Sorry it has been a long time since I wrote.  My journey goes up and down as does my cancer count as well.  My doc has me on pretty much constant chemo and has changed the meds several times.  Last week I got good news that the CA-125 was down to 400 from 650!!  Praise the Lord.  But my platelets were too low so couldn't have my chemo.  Also I'm having trouble with a pleural effusion in my lft lung which is a different side from 3 yrs ago.  I'm scheduled for another catheter this Thurs. to help drain off the fluid that is collecting.  There aren't any large tumors around the lung but must be some small ones in the lining hence the fluid collection.  Some days I feel better than others but I still manage to get around and visit my grandkids!  We had them for 5 days in July and had a great time with them.  Then last week-end before last I flew to DTW to see the grandkids.  It was Aiden's birthday and Jevon and Cheryln had moved to Mich.  They are at her parents before they get into the house they are buying in Lansing.  Since they were in Detroit as well, and Kaia (their 3 wk old daughter) was there, I got to hold her a lot!!  Guess the next time will be family camp the end of Aug.  I do miss the little ones.  I hope all of you are well.  Please keep praying for me and the family.  Here is a verse to encourage you:  Ps.  16: 8,9  I know the LORD is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.  No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts his praises!  My body rests in safety.  NLT  Thank you Lord for your comfort and peace!  You are the great healer!  

Love you,  Karen

Thank you friends and loved ones for checking my blog once in a while.  I had a great holiday.  Dave and I spent Christmas with our son's family in Detroit, Mich.  We were there from Dec. 22 to Jan 1.  It was nice that Dave had the time off to be with our grandkids as well.  As most of you know,  my parents live near Jeff (10 min. away) so we spent Sunday the 26th having a big Weaver Christmas at their house.  All our kids were in town.  Joel and Karri spent 5 days with us at Jeff's and Jevon and his wife and son were staying across town at her parents place.  So Monday night after Christmas we had our McFadden Christmas.  Jeff and Kim had asked me to make Chinese food once while we were there, so since I wanted the boys to be able to eat it and the girls to learn to make it, we did it Monday night as well.  You should have seen the boys faces!  They were thrilled to eat jaodz (potstickers).  The girls helped me put the filling in the wrappers which is a big job!  Also they wanted green onion pancakes so we made those and the girls rolled them out for me so I could fry them.  I had made nian gao (Chinese new year's sticky rice cake) before I arrived and brought it with me to fry so they were so happy.  It reminded them of their early years in Taiwan.  Seeing their pleasure made all the work worth while!  We loved being with the grandkids as well.  I had chemo the day we left for Detroit so all that week I wasn't at the top of my game!  Was having chills and didn't feel so good some days.  Also had a lot of bowel issues this time which wasn't fun.  But it was better than being home by ourselves! 

When I had my blood test this last chemo time, the CA-125 had gone up from 470-620.  I was pretty discouraged so my doctor sent me for a CAT scan which I hadn't had since Oct.  The report from the CAT scan came back very good.  The known tumors were quite a bit smaller and the fluid which had been seen before was also a lot smaller.  Over all it was a great report so my doctor was very pleased and said she trusted the CAT more than the blood test. So she continued the same chemo as she had been using.  I keep praying the CA-125 will come down and thank the Lord for the good CAT report.  This is such an "up and down" game for me each month.  I try to stay positive and over all have been feeling very good this week.  I'm grateful God is healing me and thank each of you for all your support and prayers.  I'm in awe to read that many of you pray for me every day.  That is so kind of you~!  Keep up the prayers.  I know they work.  I'm planning a week trip out to Calif. to see my friends Marilyn and Cheryl who were missionaries with us in Taiwan.  Hoping it will be warmer than MN!  I will try to keep you posted from time to time. 

Love, Karen

It has been a while since I have blogged as my blog went down due to no one realizing that the two years paid for had expired.  Thanks to Mike Drapiza it is now up and running again.  He is a great site manager and I’m grateful for all the work he does.
 
My summer was mostly up and down trying to get treatment for my cancer.  I tried to get into the measles vaccine trial at Mayo but the first time in July, I didn’t qualify as part of my white count was too low.  Later they repeated my blood work and I was ok.  By the time they figured out when to schedule my treatments (it is a very demanding schedule on certain days), I didn’t start until first of August.  After a measles treatment and 2 other abdominal washings and blood work, by the end of the month they decided it wasn’t working as we had hoped so my oncologist started me on a different chemo the middle of Sept.  After one month my cancer count still had risen from 900 to 1000 and the tumors were slightly larger.  I was pretty discouraged, but my doc encouraged me to keep on with the same chemo as she said it was too early to see results.  So I had a second treatment.  That was 4 weeks ago and this week she repeated my CA-125 and it had come down to 760 from over 1000.  She was very happy and so I had a 3rd treatment yesterday. 

In the meantime, Dave and I have been to China for 10 days in Oct. and I did very well.  We had friends from our Rochester church there with us so that was fun.  Also by happenstance, my nephew, Jeremy Weaver and his friend landed in Shanghai a day before we did.  They are on a “round the world” adventure.  He met us at the airport and then they took a train down the next day to Hangzhou (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital) where Dave was lecturing.  They slept on our floor for 4 days and I had fun taking them and our friends around Hangzhou.  We got home a week ago today and I went to the conference Women’s retreat last week-end (after being home one day!)  Sunday I got home and Joel was here visiting from Washington D.C.  He was a huge help to me cleaning out my flower beds and getting everything cleaned up before winter.  I really enjoyed having him here for a few days.  Yesterday he went with me to my doctor’s appointment then sat with me thru chemo.   Then drove us up to Minneapolis where he caught his plane back home.  I drove myself home again.  So you see,  I don’t let much keep my down!  God is so good and I praise Him for the improvement I’m making.  Thank you all for the prayers you send up on my behalf.   God is the great healer. 
Love,
Karen
 

Tomorrow morning I start some medical tests to see if I can qualify for the research study using "measles vaccine".  They give it straight into my abdomen once a month for 6 months.  I should know July 2 whether I  can qualify for that program or not.  I've been praying that if it is the Lord's will, I will get in, otherwise if it wouldn't help me, I shouldn't get in.  I really don't want to waste a month trying to find out if this is the best thing for me right now, but I'm sure God knows so I'm leaving it up to Him.  My oncologist would really like for me to give it a try so I'm willing, if it works out.  Otherwise she says she will know within another month whether or not it is helping me and she won't keep me on it if my cancer count isn't going down.  She says she has only just "begun" to use many of the options available to her for my chemo. 

We went over to Madison last week-end to get Kaela and Aiden, our 2 oldest grandkids.  Jeff and Kim flew them over to Madison from Detroit last Friday evening and actually got there before Dave and I did (we were driving 3 hrs.)  We spent Sabbath with Jevon, Cheryln and Liam and stopped at a water park in Wisc. Dells on the way home on Sunday.  That was a mistake!  Such crowds I haven't seen since Disney World or China!  The kids only went on aout 4 rides but seemed to enjoy themselves so that was what counts!  I was so overwhelmed by the crowds and crowds of people and no good place to even sit!  Dave had taken off next week to be with the kids (but we asked for them this week instead when we realized they had scheduled me for about 4 days at Mayo (provided I get into that study).  I wouldn't have had any time with the kids.  At least this week I'm only busy about 2 1/2 days.)  I have made arrangements for the kids to play with other kids while I'm having the testing.  Dave took off a couple hours this morning to go to the park with the kids and eat lunch with us.  We had a good time.  Thurs. I'm taking them out to a farm owned by one of the families in our church.  They have horses, cows, goats etc and the kids have been there once before.  Well, better get making supper.  We have a friend here visiting Mayo who we knew in China.  He is coming for supper as well as the kids. 

