Aloha!

What an AMAZING trip we had! It was truly the BEST vacation we have ever taken. Maui was just so beautiful! The water really was as blue as it is in photos. We got back into town yesterday around 3:00. We left Hawaii Tuesday evening at 8:45 (their time, which is 5 hours earlier than it is here) and we stopped in LA at 4:20am and Denver before finally getting into Tulsa at 12:45 pm. I have so many photos to share! I think I will just put them into a gallery on my website and post the link here. I should have a chance this evening to go through them. I will post more about the trip and what all we saw and did later today or tomorrow.
~Kasey

*Howie & Maggie*

Meet our two new furry additions to our family! This is Howie (the orange one) and Maggie (the calico). Howie is pretty ornery and Maggie is pretty cautious, yet sweet.
Just taking some time from packing (ok, I have spent WAY more time packing my camera gear than my clothes LOL!)
Anyway, enjoy the photo of our new cute kittens!

ALOHA!
Kasey

HAWAII!!!

HERE WE COME! We are taking a MUCH needed relaxing trip to Hawaii! We are leaving next Wednesday for 6 days in paradise on the island of MAUI! We told the kids last night and they are so thrilled! We are going to go snorkling at Molokini, go to the top of a volcano, go to some luau's, body surf (remember how Larson is the next Laird Hamilton lol!), rent some bikes, eat great Polynesian and Hawaiian food, and just HAVE FUN! We rented a convertible for the week (ya, baby!), so we will be able to take off and drive around the island. We are staying at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa on the beach of Ka'anapali. There at the hotel they have "Camp Hyatt" where the kids can go one evening from 6-10 and learn how to make lei's and hula and all about their culture, while Mom and Dad can go try all the nice tropical drinks at beach side bar ahhhhhhh! Paradise!
Be ready for LOTS of photos when we get back!
~Kasey

Happy Mother's Day!

To all you great Mother's out there, Happy Mother's Day!

I am embarrassed I have not had time to post on this blog at all in the last month. It has been crazy busy now and I have been trying to keep my other 2 blogs current. Larson has finished soccer and has started t-ball. Raisa is gearing up for swimming and graduating from Holy Name and (gasp!) getting ready to start Junior High! I can't believe it! Where did my baby girl in pigtail and braids go??? Larson will be graduating from Kindergarten next week.
Next week is also Raisa's birthday. We took her and 2 of her best friends to Tulsa and we stayed at the Radisson that has "Leapin' Louie's Lagoon" in it. They had a blast. Then, we took them ice skating Saturday with lunch at Joe's Crab Shack and then shopping. (Oh, and a trip to Maggie Moos Friday night, how could I forget that!)
Kevin is happy it is warming up for some golf! He plays in the mens league at the Country Club and we will do couples golf on Fridays when we have the chance. That is always fun! That's it for now. Everything has been going real well!!
~Kasey

The Lord's Prayer

Never too young to pray.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR4PQ30VkBk

Check out her version of "Amazing Grace" too!!

Economic Stimulus Program????

(Email from my DH!)

Just to let you know, Kasey…

I feel it is my duty as an American citizen to invest our stimulus rebate from the government of the United States into the economy as soon as possible.

I am only doing this in hopes of steering this “recession” away from a possible “depression”.

So, being the upstanding citizen that I am, I have chosen to make a donation to the used recreational vehicle peddlers.

No, no….don’t applaud me just yet. It gets even better…In return, we will be receiving this great token of his appreciation!!!

(see attached photo)


How can anyone not love this country!!!!!!! Together we can all do it…and this is my part.

Aren’t you just proud to be an American??? (Can you hear that song in the background?...I can!!)

(OK…you can applaud your patriotic husband now)


HAHA! Can you tell this has been a hot topic with us lol!
Him: I want a new golf cart
Me: You have a golf cart
Him: But I want new one
Me: You don't need a new one, the one you have is fine
Him: But it doen't have this....and that....blah blah
Me: It doesn't need this and that blah blah BLAH

Well, I guess I lost this one LOLOL!
I guess I better find out what I can do to stimulate the economy.........hmmm........a cruise is looking pretty good......

CAT scan results

ALL CLEAR!

Update on Terri---she came home from Houston yesterday and stopped by my house last evening. She is doing GREAT! Her seisuze meds got messed up and threw her into a series of seizures. She is talking and walking better than I have seen her do since last March--PRAISE GOD!!!!

What a great week!

