Time to head home

Tomorrow  is the day we are heading home.  We are actually getting to go home a few days ahead of schedule.  Dave has had a good day.  He is moving slowly...but he is moving.  He has taken several walks down the hall today.  Sarah and Ron brought dinner to us tonight.  We had some sweet time with them tonight.  They wouldn't want me to say this....but this is my blog, so I can say what I would like :)  They have been wonderful!! Such good friends to us.  We are going to miss them.

Dave is already dreading the travel time tomorrow.  Riding on bumpy roads is no fun after surgery.....and Houston sure has some bumpy roads.  Hopefully everything will go smoothly.  Alrighty then.  Time for me to hit the sack.  Can't wait to see Abby, Erin, and Samo tomorrow. 

Dave is getting out the hospital today. We are going to spend the next two nights at a hotel, and if all goes well, go home Wednesday. He is sore. That is probably an understatement. He is having some pain. He can always tell when it's time for pain meds.....sometimes he can tell way before it's time. But he is really doing so well. He looks good, his hair is coming in (although it is very fine, thin hair). I got him a new hat the other day. He has this navy blue Houston Texans hat that he has worn everyday since treatment began. I think of that hat as the cancer hat, so I thought we should retire that hat and start life after surgery with a new hat. We will put that hat up and remember this time in our life when we run across it in the future. Maybe I'll find it when I'm cleaning out a closet in a few years, when all of this is a distant memory.

Sunday

He is doing very well today. They will probably release him tomorrow. He was able to take a nice hot shower today, which always makes you feel better. The hospital is boring on Sunday's. Not that it's really fun any other day, but it's especially boring on the weekend. Hope you enjoy the video.

Don't forget to turn down the music.

Saturday Night

Today has been a good day.  A friend we met during our first week at MDA came for a visit.  She also has Sarcoma Cancer and began treatment the same time as Dave.  We had the best visit with her.  Dave had his epidural removed today and was taken off of his pain pump.  He is having some pain tonight as they try to adjust him to his oral pain meds.  After they unhooked him from everything, he walked some and even went down the hall to get a cup of coffee.  Dave's mom and my parents have been out here with us this week.  Since he is doing so well, they are planning to go home tomorrow.  Dave will probably be released within the next day or so.  We are planning to stay in Houston for a couple more days to make sure he is doing ok before we fly home. We are very pleased with his progress, but he still has a lot of recovering to do. 

Can I just tell you how hot it was today in Houston.....106 !!! Thankfully I didn't have to be out in it.  Today was Samo's first football game and it was hot there too.  I was so sad we had to miss it.  His Uncle Bradley has been taking him to practice and he took him to the game today.  I talked to him after the game and he sounded so excited.  He made an interception!!  Wooohooo!!  I can't wait to get home and cheer for him.  I miss all three of the kids terribly. I am ready to get home to them....just a few more days.

Friday Morning

Dave is continuing to get better and better.  He got out in hall and walked 7 times yesterday.  He tries to sit up as much as he can.  He still has the epidural and pain pump so he gets really sleepy when he is still.  The average stay after surgery is 7 days.  He is still on a liquid diet but hopefully today he will be able to move to some solid food. 

Thursday Morning

Dave is up this morning and has already been for a walk.  Yesterday he walked three times.  He had a good bit of pain and alot of nausea last night.  He also had a headache during the night.  The nurses here are wonderful.  They don't want him to be in pain and quickly treat him.  His head feels better this morning since he has been up walking and sitting in the chair.  Those of you who know him, know he is very regimented.  Yesterday he planned the times he would walk and I knew if he walked 3 laps the first time, he would never be able to walk less than that.  He is very determined to get better, get stronger, and go home.

The hospital volunteers and staff have gone out of their way to make his birthday a good one. He got a blanket and teddy bear (Erin we know you will love the bear :) and they also brought him a cake....even though he can't eat cake today. The nurses came in to sing Happy Birthday a few minutes ago. It was sweet and funny. You will like seeing Dave smile.