Thanks for all your prayers for me these next couple of days,

Karen

Dear Friends and Loved ones,

      It has been one and a half weeks since my surgery and I'm slowing recovering and getting back to functioning better.  My parents spent a good week with us and helped me so much.  They cooked and helped around the house which was such a blessing.  Yesterday they left to drive back home to Detroit.  They made it to near Gary, Ind. last night and stopped for the night.  I hope the remainer of the trip goes well for them today.  I know Mom hoped to stop at Berrien Springs to get some food as welll as fresh strawberries.  My aunt picked some last week and sent me some when my Mom came here and they were so good.  My cousin's wife also sent me some canned concord grape juice which I hope helps to build up my hemoglobin again. (It is very low)

It has been a rainy few days and is rather cool.  Fortunately we have found some time most days to still take a walk around our neighborhood.  I'm still not walking as far as I usually do, but still manage to get in 15-20 min. of walking which is good for me so close to surgery.  I'm thinking of going to Curves today to just walk on the boards and talk to my friends.  Won't be able to do most of the other exercises since my stomach muscles were cut!  Most of the time, I just rest in my chair in my sun room and wish for some sun!   I told Dave my Mom left enough food for 2-3 days so I shouldn't have to do any cooking myself.  We plan to leave for Chile on Wed. and I'm praying I'll feel up to the trip.  My surgeon encouraged me to go as did my oncologist.  I might not even think about it except that the company that is paying Dave't way to lecture, bought him a business class seat and he has promised it to me~!  What a sweet husband.  He will suffer in economy while I sleep away up in business class.  Anyway, I hope we have a good time.  We really only  have the long week-end there as he lectures all day Friday.  But hopefully we will at least see Santiago.  We fly back home on Monday evening (all night). 

When I get home I have an appointment with my oncologist so will see what plan she has made for my next few months.  She did call me Friday and would really like me to see if I can qualify for the measles vaccine research trial they have at Mayo.  It is given straight into the abdomen thru a port (which they put in during my last surgery).  First I have to see if I even will qualify.  Sound like a lot of hoops to jump and lots of blood work and CAT scans, etc to do.  Not fun.  Even a few days in hospital I think.  I will let you know when I know more myself.  I am praying very hard that if God wants me to get into this study I will get in.  I would appreciate all of you praying the same as well.  I really want to do what is His will.  He has promised healing and knows what is best for that.  Thanks so much for all of your encouragement and prayers.  He is faithful! 

Love,  Karen

I've been trying to get this blog to post something for the past few days.  Looks like it is working again now.  Some of you know already that at my last check-up with my oncologist, they found the small tumor near the liver was enlarging and I also had some questionable nodes under the stomach.  So my doc decided I needed more surgery.  Well, we waited over a week before we finally found out that I could have the surgery last WEd.  I have been sitting in the hospital recovering for 5 days!  Spent my time walking and eating, but apparently ate too much too soon and wasn't able to pass gas, so had to stop eating for 2 days while waiting for the bloating to pass.  Finally even though I hadn't had the obligatory BM, they still sent me home last evening.  My parents are here with me helping with the cooking and fixing things etc.  It is nice to have them here.  I'm trying to rest, but find it difficult to stay down.  Dave and I are supposed to fly to Santiago, Chile next Wed where he will lecture for a day.  I hope I will feel good enough to go.  My doc (surgeon) is encouraging me to go. 

As to the results of my surgery,  They did take out all the large tumor or nodes they found as well as my gall bladder.  The bad news was that they found lots of cancer seeding along the peritoneum and also the small bowel.  So that means I will have to start chemo again soon.  Haven't talked yet to my oncologist so won't know what she wants to try until then.  I do want to thank you all though for your many prayers and cards and encourgement you have sent my way.  God is faithful and will see us through this again!  I might as well stay upbeat as I surely can't control my life or the cancer.  Only God is in control and can stoop this madness.  Be of good courage, my friends.  God will carry me thru this. 

Love, Karen

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Some of you have wanted me to update you so will write a note telling you what I know (which is still developing).  Have had a good month traveling to see Joel and Karri in D.C. for my birthday.  That is always a fun time to be with them.  They have a cute house and we always go out to eat a lot, which I enjoy.  Did some cooking with Karri as well, which was fun.  Then I was home for 3 days before taking off for McAllen, Texas to spend a week with my sister, Sharon in the sun.  She has been teaching there at the Univ. of Texas for the past 2-3 years.  Dave was leaving later that week for a day of lectures in Mexico City so he told me to go see Sharon who had been trying to get me to come enjoy some warmth with her.  Now that it is spring, it was downright "hot" in Texas.  But we had a good time at the beach over the week-end and at her apt.  She is moving next week to Southern Univ. in Tenn. so I knew that if I didn't get to TX soon, I'd miss it with her altogether!  Came home for one day--long enough to wash my clothes and repack for Health camp.  Dave and I left Friday May 7 to go to Jevon and Cheryln's for over Sabbath on our way to Mich.  Sunday we took the ferry across Lake Mich. and drove from Muskegon to Camp Au Sable where we helped my parents with their annual health camp.  Dave gave lectures and I helped Mom cook in the kitchen.  IT was a busy week but we did have a good time all together.  My sister, Ellen and her daughter, my niece, Candy and Aunt Aileen, and brother, Bob and his wife, Jeanie were all there helping.  Nicki's little girl, Maddie, who is almost 2 kept us entertained!  We got home from camp this past Sunday night at midnight. 

Wed. I had blood tests and a CAT scan scheduled so did those.  Thurs. (yesterday) I met with my oncologist and I was pretty upset that my CA-125 has gone up to 572!!  The scan showed my liver nodule has grown as well.  So she is recommending another surgery to remove it.  Sounds like it might be a big surgery (open up the middle again!)  I haven't met with the surgeon yet so really don't have any details.  of course we are supposed to get together with all our kids on Memorial day in Wisconsin at Jevon's house, so hope to keep that plan intact if possible.  She sent me for an ultra-sound of the liver yesterday so I've been busy with Mayo several days.  I am also keeping an hispanic lady from northern MN who is undergoing tests and doctors visits here at Mayo so have tried to help her get around the clinic as well.  The 2 of us going our different ways is quite interesting.  Anyway, that is about all I know right now.  Will try to update this as plans our made about surgery and when.  Please keep praying for me.  I so want to be healed but this is such a battle and it is very fierce!  I am pretty discouraged right now, but have to get out of this "funk".  I need God's help in a big way! 

