25 June - Ben Rides His Bike

Ben learned how to ride his bike without training wheels this weekend! Now all he wants to do is ride his bike... :) (I don't know why this picture keeps loading up sideways). We also had a nice dinner visit from our friends Mary and Eric this weekend - Sarah and Mary are enjoying the weather and comfortable chairs in the backyard. Sarah's been tired but otherwise feeling good & her white blood cell count stayed high this time thanks to a shot right after her last chemo. Just gearing up for the next chemotherapy in one week.

19 June 2006

Went to talk to Sarah's surgeon - mastectomy is scheduled for 11 August 2006, three weeks after her fourth chemo. We're both very worried about what the future will hold, but have resolved to take Sarah's treatment one step at a time and be positive. Our oncologist consulted with a doctor at John's Hopkins and both were in agreement that Sarah was receiving treatment consistent with the latest body of cancer knowledge based on her situation.

17 June 2006

Ok, made it through the week and Sarah is enjoying her first comfortable day off anti-nausea drugs. Here she is with Sam at Ben's friend Maddie's birthday party. Two chemo treatments down, two more to go for now.

12 June 2006 - Another Difficult Day

Today Sarah went to get her second chemotherapy and we also got the results of her spine MRI. We were expecting it to confirm no cancer there, but unfortunately it showed small cancer lesions in several spots. This changes the treatment plan as it focuses on controlling the cancer vs. removing it all and we are still working out what the plan will be. In the mean time we are just trying to digest this news and stay positive. Sarah's cancer should respond to two drugs that will slow or hopefully halt the advance and she will start those right after her mastectomy.

11 June 2006 - Sarah's Birthday

Here's a partial family photo for Sarah's birthday. Perfect timing (last day before next chemo) so that Sarah could enjoy the day.

10 June 2006

Our two speed demons having fun in the back yard. My parents, "Oma and Grandpa," are here to help watch the kids during "week 1" of the next Chemo cycle while Sarah works her way through the nausea and fatigue.

Ok, Sarah's feeling better now, but her hair started to fall out on Saturday, 3 June. By Monday it was looking pretty patchy, so Sarah had me shave it off. Here are the before & after shots. You can see in the 3rd pic how her hair started falling out on the sides first - scarves and hats from here on out for a while...

Sarah sitting with Sam at the Memorial Day parade through Arlington Heights.

Memorial Day weekend was a hot one, so Ben and Sam got to play in the backyard pool. Sarah is starting to feel better with less nausea but the fatigue is sticking around.