My new yard

These are some photos of my new yard in the front of my condo. Joan Covec planted these lovely flowers to brighten up my house and get it all ready for Christmas time. Thank you, Joan. They are beautiful!

Suzy

Halloween Time 2009

Hi everyone,

While at the Mayo Clinic on Wednesday, my radiation doctor said that my head is healing very nicely and my oncologist/neurologist said that I can now drive - it's been since August 10th. Both of these doctors said that I currently am "disease free," and we will continue to monitor my head and body in the future. So that's the BEST news and needless to say, I am so very excited. We are also including a photo of this wonderful volkswagen bus that Rob and Mark saw at the clinic and they both loved it. We could not find the owners.

It's almost Halloween Time. I had planned to go to Madison to be with Henry and Charlie and David and Lolly, but my doctor decided that my white blood cells were too low and I should stay home so that I would not get sick. So I finally agreed, although it has been a very difficult decision. I had planned to be with them for "trick or treat" time. But I decided to put on my costume and send a photo, thus the giraffe!

Rob left yesterday for Vienna to meet up with Matthew. The boys were going to the Ambassador's house tonight for a Halloween party and they were going as two nuclear isotopes - plutonium and uranium. Much fun, I am sure.

The Covec's (Mark's parents) have been here and we have had several wonderful days with them. Mark and his dad left to head to Mark's boat in Mexico and his mom and I (mostly his mom) planted wonderful cyclamen red and white flowers in the front of my condo yesterday for the upcoming holidays. (Photo tomorrow)

So I have much to be grateful for - wonderful doctors, wonderful nurses, and the love and support of my incredible family and friends. I shall continue to be well and be careful of the flu and the other diseases that are available for a person of my compromised system. Thank you for your wonderful wishes, your love and your support.

Suzy

October 23, 2009

Hi everyone,

Today is already Friday and the week is almost gone. I don't know where the time goes!!!

I had my second chemotherapy treatment yesterday and my wonderful driver, Russ Ewers, took me to the Mayo Clinic for my appointment. He is the best and if any of you need to hire him, he is ready!!

The treatment went well - better than last time - as I was not so surprised this time. Following the treatment, I came home and even went to the Scottsdale Art Walk to hand out Polka Dog biscuits to interested art "walkers" and there were lots of them. It was a great night, but I was a little tired upon finishing. What we do for our children's businesss!!! But I was sure to tell everyone that we are now in the Anthropologie stores nationwide - everyone was very impressed! It's interesting that most people know of Anthropologie!

However, this morning I realized that my hair is, in fact, thinning out. A bummer, to say the least. I knew that it might, but now I realize that it is! I do have my old wig from before, but it's a little outdated, so maybe it's time for a new wig for Suzy. A long blond one?

Rob and Liz come to Phoenix tonight and I have many projects for us to do. Rob will then join Matt next week in Vienna to spend a few days with Matt prior to his coming back to the United States. Matt is actually traveling to Japan this week for a conference - I think it is his most eastern visit so far. What fun for him.

Our weather is so lovely here now. It really is the time to be in Phoenix and I am heading out for a walk as I write. It's great as I can walk to the bank, the drug store and even get a snack (ice cream) at McDonald's. But don't tell anyone that!

Rob will be working on the blog tomorrow - he always has such fun things to say and a wonderful way to say everything.
We will also post some photos - I think I am doing pretty well - still having a little trouble standing on that one foot, eyes closed, but...

Thank you again to everyone. You make each day fun to be alive and I especially wish to thank my most incredible children, David, Rob, Rebecca, and Matt for calling and emailing me each and every day. Their voices and words make the happiest of all.
Suzy

Anthropologie - The Polka Dog Bakery has arrived

Saturday, October 17

Hi everyone,

I am somewhat behind as I always am, it seems. Thursday morning I had my first chemotherapy infusion into my new PORT. I did go to the chemo unit at Mayo Clinic early on Thursday, but my PORT didn't want to work that early. So the gals had to put some medicine into it to make it work. The doctor had placed it correctly, but because it was new and this was the first time, the PORT needed to be coaxed, I guess. Anyway it did work - and the result is that I don't feel too bad. A little tired, but not too bad. So each Thursday I shall have a shot and hopefully this new type of chemo will allow me more time with my family and my friends.

I do want you all to know that my son and his business partner have gotten their biscuits into Anthropologie now, so all of you who have dogs need to take a trip to Anthropologie to pick up one of their 5 gallon cans of Polka Dog biscuits. (I will post a photo for you also.) They are truly great and your doggies will love them.

