Fight Like A Girl...

Kathy sent me this great shot of Anne and Jamie at the finish line of the SummeRun... I love that they are still smiling after running 5K in the hot July sun. Beautiful. I adore their shirts too, because fighting like a girl says it all... tenacity, strength, smarts, and style.

Congrats to Jamie on her first 5K, and to these fabulous sisters for a great run!!

Ready to Run...

What are you doing this Sunday? Jamie's running in Swedish Hospital's SummeRun to benefit the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research! If you're not running or walking in this event, why not support Jamie's efforts in the 5K by donating to the cause (I did!) — just click right here!

C'mon... you can do it!

I'm an 8!

Once again, CT scan, blood draw and examine all went well. CA-125 holding steady at 8 for over 7 months now. It's becoming easier and easier to go to my check ups. I even got to have the new improved solution before my CT scan this time. No more Barium smoothies! The SCCA has been using a solution of sterile water with the same contrast that goes into your veins mixed in. No unpleasant taste, just a lot of water to drink in an hour prior to the scan. What an improvement! That's one thing about continuing advancements in medicine and being treated at a place like the SCCA, they move with the times and continually make medicine better.

Things are pretty normalized around the old homestead. We pretty much have the house buttoned back up and are moved back into our "master" bedroom (really the room that is closest to the bathroom)! We are overwhelmed with chicken eggs, many of you have benefited from the ladies bounty!

We are planning a trip to the east to see the newest member of the Crase-Martinez clan, Brendan! Congrats to Ali, AJ and Gillian and of course Gramma Sharon and Grampa Pete! Can't wait to meet him!! Hope to also see some of our other East Coast friends and family while we are back there!

Enjoy the spring weather!!

Thanks Aunt Jamie!!!

A big Thank You to Jamie for yet another magical Nutcracker experience!

Happy Birthday to Jamie!!!

Best wishes for a rockin' fun day, and a splendorous year ahead —

Happy Twenty-17th, Jame!!

Love, Katrina (and J,M&E too)

Please Support Ovarian Cancer Research

Jamie and Katrina are participating in the 2009 Swedish SummeRun benefiting the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Ovarian Cancer can affect those who least expect it. Research into detecting Ovarian Cancer in its early stages is key to curing the disease. Support us in our efforts to raise funds!

Every person who runs, walks, pledges or volunteers is helping make a positive impact on ovarian cancer research.

You can join me at the Swedish SummeRun by clicking right here: Join the Swedish SummeRun. You can also help by sponsoring either Jamie or Katrina. It's easy to make a gift, just click on our names, and pledge!

Please, and Thank You!

Introducing....

The Twins!

We have two new young ladies, I mean, hens for our flock. We've had them for two days and they have already settled in quite nicely. They are about a year old and we adopted them from the animal shelter, via a lady who worked there.

They are very different from RC. Spry and slender, which RC is not. The lady at the shelter showed John how to clip their wings, as they could easily fly out of the yard. Apparently if you clip just one side, they have a hard time staying balanced, thus really can't fly too well. RC is so heavy and large, we have never had a need to clip her wings.

So far the girls have been very productive and given us an egg a day. In just two days, we have half a dozen eggs! Don't be surprised if we just happen to drop a dozen or so by. The twins produce a whitish colored egg, slightly smaller than RC. It will be interesting to see if they are different inside.

Yes, we are now officially Crazy Olympia People!

Follow a Friend

I am helping to author a new blog for my dear friend, Brittany. Some of you have seen a few earlier posts, where I briefly introduced her. She has agreed to let me help get the word out regarding her battle with cystic fibrosis.

This past week, she made a giant leap across the country from Seattle Children's to Duke University via Airlift Northwest. She is undergoing an evaluation to be considered for a double lung transplantation.

She has had a "minor" set back this week and had to be put on a ventilator. In her case, this isn't a horrible thing, but it does mean she will need the transplant sooner than later. The ventilator is helping to get oxygen into her lungs, so that her body can work to rid itself of CO2. Her levels were way too high, and something had to be done. She will undergo a surgery to place a trach tube so that she will be able to talk and eventually start her physical therapy regimen to get her strength up so her body can withstand the surgery and recovery.

