History

Sunday, January 29, 2006 12:13 PM CST

Hello to all-

All is well in the Elkin family as we fall into a groove for 2006!

We had a wonderful time over the holidays. Chris and I and the three babes spent Christmas in Rome, Georgia with Mom and Dad (Norma and Ben), Ryan, Amy and her fiance, Ralph.(Gorgeous ring.)

Chris and I then flew back home to California (the kids stayed in Georgia), where we were joined by Rabbit (Lynda) and her fiance, Jeff. (Another beautiful ring, with the uniqueness that is true to her character:)

The four of us had an amazing time touring the Napa wineries, taking mud baths, hiking at Redwood Park, visiting the SF MOMA, eating at great restaurants, seeing the Beach Blanket Babylon Holiday show, and dancing to the Super Suckers at Slims on New Year's Eve (after drinking two bottles of champagne at The House restaurant in North Beach and belting out "Happy Birthday" to Chris --- the entire restaurant sang along).

A big Thank You to Rabbit and Jeff for the Holiday to Remember (looking forward to the wedding)!!

And an even bigger Thank You to Mom and Dad (Norma and Ben) for taking care of the kids. They had a great time playing with trains, doing puzzles, tending to baby dolls, reading books, watching Dora and Bob the Builder, and especially playing in the big tent and tunnel structure Santa Claus left them on Grandmommy and Granddaddy's new elegant screened in back porch!

Our other Mom and Dad team (Joe and Jean)went to Georgia for a few days too. I enjoyed watching Avery and Sage wallow in the love and attention they received from four grandparents at the same time. (Dakota was sorely missed. He was relaxing in California with Shelly.)
We are already planning our summer trips to both sets of grandparents.

Now for my health update: December 16th marked the 6 month mark since my MOAS (Mother of All Surgeries) and chemo treatment. It may be my imagination, but as December 16th rolled around I felt as if the final chemo remnants were leaving my body, and my usual energy level was returning!
I am still somewhat moody, tired mid-day, and losing more hair than I'd prefer. I am now wondering if these "symptoms" are due more to menopause than the chemo. (Poor chemo... to think I was blaming it all this time :)

I also stopped my low-dose Prozac. At this point I am just taking daily vitamins, calcium chews--caramel, yum!- and iron (when I remember). Still take some Tylenol or stronger pain medication for my sore neck and back from the November auto accident, but that is improving with each day as well. (And I love my new Honda Pilot!)

Besides mild evening hot flashes, and the already mentioned side effects, the menopause thing has been easier than I imagined... so far. As long as we get our air conditioner fixed by late Spring, I should be fine!
... and now when I see a sweet little baby and think, "Oh wouldn't it be lovely if..." I am stopped by the reminder that I can't and it is actually comforting! (Comforting because I can put the impulsive emotions aside and focus on the future with my three child wonders. I feel so deeply for those women who can't have children due to this disease. I know that I am luckier than most in this regard.)

My recent CT scan did not show too much more mucin on my liver, and my blood work/tumor markers remain in the close-to-normal range. So for now we will wait and see, ...and enjoy life. Blood work every 3 months and CT scan every 6 months (next one in early May).

My 40th birthday is rapidly approaching. When Chris asked me what I wanted, I said, "Let's take the kids to Disneyland!" We got on-line, did our research, and found a good package deal, and it's off season. We'll leave on March 11 for 4 days and 3 nights. When Dakota was 4, Chris and I took him there BUT we haven't been back since.
The kids are getting really excited. Sage wants to see "Pin-cess Cin-Rella and Burga-King!" (I hate to break it to her, but Burger King does not reside in Southern California.)

The kids seem to be maturing more and more each day. (Is this good or bad? I really can't say.) Dakota is working hard on his cursive writing (his writing is soooo messy... maybe he'll be a doctor when he grows up). He came to Sunflower School last Friday and proudly played the trumpet for Avery's class. He still enjoys Yu Gi Oh, Nintendo DS (gameboy) and computer and Xbox gaming! He has also been asking to stay up later to watch American Idol. He can be moody too; and he is not experiencing menopause! (just pre-pre-teendom, I guess).

Avery is excited about his upcoming 5th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese; our trip to Disneyland; our summer trips back east; and starting Kindergarten at Golden View on August 29th. (We feel fortunate that he qualifies as a sibling at Golden View Elementary so we don't have to keep our fingers crossed and hope he gets lotteried in.)
His left foot and leg still bother him at night. He'll be getting an Xray done on Tuesday, Jan.31st.

