Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween from our family to all of yours!!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Today Mom was feeling good, had a good night sleep last night & was all smiles when the girls & I got to their house this morning.  We arrived a bit early after running a few errands, so we thought we'd sit with her & Dad & visit.

Around 11am, we (Mom, Dad, Me, Ry, Nyomi, Uncle Glenn & Auntie Momi) headed to Group Health for her appointment at 11:50am.  Mom lost 6lbs since her last weigh in at the radiologist office & her blood pressure was low.  It's typically low anyway, but today was lower than usual.  They asked if she was feeling ok & if she was dizzy & she was not.  When her oncologist came in, she asked how Mom was feeling, if she was in any pain & checked her lungs.  Mom has been walking with a cane lately because she feels unsteady on her left foot.  When Mom was given chemotherapy (prior to the radiation) one of the side effects was to lose feeling in her nerve endings (fingers, hands & feet).  She did experience the tingling in her hands & feet & while her right side came back to normal, her left side did not.  She experiences needle-like feeling (similar to when your hand/foot falls asleep) in her left hand & her left foot.  And the numbness in the foot makes her uncomfortable, so she now uses a cane to feel more balanced.  Dr. Reddy said that this will probably never go back to normal, which was a bit unsettling.  I asked about this cut that was on Mom's tongue since last week (it appeared to look like a cold sore, but didn't go away) & she said that it looks like thrush & gave Mom a prescription for more pills to get rid of that.  Dr. Reddy showed us the scans from Mom's lungs after the chemo treatments & she said that the chemo didn't do much.  I didn't see a side by side comparison from the before chemo & after, so i can't tell whether it worked even a little bit.  When the appointment was over, we told Dr. Reddy that we were going to go to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance & that we'd switched insurance.  She wished us well & asked to be kept informed.  She hugged Mom & Mom thanked her for everything that she's done.

This evening, Dad called to tell me that Mom mentioned that her throat has been sore lately (a side effect of the radiation) & for me, that says a lot, because she's only been eating soups, poi & poke.  I'm hoping that when her throat feels better, she can eat more things with more substance to make her gain more weight.

I see her almost everyday & I see that her spirit is still good, but I also see that sometimes little things that used to come so easy...no longer does & she gets frustrated.  I hope that after the effects of the radiation wear off that she will feel better & eat more & gain lotsa weight.

Thanks for the love that you all give her everyday....it means the world.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Today was another great day!! YAY!!

The girls & I went to get Mom & Dad, then we picked up Auntie Sue & Uncle Pete & we were off to Seattle. I still can't get over how HORRIBLE people drive in Seattle. And the rain just makes it worse!! After getting through the downtown traffic, we were golden!! We arrived at the Hawaii General Store around 11:40am & spent some time with Gail, Terry & the rest of the crew!! They all greeted Mom with fresh lei (soooo jealous!) & Gail made sure that Mom didn't leave without her "medicine" (crack seed LOL). we stayed for almost an hour & then we made our trek to Dick's Drive-In (just up a block from the HGS). It was SOOOOOO good!! :)

After we were done feeding our faces, we headed home & relaxed & took naps, before hula practice tonight.

Tomorrow, we go to our last Group Health appointment with Dr. Reddy who's been taking care of Mom for about a year now. I hope to find some answers to a few questions that we have. I'll post again tomorrow to let you know how it goes!!

Mahalo for the love that you all continue to show Mom. She & Dad do come by often to read the comments & the love that you all leave her.

**Arriving at the Hawaii General Store

**Honi's from Gail!! :)

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Another good day & who could ask for anything more? I can tell when Mom is having a good day by her voice the first time I talk to her during the day. I can also tell when she's tired or not having a good day. This morning, I could tell she was having a good day, but was quickly informed that her day wasn't going as planned because Dad had overslept a bit when they were supposed to go to Muckleshoot & claim their luggage as Preferred Players.

