OVER THE "HUMP"

Christine and her baby boy Charlie

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Well here we are on the downhill side of Chris' chemotherapy treatments. The light at the end of the tunnel is definitely getting brighter. This last weekend was strange because the chemo infusion hit Chris harder than usual.


On Friday, when they began the treatment, her white cell count was down to 1100. (normal is around 1500) It wasn't to big a deal but they gave her a drug that I would have to inject on Saturday and Sunday.


We gave her the shot on Saturday and it hit her hard. She ended up sleeping the rest of the weekend. It was then that I started to read the warnings that came with the drug, and (in bold and capitals) it said to make certain the last shot was given at least 24 hrs before chemo was to begin and the doctor had us giving the shots while she was hooked up to the pump!!! So we didn't give the Sunday shot, and Chris started feeling better Sunday evening.


I was getting somewhat cynical before all this came down the pike, but now I am convinced that is absolutely dangerous and stupid to put all your trust into our corrupt medical establishment.


We have to keep control of our health care decisions, and make certain we understand what is being done to us.


Please don't get me wrong, I know that there are wonderful doctors out there, but there are many more that don't care for a patient past their wallet. (Nurses are the opposite. Most are absolutely wonderful, and underpaid)


I'm working under the assumption that when the chemo is behind us, with better dietary and lifestyle habits, we won't have to go through anything like this again. I have come to realize that, here in America, we are eating ourselves to death.

Camping with Charlie ,Candi, and the Boys

.................................................RIP to my favorite hat!
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............."Chris, see if he'll let you get just a little bit closer!"

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We haven't been camping in ages. It was so much fun to go to Yellowstone this weekend and camp. Liam and Aidan were so good, and made the trip wonderful for Grandma and Grampa.

The one sad thing was that while we were down on the edge of Yellowstone Lake, a gust of wind took my favorite hat into the lake (It's the one I'm wearing in the photo on top of the Coba Pyramid) The Ranger thought she had a pole that could reach it (but it wasn't long enough) and while we were waiting, this huge group of Chinese came by on the boardwalk, and they all had to have their pictures taken with the hat in the background. The ones with the cameras were giving directions like "Point to the hat and smile!" At least that's what I thought they were saying because they all posed by pointing to the hat and smiled for the photos to be taken!

At dinner by the Old Faithful Inn, we were the main course for the gazillion mosquitoes.

We were surprized by all the geysers spouting around old faithful including one down by the lake that the ranger, who couldn't rescue my hat, said never happens.

We had a great time and can't wait to go again soon!

ALMOST HALFWAY DONE !

.......28 June 1972, Salt Lake City, Utah, Temple Square

Chris had a wonderful weekend inspite of the chemo pump she was hooked up to, and had to drag around with her where ever she went. Her white blood cell count was back up high enough on Friday for them to be able to give her number 5 chemotherapy treatment. The only problem with that timing is that the "empty alarm" went off during Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. So we left right after the service (which was just as well because she slept through most of it anyway) to come home and disconnect her from the pump. Once that task was accomplished, she promptly took another nap.

Chemotherapy is supposed to do a number on you with fatigue, but Chris is holding up remarkably well. On Saturday, (our anniversary) we went to the farmer's market here in Bozeman at the fairgrounds. It was something keeping up with her! We went to lunch at Dave's Sushi and for dinner we set up the tables out under the shade on the lawn and had buffalo burgers and striper bass for dinner.

All-in-all, it was a wonderful day to celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary.

A Fun Week With Bennett

Bennett got to spend the week with Grampa here in Bozeman, and we had fun! We went golfing (He's getting pretty good) We went to a couple of movies. (The Hulk ((really good)) WALL-E ((really great)) and we checked out some stuff from the library) We went to the Museum of the Rockies, and shopping for Grandma's anniversary present, and just hung out together. I enjoyed having him here alot, but all good things come to an end and on Sunday afternoon Uncle Liberty picked him up and took him back to Rigby.