I invite all my devoted supporters to take a look at her journey, and encourage you all to give her words of encouragement and support as you did for me through my battle with cancer. I don't know if you all will ever know how much it meant to me to read all your comments of love and support. When I was feeling low or just plain yucky, I could always log on and read all the wonderful things my friends and family wrote to encourage me to push on! I know many of you still check regularly for updates and I can't tell you how much it means to me. Brittany is a special girl and could really use all the encouragement and support we can give her. I think it is also so important for her family and friends as well.

Follow Brit's journey at www.brittanybreathes.blogspot.com

By the way, I am not sure when the healthlink special will air. I, like you, are anxiously awaiting its premier!

9 and a 5

The 9 is for my new CA-125 number!! It went down a couple of points from the last check, so Dr. Goff said that was a great sign and nothing to worry about! I'm up for another CT scan in 3 months, along with the standard blood draws and another CA-125. She said all "felt" well with my other unmentionable exam (hehehe).

So prior to this appointment, which was rearranged a couple of days, Dr. Goff's wonderful nurse, Heidi, called to ask me if I would participate in an interview with Dr. Goff regarding her grant she received from the OCRF (see link below). Since she is my personal "hero" I of course agreed.

So here comes the 5! I will be on KING5 news healthlink series on Wednesday March 4th!! It was a really fun and cool experience. I'm guessing it wasn't exactly the experience Dr. Goff was used too, as she said "that's it???" when the camera man said "I got it!" It was really informal and we just talked with the reporter and really didn't realize we were being interviewed. I hope I was able to pull off the "natural" ease with which Dr. Goff talked, but I do have to say I was a little nervous and really excited.

The grant is helping to further research in detecting ovarian cancer in its early stages. It is running over two years, and is trying to enroll 12,000 women (a lofty goal) to participate in a symptoms screening questionnaire prior to getting examined. Dr. Goff is hoping that general practice doctors will understand the symptoms that women present with and get them treated early. As we all know, the earlier you can't this crazy cancer, the easier it is to kick it to the curb!!

Congratulations Dr. Goff !!!

My Mom told me about this link to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund website, where Dr. Goff has been named to lead the OCRF Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Study. Follow the link below to learn more:

http://www.ocrf.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=305:oc-symptoms-study&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=422


I still think about how lucky I am that she is my Doctor. I just wish other women were as lucky as me! I can't wait to see her again at the end of the month. I have my three month blood draw next week and three month check up a week after that. Time just seems to be flying by! It's great to be healthy. I hope all is well with everyone.

Also, I will be letting everyone know about the Relay for Life soon. I got my invite in the mail and will get our team started shortly...posts to come soon.

A Wish Come True

Brittany was able to go on her "Make a Wish" outing this weekend. Here's a sample of what she had in store for her!!

http://www.komonews.com/home/video/37848389.html?video=pop&t=a


I can't wait for her to tell me all about it tomorrow!!

Brittany

As some of you know, John has a second cousin Brittany, who is here at Seattle Children's Hospital. She is a super courageous kid, well, teenager (everyone under the age of 25 seems like a kid to me!) I've been lucky to be able to get to know her through her stays here at the hospital. Today, I hope I was able to be of some comfort to her as she had to undergo an emergency procedure to put a chest tube in to drain out air that had escaped from her lung into her chest. She put on her brave face and had the procedure, which has successfully let the air out so her lung could regain it's shape and start working again.

I am still amazed by the health care we have here in Seattle. Her nursing team was awesome today. She had a nurse, Brittany, who went the extra mile and stayed with her, past her shift, to make sure she was being taken care of. It reminded me of one of my favorite nurses on 7SE, May, who worked tirelessly to get my pain under control after surgery and went the extra distance to always make me feel like I was her only patient. I was always surprised to know that she had roughly two other people she was looking after. And also Michael, Christy, and Jennie, who were also the best and saw me through the chemo. I also fondly recall Dan, my chemo nurse at SCCA , who told me exactly what to expect and when to take meds so that I would feel the best I could after chemo.