A Happy Birthday

Dave is doing so well this morning. He has already been up and made 3 laps around the hall. He is going to have a happy birthday just knowing that tumor is gone. This is what he had to say this morning. Don't forget to scroll down and turn the music down.

Dave should be getting to his room soon.  He has been in recovery for a long while.  I don't think there were any problems, they were just waiting on a room on the surgery floor. We saw him around 6 and he looked good.  He is thrilled with the results.  I can't wait to hear him talk bout it tomorrow.  They will come in and get him up tomorrow.  We could not have gotten better news today.  When the surgeon called us in to tell us how it went, I think I was in shock for about an hour.  I guess I got so used to hearing bad news, I just kinda expected it today.  Oh me of little faith.  I am so thankful for all of your prayers today.  Our kids are super excited.  My sister told me they were running around saying we slayed the dragon!! 

Ok...they just wheeled him by....more later.

Dave is out of surgery. Dr. Pollock was able to remove the tumor......only the tumor. Praise the Lord. I think I am in shock. Thanks for praying all day.

Dave before surgery

Just so you know...Dave said I could put this video on here. We are still waiting for them to come get him. He is doing well and just ready to get this done. I thought some of you might like to see him. I know if we were closer to home you would be with us. 

SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND TURN THE MUSIC DOWN FIRST.

Surgery Day

It's finally here.  Dave has to be at the hospital at 7:30 and surgery will be around 9:30 this morning. 

The scan showed no real change in the tumor.  We will find out at 3 today what time the surgery will be so I'll post that when we know a time.  We have seen all the doctors, now we just wait. Just the preparation for this surgery is scary.  All the waivers to sign and all the what ifs will kinda freak you out!  Dave is on a clear liquid diet today, so he had some chicken broth and lime jello for lunch. : (   Good thing he had a yummy dinner last night. 

This morning Dave is having his anesthesia assessment and seeing his Urologist and Surgeon.  We will know scan results in a couple of hours.  For those of you who are interested, you can read about Dave's surgeon Dr. Raphael Pollock.

I wish all of you could have been with us at Bethel Church yesterday to hear Dave give his testimony of God's grace over the past year.  He talked of his appreciation for Grace Fellowship and the way they loved us, encouraged us, gave to us sacrificially, sent us books, emailed, called, and the list goes on and on.  He also thanked the families of Bethel that were so kind to us and our children.  They were "the church" to us during our time in Houston and have become our friends for life.  The pastor there at Bethel as well as Carlton at Grace Fellowship have both been teaching through the book of Ephesians for a while.  It was really neat yesterday how what Dave had to say related so well to what both churches have been learning through the study of Ephesians.  Dave talked about how a pretty wise man had told him that what you have going in to suffering is pretty much what you have going through suffering.  He said he had all these great aspirations to study and learn alot of scripture,  but much of the time he could only sit and stare.  Chemo takes a toll on your mind. He told them if they haven't been through a time of sufffering that they probably would eventually and these are the 2 things he would encourage them with before they go into a time of suffering.    
1)  Know God and God's Word      
2) Be an active, plugged in part of the church body. 
 He finished his talk with this quote from John Piper, "Cancer doesn't win if you die, it wins if you fail to cherish Christ". 

Dave is having his CT scan now.  He has a cardiac injection and scan at 10 today.  We will probably not get the results from the CT scan until Monday.  That kinda stinks.  Hopefully Dave will be able to enjoy the weekend with out worrying. We are staying with our friends this weekend and Dave will be sharing some of his story Sunday at Bethel Church in both of their morning services. 

Something fun.....it's tax free weekend in Texas :) 

We are about to board our plane for Houston. It is like 100 degrees in this airport and its even hotter in Houston. Oh how I loathe this heat.  I'm looking forward to some cool crisp air this fall.  Anyway..... I thought I would share these pictures.

