Happy Memorial Day to everyone. We are doing fine. Mark is feeling good. He just has some cramping now and then in his abdomen and his usual problems with the ileostomy, but we are thankful for a good week. The patch was quite helpful overall.
Colton gave us some unwanted excitement yesterday. He fell out of a tree at church yesterday and we had to take him to the ER. There is a buckle fracture in his left wrist. He will need a cast and will probably be in it for 3-4 weeks. We will see the orthopedist this week for more clear information. He won't be able to play baseball or swim for a while. Hopefully that will teach him not to climb in trees. We had just told him not to climb the tree and did he listen?????
The kids are looking forward to summer and being out of school. Of course, swimming will be out for Colton for a bit.
Thanks to all of you who continually pray for Mark and give us support through his fight with cancer. We appreciate it more than you know. God bless!!!!!!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
May 21
Mark is doing better. The patch did help him get through the chemo much better. He only had a few vomiting episodes. He tolerated some fluids and a little food which was a huge improvement. His mouth is sore and his taste is still off, but he is glad to be unhooked and recovering. He was very hungry for breakfast this morning then took a long nap and woke for lunch.
Colton got sick in the middle of the night Tues/Wed and woke with a high fever and just feeling awful. I took him to the doctor Wednesday and stayed home from work. They thought he may have strep, but the rapid strep was negative so they just sent us home to rest. Wednesday evening Colton thought he was better and wanted desperately to go to Emily's recital, so we went and in the middle his cheeks got flushed and he started feeling very ill again. His temperature when we got home was 103.6. I ended up staying home again today with Colton being sick and Mark feeling miserable. I was actually dialing the number to the doctor's office when they called my cell phone this morning telling me that Colton's throat culture overnight grew strep. He started antibiotics today and is finally feeling a bit better. We hope he is able to make his last day of school tomorrow. He was supposed to be in his play with his cute wolf costume and missed it.
Emily did well in her recital. She loved being on stage dancing and looked so cute. Her last act was tumbling. There is one girl in the class that can do cartwheels, but the other girls can't. The girl doing cartwheels went down the mat in front of Emily, so not to be outdone she decides to add a full twist after her front rolls. It was quite funny.
We are hoping everyone is well by the weekend so that we can enjoy the long Memorial Day holiday. Keep Mark in your prayers as always. God bless!!!!
Colton got sick in the middle of the night Tues/Wed and woke with a high fever and just feeling awful. I took him to the doctor Wednesday and stayed home from work. They thought he may have strep, but the rapid strep was negative so they just sent us home to rest. Wednesday evening Colton thought he was better and wanted desperately to go to Emily's recital, so we went and in the middle his cheeks got flushed and he started feeling very ill again. His temperature when we got home was 103.6. I ended up staying home again today with Colton being sick and Mark feeling miserable. I was actually dialing the number to the doctor's office when they called my cell phone this morning telling me that Colton's throat culture overnight grew strep. He started antibiotics today and is finally feeling a bit better. We hope he is able to make his last day of school tomorrow. He was supposed to be in his play with his cute wolf costume and missed it.
Emily did well in her recital. She loved being on stage dancing and looked so cute. Her last act was tumbling. There is one girl in the class that can do cartwheels, but the other girls can't. The girl doing cartwheels went down the mat in front of Emily, so not to be outdone she decides to add a full twist after her front rolls. It was quite funny.
We are hoping everyone is well by the weekend so that we can enjoy the long Memorial Day holiday. Keep Mark in your prayers as always. God bless!!!!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
May 19-Chemo
Mark is half way through this round of chemo. We went in yesterday for the big day of infusions and he tolerated it well. He was pretty sedated after the medicines kicked in and he slept through the afternoon. I had to leave early to get Emily to her dance recital dress rehersal, so Andy came and drove Mark home.
His patch seems to be helping quite a bit with the nausea. He isn't having nearly the problems he usually does. However, he is still vomiting some and feels pretty lousy. It is all relative. Definitely much better than before when he threw up so much his muscles were all sore from his abdomen to his neck and he hurt for a week after the vomiting stopped. He is actually able to drink a little and has kept a little food down today which makes me feel a lot better. He started craving mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC, so I had to drive there and get him some. He's like a pregnant woman with these cravings sometimes, but if he'll eat, I'll go get it.
The boys are excited to be in the last week of school. Colton has a play this week called Curly Pig and he is the Big Bad Wolf. My mom made him the cutest costume. The audience gets to be the jury and the characters get to plead their cases, so the audience decides who is guilty and thus the ending of their play. I think it will be cute.
Emily's recital is tomorrow. She looks adorable in her costumes. Mark may not be able to make it depending on how he's feeling. I am buying the DVD, so at least he will be able to watch it if he can't go.
Keep Mark in your prayers as always. God bless!!!!!