Love you all,  Karen

Just an update.  I had out-patient surgery yesterday at Methodist hospital.  My surgeon (female) was to remove 2 nodules that hadn't dissapeared during my recent 10 chemos.   She in fact, found 3 nodules so am glad she got them out.  I came home last night and slept ok .  Today I have felt rather "run over".  Guess I easily forgot how painful surgery can be.  Slept on and off all day in my chair in the sunroom.  This afternoon after I woke up (3:30PM) I have felt better and got up a couple of times to walk around and warm up some frozen soup I had in the freezer.  Hopefully will be back to normal in a few days.  Probably won't be going far the rest of the week.  We did also decide to wait on the RFA (ablation) of the small liver nodule.  After talking to my medical family and sending them my CAT and PET scans the opinion was to "wait".  IT is too small and doesn't light up on PET yet, so the radiologist couldn't even be sure it was cancer.  It is right next to the gall bladder and they chance of them perforating the GB was pretty  high so we are going to wait and watch and if it grows or lights up we will decide then if it is better to do more surgery or go with the ablation.  Hopefully it will just disappear or not grow so I don't have to do anything!  Thanks for all of  your prayers and thoughts for me.  I am grateful to the Lord for all His blessings and health.  I feel good (except for the surgery pain), and am enjoying being with family from time to time.  Both Jeff and crew and Jevon's family came to visit me last week here in MN.  That was very special. 

Love,  Karen

Sorry I haven't had much to write for a while.  It is mid-March now and as most places the snow is melting and grass is beginning to show.  Dave and I just got back from a walk around the neighborhood. (It's been a while since we could take one without slipping on ice and snow.)  We got back last night from a trip to San Diego, CA where Dave had medical meetings for a week.  We drove up to Loma Linda last week-end for a couple of days because it was APC and we wanted to attend our class reunion  dinner.  It was fun to see old friends from all over---Pakistan days, Taiwan, Singapore, China and Kettering.  A bit of what heaven will be like!  The weather in Calif.  was colder than normal so it wasn't really as warm as I would have liked.  But we did enjoy many walks along the bay in San Diego.  Our good friends the Lundstroms (from Rochester) were with us so Vangy and I hung out together and Dave and Carl went to meetings.  We had fun going to different restaurants each evening. 

Since I last wrote, we have been back to Detroit (we were there for Christmas too), for Gavin's birthday the third week in Jan.  Always enjoy seeing the grandkids.  I went to Southern CA the second week in Jan. for a week with my Taiwan girlfriends.  It was warmer then than this past week!  The last week in Jan. I went on a short 4-day cruise with my sisters and Sandy and Chana to Key West and Cozumel.  It was a great time together and good down time for me.  Feb. I mostly stayed around home except for 2 week-end to Madison, WI for Liam's first birthday and the next week-end for his dedication at church.  Dave came the first one but was on call the second one.  In the meantime during the week, I've been having some  more tests.  My oncologist decided I had had enough chemo (10 sessions this second round), so since I still had 3 nodules which seem to be resistant to the chemo and though they had gotten smaller had never gone away, she recommended I get them removed surgically.  2 are in the lower abdomen/inguinal area and one is behind the liver near the gall bladder.  The first 2 should be easier to remove, but we have decided to try radio frequency ablation on the liver one so I don't have to be opened up down the middle again right now.  I have another CAT and PET scan which show the 2 abd nodules are growing larger again so we need to get them out.  I was hoping I could have surgery this week, but the surgeon is gone to meetings so right now the 2 different surgeries are scheduled for next week, March 23, and 24.  I would appreciate your prayers that both turn out well and I can get rid of these tumors for good!  I would love to have a break from chemo as well.  I feel good, but don't want to have these cancers growing in me!  Thanks for all of your encouragement and prayers.  I meet people all over who tell me they are praying for me.  It is a great comfort.  Keep in touch.

Love,  Karen

Merry Christmas to all of my dear friends and family,

        I had my 9th session of chemo yesterday and today.  I have one med. in the chemo ward (takes about 2 hrs to drip in.) then leave with a pump that delivers the other med over 24 hrs.  I wear it around my waist in a waist pack so am glad when it is finished and I can be rid of it!  I do manage to do things even go to Curves, but it isn't fun to wear.  Last night we went out caroling in our neighborhood and I passed out eggnog bread to my neighbors.  I felt like a looked pregnant with the pack under my coat!  Anyway we did have fun and you can see it doesn't keep me down!  God is so good.  I had my CT scan on Friday and it showed continued decrease in the size of the tumors I still have.  My CA-125 was at 12 which is very good.  We met with my oncologist this morning after I had my chemo (yesterday) and she is encouraged that I'm doing well.  She plans to go to radiology and review several of my CT scans and decide if she wants me to have the tumors surgically removed or just continue on with the chemo.  She is always very hopeful which I appreciate.  I know God is able and He is the great healer, so I trust He has a plan and that I will continue to get better.  Thanks so much for each of your prayers.  I know you have encouraged me so much and I'm so glad to have you on my support team! 

Blessing to each of you and your families this holiday season.  May you see Christ duing this time and put Him in the center of your Christmas. 

Love,

Karen

Some of you are wondering if I had written on my blog recently so will post another note.  I was able to have my 7th chemo session last Monday morning.  It took about 2 hrs. after which I went to Curves to exercise (with my waist pack pumping my other chemo into my body)!!  So you see, I don't let it get me down much.  I was able to go to Curves the first 3 days of last week before I left on another trip.  I praise the Lord that I still have my strength and feel good.  I haven't seen my oncologist in over a month so really don' t have anything else to add about my current medical situation other than I'm still continuing on my chemo and doing well.  Praise the Lord!  I had a call this morning from a friend in Idaho who told me she had kept thinking about my name so felt God wanted her to pray for me.  That was a big encouragement to me----knowing God is still nudging others to hold me up in prayer. 

Thursday last week, I flew to Chicago from Rochester to meet my kids for a week-end.  Jeff flew Aiden down in Bob's plane to meet me and we went together to the Legoland/Discoverery center.  Jeff than flew back to Detroit to work on Friday and get Kim ready to drive the rest of the kids to Chicago.  They were going to come on Thursday but Kaela had gotten sick early in the week and Jeff wanted to give her more time to recover before exposing me to whatever she had.  Joel flew in Thurs. as well so I met him at the hotel and Aiden, Joel and I hung out until Kim and kids arrived about noon on Friday.  Jeff flew back down (commercial this time) after work and Dave flew in Friday night.  Jevon and Cheryln and Liam arrived late Friday evening.  They got stuck in a lot of traffic between Madison and Chicago.  The weather was wonderful and warm.  Sabbath we walked down by Lake Michigan and visited the aquarium for a few hours.  I think the kids enjoyed it as well as the adults.  We rested some late Sabbath afternoon and went out again for supper Sat. night.  Had to wait about 1 1/2 hrs. to get in for Chicago style pizza!  Sunday morning we had reservations at a vegetarian restaurant for brunch and that was great!  Dave and I had to leave for the airport before 3PM so we were the first to depart the group.  Jevon and Cheryln left next and I think Jeff and crew didn't leave until after supper.  Joel and Karri had a late flight (8:45PM) so they were pretty tired yesterday.  I'm glad the week-end turned out so well.  I have gotten a cold since coming back,  probably from one of the grandkids, but it was well worth it!  I am taking lots of echinachea and Vit. C. and hope to recover quickly.  I hope all of you are enjoying our nice November weather.  It has been very warm for us here in Rochester.  Hope it stays this way, but know better.  Keep praying----God is powerful and awesome and the great healer. 