I'm glad I can be in the position I am right now, slowly rocking in the chair beside Brittany's bed, looking out for her as she sleeps off the anesthesia. I'm so glad she is comfortable, and her breathing is so much better. I wouldn't probably be able to be in this position without my "team" which includes my wonderful husband, my best friend Katrina, my amazing family, and all my great friends who supported me while I was down. I'm excited to look towards a wonderful 2009, knowing that I am well and all the cancer is behind me.

Sugar & Spice, and Everything Nice...

That's what little girls are made of... or so goes the rhyme. Many thanks to Aunt Jamie for an amazing "girls only" day out at the ballet!

And today, all of our sweet girls were full of the sugar and spice that the magic of the Nutcracker, and adorable holiday dresses seem to bring out of little ones. Thanks for the magic, Jame!

Let it Snow, Snow, Snow!

Can you believe the weather we are having? We have been having so much fun in the snow. John and I took a little "drive" last night all around the county (doing exactly what they have been urging not to do!) We are so naughty.

John has had to clear off RC's chicken roof two times already for fear she would be lost in a collapse. Shorty is having a ball, although he has been naughty too. We decided to go to work on Friday, and let him out of the truck. He started bounding through the snow to attack a large truck at the business across the street. I was most of the way through the retention pond before I got to him, boy was my heart pounding. He loves to jump like a rabbit and burrow his head into the snow. He also enjoys munching the hard crusty stuff.

Our power was fading in and out last night and transformers were popping, but we never did lose power. We have roughly 14 or so inches of snow and it is still falling. John is out sort of clearing the driveway so that it is not a solid block of ice when it starts to thaw. I believe I hear him driving the Suburban now. I think he just can't stand to be idle, always has to be doing something.

I hope everyone is safe and warm and ready for Santa! I wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday. I will try to post a Shorty video soon.

Perfect 11

Just a quick update. Yesterday's "all clear" report from Dr. Goff gave us the go ahead to celebrate a year of remission. Despite having successfully maneuvered through two rounds of chemotherapy without vomiting, Jamie apparently does not have similar resistance to Mai Tais. But still the Blues Travellers at the Showbox was a just the right way to let go of the anxieties of the week between scan and exam.

I can not think of anything else I could be more thankful for.

Today was another all day stretch at the UWMC and SCCA. Jamie was scheduled for her 6 month CT scan, so we coordinated our follow up with Mercy the genetics counselor for the same day.

Now that we have Jamie’s primary care under control, it is now time to ask “why”? Genetic research is a hot topic of course and the UW medical machine appears to be keeping up with the trend. A few weeks ago the Jamie, Jennifer, Christie and I met with Mercy to discuss procedure and objectives. Jamie, eager to benefit her immediate family as well as society in general gave consent imediately. This meant a simple blood draw, coordinated of course, with Jamie’s regular port flush.

So today was the follow up and discussion of the results. Initially they are looking for a mutation of the BCRA1 and BCRA2 genes. Jamie’s test shows that she has neither. While this itself is good news as it appears to eliminate the most common genetic link both maternal and paternal, the work has not yet ended. If Jamie’s relative’s will be kind enough to let someone shove a camera up their bums and then share the results, we will be able to investigate the possibility of what our able clinician referred to as “Lynch” syndrome, which is not to be confused with any impulse to carry out capitol punishment. Those looking for more on the science can simply use google as regurgitation of facts is not the purpose here. What I will bring, and my audience now expects, is the story behind the story.

Now I must be tactful and withhold many of the juiciest of details as it was revealed to me on sunday that our professional team holds a connection to someone within our intimate circle.

During our initial consult with Mercy, introductions between the women were the usual superficial “very nice to meet you” with femininely limp hand shakes and multiple nods. But when she turned to me, our hands clutched and there was a brief pause. With that ambiguous, one eye row raised look the said “oh, you’re the husband, I have heard about you” and turned away.

My mind raced. Was it some sort of security warning in the file about me and my inclination to wander down dark halls and peek in unsecured cabinets? Or was I the topic of discussion at one of those after hours nurse parties at the little Mexican cantina on Boat street where the put on their “dress” nurse uniforms of short skirts, v neck top and little white hat, and do shots of tequila in various most erotic ways (trust me this has been self censored already)? Or maybe the SCCA staff has misread my previous writings not as whit, but as critique and black listed me?

