Monday...May 31st...2010

Linda and Dave went to Salem today to decorate the graves......Linda held up well although she continues to be pretty tired when she puts out any effort....her pulse seems to raise without much effort...so we will review that with the doctors next week....if she is tired tomorrow we might seek hydration at the OSHU Oncology Center.....also since we don't have weekly blood tests in Oregon, her counts may be a bit down...we shall see.....

We went by the house we were first to live in after getting married almost 30 years ago...Linda designed it and had it built....we were blown away at the size of plants and trees we had planted that many years ago....and to find the guy who bought it from us in 1987 still living there...with a different wife.....

We also stopped by to see Linda's dear friend Maureen who is preparing her prior home for sale.

Tomorrow we pursue the purchase of the Canby house with realtor daughter in law Jenn...and perhaps go to visit the mausoleum site of Linda's parents......if (1) Linda feels strong enough and (2) Linda doesn't need hydration and (3) we have time...

.

Sunday....May 30th...2010

Today Linda slept until 11 am to prepare for a trip to St. Paul to attend a graduation party for Linda's niece Susan (daughter of her brother Marlin) and her husband Steve's son Ryan who just graduated from high school and son Kevin who just graduated from college.

Daughter Janine drove and we had a great time...Linda got to see a lot of folks she hadn't seen in a long time...as well as family members.....as she said after leaving..."they were my "stimulus" today"....they kept her energized...although she started to tire after a time...and that meant it was time to go....

Seeing family means a lot to Linda and she is excited to get a house in the area so family can come visit....

We are finishing the day at daughter Janine's.....doing laundry....getting Linda a nap...watching the last of the recorded Indy 500...and watching the NASCAR race.

Tomorrow we go to Salem to put flowers on the graves of Linda's husband Richard and our son Jonathan.....

.

Friday....May 28th...2010

We did it.....

We got up at 8 am (usually 10 am is our "up" time....of course we eat breakfast at 5 or 6 am and read the paper and then back to bed)...

And we got on the West Side Commuter Rail (WES) from Wilsonville to Beaverton.....then MAX (light rail) to downtown Portland...and then the Portland Streetcar to OHSU (Oregon Health and Science University).....to deliver Linda's past scans to her new Oncologist's office....

What a trip......

And then we took the Streetcar back into Portland...caught the MAX and went east across the river to the Lloyd Center for lunch and shopping....

And then a tired out Linda rode back on the MAX and WES to home ...and that's the end of our story.....

ps..the weather sucked..again....rained the entire time....cold and windy too...

What are we doing tomorrow......nothing......oh..maybe a trip to Canby again ...IF the weather is nice...

.

Wednesday...May 26th...2010

CANBY.......(Can - Bee)

1434 N Hazelnut Court

.
1 mile south of the Willamette River and the Canby Ferry

4 miles east of Interstate 5

15 miles south of Oregon Health and Science University

21 miles north to downtown Portland

9 miles northeast to Oregon City

27 miles northeast to PDX (Portland International Airport)

Wednesday...May 26th...2010

Some pictures of Linda and Dave on their honeymoon and shortly thereafter...reminds us why we got married....hey...what a babe!..

Tuesday....May 25th...2010

No trip on the trains, Max or streetcars today....

Linda woke up with low energy (fatigue), a headache and nausea.....yikes.....

Things got much better as the day went along so we visited Home Depot and Lowes looking at paint colors, cabinet refinishing, appliances, and countertops......

Tomorrow Linda and Janine go to see Amber's new baby....so the trip to town will have to wait another day....

Monday....May 24th...2010

Quite a day today......

We started out previewing the Tigard house and discovered it wasn't what we wanted....

So back to the Canby house for a last look......followed by a "final offer"......which was countered by the bank ....huh?......by $500....huh?.....$500??????....huh?, So we accepted...scratching our heads...upping a final offer by $500?????? It made no sense...none.....but we went along with it. Is that the end? Nope...now this all goes to the upper management of the bank...to agree....