Love,

Karen

Our trip to China went very well and we were there for almost 2 weeks.  We visited Hangzhou, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital where Dave worked for 4 1/2 yrs.  It was like going home and we really enjoying visiting our Chinese friends.  Dave and 3 other docs from Mayo were there for Education week to give lectures.  I mostly took it easy and went out with friends and did a little shopping.  After living in China for so long there really isn't a whole lot of things I need to buy!  I did get several gifts, one being another silk comforter which I was thrilled about.  They are the best to sleep under!  I love the ones I have.  We flew home from Shanghai and arrived last Friday afternoon.

Today I had several tests at Mayo clinic.  Started with a blood test and my CA 125 was 13, up 2 from last time, but Dave says that is insignificant change.  Still very low.  I had a PET scan which moniters cancer activity and the one area in the lower right pelvis they say is markedly less activity than the last one I had in June.  One node has gone and the other one, is decreased in size.  The CAT scan showed about the same result.  My doctor has talked about surgically removing the node that remains so I do hope she will seriously think about that.  I would make me feel better to get it out of there even though it is shrinking.  My white count is low so I hope it will come up before my scheduled chemo next Monday.  I was supposed to have it tomorrow but I put it off since I'm going tomorrow to a MN women's retreat for the conference.  I've been on the planning committee so we are supposed to go and be available to help.  Then a week from tomorrow I'm supposed to fly to Çhicago to have a week-end with all our kids.  So I do need to stay well. 

Please pray that the node in my pelvic area disappears altogether.  Also pray that my white count will come up by Monday so I can have chemo early in the week and will feel good for our family week-end.  Also please pray I don't get sick with anything serious since I will out and about with lots of people this week-end.  I really appreciate everyone's prayers for me and thank you so much for continuing to pray.  You are all special to me and I love to hear from you from time to time. 

Love,  Karen

I was so thankful on Monday after waiting 1 1/2 hrs. for my blood results that I had made it----needed 1.7 neutraphils and had 1.79!!  Hurray!  So I got my chemo that afternoon and yesterday as well since I carry home the second med in a pump waist pack to wear for 24 hrs.  It is always a relief to go back and get unhooked and the needle out.  Today I've been suffering some of the effects of the chemo so have had to find the bathroom many, many times.  TMI.  My nausea has been slight so far for which I'm thankful.  Got the very $$$$ medicine again which helps.  Have taken some compazine for break-through nausea.  Hopefully by tomorrow I will feel better.  We packed tonight for China.  Leave Friday for Detroit since our non-stop to Shanghai leaves Sat. afternoon.  We were going to leave on Sunday until Dave found out they wånted him to be there by MOnday morning.  Given loosing one day, we had to up our flight.  At least we get to spend one evening with Jeff and family and my folks as well.  And can go to church in Detroit.  So we will enjoy the Sabbath for which I'm grateful. We are looking forward to our trip.  Will be gone for 2 weeks.  I'm hoping we don't catch any bad "flu" out there, so am taking my air-born etc. with me.  Thank you each one for all your prayers that I could have chemo this week.  God is so good!  Please pray we have a good trip and enjoy our time in China.  We are hoping to see some of our Chinese friends that we knew when we lived there 5 yrs. ago.  God bless each of you.

love,  Karen

Today I was scheduled for my # 6 Chemo, but my white count was too low (actually the neutraphils.  There were 1.1 and need to be 1.7 before they will give it to me.  It is because I am on the study protocol for Mayo, so they have guidelines that must be followed.  They can't give me the medicine to bring up my white count either because of the study.  But I did have a visit with my oncologist and she was encouraging.  My CA-125 had gone down to 11 so praise the Lord!  I think that is the lowest it has ever been.  I know it's not too different from the 14 it was last time, but hey, it's moving the right direction!  She said I would have a PET scan/CAT scan when we get back from China in 3 weeks.  After that she will know whether they will continue on with my chemo or stop it (if I'm in remission).  We still feel a small tumor(node) in my lower pelvic area, and she wants to see how it shows up on the scan.  She said they might want to remove it surgically.  That way they will know if it is still active cancer or if it is just a sclerosed node.  Anyway, she rescheduled me for another blood test on Monday morning with a chemo appointment following provided my white count has come up enough.  If not, we will try again for next Wed.  I'm a bit nervous since Dave and I leave on Friday noon , Oct. 9th to fly to Detroit for the night leaving the next afternoon for China for 2 weeks!  I hope I can get my chemo early in the week so I will feel good before that long flight.  Please everyone, pray that my white count esp. the neutraphils will be high enough for me to have chemo on Monday.  Also keep praying that the node dissolves in my lower pelvis so I don't have to have it removed surgically.  I know there is power is prayer and I have an army praying for me!  Thank you each one who keep me in prayer.  God is all powerful and the expert healer!  I just thank Him for all His has done and is doing in my life.  I feel so good and have lots of energy.  I've been to Curves to exercise each day so far this week.  Dave told me last night that I look so good he sometimes forgets I even have cancer.  So that says something!  Of course I don't forget, but just am thankful for every new day the Lord gives me!  

Love,  Karen

As I sit here typing to update you all on my latest stats, I'm thanking the Lord for His blessings and praying that the  chemo will target just the bad tumor cells and leave my good cells alone!  I'm a bit nauseated tonight and hope it calms down and I can sleep okay and not have a morning of vomiting like happened last time.  I saw a different doctor today since my doc is gone(probably on vacation).  He gave me another anti-nausea drug ---"Emend", which he says is the "best we have for delayed nausea".  Both my sisters had recommended it from comments their friends had told them.  He did cut my dexamethasone in half though, and it is also a good anti-nausea med, so we'll see.  The Emend cost us $105 for 3 pills---just our part as the insurance paid only $280!!  Dave says I don't need it next time, but I told him to wait and see if it works before we decided that!  If I still have vomiting, I agree it's not worth the cost, but if it saves me some acute nausea or vomiting it might be worth it.  Tomorrow should tell, since that is when I get the sickest.  I had a CAT scan on Tues. and it still showed a small tumor in the lower right pelvic area which I can still feel.  It has gotten quite a bit small from my June scan, but didn't decrease since my last scan.  I don't know if that is good or not, but I would like it to dissapear, so please pray with me that it goes far away!!!  The doc told me they like to see them get small each time, but sometimes they get to a certain size and don't get any smaller.  My CA-125 was 14 which he seemed happy with.  Over all he seemed happy  with my exam.  Let's all give the Lord the praise and thank Him for His healing in my life.   I just read Psalm 118 this morning and it was such an encouragement to me.  Even thought I asked for a private room with a bed today, this was the first time they were so busy they didn't move me to a bed, but left me in a chair in a room of 6 chairs.  Near the end of my chemo I started talking to the lady in the chair next to mine.  I found out that she was having chemo for ovarian cancer and she had it since 1993----15 years out!!  She has had 10 surgerys and lots of chemo, but she looked great and it was such an encouragement to me to see someone with my disease doing so well.  I think the Lord must have put us together to be uplifting to me.  I read each note that you have left on my blog and thank you each for still taking an interest in me and praying daily for my healing. 

Dave and I got home Monday from our Weaver family reunion in Grayling, MI.  All my siblings were there.  We had a grand time together with our grandkids and other family.  My sisters cooked Dave and I and Don and Sandy a lovely meal with decorations for our "Fortieth" wedding anniversary.  Our kids also put together a nice DVD picture show  for a program after the meal.  On the way back Dave and I stopped in Madison , WI to see Jevon,  Cheryln and Liam again.  They didn't make it to camp as Jevon just started his new job with the State Health Dept. We enjoyed seeing them settled in their cute house (a rental).  Now we are looking forward to having Dave's sister Pat and her husband Brooke stay with us this week-end.  Dave's youngest sister, Shari will also come over on Sunday, so I hope I'll be feeling good by then.  Thanks for your prayers.

