Treatment, MRI Date and Cousins

Kyla's chemo and Avastin treatment was last Tuesday and she tolerated both well. It is the IV that seems to be the big problem....it always takes 2 to 3 hours to get them in. Treatment at the hospital is very slow. It seems we do more waiting around for things like the medications and nurses in general than anything. We ended up re-scheduling her treatment from Monday to Tuesday because she was not scheduled by the oncologists office for some reason. She was finally weaned off the Decadron and is doing well so far. She has another Avastin treatment on the 29th and then an MRI on June 5th. We are praying for good results. We see her oncologist this Friday to check on her blood counts.

We started building the arbor for her back yard but need to get back and finish. Hopefully this weekend we can spend some time doing that. I had a lovely mothers day. The Saturday before we gathered and did yard work for Dave's mom for mothers day. A long day but the yard looks lovely. Kyla, Kelli and Dave cooked me a wonderful brunch and Jill was treated like a queen by Wade. Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful mom's out there, including my mom and Dave's as well as Kyla and Jill.

My sister, Kristi and her family arrived for a special visit over the weekend. Lucy and Emma spent the night with us and Emma got to sleep in the pop-up tent camper with her cousins. The kids all had so much fun together looking for lizards, feeding chickens, gathering eggs and feeding the cows. That and fishing in the swimming pool and building a secret fort. Oh to be that age again! Dave's cousin Nate and his wife also came for a short visit of course at the same time so we had to split the visiting up but we were so glad to see everyone.

Happy Birthday to Molly, Pat and Linda!

Happy Birthday Kyla!!!

Today Kyla turns 28. Does time fly.....seems like only yesterday she was that impish little girl that was begging me to clean house. Yes people, she loved to clean. I used to think of her as little "Miss Suzy Homemaker". Truthfully, I am so very honored to be her mother. I see her as such a positive person, always so strong and sure about her life. She has a stubborn streak in her that I know has been what is needed to face this disease like she does. She has a loving heart and is so protective of her family and she has such a great sense of humor and contagious laugh. We all love you Kyla.....have a wonderful birthday!

Her infusion of Avastin went well, just extremely slow getting started. Her next chemo and Avastin infusion will be May 15th. We had dinner last night with Joe and Sheri and Dave and I are taking her to dinner tonight for her birthday. Then Saturday we will be having a family birthday dinner for her at our house and hopefully get her birthday present started. She wants an arbor built in her back yard so that is the plan.

Kyla at six weeks

Eight months old

Kyla's first birthday

Kyla at four

Kyla in first grade

Treatment Plan, Birthdays and Easter

Sorry it has been so long since I have updated.....very busy and hectic times for all of us. It was confirmed that the cancer has returned. So now the treatment plan for Kyla is chemo (Carboplatin) every 28 days and an infusion of a drug called Avastin every two weeks. My understanding of Avastin is that it is a monoclonal antibody also known as targeted therapy which works to make chemo more effective. Kyla has had one infusion of chemo and Avastin two weeks ago as well as a shot of Neulasta the day after to boost white blood cell count. She is having an infusion of Avastin again on Monday, May 1st. So far she has done well with the chemo but the steroids are another issue. The side effects are terrible for her and the doctors in San Francisco decided to wean her off in two weeks instead of a month. That was a big mistake and the swelling on her brain caused some difficulties for a week until we got her back on and feeling better. So now the plan is to wean her off very slowly.

We had a belated birthday dinner for Kelli the week after our return from San Francisco. We had a nice Easter brunch with Jill, Wade, Byron, Kelli, Kyla, Jed, Emma, Lucy and Dave's parents. The little ones looked so darn cute all dressed up. We also celebrated little Emma's 6th birthday amid all of this. On her birthday she wanted all of her family to have dinner. Her pick for the dinner was tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, carrots and broccoli. Then on the following day Kyla and Jed made her a cute castle cake and they had a tea party for her and her little friends. Happy birthdays go out to Uncle Mike, Jason, Jeremy and my dad.