It has been strange to say the least...we have to prequalify...we have to submit signed offers....they make verbals only..and then when they "say" they agree, they submit to a "higher up" to decide whether there is a sale or not....

We have fears of an error in the process..we shall see...maybe we have a house..maybe we don't...

Linda did well today...tomorrow we explore the Portland and suburban train, Max, streetcar and tram system....going from our RV in Wilsonville to Beaverton to downtown Portland to the south waterfront to Oregon Health Science University. We will be delivering Linda's digitized scans of CTscans to her Oncologist at OHSU.....and learning the "way of things" along the way....

.

Sunday....May 23rd...2010

After our offer for the Canby home was rejected by the bank, Linda
took on the task of looking in depth at what was "out there"....one of the houses available was in Tigard....we went there yesterday ...looked at the outside and through the windows....and found it had real possibilities

We have decided to preview the Tigard home first thing tomorrow and perhaps make an offer on it before reconsidering the Canby property....Linda is doing well..this "home venture" seems to energize her...good for her. It is also apparent that dropping some of the heart medications prescribed by her previous doctor is having a very positive effect...she seems much stronger and not so concerned about a low blood pressure.

Saturday...May 22nd...2010

Back in Wilsonville after a two day trek to Bend......

Linda's oncology visit went well....her blood counts were good....the infusion session went well....chemo Alimta again...Linda will miss Dr. Kornfeld...he has been wonderful to her....now she switches to Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) and Dr. Sandler. Dave picked up her last three CTscans so we will deliver them to the Oncology department next week so the Oncologist can review them before Linda's next session on June 10. Dr. Kornfeld also wants another scan done before seeing Dr. Sandler on June 10 so we will arrange that also. If things are stable she should continue on Alimta...if a change then Dr. Sandler will most likely move to something new..
.
We made our offer on the Canby house. The counter came back fast and was a drop of $2000 from their listing price...YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING!...a house that sat for a year and a half with no offers.....so long ago the agent couldn't remember the offer...and said to bring her all offers....somewhere there is a miscommunication...either our initial offer was too low or.....anyway we have made a counteroffer and it is our last offer...much work needs to be done and it doesn't become as good a situation. What we find incredible is how everyone is dropping their asking prices to sell...except the bank...of course we bailed them out and they don't need the money?????

.

Thursday....May 20th...2010

The prequalifications have been met and the home offer made...now we wait for the bank to respond....

What is exciting is that Linda is excited and exciting...she is thinking of paint colors...carpet...kitchen appliances and cabinets....just what she was "born to do"....energizing to say the least....

Linda's last chemo in Bend is tomorrow.....we are in Bend now...having had dinner with son Jeff and seeing the movie Robin Hood together...

Wednesday....May 19th...2010

Making an offer on the "Canby property" tomorrow....

Going to Bend tomorrow for a few chores...Linda has her last chemo in Bend Friday...

Linda is doing pretty good...prevention is the key to problems.....

Dave's "illness" lingers...the doctor has placed him on a clear diet again followed by a bland diet to allow his system to recover....all the doctors agree it was a bug or virus....maybe caused by something hiding in the RV water system.....

Linda and Dave now have primary doctors and a dentist....


Canby, Oregon

Canby is a thriving agricultural and residential community of 12,790. The surrounding area contains some of the richest farmland in Oregon. Local nurseries produce a wide variety of plants, bulbs and seeds. Canby has the largest served industrial area in Clackamas County. It's development is actively promoted by the city government and an economic development committee. Major annual events include the award winning Clackamas County Fair, General Canby Days and Summer Concerts in the Park. The community is located on the Willamette River and Highway 99E, just 4 miles from I-5. Employers include Willamette Egg Farms, Cutsforth Thriftway, Package Containers Inc., McGill & Son Nursery and J V Northwest.

We are trying to buy a home in north Canby which is about 4 miles from I-5...which leads to Portland. Directly north of us is the Willamette River which has Mollala State Park and the Canby Ferry.... which we love to use as it is a "backroads" to Jim/Jenn's ....Janine's...and....Claudia's.