Sage is ... well, I am not sure how to desribe her. She can be a delightful sweetie pie or a terror holding out her right hand ready to scratch anyone who crosses her. (I keep her nails cut very low these days, and keep the downstairs bathroom stocked with books for her to "relax and look at" during her daily time-outs.)

She has severe re-occurring ear infections but the antibiotics seem to keep them at bay. She has an ear check up on Tuesday. Her next kidney-bladder sonogram is scheduled for the end of February.

Sage and Avery both are thriving at Sunflower School. I am also there 3- 4 days a week. It has been wonderful to regain my energy level so I can be with the kids singing, dancing, teaching...
And Sunflower has been approved to expand our license to 12 children; the last stage of neighborhood appeals being exhausted (Thank God!). Nancy has been working so hard all along. She definitley made this happen! And for this we are all grateful. We are in the process of figuring out my future with Sunflower. It is an exciting time and I hope to be part of it for years to come.

Chris is home from his first business trip to Europe this year. He is off again in a couple of weeks. We miss him lots when he is gone. (But I get to curl up on the couch with a pint of Ben and Jerry's and watch things like The Bachelor... with no witnesses:)

He is thrilled about the prospect of Business School. He will likely begin an MBA program (hopefully at Berkeley) in September while working full-time. He is working on re-financing our home so we can get a few things done on the house. Still picking out paint colors. Looking forward to having the front yard area done (it's looking a little white-trashy these days :) We got a new water heater installed last weekend. Fifty gallons of hot water on demand and no more bowls to collect the leaks!! Very exciting :)

Our love to you all-
DM

Thursday, November 24, 2005 11:25 AM CST

Happy Thanksgiving!

At the moment I am drinking my eggnog latte while the kids are next to me watching the parade. Sage is impatiently waiting to see the Dora float. The boys are impatiently waiting for Chris to wake up so they can go see Harry Potter in the IMAX. (One of Dakota's 10th birthday requests.) We celebrated his birthday with a cake and presents last night. Dakota was thrilled beyond belief when he opened his Nintendo DS, Yu Gi Oh DS game and DS accessories. Next weekend is his birthday sleepover. Three of his friends will be coming over for pizza, birthday cake, XBox, Yu Gi Oh and Gameboy/Nintendo playing, and sleeping (hopefully); followed by a pancake breakfast. Avery is already planning his 5th birthday sleepover.

I know there is so much to be thankful for today, ... and everyday. Some days I just need to search a little deeper than others! One moment I am overjoyed with the kids and feel so full of love and pride. Yesterday when I turned the radio on, "Landslide" (Dixie Chicks version) came on. I love that song. It always seems to move me. The kids started singing/humming along. Avery said, "I remember you played this song a lot when I was a baby, right mom?" (everything is "right, mom?" these days) It was a good moment.

Then the next moment I am exhausted and thinking that there is no way I can begin another chemo treatment and be a mother of three young kids (especially when one of them is a 2 year old who has discovered the power of a tantrum). It seems impossible; but many people do it... and so much more. I am fortunate to have so many supportive people around me to help with the kids! It makes a big difference.

On the health front, we are all fairly healthy. Sage has a constant drippy nose which we are now contributing to allergies (those Chris genes!). She is also due for another sonogram. We're hoping that her kidney reflux is continuing to improve. Though at this point her body is practically addicted to the antibiotics. If she stops them for a few days, she gets an ear infection (at least not a kidney/urinary tract infection). Overall she is doing really well; talking up a storm; making many cognitive connections; and planning her own wardrobe!

A few weeks ago I was in the hospital with the flu. They pumped me with fluids, antibiotics (just in case), and morphine. I "rested" over night and went home the next day. My blood pressure and white and red cell counts were very low. Since then they have all gone back up.

At first it was strongly suggested I get the flu shot; but now the kid's pediatrician said that my immune system is likely not ready to handle the shot. Instead, she practically insisted that everyone around me (particlarly our three kids) get the shot so they don't carry flu germs home. The boys were not excited to hear this news. Sage got her shot. (There was only one left at the clinic that day!) Avery goes back for one this week. Dakota has promised to scrub his hands constantly :)

On November 15th, I was back in the hospital after our Explorer was seriously rear-ended by another SUV. Avery was with me at the time. Thanks to his high-back Britax booster seat, his injuries were minimal. He was so scared but quickly recovered. He is now obsessed with car safety: seatbealts, car seats, etc. He has been checked out by the pediatrician, and will come with me to the chiroprator next week. These days I am not as durable as my little (can I still call him "little"?) Avery. The seat belt put a lot of pressure on my vulnerable abdomen; and my back, neck and left leg seemed to have suffered from the typical whiplash. I found a wonderful chiropractor who has already helped improve my discomfort.

