FROM THE CHAIR OF SHIRLEY Feb. 16

It is so, so good to be home. I still get tired walking, but I do quite well. Don and I play the card game, 3-13. Come join us anytime. I really appreciate your cards, visits, and telephone calls. Please don't worry about waking me up. I'm able to go back to sleep easily. I really like hearing from everybody.

Feb. 11 UPDATE

Mom is happy to be home this evening. She's pretty tired after a long day and was asleep by 8:00. Dr. Blau has suspended chemo for another 3 weeks because mom is too weak and sick. At that time mom and Dr. Blau will decide what the next step will be. The doctor has two different chemo meds she can try. Here's to Mom and Dad's 62nd wedding anniversary this weekend. Congratulations to them!

FEBRUARY 10

GOOD NEWS!!! If all goes well, Mom will go home Wed. at the earliest, and Thursday at the latest. She is READY to go home. The ot/pt have tested her strength, and deemed her able to go home. We'll have to rent a U-Haul for the cards, flowers, bird feeders outside the window, and the recliner John rented for Dad. As always, thank you so much for your support.

FEB 6 UPDATE

Whoever thought you would see Shirley Becker racing Dad down the hall with her walker? She is making wonderful progress with her physical/occupational therapy at Rainier Vista. She sits up a majority of the time, yesterday spent two separate one hour sessions in pt, and walks increasingly long distances down the hallways with her walker. She won so much at BINGO that they are looking forward to getting her out of there. She and dad have watched a movie, Groundhog's Day on Feb. 2, tried Bible study, worked on puzzles, eaten in a variety of dining rooms, and have entertained many delightful guests: YOU ALL. Today she will tell the physical therapists to work her time around the Valentine craft session - just kidding. We're still looking forward to Mom's goal of leaving boot camp by Feb. 14, she and Dad's 62nd anniversary.