Monday....May 17th...2010

Linda was strong today...better attitude....no nausea (medication taken when she got up today)...good hydration....

Thursday we head to Bend for odds and ends including a Friday Oncology and infusion visit....our last Bend Oncology appointment...OHSU in Portland starting June 10th...

Today we visited the Canby house again..traveled by ferry across the river again....so exciting and different. If our interior preview on Wednesday meets our expectations, we will make an offer shortly thereafter..much work is needed but the end result will be exciting.

Dinner today with brother Marlin and sister in law Joni....

Tomorrow a doctor's visit for Dave...pre planned to get the new doctor established but now will include continued problems which initially put him in the hospital... but no where near severe. Dave now believes the problem is a "bug" picked up in the RV's water system We will also be sterilizing the water lines tomorrow to prevent further problems...if that is the culprit.....

.

Sunday....May 16th...2010

Much better day for Linda.....is it because she focused on hydration and many snacks...most likely...

.....Linda's "Life Coach"

Saturday....May 15th...2010

Linda not feeling too well today....belching and nausea....persistent....we are trying to set up a regimen where she takes Culturelle every day (Dave ordered more by mail..great price)....take nausea meds each day in anticipation of having a problem..until it goes away....using more peppermint soft candy to stop belching and unsettled stomach....

We might have found "our" house.....something we can both agree on...had to modify our "needs" to reach a new set of opportunities...it's a house not a condo or townhome....the master is on the main....it has an office space on the main...the kitchen, dining and living rooms are combined into a great room....there is no need for Linda to go upstairs to the second and third bedrooms.....there is ample RV parking as a bonus...it has a great southern exposure and glass doors to a patio....

Daughter in law Jenn comes back Tuesday evening so we will preview the inside Wednesday and if agreed, we will make an immediate offer....

Where is it...Canby....not where we figured to live but the prices and opportunities are better..a bit further away but not significant....what is neat is there is a ferry which cuts the distance to everyone down significantly...it does take a bit of time but the adventure is wonderful...

Tomorrow we go to a condo open house but "me thinks" Linda will not be ok with it...it is her idea to visit so off we go.

We now have a beautiful car after much work today including washing the carpets and all....nice....

Dinner at Janine's tomorrow night....

Friday...May 14th...2010

Dave's back..well....what's left of him...anyway....

A rough three days...still not feeling that good...it will take a few days to stabilize.

Slept until 12:45 today.....getting up only to attend a Memorial to a Oregon Education Association staff colleague....Don Satchel...the Political Education consultant for the OEA. He...as someone said today....should be honored by all teachers...and all should say "Thanks Don"....for what he did in the political arena for teachers....

Don was an early supporter and mentor for Dave...was of great support in forming Dave's career....and Dave honors him for his service and his support....

Tonight we went to look at a house in Canby...great neighbors...we like it when several come out to ask if they could help us...an eye on things...it's great....anyway it has real possibilities....

Thursday....May 13....2010

Well, I finally got to bring Dave home this afternoon, and other than being tired, he is doing fine. The hospital was so great, and they were sorry to see him leave, giving him hugs. I never met any of the staff that wasn't terrific. They all acted as though they loved their jobs and it showed.

I had my appointment with my new GP today and really liked her. She made a decision on my blood pressure medication that should have been made a long time ago. She took me off of it altogether since it goes too low too often. Hopefully that will make me feel better most days.

Thanks for the prayers and support while Dave was in the hospital.

Love and gratitude......Linda

Thursday....May13....2010

I arrived at the hospital this morning to find Dave eating pancakes and scrambled eggs. What a change from yesterday. The doctor had been in and told him he just had a very bad infection. The doctor wants to see him in a month and depending on the results of one of the polyps they sent off, they'll retest him in around four months. We were happy to find out it wasn't colitis, just some other nasty infection. Depending on how he does on solid food for breakfast and lunch, he'll be able to go home today.