Now it is just a fight with the insurance company, which Christopher has assured me he will take reposibility for.
The other person (a mom driving a brand new GMC SUV who hit us at 30-plus miles per hour while I was stopped with my blinker on to take a left hand turn); has accepted liability. It is just a matter of having our totaled Explorer paid for in full; having the property in the car replaced; being reimbursed for childcare and medical expenses; and all that jazz.

I am due for another CT scan this weekend. I had one when I was in the hospital with the flu earlier this month. It did show "some free flowing fluids" in my abdomen. Could be from PMP mucus or just from the virus I had at the time. This scan should show more. I will also get my cancer blood work done, with the hope that the numbers are still decreasing.

If liver surgery and/or chemo is needed, my plan is to wait until mid-January or early February. If it is still necessary, I am confident I will continue to receive the amazing support of friends, family, Sunflower parents, Babysitting Co-op members, Iron Horse Moms and everyone else who has made this journey easier. For you all, I am THANKFUL!

I'll keep you updated!
love, Dawn-Monique

PS: Reading over this journal entry, I realize it sounds so "down." The reality is I feel pretty good physically (as long as I get my naps :); I am excited about the holidays... really excited. I am looking forward to car shopping (we have narrowed it down to a 2006 Eddie Bauer Explorer or the equivalent Honda SUV); Our townhouse is becoming a home: a few rooms have been painted so far (light blues, greens and grays); our ceiling fan is up in the Master Bedroom; and Chris is almost done tiling the fireplace. I also have a crush on our handy man. Good thing I am married to him! Life is good!

Thursday, September 29, 2005 11:22 PM CDT

Hello to all!

It's almost October already! Hard to tell here...since it has been in the 90's all week!

The children have been in school a while (Sage recently started at Sunflower two mornings a week)and we are falling into a nice routine of carpooling, school, teaching, playdates, and homework!

In early September I had a routine CT scan and blood work. Overall things look good. My white and red cell counts have dropped. My oncologist said it is likely from the effects of the chemo and should continue for 3 more months. At least this explains why I NEED a daily nap! Thank goodness Sage still takes one.

It seems that the PMP mucus is on my liver. My doctor said to wait three months (I need that long to recover from the June surgery) and then repeat the blood work and CT scan. In the mean-time he is going to consult with Dr. Esquivel and a group of liver cancer specialists. He thinks I will likely need to have 2 cm of the liver removed by laser (the liver then grows back!!)... perhaps followed by a round of chemo. This surgery only requires a one day/night hospital stay, and will likely occur in mid-December/early January.

Until then, I will focus on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Dakota's 10th birthday and Christmas!!

All my love-
Dawn-Monique

Friday, August 12, 2005 12:31 AM CDT

Hi-

It's been a few weeks since I have posted. Time flies when you sleep more than usual :)

Overall I am doing really well. I am getting stronger every few days. I have the most energy in the morning so I set one goal a day like grocery shopping or paying the bills. The rest of the day is filled with some misc. chores, resting (afternoon nap when the baby sleeps), and playing with and taking care of the three kids!

Dakota is a huge help. He is my little assistant... pushing shopping carts...carrying groceries... putting Sage in and out of her crib and carseat and grocery cart...even making his own lunch and snacks. He starts fourth grade in a couple of weeks!

Avery does well if he gets out every day... often twice a day. He was so worn out last night that at midnight we found him curled up on the bathroom rug sleeping. He had woken up to go to the bathroom but was just too tired to follow through!
He has been sleeping and breathing so much better since his May surgery. He'll be re-tested for environmental allergies later this month. We're hoping to eliminate some of the medication he has been taking.

Sage is a combination of sweet and demanding. She is quite verbal too.... especially when it comes to stating her needs!
She is having another sonogram at the end of this month as follow up to her April surgery. We are hoping that her reflux has cleared up.

Chris is busy with work and studying for the GMATs. He is hoping to begin an MBA program in Fall 2006. We celebrated our fifth anniversary last Friday... dinner at North Beach in San Francisco. One positive aspect about this illness is that it has brought us closer. It helps us see what is important and realize what is not!

