More pictures of our Christmas

We had a delightful dinner on Sunday night with Tom and Jane George and their girls. The girls had not seen each other for 6 years but it was like yesterday when they got together. They were as cute as can be as the picture shows. Christmas Eve was Mass at Rosary and then dinner with Jan and Janet and boys. Another fun evening with John and Jesi being able to join us for cocktails. AJ loved the second floor railing and as long as Aunt Jessica was there to keep him from falling through the rails. It is good to have the holidays but I am looking forward to putting it all away again for next year. To those of you that were in Toledo for the holiday and we were not able to see, remember us. You wish there had been more time to visit and see everyone. Our time was precious this year with family. We will have time to visit in the future, I promise.

I talked to John tonight after the chemo and he was glad to be home in his own bed. He slept well last night and it is ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK now! I want to win this round with melanoma!. As we head into the new year it is time to reflect and I would have to say that 2007 was not a year I would want to relive. Lets have hope that 2008 will be a better year for the Stanfords!

December 26, John's birthday

John turned 27 today. We celebrated! He and Jesi returned to Marysville tonight to prepare for another round of chemo starting tomorrow. AJ will stay with Grammy and Grampa and aunt Jessica until Friday when we go to Columbus to sent Jessica back to LA. It was a chaotic Christmas and that was good. There was so much going on that it was impossible to dwell on what might be happening next Christmas. We enjoyed all of the activity of the moment. It was fun, hectic and just plain busy. John did talk to the neurosurgeon today and they will be planning gamma knife surgery for the brain tumors, probably sometime in later January. It was great to have the family together this past weekend.

Merry Christmas

Few words and a few pictures for anyone who happens to check in today. We had a good morning of presents and food. Last nights family pictures are hilarious though because the best one of all of the adults is the one where AJ is looking backwards. I have posted for you all to laugh with us today. We will try some more tonight.
Love and Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas countdown

The house is full. Jessica arrived late Friday night (actually early AM Saturday) and we have been on the go ever since. It was fun having AJ on my own for a couple of days but I can't imagine having a toddler around full time anymore. It is hard to get anything done. I have much wrapping of presents to do between now and Tuesday AM. Thank goodness for bags. It is a fun busy time and we are enjoying everyone around us. John is a trouper never complaining about all of the activity around him and sharing in as much of it as he can. The bowl schedule has kept football on TV and he is enjoying running his annual pool. By the way that is the football I was struggling with last week. I had to pick winners for the 32 bowl games and put confidence numbers to each game. So far I have 2 right but I had high confidence numbers on those games and I am in 12th place out of thirty some enties. Of course my pick for Michigan State winning is being laughed at by almost everyone in the pool. We'll see???

It may not be Norman Rockwell but...

I think sometimes we (maybe I) want everything to be the way it looks like it is suppose to be. The Norman Rockwell painting syndrome I will call it. Looking in other peoples windows and seeing beautifully decorated trees and assuming they are all celebrating the perfect Christmas. It won't be that way at the Stanfords this year and it probably isn't that way in a lot of the houses I look into as I pass them. As I ran around today finishing some last minute errands, I looked into those windows and thought about what is really important. It isn't the presents, the decorations, the parties. It is the people. I am blessed with wonderful people in my life. My husband, my parents, my children, all of our relatives and friends. Thanks you all for being part of my life. The good times wouldn't be as good without you and the bad times would be unbearable. As we head into these last days before Christmas, slow down and enjoy the people in your lives, the rest of it really doesn't matter.

Mixed Results for John

How to start? The MRI yesterday showed growth in the brain tumors and the doctors feel that is what caused the seizure on Friday. The heart continues to shrink slowly though, as a result of the current chemo cocktail and as for the rest of the tumors in the body, some are shrinking and some are growing. The oncologist wants to add a different drug to the chemo mix which has shown to cross the blood brain barrier better. This could be started at the next scheduled chemo which is December 27. Jesi and John were still waiting for the neurosurgeon's input although the oncologist said gamma knife is still the most probably action for the brain tumors. It will just be when it is performed. Usually the surgeon wants it to be three weeks after chemo. As of today when I talked to Jesi, John was sleeping but doing OK. I think he was hoping the seizure was just a result of the chemo. I am trying to put a positive spin on all of this and say the seizure was a way to put the brain tumors on the forefront and treat them as actively as the heart tumor. John is getting some blood tomorrow and then will be in Perrysburg until the 26th. We will have a Merry Christmas.

MMEMFM

When the kids went to college I always tried to sit down on Monday morning and send a little recap of the past week. The subject line would always be MMEMFM standing for, Monday morning e-mail from mom. I may try to incorporate that concept into this blog. At least it will be today's topic. Actually I do not have to recap, because you can just scroll down and read about our week. But for the future I will try to make sure there is a little Monday morning update on how the Stanford's fared over the past week.

Last week was not one of our better weeks but we got through it and today is the beginning of a new week. It is the Christmas season and there is happiness all around. Family and friends visiting, good eats constantly available, and the hope that a new year always brings. I plan to put a smile on my face, finish up the details and enjoy the day.

