Mark is having a rough day today. He seems very tired and is a little more nauseated with this treatment than usual. He has thrown up a few times and has required more nausea medicine. He's really just more wiped out than I've seen him. He had a little pocket this afternoon where he seemed better. He did get in to the office to teach today. Some of this fatigue could be because of our recent trip, but I think mostly it's the new chemo. I guess time will tell. Tomorrow around 1 pm he should get unhooked from the chemo and hopefully will begin the rebound process once again. This time he will get 2 weeks off since our trip to Europe falls on his usual chemo week. Upon return, he will get the new chemo regimen with the added leukovorin type drug (that is the one he reacted to). We pray that he will be able to tolerate this one.
Continue to keep Mark in your prayers. The kids seem to be getting better finally. God bless!!!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
February 23- Chemo
Hello again. It's been a busy and exciting week for us. We spent the weekend in New Orleans for the Mardi Gras festivities and got home Sunday evening. Mark enjoyed getting back to New Orleans and really wanted to take the kids to see the parades. They all had fun. We got to visit with several of Mark's relatives and stayed with Aunt Louise. Colton was sick for the trip which put a damper on things. He got sick Thursday and we debated cancelling the trip. Colton was very upset and really wanted to go, so we decided to try. He was sick, but managed the parades. We took a quick trip into the French Quarter and got Muffalatas. We brought back King Cake. The kids got tons of goodies from the floats- 3 bags of beads, stuffed animals, swords, footballs and trinkets. They were in heaven.
On the way home, Colton's temperature really spiked and he got some chest discomfort and was short of breath walking up the stairs when we got home, so I took him to the ER. We spent much of the evening there and didn't get home until 1 am. He has the flu. His Chest XRay was OK. I thought he may have pneumonia, but luckily not. We are now dealing with fever, aches and cough. Emily came home early from her school today not feeling well. I hope she's not getting this, too.
Mark had his first round of the new chemo today. It was stressful because I wanted to be there for that but I had Colton at home sick and then got the call about Emily. He did okay, but I felt bad that he spent most of the time there by himself. I got to sit with him for a short while during the beginning of the new drug. He initially didn't feel any different, but I think he has been a little sicker tonight than he usually is. He says he just feels "different", but can't really describe how. His stomach feels like it's burning he says. He seems a lot more tired this time. We really don't know what to expect over the next several days with this treatment, so we will see. He is watching the basketball game now which takes his mind off of it a little. We just pray that this regimen works to get the cancer marker back in check.
It looks like I will be home from work again tomorrow with Colton. He is still running fever. Emily isn't feeling well, but no fever as of bedtime. Her eyes had that glassy look like she's getting ready to get worse. We will see. Even the dog is sick. I had to pick her up from the vet and they put her on antibiotics and steroids for an infection in her leg. I just pray that Mark doesn't get any of this junk. He did get his flu shot, so we will see.
As always, keep Mark in your prayers. God bless!!!!!!
On the way home, Colton's temperature really spiked and he got some chest discomfort and was short of breath walking up the stairs when we got home, so I took him to the ER. We spent much of the evening there and didn't get home until 1 am. He has the flu. His Chest XRay was OK. I thought he may have pneumonia, but luckily not. We are now dealing with fever, aches and cough. Emily came home early from her school today not feeling well. I hope she's not getting this, too.
Mark had his first round of the new chemo today. It was stressful because I wanted to be there for that but I had Colton at home sick and then got the call about Emily. He did okay, but I felt bad that he spent most of the time there by himself. I got to sit with him for a short while during the beginning of the new drug. He initially didn't feel any different, but I think he has been a little sicker tonight than he usually is. He says he just feels "different", but can't really describe how. His stomach feels like it's burning he says. He seems a lot more tired this time. We really don't know what to expect over the next several days with this treatment, so we will see. He is watching the basketball game now which takes his mind off of it a little. We just pray that this regimen works to get the cancer marker back in check.
It looks like I will be home from work again tomorrow with Colton. He is still running fever. Emily isn't feeling well, but no fever as of bedtime. Her eyes had that glassy look like she's getting ready to get worse. We will see. Even the dog is sick. I had to pick her up from the vet and they put her on antibiotics and steroids for an infection in her leg. I just pray that Mark doesn't get any of this junk. He did get his flu shot, so we will see.
As always, keep Mark in your prayers. God bless!!!!!!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Feb 15
Hello everyone. Just a quick update on Mark. He is doing much better. He had the usual chemo course where he felt pretty lousy Monday through Wednesday with Wednesday being his roughest day and slowly recovering Thursday and Friday. He was able to go in and teach on Tuesday and Thursday during the chemo. He got Colton to practice Thursday evening and went to Colton's basketball game Friday night, so you can see he doesn't let it keep him down much. When he's home, he totally crashes and pretty much just stays in bed. It really wears him out.
He is feeling much better this weekend and we hope to have a good week. Friday will be the day we got talk to Dr. Farmer about changing his chemo. Next time he will be getting different medications. Hopefully these will work better on the cancer and get the marker down to normal. He has been getting some pain or discomfort in his right upper quadrant intermittantly. He thinks it's just the scar tissue from the surgery last May. It is also the location he has the biliary duct stent from when he was first diagnosed and his bile duct closed off. I don't know how many of you saw him when he was totally yellow, but that is why the stent is there.
Mark has a lot planned in the upcoming months. This weekend we are taking the kids and going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We won't be there for the actual Mardi Gras, but will get to see some of the parades. The kids are excited and we will get to see many of Mark's relatives, although Jeanne and Maureen are still in Kazastan and we will miss them. The following weekend is Colton's first baseball tournament and also Colton's birthday and the following week Mark and I will leave for Europe. We are getting really excited about that!!!!