His patch seems to be helping quite a bit with the nausea. He isn't having nearly the problems he usually does. However, he is still vomiting some and feels pretty lousy. It is all relative. Definitely much better than before when he threw up so much his muscles were all sore from his abdomen to his neck and he hurt for a week after the vomiting stopped. He is actually able to drink a little and has kept a little food down today which makes me feel a lot better. He started craving mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC, so I had to drive there and get him some. He's like a pregnant woman with these cravings sometimes, but if he'll eat, I'll go get it.
The boys are excited to be in the last week of school. Colton has a play this week called Curly Pig and he is the Big Bad Wolf. My mom made him the cutest costume. The audience gets to be the jury and the characters get to plead their cases, so the audience decides who is guilty and thus the ending of their play. I think it will be cute.
Emily's recital is tomorrow. She looks adorable in her costumes. Mark may not be able to make it depending on how he's feeling. I am buying the DVD, so at least he will be able to watch it if he can't go.
Keep Mark in your prayers as always. God bless!!!!!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
May 17
Hello to all. We are back from a long weekend in Panama City Beach. It was a lot of fun, but we are all tired and ready for rest. Mark is starting to dread tomorrow. He hates the evening before chemo- he starts feeling sick already. The boys both had baseball tournaments at the beach and we got to enjoy the surf and sand a little as well. Both boys did well and we were proud of them. Mark was out in the heat a lot and that always makes me nervous. He can dehydrate easily and it is so humid down there, but he managed okay.
Mark is going to try out a new medication for nausea this chemo round. I REALLY hope it works!!!!!!!!! He needs a break. I got a call Thursday afternoon from Dr. Farmer's office saying she wanted Mark to try this new patch for nausea, but it is so new that none of the pharmacies are carrying it yet. Luckily we have a wonderful pharmacist friend, Sherry, who worked her tail off getting it for us and even drove it down to the beach for us with her. She is really something else!!!! Dr. Farmer wanted the patch on Mark 48 hours before chemo and he will wear it through the 3 days of treatment. We are praying hard that it will work. It is certainly expensive medicine. The one patch was just under $400. Lucky for us BCBS picked up most of the tab. I'm thinking for that price, it better do SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!! We shall see.
Emily has her dress rehersal for the dance recital tomorrow. She is getting excited about the recital which will be Wednesday night. It is doubtful that Mark will make it because of the chemo, but her brothers and I will be there to cheer her on. It is the least they can do after all the baseball, football and basketball games she's been to for them.
As always, continue to keep Mark in your prayers. God bless!!!!!
Mark is going to try out a new medication for nausea this chemo round. I REALLY hope it works!!!!!!!!! He needs a break. I got a call Thursday afternoon from Dr. Farmer's office saying she wanted Mark to try this new patch for nausea, but it is so new that none of the pharmacies are carrying it yet. Luckily we have a wonderful pharmacist friend, Sherry, who worked her tail off getting it for us and even drove it down to the beach for us with her. She is really something else!!!! Dr. Farmer wanted the patch on Mark 48 hours before chemo and he will wear it through the 3 days of treatment. We are praying hard that it will work. It is certainly expensive medicine. The one patch was just under $400. Lucky for us BCBS picked up most of the tab. I'm thinking for that price, it better do SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!! We shall see.
Emily has her dress rehersal for the dance recital tomorrow. She is getting excited about the recital which will be Wednesday night. It is doubtful that Mark will make it because of the chemo, but her brothers and I will be there to cheer her on. It is the least they can do after all the baseball, football and basketball games she's been to for them.
As always, continue to keep Mark in your prayers. God bless!!!!!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
May 7
Hello again. Mark is doing better. He was able to make it to Calen's Confirmation. We weren't sure whether or not he'd come, so we went on without him. He showed up at the last minute and made it through the mass. He had to leave right after and get back home. It was all he could handle and he needed to rest. I got a good picture of Calen with Father Skoneki and Archbishop Rodi. The kids and I went out for dinner after the ceremony and didn't get home until late.
Mark is feeling better today. He woke and was out of bed before I left for work today. He was quite hungry and eating which is always a good sign. He made it to his office for a while and then to Calen's baseball practice. He is pretty exhausted this evening.
We leave for Florence, AL tomorrow afternoon and will be there all weekend. Colton's team is playing a tournament there.
Keep up the prayers for Mark's health. God bless!!!!
Mark is feeling better today. He woke and was out of bed before I left for work today. He was quite hungry and eating which is always a good sign. He made it to his office for a while and then to Calen's baseball practice. He is pretty exhausted this evening.
We leave for Florence, AL tomorrow afternoon and will be there all weekend. Colton's team is playing a tournament there.
