Another Valentine's Day

The last two years Karen has been in the hospital on Valentine's Day.  This year we are hoping to avoid a three-peat and, so far, things are looking good.

Karen's last chemo treatment was February 1st with her next one scheduled for February 22nd.  Her oncologist added back in a third drug to the regimen.  As a result she has had lower blood counts and increased bleeding this past week.  It was bad enough she needed a unit of red blood cells and a unit of platelets.  Luckily her counts have come up enough that more hasn't been needed.

For Karen losing most of a day being required to have a blood transfusion is frustrating.  It is time she would rather be spending with James and Rebecca.  That doesn't even consider the other side effects that, to put it mildly, she just doesn't like.  She will be talking to her oncologist about other options at her next appointment.

As I type this we are on a mini vacation/work trip in Mt. Pleasant.  It's nice for us to be able to take the kids back to visit friends and family in the area.  Karen had a 'survivor' party today since she has made it to two years (that's how long she was given in her original diagnosis).  Her mother and sister were able to help with the planning and party.  While the party was going I was working so I don't know how it went.  I do know she is taking a nap while the kids do the same.

We will head back home when I finish working here the middle of next week.  With a little luck we can keep Karen out of the hospital while we are here.  After that, we will see how things go at her next chemo appointment.  Hopefully, all goes well since she has been given a vacation, courtesy of One Wish Cache Valley, for our entire family that starts February 29th.  I really hope she is feeling up to it since it could very well be the last family vacation we have.  Whatever the outcome we are happy to have the time together we have been given.

Rebecca reading to James

Braden