Is it nap time?

With all the excitement (or worry of today), I went without much sleep again last night. What bothers me most about it is that I like to lose those 150 calories they say we lose while sleeping. Do you think I lose any just tossing and turning? Enough about that. I'm taking a nap as soon as I turn this computer off.

Pam's surgery went well. She's nauseated right now but that will soon pass. The doctor said the tumors were encapsulated and they did not appear to spread to the nearby tissue. That is great news. Now we just wait for the pathology reports to confirm everything we already know and head down to SCCA for an oncology appointment. If all goes well Pam will have 6 weeks of radiation (every weekday for 6 weeks). I just made that sound like no big deal (I get that from Pam - she's still calling her "condition" calcium deposits) Thanks to all my friends and family for their prayers, love and concern.

Rick is feeling much better today. He had his chemo pack removed and is now down at work. He scared me for a while....I'm better now. It's hard to see the ones you love, sick. So enough is enough, already!

I'm always honored when I hear someone say, "I read your blog all the time". Had cancer never entered my life I would have missed this opportunity to share our story with you. Pain has a way of either teaching or wounding our soul. The choice is largely ours. I clearly have a lot more to learn so you can guess which road I'll be taking.

Love you more than all the sheep I counted last night...and the night before...and the night before that!

Dream Big,
Dor

A quick goodnight!

Tomorrow will be a busy day. I'm going to take Pam to the hospital for surgery (I know many of you have offered to take her because Rick wasn't feeling well, but he's doing ok tonight and he said Pam needs me tomorrow...you gotta love that guy - Thanks for the offers!) She's been a great friend to me and I would be sick if I wasn't with her on a day like this. Oh wait, I am sick. Oh well. I'll go anyway. Just kidding...I love my red headed buddy like family. I wouldn't be anywhere else but by her side. Rick gets his chemo fanny pack off tomorrow so hopefully he'll be feeling much better by the weekend. Does this sound like a bad soap opera?

Have I told you lately? Cancer Sucks!

Dream Big,
Dor

Scary Night (with good news attached)

Last night we felt the first real signs of what chemo can do. In the middle of the night, Rick's body went into tremor mode for 3 straight hours. (Not like the shakes, more like an earthquake) He felt like he was on fire, but he had no fever. We got out our handy dandy chemo guide and sure enough, it was a side effect. So, we laid on the bed and did lamaze breathing until he finally went to sleep. I of course, couldn't fall to sleep then because I was petrified. Rick woke up this morning feeling better (no shaking) but he is extremely exhausted. I called the oncologist and they had me go get a glass thermometer (I had been using a digital one) to make sure he didn't really have a fever. Those side effects can also be a sign of a blood infection. Thank God, his temp is 98.5 So now, we're going to rest and take his temp every 4 hours through the night just to be sure. We have been so spoiled with our treatments. I feel great (a little tired today), no rashes, no sickness. Rick hasn't lost his hair, no vomiting, or any of the other major side effects. He's fatigued a little more than normal but other than that, we really have just been ourselves.

The good news (besides the fact that Rick has not developed a bad infection) is that his CEA count is now at 9.8. Can you believe this? We were amazed when the nurse told us this morning. Now, lets just get him feeling like his old self again.

I'm signing off now so I can take a nap. I'll write more tonight if I get a chance.

One little story before I go...our town lost power for a few hours this morning because GEESE flew into the power lines. No joke. Watch the news. "Can you say "cooked goose"?

Dream Big,
Dor

It's Chemo Day!

We are leaving in a few minutes to make our trek to Seattle. I don't sleep well the night before chemo because I think we're going to miss our alarm and not get there in time, and they'll have to reschedule, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, and so on. Did you know I love to worry. (Another thing I got from my mom, thanks!)

Before I leave, I want to share a little story with you. This weekend while in Spokane, my friend Dy drove me to this store I had heard about called Labor of Love Creations. The tiny little store is filled with sayings on boards or you can just get words in vinyl to rub on your wall (check out their website...laboroflovecreations.com) Ok, long story short...Dy leaves for 2 minutes to go to the bathroom and returns to me blubbering in this little store. Thank goodness no other customers were in it, but the 2 girls behind the counter were looking for tissues to give me and tried to comfort me and could only find a Subway napkin to wipe away my tears. What's important about this story is I wasn't crying because I was sad. I was looking for just the perfect saying for above my bed and I had found it. "True Love Stories Never Have Endings". They didn't have it in my color or size so I'm going to order it online. I thought you should know, I have mini meltdowns because of happy things too!

