So we can't believe it is almost the first of August and the summer is half over! There is a lot to fill everyone in on from the perspective of summer fun. From a cancer perspective, Chris has had four chemo treatments in the last 10 weeks under the new plan. He is getting chemo focused on fighting the cancer in his pancreas and has to deal with an IV of chemo over three days (48 hours) but it has seemed to be helping him feel better in-between treatments. He has his next CT scan next Tuesday and I'd like to ask everyone a favor...I know so many people have been praying for Chris and we are so grateful. I'm asking everyone to concentrate on praying for Chris this week to be healed from his cancer. We are hopeful as always for good CT results.
From the fun perspective, we got to take the trip we'd been planning for a year. On June 25, Chris and I left for Stockholm Sweden with my mom and stepdad. We spent three nights in a great apartment hotel not far from the city center and old town. What a beautiful city Stockholm is, I had no idea! We explored the city every day, first by Hop On, Hop Off boats and by foot. Chris did great! We weren't in a hurry as we strolled around the city taking it all in. We had Italian food twice (love real Italian food in Europe...the flavors are a bit different over there), Swedish meatballs and cooked in our apartment kitchen. Chris ate really well, better than he had been eating in weeks.
On June 29 we all got on a seven night Baltic cruise. We went to Helsinki Finland, Saint Petersburg Russia, Tallinn Estonia, Riga Latvia and back to Stockholm. We splurged on a wonderful two day excursion in Saint Petersburg with Shore Trips, recommended by my favorite travel agent Suzy Schreiner! We had our own car, driver and guide and saw everything you could in 16 hours. We set it up this way so we could go at our own pace, as slow as needed, but in fact kept up an intense pace, exploring the Hermitage, Catherine the Great's palace, Peterhof, Church on the Spilt Blood, St Isaac's Cathedral and more. Saint Petersburg was the jewel of Chris's trip.
One of my favorite stops was Tallinn, Estonia. It is a small city with an old town center that dates back almost a thousand years and is very European looking as unfortunately both Denmark and Germany were past conquerors. But it makes for a quaint old town with close to a hundred years of independence that has been part of the European Union for a decade. The people are very friendly and passionate about singing (I'd fit right in if I had a good voice!).
We got to spend another two nights in Stockholm when we got off the cruise. We got to explore some more and relax. We went back to Sky Hotel Apartments and loved our second stay as much as the first. I miss the fabulous European continental breakfast they served every day and sharing tables with people from all over the world!
Chris did really well during the whole trip. The hardest part was the jet lag once we were home. Chris had chemo about 12 hours after we got home and our sleep patterns were all messed up as the time difference spanned 9-11 hours in the different places we had been. The doctor and team were really excited to hear about the trip and saw no ill effects. Chris had a harder time with those three days of chemo. We think it was due to the jet lag. Two weeks later he had chemo again and it was a lot easier.
After we got home we had a visit from our great friends, the Sallees, from Kalispell, Montana. They were in town for the Northwest Christian Conference, which we all went to and it was very inspiring. It was so wonderful to see friends from near and far.
And it doesn't end there. Chris just went to Comic Con in San Diego with his best friend, Aaron and his son. He left last Thursday a few hours after his last three-day chemo ended. Aaron picked him up that night from the airport and they had three fun filled days at the convention. They also got to see good friends Andy and Noelle in La Jolla while down there. Taigen and I missed him but had a terrific girls' weekend. We picked them up last night at SeaTac and Chris is doing well.
So here we are a week from the next CT scan and chemo. Thank you for your kind thoughts, prayers, meals, etc. We love you all, near and far.
Wendy
P.S. For those close to us or to our dear friends, that are also suffering and struggling through cancer and other illnesses, please know that you are always in our prayers as well.