You see, for the last 3 weeks, they were able to collect pieces to this luggage set, however every time they went, Muckleshoot had run out. And this time they were determined to collect their bag & thought they'd go early in the morning. But when I called close to 10am, she had mentioned that she had "planned" to leave around 8:30 & that they were running late. It was quite funny.

I met up with her at the halau this evening to just hang out & watch the boys class.

Tomorrow we are going to the Hawaii General Store & to Dick's Drive In for lunch & I can't wait!! I will definitely get a few photos of our excursion tomorrow.

Hope everyone is well & healthy!!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Yesterday, Mom & Dad took Gram, Auntie Day & Kellan to the airport to go back home to Honolulu. I woke up just before they left so that I could say my goodbye's, but enjoyed telling them that i would see them in just a few short weeks.

Mom spent the day catching up on her rest & had no plans until hula in the evening, followed by dinner at L & L. I didn't see her at all yesterday, but did talk to her a few times throughout the day.

We have an appointment with her oncologist from Group Health on Friday morning to follow up & to see the scans of her neck/lung area to see if the chemo had any effect on those areas. That will be our last appointment with Group Health.

I'm looking forward to being a part of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for a new fresh start on having more time with Mom.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Changed up the header again...but forgot to post the one before this, so here's the last 2.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

It's Sunday, which only means a full day of hula & eating!!  We've only got 12 more days until we arrive in Pleasanton, CA to compete in Ia Oe E Ka La & every week the halau improves more & more.  We're are excited to get out of town, especially since it's been so cold lately.

Candice left back to Honolulu yesterday morning & tomorrow, Grandma, Auntie Day & Kellan go home.  Right now it's 9:36pm & they all went to the casino one last time before they leave.  I'm not excited to have a quiet & empty house.  And I'm sure that Mom is not looking forward to them leaving either.  I know that she will cry tomorrow & be very sad.  But it will only be a few short weeks before we are with them again, only in the warm sun in Hawaii.

Here's Mom & Rylie hanging out at halau today...

Friday, October 23, 2009

Well it's Friday morning & the plan is....there is no plan for today other than dinner later on!!

Yesterday's last radiation appointment went well as it always does & Auntie Sue & Uncle Pete brought a "YAY!" cake to celebrate.  After Mom came out of her treatment, the cake was waiting on the coffee table right in the middle of all of us & we all laughed & cheered that it was her last day!!  She also received a certificate of completion of radiation & a coffee cup.  We all sat around, ate our cake & shared with whom ever wanted a piece, then we left.

Last night was a hula night, but I didn't want to take Rylie, so I stayed home until Marcel was able to come home & take care of her & then I went to class.  After we were done, we decided to go to Olive Garden (again) for dinner!!

Today Mom will be making a follow-up appointment with her oncologist (from Group Health, not Dr. Eaton) to see her.  Prior to this radiation treatment, Mom was doing chemotherapy because they found some new growths in her neck area.  However, when they found the tumors on her brain, they stopped the chemo & started on radiation right away.  We're unsure whether the chemo had worked on the growths on her neck area or on her lungs & we'd like to see those scan results.

Well today is going to be full of resting & eating!!  I hope everyone has a great weekend!!


**sorry for the blurry picture of the YAY Cake

**Mom & Auntie Sue enjoying some cake

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Guess what today is!?!?  It's Mom's last day of radiation.  Her last day of radiation to her head was on Monday & today is her last day on her neck.  It will be weird to not go to the radiology oncology office every day.  But it is a HAPPY DAY today!!

I apologize for not keeping up every day & I will soon get back in to the routine, once Rylie is back up & fully recovered.  She still has a cough, along with an ear infection, so we're just not too healthy right now.

Yesterday, Mom made no plans for herself & wanted to rest & sleep in, so Auntie Day, Candice, Kellan, Rylie & I went to breakfast & then to the grocery store to buy some odds & ends for dinner.  (chop steak with onion)  And then we came home, I took Mom to radiation & then we came back to my house & were LAZY alllllllll night long!!