I'll write more tonight when we get home.

Love you to the moon and back,
Dreaming Big ~ Doreen

Blog #265

With chemo coming tomorrow, we decided to get away for a couple of days (hence, no new writings). We stopped by Desert Aire (I haven't been there since November), made one last trip over to Pullman (except for graduation) to pick up some of Jake's stuff, then to Spokane to see Bob and Dy's new house (which is beautiful and very big). Needless to say, I had to go to work at the school today just to get some rest. (Just kidding school officials...I worked very hard while I was there and I even stayed an extra hour)

Tonight is Bunco and the group of ladies I play with are all so much fun. I used to think it was about the prizes and money, but I quickly realized it was about the friendship & WINNING. Oh, I'm just pulling your leg. I hardly ever win. I just go for the great food, good wine and laughter.

I'm trying to find ways to get Rick to sleep better so I had a party called Private Quarters. They sell all kinds of amazing bed and bath stuff. Tonight when he gets home and crawls under the covers, he'll be surprised that he's now laying on a "Blissful Bed". A deluxe matress cover, a new featherbed, 550 tread count sheets, and me.

Bunco starts at 7:00 so I'd better get going. I still have to go to the store for the crab to go in my hot crab dip.

Tomorrow is chemo day so wish us luck!

Love you more than I love my new bed accessories...
Dor

Spring is in the air

We've been out and about the past few days (in celebration of all our good news). Everywhere we look there are daffidols and flowering cherry/plum trees blooming. This is my favorite time of the year (minus the rain). Wait, I think I've said that about the last two seasons. I guess what I'm trying to say is every DAY is my favorite DAY.

Many of you know how upset I was after my initial diagnosis. I wanted to live to see Jake graduate from college and the progress didn't look promising. Apparently, I don't listen very well. It appears I'm going to be healthy and happy for his graduation in May, as is Rick. Jake will be home next weekend for good. I'm looking so forward to it. Not just for us, but for Amy and Angie as well. They have carried the burden very close to their hearts from day one. We all wanted Jake to just keep going to school and not worry about what was going on at home. Amy and Angie have gone to almost every appointment of ours, spent countless hours helping around the house, and stopped by nearly every day just to make sure we were ok. Now, with Jake at home, they'll share the day to day worries between the 3 of them. They will also share the daily joys (which happen more than daily burdens).

We got some great advice from a friend the other day regarding insomnia. She said, she too, dealt with insomnia while she was going through chemo. So instead of fighting it, she used that time to read a book she's been wanting to get to, watch a movie that only comes on at 3am, pray, clean the house, write notes, etc. She figured she had many more years to sleep, so why not enjoy the time while she was awake. That's some of the best advice I've heard. Thanks, Joy! We're going to take you up on that.

Love you more than Popeye loves spinach....Aye, Aye, Aye~
Dream Big,
Dor

Great News

We just returned from Rick's check up appointment (after 2 months of chemo and a CT Scan). The oncologist said that the majority of the tumors in Rick's liver and lymph nodes have shrunk between 10 to 30 percent. As long as the chemo is doing what it was intended for, they are going to continue his treatment just as planned. So, starting again next Tuesday we will be back to Chemo every other Tuesday (through Thursday). It's much easier to sleep when you know your treatment is working. Maybe tonight Rick will finally sleep straight through the night. I think insomnia has been his worse side effect.

Love you more,
Dor

Just another blog...

I've been slacking on the blog lately, sorry :( With all that has been going on lately, you'd think I'd have more to write about). Actually, I do. I just don't seem to sit down long enough to put it in words.

Angie was very sick with the flu last weekend, so Amy took care of her so Rick and I wouldn't be in jeopardy of catching it. This weekend, Amy has it. I don't think she's been off the bathroom floor or out of bed since Saturday morning. Isn't it nice how our girls still share? Hopefully, they haven't given it to anyone else.