I'll check in later with whether he is home and how my appointment went.

Love and gratitude......Linda

Wednesday....May12....2010

I told Dave I'd do a blog tonight even though I have no news to report. Hopefully when I see him in the morning, the doc will have been in and i will know more.

I go see my new GP tomorrow afternoon, which will feel wierd for me since Dave always takes me to my appointments. I guess it's time for me to be a big girl. He has definitely spoiled me with all his care over the past three years.

Bedtime for me. Until tomorrow......Linda

Wednesday....May 12....2010

I'm at the hospital with Dave, but we're still a little in the dark. The test this morning only showed some polyps which they took care of, but no blockage which is good. I haven't talked to the doctor yet, so I don't know what the next step is. I just wanted to pass on what little I knew. He didn't get any sleep last night, so he's really sleepy right now. I suppose the pain meds might have something to do with that, too. He drank a gallon of that ugly liquid last night, so no wonder he didn't get any sleep.

He's in the Meridian Park Hospital just up the street from daughter Janine's place, so it's handy for me to come and go as needed. It is so much nicer here than the hospital I was in in Tampa. The staff have all been great.

Wish I had more to report which I will do as it comes. Thanks for your prayers.

Love and support....Linda

Tuesday........May 11....2010

Linda here checking in with good news. I got a call from OHSU today telling me I have been accepted by the lung oncologist as his patient. I will have to go back to Bend for my chemo next week, but three weeks after that I will start here, so I am very pleased. I will miss my doctor in Bend, but I will feel much better being close to my medical facilities.

Six hours later:
I got interrupted by a call while I was here at Janines doing laundry and writing the blog. Dave called for me to come home as he was in trouble physically. I rushed home to take him to the emergency room where they ran tests and diagnosed him with colitis. They checked him in so they can have him drink all the liquids for a colonopscopy (sp) in the morning. Meanwhile they are keeping him on anti-nausea and pain meds. He hasn't been overnight in a hospital in our almost thirty years of marriage. I want my care-giver well again.

I or Dave will update you tomorrow. Luckily I am feeling well right now, but am still spending the night with Janine so as not to be alone.

Love and gratitude...,.,.,,Linda

Sunday....May 9th...2010

Speaking out.....Dave..

.

Today I saw family members and extended family members smoking...at a Memorial for two family members who smoked much if not all of their adult (and probably preadult) lives and paid the ultimate price....smokers today who most likely are at an additional risk of being genetically disposed to lung cancer..... I saw children subjected to second hand smoke indirectly and perhaps at home, directly.....

It saddens me....

Please do whatever you have to....to quit...before it's too late....if not for yourself.....think of those around you...and the pain they must go through if you begin the journey through cancer because of smoking...

.
'Nough said......

.

.

Sunday....May 9th...2010

We went to Federal Way for Memorials for Dave's step sister and Mom...both passing from lung cancer..so it was very personal in more ways than one....step brother Mick put together a nice get to gether including a memorial of pictures on computer..of which we were able to get a copy to digest in slower times..also one had been done of Dave's step sister....so we have that too.
.
Step sister Kelly was there as well as her daughter and her husband and 4 kids....daughter Wendy was there with son in law Chris and grand daughter Taigen.....daughter Janine made the trip with us from Oregon.
.

Linda held up well....better than we expected...she "rises to the occasion" once again. For a round trip of over 300 miles and a gathering of many people over 3 hours....she held up extremely well.

.

Linda has pretty much figured out that her back/pleuritic pain was caused by the coughing from the "Florida crud". Then the pain meds caused the nausea...which has diminished by no longer needing the pain meds....it all makes sense....

.

Tomorrow we are looking at a potential home in Sherwood before going back to the condo possibility for the third time...all with realtor daughter in law Jenn....are we getting closer to a decision...we shall see..

.

Pictures today of attendees at the Memorials and the many faces of grand daughter Taigen....my future "rocket scientist" (which she very loudly denies....and claims she is going to be a "Mom")....

