Happy Birthday Virginia

We had an AMAZING day. 

I asked the Birthday Gal to do some writing for the Celebration Blog!

Ginny:

Yes, my 80th was the best birthday ever.   It began two days early with a Saturday afternoon open-house reception at the Austin ArtWorks Center, organized by my spouse Kirsten, the quintessential event-planner, and attended, we think, by about a hundred people (fortunately, not all at once).  The table, with 200 mini cupcakes in four flavors, and the decorations were perfect.   I felt physically the best I've felt in a year, painfree and spunky, thanks to some recent procedures at the Mayo Clinic and the prayers of many.  

Austin ArtWorks Center was a PERFECT location. 

The current exhibition was art done by area children.

CUPCAKES

My brother Dan flew up from Roanoke, VA, brother John and wife Deb flew over from near Boise, ID, niece Maren flew here from Baltimore, one friend flew up from Tampa/St.Petersburg, FL, another from Fort Collins, CO, and others drove here from the Cities, Mankato, Owatonna and, yes, Blooming Prairie!  

Kir and Dan

John and Deb

Friend Rose from Florida

Andrea from Colorado

There were email good wishes from friends in Germany, Denmark, Italy, Russia and Japan and from friends in different parts of the US.  The majority, of course, live in Austin and represent different aspects of my current and former life. What a panorama, I thought, as I looked around and identified the contexts and time periods associated with each person there.  

Champagne and toasts at 2:00.  Kirsten gave a lovely tribute, followed by dear friend Jocelyn and my brother Dan and Rochester friend Libby, with whom I did dog-sharing for 22 years, and then it was my turn.  I said I was glad to be alive for this event.  Usually, a person has to die before this many people gather in one place and say nice things about him or her. 

Kir's Toast

When we began our journey together in 2006, you said that you would not reach 80.  “I don’t want to get that old”. When the cancer returned you were convinced that that prediction would be true.  Well…you were wrong and I am glad. I know that I only represent the last 10 of these 80 years, but I like to think that I am part of some of the best of those years.  One of my greatest “lovelights” over these years is a culmination of travel memories.  We explored 17 countries together in the past decade.  SO many clear “snapshots” in my mind…the three-toed sloth that peed on you in the Amazon, café au late and crepes in the streets of Paris, gatherings with good friends and great food in Germany, the flooded streets of Venice and with you traveling piggyback, the sound of the water hitting the Nice shoreline under the night sky and the reflection of the city lights and experiencing the enchanting call to prayer our first morning in Istanbul together.  There are so many things about our life together that I cherish. These years will be ones that I look back on with such joy and such love. Thank you for loving me so well and for allowing me to love you. Here’s to my beautiful, charming, quirky, tender-hearted, generous, reptile loving 3^rd grade joke telling wife.  With a love that knows no bounds…Happy Birthday Sweet Ginny.

 Wyf 

 Cheers to his Sister (Dan)

Virginia and Libby

 Gal pals - Kir, Jocelyn and Gin

 Cheers

The bonus: Eszter Baràti, a cellist with the Budapest Symphony in Hungary and here for a limited time with her husband, brought her cello and asked if she could "play Virginia a birthday gift", whereupon she sat down, took up her instrument and played a hauntingly beautiful piece by Bach. 

It was March birthday Sunday after church (First Congregational) the next day...with turtle cheesecake, a big sheetcake and fruit.  On Monday, my very birthday, I went to a funeral.  More cake.  And finally, Kirsten and I opened all the cards made a list of birthday donations to the ArtWorks Center and the Mower County Humane Society.  I unwrapped some gifts and photographed the floating balloons and bouquets, which were making the house look ready for yet another party.

Now, nearly two weeks after my three-day birthday, I am still smiling.  I am content.  Still feeling the best in a year.  Comfortable in my new age and, most important of all, grateful for my family and my friends.  

 Greeting Friends

Gin's niece Maren and friend Brady.

 Friend and former student Teresa

 Kelly and Toni love the "Gin Blossom"

There were 238 photos taken during the day.  Wish we could share them all.  Such a great day, "love lights" galore.