I am getting more blood work done today to see if my red and white cell counts are approaching normal yet. This effects how long I need to take the Procrit shots. My next CT scan will either be in mid-Sept or mid-Dec. My local oncologist is contacting Dr. Esquivel in Baltimore to find out what he recommends. We are curious to see if the 4 small (1-5 mm) liver spots are continuing to grow or not. Even if they are...it is a "wait and see" type of thing. Radiation is not an option with PMP. It tends to spread the cancerous mucus throughout the abdomen. Options would include future chemo and/or surgery... but there is no rush. The spots may be "nothing." Even if they are thought to be something, PMP moves slowly so we can just keep an eye on it for now.

The only effects of menopause that I seem to be experiencing are irritability and fatigue. I am not taking anything, including the herbal stuff. Just my daily carmel calcium chews (yumm), iron supplements, and my Prozac (which is often prescribed for menopause too)... and weekly Procrit. And tylenol or Pepcid when needed.

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the last few weeks of summer!

love- DM

Friday, July 22, 2005 10:25 PM CDT

Out of hospitals for a whole week!!

I am feeling better every day! My eating and sleeping patterns are gradually becoming closer to normal; I switched to a soy-herbal remedy for menopause (at least going to give it a try for a month); and today my mother-in-law gave me my Procrit (bone marrow booster) shot! (Chris said he'll try to give me it starting next week.)

It's wonderful to be back home with the kids and Chris. Norma, my mom in law is here for another week. Thank goodness because she's amazing with the kids... and house... and me.

Off to bed...

Thank you for all your love and support. It means the world to me.

Friday, July 15, 2005 5:23 PM CDT

A few steps forward... a few steps back...

Last Monday night I woke up with extreme admoninal pain so my parents brought me to the emergency room. I was released today, Friday. After xrays and CT scans, no one is completely sure what was going on... mostly dehydration which prevented my body from working the way it is supposed to.

I am just glad to be out of the hospital... again...

I am flying home on Sunday morning. I can't wait. I miss the kids and Chris and everything... like crazy. I hope to never be away from them for 5 weeks ever again.

I still feel weak and tired and emotional... but better each day.

Sunday, July 3, 2005 6:04 PM CDT

Hi All-

It's me! I finally have computer access...

I checked out from St Agnes (for the second time) on Friday, July 1st. I was able to keep medication (the smallest pills possible) and a few food (oatmeal and ginger ale) items in my system. Dr. Esquivel said it was time to go because if they waited for me to be able to digest a steak dinner, I'd be there forever! :)

I rested at the hotel for a day, then flew up to RI with my mom, Jean, last night. It was a 45 minute flight and the airline treated me well with wheelchairs, etc. so it wasn't so bad.

My plan is to recover in RI for up to two weeks before flying home. I am missing the kids (and my hubby) like crazy but I know it's for the best. I think it would be hard for my two year old to see me but not be able to jump on me and have lots of physical contact. And I am still in quite a bit of pain and am sleeping at least 12 hours a day! Also still quite nauseas (sp?) from the chemo.

We feel good about the outcome of the surgery. Though I miss my ovaries and belly button, I know they had to be removed. I would miss my greater omentum but I am still unsure of what the long term effect will be on me. I have to do some research on that... and on hormone replacement therapy... and on Procrit. I need to receive a shot weekly to begin to rebuild my bone marrow. Any thoughts on any of this from the PMP group would be wonderful!

I am so grateful for everyone's help and support. I never imagined that I would have to go through something like this before I hit 40!... but you all have made it a little easier.

Lots of love-
DM

Tuesday, June 28, 2005 8:21 PM CDT

Hi there,

I spoke with Dawn-Monique for quite some time this morning. She is back in the hospital after, what sounds like, a terrible time of it at the hotel after she checked out. She wasn't able to keep anything down, including her IMPORTANT pain medication. They became very concerned with her being dehydrated so they re-admitted her.

When I spoke with her her spirits were back up again thanks to the meds.

Meanwhile, back in California: there is a leak in one of the pipes at DM and Chris' place and the condo association wants to put up the whole family in a hotel while they fix it. That means poor Norma and Ben and Chris are going to have to move the kids to a smaller space for a few days. A bit of a hassle.

Still, the kids are having fun. Adam (my son) and Avery had Story time today at the library. Sage was there too and was cute as can be! In the afternoon Avery and Adam had swim class together and played at the community pool for an hour afterwards! They had so much fun!

Later,
Karen

Monday, June 27, 2005 2:53 PM CDT

Good afternoon everyone. I spoke with Dawn Monique's step mother this morning. DM has been checked out of the hospital already and is staying at a hotel in Baltimore to heal some more before flying down to Rhode Island. From what I gather she has been in an intense amount of pain, but they are trying to get that under control.

