HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Happy Holidays and all the best from our home to yours. Many thanks for your ongoing support - here's to a wonderful 2010! More later...

Love, Patty & Dallas

YEAH!!!

We're so relieved that Dallas was approved for herceptin treatment so the stress of waiting for cancer agency approval is gone! It was like a very heavy weight was lifted off our shoulders when we received the news. The deal is that as long as Dallas continues to feel well on herceptin he'll receive the drug. Finally!!!

The Big Guy continues to amaze me. This week was a tough one for him (a double whammy with his last chemo treatment as well as his regular bone strengthening infusion) so of course he felt compelled to powerwash the moss off the driveway. Our driveway is exposed aggregate so the moss loves to cling to it - one of the few west coast disadvantages. He's also been refinishing a vintage dresser that we purchased and managed to go fishing one day this week. Today he's finally crashing.

Thanks so much for your blog comments, emails and calls. Your support continues to inspire and strengthen us. More later...

Love,
Patty & the Big Guy

HI FROM THE WET AND WINDY COAST!!!

Hi everyone! We've recently enjoyed visits from Sharon and Ed Wiens as well as a weekend with Brian Schaal. It was great to catch up with them but unfortunate that the weather didn't cooperate. Dallas has been itching to get out on the Cinnamon Girl before the halibut season closes but it's just been too miserable. Oh well - no shovelling required yet - just good rain gear!

Yesterday Dallas had a MUGA scan which is a test that measures the strength of his heart (one of the prerequisites for his next phase of treatment with herceptin). Once again he's glowing from the nuclear tracer that they inject him with so we'll be sure to stay away from airport security for awhile. We have our fingers crossed that he's passed the scan with flying colours and will be approved for hercepting treatment by the cancer agency board - always a nerve wracking time for us. Dallas's next round of chemo is on Wednesday so we'll try to keep busy with projects around the house until then.

Thanks as always for your support! More later...

Love, Patty & the Big Guy

DOWN TIME

Thanks again for helping us through a tough week! As usual we got by with a LOT of help from our friends and family - special thanks to Bev for being chauffeur, personal shopper and chicken soup chef!

Tuesday was my surgery day and I woke up through my drugged haze to see Dallas's face smiling at me! He was joined by Peggy and then Steve. Marcus and Heather filled in the dinner hour so the first day went by incredibly fast. The next day I was home by noon (yeah! early dismissal for good behaviour!) warming up the sofa.

Dallas has had a challenging week. Not only did he stubbornly drive himself back and forth to chemotherapy but he also received both flu shots. It was especially hard for me because I've been there for every treatment, poke and prod he's had so far. Sitting on the sidelines this time was so difficult!! Thankfully, by late afternoon he was back in his lazy boy chair resting and letting the chemo drugs do their thing.

It's been a great week for both of us to recover - most of the time the rain has been in a constant downpour. Today the sun is finally shining so we'll probably get over our cocooning phase and drive into town for rations. Thanks again for your support, calls, emails, flowers and other goodies and of course those wonderful blog comments which cheer us on! You're awesome! More later...

Love, Patty

Here We Go Again!

Hi Everyone,
We thought we'd show you a recent pic with Dallas's new 'do! He's getting ready to start round 5 of chemo this week so even though his hair has started to grow back, more will probably come out before the end of round 6 at the end of the month. After that he won't be cutting or shaving it for a LONG time. More later...
Love, Patty

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Hi there...hope you're all doing fine and avoiding the cold and flu season. Dallas has a cold this week but despite having lower blood counts, etc. he's out there stacking a cord of wood today! We'll be busy over the next few days because Dallas's parents arrive in town. We're very happy that they've chosen to spend the winter on the island and have rented a townhouse about 20 minutes from us.

Next week will be a busy one here - Dallas starts his fifth chemo cycle and I am having some surgery (why does everything happen at once?). As usual, we'll get by with a little help from our wonderful friends and family who will be chauffeuring us around.

We're looking forward to upcoming visits from our valley friends Ed & Sharon Wiens followed up by another good friend - Brian Schaal. It should be lots of laughs and if the weather permits, maybe some fishing on the Cinnamon Girl. Thanks as always for your emails, calls and blogs - we love you guys! More later...

Patty & Dallas

ROUND FOUR FINISHED!!!

Hi everyone...I'm happy to report that Dallas successfully completed round four of his chemo cycle and is feeling pretty well. We were very happy to hear that he had been approved for three more cycles without any hassles. At the completion of cycle 6 they'll be removing one of the drugs - the paclitaxel - and reviewing his treatment plan again. The paclitaxel accompanies herceptin for the first six treatments and then the herceptin is given for the rest of the treatments (we're not sure how long that will be yet). We were very thankful that Dallas's reviews will be based on how well he is feeling rather than more scans and tests.

We enjoyed a quiet weekend with a visit from old friends Diane and Jim. It was great to catch up with them as well as Marcus and Heather who joined us for dinner on Saturday night. Last night we had dinner out with Peg and Steve - spending time with them is always a great way to cap off the week.

Thanks as always for your emails, calls, visits, cards and blog comments (okay - who is anonymous - really??!!). After a very rainy Saturday we're going to get out and enjoy the sunshine today - +12 degrees just to make those of you in deep freeze country feel better. Remember our B & B is always open! More later...

Love,
Patty