REMINDER

DONT FORGET THE YARD SALE :)

Febuary 28th and March 1st

6145 North 9th Ave
phx az 85013

Please contact Kristin or Karrie for donations
kristinmilstead@yahoo.com kjess@cox.net

HALLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today was a good day...God is good!!!

This past week has been pretty good. I've felt good, had energy, had an appetite (well that never really left). Even this weekend which is normally my lowest count time where I feel a bit drained, take my temp a few times a day to make sure I'm not starting a fever, I've felt really good. I was actually pretty productive in my house yesterday. I felt like I accomplished a lot yesterday. It's been a while since I had that feeling.

This is Deron, Bill, Ryan and Regan moving a 1000 pound safe. The nightmare safe that took almost 2 years to get delivered correctly.

And the final product... Thank you guys for your help!

Also, something wonderful happened today. Deron went to church with the kids and I. It was a little more than he expected but he really liked our Pastor and the others he met today. Baby steps...

My hands are doing much better. I use the steroid cream each night before bed and I no longer wake up with swollen hands. I've been able to open my own water bottles the past few days. I know opening a water bottle to most is very minor but to someone who hasn't been able to do that simple task, it's awesome. I have a doctors appointment on Thursday then Chemo on Friday morning. Hopefully Thursday I'll remember to update on the doctors appointment with the chemo plan and new CEA count.

As always, I want to thank everyone for your continued support, prayers, faith in knowing I WILL BEAT THIS, continued dinners, and so much love. Thank you, thank you! You are all such amazing people and great cooks. That's something I would love to learn more about while I have a bit of free time. I think I would also like to learn to sew so I can make skirts that are long enough for me, etc. I've been making my wish list of things I want to learn more about during this time period. I need to actually schedule a few of these things so they happen.

Much Love,

Kim

Yard Sale

Yard Sale date changed to Saturday Febuary 28th and Sunday March 1st 9am
Cousin Kristin's Casa!
6145 North 9th Ave
major crossroads are just north of 7th ave and Bethany Home Road
I am going to put together a flyer and email it to the commitee so that everyone can pass them out to get the word out there

Luv you so much Kim! You are my Super Hero! and so much hotter than that Super Women!

Round 7 is over!

Hello all,

Round 7 was cut short by not having my 46hr. pump due to the side effects with my hands. Deron heard from our doctor yesterday for our plan B in case I have these side effects after round 8. The plan now is to get this Neuropathy to go away before round 8 so I can do the 46hr. pump but only 25% of the normal dose. If I get the Neuropathy from the 25% then we will have to discontinue that drug all together and go into clinical trials. The doctors plan B and C for me all contain this 5FU drug therefore, clinical trials is next. Please pray that this Neuropathy will subside and does not come back so we don't change treatments to go into clinical trials. God's great number is 7. If you read the bible you will understand that. This was round 7 without a main drug. I'm putting it in God's hands that he will take care of me and continue to heal me through this round. Yesterday, I felt nauseous as always on Chemo Friday. I slept most of the day and only got sick once in the evening (or at least I thought it was the evening). I was pretty wiped out. It took everything I had to get up and going today to make it to Deanna's volleyball tournament. We didn't make it there until the last game of the last match but at least we made it. It was awesome. So many of these coaches I either played with, against or coached me or wanted to coach me. Many of them had not seen me since hearing I was diagnosed with cancer. It was my own little reunion. Deanna and I stayed just a bit longer to see a few other teams play before leaving. Her team took 2nd today and play tomorrow morning again. I'll need to be in bed early in hopes of making it there for game time at 8am (say a prayer for that too). I'm feeling good today...just a little slower paced but still good. Here are a few pictures of what chemo day looks like. Not much to it. The nurses all know me and know I like to sleep as soon as the Benadryl kicks in so they make sure we are put in a "room" with a bed so I can sleep instead of trying to lay on a recliner like most others. As you can probably tell my hair is really thin...a hat is required in my book for outings. I need more practice with my wigs because it just doesn't look good like the ladies at the wig shop made it look...Cher come help me please!

Much love,

Kim

Round 7 tomorrow!!!