~Kasey

Back from Houston

What a busy last few days we have had.
First the good news! My scans have still came back clear (well, the bone scan, we are stil waiting to hear about the ct, but I am sure it will be fine as usual as the tumor markers have remained the same).
I got to meet some lovely, GREAT, women while I was there who are going through the same trial I am in (remember, I am patient #1, or NUMERO UNO I would like to be referred to as in this trial lol!)
I met patient #3 (well, our husbands met first as we were both having scans at the same time). We went out for a nice dinner together at Pappadoux Seafood Restrauant. We spent about 3 hours there just talking. She has 4 CUTE kids ranging in age from 4-18.
I met patient #7 (or 8??) who is in the hospital now. I got to spend an hour talking with her. She is the exact same age as I am.
I met patient #9 for breakfast this morning (well, they were running a tad behind, so we actually ate while waiting hehe!) She is getting ready to be admitted tonight or tomorrow to the hospital to start her transplant.
AMAZING women!!! I am so happy to have had the chance to meet with them.

Now, for some not so great news. My friend, Terri Hill, just happened to have her follow up scans down there at the same time I was down there (she is my friend with the brain tumor). She flew down there with her husband and son, Jacie. This was Jacie's first trip down there. He wanted to see where Mom goes to the Doctor at. Well, she went in for her MRI yesterday and started to have a seizure. Then another, then another. One right after the other. They had to intubate and sedate her. We met up with her husband and son early yesterday evening. We took Jacie with us at that time (what a sweet kid he is! He even sat through the 3 hour dinner at Pappadoux's without complaining!) He stayed with us at our hotel last night. We took him to go see his Mom and Dad today. Terri was still intubated. I think it was pretty upsetting for him to see his Mom like that. He just wanted to come home, so we brought him home with us on our flight home tonight and took him to his Grandma's house. Please keep them all in your prayers. I hate to see them have to go through this.

So, we had a pretty busy last few days! I am just so THANKFUL to God right now for my clean scans. I don't have to go back for 3 more months. I hope to spend most of that time not even thinking about cancer. It has consumed too much of my life the last year and half as it is.

Time to get back to living!

~Kasey

Sweet Cathy...

I heard the news today. It came out of nowhere.
I wish I could run away,
but where would I go?
Is this my destiny? Something so unfair... What will become of me?
God only knows.

And they say the road to heaven might lead us back through hell.
Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, we will win this fight and bury this sorrow.
We're so alive, still holding on, not ready to die, so we LIVESTRONG.

My pride is left for dead, as my world gets shaken.
The thoughts inside my head are so hard to control.
I am staring down the unknown, but one thing is certain.
You could break my body, but you will never break my soul.

And they say the road to heaven might leads us back through hell, but we're holding on for more
than stories to tell.

Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, we will win this fight and bury this sorrow.
We're so alive, still holding on, not ready to die, so we LIVESTRONG.

You will be missed dear, sweet Cathy. Rest with Peace. Thank you for everything.
My heart is heavy tonight.
~Kasey

March 28, 2008

Well, spring break is over (how sad!). I hope you all had a great time. I have heard from several of you that you enjoyed time down in Branson, as did we. We rented a cabin and while Silver Dollar City was not open at the time we went, we did enjoy some shopping at the craft and outlet malls, and at Branson Landing. We played some mini golf, ate great food and all around had a great time. I really enjoyed all my family being here!
Larson has started back up in Soccer and will start t-ball soon. Kevin's golf league has started back up. Raisa is getting ready to start preparing for swim season. I am getting ready to photograph 115 kids in the next week and a half! Yep, busy time of year!
We are leaving for Houston Sunday again (we have been to the airport 4 times in the last 2 weeks, what's one more!) I can't believe 3 months have went by. I will post next Thursday when we get back! Please keep us in you prayers! Thanks!!!!

~Kasey

(Here is a quick snap of me and my Mom, Dad, brother Mark and sister Corinne)

A Great Day!

Today we go pick up my Mom, Dad and Mark at the airport! They will spend Spring Break with us. We rented a cabin in Branson for the weekend. Then, on Tuesday, we get to go pick up my sister at the airport! They will all stay for Easter. The kids are SOOOOOO excited. My Mom hasn't been here in a couple of years, my sister for 6 years (she came when Larson was born) and my Dad and Mark for almost 18 years!!
So, I don't think I will post much these next couple of weeks. I may post some photos though!
You all have a GREAT Spring Break and a HAPPY EASTER!
~Kasey

An Easter funny!

My family and I have been LAUGHING for a few years over these chocolate bunnies!

Can't Resist!

I was going to post this on my photography blog, but I really try to keep my kids off of that blog. So, this is another "Mommy post" here, well and a "Grandma and Grandpa" post (who, by they way are coming here for a visit during Spring Break----YA! I can't wait!)
I just love this photo of Raisa with her "new do".