I know I have acquired many readers over the last month and so today I am asking some of you to leave me a note in the comments section. If you have a favorite saying put that in or maybe a favorite team as I am struggling with this football bowl pool pick sheet. It is easy and quick as my friend Rosemary knows, and the comments mean a lot to me. I could use a boost of positive energy.

My thought for today to get you thinking is "Don't worry about things you have no influence over. It is wasted energy." Now if I could live that a little more I would be all set. Have a great day!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

The winter storm is coming through Ohio much as predicted by the usually reliable forecasters. We had snow flakes yesterday, sleet overnight and quickly accumulating snow all morning. I would say we are in the 3-5 inch range right now and with the wind blowing we could see some drifting starting to take place. Mike and I baked Christmas cookies yesterday and Steve and I napped on and off. As of late yesterday afternoon John was still resting in bed but did not seem to have any major physical affects from the seizure. On Monday his Ohio State team of doctors will review all the data and perhaps have more information as to causes.

We took a pass on a favorite Christmas party last night. I couldn't put on a party face and get through all of the well meaning hugs in my current emotional state which was even more fragile with lack of sleep. I hope everyone had a great time. As I said it is always one of our favorite parties.

Today if the snow slows a little Steve and I hope to get out and do a little cross country skiing on the golf course. We haven't had much opportunity the last couple of years. It seems we only get one or two snow events that will support skiing around this area, then it is either too icy or not enough snow. The tractor is all set up to plow snow now too. I took the mower blade off on Friday when they predicted this storm. The plan is to wait until it stops snowing before doing the work of clearing the driveway. Jessica called from LA yesterday and is thrilled to hear we will be having a white Christmas. Lets hope next weeks travels are not affected by this kind of storm. I am very much looking forward to having my daughter home with me.

The roller coaster of Melanoma

Just when it seems like things are rolling along OK the bottom drops out. The phone call at 3:50AM this morning couldn't be good news. John was at the Marysville hospital. He had a seizure during the night had to call 911 and was at the emergency room. We jumped in the car...and were almost to Marysville when we got the call that they were not going to admit John. They did not know the cause of the seizure but he appeared not to have any brain issues that showed up on the cat scan. They prescribed an anti seizure medicine to add to the arsenal he already has and sent him home. We got to their house got some hugs, gave some hugs and put everyone back to bed. Annal, John college roommate and dear friend to both he and Jesi, is staying at the house this weekend. They sent us back home. John will talk to the oncologist today and see if it is possible this is a side effect of the chemo.

Mike, mean while did not get to go to the State Special Olympics swim meet because of the predicted bad snow storm headed this way. Since Wood County take school buses the decision was made late Friday right before they were to leave. There were several very unhappy athletes. This is one of the bigger state events and 2 nights in a hotel with friends is such a highlight.

So for now we are home, probably napping most of the day.

I do have a life

Recently when we were talking with a friend about blogging the comment was made "blogging is for people with no life". Well it certainly is true that I can get lost while surfing the internet but taking 5 minutes to post something here is probably a more effective use of my time than checking the financials online. (But if you have a great stock tip please pass it along.) And I did not post yesterday because I spent the day out and about getting Christmas at the Stanford's ready. There will be presents under the tree this year. And food to eat. And drinks to imbibe.

Mike is off to the State Special Olympics swim meet in Columbus today. He is rested up and we expect some new records this year. I am sure while I was out and about yesterday he was relaxing and mentally preparing for competition. The new aquatics pavilion at Ohio State is a great venue for this event. Steve and I will not be going down this year. We are looking forward to an empty nest weekend. A rarity in our life.

My thought for everyone reading this today is to remember not to get too busy wrapped up in the details of Christmas. Slow down enough to enjoy the people you are spending time with. They are important.

Christmas vacation (not the movie)

That is what Mike has decided this break in employment will be called. We had a successful meeting with CES (community employment services) yesterday and hopefully some lucky employer will jump at the chance to have such a dedicated employee as Mike. For now he is my employee and we will be out there today finishing up the outside Christmas lights. Then there is cleaning the basement...the garage...vacuuming....he will not be enjoying this Christmas vacation like those when he was a school boy. The karaoke machine is going right now but at least it is Christmas music. I have learned everything there is know about unemployment benefits via the internet and even though it is not to Mike's liking we will be applying just in case.

John is getting a full body CAT scan today to see what is going on in the rest of his body. It seems the latest MRI's were just heart and brain related. The results of this CAT scan will be used to determine where things go at his appointment with the oncologist on December 19. He is recovering from the chemo week but fatigue and back pain remain an issue. Hopefully the CAT scan will offer some insight into the back pain and a therapy other than pain pills can be addressed.

Miss Jessica on the West coast had a great birthday according to the pictures she sent. She and Ben spent her birthday weekend on Catalina Island. Very picturesque and a world away from LA even though just a ferry ride across the Pacific.