Perhaps that's why I haven't updated much.  Because it seems like we've been just resting, relaxing, eating & enjoying one anothers company.

I hope everyone is well & healthy.  Thank you for continuing to leave Mom some love on her blog!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Apologies for the missed blog post yesterday, my house is passing colds around like they are the hottest thing on the market...it's AWFUL!! :( Rylie is back down with a fever, sniffles & a cough & is not sleeping well at all!!

Well yesterday was a great day!! We were up at 6am & on the road to Seattle by 6:45am. Luckily there was no traffic & we arrived at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at 7:40am. We all had to take a cough & flu survey & ended up at that Dad & Kellan had symptoms of a cold & could not go in with us & had to sit in a different waiting area (along with Auntie Day). The rest of us went in to the waiting area & then we were called in to the dr's office at exactly 8:15am. The nurse took her vitals & everything was good (blood pressure, pulse, etc) & then we were to wait for Dr. Eaton.

When he came in to the room, I remembered him from the last time we saw him. He looked at Mom & said "you look GREAT!!" He then went in to asking her how she was feeling & what she understood of her current situation. He sat back & listened & took notes as Mom talked. Once in awhile, when he would ask her something...he'd look at me & I would either nod in agreement or shake my head in disagreement, it was kind of funny. Once in awhile, I, Auntie Sue or Uncle Pete would add to some things that were said or give a little more information. In the end, Dr. Eaton recommended a few options for us, about 3-4 different options including something similar to Mom's 1st chemo drug doxyrubicin that worked really well. He told us that he'd write up his recommendations for us to take to her next oncology appointment & then Mom asked him "well what if I want you to be my new doctor?" & he said "OH!! Well that would be great!!" & we told him that we were in the process of switching insurance & that he would be our new dr.

After about an hour & a half, we were finally done with the consultation. He sent in his assistant, Linda, who gave Mom a big binder full of information regarding the facility, phone numbers, etc. We then met the scheduling girl, Lindsey & that was it.

Mom said that she really liked her meeting with Dr. Eaton & felt comfortable with him. We will be going back to see him next month, just before we leave for Hawaii.

My overall feeling about the SCCA was that it was just a breath of fresh air....something new, something different. A good different & a good feeling about it all & we're excited for this new step!

After we were done, we headed for IHOP because Mom was hungry for pancakes & then we went to the store because Gram was going to make her famous recipe - can spaghetti. (HAHHAHA) We came home to my house & just lazy'd around for a few hours until Mom's radiation appointment.

It was Mom's last head radiation & we've only got 3 more treatments to her neck & we're done. Today, she is going to meet with the radiology oncologist first & then to her radiation appointment.

Other than that, no other plans today!! We're enjoying having the family here & eating & just spending quality time with one another. Thank you for everyone who continue to come here every day to read up on the latest with Mom. Also, she was so excited to see that her blog has reached people that she hasn't seen in years!!

Here's a video of Mom & Ry playing Peek A Boo while waiting for Dr. Eaton to come in!! :)

**sorry, about the private video before, i changed it & hopefully you can see it now!!**

tj©'s Video

tj© | MySpace Video

Sunday, October 18, 2009

I apologize for not posting anything yesterday!!  We've been busy with the family....eating! HA!!

Yesterday was pretty uneventful.  Mom, Gram & Uncle came over around 11:30 for breakfast, then everyone went to store to get stuff for dinner & we ate dinner.  Other than that we bummed around & did absolutely nothing!

Today, it was an early hula morning for us, so we were at halau at 8:30am & left there shortly after 4pm.  Again, another eating day!  Right now, we're just relaxing at my house, watching what else?  FOOD NETWORK!! :)

Tomorrow, we are going for our 2nd opinion at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in the morning, then to radiation in the afternoon.  I will be sure to put up an update to our day tomorrow!!