Best Tax Lady!!

I have seriously got the BEST tax lady! If anyone is looking for a great, knowledgable tax person, call Debbie Collins at H&R Block!! She has been doing my taxes for both of my businesses for the past 6 years. She is not only great at taxes, but an all around great person. I just had to give a little shout out about her!
~Kasey

Wanted......

We are looking for a new kitten to join our family! Does anyone have any kittens they are looking to get rid of or know of anyone with some kittens? Or even a cat getting ready to have some kittens?? Please email me, call me at 251-8546 or reply to this post! We would like one soon. It has been too quite without Grady. We all miss him and think a new little kitten around here will spice things up a bit. So, please if you hear of anyone, let us know!
Thanks!!!!
~Kasey

Daddy's Girl

I think Raisa got 2 years older this weekend or something! Isn't she PRETTY!! (Ok, I am very biased haha, and as her Mother, I should be!) Amazing how much a new hairstlye can change her! Her and her Daddy enjoyed a great evening at the Daddy/Daughter ball tonight while Larson and I dined at McDonalds (his choice of restruants!) and played Battleship, Scrabble and Hi-Ho Cherry-O.

Whose that girl?

I may regret this one day, but here I am! My daughter, while helping me set up for a shoot today took this. I was teaching her the difference in broad lighting and short lighting and other "tools of the trade!"

With a heavy heart....

We had to say goodbye to our dear, sweet cat of 19 1/2 years~~Grady Drake. He will be missed so much!

Happy Valentine's Day!

~Kasey

Sick, Sick....

I am sick of being sick! I went to the Doctor on Monday and tested positive for influenza. Yuck! I haven't had the flu in years. We have just passed it from one to the other here. Raisa had it first, then Kevin, now I, and Larson is showing the first signs of it now (hopefully starting him on Tamiflu now will help!). There are so many nasty bugs going around now. I hope you all have been staying well! I am officially ready for Spring!
~Kasey

Expelled-The Movie

Have any of you heard of this movie coming out this Spring? Here is the movie trailer:

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playgroundvideo3.swf

Sounds interesting. I have never doubted we are all a work of God. Maybe sience can prove it after all? Maybe it is never meant to be proven, just believed.
What do you all think of this movie? Worth seeing?

Snow Day!

Wow! Don't you all just love how pretty all this snow is! I had some fun outside with the kids for awhile. Larson was too busy "working" to take photos, plus, poor kid was embarrased about his purple gloves lol! We couldn't find his, so it was his sisters or nothing! I am not a fan of selective coloring in a photo AT ALL, but darnit, every once in awhile you find a photo that looks ok with it. The kids went to a friends house after this and went sledding and snowboarding. They had a blast! I am just lovin' all this snow!

BUSY BUSY!

And lovin' it!
http://photographybykasey.blogspot.com/

Cha...Cha....Cha....

CHIA!

I finally found SOMETHING I can grow!

Blogapalooza!

Raisa started her own blog! I wasn't going to post it on here, but she talked me into it. She has been having alot of fun with it. I also helped one of her friends with hers. TOO FUN!!
http://i-friendz.blogspot.com/

Happy Feet

Two girls with way too much time on their hands LOL!

Larson's Valentine

Since I shared his sister's Valentine, Larson wanted me to share his too!

Back to Work!

And it feels SOOOOO good! I had an awesome session tonight with a little one year old. I will be posting a few sneak peaks on my photography blog http://www.photographybykasey.blogspot.com/

That is going to be one hard session to narrow down!

Here are a couple of my kids while messing around yesterday.

My Girl....and a thank you!

Here is my girl.......who actually wanted me to take some photos of her! I was messing around with a new Orchid backdrop I just got. Isn't it puuuuurdy! I have several one year olds coming for sessions this month and I think it will soon become a favorite of mine!

Actually, we used this photo to make up her Valentine cards! Here it is, along with another one of her best friend.

I am going back to work this week and am SO looking foreward to it! I will still post on this blog, however, I am trying to get my life back to normal now and not think of "cancer" too often. So, since we won't be going for any new scans or anything for 3 months and I am feeling GREAT, there won't be many medical updates. I want to thank everyone so much for all the support!!!!!!!!!!! Your prayers and thoughts have brought me to tears many times! They will NEVER be forgotten. I am such a different person now because of it. I am very blessed!

~Kasey

SCAN RESULTS

PET/CT scan-----No evidence of active cancer!
Nuclear Bone Scan-----No evidence of active cancer!
Chest XRay----Negative!

All scans still clear!