I heard a saying the other day (I think it's from a new Sally Field's movie) and is was something like this... I love all my children equally, just not the same. Our kids always tease each other about which one is loved more, or that mom likes me better.... Doesn't that line just sum it up? We all love our children equally. But, we love each of them for their own unique, wonderful way. Pass that on...

Tomorrow is Rick's updated CT Scan. I feel really confident that we are going to get good news on Tuesday after they've read the report. He has been doing so well. Besides the few days when he is actually getting the chemo you wouldn't know he was sick. I think he's still cuter than ever. We'll send out the good news on Tuesday when we return from Seattle.

My baby boy (Ok, he's almost 22) went back to Pullman for the last time as a student today. He'll be heading back home on the 29th to begin his life as an educator and adult. As Rick and I look at our life, we're not sure it gets much better than this. Our children all have their degrees, they're healthy (except for the flu), they are kind and generous souls, and we fall asleep and wake up with the love of our life everyday.

Tomorrow is my 11th month diagnosis anniversary. It appears I'm going to be that 1 in 5 that I told you about. Someone had to survive that first year and I volunteered to be the one. Thank you all for your continued support and love over these past months. I'm not going to let you down. I ordered new furniture this weekend and it has a 7 year guarantee. I intend to last longer than the warantee on my sofa and chairs.

Love you more than all the tulips that are ready to bloom in Skagit Valley.

Dream Big,
Dor

I've been slacking on the blog lately, sorry :( With all that has been going on lately, you'd think I'd have more to write about). Actually, I do. I just don't seem to sit down long enough to put it in words.

Angie was very sick with the flu last weekend, so Amy took care of her so Rick and I wouldn't be in jeopardy of catching it. This weekend, Amy has it. I don't think she's been off the bathroom floor or out of bed since Saturday morning. Isn't it nice how our girls still share? Hopefully, they haven't given it to anyone else.

I heard a saying the other day (I think it's from a new Sally Field's movie) and is was something like this... I love all my children equally, just not the same. Our kids always tease each other about which one is loved more, or that mom likes me better.... Doesn't that line just sum it up? We all love our children equally. But, we love each of them for their own unique, wonderful way. Pass that on...

Tomorrow is Rick's updated CT Scan. I feel really confident that we are going to get good news on Tuesday after they've read the report. He has been doing so well. Besides the few days when he is actually getting the chemo you wouldn't know he was sick. I think he's still cuter than ever. We'll send out the good news on Tuesday when we return from Seattle.

My baby boy (Ok, he's almost 22) went back to Pullman for the last time as a student today. He'll be heading back home on the 29th to begin his life as an educator and adult. As Rick and I look at our life, we're not sure it gets much better than this. Our children all have their degrees, they're healthy (except for the flu), they are kind and generous souls, and we fall asleep and wake up with the love of our life everyday.

Tomorrow is my 11th month diagnosis anniversary. It appears I'm going to be that 1 in 5 that I told you about. Someone had to survive that first year and I volunteered to be the one. Thank you all for your continued support and love over these past months. I'm not going to let you down. I ordered new furniture this weekend and it has a 7 year guarantee. I intend to last longer than the warantee on my sofa and chairs.

Love you more than all the tulips that are ready to bloom in Skagit Valley.

Dream Big,
Dor

I love you more than - Quilt

It's been another busy week at the Schmitt household but we're all doing fine. Rick's CEA count has dropped to 18.4 (we're aiming for 0 - 2). My shingles are still painful but tolerable. Jake is home for his spring break. Angie is finally over her flu and back to her old self again. Amy is not scheduled to do anything work or military related for the next 2 days. We've all been together a couple of times since Jake's been home and it has been great! He only has 2 more weeks in Pullman then he'll be home for good.

Thanks to all of you for sending your well wishes to Pam. I know she appreciates them as much as Rick and I do. Life is funny sometimes. Well, not "funny". But, "funny?" A year ago, I hardly knew anyone who had been touched by cancer, now 2 of the most important people in my life are sharing it with me.