Hope everyone is safe & had a good weekend!!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Sadly, I have been down all day not feeling well...myself & Rylie.  So we had to skip out on today's radiation appointment, so that Mom doesn't get sick.  I was told that everything went well & that the nurses missed Rylie today.

I talked to Mom off & on all day about our plans for the evening & picking up Gram, Auntie Day & Kellan tonight & I'll be going with her...at least, the last time i checked, i was.

I received an email from Uncle Danny Kaopuiki today, letting me know that the October issue of Holoholo Northwest is online for all to read.  Please stop by & check out Mom's article & photos!!

Click HERE for the front page & HERE to go straight to the article!!  Thanks again Uncle Danny!!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

I love to come here & post that Mom is having a good day.  Today was no different.  Another good day, feeling well rested & eating quite often! 

There was no plans prior to Mom's appointment, so I showed up at the house around 1:15, had some lunch & we were off to her appointment.  It seems as though her appointments get shorter & shorter, but in reality, i think that "the team" is just so busy talking story that we don't realize the time that passes us by.  Uncle Pete & Auntie Sue bought Mom some malasadas from L&L today, but Mom didn't share any with us. ha!

After Mom's appointment, Nyomi decided to stay with Mom until it was time to meet for hula practice & after practice the gang went to Olive Garden for Mom's fetuccini alfredo.

Tomorrow, Gram, Auntie Day & Kellan come in & i'm so excited to have them here!! 


**Getting ready to go in for her radiation treatment

**Finished with treatment & wearing a shirt that Jamsie bought her that says "Hawaiian chicks have the best coconuts" LOL

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Things are moving along here!! This morning I received a phone call from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance to schedule an appointment with them. Sadly the first date they had was this Friday at 3pm & that doesn't work for us because Mom's radiation appointments are at 2:30pm in Tacoma. WAAAAY on the other side of town! So we are going there bright & early on Monday morning at 8:15am. (not excited about fighting the Monday morning traffic, but Starbucks should fix that right up!!)

Today, Mom met Auntie Patsy, Uncle Earl, Auntie Sue & Auntie Charlene for breakfast at IHOP. I spoke with Auntie Sue after they were done & she said that Mom ate a lot. So that's great! We met at Mom's around 1:15, ate some lunch that Uncle Glenn & Auntie Momi brought over & then we were off to her appointment.

Things went fast today & Mom was feeling good again! I'm not sure that she got enough rest today, but I'm not positive.

I woke up with a fever, but the rest was gone. And then about an hour before heading to Mom's, my fever broke & I was fine again. However, tonight, I've got a hint of the chills again, so i'm wrapped up in a blanket again.

Thanks for all the messages & love, I know that Mom comes on to read once in awhile & I'm sure that it makes her day to see that you all think of her often!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Another good day here!! Mom was feeling a 9 out of 10 today, so that's always good!!

Again, we had no plans for our morning & I headed over to Mom & Dad's around 12:30. We went to Mom's appointment as usual & all went well. When we arrive, we all sit in the waiting room & Mom sits for a few minutes to catch her breath & then heads back to have her treatment done. After about 15min, the nurse guy came out & said "TANYA?" I looked around the room & then at him & said "ME?" & he said "yes Troy asked that you come back." We all got a small laugh out of it. He said that once a week she meets with the Dr. to go over how things are feeling & going & was waiting for the Dr to come in. So i sat with her while her nurse went over some things...

She lost 4lbs from last week to this week (again, not going to disclose #'s) & he asked how her appetite was. We both said "GOOD!" & she told him that she eats all the time (which she does). He told her that 4lbs in 1 week isn't bad, but that she should eat often even when she's not hungry (to which she said "NO PROBLEM") & that she should eat lots of carbs. She LOVES fettuccine alfredo! Her blood pressure was 130/80 (which is good, but a little high for her). She told the Dr that she's been feeling good, eating good & sleeping good. The Dr said that he noticed that her neck area is obviously responding to the radiation, because the tissue is soft & has shrunken down since he's seen her last. He then asked about her voice, it's a little raspy, & we assumed that its from the radiation, so he checked inside her mouth for thrush & sure enough there's is some in the back of her throat area. So he prescribed a medication to get rid of it & said that it should help with her raspy'ness. He said that Monday would be the last day for her radiation to her brain & Thursday would be the last for her neck area. He asked when our next appointment is with Mom's oncologist & that is on Tuesday.