Kir:

It was a lovely day and Ginny was thrilled as you have read.  From a medical standpoint, Ginny is doing amazingly well.  The removal of the stent and the insertion of the nephrostomy tube in the right kidney has been a game changer.  We did not realize how much of the pain and discomfort was stent, bladder and kidney related.  She has declared that she has not felt this good in months and months and months. This has been so good to hear.  She is still receiving pain meds via the pain pump but has not taken an oral pain med to augment the pump in 5 weeks.  This is truly amazing and is an indication that something is changing. Our Oncologist is hopeful that it is a response to the chemo.  Ginny will have a CT scan April 13th to take a look.  We are looking forward to getting a look!

The daily challenges are still indeed challenges but Ginny rolls with it and I continue to be amazed at her cheerfulness in all this.  She is an example of courage each day.

There is much laughter and straight up joy at home these days.  I have adjusted to my new work (or lack of work during the day) schedule and we are taking advantage of the time together.  Morning coffee continues to be sacred time.  We are talking about travel again and have booked a week-long vacation in Northern Minnesota on Lake Superior in July.  

I am writing from sunny California this morning.  Ginny encouraged me to plan a get-a-way with my sister and her family and friend Sue (she came to us for Christmas this past year).  I have hesitated to plan such travel with all going on, but Gin pushed me out the door.  I am very grateful and her feeling better made leaving a little bit easier.  Word from home is good and Ginny is having visits daily from a close friend who is making the daily dressing changes to that new neph tube.

Here is a pic from Disney.  Dustin and Jayme and I are the screamers.  Erika and Chris are pretty chill.

Love

Kir & Gin

30 Lashes with a Wet Noodle

My "funny" and charming father would write notes excusing me from school or explaining an absence with ridiculous "please forgive her" instructions like, "please forgive Kirsten's behavior and feel free to administer 30 lashes with a wet noodle as punishment."  You can imagine how that went over with a 15-year-old Kirsten who had to present such a note to her teacher or principal.

Anyway, I am feeling like I am in need of forgiveness for leaving you all hanging so long without a post.

UPDATE:

It has been an interesting month.  Since I last posted, Ginny made the decision to more aggressively address her urinary system challenges.  This decision was almost made for her as her right ureter has been unhappy for months and the presence of a stent there has become more and more difficult for Ginny's body to tolerate (painful and increasing bleeding).  The solution suggested and ultimately completed, was the removal of the stent and the insertion of a nephrostomy tube (a direct line and drainage system in Ginny's right kidney).  This supports the kidney and the ureter is now free to rest. As reminder - the stent was placed initially because the "bastard tumor" has formed around the right ureter and the stent kept it open.  The nephrostomy procedure was complete Monday March 6th.   She spent the night at Mayo and is now home.

Sooooo this is a lifestyle change for her.  Although small, it will require daily attention from nurse Kirsten :)

For those of you who are curious...

The tube actually comes out of her back so she is unable to do the site maintenance on her own.  Some of you are asking yourselves how can she possibly sit or sleep?  Well, as is her wonder woman way, just fine.  She slept on her back last night.

On another note, Gin is experiencing less pain and discomfort in her other "disposal" system.  It seems the pain pump is doing a good job of controlling the pain there.  Gin has not needed oral meds to supplement the pump in over two weeks.  She wonders if the tumor is shrinking as a result of this "wicked" chemo - MAY IT BE SO!

THE GOOD STUFF...

On Saturday March 11th we are celebrating Ginny's 80th Birthday.  I know, I know...80?  Yup, our Gin has aged well :)

Those of you who are local, feel free to join us.  Family and friends are flying in from all corners of the country and we are looking forward to celebrating my incredible wyf.

March 11th
1-4 pm
Toasting at 2 PM
Austin ArtWorks Center in Downtown Austin

She is asking that folks not bring gifts but she would enjoy a card.  For those who would like to do more, Ginny suggests donations to the Mower County Humane Society or the Austin ArtWorks Center.

I will post pics after the event, I PROMISE.

Love
Kir