But today Mercy was all business, except a brief lapse where she talked about how cute Brian and Katie’s kids were, (and who doesn’t already know that), and really proved her scientific skill. Despite my attempts to throw her off guard with the inevitable engineer geek questions about the arithmetic of genetics, she was rock solid. As I probed she remained unaffected and then laid down her trump card. A perfectly drawn, symboled and annotated family tree for Jamie. I was intimidated. Straight lines, archaic symbols, room to write additional notes. Truly admirable.

So still searching for answers as to my status in the UWMC community, we left the CHDD complex with our parking ticket validated.

Jamie, knowing that the agony of a procedure such as a CT scan would not fulfill her sadistic needs, agreed to make the most of our two hour break and accompany me to Recycled Cycles. She once again proved her love to me by standing by while I tried on every fluorescent yellow jacket, plus a couple of standard hues, comparing zippers, stitching and armpit vents. After accepting advice from a modestly pierced clerk and making my clothing selection, I could tell that Jamie wanted more. So next was neoprene shoe covers. Mountain bike style, or the more simplistic road biker’s? Or maybe just the over the toe types? Wait should I go to the car and get my cycling shoes and try them on? Why not? What about gloves? If I buy women’s because I have small hands will that make me look gay? Are you having fun honey? It was a true test of her endurance. And then wait, maybe none of these is what I want as the clerk and I discuss fenders and how they actually might be what I really need. So with apparel behind me, onto the real focus of the store “parts”. But I knew I had gone too far. So one quick lap and to the register to cash out.

It was nearly 1 pm when we arrived at the SCCA and straight to floor 2 we went. In their usual efficiency we were swept through reception and into the waiting area. This is the worst part for Jamie. She is veteran enough to know what is coming. Despite my jokes about her berry (really read barium) milkshake, I decline a sample when offered. We do get some relief though as a Joan Rivers like character reflects with her daughter on the excessive botox use of a friend. “Why would you want fat lips?, I only get it in my forehead”. “Can you move your eyebrows mom?” “ Well dear I think so, but I guess I haven’t tried” “You know so and so has it done every few weeks, I only go every other month. You can’t get rid of ALL of the wrinkles, that would be just crazy” “Did you know that botox can cure migraines?” “ So if you just tell your Dr. you get really bad headaches you can get your insurance company to pay for your botox!”

If you are outgoing, the waiting area can be a great place to meet all sorts of colorful people. When Jamie went back to get her port accessed, I invited a fellow to join me on the couch. He was a bit crippled and walked with a cane, but smiled continuously none the less. Soon it became apparent that his physical disability was only minor compared to the barking from his companion, who rode an electric scooter. She repeated several times that “I am going to wait up front” in a sort of anticipatory tone, but he ignored her as he was apparently much more eager to exchange pleasantries with me. Well, before she could get fully u-turned, the nurse called her name. The man let out a sigh of relief and made himself comfortable.

Now his story started out innocently enough, asking me where I went to school and then elaborating on his youth in Seattle and his champion high school basketball team. But like most of us, no matter how casual our story seems, there is always an underlying theme. So high school championship leads to a community college scholarship. That leads him to Kent. Eventually he and his girlfriend find themselves traveling on 320th in Federal Way late one night. And coincidentally some jack ass decides to cram a bunch of Busch into his gut and then four people into the cab of his pick up. They smash a couple of other cars up before plowing into this guy’s Toyota. Now based on the story teller’s hair I put the story in the 1970’s. The physics are pretty obvious. 70’s Toyota = tin can. 70’s pickup = large chunk of iron.

To quote him “that day changed my lie forever”. Although he can walk, it is with great effort and not without a cane in is one functioning hand. His companion fared no better (note she is not the same woman present day) as he says a broken back has left her in a wheel chair.

So once again we leave the SCCA with our challenges in perspective.


By the time we pull out of the parking garage it is nearly 5 o’clock and thus heavy traffic. I had been promoting the lobster special at Anthony’s for a couple of days now and Jamie agreed that a decent meal sounded better than a traffic jam. We turned to our trusty navigation system and eventually found our way through the Norwegian ghetto of Ballard to the Anthony’s at the end of the ship canal.