I asked when we'd be taking another scan (to see if all is working ok) & he said in about 6-8 weeks. (BOO!) When I asked why, he said that the radiation continues to work well after treatments & they typically wait until it's supposed to be done working before they order new scans, unless something goes wrong or her dr orders it. I'm very eager to see results, because i'm confident that it's doing something. He said that even over the next 3 weeks or so we'll see more shrinkage in her neck area. YAY!!

After that meeting, she did her radiation treatment, then we left. We went to get her new medication filled & then went home.

Sadly, I came home feeling a little under the weather (chills, headache, etc) & i'm hoping its just a "night thing" & goes away by tomorrow. Mom's got a breakfast date tomorrow & then treatment in the afternoon. 3 days til Gram, Auntie & my little cousin comes in & 5 days til my cousin comes!! I can't wait!!

Monday, October 12, 2009

It's another cold day here in Seattle & this morning we made no plans...just to meet at Mom & Dad's when it was time to go to radiation.

I had made contact with a long time family friend, Nohe Ka, who works at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, about getting Mom in for a 2nd opinion. For me, at this point, Group Health said that there was nothing more they could do for her, so why not see if there's something that could help to give us a little more time. I'm happy to say that this morning, we officially got the ball rolling on getting an appointment for a 2nd opinion.

For those that have been following our journey, you will know that this will kind of be a 3rd opinion as we went to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance back in December of 2007. (Seattle Cancer Care Alliance & The Fred Hutchinson CRC are connected along with Childrens Hospital & UW Medical) At that time, we met with Dr. Eaton who stated that all of Mom's treatment up to that point was on point & had suggested doing a clinical trial with them. She chose not to do so & ended up staying with Group Health & doing chemotherapy in February of 2008.

I am looking forward to getting an appointment just to see if they have any options for us.

On the way to Mom's radiation appointment today, we all talked about our evenings last night, what we had for dinner & so on. I told Mom that Marcel had made pork chops & mushroom gravy & that my inlaws had come over. We talked about other stuff & soon arrived at her radiation appointment. After her appointment was over, we were getting in the car & I ALWAYS ask her "is there anything you want to get on the way home?" & it's usually always followed with "no, i'm good, let's go home." Not today...today's answer was "ummm, i think i want to stop at the store...i'm ono for pork chops & mushroom gravy!" And so we did & that's what's on her menu tonight. :)

Today she seemed more tired than usual & said that she was going to stay home from halau & rest tonight since there's only one class. I told her that i'd call her later on to check in on her. Otherwise, she had a good relaxing day.


**Photo taken at our first - 2nd opinion appointment at SCCA - December 28, 2007

New Header Picture

Another header picture change...

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Another great day for Mom today. Busy, but great!

For the past few weeks, hula practice has been in full force in preparation for Ia Oe E Ka La hula competition in Pleasanton, California at the beginning of November. And Mom's latest news of the cancer spreading in to her brain, hasn't kept her from being at the halau to support as she always has. Halau is her sanctuary. It's where she loves to be.

Going on this trip to see our halau perform at this competition is just one of many things that Mom had planned way back when & this latest news is not holding her back. We're going & that's that!!

Sunday's are a full day of practice for all that are going to competition, so we potluck & plan to just hang out all day long & today was no different. Mom didn't take a nap like she usually does, but she ate off & on all day. So did everyone else who was there. After a long day at halau, she went home & is just relaxing tonight!