Many of you know that I wanted to write a book called "I love you more than" but I haven't gotten around to it. So, my friends Jane and Pam have come up with a wonderful idea. They want to make a quilt of "I love you more than". I'm going to attach the e-mail I received from Jane so you understand it more.

A WORK OF ART
IS ABOUT TO BE
MADE FOR
RICK AND DOREEN SCHMITT!

YOUR CREATIVITY
AND IMAGINATION
ARE NEEDED!

YOU ARE INVITED
TO HELP CREATE
A "LOVE YOU MORE THAN..." QUILT!

• For many months, Doreen has ended her blog entries with a "Love you more than...."

Love you more than all the 2-piece bathing suits in Hawaii.
Love you more than all the raindrops that fell last night.
Love you more than all the elves at the North Pole.

• You are invited to create an 8.5" x 8.5" quilt square that represents a "Love you more than..." Check out Rick and Doreen's blog at www.cancersurvivor2006.blogspot.com for one of her sayings, OR, make up your own! You may include words on your square, but they aren't necessary. Use any materials you wish. This quilt will emerge with life of its own! :-)
  

• If you'd like to participate, but this "quilt square thing" is a little foreign to you, give Jane Gum a call for some help getting started. (Her # is below.)
  

• You can piece, applique, cross-stitch, embroider, fabric paint, and/or embellish your square. Be creative! Make it ornate, or keep it simple. Just remember to keep your design at least 1/4" from the edge of your square. The 8.5" x 8.5" piece of material that you turn in will end up being an 8" x 8" square in the quilt (1/4" seams).

• DEADLINE FOR FINISHED SQUARES: FRIDAY, JUNE 1ST!

• Finished squares can be dropped off at the Main Office at Stanwood High School with Pam Erickson or can be mailed to: Pam Erickson, 4205 Peninsula Rd. Stanwood, WA 98292.

• Please include a $10 check made out to "Pam Erickson" with your completed square, together with a note including your name, phone number, and the "Love you more than..." that your square represents. Your donation will help defray the costs of finishing materials and quilting. If there should be more money than needed, it will be donated to The American Cancer Society.
  

• If you can't make a square, but would like to be part of this project, check donations made out to "Pam Erickson" will be gladly accepted and can be mailed to her at the address given above.

• If you have any questions, please contact:

Jane Gum - (360) 654-9065; (425) 418-7514; gumgal@gmail.com
Pam Erickson - (360) 652-0287

I'd better get going now before my weekend is over. Rick and I will be the judges for the slam dunk contest tonight at the Senior Basketball game in Mt. Vernon. It should be fun!

Love you more than all the quilt squares that Jane and Pam will collect....

Dream Big,
Doreen

Another good news...bad news...blog

Before I tell you about the good and bad news, let me tell you about the unexpected news... No, I'm not pregnant (I'm missing too many of the parts) but I did get a tattoo. I know what you're thinking???? What was she thinking??? Well I need to tell you a story about it, then you'll understand. About 10 months ago, (after my diagnosis) the kids searched for a symbol that meant "unity" so the 3 of them would get a tattoo to join them together for life (apparently, having the same parents and the same DNA was not enough). They were given many ideas but one design grabbed them instantly. It was a trinity knot. So, beginning with Jacob's upper arm last spring, to Angies foot in early February, to Amy's foot on her birthday all the kids got a trinity knot engraved forever on their bodies. Then about a week ago, Rick was outside cooking steaks (for Amy, Angie & I) and came into the house wearing his jeans and an apron ~ flashing his piece of art on his upper arm like Jake. I thought...you're kidding me. Rick with a tattoo? Is it real? When did you do this? I was shocked and very touched. I realized how united our family really is. So, the pressure was on. Would I crumble at family peer pressure? Of course I would. I invented it. So, tonight...I made an appointment and had a little tattoo put on my foot of the trinity knot (with a little red crown hanging from it). I have to say, it hurt a little, but it took my mind off the shingles for a few minutes (and I think it's really cute...for a tattoo). I know you're all thinking we've gone crazy, but let me tell you what it means and I think you'll understand why we did it.

