Only two more to go!!!

Hi friends,
It is 3pm and I just finished my 6th round of chemo. They sure are good there in Exeter. My friend Ruth came with me today. I had a foot massage and a dog show and a nice lunch and a lot of good oconversation. Just 2 more to go. I am feeling great! I am back to teaching a lot of classes during the week and walking and doing light jogs on the weekend. Sometimes I like to do hills for an extra challenge. I am feeling stronger and more like my regular self. As I compare my challege to that of today's marathon...I'm heading up heart break hill now! I still really hate being bald, but you all have been so great telling how beautiful I look. I don't feel so beautiful, but it is nice to hear your compliments. So far I have not worn the wig. I've been sticking with the scarves mostly and bandanas to work out. John told me I looked like a pirate the other day. And so did my Uncle Bob! Can you believe the teasing I must endure? "Mom, where is your sword? Where's your parrot?" When I wear the bandana I feel kinda like a biker chick! Oh yeah, I am a real fashion plate!! I still have my eye lashes and brows. I'm crossing my fingers that they don't go.

Thanks for the meals that are coming on the chemo week. I start to fade in the afternoon, so the meals are great for when I'm most tired. Thanks to you all. The food has been wonderful! Thanks too for all of you who have contributed to the house cleaning and misc. account. The cleaners come every other week and do an unbelievable job. It is just such a treat to have them.

John says it seem like I don't have cancer and that I am just the crazy hyper lady I've always been... I guess that is a compliment. My spirits are way up and my body is feeling stronger and stronger. The fresh air and sunshine help. Thank you for all of your prayers and positive vibes. I know that they have contributed to my successful recovery.I promise to post again soon. I know it has been a long time since my last entry. I've just been so busy, and that is a good thing! Kathy

halfway on Monday

Hello friends!
I'm sorry for not posting sooner. I know that many of you check frequently and must be frustrated with the lack of new info. I was having some trouble getting onto my own Blog! My blog guru, my sister Jennie, was away on the lovely island of St. Maarten enjoying the sunshine and beaches.
Monday will be my fourth chemo and last with the first set of drugs. That means four more to go. A friend tells me that she had a much easier time with the second drug. Sounds good to me! I have really been feeling pretty good. I had been told that the effects of the chemo were cumulative, but I guess I kind of ignored that warning. Well it hit me last week a bit harder than I expected. I have been a bit more tired and nauseous, but nothig that isn't manageable. I am still plugging away with my Pilates teaching and enjoying the time I get with all of you students! I have been able to get some time on my treadmill and have been taking some nice long walks with Ryan and Kevin after school. I've also been doing some Zumba, Latin dance. So much fun!
Well so much for the cute new haircut! Yup, I am now a baldie. I got the wig, but have yet to wear it. It sort of makes me think that I am in a play or dressing up for Halloween or something weird like that. I have been sticking with the hats and scarves for now. Paul and the boys seem totally un-fazed by my new look. When I am at home I just march about with my bald head and earrings! I must say I really don't like not having hair and I'm not sure I can really get used to this. But, I don't have much of a choice... so I will just have to suck it up!
Tonight we are going to a fashion show at the high school that benefits Relay for Life. Sam was one of the models when he was at the high school and now John will be doing it. It's a lot of fun and they have a great raffle. We win something every year!
Abby, my niece and photographer, has said that she would take some new pictures for the blog. So, I will post again soon. As always, thanks to all for the great meals, cards, rides, playdates and positive thoughts and prayers! We greatly appreciate the continued support and kindness we have been given by all of you!

Kathy

Almost halfway done with chemo and spring is coming!

Kathy is planning to post again soon after we solve some technology issues, but I wanted to put an update on her progress before too long. I spoke with her on the phone yesterday. She is remarkably upbeat, although the third chemo definitely brought a few more side effects, especially fatigue and some nausea. She is wearing her hats to keep her head warm, and for those of you who haven't seen her, she is beautiful. I always knew she had pretty blue eyes, but for some reason now they just jump out at you. I don't have much news, but I think Kathy will post soon.

Zeke or Zeek is still missing and more

Hello Kathy Kerrigan fans,

The staff infection initially was thought to be nasty(by us pseudo-doctors), but should be treated and we hope that we stay on the normal chemo course of action, as exciting as that is! Kathy went down to continue her Pilates certification testing this weekend. She was concerned about her level of concentration. Ya me too; she will likely get a 98, or maybe even a 97 on this one. I of course have been incredibly supportive of the studying. I want to thank all you volunteers who have taken the heat off me here at home. If it weren't for you, I might have found myself strapped to that machine of torture. Sure, it looks easy in the video. I just keep thinking of the last scene in Braveheart. I just want to yell FREEDOM every time they strap you into a different position!

Not that I couldn't use a few hundred hours of work out time. I also want to thank each and every one of you for the delicious food that has been bestowed upon us each and every evening. I mean every evening. Chicken Parmesan, Steak Tips, Ribs to die for, Pork loin, A Full turkey dinner( a second Thanksgiving), deserts that make your mouth water. Hearty soups, Mexican dinners, tacos and burritos, stews. I literally have not eaten like this ever. I have threatened to name a dinner hall of fame, but have been advised against it. Kathy is an awesome cook, but there is something about not having to prepare things that makes it like...you are going out to dinner.

So I want you to imagine for a second what happens when you go out for dinner. You check out the menu, order, enjoy the company, eat a delicious meal ...for me most often OVEREAT. But you always find room for desert, and somehow maybe even a drink or two. Are you getting the picture. Every night.