When I got home, I received an email from Uncle Danny Kaopuiki who many of you know that used to write for the NW Hawaii Times when it was in publication. As soon as I received his email, I called Mom to share it with her. His email was just so wonderful to receive & confirmed that my Mom has truly blessed not only me & my family, but also so many others...thank you Uncle Danny for allowing me to share your email & the draft of your upcoming column!

*******************************

Aloha Tanya.......

Please give my love to your Mom..........I have loved, admired and respected her for so many,many years and am always. always so entranced with her lovely smile and warm affectionate hug she shares with me each time we meet! You already know what a special lady she is and I consider her one of the true Icons of Hawaiiana here in the Pacific NW.

I used to write for the NW Hawaii Times (which went out of existence earlier this year) and have since been persuaded to keep writing my "Holoholo" column on line. Attached is a draft of my next column (google "Holoholo Northwest") which will be going on line the 15th of October 2009...I plan to open the column with the information about your Mom, my dear friend Sweetie Camacho......could you send me a picture (or pictures of her and maybe like the one of the Halau at E Hula Mau which you have prefacing your "Just me Sweetie" blog) that I could use with the column? Mahalo.....I would also welcome any input you would like me to include in the column (perhaps the latest on your plans to visit Hawaii....or whatever you think people would like to know)..........

Your blog is outstanding........anyway, please review my draft and I would like your comments plus any pictures you would like to have added to the column...by the way: my columns are strictly a "labor love" (I don't get any money for it but do it because I want to keep our Hawaiian community (like we used to do with the NW Hawaii Times newspaper) in the Pacific NW updated on people/events/activities that impact all of us)........Mahalo and give your Mom my love....Danny Kaopuiki

And here is the draft of his column....

"She is sooooo sweet....and soooo talented..........and sooooooooooo loved! One of the most popular Hawaiian wahines in the Pacific Northwest, someone who has shared of herself, of her love and Aloha with all of us for a long, long time! Now, it have become a time for us to share, to give support to Sweetie Camacho! Several years ago Sweetie was diagnosed with cancer in her thyroids which she seemed to have gotten under control when the cancer spread to her lungs and even then, it seemed that this feisty wahine had begun to beat the odds......the cancer has now gone to her brain. For most mortal souls, this would have been time to say “Enough is enough...I quit!”...but Sweetie is not a quitter and she continues to fight every day! The doctors had to stop the chemo treatments she had been receiving for her lung cancer so they could focus radiation treatment on the brain cancer!

Sweetie Camacho........a volleyball player extraordinaire... a volleyball coach who helped develop a number of young, future star volleyball players here in Washington....a musician who caused a lot of open mouthed admiration when she got on stage with Earl Cerbana (guitarist) and Kumu Hula Kamaile Hamada (ukulele) and played a standup bass (auwe, every other wahine we know play da uke or maybe da guitar but standup bass? Da only other Hawaiian we know who played standup bass is Robert Cazimero (and truth be known, Sweetie almost as good as Robert))....a singer with the lilt of an angel in her voice when she harmonized with Earl and Kamaile...a hula-dancer-second-to-none who was an instrumental part of the Halau Hula Kamaile Lauli`ili`i winning numerous E Hula Mau (in California) and Mai Kahiki Mai (in Washington State) hula competitions! But more, much more important than her athletic and her musical abilities is the Aloha she has in her heart........admired and respected friend to so many! Most importantly, Sweetie is a fantastic wife and mother and grandmother!

Sweetie Camacho’s daughter Tanya says her Mom has received a lot of phone calls, emails and cards of support from those who are familiar with what is happening but there are many, many more of us who did not realize the latest in Sweetie’s health status. Just me Sweetie is an internet blog that Tanya has created to keep Sweetie’s family and friends and fans updated on how Sweetie is doing! Type in Just me Sweetie on your computer and find out what’s happening...more important: respond to her with your Aloha and prayers and words of support! Aloha my dear friend Sweetie...mahalo for all that you have done for our Hawaiian community here........God Bless You and Yours!!!!!"