Love, Karen

Yesterday I went in for my blood work.  I have a CBC drawn every week, but on the third week just before my chemo session, they also draw more blood and test my creatinine and a lot of other things especially my CA-125.  So that was yesterday.  I was thrilled to find out my  CA-125 had gone down to 16 (60 last time).  Praise the Lord for His blessings.  I went in at 9:30 AM this morning to see my oncologist and she was very  happy with my results and told me "I couldn't be happier!"   That was nice, but then my son, Jeff, the oral surgeon told me I tell that to me patients all the time---so that kind of took a bit of air out of my balloon! :-)  At 11:30 AM I had my chemo since my white count was fine this time (last time it was too low).  I've been fighting a cold and sinus infection all last week, so was happy the white count was good.  My neighbor, Ann, who lives behind me offered to come sit with me during chemo so that was nice to catch up with her.  During the summer she and I have been busy and travelling so haven't seen much of her. (she has 4 kids besides!)  Her eldest daughter sat with her kids while she sat with me.  It took about 2 1/2 hrs to run my medicine in and then they hooked up my waist pump that looks kind of like a fanny pack and my other med is running in for the next 24 hrs.  I have an appointment to go back tomorrow at 2 PM to get it unhooked and my needle out of the port.  I am just so pleased that I really have felt so good during the chemo and also afterward.  Except for a little nausea off and on that doesn't bother me much, and about 1/2 a day of diarrhea (that is a nusience), I really am doing great.  I'm just so thankful to the Lord for all His support and care over me.  I also love to know that you are all still praying for me.  Thanks so very much. 

On the travelling side, I did end up having the 2 oldest grandkids, Kaela and Aiden come her the first week in August and we had a good time doing things with them.  Jeff, our son,  flew my brother, Bob's plane over on Sat. evening to pick up the kids and fly back to Detroit on Sunday.  Since Dave was going to Brazil for 5 days that week to lecture for Mayo, I ended up flying back in his plane with him and the kids.  So spent last week in Detroit with my grandkids and Jeff and Kim as well.  It was fun to see Gavin, who is now 7 months old.  I then flew back into Minneapolis on a NW flight, on Sat. afternoon arriving about the time Dave came back from Brazil.  We spent Sat. evening in a hotel up there and enjoyed some time together before we drove back down to Rochester on Sunday afternoon.  My next trip planned is Aug. 28 to Madison to spend the week-end with Jevon and Cheryln and Liam.  Then Sunday we will drive up and across the UP of Mich. to Camp Au Sable where we have the Weaver annual family reunion for a week.  It ends the Sunday before Labor Day.  Then I will come back home to have another chemo.  Hope your summer has gone well.  God bless each of you.

Love, Karen

My appointment was this afternoon at 2 PM for my blood draw to see if my white count was high enough for the chemo today.  Praise the Lord----thanks to all your prayers, it was over 3000.  Thanks so much!  So I spent the next couple of hours getting the Cisplatin.  I'm home now with the second experimental IV chemo pumping into my blood stream as we speak.  It runs for 24 hours, so I have to go back to Mayo tomorrow at 5 PM to have it discontinued and the IV in my port taken out.  They decreased my Dexamethasone by half to help me sleep better so hope I don't get more nauseated!  So far I feel good and we had a delicous supper of roast and several veggies.  I love summer and fresh veggies and they are so good for me.  Marilyn Deininger is leaving first thing tomorrow morning so it will be a bit quieter around the house without my dear friend.  I have so enjoyed having her here with me this week. 

The quiet will be short lived though as on Thursday I am driving to Madison to meet Jevon and Cheryln who are moving there.  They are also bringing Kaela and Aiden from Detroit to spend a week with me.  I'll take them home to Rochester on Friday.  It will give me a chance to see Jevon and Cheryln's rental house and see Liam again for a little while.  Jeff and Bob plan to fly over to Rochester the following week-end to pick up the kids.  All these flights make me nervous but what to do?  I have to trust them to the Lord.  Jeff so loves to fly.  He is at Oshkosh, WI this week at the airplane fly-in with his childhood friend, Rob Deininger who is a commercial pilot.  They are tenting and having a great time!  So for the next couple of days, I'll be trying to get ready for the grandkids arrival.  What fun!  I love having them here with me.  Each summer I have had them come for 1-2 weeks to spend time with "Nai-Nai" and "Pip-squeek" (so named by Aiden).  Last summer Kim came with them as well, since I was not in my full gear energy mode!  I was still having chemo then.  My chemo this time doesn't leave me "wiped" like the first set did.  I'm so greatful for that and that I still have my hair!  God is so wonderful.  Thanks again for all your prayers and love. 

Karen

Today was supposed to be # 3 chemo day.  However my blood counts (that were drawn yesterday) came back a little low (white count and neutraphils).  So as I waited to see my oncologist this morning, they came out and asked me to go get another blood draw.  Fortunately I still had an access in from the day before, so it was painless.  Unfortunately it came back even lower than yesterdays draw.  So when I talked to my doctor she told me that since I am on an experimental protocol the rules didn't allow her to give me neupogen sp-?) to raise my white count.  And they have to be "normal" for me to get chemo.  She was about to call the twist the study doctor's arm but I mentioned that the next 2 chemos weren't at a good time for me.  One was to be in the middle of our family reunion week!  So she decided to just have me wait out this week and try again next Monday for chemo and hopefully my white counts will be higher then.  So please pray that they come up for next week!  I also had another CAT scan yesterday.  This protocol calls for me to have one every other chemo time (about every 6 weeks) to moniter my tumors.  When I went to my doctor today she had a very good report for me.  She said the tumors had all gotten smaller and she pulled up 2 pictures of the CAT scan to show me how much smaller one of them had gotten.  Everything on yesterday's CAT had improved from the previous one so that is great news.  Also the best news was that my CA-125 has dropped from the 600's to 60!!  My doc had a HUGE smile on her face when she told me.  She is thrilled with my results and told me she is so glad she put me on this protocol since I am responding so well.  Of course we all know it is God's hand over me and His miracles at work healing me.  So I am so grateful for all the good news.  On top of that, I still have my hair!  Don't know how much longer I'll have it, but each day is wonderful!  I feel good and stroing.  My friend Marilyn Deininger is here with me from CA this week so we are having a good time and hope to clean up my basement as well while she is here.  Thank you each one for all your many prayers.  Keep praying my white counts come up so I can continue with the chemo. 

Love,

Karen

This chemo has been much better than the last kind!  Other than some nausea on Thursday, I have felt very good.  Dave and I spent a nice week-end at home, but did work in the garden for about 2 1/2 hrs. on Friday and did some scrubbing on a fake grass carpet mat for VBS on Sunday.  My energy levels are excellant and I spent today washing my couch/loveseat covers as well as running errands this afternoon.  I am amazed at how good I feel!  I'm just praising the Lord for His strength!  This noon I went to Curves for the first time in a couple of months but it went okay, then I went to find a birthday present for Joel, our son, who has a birthday this week.  So you see, no grass is growing under my feet.  Thanks for all your prayers and support and love.  Missed a large Weaver gathering in Detroit over the 4th, but at least Joel and Karri were able to attend as well as Jevon's wife, Cheryln and her son Liam.  Jevon is spending the month down in Atlanta orienting for his CDC fellowship.  Dave and I plan a week-end trip to Detroit mid-July for Aiden's 6th birthday so that will be our "outting" this month.  Keep in touch. 