Dr. Ueno was real pleased how everything is going. My blood counts are still a tad low, but the Neutrophil Absolute Count is looking good. White count is still down a bit at 3.2.

Tumor markers are down to 44!!!! (Remember what I started with a year ago!) Normal is 35, but the Dr. said they are usually the last thing to creep down and they are still headed in the right direction.

So, we had a VERY good and short visit. I don't have to go back for 3 months. I will go back every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months for 2 years, then yearly (and boy am I looking foreward to that!). I am going to have my central line taken out here tomorrow. I will probably have a power port put in later in the Spring (they can do blood draws and infusions through this), however, my Dr. is trying to talk me out of it, so that is up in the air.

That all for now! Thanks for reading and sharing in my good news (and for the prayers)!

~Kasey

Off to Houston!

We leave for Houston tonight (not sure exactly what time our flight is--maybe around 7:30?). I can't believe it has been 2 months already! I will have scans on Tuesday, but we won't know results until Wednesday when we meet with my Doctor. We will fly home Wednesday night. I will post either Wednesday night or Thurday how it all went! Please keep us in your prayers!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Kasey

Here are a few snapshots from Christmas of the kids, Kevin and I and also a couple of Raisa's New Years Eve Party. Talk with you all soon!

~Happy New Year!~

Just having a little fun in PhotoShop! I hope everyone has a very happy new year! 8 is my favorite, lucky number, so I am thinking I will LOVE 2008!

We go back to Houston next Monday for scans on Tuesday and a visit with my stem cell Doctor on Wednesday. We will fly home Wednesday night. Just a quick visit!

I have been gearing up to start back to work in another week and a half. I am so excited! I will post some images from sessions on my Photography blog--
http://photographybykasey.blogspot.com/
So, be sure to start checking it out in a couple of weeks!

I have photos from Raisa's new year's eve party, but they are still on the cf card. I guess I am too lazy today to download them haha! We gave Raisa a digital camera for Christmas---I can't wait to see what she comes up with! So far, lots of photos of friends and her hamster. Speaking of the hamster, how many of you out there have kids with them? Do you know the feeling when they come up to you and say "Uhhhhh, MOM, I CAN'T FIND MY HAMSTER!". Ya, heard that tonight LOL! Luckily, we finally found it in a closet upstairs, where, coincidentally, we also keep his food!! Lesson learned for her. Now, in her defense, she has had a hamster since she was 9. (Her first one lived for 2 1/2 years). This is the first time this has happened. I hope the last haha!

You all have a great week and a HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!

~Kasey

Merry Christmas!

RIP

RIP 'ol red! They finally totaled it out yesterday. Kevin went today and removed the all weather mats and the cordless headphones for the rear seat audio.

On the bright side though, we have found a new one! Same Salsa Red Pearl color too! It is in Lawrence, so we will be going up there next week after Christmas to pick it up. It will have more options than my old one too---navigation, moonroof, dvd, heated leather seats, etc. I will post a photo of my new one when we get it.

Just had to post the last photos of my van. I am still so thankful we all walked away from this without even a scratch on us. Thank God!

~Kasey

mmm...Recipes

Here is a great blog for some new recipes! I love the step by step photos! Those muffins on the first page look DELISH! I may have to try those!

http://thepioneerwomancooks.com/


I finally took some photos of our Christmas trees, nothing to spectacular, but thought I would share!


Our main tree, in the living room:




Dining room tree:

Larson's tree:

And, Raisa's tree:

~Nutcracker Parade~

What do I see when I walk into the family room? Why a nutcracker parade put on by my very own Larson! Lol, just had to share!

All is still good here! My bloodwork continues to rise and looks good. I am feeling great. I think I am ready to get back to WORK!!! So, for those of you on my list, I am going to start taking appointments after the first of the year! YA! I go back to Houston January 7-9 for scans. I will start sessions after that. I will only take a limited amount of appointments, as I cannot get stressed right now.

For those of you wondering where my van has been, it is sitting in the Toyota Collision Repair Center in Tulsa. Kevin and I were in a pretty good wreck down in Tulsa last week. Thank God for airbags and seatbelts (and some guardian angels!!). It was hard seeing my van all crushed up. I loved that van! I custom ordered it! Now, I have to find a new one, and you can bet it will look just like my other one! We will have to drive a bit to get one (Kansas City maybe?), but I will find just what I want. I am just glad everyone was alright and the kids were not with us. The driver of the other car was taken to the hospital, but was released that night and is ok.

That's all that's new here! I hope all of you are doing well and getting to enjoy the Christmas Season!

~Kasey

MRI result

I have known the results of this for almost a week, but did not have the actual report in my hands, so I didn't want to post yet.