My sister has been here for a few days and we are getting many errands done that needed to be completed, as well as going to the store for goodies. She will leave on Sunday this week. It has been nice to have her here with me.

Thank you again for all of your good wishes. I am still at home, hoping to see my little Henry and Charlie for Halloween. Then perhaps back to work in early November. But first, Rob, Liz, Rebecca, Mark and his parents may come to see me. So there's lots happening here. It's a great time to visit Arizona when all of the other parts of the country are so cold. Rob also has a trip planned to visit Matt in Vienna while Matt is still there. David and Lolly are working hard and David will get his asthma devices very soon. We are all very excited!

So as you can see - we are hardly missing a BEAT! Thank you once again for your calls, your cards, and your thoughts and prayers. I shall forge ahead and hopefully this new chemo will also agree with me.

Love, Suzy

My little boys

I want you all to meet Henry and Charlie. Henry and Charlie and their mom, Lolly and David, my son, have just come back from a wonderful hiking vacation to Colorado. Henry is 5 and attends Wingra School for kindergarten and Charlie just turned 3 and attends The Meeting House. They stopped in Kansas to visit with our 101 year old grandma, who looks much better than me! The boys had a great time hiking and climbing over some very heavy rocks! They loved every minute of it!!!

This photo is of the boys playing in the warm surf and sand at Figure 8! I so wish I could have been there, but next year!

Suzy

"Wish you were here, Oma!"

This video of Charlie makes me so happy every time I see it! I wish I could be there too. I miss you boys!

Columbus Day, October 12th

This week is going along fast and furious. Last Wednesday I had a PORT put into my body which you all saw in recent photos. This PORT is in anticipation of the first chemotherapy that I will receive on Thursday morning of this week. I am somewhat apprehensive of the upcoming chemo, but I shall wait to see what it is like and how this new drug will affect me. I think I know that I shall lose all of my wonderful short hair (once again), but I still do have my wig from the last time. (although it may not be in style from 2001)

I did have a CT scan on Thursday of last week from the neck down and the CT scan showed that there is no cancer from the neck area down through my body. So that's very good news. My doctor refers to this as "NED" - no evidence of disease. And I have an MRI on the 28th to check my head. Wow - so much radiation!!

I continue to forge ahead. Everyone think good thoughts on Thursday morning while I am in the chemotherapy unit at Mayo. The new medicine is Abraxane (into the PORT). I am hopeful that my body will tolerate this new chemo - but I will let you know.

Thank you for remembering me and sending your thoughts and best wishes to me - I deeply appreciate each and everyone of you.

Suzy

October 8, 2009

Today is Matt's last day with me. He will head back to Vienna (where I had hoped to go as well) tomorrow. He will be in Vienna until the end of October and then come back to Washington, DC. Anna will also head out tomorrow back to Montana to see her family and to complete an application for further schooling.

It has been so wonderful having Matt here with me. I have not seen him since July 4th when we headed to the Washington monument to watch the fireworks. Wow, what an experience. Washington was so much fun this summer, visiting all of the museums free of charge. I plan to go back sometime soon.

Today, we did go to the Mayo Hospital to have a CT scan from the neck down. I am hoping to speak with Dr. Karlin tomorrow to get the results. And I hope they are GOOD! So everyone, think good thoughts for me.

I will keep you informed about my progress. Thank you again for everything -

Suzy

Time for a Port (and not the wine)

Today was D-day for the Port in anticipation for new chemotherapy next Thursday. For those of you who don't know what a Port is (like me) here is what it looks like:

The Port is implanted in my left side and allows them to give me my medicine through a little silicone ball.

Matt and Anna have been here, keeping me on top of my exercises. Standing on one foot is still a little challenging, but it's coming along.

It has been a long day so I think this will be a short post. More from us tomorrow!

Love you all

Suzy

Saturday, October 3

Rebecca just left; I am so very sorry to see her leave. We had the most wonderful time and it was the very best to have her here with me. She is my little girl!!!

Tonight later on Matt comes from Vienna; I have not seen Matt since July 4th when we attended the fireworks in Washington, DC. What fun that was!

I did see my doctor yesterday and right now I am disease free. We are going to do many more scans and we are also going to start a new type of chemotherapy beginning the week of October 15. My radiation is finished - five treatments. So far, I am not feeling too tired from this radiation. The gals gave me my fancy mask to keep as a remembrance. (I will send a photo later on.)

Thank you again for all of your cards, your wonderful thoughts and your prayers. I am glad we have a plan now, so I can begin to fight this new part of my life.

Suzy