Well, so far my treatment is going very well.  I have felt as good the past few weeks as I have in a long time.  I did blood work on Monday and my platelets were down, which is normal for the type of drugs I am getting this time.  They were 40,000 and should be 100,000 or higher.  I repeated blood work yesterday and they were up to 42,000.  Dr. Walker said that was great as she had expected them to drop even lower.  My CA 125 this week was 84, compared to 222 when I started chemo this time.  That is great news!  I also found out yesterday when I saw Dr. Walker that I will NOT lose my hair with the chemo regimen that I'm on this time.  I am thrilled about that!!!

Emma and Kylie are having a fun summer so far.  They have been swimming a lot, went to the zoo one day, played in a box and have had lots of snow cones!  Wednesday evening we did "Movie in the Park" downtown.  It was fun and there were way more people there than I thought would be there.  Next time we will get there earlier to get a better seat and take our bug spray!  We are going to the drive-in movie this Friday night in Guthrie.  Emma has also been doing tennis every morning.  She loves cooking with Granny. And she spent the last three days at Vietnam Camp here in OKC.  We also spent several evenings with the Bond's from Dallas who come up for this camp every year.  They have Danette who is Emma's age and adopted from Vietnam and also Austin, who is 6, adopted from Korea.  We always look forward to seeing them every summer.

I've been staying busy too.  I had lunch last week with some of my former co-teachers...Lorie Kennedy, Betty Mise and Tricia D'Amico.  Fun time!! My volunteer job at Children's Hospital is going well.  I always look forward to getting there and cheering up some sick children.  This past week I got to be "crafty" and make some name signs for several of the kids' rooms.  The hospital has a room with every kind of craft supply imaginable!  I've also been in a "sewing" mood lately at home.  I've made a litter bag for my car, laundry bags for Emma and her friend, Kallie.  They will be going to camp Kanakuk in a few weeks.  My next project is curtains for our bedroom.

Next month Thomas and I are taking a little getaway trip to Cripple Creek, Colorado and staying in a cabin.  I've checked the weather a few times and it's been in the 50's.  I cannot wait!

This is all for now.  See you later,
Cathy

 

 

 

 

 

Last Thursday was the last day of my 30-year teaching career (as a full-time teacher).  I plan on subbing some in the future.  I don't think it has hit me yet that I'm retired.  I imagine when August rolls around and everyone starts getting in their back-to-school mode, I will realize it then.  And, I will probably be a little bummed.  But, getting to sub will help me not be too sad.  My co-workers at Project HOPE gave me and Bob Patton an awesome retirement party.  It was way more than we ever expected and they definitely went above and beyond.  Bob and I taught together at Putnam City North back in the day and then both ended up at Project HOPE to end our careers.  We both graduated HS in 1973 - me, a Marlow Outlaw, and Bob, a Chickasha "Fighting" Chick.  I will miss working with Bob and the other teachers/staff/subs at HOPE.  They have truly been like my extended family this past year during my cancer battle from taking on extra duties, covering my classes during doctor appointments, taking me to my chemo appointments, and so much more.  I can't thank them enough.  Oh, and a special shout-out to Betty Mise for stepping up "out of retirement" last April to take over for me until I returned to school in October.  We also taught together at PC North and she is a dear friend.

Well, it's summer and that means Kylie and Abby are here with us again.  Every year, we look forward to this time when they come back to stay with us while Abby helps us with the pool business.  Kylie got to help Emma light the candles at church a few weeks ago.  I can't believe she will be starting kindergarten this fall.  Even though there's a 5-year age difference between her and Emma, they LOVE playing with each other.  They get along so well and are never at a loss to figure out something to do or pretend.

Last week I got to go to Chickasha America to see my awesome friend, Tessa, get married.  It was the sweetest wedding and reception.  Tessa was a stunning bride and Daniel looked very handsome!  Tessa's daughter, Korbyn (her mom's mini-me)looked beautiful as well.  Congrats Tessa and Daniel and wishes for many years of happiness!

Yesterday was my first day of volunteering at Children's Hospital as a "baby buddy".  I thoroughly enjoyed it and will look forward to doing it every Monday!

And, today was my first chemo treatment.....AGAIN.  I will be doing 18 weeks this time.  Good news is that I will do two weeks and then be off a week.  I'm getting three meds this time, one of which I had last year and two new ones.  Today's treatment took about 4 hours (long one) and Candice was my chemo buddy!  About 30 minutes into my treatment, I got a text from my Marlow bestie, Becky Lightner.  It started out like this, "Had you on my mind today."  She had no idea I was even starting treatment today.  I don't think that it was a coincidence-I think it was a God thing!

Candice and I met a young girl today who was doing her very first treatment for cervical cancer.  She is from out of town and has 3 young children.  She will be doing treatment 5 days a week for 8 hours a day which includes chemotherapy and radiation.  Her husband had to give up his job to be here with her for the two months of treatment.  They will be staying in a hotel with their youngest and luckily will be able to go home on the weekends and spend time with their other two children.  I cannot imagine how hard this is going to be for all of them.  I'm sure they would be grateful for any prayers on their behalf.  Just when you think you have it really bad, you meet someone with many more challenges of their own.  I'm counting my blessings tonight.

This is all for now.  Cathy