Friday, March 16, 2007 9:55 PM, EDT

Hello All,
I’ve finally been able to post My Story. Apparently, it had nothing to do with HTML being in the text but my story was too long. Imagine, even on paper I talk too much!! Thank you to Tracy and her colleague for trying to help.
I’ll get to the pictures sooner or later! I’m going to try to figure that out this weekend. Then I guarantee you we’ll run around the house taking pictures over the next few days. I might even make everyone change their clothes so it looks like we’ve taken several pictures over the past few months instead of all on one day. Maybe I’ll even bake a cake and wrap some empty boxes so it looks like it might be someone’s birthday! J
Yes to Kelly Newcomb and Paul Najarian (who wimped out and answered over email instead of going public): Chandler Bing had the third nubbin!!
I've received so many lovely cards with touching sentiments. However, I'd like to share one in particular with you:
"Cancer is a villain who doesn't play fair...but it can't dim your spirit and it can't silence prayer."
Thank you for your prayers. I believe in the power of prayer and I believe they are making a difference. I’m hoping they’re helping to make this a journey to remission.
So many of you have told me you have me in your prayers. Some of you have told me you have other people praying for me-people I don't even know. You can't imagine how inspiring that is. A friend of my mother's friend (did you follow that one?) has family in Ghana. He has his family members and their church praying for me. Because they're on the other side of the International Date Line, I figure it's nothing but a good thing that there are people who are already praying for me tomorrow! J
I have my second round of chemo on Monday. I’m scared to death. I don’t know why. Yes, the port is freaking me out but I’m also scared of the second round in general. The doctors have told me that some of my side effects will be cumulative. This first round went so well; I’m wondering what the second round will be like.
They also explained how to take the anti-nausea medicine. There is a method to all the bottles of pills they gave me. Who knew?? There is one pill I take as a preventative and they recommend I take that one every eight hours. The other pill is to take when I start to feel nauseous. Last week, I left the hospital with my pills and went on my merry way. This time I’ll feel more prepared.
Before I go, I have just a few notes on my old VW Bug because of some of the comments in the guest book and over email:
(1)Sometimes I drove the Bug too fast because the only thing broken on it was the speedometer.
(2) How many times do you think I ran out of gas because for some reason I thought I had a reserve tank??? It had to be at least four times. Apparently the button with the “R” on it clearly did not stand for Reserve Tank. Thankfully I finally figured it out.
(3) When the poor car started to die, I did have to stop at least once on the way home from Westfield to check the oil and most likely add some. I drove around with several quarts of oil in my trunk…probably not a good sign
(4) Pam and Jen: Do you remember getting stuck on the Pike when the Bug broke down and that creepy man wanted us to get in his car? He said he’d get off at the next exit and call for help…I don’t think he ever did.
(5) Who was with me when we stopped at McDonald’s late night because Bill Delaney had the munchies? As we sat in the parking lot waiting for him a group of scary, scary hard-core townies tried like heck to roll the Bug over onto its roof. Jen, Tracy Riordan was that you? Moe, Eileen, Tara, Kristine, Kathy, Debbie were you there???
Have a good one.
Love,
Kim


Friday, March 16, 2007 6:34 AM, CDT
To my port sister -
I am right there with you in checking it out and touching it every 10-15 minutes and I've had mine for about 6 weeks now and I stil touch it all the time. The tenderness will get better, I promise. Michael keeps telling me that I don't help things by touching it all the time (bite me), men, all logical and stuff. I just give him the look. And the first time they access it won't be bad and they say it get's better over time. The second time for me was much better than the first. And make sure that they give you the cream to help numb the area before hand. They "Forgot" to give it to me for my first time, those basta***.
But I hope you are felling ok and that your first round is getting a little easier. Sending you big hugs from NY and can't wait to see pics of your new hairdo. Tell Greg he needs to figure out your digital camera for ya..
Mackenzie SullivanNew York, NY
Friday, March 16, 2007 7:16 AM, CDT
Kim - I believe it was Chandler, correct?? And before you toss the next Friends trivia question out there - the monkey's name was Marcel!
Kelly NewcombNorton, MA
Friday, March 16, 2007 8:31 AM, CDT
Kim,
I was reading your latest posting while my students were taking a test and as I laughed out loud, everyone wanted to know what was so funny! I guess not a good idea to be doing in schoo! You are in our daily prayers and would love to see the picture of the hairdo and port!! Keep up the great outlook.
All our best,
Kara and Scott
Kara Wishartkmwishart@beld.netBraintree, MA
Friday, March 16, 2007 9:42 AM, CDT
Hi Kim, You are an inspiration to all. I am glad your first treatment went as well as it did. Jody can relate to the nausea, I know you both share the fear of getting sick. You are in my daily thoughts and prayers. Hugs for all!
Love you, Elouise
Elouise MischlerBraintree, MA
Friday, March 16, 2007 10:15 AM, CDT
Kim,
You sound like great, I offer my prayers for you and your family, I think of you quite often . You have a positive attitude and that means a lot. Enjoy your family & loved ones take time to enjoy the things we all take for granted.
Sue Sousa
Sue Sousasue.sousa@reebok.comHolbrook, MA
Friday, March 16, 2007 3:23 PM, CDT
Kim,
I am thinking of you often. I hope your energy is returning after the treatment and that you are feeling better. Your journal is amazing. You are an inspiration.
