May 24

HELLLLLLOOOOOO! Sorry again for not posting lately! I haven't been on the computer much except for proofing. Things are going good here. Tumor markers are now down to 70.1! -----insert applause here------LOL! We still have no set date for the SCT (stem cell transplant) yet. I have been talking with the Nurses this week. They are in the process of getting things together. I will keep you all posted.
I can't believe school is out for the summer! Last September when I was diagnosed with cancer I wished the year would go fast as to get my through treatment. It sure has too. Now, I wish it would all slow down a bit! Today was a bittersweet day for me. It was my last day doing daycare. After 6 years of having great kids (and parents) coming to my house everyday it will feel strange and quiet around here. I planned a year ago to possibly quit in May of 2007 and do photography full time. I am just about booked now for the sessions I will be taking for the summer. I have had some real sweet sessions lately, but unfortunately don't have model releases to share, so I haven't been able to post them. I am needing to spend some time updating my photography website (www.photographybykasey.com). It has been about 1 1/2 years. I need to add more current photos. That just takes time, which was hard to find while doing daycare.
We are finally getting our downstairs bathroom redone. The tile in the shower is looking awesome. I love it. Now, I want to redo the upstairs like it! Those kind of projects just never end, do they?
Just a little note to also let you all know that little Daric is home and doing good! He did have to go to OKC after getting home from Alabama to have some fluid removed from his lung, but is doing good now. (I hope you don't mind me posting this MonaGayle, I just know many people were praying for him)
If I don't post much in the next week or so, I will just be busy! Swim practice starts next Tuesday and next Wednesday is Larson's first t-ball game. I am also hoping to have a garage sale soon, if I could just get in gear to get everything organized for it. I may work on that this weekend if it doesn't rain. Awwww, the list of things to do just keeps getting bigger and bigger (and I still haven't planted my new bushes out front yet!).
Until next time,
~Kasey

PS--I am not going to go back and check for typos and grammer so if it bothers you, just close your eyes LOLOLOL!

ROCK ON!

That's what my oncologist had to say to me today! Rock on!!!

Everything is looking great! There has been visible improvement in the bones and all organs are still clear! WHOOHOOO! Tumor markers are down to 78.2 now. Bloodwork has been fine. I don't have to see her until August. We had our meeting with the transplant team, but they thought I was through with chemo and were wanting me to start the process of the transplant now. They are only taking one person at a time for this clinical trial. However, I won't be through with chemo until the middle of July, so they will be starting another person now and I will be next in line, so we are still looking at August/September, which is what we were figuring. The clinical trial is in phase 2 right now. I will be getting the reports from phase 1 to check it out. I am guessing they have had a good response or it would not have made it to phase 2. There is a percentage of women who do real well with the transplant and are essentially "cured" (although with cancer that term is used pretty lightly as you all know, there is no CURE) and I am fitting in with that profile pretty good so far with my excellent response to chemo.
So, we have had a great visit here! We are still in Houston (I have chemo here in about 15 minutes!) and should be back some time tomorrow. Our flight out is at 11:30 am. I think we may stay in Tulsa for a bit and get some Mother's Day shopping (sorry Mom, your gift will be a tad late--but, ya know I love ya!) and some Birthday shopping for Raisa done. I can't believe my baby will be 11!! Time sure flies.
Need to head out, but couldn't wait to share the good news!

~Kasey

Forrest Gump Dies....

The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself. However, the gates are closed and Forrest approaches the Gatekeeper. St. Peter says, "Well, Forrest, it's certainly good to see you. We've heard a lot about you. I must tell you though, that the place is filling up fast, and so we've been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven"
Forrest responds, "It shor is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever tolt me about any entrance exam. Shor hope the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was."
St. Peter goes on, "Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.
First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T? Second: How many seconds are there in a year? Third: What is God's first name?"
Forrest leaves to think the questions over. He returns the next day and sees St. Peter who waves him up and says, "Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers."
Forrest says, "Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begin with the letter "T"? Shucks, that one's easy. That'd be Today and Tomorrow.
The Saint's eyes open wide and he exclaims, "Forrest, that's not quite what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I didn't specify, so I'll give you credit for that answer. How about the next one?" asks St. Peter?
"How many seconds in a year?"
"Now that one's harder," says Forrest, "but I thunk and thunk about that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve."
Astounded, St. Peter says, "Twelve? Twelve!? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?"
Forrest says "Shucks, there's gotta be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd ...... "
"Hold it," interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you're going with this, and I see your point, though again that wasn't quite what I had in mind. But I'll have to give you credit for that one too. Let's go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's first name"?
"Sure" Forrest replied, "its Andy."
"Andy?!" exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St. Peter. "OK, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?"
"Shucks, that was the easiest one of all," Forrest replied. "I learnt it from the song. "ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN. . . "
St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates and said: "Run Forrest, run."

Off to Houston

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we are leaving for Houston again on Wednesday afternoon. I have scans all day Thursday and we are meeting with my transplant Doctor and Oncologist Friday. I have had several people asking me about the stem cell transplant. It is called an "autologous stem cell transplant ". It is basically the same as a bone marrow transplant, except they will be taking my stem cells from the blood instead of the marrow. I will be on medication several days prior to the "harvesting or rescuing" of my stem cells that will push the stem cells out of the marrow into the bloodstream. Then, they will collect them, smack me with an extremely high dose of chemo that will kill all the cells and marrow in me. Then, they will "transplant" my own stem cells back into me. Then I wait in the hospital while my body recouperates and starts to rebuilt the red and white blood cells. I vaguely remember them also talking about whole body radiation also, right before or after the chemo. We will find out more this week. I hope that darn weather cooperates and we get to leave on time. I think our flight is at 7:30 tomorrow evening or somewhere around that. We will be home Saturday. I want to send out a special prayer to my little friend, Daric Voss, who is 4, and just had open heart surgery yesterday in Alabama. May God look after him and comfort him and his parents (you and your family are so special MonaGayle--I just love you all!!). Take care and I will post again this weekend or before with our scan results and any new info!
~Kasey

Insurance Approval!

Our insurance company has FINALLY approved the stem cell transpant! We received final approval yesterday. They declined it first go around, but we, along with M.D. Anderson and Acme/Magic Circle appealed it and won! They are wanting me to meet back with my transplant Doctor (Dr. Ueno--pronounced Way-no) along with my Oncologist, Dr. Green next week in Houston. I will have to have the pre transplant tests done again (heart and lung tests). I passed these with flying colors a few months ago. Hopefully, they will be able to schedule them all next week when we are back in Houston. I love M.D. Anderson. I love how they handle everything for you. We will also start our search for an apartment to rent the 2 months we are down there. Hopefully, that won't be too hard! I have still been feeling good, just real tired. I am glad the weather has finally warmed up though! I have a bunch of new plants to get planted outside, if it would just stop raining now hahaha!
You all take care and Happy May Day!
~Kasey