What's been going on

It's been a while since I've been on here. Here's a little update....Last week's mammogram and ultrasound results showed that a couple of the tumors are 50% smaller than they were when I started chemo. And they couldn't even find the cancer in my lymph nodes with the ultrasound. AWESOME! I started my new cocktail of drugs this week. I'm getting Taxol (chemo) and Herceptin (an antibody that blocks the cancer cells from growing and helps shrink the tumors). I go once a week now for 12 weeks. Its been two days since I got my treatment and I feel great. I'm taking a bunch of supplements that I found out about through a pharmacist from Kaiser. So far, so good.

I am enjoying feeling good and am trying to do the mommy running around stuff more these days. I wonder if these round of chemos will progressively run me down like the others , but for now I am doing well. 

My mom is still here and helping out so much. Jack is getting ear tubes put in tomorrow and his adenoids removed also. Hopefully this will help with his hearing. He thinks I'm "bobbed" not "bald". His mispronunciations are pretty cute.

Ku'ilima surf pics from Saturday 3/8/08

The winds have been very cooperative lately and we were able to score some uncharacteristically beautiful surf at a great out-of-the-way spot over the weekend...

www.flickr.com allboogied's Ku'ilima surfing photoset

I Will Be Well

We finally figured out how to "share" the book we made for Valentine's day. Thanks again to everyone that contributed pictures and comments - Kristen loves it! Click on the link below to get to a PDF preview of the book. The preview isn't the best resolution (images in the real book are gorgeous) - and you can only see the first 15 (of 40) pages - but you can get the idea.

I WillBeWell

love and encouragement

By from your friends...

Book Preview

Earrings!

Livy got her ears pierced last weekend with this brave bunch. No obvious signs of Gangrene as far as we can tell...

Stand Up Paddle Surfing Pics

Christy Borton "rented" (ahem) some stand-up paddle boards for the boys to try out last weekend. Christy of course put all the boys to shame with how quickly she picked it up :) Doug - per your request - here are some of the good pics from last weekend (click to see the whole set)...

www.flickr.com allboogied's Stand Up Paddle photoset

Saturday afternoon at the beach

Just a beautiful day at Kailua beach - light winds and blue skies. Some of the neighborhood crew gathered at our favorite "secret" spot...
kristen and owen

jack boy

liv
And here is a Flickr "badge" that links to some other pics taken earlier this AM on the North Shore. (Flickr is a very cool site for sharing photos - definitely worth checking out)...

www.flickr.com allboogied's Kuilima Tide Pool photoset

More Shrinkage!

That's right - Kristen had an oncology exam yesterday and Dr. Carney said that she was very pleased with response to the chemo - it was better than she had expected at this point! Kristen goes in today for her last treatment of this particular type of chemo. Then a couple weeks off - a mammogram - and then 12 weeks of a different type of chemo, etc. Still a long way to go - but very glad to see that the treatment is working as well as we could hope for. Thanks to all of you for the continued support - it is very much appreciated.

Catching up with pics from Christmas Trip

Wow - a lot has happened since Christmas - but better late than never. Here is tiny sampling of pics from our family trip back East over Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Here are 4 generations of Lemonds boys:

Sugar Bowl!

Kristen in the French Quarter (it was freezing):

Jack & Marguerite McQueen Lemonds and all their descendants (by birth and marriage) on the front steps of my parent's new home in Charlotte:

We've got so many more pics - as we get through them we'll start posting them...

Love to all.

Sunday at Mokuleia

Met Ron, Robin, Nick, and Sloan over at the beach this afternoon - beautiful day.

More N Shore surf action

Couldn't fit these in the previous entry - Marc had the best drop of the day...


Yeah Marc!

Some N Shore surf action

Had a chance to get in the water on Saturday with Doug and Marc - and was surprised to paddle out next to Randall Jenkins (our dentist and all-around nice guy).