I know she misses the kids and home and we can't wait for her to get back.

Andrew and I took Rebecca to Gymtastic this morning and saw Sage and Norma. Sage and Rebecca had a blast running around the place and chasing after balls. We'll see Avery this afternoon at swim lessons. The kids are all doing great!

Thanks again to everyone for all of your warm thoughts and tangible and intangible support. I know DM appreciates it.

Will check in later when I can,
Karen

Friday, June 24, 2005 10:51 AM CDT

Hi, all, from Dakota and Shelly in St. Louis. Dawn-Monique asked me to update this for everyone.

She sounds much better than she did last week, although still has a lot of pain, of course. They received the surgery report yesterday - both ovaries, both fallopian tubes and the omentum (you'll have to look that one up!) were removed, but it was a very good report and prognosis - so, all in all, a very positive outcome! Today was her first attempt at (very minimal) regular food.

DM will most likely be checked out of the hospital on Sunday, stay in Baltimore a few days, and then they will let her fly the short hour or so to Rhode Island so that she can rest there. I'm sure her family will take good care of her and give her plenty of pasta and love along with her pain meds. :0

On behalf of DM and family, thank you for your continued good thoughts, prayers and wishes throughout her recovery.

Thursday, June 16, 2005 8:20 PM CDT

I just spoke with Chris and he gave me a more detailed account of the surgery and the prognosis so far.

The surgeon found that both of her ovaries were enlarged and looked 'suspicious', also with mucous surrounding them so he went ahead and took out both of them. There were also some areas around her appendix (which was removed during her last surgery) that he went ahead and removed.

He said that her prognosis is very good and seemed to imply a fairly low likelihood that it will recur, since it was found so early (thank goodness that the tumor in her colon caused a blockage and so much pain! If not, they wouldn't have opened her up in March and come to this diagnosis).

The doctor said this was one of his better cases where the prognosis is very optimistic!

Couldn't be better news! She is awake and recovering. Chris said he was in with her all day today.
We are relieved and delighted!

Love, Karen

Thursday, June 16, 2005 6:03 PM CDT

The surgery went well! Dawn-Monique is now in ICU. The doctor told Chris how happy they are that this had been discovered so 'early', so I'll consider that a positive reaction from the surgeon.

When I hear more I will post!
Karen

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 7:55 PM CDT

Hi! It's Karen again. We have all been thinking about Dawn-Monique and Chris since they went to Baltimore.

I spoke with Chris' mother, Norma, and she gave me some
information:

DM had all her tests and scans today. They are expecting her surgery tomorrow to be 4-5 hours, much shorter than the 10 hours we were initially expecting. So, that's great news!

Her parents are already in Baltimore with her. She will be sleeping at the hospital tonight and the surgery will be first in the AM. As soon as Norma hears from Chris tomorrow, she will call me to tell me how the surgery went and I will update this page right away.

Please keep Dawn-Monique in your thoughts tomorrow. I know she appreciates all of your love and support!

-Karen

Monday, June 13, 2005 10:37 AM CDT

Hi, this is DM's friend Karen. Just a quick update.

Chris's parents Norma and Ben arrived on Saturday, June 11. Chris and Dawn-Monique are scheduled to fly to Baltimore tonight.

The kids are delighted that Grandma and Grandaddy are here!

Dawn-Monique is focusing on packing and finding the mailbox key before she leaves! :)

I will post as soon as I hear any info either before or after the surgery.

-Karen

Friday, May 27, 2005 3:00 PM PDT

My Story ...

On March 2nd, 2005, ten days shy of my 39th birthday, my husband, Christopher, took me to the doctor because I was having extreme abdominal pain on and off for a few days. It had gotten so bad that I couldn't sleep and felt I was having contractions every five minutes.

I had some pain and discomfort in my lower right abdomen on and off for about two years... but it only occurred once every several months... and only for a few hours at most...and nothing like this. I had even felt a lump in the area during my last pregnancy but was told it was likely a fibroid mass that often occurs during pregnancy...then goes away shortly after delivery. Well, with three young children and a busy life...I dismissed the lump and the discomfort for quite some time... assuming that eventually I would need my appendix removed.

After a day of meeting with doctors and describing my symptoms over... and over..., and refusing to go home and take pain killers, a CT scan was done. It showed that I had a few small (1 cm) spots on my liver, and some sort of blockage in my bowels. The surgeon wanted to try to "correct" the blockage and do some basic exploratory surgery. He wanted to do it immediately.

