Good News...finally

A quick update....then we are off to spend a fun day with the kids!!

The tumor has shrunk...a little.  Dr. Ravi will present Dave's case to the radiation oncologist and surgeon on Thursday.  They will decide then if he will have radiation.  We should know more on Thursday or Friday.  Then he should be scheduled to see the surgeon next week.  If they don't choose to radiate, he may have one more round of chemo.  Dr. Ravi told Dave to be proud that he had 70% of this behind him.  Needless to say this was the best visit we have had with him so far.  He said it is usually a 5 week wait on surgery because of the busy schedules of the surgeons.  So that would put Dave having surgery early to mid April.  Thanks to all of you who have prayed fervently for us!! 




 
We are at MDA now waiting on Dave to be called back for his scan. He has finished his labs and x-rays and now we wait.  His prep begins at 5:40 and the scan is scheduled for 7:40.  We will see Dr. Ravi at 9 am tomorrow.  Dave is very weak right now.  We are not sure why his energy level is so low.   The past two weeks have been difficult ones for him.  I will post an update as soon as we know something in the morning.  Thanks for waiting with us.

 I wanted to leave you today with a portion of a devotion that our sweet and encouraging friend Anna Lee sent us today.





 .....teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20





Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear. Rather look at them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He has kept you hitherto; do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms.

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. --Frances do Sales

yeeehawww.....pictures from the rodeo parade

not sure why this little cowboy was frowning

after the parade....we had a good time....not sure why Erin looks unhappy

there's her pretty little smile

Abby got a good spot to watch the parade

Mama was snapping some pictures too

Mama can we please go swimming??

Why sure!!! Go right ahead and jump in. That's not what I said at first..but I did finally give in and let them swim. We did our school work outside this morning.  It was a beautiful day. It probably got close to 80 degrees here. After we were done with school, and after minutes of begging..I gave in and they all three jumped in the pool with their clothes on. We later went to the apartment and let them put swim suits on. So they actually went for a swim twice today.  I thought the water felt rather chilly, but the kids had a great time swimming....in February...that is CRAZY!



My three little monkey's

  Dave has had a rough couple of days.  He was up most of last night and slept a lot today.  He had his Neulasta injection tonight.  Please pray that he will not have the back pain he usually has after this injection.  

Thursday...Chemotherapy

Thursday use to be my favorite day of the week.  I know....weird...right?  I guess it started in college.  The vibe around campus was always fun on Thursday.  Even after Dave and I were married I still looked forward to Thursdays.  The anticipation of the weekend to come. The other nights of the week were usually filled with STUFF.....like band booster meetings, music rehearsals, meetings, discipleship, outreach programs, church services...just to name a few.  So when Thursdays arrived I was always glad.  But now Thursdays have become Chemotherapy day.   I get to spend several hours with Dave on Thursdays while he gets chemo...so that's good for me.  Although I don't think Dave would have anything positive to say about chemo day.    He gets two drugs today, gemzar and taxotere.  His x-ray from Monday came back and was clear.  We were worried he may have pneumonia, but he didn't.  He had a good day on Wednesday.  He felt better and had more strength.  He got to spend some time with his sister before she flew home.  I was glad he felt better for her last day with him.  I was so sad last night when I realized I had not taken any pictures Brenda and Dave while she she was here.  Oh well...I'll do better next time.  He woke up having a lot of nausea this morning.  He took nausea meds and they are giving him some through his IV now.  Maybe he will be able to sleep some while he is getting chemo today.  He has not been sleeping well at night.  We watched 6 episodes of 24 last night.....We finished season 2......  That may be why he didn't sleep much last night.  :)  Mama and Daddy are taking the kids to the Children's Museum today.  They were so glad to be going out for breakfast and not having to do school work this morning.  They should really know by now if they miss it in the morning they will just have to do it in the afternoon.  Kids!  I'm gonna sit back now and watch Dave sleep and hope this medicine does not make him so sick.  We are continually grateful for notes, facebook messages, emails, and phone calls with words of encouragement. 

This round of chemo has not been kind to Dave.  He has been extremely tired and is still having the skin reaction on his hands.  He has been complaining of his chest feeling tight for a couple of days also.  He went to clinic this morning and they gave him a cream for his hands and sent him for a chest x-ray.  We will know those results  in the morning.   He started running a fever tonight, so we will watch that through the night. 

Some friends from church invited the kids over to play today since school was out for President's Day.  They had a great time.  They played at their house for a while and then went to the park to ride bikes and play baseball.  While they were there I walked around the mall and picked up some short sleeve shirts and shorts for the girls. It is going to get really warm this week.  I am enjoying sitting out on the balcony as I type tonight.  The temperature is just perfect. It is so quiet...other than the sounds of air conditioner units, the occasional airplane or helicopter and the faint sounds of cars driving down the road.  Living so close to the medical center, we hear helicopters and sirens a lot.  We always wonder who they are transporting, what might be wrong with them and we pray for them.  One of the bad things about living so near the hospitals is that sickness, cancer.....is always right around the corner.  We can be having a normal day, have to run by MDA to get a prescription or something, and just walking in is a reminder of how horrible cancer can be. As strange as it may sound, one of the biggest shocks to me when we got here was that there were so many sick people.  I knew I was coming to a cancer center, yet I did not prepare myself for the "look" of cancer.  I think we have done well to keep things as normal as possible for ourselves and the kids...under these circumstances.  I think about going home a lot.  I know we will will have a new normal for a while.  It's hard to believe we have been here for over four months.  I know Dave finds himself becoming nervous as the next scan aproaches.  I guess there is always a little fear in the unknown.  I find myself anxious to know  the next plan.  So you could pray for peace for us.  Well thats enough rambling for tonight. I'll leave you with these verses from Philippians 4.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Old Friends

Tonight we were able to meet up with Dave's oldest friend Ricky and his family.  It was fun for me to listen to them reminisce over all the good times they had through the years. Dave grew up with Ricky and his wife Angie in West Jefferson.Our kids loved meeting their little girl Emily. She is the same age as Abby. They have big plans to meet up and play together once we are back home.   We will definitely not be waiting so long before we meet up with them again.  It was a good night.  Dave is feeling really well.  He had some nausea today, but was still feeling really well overall.  Looking forward to some good time with Dave's sister Brenda this weekend.  Now....Jack Bauer and episode 18 of 24 await me.  night.

Old Friends



New Friends



Big smiles while the kids take pictures :)



Dave, Ricky, and Angie