Padawan

My favorite Yoda quote these days is "Patience you must have, my young padawan." In working through Brian's treatment, I need to constantly remind myself that we're in this for the long run. In this case, I am certainly the padawan.

We are packing in the appointments before I start the school year. Monday, Brian and I saw his neuro oncologist to review Brian's general health, blood count, and a current MRI.  After a few weeks to recover from radiation, we were told to expect the MRI scan to look about the same as it did before the biopsy, or slightly larger because of swelling. This was exactly what we saw.  The shape looks a lot like Casper the Friendly Ghost, or a Grateful Dead dancing bear (which seems fitting). So these results, paired with Brian's general good health, leads us into phase two of treatment: Brian started chemotherapy treatment Monday night.

Of course, all day I've been asking Brian "How are you feeling now?" and the truth is that these drugs will take some time to work into his system and the symptoms will progress throughout the 6 week cycle. Again I'm reminded: Patience, my young padawan. The easy and hard times will come and go. It's all temporary. As for Tuesday, he felt well: woke up to meditate and hop on the spin bike, and then paddled on the OC-2 with Nick this evening.

Thank you all for your continued support and concern. The messages, T-shirts, visits, stickers, and thoughts and prayers all lift our spirits. Thank you for keeping us positive!

Bullet Points

We have been bad about updating you all via our blog the past month or so.  Instead of boring you with the details, here are the important updates along with a few photos:

• We made it to Jarod and Laura's (JOLT) wedding in beautiful Colorado.  It  was amazing.  Literally, rainbows appeared when Laura walked down the aisle.  We were so grateful to be there and participate in the whole weekend of events.  It wasn't always easy with altitude, radiation effects and pregnancy, but we did our best.

• We celebrated our 5-year wedding anniversary in Colorado the day before the JOLT wedding.  I am proud to know we are such a good team together.    
• After Colorado, my Mom came back to Seattle with us to observe the 4-year anniversary of Dad's death.  Time goes fast, but August 11 is a day that our family will not forget.  Dad's spirit was radiant at the JOLT wedding and it was in Seattle too.  We went to see Wilco, which was one of Dad's favorite bands.  I had a blast.  Mom was reminded why Wilco was Dad's favorite band but not her's.  The most important thing was that we were together.  I think Brim is a Wilco fan, and we know Dad would have bought the onesie.

• Radiation effects have been the most difficult after it ended.  Don't worry, this is common and what doctors generally expect.  I really had low energy 2-3 weeks after finishing treatment.  It feels like my energy level is finally improving this week, so we will call that a win.
• The Be Positive movement just keeps rolling along, and is amazing to watch.  Stickers are getting plastered from the top of ski areas in Colorado to our local bars and restaurants we frequent in Seattle (and of course on boards and other gear).  The freaking Avett Brothers even wore the stickers for their show in Washington D.C. last week thanks to Aunt Linda and the Kushners.  It really does give Kim and me a lift.  Thank you!  (If you want stickers, let me know.)

Photo by Rebecca R. Photography (http://www.rebeccarphotography.com/)

• Chemotherapy is planned to start on Monday, 8/24.  I won't get into details, but here is the summary:  Each cycle is 6 weeks; It is mostly pills, with a few IV injections at specific times of the cycle; The side effects are difficult to predict, especially the first cycle(s).
• Brim is doing perfectly according to the doctors and from what we can tell with all the kicking and activity that we feel in Kim's belly.  Kim is in the sweet spot of pregnancy, as she puts it.
• We went to our first parenting/childbirth class last night.  We are also preparing for Brim's arrival by starting to rearrange some rooms in our home to set up the nursery.

Love to you all.