Today, we saw the Doctor here and I got a copy of it. I am just so thrilled and happy I cannot describe it. Under the "Impression" it had 2 words----NORMAL EXAM. Everything in it was Normal, Normal, Normal. That's it!

Life is good!

~Kasey

Christmas Photos????

So, I take the kids out to try and get their Christmas photos---what a chore lol! This photo about sums it up!! (And those who know my kids will so get this!!! My kids are like night and day lol!)

Larson, trying his BEST to look so nice (ok, trying a bit too hard!) and Raisa, who could care less, trying to figure out WHY Larson would be trying so hard HA! One aims to please, the other, WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.......

Alright, in all fairness, they did take some good individual photos! That above photo just CRACKS ME UP! I am seriously considering getting it in about a 20x24 to put on my wall! Shoot, who needs all perfectly posed photos---we know that is so not them together haha!
Here are a couple of their individual photos:

Here is a collage with both of them---see, no posed photo with these two! I guess that's what I get for wanting a nice, posed photo with both of them looking at me and smiling and pretending like they are so happy and loving and just the perfect kids! I guess they are the perfect kids, in their own ways!

Monday, November 19

I know, I know, I am sorry for not updating sooner, but remember, no news is good news! We have been home for a week now and have been enjoying every minute of it! I did come down with a cold and had to be put back on my Neupegen shots (the one in the stomach), but nothing serious came of it and it is gone now. I had the MRI on Saturday, so that's done. I will know the results later this week. Medically, that's about it. I am doing really well. The fatigue is getting much better every day. I can drive now. I am just needing to advoid crowds, but I am able to go to Wal Mart when they aren't so busy. We went to the mall in Bartlesville last Friday. It is nice to get out.

I have been keeping busy making Christmas Ornaments. Here are a few that I have done:

The kids and I are going to make some dough ornaments and paint them today. We are turning what used to be the daycare tree in the dining room to their "homemade ornament tree". I am excited about Christmas, can ya tell??? I can't wait to do some more Christmas shopping. I am going to have to order online more this year than in the past (just to advoid those crowds!). If any of you are struggling for a gift for someone, check out this site---it is my new favorite! Be sure to check her archives, as there are MANY gift ideas there too (and if you check out her monthly freebies, there is a coupon to print out for a free shake at Arby's!) Here is the link: http://katyshops.wordpress.com/ Enjoy!

HAPPY THANKSGINVING TO ALL OF YOU!

~Kasey

I take that back...THIS

IS WHAT I HAVE WAITED FOR................................

A personal call from from my stem cell Doctor on my cell on the way home yesterday, just to tell me how excited he was. He had just received a personal call from the radiologist who was reading all my scans I had Wed. and Thurs. (which they ususally don't do), but she was amazed. All my scans are 100% CLEAR!! My Doctor used the word "FANTASTIC!" like 4 times.

WHOOOOHOOOO!

So, was the past 2 months worth it?? YOU BET!

We are home now, and will be until January. My Doctor is coordinating care with Coffeyville so I can have my blood counts monitored here. He is also going order an MRI of the pelvis. NOT because they found anything suspicious that needs further scanning, just thoe opposite (and I verified that with him several times!). My scans were SO good, they want to get a baseline MRI done now.

Just sharing my great news!

Thanks for reading it!

~Kasey

What I have waited for!

I got released from my Doctor today!!!!!

I have to have a PET scan tomorrow, but we are free to leave Houston after that. We have our apartment until Friday, so our plans are to leave Friday morning to head back to C'ville. We won't have to come back to Houston until January. I will have to have my bloodwork monitored in C'ville and my Doctor here in Houston will be working with the Doctor there so I can receive any medication or transfusions at home, if needed. I also still need to advoid big crowds and wear a mask if I am around too many people for a few more weeks, but that is a small price to pay for coming HOME!

SEE YA ALL THIS WEEKEND!

~Kasey

Monday, Nov. 5th

We're back in Houston. We had a great weekend with the kids!!! And those of you we got to see, it was great to see you. We left C'ville a little after noon on Sunday, and we got to our apartment at a little past 11 pm. The drive was long, but went well.

The cast and crew of "The Sound of Music" did an outstanding job. Raisa enjoyed it so much. Thanks to Grandma, Grandpa, Brittany, and Kari Vannoster for making sure she was always at practice when she needed to be, and got home OK.

Larson won their soccer game Saturday. He played great!! Glad we got to see it.

Kasey's bloodwork today showed low hemoglobin (red cells), so we go back tonight at 6:30 for a blood transfusion. Other than that, all is good. Her nurse said she didn't see any reason for us to not go home this week.