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Today is a lazy day for all of us. Mom is at home relaxing after a late night out last night. They went to the C&K concert & then went to China Town to eat some duck. I received a phone call at 2am from Dad that jolted me out of bed (not a fan of late night phone calls) & their garage door opener wasn't working, so they wanted to come & get the one that I had for their house. Dad snapped a few pictures from their evening & they all had a great time!!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Today we decided to just spend the morning relaxing & not planning anything.  I didn't get to Mom's house until 1:30 with Ry & Nyomi (no school today) & Uncle Glenn & Auntie Momi were already there.  Dad decided not to go with us today, because he was going down to work to see if he could get a late job, so that he could join Mom, Uncle & Auntie Charlene at the C&K concert.

Mom's radiation appointment was typical & fast.  Every time she comes out from her treatment, she sits down with all of us to relax for a bit...maybe about 5min or so & then we all leave.  Today she was hungry for a burger at PickQuick & Auntie Momi & Uncle Glenn had never been there, so it was a treat for them as well.  Mom ate her entire double cheeseburger, a good load of her fries & her coke.  I'd lie if we all weren't beyond full afterwards.  All of us were so full that we wanted to take a nap.  That's when you know you've had something good to eat.

When we got back to Mom's house, she said that she was going to take a nap & just relax before her concert tonight & the rest of us parted ways & went home.

Another great day with a wonderful spirit.  Who could ask for anything more?

I don't have any pictures of our day, but I did send the camera with them to the concert & I hope that they take at least ONE picture so that i have something to post!

Mom has 2 days off from treatment (the weekends = no radiation) & tomorrow she has no plans so far.  Sunday there's hula almost all day long & we're having a potluck since we'll be there most of the day.  Hope everyone is doing well.  Happy Aloha Friday!!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

**Thursdays are long days, so i apologize for posting this a day late & for keeping you all waiting!! :)**

Yesterday was another great day!! We decided to go to one of our favorite restaurants in Kent, called Saya for lunch. It was Mom, Dad, Me, Ry, Auntie Sue, Uncle Pete, Auntie Charlene, Uncle Glenn, Auntie Momi & Marcel. Lunch was SO good as usual, filled with laughter & sharing stories.

After we were finished with lunch, we went to Uwajimaya because the other day when we went, they had no poi. Mom's favorite thing to eat & munch on all day long is poke & poi. That's one of her sure win staples...everyday. So she had run out the other day & was down to her last bowl & needed to replenish her supply & we found some.

As soon as we got her poi, we headed to her radiation appointment & it seemed like I caught every red light on the way there, which landed us at St. Joe's exactly at 2:30. We're typically about 20min early for her appointment, so I think that arriving on time for once was ok.

We all parted ways for a few hours & then we met up at halau for practice at 6:30. Typically after Thursday night practice, we go out to dinner & last night we went to IHOP so that Mom could have some french toast!

Today, we all decided to make no plans for the morning & to just sleep in. I'll be heading over shortly to take her to her appointment. I've already called her once though to see how she slept & how she was feeling & she was good & being "lazy lani." Tonight she's going to the Cecilio & Kapono concert with Dad, Auntie Charlene & Uncle. I'm going to send my small camera with her & hope that they remember to at least take ONE picture for the blog...perhaps even a picture with C&K. Dad asked if I wanted to go too, but I think she needs time without me "hovering" & spend time with just her good friends!!

Happy Aloha Friday!!


**At Saya trying to figure out what to have for lunch

**Mom, Auntie Sue & Auntie Charlene

Decided to change the picture on the heading today & thought that it would be neat to post them here, so we can look back on all the different ones!!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

I'm starting to think that if Mom is not using her glasses like she SHOULD BE, then i should make the font a little bigger..

