Chemo Week Over

Thanks to everyone that prayed for my son, Joey. He finished his chemo yesterday and is really tired but says he doesn't feel too bad. He hasn't been able to eat much and has nausea from the chemo, but still says he is ok and glad this week is over. We are all glad he has finished another round and only has one more to go. Please continue to pray for him and that his tumor will shrink or remain stable. 

Had to post this of Bella - she is such a smiley little girl - and such a blessing to our family. 

Labs

Joey just finished a week of chemo. A week that was dreaded as his blood work was not looking good at all and getting worse by the day instead of better. But, his doctor decided he would do chemo even though his numbers were bad - that it would probably be worse not to do it. We were pretty worried. Today he had to go back to the lab as his doctor felt he needed to be checked immediately after chemo as this is when his numbers get even worse. It was a miracle. All of his blood work looked better and a lot better. That is basically unheard of for him on chemo week. Things always look a little worse right after chemo and sometimes a lot worse. But, this time things actually look good. Thank you to everyone that prayed for him. This is such a blessing for us. He is feeling pretty tired, which is to be expected on chemo week, but not that sick. He actually sounded pretty good when I talked to him today. He feels blessed. So do I. 

Bella in her usual good mood. She is almost always happy. 

The Past Week

I haven't seemed to have anything to blog about. Not much new going on and I just haven't been in the mood to write. I do need to ask for prayer for Joey. His numbers have never come back up from the last chemo treatment so his chemo has been postponed over and over. Now his doctor has decided that he needs to do it anyway - regardless of his numbers. So, he is starting chemo again this week and needs all the prayers he can get. He is already tired and has lost about 50 pounds and is just mentally and physically drained. This will be a hard week for him, Shannon and the rest of the family. I always worry a lot - my nature. So, please remember him in your prayers this week. 

I will just post some pictures from the past week and write more later. I have a lot of doctor appointments this week for the kids so that is going to keep me pretty busy. I am hoping to get to a store and buy the materials that Andrew and Bethany need to build a doll house. Actually, it will basically be Andrew building it for Bethany and then she will help paint and decorate - I think. They have talked about doing this for several weeks and I just haven't managed to get out and get the materials. So, hopefully this week. 

The groceries arrived and Piper always runs to meet the car. The driver never has to carry anything up to the house cause the kids run the second the car pulls in the driveway. Thank goodness for home delivery in an hour when you can't get out to go to the store!

Short Update

I wanted to thank everyone for their prayers for my son, Joey. He was able to start his chemo again last week as his numbers went up fairly quickly. He has done pretty well -- extremely tired and does have bad days, but also has some good days. Please keep him in your prayers. 

Piper is doing well and is getting ready to start physical therapy. This has been a strange and long process, but I am thinking that she will be back to her old self in a few weeks. Right now she is hobbling around, but can go anywhere she wants pretty quickly.

Tess is doing great after her surgery and is ready to start up all her activities -- especially riding a bike. But, she has another week before she is totally released for all sports. 

Bethany has a little over one year left in her clinical trial. Things are going really well and I do believe the medication is helping her. We found out last month that in the first phase she got the placebo. I had actually kind of thought that - not quite sure why, but maybe because I really saw no difference in her health whatsoever. But, she is doing well and we are so happy she was able to get in this trial. I remember when I got the news she was accepted. I was in China picking up Piper and Tess and the doctor wanted Bethany to come in as soon as possible. So, as soon as we were back home it was right over to the hospital to get started. 

Posting a few random pictures from the past week.

In the first two pictures Piper is learning to tie her shoes. She is kind of getting it but still has some trouble. Tess is great about helping her.

Bethany and Andrew found a baby bird in the yard last night as Andrew was cutting grass.

Sophia has gotten a little more social lately - and I mean just a little. But, she does really like sitting on the porch in the rocking chair. Every few minutes one of the kids will go up and play with her or talk to her. 

Andrew brought these flowers to me the other day. They are already dropping petals, but still pretty.