My Dad

The Palbicki Beaks at Casey's Senior recital

My dad, Bill, was just diagnosed with Stage I pancreatic cancer. I was with him last Wednesday when we got the terrible news after an endoscopy. He has a 1-2 cm tumor on his pancreatic bile duct which is also wrapped 180 degrees around a vein. He had been in for a battery of tests (blood, ultrasound, CT, CT with contrast) after having some nausea and high liver enzymes, but we never expected to hear this.

On Monday, Dad, Linda & I met with Dr. Vickers at University of Minnestoa Medical Center who recommended 6 weeks of chemo and radiation to shrink the tumor away from the vein followed by a complicated surgery known as a Whipple procedure to remove the head of the pancreas along with the gallbladder and part of the intestines. There may be more chemo after surgery as well.

My dad is feeling pretty good most days, although he has some jaundice & itching due to the bile duct issue, but he will get a stent soon to help with that. His spirits are high, as usual, and we are all eager to get started on treatment next week, we are just waiting on an appointment with an oncologist as Masonic Cancer Clinic.

Needless to say, this is very scary and sad for all. Dad's Grandpa Jack had it, as did his brother Rick so that is evidence of a hereditary component which means Casey & I need to see a geneticist to discuss our risks and prevention strategies. Coincidentally, my Grandma Audrey also had it (although we were not blood related as she was my stepgrandma).

Please pray for for peace and healing for my dad! We love you, Dad!

Nori & Papa Bill on his 59th birthday last month

on ice

Sorry I have been such a whiner, but you must admit I am so good at it! I am officially on short-term disability for the next week or two until my back settles down. They say I have sacroiliac joint inflammation due to the relaxin hormone released during pregnancy. Basically, the joint between my left hip bone and my tailbone is really loose, inflamed, and painful.

Signs and Symptoms of SI Joint Pain

Women with sacroiliac joint problems describe a sharp, stabbing pain felt in the lower back or hip during weight bearing activities. It may feel like one leg suddenly "goes out" when walking and makes it impossible to go on without limping. CHECK!

Activities that cause sharp back pain include:

• climbing stairs CHECK!
• rolling over in bed CHECK!
• walking CHECK!
• getting up from a sitting position CHECK!
• sitting down from a standing position CHECK!
• jogging or running (even for just a few seconds,) N/A
• getting into and out of the car CHECK!
  

So now you know. Send organic raspberries!

Geek or jock?

Nudie Bootie Book Club

My girl is a bookworm! We inherited over 100 children's books from one of Jake's coworkers so she has an endless supply of Dr. Seuss and Berenstain Bears books, among others. While we usually read for 20-30 minutes at night before bed, she continues on reading to herself until she falls asleep. If she wakes up in the middle of the night, she grabs a book. First thing in the morning, she reads until we get up. By now she knows all the stories by heart so the pictures get her though, page by page. We recently started with the Laural Ingalls Wilder Little House On The Prairie chapter books. She has the Little House picture books and she knows the characters which help her follow along in the chapter books. So far we have learned about how Pa smokes venison with hickory chips, butchers a pig, makes bullets, cleans and oils his gun as well as how Ma churns butter and colors it yellow by boiling a carrot in milk. All wholesome stuff. Nori likes to pretend she is Laura, Jake is Pa, I am Ma, and Dorothy is Laura's "good old bulldog Jack". We get into quite a few interesting scenarios as pioneers on the prairie using our imaginations!

Building a "pogo stick"

To round out the brainic side, we worked in some sunshine and sports today. I limped (literally every step I take on my left side feels like a hot knife piercing into my lower back/ buttocks, thank you sciatica) around the park with her as we watched Daddy play tennis. Later, Nori got a lesson on the court from Agassi's biggest fan.

insert tennis slang here

Congrats Pat, Angie & Liam!

Graham Patrick McIntyre
Born May 13th, 2011 at 12:24pm
8 lbs 2 oz, 19 inches long

Congrats Sabrina & Tim!

Everett Timothy Singer-Towns
Born 5\8\11 at 1:39 am.
8lbs 3 oz and 21 inches long

what's going on in there?

Let's start with the good the stuff: my lady business. I had my midwife appointment on Friday and due to some things that you would rather not read about (but really you would) such as the fact my you-know-what is 85% effaced (Google it, Jake did) and other things, she thinks I could have the baby sooner than 40 weeks. But really, we know anything could happen. The baby is super low, in fact right now I can not walk without limping because she is on a nerve and every movement and deep breath hurts.

"dirting" with Gramsie who is still trying to beat pneumonia

We finally got outside! It seemed as though the warm sunny days would never arrive but now we have had a few. Jake & I took the opportunity for a date to Gerten's but unfortch we (I) was so tired and crabby that it's a good thing this wasn't our first date. We did get a tiny tree and flowers for our humongous yard and planted them which is so pretty. He also hosed down the party porch and furniture to open 'em up for the summer. Thanks to Mr. SoS for putting up with me right now, I can be a real B! Also, in a very related note, I would like to my thank my job for making me work two Saturdays in May at nine months pregnant, possibly the last nice days off I have before my life changes forever.

big shiny drums

The BIG event this weekend was Casey's Senior Recital at UW-RF which marks the end of his undergrad studies. Again. He played all the percussion instruments, some of which I affectionately call the regular drums, the piano drums, the big shiny drums, the chopsticks on buckets, and the rockout drums. The best part may or may not have been when he called me on stage to play the shaker to Africa by Toto. Can I just say it was SUPER hard to keep a beat, my arm turned to jelly, and it took every ounce of musical concentration I had to try to keep shaking. The harder I tried, the worse I got. Makes me think those other drums require even more skill? Everyone came out to support to him and enjoy pie & cake. Congrats Casey!!!

Me and my two babies

On Mother's Day, we rest. Finally. Jake made us all breakfast and we kissed Gramsie goodbye before collapsing into a heap. Norelle has so much fun the night before at the recital running with cousin Mekensie and staying up late, that she is a bit of an emotional bear today. Wherever did she learn that behavior? I love her anyway.

Happy Mother's day to my mom, Holly, Jake's mom, Liz, and my step mom, Linda!

Mother's Day artwork by Nori & Daddy

Baby in May(be)?

I love my thespian cousin!

Oh, the arts! How you inspire me! I enjoyed watching Abby as Liesel in the Sound of Music on Friday at the Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake. Shakespeare really hit a home run with that one!

The girls at a post flower girl dress shopping lunch

I know you were all abuzz about THE WEDDING this weekend! I am still in disbelief at how many people were talking about it. I mean, it's just a humble little affair in August on Jaimie's farm but every time I turn on the news, all I hear is the word "wedding". Casey must have lots of fans due to his percussion skills and virtual free-ride at UNI where he will attend for his Master's in Jazz Performance this fall. Go Panthers(.) (I don't cheer).

head cropped off to avoid comments about how tired I look (not tired, that's just my face)

The past 6 weeks or so are the best I have felt during this pregnancy! Finally, my nausea and food aversions are gone and I can eat like a normal person again. I am 36 weeks tomorrow (36/4 = 9) so I am NINE months pregnant which means my wish shall be Jake's command, right?

In other news, our dog ran away for about half an hour and was found over at the neighbor's house where they had given her 5 bowls of dog food. Guess we know where to look next time she takes off...