2012 Update

Sabine and our son, "Zeke" just before his journey took him
to Guatemala. Zeke came home for Christmas and stayed
for awhile to see that mom's chemo went okay.

Here we are! Starting our fifth year living with cancer.

I think I updated the present. Sabine's numbers started climbing this summer (but had a whole summer off without chemo). We predicted Dr Sheehan would start an intervention this fall -- and he did.

We started a two week cycle of Velcade + dexamethasone, with a week off.

After this first cycle the chemo knocked Sabine's rising number down almost to the normal range.

Dr Sheehan decided to do one more Velcade/dex cycle and see what happens.

So, that's where we are today -- in the second cycle -- we had to cancel our trip south this winter because of the chemo cycle which requires us to go into UW Hospital two days a week for the Velcade which is administered by IV drip.

Sabine continues exercising and being her wonderfully happy self. She is a little tired, but doing well.

I have gotten my book into the publisher and also doing well.

God is good and will provide.

New Year's Blessings to all of you!

Winter Update

It's been a busy December -- family, kids, grandkids, church, friends...

Some good news: It looks like Sabine's first round of chemotherapy is working!  After one cycle with Velcade+Dexamethasone she is in "normal" limits!

Bad news -- she picked up a respiratory infection and is now being treated with an antibiotic called the "Z-pak." Lot of coughing.... some temperature rises... and a worried husband.

More to soon to come.

Love and blessings to our blog friends!

In the Trench!

Sabine dialyzing on the train coming back from San Antonio
this summer.

We are back in the "trench" (that's what I call chemotherapy and I'm only the support person!
It's been a great summer. Sabine has had almost 6 months off without chemo. But we have seen the "numbers" slowly creep back up and now we have come to the point that Dr Sheehan believes some chemical intervention is necessary.

Starting next week, it's chemo infusion (IV) two days a week at the U.W. hospital for a two week cycle followed by a week off.

Off we go. Back in the trench -- but being back in the trench means the shots fly over your head, right?

The really bad thing for Sabine is that this means we can't go south to warm up this winter.

We will see. Maybe a weekend at a local water park?

Christmas is coming. Life is still a blessing. And we begin our 5th year of fighting cancer together!

Sabine dialyzes on the train from San Antonio

This was a bit of a challenge on the rockin' rollin' train but we did it!

Riding the Rails

A journey to see daughter Yumi who, after returning from Afghanistan, is now studying to be an Army social worker in San Antonio at the Army Graduate School.

So, with another cancer blood test coming up next month (and the strong possibility of going back to a regimen of chemotherapy, we decided to jump on the train with our dialysis equipment and head out to sunny San Antonio.

Relaxing in the top bunk on the Amtrak train.

Ever the writer...

Worshiping with Yumi and Rees at their church,
St Mark's Episcopal in downtown S.A.

Sabine, Rees, Yumi and me outside of St Marks.

Lunch after church with Yumi and friends, Jane and Mike.

The morning "blood washing." After that, we headed out
to the Riverwalk downtown. Maybe some tamales?

One of the problems I have it hitting that vein when Sabine's arm is
in a  different position than I am used to at home... sometimes
I have to make numerous "sticks." Ugh.

We arrived after about 20+ hours on the train (we had a compartment so we could dialyze on the way back (I will report on how that went!). But in the meantime we do our daily exercise, dialyze in our hotel room, visit with Yumi and her beau, Rees, and explore the city.

Sabine's Summer

Some pictures to capture Sabine's "no-chemotherapy" summer!

Our first-ever family "restoration houseboat cruise on the Mississippi River

Tandem cycling on the 400 Trail near Reedsburg.

It took 30 years to get Sabine back on a tandem! She seems to be enjoying it.

Our annual vacation time with sister Barb and hubby Ken (this has been going on for 30 years!)

On the Mississippi -- and lovin' it and her.

Sabine relaxing poolside. I thought when women grew old they wore purple?

Constructing Sabine's bridge at our farm.

A great kayaking summer on the Rock, Pine, Baraboo, Grant and Yahara  rivers.

Thanksgiving!

Yesterday, we returned to the UW Cancer Center after a 12-week hiatus. Earlier, the lab results on Sabine's cancer were encouraging. The numbers were slowly (not exponentially) increasing. That was good news. Dr Sheehan looked at Sabine's labs, checked her out, and said, "I'll see you in 12 weeks." Twelve weeks? That's great. It seems that the last year in Revlimid has significantly slowed down the growth of Sabine's blood cancer.

All I can say is "praise God from whom all blessings flow!" And thanks for your prayers, friendship, and concern.

The battle continues but with a little less desperation (at least on my part!).