Waves were NICE:

Here is a nice sequence of Doog:



And a shot of Randy the dentist...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Hope you all had as nice a Valentine's day as we did!

We gave Kristen her surprise book "I Will Be Well" - that contained many messages and pictures from her friends and family - SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT! I'm trying to figure out how to share the book on the internet - when I do I'll post that info here. Thanks so much to all of you who sent notes and pics!

We had a surprise this year as well...



No one has yet accepted responsibility but whoever did it - what a nice surprise! We all stood around in our PJs that morning reading all the notes and guessing who did it. THANKS TO OUR SECRET VALENTINE!

Riding the wave...

Don't you love the pictures the kids have been making....
Cancer vs. Godzilla by Hudson Lockette (age 7)
"I Will Be Well" (my personal mantra) by Sidney Borton (age 5)
Olivia's picture of me and her running through a big field with flowers after I'm well and my hair is all long again!

Hey guys, I have been meaning to write, but its weird, when I feel good there is so much going on I don't sit and write. Its only when I am feeling kinda icky that I can find the time to be still and think and write. I have so much to be grateful for and it is because of all of you that I am feeling so good. There are bad days, yes, but, for the most part I am riding this incredible wave. All of your love, well wishes, goodies, emails, cards, good vibes are making me feel uplifted. I am constantly amazed by the power of love and good energy.

I want to thank all of you of so I'm just gonna make a quick list to try to touch all the bases:
My highschool crew sent a huge care package with the most amazing treats. You guys are so awesome and I am so touched that you each took the time to let alone think about me but write and send all those awesome goodies. Leigh and Ms. Bonnie, and Mr. Pete I love all the funny gifts and cheese straws and gum. Abby, I still need to take a pic with the Beaufort Grocery shirt and send to you, and Ms. Betty, thanks for the laughs remembering our naughty high school days. Phillip, the hats are AWESOME. They crack me up. I love wearing them. Shannon and Becky the scarves are divine! Tripp I loved the UNCW mug, tshirts and your sweet note. DA thanks for the book and tshirts and hat and your nice note. Lisa, Todd, Shannon, and James I loved your positive, kind words. You just don't know what this all means to me. I love ya'll. And as James says, its nice to know that my redneck, Carteret County high school, troublemaking friends will always be there for me.

Thank you so much to the Ulrichs for sending the awesome care package for those days when I am feeling down I can unwrap a little treat to brighten my day. Your thoughtfulness overwhelms me!

My cousin Alanna just sent me two awesome hats...Cancer sucks and Go, Fight, Win! They rule.

Aunt Diane and Uncle Henry have sent me a beautiful bracelet and notes of encouragement. Thank you so much.

Kim, I love the inspirational necklace you sent. I love wearing it. Everyone comments on how cool it is.

I just love reading all your emails and comments. I've been hearing from all my college friends too and it just lifts my spirits so much.

Oh and Keri and Chris dropped off some goodies last night. Sorry Keri, I was a weeping mess. The chemo makes me so weepy. Ugh. I am not feeling depressed but it definitely makes me weepy. I have times when I am scared and it freaks me out to go there. So I am trying to use visualization, positive thinking and prayer to keep on top of this whole thing.

I WILL BE WELL!

Shrinkage!

We got some VERY GOOD NEWS on Monday - the chemo is working! After two treatments (over 4 weeks) the cancer has begun to shrink - it was even difficult for the oncologist to locate a swollen lymph node that was noticeable around Christmas time. It was the news we were hoping for and needless to say it was smiles all around on Monday afternoon and evening!


The treatment plan is now a lot clearer - she had her 3rd chemo treatment this morning and will take one more in two weeks. Then a two week break - some more tests - and then a new type of chemo that she'll get every week for 12 weeks straight. After a 4-6 week rest - they'll do some more testing - and then we'll sit down to evaluate next steps with her surgeon.

