April 21

Hello. Sorry I haven't updated regularly. It's been a little crazy around here. Mark is now feeling better, but was sick until Friday when he started feeling a little better. He was supposed to leave Friday evening for Birmingham for Calen's travel ball tournament, but couldn't make it and Calen went with the Weavers instead. Luckily Mark woke Saturday feeling pretty good and we made it to B'Ham and enjoyed watching Calen's tourney. They played well and we came back Sunday afternoon. Mark's parents are here and offered to stay and keep Colton and Emily at home and got Colton to his CFF class on Sunday. It was very helpful and was nice to be able to watch Calen's games uninterrupted.

Today was supposed to be Mark's 13th round of chemo. We woke and got the kids off to school and day care as usual and made our trip to Starbucks before going to the infusion center. Mark had his blood drawn and then we saw Dr. Farmer. His blood count was down just a little and he is only mildly anemic, but nothing they would hold the chemo for. Mark talked Dr. Farmer into holding chemo for one week just to give him a recovery time since he was sick for almost 2 weeks straight. She thought it would be a good idea as well. We were glad to hear it. Tomorrow is Calen's birthday and it will be good for Mark to be off treatment for that. Mark got a teaching award from Auburn and has an awards ceremony Wednesday that he wants to go to and he will now feel like attending. We had also planned a beach trip this Thursday through Sunday.

Mark's CEA (cancer maker) continues to creep up slightly. It was 5.1 today. It was 3.4 then 4.4 and now 5.1. Less than 3 is normal. We are hoping that once Dr. Bartlett gets finished with Mark, his cancer markers won't be an issue.

Colton had a game tonight and his team won. They started the season 0-3 and have now won their last 2 games. They are developing some really good hitters and Colton was excited about a triple, home run and then a grand slam. It was an exciting game for our team as all the kids hit and played well.

Next week will be Mark's last chemo before surgery. He will get 4 1/2 weeks off before Pittsburgh and he is hoping to feel good enough to get back to the gym for some conditioning prior to surgery. He will be busy with several pre-op tests that they want him to do here, but overall we are hoping and praying that it is a nice break off of chemo for Mark.

Thanks for all the support and prayers. Continue to keep Mark lifted up in your prayers daily as well as the doctors who are treating Mark. We have been blessed with so many great friends and family members. God bless you all!!!!!