I felt conspicuously underdressed, not having my musty corduroy sport coat or faux leather Velcro shoes. But they seated us none the less, just in time for the sunset dinner special. We enjoyed our meal as we eavesdropped on thrilling conversations as “the good thing about my medication is that I don’t have to get up to pee so often” and other such intricacies of the golden years.

Chuckling as we watched old men pick the raisins out of their rice, (we will admit we found the taste weird as well), we unwound from our busy day and reflected on our gratuity for Jamie’s health and the time we have enjoyed together.

36!

Nope, that's not my CA-125 number, it's my age! Hard to believe eh? The wonderful "giant cookie cake" you see there was provided by none other than my crazy (I say that in the most enduring way) baking friend, Katrina. Five layers of cookie goodness (Martha Stewart recipe) with cream cheese frosting in the middle. Unbelievable! John also furnished a made to order Cherry pie! (my absolute favorite)

Thanks to all that celebrated with me this year! It was my best birthday ever. Friends, Family, what more could I ask for.

Sidenote: Dr. Goff has asked me to be a part of a panel discussion at a special event for UW donors, doctors and others entitled "Cinema in Science". I am so excited to help her in any way that I can. If I can get the word out and allow other women to find this crazy cancer early, I'm all in. We will be screening the movie "Wit" with Emma Thompson. For those of you who haven't seen it, be prepared, it is a tear jerker. I would like everyone to know, I did not ever feel or was treated as portrayed in the film. I hope that is not what other women think treatment is like. I will update more once the discussion is over, sometime after Tuesday the 28th.

I'm off to get my 5th haircut!!!

Congratulations!!

As many of you know, we are celebrating the marriage of our friends, Phong and Hoa Hong, here in Westminster CA, otherwise known as Little Saigon. We have been so fortunate to be included in such a special event. The services have been beautiful, but not as beautiful as the Bride. I'm not sure I have seen such a pretty bride in all the weddings I have attended. Hoa Hong, in her quiet way, sparkled like the brightest star today. Poor thing was up at 5 or so, to go get "made up" for the events today. She was continuously going even after we left at 11pm or so from the reception. She had to change her outfit about 3 or 4 times and have her picture taken and was video taped all the while, the whole time taking it like a great sport! I hope all of you agree with me in how fantastic she looks.

Tomorrow we head to Disneyland! For me it is like the commercial where the brother and sister are talking at night and their parents tell them they have to go to sleep and the little boy says "I'm too excited to sleep!" I am such a kid at heart and I am crazy about any rides. Emily and I plan to ride all the roller coasters and scary rides that we can tomorrow. We've talked about the "fast" pass and what we would like to do. We are going to have a blast!

I will have to update you all with some pictures of our adventures, but for now I will leave you with just a couple of the bride and groom.

Their smiles are worth a million! How cute are they?

Did you HEAR that??

We've been getting a steady take of one egg per day since our first post, with the exception of the very first day where we got the two eggs pictured in the first post. We knew that RC was definitely the laying girl, as she was the oldest of the two gals. TC is filling out quite nicely, but is still very young, so we've been cutting her some slack.

It's been a about a week since we have been letting the girls have free roam of the "dog" yard. They seem to really enjoy their free time roaming about, scratching for worms and bugs, and taking the glorious dirt baths they both really enjoy. Shorty has some reservations about his "yard" being taken over and has given the girls a little chase or too, but for the most part, he is his Shorty self and has pretty much ignored the ladies.

I was playing tether ball with Shorty yesterday when I heard something. I thought maybe one of the girls was laying an egg. I looked into the "coop" but didn't see either of them. Both were happily scratching in the dirt. I had to think closely at what I just heard. Did I hear a cockle doodle do? No, I must be hearing things I told myself and went back to playing with Shorty.

This morning John decided to drive the Suburban to work. As it has been rather toasty at night, we had the windows open to our bedroom. I heard the Suburban fire up, just as she always does even though she just gets short occasional spins around town. I dozing in and out listening to Adam Corrola, when all the sudden John bursts back into the bedroom. "Did you hear that?" he wakes me. "What? Huh? Are you crazy?" I give him the stink eye as I usually do when he wakes me up too early. "Did you hear that?" he asks me again. "Yes I hear the Suburban!" how could I not, she is quite distinguishable. "I think we have a Rooster!!! I just heard a crow!!" I suddenly jump up in bed and proclaim, "I thought so, I heard it last night!!"