Lucy pointing at the turkeys in the field

Kelli celebrating her belated 21st birthday

Byron loves his Spanish bull that Uncle Brian sent from Spain

Emmy colored the eggs for Easter

Emma and Byron all dressed up for Easter

Lucy dressed up for Easter but didn't want to pose with her sister and cousin

Surgery

Kyla's surgery was Tuesday the 14th and she came through fine. After another MRI before surgery Dr. Kunwar was concerned because the enhancement in the left frontal lobe had enlarged since two weeks ago. To clarify, this enhancement is in the old area from four years ago. So he cleaned it out as well as another spot on the right side (the area that was operated on in January). The preliminary pathology looks like abnormal cells but won't know for sure until next Thursday when the final report is back. If indeed it is progression they will discuss chemo as the next step.

So as far as Kyla feels she is still in ICU until the drain tube is taken out and is somewhat confused from the swelling but that should get better in a little time. I stayed in ICU the first night and Kelli stayed last night so I am off to the hospital now to relieve her. Thank you everyone for all the prayers and wishes.

San Francisco Trip, Another Surgery Scheduled

Kyla flew with Jill to San Francisco on Wednesday of this week for another scan. The MRI shows a larger bright white spot and after being presented before the tumor board the consesus is that it looks like necrosis. However, they can't be positive without a biopsy. She is scheduled for surgery to remove the tissue and have it biopsied on March 14th. So it looks as though we will be in San Francisco for a week again soon. We are still waiting to talk with her surgeon as to what type of surgery, time, and how long she will be in the hospital.

Kyla returned to work half time in February and had two migraine headaches unexpectedly. We think that she became too tired which triggered the headaches. But because of the nature of this illness, we can't be sure. It could be that the headaches were caused by pressure from the necrosis. She says she is not nervous and would rather have it now than wait until later since her hair is not all grown back. The only bad part is that she will be back on the steroids again....she was just beginning to feel better. I admire her greatly. She has such a positive and good spirit.

Lucy and Emma have colds again. Just seems to keep going around and around. Spring can't come soon enough. Prayers.

MRI Results and Fun With Emma and Lucy

Kyla and Kelli flew to San Francisco early yesterday for her appointments today. Kyla just called to say that her MRI was clear except some bruising and scar tissue. We will hear tomorrow if she needs to go back next month or in two months. It depends on what the tumor board has to say about the scan.

She is continuing to heal and aside from the usual side effects from the Decadron (weight gain, joint pain, etc.) is doing well. Her hair is growing back but she says not fast enough for her. Unless things change, she plans on returning to work the first of February.

Dave and I kept Lucy and Emma Monday through about noon yesterday. Both girls were very good but sure keep us running. I had to have a tea party with Emma on the floor and of course Lucy just wants to be on the go constantly so not much else gets done. Sometimes I wonder how I did this with four kids......

Kyla, Lucy and  Emma on Christmas day

Jill, Wade and Byron on Christmas day

Emmy decorating Christmas cookies with Gram

Little Christmas girl, Lucy

Byron decked out to go see Auntie Kyla in the hospital

Hard to believe there is three months difference in age

Lucy with her usual big smile

Emmy trying to maintain the wriggling Byron and Lucy for a picture

A New Year and Update on Surgery and Treatment

We arrived in San Francisco on December 26th and stayed in The Millwood Inn and Suites close to the SF airport. The staff at the motel were very helpful, the price was reasonable and the rooms were clean and comfortable. I would highly recommend this place. Plus it was just a hop on the freeway to go to UCSF....took about 15 minutes especially with Wade driving like a true Californian! Thanks Wade.

Kyla checked in to the hospital at 10:00 and her surgery took place at noon. It lasted until 7:00 p.m. and they were able to place the cathetars for the treatment at the same time. She was pretty sick in the ICU from the anesthesia but the next day began to feel a little better. They moved her to a shared room on the neuro floor that afternoon and began the infusion. Jill, Kelli and I took turns staying with her in the room at nights and other than not much sleep and the boredom of being confined for four days, she did well. The cathetars were removed on Sunday afternoon, the 1st and we checked her out on Monday, the 2nd and drove home. She is now home recuperating and beginning to be very tired of being housebound. That is a good sign that she is feeling better. Kelli, Jill and I are taking turns watching the girls during the days and Jed keeps Lucy at night. Kyla will be going back to SF on the 24th for an MRI and a check-up. She is also slowly being weaned off of Decadron and hopes to be back to work the first part of February.

Thank you to everyone for the prayers and good wishes as well as financial donations for her multiple trips. Words can not express how blessed we are.