Wine Country Weekend

On September 14th Allen and Jacalyn Spence hosted their first harvest party to promote their wine club.  Dad and two of his friends cooked for the 35 guests and staff, with spouses and some of the guests pitching in to help.  I know all of this because Lou and I were allowed to go with them.  Jesse and Jose, the Spence puppies, irritated us by nipping at our faces, so Lou and I growled and barked at them to make them stop.  We are old dogs who don't have time to be bothered by two female dogs who don't understand us.  Mom and Dad were proud of us because we didn't fence fight with the neighbor dogs which would make Jacalyn crazy. We are getting wiser knowing that if we did stuff Jacalyn doesn't like we don't get to go up there, and we love it up there a lot.  Here is a picture of Lou in the vineyard there during the event:

Dad loves that picture so much he had it printed and framed for his new office.  He promises to get a picture of me too so I don't feel left out.

Several people at the party have known Mom and Dad for some years although we don't see them very often.  Mom doesn't like to tell lots of people about her cancer, only close friends and family because so many people don't understand that she doesn't want them to feel sorry for her.  She just wants to lead a normal life.  One of the gals we see occasionally actually started crying when she told Mom that a friend had told her about the cancer.  Mom was uncomfortable because she doesn't like causing other people to suffer or feel sad.  What she needs is to be understood as a strong woman who intends to be around for as long as her quality of life is maintained.  She doesn't need people to be sad.  The more she can be happy and have fun, the stronger she becomes.  People have their heart in the right place, which makes it difficult to realize that reminding her that she has a deadly disease sucks her energy, while acceptance, love and giving fun times makes her super Mom.

This is what she needs:

Mom with her friend Karin.  They look very happy and pretty together.

Chemo session delayed

Mom met with her oncologist today with Dad, the old duffer.  Her doc was very optimistic that Mom is responding well to the treatment, however, her bone marrow is slow to recover.  So treatment is delayed at least one more week.  Mom thought that would be the case, so she made plans to see Jim and Kristin at a house in Scotts Valley where they will be dog/house sitting.  It kinda pissed me off because Lou and me are not welcomed there so Sharon will be watching us.  We love Sharon, but it is not the same as having Mom at home.  We hope they have a good time because we love them, but would rather be home as a pack barking at the neighbors.

Mom is doing good.  She has gained some weight because Dad makes zucchini bread which she loves and helps her regain some of the pounds she has lost. Dad made another batch today and took one of the loaves to the doctor.  Doctor Kushlan was touched as she accepted the still warm bread fresh from the oven.  Dad was glad to hear that Mom is winning the battle.

Dr. Kushlan told Mom that she may only prescribe four treatments this go round, rather that six, which made Mom very hopeful that she is on her way to some good years with Lou and me and, of course that old duffer Dad.  It looks like Mom will outlive me, which means I will live beyond my years in Mom's heart.  That is what a dog lives for more than anything else, to have a legacy of love.  I love Mom so much and I know she loves me more than any dog ever.  My life is fulfilled.

We see Mom's oncologist tomorrow

We have had a wonderful two weeks.  Mom regained her strength as if she doesn't have cancer.  Dad finished the office remodel, which looks good considering his injured hand and somewhat duffer condition.  Lou and I laid at Dad's feet today as he put the desk together.  Mom came home early to enjoy the warm weather.  Hard to believe Mom and Dad see the oncologist tomorrow which may mean the next round of chemotherapy starts Monday.  It's surreal that Mom has to feel terrible to get better.

Our neighbors up the street, Jay and Kathy, who own Mack, a red Lab who stops buy every day to give us treats, their daughter Erin has colon cancer that attacked adjacent organs and was found in her lymph  nodes.  Mom and Dad went to their house for dinner Sunday evening to see them and to watch the 49er game.  They told Mom about Erin's challenge and asked for Mom to help since Mom has been through chemo and knows what it takes to survive.  Mom helps so many people.  I hope she helps Erin because Lou and me love Jay and Kathy.  We don't want them to be sad.  Cancer is evil.  It is everywhere.  Lou and I are barking alot more now to keep the cancer from getting to anyone else we love.  Watch out cancer we are on the job!

Mom is fighting hard

Mom is now a week after chemo infusion.  She looks weary with sunken eyes.  Not like our Mom at all although she is in pretty good spirits.  She goes to work every day then comes home to be with Lou, Dad, and of course me most of all.  She has been going to bed early to get her rest she so badly needs.  She also took lots of naps over the three-day Labor Day weekend.  Although she did entertain Kathy from Portland who stayed at the house.  Mom loves to see her and then she is glad to get back to normal around our house.  It takes a toll on her too having a guest in the house.