Keep up the prayers for Mark's health. God bless!!!!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
May 5-Chemo
Hello again. Mark is almost through with the second day of infusion and will be unhooked tomorrow afternoon. He has been sick (like usual) and vomiting a lot. He feels pretty lousy and hasn't been up much at all. He was able to keep down his anti nausea cocktail tonight which makes him very sleepy and he has been knocked out since then. It is good to see him resting peacefully instead of looking miserable and up vomiting all evening. It was quite a blessing that he kept the medicine down and is getting rest. I hope he is able to sleep all night without waking up with the nausea.
Tomorrow evening is Calen's Confirmation at the church. Mark is really hoping he feels up to going, we will see. If he's not vomiting, he will try to attend.
Tonight was busy with Emily's recital pictures. We didn't get home until after 7 and were exhausted. We made a quick run by the church and I was able to start my car with the other key. (It's a weird Ford thing- the key periodically won't work at all in the car. It is totally dead, but if you use the other key, it resets itself and then both keys work again. Don't ask how we figured that one out.) After the kids were in bed, Andy came by and drove me to the church to pick up my car, so tomorrow Mark should have a way to get himself to the hospital to get unhooked. YEAH!!!!! Both of the boys ended up getting rides to and from practice. I really need to look into this cloning thing. haha
Thanks so much to all of you who support us through this. We really appreciate all of the help, support and prayers that continually come our way. God bless!!!!
Tomorrow evening is Calen's Confirmation at the church. Mark is really hoping he feels up to going, we will see. If he's not vomiting, he will try to attend.
Tonight was busy with Emily's recital pictures. We didn't get home until after 7 and were exhausted. We made a quick run by the church and I was able to start my car with the other key. (It's a weird Ford thing- the key periodically won't work at all in the car. It is totally dead, but if you use the other key, it resets itself and then both keys work again. Don't ask how we figured that one out.) After the kids were in bed, Andy came by and drove me to the church to pick up my car, so tomorrow Mark should have a way to get himself to the hospital to get unhooked. YEAH!!!!! Both of the boys ended up getting rides to and from practice. I really need to look into this cloning thing. haha
Thanks so much to all of you who support us through this. We really appreciate all of the help, support and prayers that continually come our way. God bless!!!!
Monday, May 4, 2009
chemo
Hello to all. It's been quite a long while since I've updated. Sorry. Since then, we've become parents to a teenager. YIKES!!!! Calen celebrated his 13th birthday on April 22nd. We've been very busy with out of town weekend trips and have two more coming up to Florence, AL this weekend and then Panama City Beach next weekend. Hopefully after that we can stay home for at least one.
Mark went in this morning for his chemo after missing a week. He enjoyed his trip to Washington DC. His meeting was good and he enjoyed seeing a lot of friends and colleagues. He's been feeling pretty good overall, we just expected to get good news and were quite disappointed to hear the CEA marker went up to 21. We were all scratching our heads on that one. We don't know if the week off could have somthing to do with the number change. We went ahead with the chemo as planned. Mark is tolerating it as well as can be expected. He will be hooked up until Wednesday around 1 pm.
We are thinking it should be time for another PET scan soon, but Dr. Farmer didn't mention it today. We saw her before the number came back, so we will see what she says next visit.
This will be a busy week for us with Emily's recital pictures, both boys' baseball practice, Calen's Confirmation on Wednesday night and then going out of town for the weekend. I hope Mark is feeling better by week's end. He is hoping to make it for Calen's Confirmation on Wednesday. A lot of the time he is still vomiting a lot on Wednesday, so we will see. Just to add to the excitement, my Explorer wouldn't start after Confirmation practice tonight and is stranded at the church. Father Bill was nice enough to drive me and the kids home when I'm sure he had a thousand other things to be doing instead.
Continue to keep Mark in your prayers as always. God bless!!!!!
Mark went in this morning for his chemo after missing a week. He enjoyed his trip to Washington DC. His meeting was good and he enjoyed seeing a lot of friends and colleagues. He's been feeling pretty good overall, we just expected to get good news and were quite disappointed to hear the CEA marker went up to 21. We were all scratching our heads on that one. We don't know if the week off could have somthing to do with the number change. We went ahead with the chemo as planned. Mark is tolerating it as well as can be expected. He will be hooked up until Wednesday around 1 pm.
We are thinking it should be time for another PET scan soon, but Dr. Farmer didn't mention it today. We saw her before the number came back, so we will see what she says next visit.
This will be a busy week for us with Emily's recital pictures, both boys' baseball practice, Calen's Confirmation on Wednesday night and then going out of town for the weekend. I hope Mark is feeling better by week's end. He is hoping to make it for Calen's Confirmation on Wednesday. A lot of the time he is still vomiting a lot on Wednesday, so we will see. Just to add to the excitement, my Explorer wouldn't start after Confirmation practice tonight and is stranded at the church. Father Bill was nice enough to drive me and the kids home when I'm sure he had a thousand other things to be doing instead.
Continue to keep Mark in your prayers as always. God bless!!!!!
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