Please continue to keep Mark in your prayers as always. We pray that the new medication will be easy on Mark's body and the right treatment for him. Pray for all of our friends out there fighting this terrible disease. God bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is feeling much better this weekend and we hope to have a good week. Friday will be the day we got talk to Dr. Farmer about changing his chemo. Next time he will be getting different medications. Hopefully these will work better on the cancer and get the marker down to normal. He has been getting some pain or discomfort in his right upper quadrant intermittantly. He thinks it's just the scar tissue from the surgery last May. It is also the location he has the biliary duct stent from when he was first diagnosed and his bile duct closed off. I don't know how many of you saw him when he was totally yellow, but that is why the stent is there.
Mark has a lot planned in the upcoming months. This weekend we are taking the kids and going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We won't be there for the actual Mardi Gras, but will get to see some of the parades. The kids are excited and we will get to see many of Mark's relatives, although Jeanne and Maureen are still in Kazastan and we will miss them. The following weekend is Colton's first baseball tournament and also Colton's birthday and the following week Mark and I will leave for Europe. We are getting really excited about that!!!!
Please continue to keep Mark in your prayers as always. We pray that the new medication will be easy on Mark's body and the right treatment for him. Pray for all of our friends out there fighting this terrible disease. God bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Feb 9-Chemo
Hello again. Today was Mark's chemo infusion day. We headed to the center early this morning after getting all the kids off to school and day care. Mark's blood work was done and the CEA (cancer marker) came back a little higher this time at 19. Dr. Farmer came out and talked with us briefly and decided to continue Mark's chemo regimen this time as is since they were already mixing it, but we will be changing to a new drug cocktail next visit to see if we can get a better handle on things. We have another appointment on February 20th to discuss everything before Mark gets the new meds on Feb 23rd. We weren't thrilled with the news, but it looks like we need to make some changes. We hope that this new regimen will be just what Mark needs. Mark has actually been feeling really good. He looks great. I don't know whether or not Dr. Farmer will do another scan, but we're about due for one anyway.
Our trip to Europe is fast approaching. Hopefully the new chemo doesn't totally wipe Mark out so that he can enjoy the trip. Mark also has plans to go to the Master's practice round and the first round of play in early April with his dad, a friend and possibly his brother. He is really looking forward to that.
Baseball is getting into full swing now. Colton's team had a practice game in Montgomery last Saturday and we were all sunburned. It was a beautiful day. His first tournament is the last weekend of February and between him and Calen, we only have one weekend off until the middle of July. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Emily is still practicing her ballet and tumbling. Her recital should be coming up in May. She is excited about it, but still thinks she is singing, too. I really hope there isn't a microphone, because she might just get up there and belt one out. She loves to sing one of the songs from Barbie and the Diamond Castle.
Continue to pray for Mark and healing of his body. We could really use the extra prayers now with the chemo regimen changing and the CEA marker rising. As our visiting priest said on Sunday, "PUSH" or Pray Until Something Happens. God bless!!!!!
Our trip to Europe is fast approaching. Hopefully the new chemo doesn't totally wipe Mark out so that he can enjoy the trip. Mark also has plans to go to the Master's practice round and the first round of play in early April with his dad, a friend and possibly his brother. He is really looking forward to that.
Baseball is getting into full swing now. Colton's team had a practice game in Montgomery last Saturday and we were all sunburned. It was a beautiful day. His first tournament is the last weekend of February and between him and Calen, we only have one weekend off until the middle of July. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Emily is still practicing her ballet and tumbling. Her recital should be coming up in May. She is excited about it, but still thinks she is singing, too. I really hope there isn't a microphone, because she might just get up there and belt one out. She loves to sing one of the songs from Barbie and the Diamond Castle.
Continue to pray for Mark and healing of his body. We could really use the extra prayers now with the chemo regimen changing and the CEA marker rising. As our visiting priest said on Sunday, "PUSH" or Pray Until Something Happens. God bless!!!!!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Feb 5
Hello to all. We had an exciting day today. Calen continues to feel awful and I took him in to the pediatric clinic today to be seen. (My car wouldn't start this morning which posed another problem). He got tested for and was positive for the flu. He has started Tamiflu which will hopefully shorten the course, but he is puny and feels terrible. Now we have to be concerned about Mark being exposed. He will probably have to start the Tamiflu as a prevention. Hopefully he doesn't come down with anything as his chemo is scheduled for Monday.
I have been trying to Lysol everything and keep Calen quarantined in one area of the house away from everyone else. We will see if it works.
My car has been towed out of the garage and into the shop. Still no word on the problem. I am guessing the started, but we'll see.
Take care and God bless!!!!
I have been trying to Lysol everything and keep Calen quarantined in one area of the house away from everyone else. We will see if it works.
My car has been towed out of the garage and into the shop. Still no word on the problem. I am guessing the started, but we'll see.
Take care and God bless!!!!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Feb 4
Hello everyone. Just a quick update. Mark is doing well. He is back to his usual self. He did well through this chemo round and we are thankful for that. He has been doing a lot at work and keeping busy. Both boys are practicing baseball already and that also keeps him going constantly.
Calen has been sick with a high fever, cough and just feeling cruddy. We are trying to keep him isolated from Mark so we don't pass it around.
Thanks again to all of you who keep up with us. God bless!!!
Calen has been sick with a high fever, cough and just feeling cruddy. We are trying to keep him isolated from Mark so we don't pass it around.
Thanks again to all of you who keep up with us. God bless!!!
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