Dave will celebrate his 38th birthday next Wednesday...the day after his surgery.  Being without that ugly old tumor will be a great birthday present!!  The pictures above were from a couple of weeks ago.  Some of our sweet friends got him a cake since he will be gone on his actual birthday. 

leaving on a big jet plane :)

So today's the day.  We will be flying to Houston in a few hours.  I am thankful today to be able to leave my kiddos in such good hands.  I know that my sisters will take care of them as well  as I would.  It is a relief to not have to worry about that.  Dave is feeling a bit anxious today.  I think we will feel some relief when we get to Houston.  We are hoping we may be able to get the scan results tomorrow.....it can't hurt to ask.  So I will keep you updated as we know anything!  Thanks for walking through this with us! 

Getting Ready

Today is packing day.  I'm trying to find the motivation to get it done.  It's alot of work to pack all 5 of us.  We have been keeping as busy as possible so we would have no down time to sit thinking and worrying.  I think I am blogging today to avoid doing what I know I need to be doing.  Dave has taken Erin to have 4 teeth pulled....ouch!  He also is working today.  So...I guess I better get busy.

I have been sitting here clipping coupons and planning my shopping trip for tomorrow. I kid you not that I have been sitting here planning and clipping for 5 hours.  So, if you see me out tomorrow, do not get in line behind me.  You will be very aggravated at having to wait while they scan all my coupons. I hope to save some major bucks tomorrow!!  I am starting to get the hang of couponing.  My favorite sites for couponing are listed over to the right on the side bar.  Oh, and before you think I totally neglected my family to coupon...I didn't.  The kids were with me and the girls were actually trying to find their own coupons to buy some things they want.....like markers:) 

WE have been super busy since my last post.  We completed our bathroom project and it looks so good.  We were also able to get our garage painted and organized.  I got all my kids market stuff tagged and priced....this is a huge accomplishment.  We decided to hold off on starting school until after Labor Day.  This gave me more time to get our house in order before we have to go back out for surgery. 

The big question of the week has been "how are we doing?"  Well, we are anxious.  The closer we get to the surgery date, the more nervous we get.  Dave is anxious about the scan.  He will have a scan this coming Friday...the 19th.  Then we will get those results on Monday.  It's always hard having to wait for scan results.  I think even going back to MD Anderson is gonna be hard.  In some ways, it is still very surreal that we lived in Houston for 8 months and that Dave was very sick for most of that time. I am looking forward to seeing all of our Houston friends over the weekend and going to Bethel Church Sunday.  Surgery is still set for the 23rd.  Thank you to all of you who have faithfully prayed for us. 

August....It's been a year

It has been a whole year.  A long year.  In a way though, it seems like just yesterday.  We seem to look at things as before cancer and after.  We didn't know it was cancer last August.  I didn't even know Dave had gone to the doctor.  He had spent 14 days or so in Russia, had some pain while he was there,  and went to the doctor 2 days after he got home.  He got up early, left without waking me, and went to the doctor's office.  They sent him for a CT scan.  That all happened in the first few days of August last year.  We got the news that he had a cyst and needed to see a urologist. We had no idea what the next year would hold.  We have definitly been "Held" this past year.  We think we hold to Jesus, when all along he is really holding us.  Oh how thankful I am it has not been up to me or Dave or anyone else this year.

Lamentations3:22-24

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

Those are some of my favorite verses.  The song below has also been great for me this year. 

Held 

by Natalie Grant

Two months is too little, they let him go

They had no sudden healing

To think that providence

Would take a child from his mother

While she prays, is appalling

Who told us we'd be rescued

What has changed and

Why should we be saved from nightmares

We're asking why this happens to us

Who have died to live, it's unfair

This is what it means to be held

How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was that when everything fell

We'd be held

This hand is bitterness

We want to taste it and

Let the hatred numb our sorrows

The wise hand opens slowly

To lilies of the valley and tomorrow

This is what it means to be held

How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was that when everything fell

We'd be held

If hope if born of suffering

If this is only the beginning

Can we not wait for one hour

Watching for our Savior

This is what it means to be held

How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was that when everything fell

We'd be held