I apologize for not writing more this week, but with all the activities that are happening in May, I am spending most of my time working at one thing or another.

I did want to give you an update on my mom, though.  For those of you who haven’t read about this before, my mom has cancer for the second time.  The last time was 9 years ago and she beat it.  This cancer is the same type, it just came back with a vengeance.  It was found on her larynx, a huge tumor on her aorta that actually pushed her wind pipe 2″ to the side and made it very difficult for her to breathe or swallow, and in her lymph nodes.  Because it was the same cancer as before, they knew they could use the same chemo drugs for this as last time.  Except there was a complication.  They now add Benedryl to one of the chemo drugs and Mom is very allergic to Benedryl.  After three treatments (every third week) and her having these nasty reactions, they finally figured out what as causing the troubles.  She now has a different chemo treatment that she takes every Wednesday.  The downside of it, though, is that this new treatment is causing her a lot of pain.

The good news is that the scan she had recently shows that her lymph nodes are cleared of cancer and that the two tumors are shrinking. In fact, the one on her aorta has shrunk enough that she can breathe much easier and she can take several sips of a drink without it going down the wrong pipe.  Before, one or two sips was the most she could take at a time.

I talk to her on Sunday nights, which is the first day she actually feels like talking.  She is very fatigued, has no appetite and is fighting depression.  A couple of you have offered to send her cards to brighten up her days, but if anyone else is interested, I know she’d appreciate the kind thoughts and knowing she is in your prayers.  If you’d like to drop her a card or two, let me know and I will give you her address.

The hardest part of this, for me, is the fact that she is 2300 miles from me and I can’t hold her when she hurts and wipe away her tears.  In fact, this kills me.  But having company right now isn’t really what she wants since she isn’t feeling very energetic.

As for Sandy, the hernia is continuing to make its presence known and more often.  She is determined to go to the KY Sheep and Fiber Festival on the 19th & 20th and work in our booth, but she is under strict orders to lift nothing heavy.  In fact, all I am allowing her to do is arrange the booth, write out tickets and take money.  I will do all the heavy work.  If you are planning to come to the Kentucky Sheep & Fiber Festival, Sunday, May 20th, is Sandy’s 60th birthday.  I think it would be fun to bombard her with “Happy Birthday!” wishes.

On top of this, Sandy’s mom (she’s 88) may have a kidney failing and they are looking into, maybe, removing it.  We should know more about this next week.  She is determined to hang on to it until after Sandy has had her surgery and has recovered.  I have the feeling I will be spending some time over there helping them out until they are both back on their feet.

So, prayers and good thoughts are really needed for Mom, Sandy and Sandy’s mom, Jane.

And keep Scott in your prayers as he looks for a job to help us make ends meet without pulling the cords so tightly that they snap.  He has an interview today and a couple of art jobs that look promising, but you know that you can’t count chickens before they hatch and if they aren’t fertilized, then nothing will happen at all.  Mind you, art jobs would be the best since he is primarily an illustrator.