Uncle Ed's Visit

Uncle Ed Smith, our Dad's younger brother, came up to Maine for a visit on Sunday. We all had a great afternoon together at Nancy's. Here are some photos...
Andrea, Cheryl, Uncle Ed, & Nancy

Off to the class reunion

Nancy made it! She and Aaron are on their way to Kennebunk for Nancy's 40th class reunion. Here are some photos taken just before they left. Congratulations, Class of 1970!

I'm Going to Get You, My Pretty!

That must be what Nancy's T.V. was thinking before it flung itself out of the wall cabinet Tuesday night and landed on Nancy! What next???

Seems Aaron had gone to bed and Nancy was staying up late watching TV on the couch. She got up to turn the TV a bit to see it better and - you got it - out it came - crashing to the floor and pinning her left leg. One trip to the E.R. later, Nancy is on crutches with rug burns on her face and broken glasses but, thank God, no broken leg. Could this have happened to anyone else???


This morning, Nancy hobbled into the Maine Women's Cancer center on her crutches for the second weekly infusion of her new chemo drug, Topotecan. Before the chemo could begin, the doctor decided that she needed a blood transfusion as yesterday's blood work indicated that she is anemic again. She finally got home late this afternoon and was resting when I left. Between the swollen left knee, the cockeyed glasses, and the chemo, I think Nancy is doing well to be hanging in there like she is.


Nancy's goal this week is to make it to her 40th Kennebunk High School reunion on Saturday. The class of 1970 would surely be disappointed if the head cheerleader didn't make it. Knowing Nancy, she'll rally and be the life of the party. "Give me a K...!!!"

Mom (Alice) Update

Today Mom moved from Maine Medical Center to the Sam L. Cohen Rehab. Center at the Cedars on Ocean Avenue (almost across from Nancy's home at Summer Place) in Portland. She will be there for a few weeks to regain her strength before heading home to Chandler's Wharf to be with "Tabby". She has a lovely room there...much nicer than the hospital. She is in room 203B and her bedside phone # is 207-221-7206 if you'd like to give her a call. We're all glad that Mom is getting better and hope she will soon be strong enough to be where she really wants to be...in her own home!

p.s. If you would like to send Mom a note or card, her address is:

Rm. 203B

The Cedars

640 Ocean Ave.

Portland, ME 04103

Happy Birthday, Nancy!

We Love You!

Home ...At Last!

this is just a quick update to let everyone know that I got home from MMC at about 4:30 this afternoon!! So glad to be home and see my babies (the cats) again-although 1 is snubbing me right now! Aaron ran to the drug store to pick up the SIX new prescriptions now added to my morning routine--thank God for insurance but it still gets up there when you get so many at once. I'm exhausted, and plan to be flip side very soon under my favorite blanket napping--but I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for their cards, phone calls,visits, flowers etc. The past 12 days were hard but I've got a great support system. Thanks again--it's good to be back among the land of the living!!

another test

Nancy will be having an endoscopy this morning in a continuing effort to address her almost-constant nausea. She was supposed to have her fourth chemo. in this series yesterday at the hospital but Dr. Small postponed it until these tests could be completed. She may still receive the chemo in the next few days, either with the Doxil or a different drug. She is in amazingly good spirits considering all that she is going through and has appreciated all the cards and visits. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers and I'll continue to keep everyone posted as to how she's doing through the blog.

Nancy Update

Nancy is still at MMC. Her kidneys have cleared up but she is still very nauseous. The doctors did a number of tests yesterday and today (chest X-ray, CT scan, Ultrasound) and Nancy is awaiting the results. Hopefully, they will pinpoint the cause of her discomfort so that it can be treated and she can come home soon.

We Made It!

We made it home today with our new Casita in tow...picked it up in Rice, Texas, just south of Dallas, Thursday morning and drove 2000 miles back to Maine in four days. Here are a few photos from the road.

Hank at the Casita factory bright and early Thursday morning...after four months of waiting, it's finally our pick-up day!

