Giving

Brett and I were very involved in a variety of activities at church and in our community before we began our adventure last fall. Lately we've been thinking and praying about where we should go from here. We want to be able to give to others. Giving is part of the joy of living. We also know we should be careful not to over commit. Ahhh, looking for a balance in life once again. We're setting priorities. I honestly figure that the rest will work itself out in God's timing. For now, we are thankful for today and resting in the healing that He has given us. We also continue to pray for a continued miracle. We call it the miracle maintenance program by God's grace. God is good and in charge. We are eternally grateful for his guidance and all He has done and is doing in our lives.
Looking up.

Sheri

Latest Doc Visit

We are now living the new normal. On Monday we went down for an appointment and Herceptin treatment. After an examination, my doctor thinks things are going well. She has set scans for the beginning of September to check in more detail. We'll be getting a bone scan and a PT scan. That means I get to drink the lovely orange-chalk drink before I go down. Ooo-ah. Oh well, that's ok and I know it's important.
We are praying for a continued miracle. At this point it's the miracle maintenance plan.
My muscles are still getting used to a little more activity than they've seen the past few months. They let me know about it occasionally but the more I gently push them, the better it seems to get over time. My goal is to be able to walk in the Chelan Chase this October. I'm looking forward to that. Brett even ordered a few hats to wear when we walk. It should be fun.

Looking up!

Sheri

Live from the Oregon Coast

Hidy ho from the Oregon Coast. Sheri and I are at a WBMA (Western Building Materials Assoc) conference for the next few days. The kids are with Sheri's folks, so it's just us. We packed up the convertible and travelled top down. We found out one thing though....12 hours with the top down is exhausting! Dude, we are fried cookies! Don't cry for us, we'll bounce back. It's 65 and cool down here. We'll spend the time networking with other lumber people, and learning new stuff to help run the business. We really haven't talked much on this blog about our business. I do appreciate my crew at work who have supported Sheri 100% through this. They've supported me by letting me support Sheri too. Sheri really takes a genuine interest in the lumberyard, and is one of my best spokespeople. I value her support of me and us as a business.

Well off to my first networking session (on the golf course, I play once a year, I leave that up to my Dad), Sheri is off to the spa (I've got to spoil her a bit too!). Tomorrow starts the real education seminars. Blog at you soon.

Brett

Permission from Alyssa and a family trip

Since Mommy lost her hair, it's been hard for Alyssa. "It's embarrassing mom!", she would say. So especially for her I would always make sure I had a hat or wig on whenever we went out in public together. (Honestly, when I was completely bald, I wanted something on too! One, it was COLD in the winter and two...it's just nice to be a girl with her hair done.) When we were at home, she was fine with mommy without a wig or hat.
So, yesterday we were busy getting in the car to go to the store. About half way down the hill to the store I remembered my hat. "Oops! I forgot my hat!", I said. I was about to turn around when I heard a soft voice from behind me say, "That's ok mommy." It was Alyssa. "Really?" I asked. "Yes", she said, "It's ok." So on we went to the store! Mommy was out with her new hair do. It looks like a short little boys cut.

We went to Stehekin today in the boat and rode bikes to Rainbow Fall. And yes, we stopped by the bakery! It was beautiful and a wonderful family time.
On the way up the lake the kids told me my hair looks like the same color as the burnt trees from the forest fire that went through a couple of years ago. Ya gotta love kids honesty! I think Bryce's comment was "Hey mommy, your hair looks like that hill." I laughed. "Thanks honey!" Of course Brett let me know he was pretty right on.
Stehekin is one of our favorite places to play as a family. We have many good memories and many more to make.

Looking up!

Sheri

Tumor Board Review

Last time I went down for Herceptin, I could feel it working in my body when I got home. I figured that this was either very good or very bad, but wasn't sure which. We called my doctor and saw her today. She examined me and fortunately couldn't find anything. We will have more routine scans in late August. These will give us more definitive answers.

We also reviewed what she went over with the tumor board. This board is a group of doctors that review cases and give each other their medical opinions based on the latest research. At this point they were VERY pleased with my last set of scans that showed so much progress. They are not recommending a mastectomy right now. They would like me to wait and see how my next set of scans go. At that point they will reevaluate my staging. If there was any new activity in the breast, then they would recommend the mastectomy.

I go down again in a couple of weeks for a Herceptin treatment. In the mean time, we plan on living life to the fullest and enjoying summer with our kids. In a couple of weeks Brett and I are also planning on a little "vacation" to the Oregon coast. It's a lumber yard business trip that we are looking forward to.

Continuing to look up,

Sheri