HI everyone, This picture is of our Easter Sunday gathering at my home. We had a great time and lots of food friends and family. Kiwi, my lab, had to stick her face right in the pic just as we had it timed to take the pic. I guess she wanted to be in the picture as well! I am currently enjoying the view of the ocean down in Cayucos CA. It's a small beach town located 6 miles north of Moro Beach right along the coast. I can see the waves and a few surfers out in the water and the sun is shining! I will be going out for a walk on the beach in a few hours. We are so blessed to be able to visit here for the entire week. It's my favorite place on earth and I will enjoy every minute here. This is my week to regroup and get ready for my next round in fighting this cancer. I had the port put back in my chest last Wednesday and on Monday I will start my treatment. I will have a drip for for about 6 hours to include Avastin, camptosar, leucovorin and 5-FU and then leave with the pump full of 5-FU. Wednesday I return to give back the pump. This regimen is called Folfire. I am scheduled to have this for 6 months. After two months I will have a CT to make sure it's working...prayers needed! I feel good and strong and I hope to continue to do my spin class during the week... With Gods blessing all will go well and I will get into remission. I can take everyting under the sun but I know my life is in Gods hands. He will guide my path as it says in Proberbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. I am not traveling this road alone and I thank God hourly for His continual presence in my life. God bless you all and thank you so much for your continual support, love and prayers. They mean so much to me. Thank you.

Good Morning, and Happy St Patty's Day tomorrow! Sorry it's been so long since I have blogged about the Pet scan. I'll get to that in a moment; but first I want to explain the picture. Casey and I had the opportunity to visit Cal Poly San Luis Obispo last weekend, company event. The picture is at the school with the flower in full bloom showing it's spring time! It is such a beautiful location. We stayed a the Cliffs Hotel in Shell beach where "Pinos of the World" wine tasting event was held. Over 100 wineries were there for us to taste. There was of food wine and sunshine and it was truly a day to remember....yes we will remember because with that much wine, it was wise to taste and spit. After the event we were whisked off in a stretch limo to Cayucos for a beautiful dinner. Best of all was the people that we got to spend the weekend with. Very nice, loving and gracious people that I hope to see again soon.
OK, as for my Pet scan, the new isn't so good. As suspected, the spot in the lung came out positive. Plus there was a second one in the left lung that lit up as did an area in the gut or intestine area. They are not 100% certain that the one in the gut area is really anything, and that is my prayer. They can cut out the spots in the lungs but not in the gut. If it proves to be in the gut, then it means that it's in my system and will continue to "pop up" else where. Then I will be on/off chemo always and they will treat it as a chronic disease. If it's in just the lungs I could still be cured by removal and chemo. But as I have learned, God has His plans for me and He already knows my path. I have to continue to trust Him and do all I can to help the doctors fight this disease. I also know that prayers are very important so I'm asking for lots of prayers that it's not in the gut and surgery can be done. So, the first step in treating me is to put back the port in my chest. That is scheduled for Wednesday March 19th. Then March 31st I start my chemo regimen for 2 months. After that I will have a Pet/Ct to determine if the drugs are helping or not. I will be on Avastin (That's the drug I initially was looking into going on and was told by UCSF not to take), 5-FU, so I'll have the pump attached to me for 3 days at a time every other week, and CPT-11. Where do they come up with these names?? I have my chemo teach class on Monday, just after Easter, where they will tell me what to expect and all the side effects that may or may not occur. I will continue to work and work out as much as I can. I really like the spin/cycle class I have joined as the pilates classes as well. I feel great and have lots of energy. Physically I know I have lots of strength to handle what they give me. I was a basket case, as my family and a few close friends know, the first few days I got the news, but then once again, God came and gave me His peace. I was vacuuming and crying when all of a sudden I felt this huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I have felt so much better and have shed very few tears since. I know that there are no guarantees in life and we just have to love each day we are given. Weather my time is going to be shorter than I had imagined or not, and only God knows that answer, I will praise God for each day I have and continue loving life. If you get a chance to visit the site called "THe Last Lecture" spoken by Randy Pousch, I highly recommend it. He is an amazingly brave person facing his cancer struggle. My very special friend who is also fighting her cancer sent me a beautiful card with a very special verse I want to share.
Isiah 41:13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right had; it is I who say to you, Fear not, I will help you". I will continue to trust God in all ways, and I hope that if any one of you ever face hard ships, to turn to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can imagine.