Love,  Karen

It is July 1 and so I want to update you with all my comings and goings these past 3 weeks.  Shortly after my first chemo which went well, (2 days later) Dave and I flew to Geneva via Amsterdam.  We arrived Friday afternoon and were met by our good friends Connie and Phil Hunt.  We rented a 7 person van, which by the way, only holds passengers not luggage as well unless you vacate seats!  We did okay while there were only 4 of us, but later we added 2 people so ended up having them rent another small vehicle or we would never had fit with our luggage!  We drove the 2 1/2 hrs. to Interlaken and ate fondue for supper.  Then found our way to the foot of the mountain where we left our car and took a cable car up to Gimmelwald.  We stayed for 4 days in a lovely B & B, where we had rented an apartment.  Both Hunts and us shared it and the cost and it was so lovely.  Clean, and quite large for Europeon rooms.  We had a LR with 2 beds, nice bathroom with shower, small kitchen area and a bedroom with king bed and extra twin.  The scenery was gorgious and we had good weather except for one day when it rained some.  We had a great breakfast at our B & B and they had a nice porch with relax chairs and wonderful flowers planted and hanging all around.  We were a 5 min. cable ride up to Murren where there were lots of hikes and a nice town to walk and shop in.  We ate there a couple of times as well.  It was so relaxing to just look up at the beautiful mountains and also to do some hiking, although I prefered the level hikes to climbing up, up.  One day we hiked down and that was worse!  It made my calves really hurt.  I really didn't have trouble with nausea like we had feared, but had one day of generally feeling not too great (probably when my steriods were finished).  Dave says you get a "let-down" when you come off them.  They give them to me each time as an anti-nausea medication.  They also gave me an IV anti-nausea drug Alexi (?) which is supposed to last 3-5 days so really I've been pretty impressed with how I feel. 

After our first 4 days in Switzerland another 2 friends joined us---Susan and Tom Smith.  Sue was with us at VHS in India and her parents were our teachers so we have known her for a long time.  We moved to a hotel in Lauterbrunnen at the foot of the hill (about 15-20 min. from our first place).  I was glad to just kind of stay in one place so we didn't end up running all over Switzerland.  Connie, Sue and I had gone on a 2 week Germany, Switzerland, and Austria trip about 18 yrs before by ourselves and always wanted to bring our husbands back to see it, so this was the time.  We were greatly surprized to meet the Affolters from Singapore at our hotel in Lauterbrunnen.  He had been the principal when my kids went to FEA and I worked for him in the cafeteria as food director the last year.  What a small world!  Dave, PHil and Sue took a morning and did some para-gliding off the mountain to the valley with a parachute above them and a guide along with them.  They all loved it!  Connie and I walked around and relaxed.  We got a massage for our money!  Friday we left for Geneva again and dropped off the small car and some luggage (we left 2 bags at our hotel in Geneva and Phil and Connie left some bags at Collonges, France where they have a meeting).  So we manage to squeeze into the van and drove to Lyon, France for SAbbath.  We met some Adventist friends who had lived in Rochester for one year of research and they led us to church and spent the afternoon touring us around old Lyon.  It is a nice city.  Connie, PHil, Sue and Tom drove on to Southern France where they spent the week in Connie's sister's villa.  Dave and I took a train back to Geneva because we were catching an early flight out Sunday morning for Detroit.  We had one night in Detroit and did some laundry.  Dave flew back to MN Monday morning and I flew to Beijing, China with my sister, Ellen and granddaughter Kaela (8 yrs. old).  We arrived Tues. late so actually only had about 5 days there.  My sister and a friend from her work were actually to attend a conference but we still had plenty of time to sight-see and shop.  We did most of the famous sites, Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace.  It was in the 90's most of the week so we were HOT!   We also did lots of shopping---them, not me as I have pretty much gotten all I need from China.  I bought a few things and helped Kaela buy some gifts for her family and things she wanted.  Kaela was a real trouper and did very well.  I was very surprised she enjoyed it so much. 

I arrived back home Monday evening and yesterday had my blood work and doctor's visit with a nurse practioner.  My CA-125 is down in the 600's which is about half of what it was last time so that is good.  I'm grateful to the Lord for all He is doing to heal me.  I went in at 7:30 AM this morning for my chemo.  Also am wearing the pump with the second medicine right now.  Will go back in tomorrow morning to talk it off.  I've been to Sam's and grocery store since the chemo and also did some weeding in my beds.  Plus I made supper for Dave.  I did manage an hour nap as well since I've been awake since 3 AM with "jet-lag".  I think I've got good energy (we just returned from a walk).  Dave is cutting the lawn right now.  Thank you for your encouragement and prayers.  I am amazed and uplifted by all of your prayers.  God has been so good to me and I love Him so.  I continue to believe He is in charge of my life and will take care of me. 

Love,  Karen

Just to update you all-----I had a PET scan and CAT scan last week (Wed. and Thurs.)  Both showed cancer nodules that have grown a bit in size.  My CA-125 has gone up to 1200.  So I went Friday morning for an outpatient surgical procedure to put a PORT into my vein so they can give me my chemo easier.  Last time they just started IV's each time, but since they are putting me into a study protacol it is one of the requirements.  One of the medicines they plan to give me as chemo tomorrow at Mayo, the second medicine is given over 24 hrs from an infusion (pump) that I go home with.  They will start it tomorrow as well and then I will bring the pump home with me, then go back the next day to have it removed.    Hopefully I won't get too sick with it!  One of my church friends will pick me up and stay with me during the chemo so I'm happy about that.  Then she can drive me home as well.  It will be interesting to try to sleep with a pump going.  I've heard it is about the size of a purse and something you wear??  I'm a side sleeper, so might have to try to stay on my back tomorrow night!  We are getting excited about leaving for our trip to Switzerland on Thursday evening, so I really  hope I won't be too nauseated by then!  I'd hate to have a miserable trip on the airplane.  I'd appreciate all your prayers that I won't be ill!!  God has been close this past week.  I had a couple days when I got the reports from my tests where I felt pretty "down", but today has been a good day and I'm trying my best to beat this cancer.  God is in control and He can still heal me. 

Love,  Karen

What a surprise and fun to read all of your many blogs on my site!  I've been away for 3 weeks now and having a grand time with my grandbabies.  Spent the week at Camp Au Sable helping my folks cook for their Health Camp guests.  My sister, Ellen helps as well.  Jeff was so sweet and met me at the airport and drove me up to camp.  He and Kim also came up with the kids for the week-end to spend time with me.  Jeff had flown Aiden up the day before so he got to ride in the airplane!  After camp I spent a few days at Jeff and Kim's house with the kids.  Gavin is growing so fast and is such a smiley baby.  From there I flew to Baltimore for 10 days.  Dave arrived the next day and was with me for 5-6 days over Memorial Day week-end.  Jeff and family flew in (Jeff as pilot) for 2 1/2 days as well so it was nice to all be together that Sabbath.  I enjoyed my time there with little Liam and we took many walks by the harbor walkway in Fell's Point.  I came home on Sat. evening and Dave was very happy to meet me again! 