Saturday...May 8th...2010

Linda started the day pretty nauseated and not feeling really very "swell".....after sleeping on and off for most of the early day, she perked up a bit.

We went back to the condos we are looking at and found the one we want if that is the way we go....Daughter in law Jenn...the realtor...will go back with us on Monday if that is the direction we want to go in terms of a purchase...if we do buy we want it "barebones" and will put in our own selection of light fixtures and flooring.....

Dinner was at Jenn and Jim's with grand daughter Jillian and daughter Janine...and early Mother's Day celebration as we go to Federal Way, Washington for the Memorial tomorrow....

Pictures following the delightful dinner and company...

.

Friday....May 7th...2010

Some new news today.....Linda has a primary physician as a result of the efforts of friend Shari...we owe her as the physician was not taking new patients....Linda has an appointment next Thursday. This is important because of her prescription needs, among other things.

Linda has not felt good today...nausea....perhaps the same thing she went through during the last cycle of chemo....no news yet on the Oncologist....Linda called in to ask but no response from him yet.....

We looked at houses again today....nothing to "shout about" although Linda is more excited about a house rather than Dave's desire for a townhouse....

Tomorrow we have dinner at the "kids" (Portland area kids) to celebrate Mother's Day....then Sunday we travel to Federal Way, Washington for a memorial for Dave's Mom and step sister...who both passed away recently of lung cancer....we will be able to see the "Seattle area kids"...

Thursday....May 6th...2010

Not much new.....on the Linda "front" or house "front"......

Tuesday....May 4th...2010

Lots behind us today.....

We viewed two homes we were interested in with realtor daughter in law Jenn.....one was a very nice townhouse....the other a big house.....

We also went to the area on the Willamette River south of downtown Portland called John's Landing.....nothing popped up that excited us..we also went to a quaint but dated community south called Charbonneau...and spotted a couple of possibilities to follow up on.

While in south Portland on the river, we went to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to see if we could get Linda an appointment with the leading lung cancer specialist....we had visited a year ago and found that a transition to OHSU would be "seamless" but were unable to visit with Dr. Alan Sandler as he was not certified in Oregon yet at that time.....now he is....

Everyone in the Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU was very friendly and helpful...all raved about Dr. Sandler....and we await word from Dr. Sandler...we got to see the infusion room which has a great view from the 7th floor of the river....so we are counting on Linda's chemo in two and a half weeks being at OHSU....

Tomorrow we are going to "take a day off"..ie Linda is doing the laundry at daughter Janine's while she is teaching...Linda is napping between loads...Dave is going to replace the "flapper" and all in Janine's toilet as well as powerwash her driveway...all still counts as a "day off".

Alan Sandler is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon where he also serves as the Division Chief of the Hematology & Medical Oncology Division, and is the DeArmond Chair for Clinical Cancer Research.

After earning a B.S. in Pharmacy (cum laude) at the University of Toledo in Ohio and an M.D. at Rush Medical College in Chicago, Dr. Sandler completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital and a Fellowship in Medical Oncology at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. His academic honors include membership in Alpha Omega Alpha and Rho Chi, the medical and pharmaceutical honor societies.

Dr. Sandler is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, where he serves as the Co-Chair of the Thoracic Committee. He is principal investigator or co-principal investigator of several therapeutic clinical trials that evaluate the activity of chemotherapeutic agents and/or combined-modality therapies in both small and non-small cell lung cancer as well as sarcoma.

Dr. Sandler serves on the Editorial Boards of Clinical Lung Cancer and the Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, and is a reviewer for several journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Investigations, Cancer, the British Journal of Cancer, and European Respiratory Journal. Dr. Sandler is the author or co-author of more than 200 published articles, book chapters, reviews, and abstracts involving the pharmacology and clinical activity of chemotherapy and novel targeted agents, with a particular emphasis on lung cancer.


The following is Linda at the Knight Cancer Insitute..

.