It is referred to as the endless knot. The symbol eludes to beginnings and endings. In viewing this trinity knot you cannot see a beginning or an ending, therefore we are reminded of the timless nature of our spirit. See? Kindof neat, don't you think? But wait, there's more...Some say this symbol represents an uninterrupted life cycle, warding against sickness or setbacks that might interfere with an otherwise calm and stable life. And let me tell you, it can't hurt to have a tattoo to remind me how precious and timeless life really is.
I'm attaching a photos... Hope you like them.

Now, for the good news. Rick's CEA count (which is a tumor marker for colon cancer) lowered from 58 to 27 (normal is 0 -2). That was the first time it actually moved in the direction we needed it to. He just had his 4th chemo treatment yesterday and seems to be doing really well. Of course, he's walking around with his fanny pack filled with chemo until tomorrow, but he doesn't mind ~ as long as it keeps working. We will know more next week if the tumors are shrinking, but for now, just having the numbers go down gives us great hope.

My shingles are still under the skin so no disgusting sores on the outside, however, the pain is still very intense. People were not kidding when they said "oh, shingles? They really hurt!" A little pain is good for us. It's one less day we have to pinch ourselves to see if we're still alive.

And now for the bad news. My dear red-headed friend, Pam, who I talk about all the time...was diagnosed with breast cancer yesterday. I wasn't around when she heard about it, because I was in Seattle with Rick while he was having his treatment. It was the first time Rick and I both left our cell phones home (so she couldn't call me when she heard the news). I tried calling her to tell her about Rick's good news and she didn't answer. Moments later, I got a call from a mutual friend who told me the news about Pam. I was devastated. Pammy is family to me. She's a rock, and a shoulder, and a best friend. We just gave her a surprise 60th birthday party and one of my gifts to her was a list of "60" reasons why we should be best friends forever....
The list was easy to make, as a matter of fact, I had many more things to say but I could only pick 60. She makes me laugh. Laughs at me when I cry. Helps me in ways she'll never know. Now it's my turn to help her. Pam said she got cancer because she wanted to be just like me and because she wants to walk in the survivor lap at the Relay for Life. I just think she wanted to be part of the "CLUB". It's not a great club to belong to, I say join the Rotary Club or the Red Hat Ladies Club, but the cancer club? Who wants to belong to that one? Please keep Pam in your thoughts and prayers. She (like Rick & I) is surrounded by many people who love her, and like I've said before...if love heals, then we'll be cured. (Oh, she also found out that radiation might make her boob perky so she's thinking about having it done to both boobs..) You've gotta love her!

Dream Big,
Dor

Chemo Day

I just wanted to say good morning before we left for Rick's treatment in Seattle. I worked yesterday so I'm a little extra tired this morning. I'd better finish getting ready so we can head out. I promise to write more when we get home or maybe I'll write a little from the hospital if all the computers aren't being used. I love you all!

Love you more than all the shamrocks in Ireland.

Dream Big,
Dor

I've been missing in action...

Even though I've been diagnosed with Lung Cancer and Shingles, and my husband has colon cancer and is currently going though chemo...Life couldn't be better. Our house has been transformed. Yesterday afternoon, once all the floors were finished being installed, my dad, Cathy Huntington and the girls helped put the house back together. Amy and Angie actually stayed until around 11:00pm when we pushed them out the door. They would have stayed until it was all done, but we made them go home. I'm going to post some photos once I find my digital camera.

I've been taking my anti-viral meds so the "rash part of the shingles" has not reared it's ugly head. The pain can get pretty intense, but when I stay busy it takes my mind off it. I take a mild pain medicine regularly, so I've been able to tolerate it. Once I lay down for the evening...that's when I remember how much I hurt. So, I've decided the busier I stay, the less pain I'll be in.

Rick starts round 4 of his chemo treatments on Tuesday. I can hardly believe that 2 months have gone by. Hopefully, the chemo is doing it's job. We've been really blessed so far. On the 19th they are sending him in for CT scans and they'll let us know the progress on the 20th. He looks and feels great. I feel confident that we're going to hear good news!

