Chemotherapy #3

Kim's two-week schedule goes like this. Chemotherapy is on a Thursday and she'll come home feeling pretty much normal. Mostly the same for Friday and she's yet to miss a day of work. By Saturday morning the fatigue sets in and she'll be an opportunistic napper for the weekend. By Monday she's back on the rise and as the week progresses she returns to high-energy. The off week days of Thursday through Sunday are the best.

And so it is that we took off to Bend, Oregon last week late in the evening Friday to get a head start on the long holiday weekend. Kim has always, always, always wanted to hike Smith Rock State Park and it's a vista we see each trip on the drive out and back. She really wanted to check it out. And we did.

Saturday morning began as nearly every weekend day does for us in Bend with breakfast at Strictly Organic. Folks, these are the best breakfast burritos outside of Austin, Texas. It's a friendly place and we loaded up for the day ahead. It's a 30 minute drive to the park and we were lucky to get one of the last available parking spots at the trailhead. Just two steps in and this places blows you away.

Achievement Unlocked

We hiked the full loop around Smith Rock, Monkey Face, and Misery Ridge. At first I was a bit concerned about keeping Kim's effort low but soon realized that she felt great and there was little to be worried about. This is a beautiful hike and one with so many opportunities for great photos. Despite a full parking lot, we really didn't feel the crowds around us other than at the trailhead.

That evening we ate at Andrew's favorite restaurant, Spork. We all love it and we went home full after a long day of effort.

Sunday was a slow morning to prepare for a 1PM shuttle departure that would take us and our bikes 15 miles outside of Bend and up the low slopes of Mt Bachelor. This is a favorite ride for Kim and we would all appreciate a ride that was mostly descending back to home. Kim had the use of a brand new Specialized Turbo Levo electric assist mountain bike while the boys are simply teenagers and have limitless power. The first part of the ride is a climb and dear old dad was at the back end of an ass-kicking.

Y Not?

What a day. Simply a great day in the woods with everyone stoked on riding, the views, and being away from all the stuff back in regular life. Kim rode as well as I've ever seen her and you could see the infusion of stoke bringing her to higher and higher levels of feeling better. The weekend closed out with a little more riding, lots of hanging out, and plenty of sunshine-supplied Vitamin D. An emphatic last chapter of summer 2016.

Back home it was back to school in earnest for the boys. Big news of the week has been jazz band try-outs for Jason. He's sitting on the drums at school just as I type this. He practiced a lot. He's ready.

For Chemotherapy #3  yesterday Kim was joined by family friend Jocelyn SyCip. We've known the SyCips for a long, long time and have been neighbors on the same street now for just over 4 years. Their support these past few months has been wonderful. Thank you, Jo, for spending the morning with Kim.

Kim & Jocelyn SyCip

News from the Oncologist yesterday morning was fantastic. All her blood levels are good and her physical stats are holding steady. She's lost about ten pounds but is holding it at this new level and I'd bet a lot of that is due to the strict diet and exercise. No significant side effects to report or to be expected.

And this - following the physical examination Dr Anderson reported that Kim's lymph nodes are getting smaller. It feels good to have a positive sign at such an early checkpoint.

So, an easy weekend ahead for all of us. Enjoy yours as well. Best from all of us.

Adventure Committee

Smith Rock State Park

The sign says it all

Chasing the boys

Berms

The big reveal