ANOTHER GOOD NEWS UPDATE!

Hi Guys,

I can't believe it's almost been a month since my last update! Dallas has been out on the Cinnamon Girl a ton - no surprise there. I used to think that his passion for golf would never be surpassed but now it seems as though fishing has one that contest hands down! Last week he caught a 31 pound halibut by himself on the boat! For those of you who aren't familiar with the fight that these fish put up when you catch one picture this: GOAT RODEO! Especially since this halibut was an incidental catch - Dallas landed it while fishing with salmon gear. Anyway, he came back that afternoon smiling ear to ear and filled our freezer. The kids and I think we need to outfit him with a camera equipped helmet set up to film all of his lone escapades on the water!

In the last few weeks we enjoyed a quick visit with friends Mark and Kathy from Invermere as well as a weekend with friends Jim and Diane from Vancouver. While Jim and Diane were here we boated over for dinner to Genoa Bay - what a fabulous restaurant! And of course the highlight of our month was when our Jordan was home for a few days. It's always so wonderful when we have the chance to bring all our kids together! Our newlyweds are doing well and Marcus got to finally toss his glasses away because he had lasik surgery this month. We enjoyed Genoa Bay so much that we went over with the kids for dinner on Sunday - it's so great that this restaurant is less than a half hour cruise on the boat.

Dallas sailed through his treatment four weeks ago and we're off to the cancer clinic today for another one. Yesterday he had a great meeting with our favourite doctor who said that the Big Guy looked the best he'd ever seen him look. For the most part Dallas feels the best he's felt since his surgery - almost two years ago! He continues to amaze all of us and we are forever thankful that he's doing so well.

As for me, I've been a bit under the weather - I was laid up for over a week with a fever/flu. This old bod just doesn't bounce back the way it used to! Now that I'm on the mend I'm looking forward to our cruise. Dallas and I booked a one week cruise to Alaska and we leave on June 13th. I can hardly wait!!! I think the change of scenery will do both of us the world of good and I'm looking forward to a week of pampering. More later...

Love,

Patty

GREAT NEWS!

Hi there...so after sitting on the edge of our seats for a couple of weeks we received some VERY GOOD NEWS - Dallas's back pain doesn't indicate any change or advancement of the cancer! We spent most of our Monday at the hospital while the Big Guy was scanned and x-rayed from head to toe. Our friend Anne McGilvary was out for a visit and kept us company at the hospital - definitely lightening the stress of the day. When our doctor phoned yesterday to say that everything was normal we were so relieved - the cancer that is present in the bone is behaving itself and nothing needs to change in Dallas's treatment plan. Happy tears were definitely the order of the day - we are so very thankful.

We're counting down the days now until Jordan's visit next week. He'll be working in Calgary this summer and has landed a great job at the Alberta Treasury Branch. He received the job offer a couple of weeks ago and we couldn't be prouder of him. It will be great experience in the finance field and will also count toward the co-op job term portion of his degree. Jordan is in the process of moving out of Res at Mount Royal and into a house with a couple of buddies. Luckily for us, he'll have a bit of time in between to drive to the island for quick visit - yeah!

Dallas had fun out on the Cinnamon Girl this week - he continues to develop his "crabbing" skills and also brought home a 15 pound salmon. Today he's at the floating boat show with Steve and our newlyweds Marcus & Heather. He's always on the lookout for the Cinnamon Girl II - yikes! More later...

Love,

Patty

Hi from the Sunny (finally!) coast!

Hi Guys,

I'm sorry that I haven't been "blogging" lately - we've been busy having fun but the Big Guy has also been having some issues with his back recently so I didn't want to comment on it - no news is good news, right? Well, apparently I'm wrong! Thanks for wanting to continue to hear the good, the bad and the uncertain! Don't get me wrong - for the most part Dallas has been doing super well but he's had some very bad back pain. We try to put it aside in our minds - just must be the usual aches and pains of mid-life. But of course every thing's different the minute when cancer enters your life.

Yesterday we met with our super Doctor - Peter Battershill. His is really like a super hero to us as far as this disease goes. He doesn't downplay symptoms or panic unnecessarily either. When Dallas described the sometimes debilitating pain that he's been experiencing, Peter interviewed him in the usual way - "Okay Dallas - how many fishing lines, prawn and crab traps have you been pulling up lately?" - Peter never jumps to conclusions so we don't either - he's a very calming influence. He takes a clinical approach to the situation - yes we'll run a bone scan and x-ray to be sure, but he also doesn't let us give up hope that this could just be age related back pain too. One way or the other we'll get to the bottom of it all and deal with it in the best way possible. We're both feeling pretty confident that Dallas is still going to be out fishing for a long time to come and this is just a little "glitch" in the big scheme of things. However, positive thoughts and prayers are always appreciated...

Thanks as always for your love and support - you continue to show us the way. I'm hoping that blogger has fixed their glitch and there won't be any more problems with you publishing your comments instantly. Please keep them coming...we love you all. More later....

Patty & the Big Guy

FUN IN THE SUN!

So this is how I know that we're winning this thing. Today Dallas has a double whammy of treatments - herceptin at the cancer clinic in the morning and his bone strengthening IV in the afternoon at another hospital. As soon as we get in the door the Big Guy races to change into his fishing clothes so that he can enjoy a few hours out on the boat. He's throwing the crab trap in as well as fishing for more salmon. The very best therapy for him is catching a few rays on the Cinnamon Girl!

We've had a busy time since the wedding. Our good friends the O'Leary's stayed on for a couple of weeks so we enjoyed another wonderful visit with them. They left this morning and coincidentally, so did Mom & Dad who are heading back to the valley. We hope that Gerry and Velma are able to sell their Invermere home soon so that we have the pleasure of their company here year round - we're really going to miss them!

We're crossing our fingers that the weather holds so that we can spend more days on the boat and plan more evening BBQ's on the water. Life is good. More later...

Love, Patty

The Best Day!

Our Marcus, married the wonderful Heather on Saturday, March 13th - life just doesn't get much better. Jordan was the best man, and toasted his older brother with style and grace. We couldn't be prouder of both boys (and of course our very special girl!). More later...

Love, Patty

Spring Cleaning!!

Hi everyone! So yesterday was the annual spring cleaning for the Cinnamon Girl. After she had her mechanical tune up she was moved into the driveway so that the Captain could order his crew around. We were joined by Mom and Dad who helped us wash, scrub and polish every inch of the boat. The Big Guy was in fine form (I think in part because he was playing drill Sergeant!) and when the boat was relaunched last night she was sparkling. The weather continues to be just amazing here so this morning Dallas grabbed a quick breakfast and is now out on the boat fishing. We have a busy week next week and are so EXCITED about Marcus and Heather's wedding. As Dallas said last night, "if it wasn't for the cancer thing our life would would be just perfect, wouldn't it?" - more later....

Love, Patty

Mowing the Lawn!

So the Big Guy was mowing the lawn yesterday and I took the opportunity to snap a picture of him to show you his new 'do (and of course he wanted to brag that he was actually mowing the lawn on February 16th)! As you can see he's looking great, always smiling and feeling good. Dallas has been catching salmon and enjoying lots of good times on the boat with his Dad. Tomorrow he has another herceptin treatment in the morning and I'm sure he'll want to get back out on the water by the afternoon!

More later...

Love, Patty