So - it is very good news! I just wish she was feeling better tonight :(

Anyway - here are some pics from the weekend - thanks everyone for notes of encouragement and the meals and the help with the kids and the cleaning and everything! thank you thank you thank you.


Owen


Jack and Grandma Karen during a break in the soccer match


Bucket Head Owen at Kailua Beach

Some Good Luck from New Years Eve

Kristen - was going through my pockets and looked in my tux jacket...wham...$10,000 chip from the Prov. Thought it would inspire you a bit. The bets on black and red were amazing.

Grandma Karen's Birthday

Today was a good day. Mom got in last night and today is her birthday. It is great to have her here and today I rested all day and felt good. The Ray family brought dinner and even a birthday pie!

Oh, and I just discovered tonight that people can post comments on this blog. So, I just read all of them. You guys rule. Thanks everybody. 

Second treatment today!

Today was a whirlwind.  The kids were taken care of by Tricia and Keri and Aunty Jan - and Alison went with me for my second chemo treatment.  I should say that my hair started to fall out - really fall out - yesterday, and it kind of hurt.  So - today, after chemo, Alison had my back and I took the plunge...

I wish I had an eyebrow piercing, some neck tats, and a bunch of earrings and I could totally pull off the "punk mom" look!  Seriously.  

A funny thing happened at the salon (plug for salon - Henry at Salon 808 rules!  They shaved my head and Henry gave me a wig that he cut and styled to match my old short hairdo.  Highly recommended) - a lady that was waiting to get her hair done in the chair next to me (gawking) asked if I had lost a bet when she saw the girl shaving my head!  Well - I must say I think it looks better than poor Britney!

Thanks so much to Allyson, Keri, and Chris for coming over while I was out to clean the house!  You guys rock.  Bathroom grout has never looked better!  Thanks Marie for dinner :)

Oh - the wig!  It looks pretty good - Dave said it passed the 10' test (later revised as the 5' test) - and it looks a lot like my short cut although a little darker.  Owen, upon seeing me this afternoon, pointed at my wigged head and said "funny".   Liv and Jack didn't notice - they only asked if the chemo made my hair darker today.  Pics of the wig tomorrow. 

Mom comes tomorrow - yippee!

Mariner's Ridge Hike

Had a great hike today with the Lietzkes - right to the top of Mariner's Ridge. Panoramic views of the windward side were awesome.

Red on red on red

K and O'en

Lietzke fam

Girls

The geeky photo theme of the hike was "texture" - here are some more pics for the truly bored.

K is feeling good - second chemo treatment on Tuesday this week.

Well, it's been a week...

Life is going on here. I felt pretty crappy Wed., Thurs., Fri. of last week. The weekend I felt good. And now I am back feeling pretty normal. I am trying to be good with my diet and eating only healthy foods, lots of greens and dragon slayer milkshakes. Moments of weakness have included... a whopper with cheese,  a big piece of fudge and a rice krispie treat. Even with those treats I am at my ideal fighting weight. Damn if I ever thought it would take cancer for me to get here!

It's been a busy week with all the kids running around. Olivia and I went wig shopping on Tuesday and found one that looks like my hair. And, yes, I still have hair. No pics until I have to wear it.....

Jack's finds

This is what I found in Jack's pockets tonight when he got undressed to take a bath. He said "Don't you like what I found mommy?" A HUGE rock and a jagged piece of glass.

Oh, and I have to tell what their reactions were to my haircut.
Olivia immediately cried upon seeing me and said "I don't like you with short hair. Are you gonna take me to school like that?"
Jack saw me the next morning and came in the room and said "I'm not laughing at you mommy" "Is that your new haircut or is it just bed head?" "I can wet it down for you mommy".
Owen saw me and said "You hair ugly, butthead"

Kids are great. Gotta love their honesty.

Dave and I both like the haircut now. Its kinda sassy. They say in about 10 days it should all fall out anyway. Oh well.