Kathy left Monday morning to fly back to Portland.  Then Mom and Dad did yard maintenance until early afternoon.  Then it was blissful sitting by the pool with them in the mild weather.  They also took a long bath and made love late afternoon.  Mom wants to do that with Dad because she loves him, she likes sex, and she wants to be a normal, happily married woman.  Go Mom, go!

Mom crashed yesterday

Mom came home from work looking exhausted.  Her eyes were sunken into dark sockets.  All she wanted to do was sit o the couch and relax.  She didn't want to eat either.  Dad coaxed her to eat a bit of the left-over pasta with garden vegetables he had made Tuesday for dinner when Nichole had visited and stayed the night so she and Mom could drive to San Francisco together for a business meeting.  He warmed it so so it was palatable, but not so hot it would trigger her nausea.  She managed to eat a small portion which made Dad proud of her knowing that she didn't want to eat but needed to keep up her strength to fight the cancer.  She went to be early.  When Dad went upstairs he looked at Mom and cried.  Her skin was grey.  She looked really sick.

It is hard on Dad to see Mom so ill.  He loves her almost as much as I do, which is a lot.

Smooth(er) sailing

Dad's hand is still swollen, which makes it difficult for him to do simple things like type on his computer.  He has been cooking for Mom and taking care of things around the house as Mom navigates her week of infusion.  She has been doing pretty good this time.  She has taken all the meds the doctor prescribed which cut the nausea and help her sleep.  Her appetite is a bit off because of a metallic taste in her mouth, although she is eating much better than last month.  This morning she took a banana to work which is good because of the nutrients that help her leg cramps, and the calories to keep her strength up.

This session has been much smoother sailing than last month for Mom and the whole family.  And with Dad injured he has been spending more attention on Lou and me.  We are happy dogs when the family is happy and people pay attention to us.  Mom and Dad are talking about having Mom's friend Kathy visit from Portland over the Labor Day weekend since Mom feels strong enough and she likes the company.  Kathy has a dog named Libby, so she should be good to Lou and me too.

Mom tolerated the infusion well

Yesterday morning the house was on pins and needles as Mom prepared to go to the infusion center to get the medicine to fight her cancer.  Dad packed a cooler with waters and yogurt since the treatment takes almost all day.  Mom also took some crackers (which Lou and I love) to help her with the nausea caused by the Bendamustine.  Off they went at 9:15 AM for Mom's 10 AM appointment.  Mom was nervous about the treatment which made her want Dad to do stuff for her.  He is still struggling with his sprained hand, though, which makes it hard for him to lift stuff.  After Dad's pitiful wincing and one-handed manipulation of doors and various items with his big balloon-looking hand, they got off leaving Lou and me to do some barking here.  Lou and I did alot of barking to let the germs and the cancer know we are on the job with able bodies to help Mom any way we can, unlike that old duffer she is married to.

Mom and Dad came home about 3 PM.  Mom was weary from the ordeal, so she went to bed for a nap while Dad ran some errands to ready the pantry and fridge so Mom would have stuff she can eat during this week.  Dad got back home about 4:45 with stuff from Costco and the grocery store.  It took him a half hour of more wincing and one-handed sick tricks to put everything away by which time Mom had gotten up from her nap feeling pretty good considering.  She and Dad went into  the back yard to sit and talk about the day and to update Dad's list of things to get done this season.  It's a long list which took them about 45 minutes to compile. Mom loves to put the list together and mark off stuff Dad gets done, which he does focus on, so I give him credit for that. After feeding Lou and me our rations of kibble, Mom ate the green salad Dad made that included pasta, tomatoes from our garden, fresh mozzarella cheese, orange bell pepper, and avocado with some bread on the side.  Mom ate almost all of it, which made me so proud of her.

This morning we got up at the normal time for more kibble, followed by our usual 2-mile walk up and down the hill we live on.  Then Mom got ready for work while Dad cooked her some fresh blue lake green beans for her lunch.  He also took out the garbage.  Mom went off to work in good spirits.

The doctors and scientists who figure out ways to fight cancer are my heroes.  They are keeping my Mom alive and several of her friends too.  Mom's friend Jacquie had an infusion of Bendamustine and Rituxant yesterday too.  While at the same time, Mark, who is Sandee's boyfriend, is getting chemo and radiation to fight his cancer.  All of these people are so brave and strong to fight their cancers with the drugs and therapies developed by my heroes.  Today I am one hopeful dog.  Thank-you God for giving all of these gifts to my Mom, our friends, and our family.  Now if Dad would heal up it would be almost normal around here.