Jake is in L.A. for a few days celebrating his last Spring Break as a college student. This is the first time he has gone away since he started school, so we were happy he decided to do something for himself. He is down there with 3 of his fraternity brothers. Yesterday they spent the day at Disneyland! I'm so jealous~ Tomorrow night they're going to a Lakers game. Jake will be in 7th Heaven...it's his favorite team!

I probably need to get off the computer and get back to my organizing. I'm only bringing things back into the rooms that I intend to keep. Everything else is going to a neighborhood garage sale at Angie's in May.

I love you more than I love my new floors (ok, maybe that's going overboard)

Dream Big,
Dor

Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

Good News? or Bad News? Hummm..... The good news is my CT Scan looked good. The bad news is it appears I have shingles. I'm now taking some new meds since I wasn't taking enough pills already. I'm actually relieved. Although it hurts like h-e-double toothpicks (that was so 5th grade) I feel much better that it wasn't the cancer spreading to my bones. Pam took me to the doctor today and she hasn't stopped talking about how cute she thinks my doctor is. She doesn't even care that I have lung cancer, she just wants to accompany me to all my appointments. The fact that he is young enough to be her son (or grandson) does not even phase her. You've gotta love that about Pam.

I've just taken some pain meds and I'm about to fall asleep at the computer, so I'm going to call it a night and write more in the morning.

Love you more than all the times Pam talked about how cute Dr. Eaton was...

Dream Big,
Dor

Messy House

We've been gone for a few days to the state basketball tournament. Right before we left we found out that our new hardwood floors and carpeting would be installed, starting Monday. We were very excited, but I wanted to paint before everything arrived and I knew we wouldn't be home until Saturday evening. Needless to say, my troop of helpers arrived and we painted for hours yesterday (The livingroom, laundry room, kitchen, hallway, and down the stairs) What was I thinking? It looks beautiful, but I fell asleep in my painting clothes last night and I still had a few touch-ups to finish. Not to worry, I'll do it tonight while Rick is vacuuming all the dust up...What a mess. The final results will be worth it...just like cancer. You sometimes have to go through a mess before everything looks beautiful again.

Dr. Eaton has moved my CT up for tomorrow instead of the 19th. The pain in my side (ribcage) has been an everyday thing lately that sometimes requires something stronger than a Tylenol. So, instead of waiting a couple of weeks, he figured we should get to the bottom of it now. I agreed.

Rick woke up yesterday feeling like he had something caught in his throat. I pretended I was a doctor and looked in his mouth for anything suspicious...his uvula (dangling thing in the back of our throat) was very swollen. We called the emergency oncology number and they gave us a few things to try before heading to the emergency room. The swelling never worsened, but it was very uncomfortable for him. He still has the symptoms this morning, but he is getting used to them. It looks like his mouth sores may be appearing - starting in his throat area.

I'm going to get in the bathtub now and soak my paint off. I know I'll still have some touch ups to do, but I thought I should wait until the dust is gone.

I'll post some photos soon. I can't wait to get it all put back together.

An I love you more than from my friend Cathy: I love you more than all the daffodils waiting to pop up through the dirt....

Dream Big,
Doreen

Happy March

I meant to put this picture on here days ago. It was taken on Sunday night when Amy got home from Puerto Rico. She got some valuable training as well as some sunshine.... obviously.

We've been watching State Basketball for the past couple of days. Rick and I have been coming to the Tacoma Dome for the past 15 years for this annual event and we still enjoy ourselves every year. It's a lot less stressful when we don't have any of our own children playing. We do have Ally (Rick's cousin's daughter) who plays for Snohomish so it makes it much more exciting to be down here.

Rick got disconnected from his Chemo today, so he feels about 10 pounds lighter. I wish they could disconnect me from something, but I don't have anything hooked up. Oh well, a few extra pounds might come in handy someday. I've had a side ache & back ache the past few days so I'm going to call Dr. Eaton and move my appointment up from the 19th.

Amy and Angie got a great birthday present yesterday. They got a check from a dear friend to put towards my Relay for Life total (so I would hit my goal...which I did). Thanks...you know who you are!

I know I haven't written much the past few days but I'm exhausted tonight so I think I'm going to make this a short one as well.

Until tomorrow....

Dream Big

Dor