Monday I spent planting my flower beds and pots for the summer.  I hired a girl to help me so I wouldn't have to do too much lifting, squating, etc.  I'm pleased with how everything turned out.  They called me today from Mayo Clinic and have me scheduled for a PET scan tomorrow morning.  Then Thursday morning I have a CAT scan as well.  I would ask that you all please pray for me that I will have peace of mind thru all these tests.  I know God is in control and also in the business of preforming miracles so would love to have them all negative!  It's been nice to be home a couple of days and do fun things, not medical tests.  Now I get to face all that in the next 2-3 days.  I so much appreciate all the prayer support and encouragement you have given to me.  It isn't fun to be told you have cancer, and even less fun to know it has reaccured!  But I trust the Lord will see me through this stage as well.  Let's keep praying for a miracle. 

Love,

Karen

I had an appointment for a CAT scan this morning at 10AM.  After the nurse started an IV line, and gave me 2 --16 oz bottles of water with contrast to drink, it was after 11 before then called me back.  They didn't finish until about 11:30AM.  I walked around a bit, then went to lunch at an Indian buffet with Dave.  My appointment with my oncologist was at 1PM and Dave had rearranged a patient from afternoon to morning so he had an hour to spend with me in the doctor's office.  It actually took almost 2 hrs. so he was about 1/2 hr. late to see his patients.  Anyway, my oncologist was very particular about comparing my last 3 CAT scans--one in Sept., one in Jan. and the one from today.  They had found 3-4 small nodules(tumor) on the one today so they were comparing them with the other CAT scans from earlier.  They say the nodules were there even in Sept but very small.  They have only grown a small amount since Jan.  But enough to cause concern.  So she wants to start me on another round of chemo---different from last time.  She encouraged me to join a clinical study where they will moniter me closely and take blood every week and look at the tumors every 6-8 weeks or so to see if they are shrinking.  I can stop the study anytime if I can't tolerate it or if they feel it isn't having a positive effect on the tumors.  Since I have a ticket to fly to Detroit on Sunday she wants to wait until I return in 3 weeks (from Detroit I'm scheduled to babysit in Baltimore for 1 1/2 weeks).  I am a bit concerned about waiting and offered to try to change my plans and start in next week, but she assured me they were very slow growing and the 3 weeks would not make a difference.  I will be home for 10 days the first part of June so she plans to get the chemo started then before we take off on our Switzerland vacation and my China trip with my sister Ellen (back to back from Switzerland).  I just hope I won't be too nauseated from the chemo to enjoy the trips!  They do have much better nausea medicine now then they used to!  I don't know how long I will have to take chemo this time---there doesn't seem to be an end to it like last time.  As long as I am tolerating it and it seems to be having a benefit on the tumors they will continue it every 3 weeks. 

This evening we had our weekly small group study and one of the ladies prayed for me and laid hands on me.  It was very touching and I really appreciated her ministry.  Please keep praying that God will heal me according to His will.  From my study of Scripture----everyone who asked Jesus for healing, He healed, so I know He can do it today as well.  This has been a pretty exhausting couple of days for me---mostly emotionally, but I really appreciate all of your many prayers and messages of hope.  Some of you have sent me e-mails with Bible texts as well.  God bless you all and thanks for your prayers for healing.  They are a big encouragement to me.  I probably won't have much more to write for the next week or 2 as they won't be starting my chemo until the first week in June.  I'm going next week to help my parents with their annual Health Camp at Camp Au Sable, in Michigan.  There isn't good computer there, so don't expect to hear much from me. 

Love, Karen

After waiting most of the morning for news from my doctor, Dave called and told me he had called her and she wasn't in today.  However they talked and she said she would review my case and get back with him.  About noon she called him and had set up a CAT scan of my abdomen and pelvis for tomorrow morning as well as an appointment with her at 1PM.  So I'll be at Mayo Clinic for a few hours tomorrow!  I was pretty "down" this morning and in a funk, but at noon I went to Curves to get some exercise and had to go to the bank later, etc.  I ran into a couple friends I know and they said they would be praying for me.  Since neither Dave nor I got a lot of quality sleep last night (mine was very restless and light), I did take a nap this afternoon and after that have felt much better.  I think just knowing there is a plan is better than being in limbo.  Dave seemed much better when he got home from work as well.  We took our evening walk together around our neighborhood so things seem normal at least.  We'll see what the oncologist recommends tomorrow.  It might depend on what they see on the CAT scan.  Hopefully I can continue with my plans for Health Camp in Mich. with my parents and later seeing both my  new grandbabies.  Please pray for my peace and trust that I will know God is in control of my life and things are up to Him.  He certainly has been with me thru this journey so far and I know He won't leave me.  Thanks for all your many prayers as well.  Will try to keep you all posted once I know something more. 

Love, Karen

Today I had a repeat blood test of my CA-125 and the results wasn't good.  It is up from 20 last month to 256!!  That probably means more cancer activity in my body somewhere.  I haven't heard anything yet from my doctor since I had the test 2 days early (she is expecting it on Thurs.) but Dave sent her an e-mail so we'll see what she plans for me.  I'm sure I will have to go in for more tests, possibly another CAT scan and possibly more chemo.  I'm supposed to go to Mich. this Sunday to help my parents with their annual Health Camp.  Then on to Baltimore to babysit Liam again for 1 1/2 weeks.  I hope she will let me make my trips.  Please pray for me and Dave.  This is quite a blow to us emotionally.  He was supposed to work tomorrow evening and already cancelled so he could stay home with me.  I have no idea what God has in store for me, but I do trust Him.  He is in control of my life and how long I live.  Hopefully it will be a long time.  But whatever, I want to bring glory to His name.  Thanks for all your prayers. 

Love,

Karen

Some of you have written me on e-mail saying that you haven't seen anything on my blog lately, so thought I should update you to my happenings recently.  Those of you who are on "facebook" have already seen my reports, but for those of you who haven't, I will share.  Most recently I have been doing a lot of traveling----I mean a lot!!  As you read before, I took a cruise to Mexico with some of my Taiwan missionary girlfriends in January.  Then went with Dave to Maui in February where he took a continuing ed course put on by Mayo.  Following my Maui trip I went to Detroit for 8 days to meet our grandson, Gavin (Jeff and Kim's third).  He is such a sweet baby and I so enjoying my time there.  Had a couple of weeks home before Dave and I headed out to Mumbai, India where he attending another meeting on Tobacco and Health.  We were there one week and had a good time with some friends from Rochester here.  I was home for 1 1/2 days before flying to Denver to meet Jeff and Kim and kids for 4 days in Breckenridge.  They were going skiing and needed a "grammy" to watch Gavin while the rest skied.  I was only too thrilled to oblige!  From Denver, I  caught a flight straight to Baltimore to meet my other new grandson, Liam (Jevon and Cheryln's).  He is one month younger than Gavin.  I spent 8 days there with them in their small apartment.  Both parents were feeling very tired and frazzled from all the night duty (Jevon also had call at the hospital every 4th nt as well.).  So I offered to take night duty while I was there and feed him his Mommie's milk in a bottle.  We spent some good bonding time together and I attempted to give him some night-time routine in hopes he would start sleeping through the night.  He did 2-3 nights, but quickly  reverted to wanting a 3-4 AM feed.  I'm not sure what makes some babies settle into a all night sleep pattern, but Liam is not wishing to do that most of the time yet!  His parents would love it if he did!  He is just the sweetest baby as well. 