We believe our young gal TC, is not a gal after all, she is a HE!! No wonder we aren't getting any eggs from him. The first two eggs (pictured below) have to be from RC! So, we are probably going to have to give "her" back to the pound, as there is a "rule" about roosters living in the city. TC is filling out quite nicely, but is also finding his voice, and the neighbors may not appreciate that too much.

I guess this is the chance you take, when getting young chickens from the pound. Maybe since we adopted "two hens" from the pound, we may be able to keep him. Time will tell. We will keep all of you faithful Blog readers updated with all the crazy happenings on the little piece of land we call our farm.

First Eggs

I had just resolved myself to being satisfied with just having pet chickens when to my great surprise I found our first eggs while tidying up the chicken habitat tonight.

It was just after dusk, having returned from our post Weight Watchers dinner out with my parents, I was going through my evening routine of feeding, cleaning up various varieties of poop and settling everyone in for the night. While I had made time to get the newspaper pellets for the rabbit’s litter, I have yet to remember to get the wood pellets from the lumberyard, which according to Urbanchicken.com, make some sort of magic base for a stink free composting chicken floor. While skeptical about the author’s claim of only semi-annual cleaning, I do think that this material may well suited and of course is far less expensive than the material I am using for BB and GB. I had intended to procrastinate on cleaning out the “coop” , which nothing more than an old dog crate filled with local hay and two small litter boxes likewise filled for nests, until the proper material was procured. But my compulsiveness required at least a minimal effort and some straightening up.

I found the boxes a bit askew, and as I pulled them back to position the larger of the two eggs was readily visible. This prompted further search which revealed the second, buried behind in the hay floor. The hens sat above my head on top of the box, patiently observing me but making no motion. I carefully carried my treasure into the house and deposited them on the counter. I returned to find my wards contently snaking on a few greens I left behind. The girls obviously wary from their day’s efforts seemed eager to go to bed and only TC gave a lighthearted squawk as she hopped from my grip and into the crate.

Despite recently receiving an unsolicited opinion that “chickens don’t drink water at night”, I fashioned new water and food dishes that attached to the crate door, hoping to preserve the new paper litter I used to replace the soiled hay as a reward for their efforts. While Red Green may have dust tape, a strong but only temporary connection in almost all circumstances, I use the more technologically advanced and despite common myth, also readily reusable, zip tie. With the careful insertion of the tip of my pocket knife, I frequently save this trusty and most versatile plastic wonder from an unnecessary and unwarranted early destruction in all facets of daily life. Find yourself a little short? Connect two or more into a plastic chain that can bind a tarp, hold up your pants or keep your fender from flapping in the wind.

Feeling that I had made a good effort to comfort my now egg producing hens I left them in peace in hopes a that this marks a strong and steady production of eggs for some time to come. I returned to the house to find that Jamie had already placed them in a carton and prominently displayed them on the kitchen table. Eager to share my success I dialed Katelyn and described our yield in detail to which she responded by assuring me that “the big one is for you and the small one is for Aunt Jamie”.

Unfortunately all this success and revelry is not without consequence. Jealous of the chickens, the rabbits have begun acting out, chewing on the new mdf trim in the basement . This has brought great wrath from Jamie, their former supporter and friend who is now suggesting that they may need to move outdoors and is thus proposing some sort of conglomerate chicken / rabbit duplex enclosure in the new barn yard. Although he feigns a look of concern, Shorty takes no real action, merely lazily watching them perform this gratuitous act of defiance without so much a nudge or bark to scold them. Thus I am left to be their sole disciplinarian as well as defender. I am going to first try a squirt bottle in an effort to deter them and may also try to install some clear plastic corners over the edges, although some have expressed concern regards aesthetics.

So while chicken is off the menu, I fear that rabbit stew may not. My hope is that this phase will pass or maybe I can call on the rabbit whisperer to reason with them.