Tomorrow will be a different day. Due to my Neuropathy, we are not going to be doing the 46 hr. pump (aka 5FU). I will do all the drugs at Mayo but not the 5FU (I know it has a funny name). When my liver samples were sent to Canada, we did not know what chemo I was going to be given so they tried 5 different chemo's and the 5FU was one of them. In the lab, my liver tissues did not respond. Obviously lab testing and body testing can react differently. Therefore, when I was told we had to not do the 5FU due to the side effect and the concern of long term issues, I was okay with that. However, this is one of the main drugs given. That confirms for me that God is healing my body. I can't wait to do my blood work in two weeks to see if my CEA comes down again without the most important drug. As of today, my CEA dropped again from 4.7 to 4.3. I know it's not much but it still dropped. The CEA is only a marker for them to see if my body is responding positively or negatively. Someone can have a CEA of 0 and still have cancer, but since my CEA was so high it is extremely positive that it continues to go down. After round 8, I will be having scans done again to measure the progress against my previous scans. I will have the scans done around the 9th of February then getting the results that Friday before treatment. I think that date is the 13th. I'm actually excited to only have one day of treatment this time. Therefore, I won't have to carry around my pump at Deanna's volleyball tournament all weekend. When this Neuopathy goes away in my hands then we will start the 5FU again but only at 25%. Last round we reduced 25% but was still given 75% of that drug. Next time will be reduced by 75% and only being given 25%. Hopefully that makes sense. If I react with the Neuropathy again then we will have to stop this treatment and try another one. Please pray for no reaction to the 5FU at 25%. I really don't want to have to change treatments. Things are going so well...thanks to God!!!! Again, thank you to everyone who continues to keep my family in their prayers. The Lord hears us. Keep it coming.

Much love,

Kim

Benefit Concert- January 31st!

Thanks to Sentimental Journey for putting together a Benefit Concert for Kim! Details are listed below. Please click on the image to see the full text.

Trying not to dwell...

So, I got a phone call today from our HR director at Corporate. He informed me that our entire division of John Laing Homes in Arizona is now CLOSED. They are completely pulling out of Arizona. This supposedly does not affect my long term disability because that is from the insurance company. I was beyond shocked. I want to thank everyone at the Corporate office in California for being such amazing people. It was such a pleasure meeting you all. And to my Phoenix team, you are all great people and I really enjoyed working with you all. Hopefully our paths will cross again soon. What is going on in our world today? This doesn't only affect our team...the trade companies that worked with us no longer have our business, the cleaners that did an awesome job cleaning our models no longer have a job...the list goes on and on. I would be so grateful is everyone reading this would say a prayer for all the people that have been affected by this. I will...like always...put my faith in God that he will put me where I need to be in the future.

Much love,

Kim

January 11,2009...I can't believe it's 2009!

It's so funny when I get text messages about not blogging. They go something like this "What the heck is going on...you haven't updated in a few days". lol Sorry to you all who check on a daily basis. This last week has been a pretty good week. Round 6 was completed last Sunday. It seems that my first day of treatment is getting to be the hardest day. I got sick twice last Friday...I was so upset because I think I should be able to control it. I know...I know...I don't have control of that, but I want to. My hair is thinning so bad now that I won't go out without a hat on. I'll probably start wearing my awesome wigs. Everyone is just amazed that I still have hair. Since I've been taking B6 vitamins twice a day, my Neuropathy hasn't been nearly as bad but it is still there. The past few days I was able to open my own water bottles with very little discomfort. I was so happy. Then today I woke up and was just a bit swollen but couldn't open my water bottle. It gets a bit irritating not being able to accomplish the most simple things in life...but one day at a time. I have accepted and actually enjoy allowing Deron, the kids or my parents to help me to do those things. One other symptom I'm having is what they call Chemo brain... If I don't write about it right away...I forget everything now. I'll be in the middle of a conversation and forget what I was talking about. lol
Deron started with a new squad on swing shift this past week...which is his favorite shift. He has a great group of guys on his squad, so I'm happy for him. He's home between 12pm-1am. It will be much easier for my mom to help me with the kids and put them to bed at home knowing that Deron will be home soon. I think it will be good for this kids as well to be home more...have a bit more of a normal life. When Deron was working graveyard shift, we stayed with my parents a lot. I'm sure that had to be tough for the kids to spend more time at Nana and Grandpa's vs. home.
As of last Friday (chemo day) my CEA count (cancer marker) dropped again from 5.3 to 4.7. This drop is just from round 5. They weren't scheduled to draw for the CEA until before round 7 (this Friday) but they did anyways. I will have scans again next month. God is good!!!!!
I just have to say I've been so amazed at people...from my family to my friends, to the Mormon church who everyday this month has been bringing my family wonderful dinners. Shannon is my neighbor and her entire Ward has rallied together to take care of my family almost this entire month. They are all so sweet and great cooks. Thank you to you all who have already brought food and those that are still scheduled. It means the world to us.
Tonight I got beat in Wii Golf by Deron and Kyrstin. Then when the kids went to bed I got beat in bowling by Deron. I don't know how much I like this Wii. I've never lost so much before in my life. lol I have to say, it has given us more things to do as a family which I love.
Deanna had her first club volleyball tournament this past weekend...they got first! They are awesome. They have another major tournament this weekend at ASU (Fiesta Classic).
Round 7 this Friday...keep the prayers coming. The good Lord hears us all!