I had to go the the Dr's the other day. I felt like I had the flu. Kevin had been sick for several days and the last thing we need is sickness near our patient.
So I am in the office feeling rather sluggish, I check in and the nurse brings me down the hall. I have my blood pressure checked, passed with flying colors. Then I had to jump on the scale. This is after YOUR meals for five weeks. I see the readout, jerk my head around to see if the nurse is standing on the back of the scale. No wonder I can't get up and down the basketball court this year. I am thinking I need to loose 5 pounds, no... how about 15 pounds. This explains alot. I only have 5 pairs of pants that I can now wear. Three of which have expanding waists. So many of you nice folks come up to me and ask how things are going. How is Kathy. How are the kids. Truthfully, everything is going pretty well and it is all because we have such nice friends and family.

I have realized what is important in life. Friends, family and a belly that hangs over my pants. Evidently this is the way I handle a little stress. Eat like Labrador retriever. There is an old wives tale that says that if you keep feeding a Lab they will eat themselves to death. Please do not test me anymore. If you are going to cook for us, and I assume some of you will, do not send along two dozen cookies each night.

OK, seriously. Labrador retriever:
Zeke is still missing. I could use some help. Many of you asked about helping. This is it. Zeke is a BLACK lab, male who weighs 100-110 lbs.(large like some one we know) He has two collars, both red one has the receiver on it for an electric fence.
He is friendly, jumps a little, eats like a horse. When we find a picture I will distribute it. He is a classic looking large black lab. If you know people in Durham, Lee, Madbury, Nottingam, Newmarket, Epping, Barrington, pls pass the word!!!
He could easily latch onto whoever is willing to feed him.

Kathy just walked in from her Certification. She may have slipped to the low 90's, but I will wait for the final score. I am betting on 97!

I thank you all for taking the time to keep up with Kathy.

Paul

Please Help Find Zeke, the Beloved Black Lab

I talked to Kath today and she said its been a rough week. She's dealt with a staff infection that is requiring some additional doctors visits and stress, but the worst of it was losing their beloved dog, Zeke. He's a two year old black lab with a red invisible-fence collar. On Tuesday, he got past their invisible fence by using a snowbank, and he hasn't been seen since. Please, please, please, if you see a goofy yellow lab trotting around your neighborhood, call "Zeke," and see if he comes. He's friendly, he'll get right into your car, and his collar has one of those finder chips, so you can call in.
Pass the word to friends if you would, and maybe we can help get Zeke back home safely.

First chemo down...7 to go

Hi Everyone,
Abby did such a great job with the pictures of my new hair cut. She is such a cutie pie! I'm already used to the new doo, too bad it won't last very long. Yes, I will lose all of my hair very soon. I may have a variety of looks to share with you all. Hats, doo rags ( as Sammy calls them), scarves and wigs will be among the styles I may be sporting.

I had my first chemo treatment on Monday. I was there for several hours and home by 1:30. Paul was there with me and I really was a bit grouchy at the start of the day. Yes, I was grouchy!! I had decided that , nope I really did not want to do this cancer/chemo thing and that we should just turn the car right around and go home. Then when we got to the Oncology department I had ants in the pants to just get the dang thing started. What is taking so long!! God bless Paul. The man is as patient and calm as a saint. He just laughs and says,"Okay Kathy. But I just want to know, are you going to be like this ALL day?". I stopped my grouchyness after about an hour. The people in that department, like in every other department at Exeter that I have encountered, were great. We read the paper, I had a chair massage, had a little lunch and I even did a little art project. Sounds almost like a spa don't you think?

Every day I wonder how I will feel. Really it is every moment of every day that I wonder what is next. I really hate the unknown and just like to be able to know what I'm up against in advance. Cancer and chemo , I have discovered, don't work that way. I guess I just need to learn to go with the flow. Any way...I feel great. I'm afraid to even say it or write it for fear of jinxing myself. Alright, not great, but quite good. No nausea, not too tired, maybe just a bit anxious. I am hoping that this is how I will weather the entire course of treatment. One down...7 more to go.

Our family is blessed to have the kind of help and support we are continuing to receive from all of you out there. The meals have been a blessing when I just don't feel up to whipping up a delicious healthy meal for the boys. You are all so generous with your time to do this for us. Thanks to all of you who have volunteered for my Pilates. Many of you said that you really felt it the next day. I love it!! It is very challenging and so good for you. My testing is next Sat. and I have all of my hours in now. Those of you who I have not had a session with, no need to worry. I still need practice. I'll get you in! You too can experience Kathy's Pilates kicker!

With hope, faith, gratitude and thanks,
Kathy

Pre-chemo haircut.

Kathy got her haircut on Tuesday. Mia, her hairdresser and friend, made this process so much easier for her. From what I heard, there were a few tears, loud music, some dancing, and lots of love and support. I think she looks fantastic!!!!! Quoting another friend, LL, "it makes sense for Kathy's hair to be short, since she herself is, well, not exactly TALL!"

Abby, Kathy's niece and budding photographer, did an "America's next top model" type photo shoot at our house so we could post some pics of the new do. We had a rough time trying to get the "fierce look" of Tyra's models, but we sure had fun. Kathy promises to let Abby capture her next during-chemo look - we know Abby can capture the true beauty of my beloved sis, hair or no hair.

It seems that despite the challenges, Kathy, her friends and family are finding the joy and the fun parts of this too.