On the road from Dallas to Little Rock...stopped in East Texas for lunch at "Mi Casita" Mexican restaurant... and parked our "Casita" in front.

Friday...dawn on the Arkansas river.

This is the view we woke up to!


Coffee Friday morning and a sneak peak at the inside of our new Casita. I'll need to get my sister Joanne up here soon to help with the interior decorating!

Returned to find out that Nancy is still feeling miserable...anxious to go see her at MMC in the morning. Please keep her in your prayers.
p.s. Nancy - you've got to get well so we can do some fall camping together...why do you think we got a new camper that sleeps THREE???

Mom's home

All's well. Just need to spring Nancy now.
Andi

Hi from Virginia

Hank and I have finally stopped at a place with WiFi...writing this from a Starbucks in Staunton, Virginia at lunchtime on Saturday. Good flight to Dallas on Wednesday; just made it in before they closed Love Field due to thunderstorms. Picked up our new Casita early Thursday morning and just LOVE IT! Drove from Dallas to Little Rock Thursday afternoon...stopped for real Mexican food on the way at a restaurant called, of all things, La Casita. Food was great...the real thing. Spent Thursday night at a beautiful campground, Maumelle Park, on the Arkansas River just outside of Little Rock. Passed the Clinton Presidential Library but did not have time to stop. Yesterday we left Little Rock and drove through Memphis and Nashville, spending the night in the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel restaurant just east of Knoxville, Tennessee. Cracker Barrel welcomes RVers overnight so we were not the only ones. With the Casita, we were very comfy and had breakfast this morning right there (grits, bisquits and gravy, etc...). Today traffic is light so our goal is to make it to Pennsylvania before stopping for the night.
p.s. Hank says that there are so many Christian radio stations down here that if he continues listening, and is reborn on every station, he'll be 25 before he hits the Pennsylvania line.
p.s. #2 More from Hank: "Should anyone need directions to any Cracker Barrel from Maine to Texas, give me a call."
p.s.#3 and even more from Hank: "The reason for so many Christian stations is that every other exit has a XXX Adult video and gift store."

Hi Nancy, Hope you are feeling better today. See you soon!

Update on Mom

She is in Room 701A and her phone is 207-662-7785

Mom also at MMC 9/3/2010

Just left Mom in the ER where she is waiting for a bed. Guess she really wanted to visit Nancy today so she called the ambulance for a ride to the hospital. Mom had a severe chest pain this AM. She is now feeling fine and all her tests are Okay so far. She will stay the night for observation and more blood work. She's been there so much, she knew the phlebotomist, Rocky, by name.

Will try to keep you posted under Nancy's name as I can't log in myself.
Andi

A Nancy Update: Friday 9/3/2010

A Nancy update
Nancy is still at MMC. Aaron has taken the week off to be with her as much as possible.

She has received several blood transfusions and is very fatigued. Nancy is scheduled to have both of her ureter stents replaced today in surgery. Hopefully this will make her feel better. Aaron has just reported to me that Nancy’ surgery is already over and was successful. The kidneys show no sign of tumors! Yeah!!!

For any of you who have not seen Nancy lately, she is also now a twig, with no meat on her bones. This is something the Stunning Smith Sisters would normally love, however, I now wish I could now give some of my extra poundage to Nancy. She has donated her "fat clothes" to me.

Nancy is trying to keep up her humor, despite a horrid roommate who will not share the bathroom and has Nancy going down the hall to shower and use the toilet.

Nancy needs our prayers to give her the strength to keep fighting and to stay strong. Please take a minute today to think of her.

She must be so tired of fighting this battle for 5 years. I know I couldn't handle this like she has. Guess we really can learn how to live from our "Little Sister". She is my hero.

Nancy will likely still be in the hospital through some of the weekend. Her number at MMC is 207-662-7701.

Nancy, you are my best friend, my childhood roommate and sparring partner, and I will love you forever. Keep fighting and eat!(as if Mom hasn't called to tell you to eat enough this week).

Andi