Kasey will see Dr. Ueno on Wednesday, so we should know then for sure. (As in the words of our great leader: Dr Ueno is "the decider".)

Kasey doesn't have any appointments for Tuesday, so maybe we'll sleep in for a change!!

So, we'll post Wednesday what we find out!!

Kevin

Wednesday, Oct. 31st

Happy Halloween!!!

Kasey got a Neupogen shot last night to boost her white count.

Her platelets are recovering on their own, but she's getting a dose of them as I type this...just to be safe. But the nurse has seen what she wanted to see...a trend upwards.

White count................................5.3 (up from 1.1)

Absolute Neutrophil count.......4.2 (up from 0.41)

Platelet count.............................13 (up from 11)

Chance of being home late, late tonight......100%

Thanks.

Kevin

Monday, Oct. 29th

Platelet count today was 10...oops. But, Nurse Jill decided to wait until tomorrow to see what happens with the counts. If platelets go lower, Kasey will get platelets. If they stay the same or go up, she will probably wait one more day.

But, she says Kasey can more than likely come home for the weekend. She will load Kasey up on platelets before wo leave Houston. We will have to drive...no plane rides with low counts. So we should be back to see the play and the soccer game. We will probably drive home Thursday, and drive back to Houston on Sunday. We'll see how it all plays out.

Should know more tomorrow!!

Kevin

Sunday, Oct. 28th (Day +25)

Hello to everyone. Things are going good here...just ready to go home!!!

Kasey's APN said our best chance at coming home next weekend would be for Kasey's platelet counts to recover. Platelets are typically the last blood component to recover. So Kasey's job for the weekend was to make platelets.

Friday, the count was 14. Orders for the weekend were: if platelet count stayed above 10, she would not receive platelets via IV. If count was 10 or below, she would have to get them. If she has to get platelets, it stalls us for a few days because they can't really see what she is doing on her own.

Since nothing can be simple, here is another twist: When Kasey's white cells recover and begin producing on their own, this causes the platelet count to bottom out for 3 days.

Saturday, the platelet count dropped to 11. So she did not have to get platelets. We went back today (Sunday), and the counts were 11 again...praise God!! Tomorrow they will either be the same, or they will be higher. (Sorry for all the "counts" mumbo-jumbo... hope it's not confusing)

Kasey feels good, but gets tired so easily. It will probably take months to get all her strength back. She says hi to all of you, and thanks for all the prayers, thoughts, and comments.

Kevin

Thursday, Oct. 25th

Kasey was released to go to the apartment yesterday!!! She was SO glad. She had an appointment with "Fast Track" this morning. Fast track is the outpatient system they have for daily blood tests.

She went in early for blood draws, and a couple hours later we met with a nurse practitioner. She went over the results with us. Her counts were looking OK. White cells are at 1.9 now. She wants Kasey to come back tomorrow for bloodwork again without giving her any whole blood or platelets. That way she can see exactly what Kasey's body is doing on its own.

Kasey feels good. She just gets tired really easy.

Thanks for checking on us, and hopefully tomorrow we will have an idea of what the next week will be like.

Kevin

Tuesday, Day +20

Hellllllllloooooooooo! I am finally feeling well enough to post (and put up with this hit and miss wi-fi). All is going as planned, just a bit slower than planned. I am waiting for my Doctor to come in today to see if we are still on for getting out tomorrow. I HOPE!! Tomorrow will be the 4 week mark for me being in the hospital. Blah. My white count is now up to 1.1 and my neutrophil absolute count (which is one the Doctor's like to watch) is at .74, which is good. There has been a definite upward trend. I received platelets yesterday and broke out in hives from that, but was fine after a dose of Benedryl.

The Doctor was just in........................I GET OUT TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YA!
I am so happy! Now, this just means I get released from the hospital, not from Houston. We will meet with my stem cell Doctor soon after release to discuss how many more weeks to stay in Houston. I am still going to do everything I can to get back in time for the play. I am still aprehensive about being around others, just due to germs. I am so ready to get back to Coffeyville. I am receiving blood right now, hopefully, this will be the last of that too!

I want to thank some of you for the great emails telling me about my kids! I hope you don't mind me sharing!
Here is one:
Kasey & Kevin,
I just had to share a "sweet moment" with you. After lunch at school the other day, Courtney was prayer leader. Her request for prayer was for "Kasey Hoggatt". I was standing at Larson and Kyle's table. I glanced Larson's direction to see his reaction and he caught my eye with the biggest grin on his face!

Thank you for the posts on my blog telling me about them too! I miss them!!!

Thanks it for now. I think I will order me some room service and start getting things ready to leave here tomorrow.