Today was a great day again!!  Ry & I went by Mom & Dad's around 10:45 to pick them up & we were off to have sushi with Auntie Ami, Grandma Bea & Chandra at Sushi Revolution.  I'm not a sushi eater, but Mom ate a bunch of things off of the conveyor belt & Dad ate whatever we didn't want to finish. HA!  After we were done with lunch, we walked around Target & then headed for her radiation appointment where we met up with "the team."  I'm going to refer all of us who attend her treatments as "the team" from now on, because it's easier than writing out everyone's names!  "The Team" consists of me, Ry, Dad, Auntie Sue, Uncle Pete, Auntie Momi & Uncle Glenn.  So from here on out, you'll all know who I'm talking about when I say "the team."

While Mom was in the back for her radiation appointment, Uncle Pete went in the back to use the restroom & when he returned out to the waiting area, he looked at me & said "Mom's done with her radiation & is sitting back here in an office & wants you to come sit with her."  I was caught a little off guard & worried that something was wrong.  So I walked back there to find her waiting in a room & she was waiting for the dr to come in to check her vitals & ask how she was doing.  She has lost weight since last Monday (which is the day before the radiation started), but I will not disclose any numbers...it's not nice to do that!  :)  Her blood pressure was great!  And then he asked her how she was feeling...she said that she hasn't had a headache in a week & therefore hasn't taken any Tylenol since then either when she was taking about 8 a day.  She still has some dizzy spells when she gets up too fast, but none otherwise.  And then she is no longer coughing up any blood.

So if you ask me, something is going "right" at this point & I couldn't be happier.

He checked her breathing & her lungs & said that she sounded all clear & that was it!  I dropped her off at home to rest & met up with her later on at halau for practice.

All is well & today was another great day!!  I'm SO happy to see that this blog is getting out there & that so many folks are following in our journey!! I know that my Mom is loved...

**Sushi Revolution - Waiting for something ono to go by...

 

**Mom starting to dig in

**Pau eat & catching up with Auntie Ami & Grandma Bea

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Aloha everybody!!

I've had the idea about starting this blog for a few days & got Mom's permission yesterday to go ahead & start it, so here we are. I'm doing a few things to liven up the look, but it'll take me a few tries to get it right, so hang in there. I hope to change out the photo in the header at least once every few days. I tried to make a collage, but there are so many photos that I wanted to use & felt that I could just rotate them through every once in awhile.

Meanwhile, feel free to pass on this link to those that are wondering how Mom is doing. I will try my best to update daily on how she's feeling & am hoping that once in awhile she'll jump on & write from her point of view. On the right column there is a box that allows you to leave comments, prayers, love, etc if you'd like. Please leave your name & email address if you can, so that if she'd like to get a hold of you, she can do so! She will be reading this as well, so please write directly to her!!

Today, she completed her 6th day of radiation to her head area & her 4th day to her neck area. She will be having 15 radiation treatments to each area & then we will be going to see her oncologist again & getting more scans done. She hasn't taken a Tylenol in a week now & hasn't had a headache either, which to me sounds like the radiation treatments & steroid medication is working. Today is the first day that she complained of a sore throat as a result of the radiation to her neck & is drinking tea to help soothe it.

For today, she made plans to take Rylie to get her ears pierced. Kapua offered to take her to get it done, because I was too chicken to do it. So today we (Mom, Dad, Ry & I) met with Uncle Glenn, Auntie Momi, Auntie Sue, Kapua & Nanea at the Tacoma Mall. We had lunch in the food court, then headed to Claire's. Mom, Dad & Kapua stayed with Rylie the whole time while she got her ears done & I was told that she only let out 3 big cries & then she was fine. After Ry's ear piercing, Mom went to the donut shop to buy her techs (that do the radiation treatments) some donuts.

Mom's radiation appointment was at 2:30, but we arrived a little bit early & we were home by 3:10pm.

She had a good day today & continues to have a great spirit.

(<--sorry so blurry)


**Hoping this would distract Ry from knowing what was coming!

**If Ry get's a pretty headband, then Nanea should too!!

**Auntie Kapua holding on to Ry just before poking holes in her ears!

**Happy Ry with her new earrings!!

Tomorrow's agenda: Sushi lunch date!!