Lots of love.
Eileen (Could never forget the orange VW!)
Eileen ChandlerHanover, MA
Friday, March 16, 2007 7:48 PM, CDT
Hi Haggsie,
Glad to hear your early Thursday NCAA picks were successful – hope the Thursday night and Friday games treated you well (they were harsh on me!). Thinking of you and basketball naturally reminded me of the time you and I went to meet Robert Parish at the Auburn Mall. This was perhaps the only time I have known you to be truly speechless! J I’m sure you remember the 2+ hour wait it took to finally get to the table Robert was at and ask him to sign your poster…I will never forget the look on your face as you just stood there too nervous to even speak – as I recall Robert’s wife found you very entertaining!!
Hope you have a peaceful and relaxing weekend –
Love,
Tracy
Tracy CorcoranMedford, MA
Friday, March 16, 2007 9:18 PM, CDT
Hi Kim,
I just sent you an e-mail but wanted to be official and sign in to the guestbook, I will be the one who has the late night posts. Hope you are doing well tonight and maybe catching up on your sleep.
Lana
Lana Doninolana.donino@enzon.comAvon, CT
Saturday, March 17, 2007 9:48 AM, CDT
Hi Kim,
I just got the chance to visit your site and wanted to say thanks for the laughs! The 80's rule! I can totally relate to Aussie Sprunch Spray (smelled like grape bubble yum!). I seem to recall some high hair in the early 90's at Reebok! Oh and the laundry. What about the time we went to NH and you pulled out that GIANT can of starch!! Too funny :0)
Hang in there with all of those tests. I just had an MRI (I'm fine) and all I could think of is Jack Bower torturing terrorists!
Love, Karen
Karen Macri
Saturday, March 17, 2007 1:03 PM, CDT
Hi Kim!
I just read all of your interesting and mind-boggling entries and the funny, touching messages on your guestbook. Thank you for creating this page. As I've been reading and typing, your "visits" from family and friends have gone up to 1618! I'm not surprised! The English teacher in me hopes you find a publisher out there who can help you turn this into a book. You're an inspiration... and a great writer.
Are any of your friends out there the ones who called themselves Ricky? You know that Kerry and I had no business in doing so, but we still call each other that.
Thanks for helping me to understand what's going on with your treatments and for being so honest. I am totally going to ask you about that port.
Have you and Kerry added anything onto the plans for the graphic design business?
Good luck on Monday.
Love,
Heather (Ricky)
Heather Martirerasku32@hotmail.comStratford, CT
Saturday, March 17, 2007 1:46 PM, CDT
Hi Kim, I found your site through Mackenzie Sullivan's. I grew up in Pembroke and have known the Sullivans all my life. :)Just wanted to say that we are keeping you are in our thoughts and prayers. With love,Katie Donigan (Hunter's Mom)
Katie DoniganFranklin, MA
Saturday, March 17, 2007 1:55 PM, CDT
Just thought of something else I wanted to mention - they should give you some Emla (or the generic version is lidocaine/prilocaine - for us it's the difference between a $50 copay and a $5 one!!) for your port. They'll probably give you some Tegaderm dressings to cover the Emla while it's on your port to numb it, but you can save some pain (and money!) if you just use a square of Glad Press & Seal wrap. It does the same thing as the Tegaderm dressings but it's not nearly as sticky so it doesn't hurt at all when you take it off before getting accessed.My daughter Hunter has had a port for 3 years and the Press & Seal is the best stuff we've found. (And with the Emla numbing her skin she literally doesn't even flinch when she's accessed in clinic.)Hang in there... and I hope that helps some... :)Katie Donigan (Hunter's Mom)
Katie DoniganFranklin, MA
Saturday, March 17, 2007 4:53 PM, CDT
Hi Kim,
I hope the next round of chemo goes well. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I wasn't with you when the scary townies tried to flip the bug, but I'm sure I've been with you around many scary townies. Houndshead or Kellehers, both. I also recall a ride home from UMASS in the middle of the night, praying the reserve tank would get us back. Good times! Speaking of good times, do you remember Walk Like an Egyptian? :) I look forward to reading your updates. You certainly still make me laugh! Sending lots of love. Kristine
Kristine MorrisonLowell, MA
Saturday, March 17, 2007 5:54 PM, CDT
Hi Kim,
Best of luck on Monday, I know you're nervous but maybe the anticipation will be worse than the treatment. I'll be thinking of you.
I can't wait to see the new 'do! How funny are you with the upcoming Abusheery photo shoot? It will be like trying to get the kids to pose for the annual Christmas card only to go through two rolls of film and not a good picture to be found. ( I am apparantly the only other person in America besides you that still gets her film developed at CVS!!!)
Take care, I hope it goes as well as your first treatment.
Alison
Alison VigeantWorcester, MA
Saturday, March 17, 2007 8:23 PM, CDT
Oh the reserve tank...How many times really did you call home to be picked up off the side of the road?Ahh the biz...Ricky is also going to join us in the workshop. She is actually the artistic one. And how the biz has evolved as time goes on. But seriously I can't get it off the ground without you!!!The port weirds me out, I am not going to be shy about it. But like most things, I am sure the anticipation is worse, it is just a tiny prick right under the skin. It is not like Josh is going to be counting down to give you a shot in the stomach!!
Kerry Berry