Pennies, Sand Dollars and a Rose

It has been awhile since my last posting and I hope that you have guessed correctly that the length of time between the posts has been due to the fact that Mom doing really very well.  She looks terrific and is very happy that she is feeling as well as she is. That makes all of us happy too - and so very grateful.  (She and the rest of the family are also SO grateful that our dear cousin was not injured in the Boston marathon. He crossed the finish line an hour before the explosions. Ours hearts are with him and everyone in Boston.)

Though Mom feels well, the world of cancer has not completely disappeared. Mom has continued to get her chemo on a weekly basis and has gone 1 to 2 additional times a week to get neupogen booster shots.  The shots do seem to be bolstering her white blood counts so she was able to receive three 75% chemo doses in a row.  She is tired on treatments days but overall she is tolerating the chemo treatment pretty well.  Next week they will test the tumor marker in her blood.  It has edged up a very small amount since its initial decrease when the chemo began.  If it it still trending upwards after the next blood test, they will do a CT scan to check how things are going.  Mom and Dad plan to stay in Florida through mid-May.

Michael, Katharine and their families recently visited with Mom and Dad, and had awesome times.  Mom wrote in a recent email to the three of us, "Each visit with you and your children has been so fun and so full of unexpected discoveries and joys. Feeling well. Hope Monday blood work is good. We are truly blessed...our cup indeed overflows! XOXOXOX MOM"  

We have been sharing with you some of Mom's treasures she enjoys discovering during her frequent walks on the beach.  During Michael's visit, they found on two occasions pennies washed up on the beach.  Mom's mom, our Nana, enjoyed finding pennies as signs of upcoming good luck.  For Mom and the rest of our family, finding a penny is also a sign of Nana being with us.  Mom has found pennies in some interesting and unusual places especially in the last few months (and me too).

During Katharine's visit, they started finding many sand dollars on the beach!  Do you know the Legend of the Sand Dollar?  Mom says the "doves" inside are the largest ones she has seen, so she is collecting sand dollars and doves.

Another recent "gift from the sea" was most unusual - one morning when the surf came up to Mom it left at her feet a real long-stem red rose!  Roses are another favorite of Mom's. When a woman passing by inquired about it, Mom told her how she found it.  The woman laughed that maybe it was from a proposal, and maybe even the person said no.  Mom said she replied, "Well, I say YES."  So glad that Mom enjoying life's gifts and saying yes to them.

Thanks for your continued good wishes, thoughts and prayers.

Photo of Mom looking out at the Beach

Photo of Penny on the Beach

Photo of Sand Dollars

Photo of the Rose

For photos, comments and their FL address go to followingdenise.blogspot.com