LOVE YA ALL!
~Kasey

Sunday, Oct. 21st (Day +18)

White count at 0.5 (up from 0.4). Not much of a climb, but it is going the right way. Kasey is SO ready to get out of here!!! She's feeling good for the most part. She gets tired easily.

Most of all, she is worried about not getting back home in time to see "The Sound of Music", starring Miss Raisa Hoggatt. We also have not seen Larson play a soccer game yet (we hear he's pretty good). We are praying to get home by Nov. 3rd so we can see both. If Kasey ever goes AWOL, that will be the weekend it happens!!

eW yam evah ot kaens kcab taht dnekeew.

Kevin

Friday Oct. 19th (Day +16)

Seems like day +942!!!

But, things are improving. Kasey's white counts are up to 0.4 (up from 0.2 the last two days). The pain in the abdomen is gone, the fever is gone, and she's on a soft food diet. The doctors are pleased, and said she may get out of here early next week.

Kasey is feeling and looking good. Yesterday her doctors cleared her to leave this floor, so we wandered around the hospital for awhile. Now that I know every square inch of this hospital, I had a few cool things to show her.

This hospital doesn't seem like a hospital at all. They offer valet parking. Patient and guest meals are are called "Room Service", and you order by phone anytime you want between 5:00 am - 9:30 pm. Meals are delivered by men in tuxedos.

The entire hospital is a Wi-Fi spot, but there are also areas that provide P.C.'s for patient and guest usage. One such place is called the "Cyber Center", with computers with internet access, printers, fax machines and copiers...just for patients and guests. You can also choose from about 1,000 movies (VHS or DVD) to borrow. (Patient rooms are equipped with VCR's or DVD players)

M.D. Anderson is comprised of two buildings, the "Main" building and the "Mays Clinic". They are about 3 city blocks apart, but are connected by climate-controlled overhead corridors. And if the walk is too far, they provide golf cart limos that will take you back and forth.

They have Chik-Fil-A and Starbucks, or at the cafeterias you can get BBQ, pizza, burgers and fries, soups and salads, sandwiches and sushi.

Well, we hope you all have a great weekend.

Thanks for all the support. Your thoughts, prayers and actions have made this part of Kasey's journey possible, through the grace of our Heavenly Father.

Kevin

Wednesday, Oct. 17th (Day +14)

The day we have been waiting for. Kasey's white count went from 0.1 to o.2 (not a big move, but it moved)!!! The doctors say she looks great, and she has been placed on a clear liquids diet. They said not to expect big jumps in her counts. They will go up at their own pace.

She's tired today. Yesterday we walked altogether about an hour and 10 minutes...and she didn't walk like an old lady (no harm meant to any old ladies out there...lol)!!

Thanks again for the thoughts and prayers.

Until next time...

Kevin

Post #2

It's me again. I forgot to mention one good thing----I am an Aunt again! Donnie and Emmalee had another baby girl! Her name is Alyssa Naomi. She joins big sister Audry at home.

Kevin and I walked around for awhile today and right now I am getting a blood transfusion. My spirits are up some from this morning. I think I will leave the posting to Kevin for a bit!
~Kaseyy

A post from Kasey--Day +13

Just call me frustrated. I wasn't going to post yet, because I can't think of too many happy thoughts right now. I am just getting so FRUSTRATED!!!!! I was sure my counts would to up today. Nope. They are still not coming back. I am getting tired. I have not been able to eat or drink ANYTHING for a week now. I am losing between 1/2-1 lb a day now. They won't start me on any IV nutrition yet because I guess that has other side effects they don't want me having right now. So, I look up at my bag of saline, and know that is what is keeping me alive right now. This high dose chemo ate up the entire lining of my digestive system from the esophogus, stomach, intestines and bowels. I think it will take me a long time to ever feel like I want to eat again (if the Doctors ever let me haha).
It looks like we will be in Houston longer than we had planned. I just don't see getting back during October. I have been getting so bored. My pain meds make me tired, so I sleep as much as I can. Kevin is here during the day and we go for walks and talk. My concentration isn't here enough to play cards yet. The nursing staff here is great. There is also a Euchristic Minister that comes around every few days. While I can't take communion right now (due to the no food in mouth orders from Dr.) they do sit and pray with me.
That's it from me now,
I think I will sign this post from,
Frustrusted Kasey

Monday, Oct. 15th (Day +12)

We just got back from a walk around the transplant floor. The blood test results today show no counts rising yet. This is frustrating for Kasey, but it is still nothing to worry about. Every person is different. Some people don't see increase until day 20 or 21.

