and I was pleased to report, "Very well, I even brought you a picture." She laughed and said "He has certainly beat the odds."

She kept the picture