Unemployment for Mike

Merry Christmas Mike, but business is bad and we don't have a job for you anymore. How is that for the start of a Monday morning? After more than 3 years at Ozburn Hessey Logistics Mike was terminated yesterday. They are happy with his work, but they had to terminate about 10% of their work force in Perrysburg, and it included Mike. He was assured it was not his performance but just business. They would call him back if things turn around this spring but as of today we are seeking new employment. Actually we are looking at it as an opportunity to try something new. We are meeting with his county support coordinators today which include job developers. We have spent the morning updating his resume and we are ready to go!

He is taking it well and his only concern is that he really does not want to apply for unemployment. He thinks it is a bad thing. Could we clone that opinion into a few million other people. Think about that fellow Ohioian as you get out to vote in the special election today!

The Christmas Tree (part two)

Part two and 2 images show the difference using a flash on the camera. Mike finished the tree with a little help yesterday and now that I have looked at the pictures I see a little more adjusting might be done although in the dark with the lights it is very pretty. Smells great too, but I guess you can get a pine aroma candle and still have the smell with an artificial tree.



I consider there to be four Christmas activites I need to complete:
1. decorating 2. cards 3. shopping 4. baking

While the outside decorating isn't up to my normal standards because of the weather I am still checking it off the list and moving on to cards and shopping. Here's a look at the deck with our icy morning for you Florida friends and family that can't quite imagine.

The Christmas Tree (part one)

A little snow and a little freezing rain helped with the decision to get the Christmas tree yesterday and begin putting it up and decorating today. Steve has done his part. The tree is in the sunroom and standing straight. Mike is chomping at the bit to start putting ornaments on but dear old mom has said "NO! Not until the lights are on." So Mike is eating lunch and not so patiently waiting. Oh yes, the swim meet got cancelled because of the ice storm currently making its way through Ohio. Will this be the last live tree in the Stanford house?? Maybe. I was ready to buy an artificial tree last year but didn't and this year the California girl really wants the old fashioned Christmas she remembers so...

News from John on Friday was that the brain tumors were stable in the latest MRI. Yeah!! He should be working on his annual Bowl Game pool and with 32 Bowl games this year there is still plenty of football. Think my Spartans in Orlando have any chance against Boston College??? I'll be picking them but with a low confidence number.

Hopefully I can post a pretty picture of our completed project tomorrow. Guess for now it is getting those light strands up so Mike can start his part.

Holiday Activities Abound

Keeping busy is a great way to keep the mind from wondering into the unknown. Last night I was with Janet and friends at the Westgate Chapels' Christmas dinner. What a beautiful evening with a program featuring contemporary Christian singer Kathy Trocolli. It was fun to be with the ladies and I really enjoyed the inspirational program. Today is a Christmas Bar Auxiliary luncheon and then a small dinner party at friends tonight. The rest of the weekend is less busy. Mike has a swim meet in Fremont on Sunday as a warm up for the State meet in Columbus next weekend. He is swimming the butterfly stroke this year as well as free style and a relay. Haven't heard how the rest of the week progressed for John, but thankfully the chemo is over until after Christmas.

We have had a dusting of snow which makes it seem very close to Christmas. I haven't gotten any lights outside because of the snow but this weekend we'll either brush the snow off the bushes or put the lights over the snow to light up the house. It is early by our standards but we will probably go out and get the Christmas tree this weekend too. It is fun to see the house all decorated for the holidays.

The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred 66 years ago today. Having visited the USS Arizona memorial in Hawaii I am reminded to say thank you to our veterans. Many of our fathers fought for the freedoms we take for granted today.

Tuesday in Marysville and Columbus

Steve was with John yesterday as I attended the funeral of a close neighbor. I drove down today as AJ was suppose to go in for his 15 month checkup. Turns out the pediatricians office screwed up but I was happy to spend the time with John. We were at the James for his 10:30 appointment and everyone was in their most efficient form. (should I add "for a change") The drugs went in and we were out all in near record time of just under 3 hours. I spent a little time back at the house with Jesi and AJ then cell phoned my way back to Perrysburg. John is still feeling pretty good. It usually takes the chemo a couple of days to catch up and he still feels the 4 units of blood from before Thanksgiving is helping him. So make an effort to get out there and donate a pint to the Red Cross if you can. It is certainly aiding the quality of John's life right now. It is a great gift to give in this holiday season. I think Jesi has the rest of the week organized for the expeditions to the hospital but thanks for offers of assistance. We are all getting better at asking for help and taking it when it is offered. This is a team effort! Thank you all.
Linda

Happy Birthday Jessica

December 2, 1982 was a very special day for us. Our daughter Jessica came into our lives. She is a very special young lady and we hope she is having a wonderful day in California. We will celebrate her 25th year later this month when she comes home for Christmas.

It was a shock last night arriving into Detroit with snow and ice after leaving 88 degree temperatures in Fort Myers. Nice to be home though and Mike was glad to see us. Now we start getting into the Christmas mode. The snow will help with that.