The Lord has guided us to this point, and faith tells us to stay the course... keeping our eyes focused on Him.

We are blessed to have family and friends like all of you. Thank you.

Kevin

Saturday, Oct. 13th (Day +10)

The last couple of days have been OK for Kasey. The counts are still down, so send some prayers for them to start going up. She feels good, but still can't eat or drink yet. She is strong, and continues to get out and walk every day. She's getting tired of these long days in here.

I can't believe it's already the middle of October! It's still hot here in Houston.

Kasey says hi, and thanks for reading.

Kevin

CT Scan Results (Day +7)

The CT scan report indicated an area of thickening in the bowel wall in one area. This is causing the pain. The team said this is another common side-effect of the chemo, and not to worry. They told her to not eat or drink for the next couple of days to keep the inflammation down. She is getting plenty through her IV. They want her to lay low and stay comfortable, and in a couple of days, her white counts will start to come up. When the counts start to go up, her body can begin to repair these irritated areas, and overall she will begin to feel better.

Kasey's fever spiked up last night to 104 degrees, but they quickly got it under control. She feels a little better today, just really tired. She asked the doctor when she can get out of here (and I immediately thought to myself: "That's my Kasey!!"). After the doctor chuckled a bit, he said to get through the next few days, then we can start thinking about that. He said she will be in here at least until early next week.

Kasey says hello to everyone, and thanks for the thoughts, prayers and posts.

Kevin

Tuesday, Oct. 9th (Day +6)

Yesterday, Kasey got platelets and a blood transfusion. She also started having some pain in her lower abdomen. She had a small fever also. They watched her real close overnight. The fever went away, but the pain got a little worse.

Today started with a walk around her wing after breakfast. Her counts were still low, so she got another blood transfusion. (I always thought a blood transfusion was replacing all your blood, but it's just a pint of blood given through the IV.) Her fever came back early this afternoon, and the abdominal pain got worse. They put her on a high dose of antibiotics, and ordered a CT scan of the abdomen. They want to rule out apendicitis, blockage, or anything else it could be. Fevers are real common after blood transfusions. And the abdominal pain may be from an area of inflammation in her bowels. The chemo destroyed the protective coating from the mouth all the way through the digestive tract. She has a mouth sore, and it could be a similar sore somewhere down the line.

She had the CT scan around 7:00 pm, but we won't know results until sometime tomorrow. Kasey is really struggling right now. She is in a lot of pain, but refuses pain meds because they make her so sick. It's just like a vicious loop.

So for all of you praying for her out there, send all you've got. Also, leave a comment and I will read them to her. That will help cheer her up.

Thanks.

Kevin

Sunday, Oct. 7th (Day +4)

Hello to everyone. Sorry for the lag in posting. It's been real hard for Kasey the last couple of days. Her counts are still going down. The chemo side effects are still lingering. The doctors are watching closely as usual,and they say this is what is expected for getting such strong chemo. They are happy with what they see. She is such a trooper. I am so proud of her.

Kevin

Friday, Oct. 5th (Day +2)

Things are going OK for Kasey. She gets tired easily, as her counts are slowly going down. But this is all expected, and everything is normal for being just two days after transplant.

She gets out of her room 2-3 times a day to go walking around her floor. When she leaves the room, she has to wear a gown, mask, and gloves. Whenever anyone enters her room, they must wear them also. Fortunately, I do not have to. (I am glad of that!!). I guess the husband gets special privileges.

Not much else to report, and at this point, no news is good news.

I do want to say hey to everyone at Magic.

Thanks for the continued thoughts and prayers.

Kevin

"Day Zero" Wednesday, Oct. 3rd

Finally, the day we have waited for...Stem Cell Transplant Day

It only took about 20 minutes. The SCT team came in and hooked up the IV bag containing the stem cells. (113 cc's of the finest, cleanest, cancer-free stem cells you would ever see!!!) They went in just like all the other IV fluids. When it was empty, they flushed the bag a couple of times to be sure she got every single cell. Then they were finished. That is that!!!

Kasey is doing well. Most of the nausea is gone, and she's getting tired of laying around. They say it will take approximately a week for the transplanted cells to find their home in the bones and start making new blood. She will be in the hospital maybe up to a week after that. So roughly 2 weeks and we can get back to the apartment.

Kasey says hello to everyone.

Thanks for reading.

Kevin

Monday, Oct.1st (Day -2)

This chemo has teeth!!!

Her last round of chemo was yesterday. She began to feel bad, well, soon after my last post on Saturday. The side-effects should subside by tomorrow evening. She just wants the next day or two to pass by quickly. She is still strong, and in good spirits.

Thanks for checking on us.

Kevin