  Finally in April I have been home for a couple weeks with 2 more to go before any more trips!  Dave is thrilled to have me here.  You can tell from all my trips that I am feeling good and in good spirits!  If you don't see my blogging, it is either because I feel so good, I don't know what to say, or I'm out and about the country(s).  My oncologist did catch up with me this week and ordered an ultrasound and blood test and visit with her.  The ultrasound was normal and my CA-125 was up a little from 13-20, but she didn't seem too concerned.  She will have me repeat it in one month.  Hopefully it will stay put or better yet, come back down again.  You can pray with me that it does that!  She was most surprised because in January, my last check-up, she and another resident had both felt an abdominal cyst.  I think I already told you I was prayed for in Loma Linda after our cruise and the following CAT scan didn't show anything.  Well, my doctor hadn't seen me since so fully expected to still find the cyst.  I had been sore in that area some as so thought it might have come back.  When she did the ultrasound she asked them to look at the lymphocele (cyst).  She told me when she first came in the exam room, she couldn't understand why their report didn't mention anything about the lymphocele.  I told her I had showed them the area but they didn't stay long there.  So when doing my vaginal exam, she started shaking her head and saying , "there is nothing there."  She just was so surprised and I told her , "You know I was prayed over".  She continued on with her exam and I could tell she could hardly believe it was gone.  I told her again I had been prayed for.  So she tried to make some excuse about perhaps they   had felt some part of the bowel, etc.  Well, I know it was a miracle of God and if she doesn't believe that's too bad for her~!  I have been so grateful all week with my good report.  She basically told me a had a "perfect" exam.  I'm praising the Lord.!!  He is so good to me.  Thank you everyone who continues to pray for me and my healing!  You are just the best friends. 

I am home for another couple weeks.  Oh, forgot we will make a quick trip by car to Detroit this next week-end to see the grandkids.  Gavin is growing so quickly, I'm missing out!  Dave had taken a couple extra days off this next week-end for my birthday, so I told him that is what I wanted to do the most.  Then the 24th-30 of April I'm on the schedule in Baltimore to babysit while Jevon and Cheryln work.  I don't mind at all!  Should be home the first 9 days of May then will be at my folks Health Camp cooking for the guests with my Mom and sister, Ellen.  Following that I head back to Detroit for a couple of days with the grandkids and back to Baltimore for 1 1/2 weeks with Liam.  Guess grandparenting is my calling these days!  I hope this  report has been an encouragement to you.  I surely feel uplifted in prayer by all of you and God has done miracles in my life.  I feel so priviledged to have been so blessed. 

Love,

Karen

It is Feb. 10 and I thought it time I wrote again to catch you up on my life and happenings.  Yesterday Dave and I got back home from a one week trip to Maui.  Dave has a conference every year that Mayo puts on in Hawaii (different islands each year) and it is always in Jan or Feb. so it makes a good winter break for us.  He enjoyed his meetings and they only went until 1PM each day so that also allowed time for us to do some island exploration during the afternoons.  Our friends the Lundstroms were there as well so several afternoons we drove around the island and also did some hiking.  We had a good time together.  I loved the warm weather and island surroundings.  I tried to walk most mornings as there was a nice beach side path that ran about 1 1/2 miles.  We got to see humpback whales from the shore and that was most exciting.  Also saw a couple of turtles swimming when we stopped to watch the windsurfers one day.  Dave and I did snorkeling one afternoon and saw some pretty fish as well.  I would probably move to a tropical island someday if Dave was willing, but since his job is in MN, we are here for a while! 

Tomorrow I fly again---this time to Detroit to see my newest grandson, Gavin.  Jeff and Kim had their 3rd child almost a month ago now.  It has taken me a while to get there to welcome him!  I plan to stay a week with them and see if I can help some with the kids.  Then I have promised Aiden that I will bring him home to MN with me for another week.  I thought it might give Kim some time alone with Gavin so she can at least get some rest if she is tired.  That is difficult with a 5 1/2 yr old around (Aiden).  Kaela is in school most of the day so she keeps busy there.  I think both kids are enjoying their new baby brother, especially Kaela.  She enjoys being a "big sister".  We are also eagerly waiting the arrival of Jevon and Cheryln's baby boy who is due March 7.  Dave and I will be in Mumbai, India then, but hopefully he will be born before then so we can hear the good news!  Then when I get back from India I will try to spend some time in Baltimore helping Cheryln with her new baby.  So you see, I don't spend much time here in cold MN at least this year!  I feel great and am so thankful to the Lord for my strength and health!  I keep praying my cancer will stay gone forever!  God is good and I trust Him with my life each day.  Thank you friends for caring and checking up on me.  I enjoy your notes and knowing you still think about me and are praying for me.  Hope your winter is also going so well. 

Love,  Karen 

I got back last night from being gone for 10 days to California.  It was certainly a good time to miss out of Minnesota's freezing weather.  Dave told me it got to 25 below while I was gone!  Good think I wasn't here.  I spent a couple of days with my friend Marilyn Deininger from Taiwan days and then we boarded a cruise for 5 days with a total of 12 of us girlfriends from Taiwan .  They put most of us next door to each other and also we had a table for 12 each night for dinner.  We had a grand time talking and playing games and just remembering our times together in Taiwan.  The ship stopped in Cobos San Lucas, Mexico and also Encinada.  We had a good Mexican meal both days and also took advantage of cheaper massages.  Most everyone took lots of pictures(except me) and they will share with those who didn't take any.  Thursday we got off the ship and spent the afternoon in Dana Point walking on the beach and having a leisurely lunch at the Ritz Carlton.  Afterwards we were joined by 3 other ladies who drove down from Wash. and northern CA to join us.  Friday we had a lovely breakfast on Cheryl Hayton's patio and later went to a Tea party for lunch.  Friday afternoon we moved our celebration to Loma Linda where we were joined by other friends.  We had a get-together Friday evening, Sabbath noon and Sat. night as well.  I also got to stay with my nephew Justin and his wife, Sarah. Our friendships from the missionfield are some of the closest friends we have, so we all really had a great time.  The ladies from CA who planned our time together did a wonderful job.  I really enjoyed the warm weather for those days and now am back in cold MN! 

  This morning I had to go in to Mayo Clinic for a CAT scan.  My oncologist had felt something cystic on my pelvic exam a couple weeks ago.  They couldn't get me in before my trip West, so had scheduled me for as soon as I got home.  I had blood work done first thing this morning, then went to Radiology for the CAT scan.  It was scheduled also with a biopsy (aspiration) of whatever they found.  I was praying hard that they wouldn't find anything.    So after the CAT scan the doctor came in and said he didn't see anything he could biopsy, I was thrilled and praising the Lord.  Sabbath in Loma Linda, a couple of my friends had gone with me to ask for special healing prayer at their church.  I know it was a miracle and am so very grateful that God took away whatever was there when the oncologist (as well as another doctor) examined me.  I just keep thanking the Lord for His goodness.  It brings me comfort to know they didn't see any tumors there either!  God is so faithful and good!  I know many of you were also praying for me and I want to thank you so very much for all your  prayers. 

Love,

Karen