Much love,
Kim

Yard Sale! What What!

Yard Sale Feb. 21st and 22nd
Cousin Kristin's Casa
6145 North 9th Ave
Phx 85013
Please stay tuned for more details. You can email both my mom Karrie and I for donations and details. Kjess@cox.net (Karrie) and KristinMilstead@yahoo.com
All proceeds going to Kim!

LUV YOU KIM! YOU ARE MY HERO!

Round 6 is tomorrow...

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! I also wish you all a wonderful and blessed New Year! 2009 will be good! This update will be shorter...I'm a bit tired tonight. The cabin was amazing. Deron felt right at home and calls it a five star cabin. I'll get pics posted as soon as I ask Kandus to help me do a slide show. The fire dept. happened to be on the road to the cabin with a back hoe plowing driveways for the snowed in people. Our drive had not been plowed yet. Therefore we would have had no way of getting to the cabin with the 4 ft. wall of snow blocking the drive. Thank you Lord for putting those men there for us.
I'm still having a bit of issues with the Neuropathy in my hands. Each morning I've been waking up with swollen hands so it makes the simple things, hard. Again, this is my only symptom so I'm feeling pretty lucky.
We got home late Monday night. Tuesday my in laws got to town in the afternoon. They drove from their home in Oregon this time ILO Cali. 21 hours of driving...no thank you! We then went to the Insight Bowl Game Wednesday with them. Deron's side the family went to KU and those KU people are die hard fans. It was awesome to be a part of that experience. Thanks Dad. We were all so tired from being at the tail gate party, pregame, and game that after dinner (which was at 9pm) we all went home and fell asleep. I was in bed at 11pm. I woke up to hearing neighbors cheering and lighting firecrackers. I woke Deron up just enough to get a quick peck on the lips, said Happy New Years, and we fell back asleep. My poor mom waited up til 3am waiting for me to call her. I've always called her at midnight...I've also always been up at midnight. Today we all hung out at my house, ate so much food...all day long, watched football and then Deron, his dad, step mom, and uncle all played each other in a round of Golf on the Wii. That was quite comical. I start round 6 tomorrow. Chemo is my friend....chemo is my friend. That's what I tell myself. I've been feeling awesome. I'm loosing hair at the normal rate you normally loose hair but I'm not regrowing any right now. The top of my head is getting pretty thin but still looking okay. I have not had any fevers, even when my counts are dangerously low. Thank you Lord again for always looking out for me and healing me!!!!! I love you all and I hope 2009 is awesome for you!!!!
Much Love,
Kim

Sweetheart/Valentine's Dance Cancelled

We have made the decision to cancel the Sweetheart/Valentine's Dance for Feb. 13th due to the lack of response at this time. We are planning on doing another Bowling Fundraiser sometime in the Spring.

Happy New Year,
Aunt Kathy

Hallah!

Hey, I went on the Drury link that you have on your blog and I went to high school with her daughters! Small world. If you contact her at all, let her know that I was on the swim team with her daughter Michelle! See ya tomorrow!
love yah lots!
Kristin