I woke up a few hours later. The surgeon took out a 5 cm tumor from my colon... where the appendix connects to the colon... He also took out my appendix, and part of my small and large intestines. He placed a tube in me to reconnect the colon. He referred to the surgery as "Radical Marginal Surgery." He said it was just in case it was cancer even though he thought it was a 50 percent chance at most.

I left the hospital 5 days later. (Thank goodness for my friends who immediately came to our assistance by taking care of our three young children.) The next day the surgeon called and said that the Kaiser lab could not say for certain that the tumor was benign. Kaiser was passing the tumor and other slides onto the Stanford University Lab for a second opinion. He told me not to worry... that there was only a 10 percent chance they would come back with an "Uncertain Malignant Potential" diagnosis.

About 10 days later the Stanford lab report came back with the "Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm of Uncertain Malignant Potential" diagnosis. The report also mentioned "Unusual Tumor(s) of the Appendix and Pseudomyxoma Peritonei."

I met with a Kaiser oncologist who felt that the only way to approach this was to treat it as colon cancer... six months of chemotherapy and follow up every three months. He said it brought the survival rate from 80 to 83 percent for three to five years. He admitted not being completely knowledgeable on the subject. He decided to take the case to the hospital's Tumor Board and meet with me and Christopher the following week.

The Tumor Board felt that there was no proof that traditional chemotherapy would be beneficial for my type of cancer. They suggested the wait-and-see approach, and quoted me a survival of 60-90 percent (a wide range that left us unsatisfied, to say the least). Chris was quite concerned as well as frustrated by the Oncology Department's lack of information... and vagueness.

The oncologist did offer to try to contact Dr. Sugarbaker (back East) to get his opinion. When the doctor mentioned Sugarbaker.. I remembered I had seen his name when doing our web searches on appendix cancer.

Chris and I went home and began doing more research on the internet. To my oncologist's credit, he attempted to contact Sugarbaker immediately. He was redirected to St. Agnes and specifically to Dr. Esquivel. My local oncologist and Dr. Esquivel emailed each other a few times and decided I should go to Baltimore for a consultation. By now, Chris and I had more information and had decided to do whatever it took, and as soon as possible...

We (along with Kaiser's help) sent my records, pathology slides, CT scan and blood work results to Dr. Esquivel. Since the conclusion is that Cytoreductive Surgery and Intraoperative Heated Chemotherapy is needed, we decided to go ahead and schedule the consultation and surgery to occur at the same time, instead of making two trips.

We are feeling hopeful about this treatment. We are fortunate that we found out about it, and that our insurance company is paying for it. There seems to be a range of survival rates... somewhat due to the lack of research and knowledge about this disease. The rates we have seen and have been quoted are 60-80 percent for three to five years and 60 percent for ten or more years... sometimes requiring additional surgeries. Follow up blood work and CT Scans will occur every three months.

I am least looking forward to the fact that I will experience early menopause due to the removal of my ovaries (which seems highly likely); and it is strongly recommended that I do not take hormones due to the negative effect they have on this disease. But... I will do what it takes and try my best to keep up the good attitude. (A small part of me is looking forward to a few weeks in bed... Sure, I'll be poked and prodded non-stop... But no cooking, cleaning, carpooling, or diaper changing!)

We leave for Baltimore on Monday, June 13, 2005. My parents, Joe and Jean, will fly down from Rhode Island on Monday as well. My in-laws, Norma and Ben, will stay here in California with the three kids. I am hoping their summer remains as typical as possible, complete with swimming lessons, soccer class, science camp, gymnastics and lots of sunny days with the friends at the park! Dakota is taking a trip to St.Louis to see his grandparents and aunt and uncle. It feels reassuring to know the kids will be around people who love them dearly!

On Tuesday, my parents, Chris and I will meet with Dr. Esquivel. (Then I am hoping we can go into DC and do some sightseeing... and eating?) On Wednesday I check into St. Agnes Hospital for a day of Pre-Op. Surgery is scheduled for Thursday, June 16, 2005; and can take up to 10 hours. I will be in ICU for a day or so and then a "regular" hospital room. I will likely be in the hospital for 2-3 weeks.

I am planning on showing my wonderful friends, Nancy and Karen, how to use this website so they can do updates to let everyone know how the surgery and my immediate recovery goes... and how the children are enjoying their summer!

Thank you so very much for your kind words, thoughts, and support!

Monday, May 9, 2005 10:55 PM CDT

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