A Poem by Ashley

Cancer Sucks

Cancer is not a very good thing
It will not bring a casual bling

To get rid of cancer there is only one thing to do
Trust in God, then you won’t turn blue

My mom’s been through it one very long time
but she trusts in God and God has made up His mind
He took away her cancer
and put her back on the right line

Cancer is not a very good thing
It will not bring a casual bling
Trust in God with all your luck
And you will beat,,,,,,,,,

Cancer’s butt!!

Thursday, September 25, 2008: The Long-Awaited Phone Call

Well, the news today was a good news/bad news type of thing.  My CA125 went up to 60.   Although this isn't great news, it's not awful.  My nurse told me that until the level is doubled, which is typically 70 (and we all know I'm not your typical case) we don't jump to conclusions.  In my case, they wouldn't take the next step (more chemo) until I was around 80.

So, the plan is to have more blood work in two weeks.  I have a CT scan and chest x-ray on October 6 and then will have my blood work done on October 8.  After that we will again be "waiting for the phone call".  

I feel good about this news.   Obviously I was hoping to have my number drop but I will continue to trust that God knows what is best for me.  One day at a time (and some days one minute at a time).  Thank you for your prayers - I had a fairly peaceful morning waiting for "the call".  I am again now completely helpless and weak with this situation and can feel God's strength pulling me through.  I have missed that feeling as I have been trying to take control again of my life. 

I haven't heard from Brian's parents yet - we'll keep you posted.  Brian is exhausted - please pray for peace at work, peace with today's news (he wants so badly to be able to "fix" this problem for me) and peace with his family.  In addition to his dad being in the hospital, both his brother and his uncle are recovering from rotater cuff surgery right now.   

Wednesday, September 24, 2008: When It Rains, It Pours

My title isn't regarding the weather.  Thankfully that has been beautiful!  Today has been overwhelming for our family.  I had my blood work done which was uneventful (yea) and sometime tomorrow we will have the results.  

Tonight was the first night of GEMS.  It was so busy and overwhelming and to be honest, I had mentally written my letter of registration by 6:30 tonight.  Some miscommunications and oversights on my part had me close to tears.  As the night went on, things improved.  We have an amazing group of women helping with GEMS this year.  We had 85 girls show up tonight!  

Brian received a phone call today that his dad was scheduled to have surgery tonight to have his gall bladder removed.  He was not feeling well last night and this morning they went to the hospital.  I'm not sure of all the details as it happened so fast, but he went in for surgery this evening and everything went well.   He will hopefully be able to come home tomorrow.

All these things put together, well, let's just say we're a bit overwhelmed.  We are doing well all things considered so it's obvious prayers are already going up and being answered.   Please keep Brian's parents in your prayers.  

I will update the blog tomorrow as soon as I have my blood work results.  Please don't assume that no news is bad news.  I often have trouble connecting with nurse for these results and it's a waiting game.   It frightens me to think what a simple phone call can do to our life.  However, our future is in God's hands and there is no better place to be.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! .  Ephesians 3:20-21.

Sunday September 21, 2008: Still Here!

Well, I think we have set a record of longest time between updates!  I just checked the statistics of the blog and am amazed at the number of people checking the blog every day.  We average around 75 hits a day.  Even when we aren't faithful with updating, you are faithful checking on us.  That is so humbling and encouraging.

We have been super busy the past few weeks with the typical "getting back to routine" issues.  The conversations around here are "did you study your spelling yet? is it your library day today? don't forget your violin, do you need a cold lunch? hurry up - we're late for soccer, have you read yet today? you need to practice piano, don't forget your show & tell, and hurry up or we'll miss the bus!"  Just your typical house trying to keep up with three children's different schedules.  We're getting the hang of it though.

Up until a few days ago we were doing pretty well.  I've been super busy with GEMS which kept my mind occupied.  Now that things are slowing down a bit with GEMS my mind has had time to wander - which is never a good thing.  Plus, we are getting closer to my next blood draw.  Combine that with the restructuring at JCI and, well, let's just say it's past time for us to update the blog and share our prayer requests with you.

I will be going this Wednesday for my lab work.  As you already know, my number is slowly creeping up and was last at 53.  The optimistic part of us is saying that the cancer is gone and will not return.  Our realistic part tells us we need to be aware of potential outcomes from this next lab work.  Should my level continue to rise, I will more than likely need to have my ct scan done sooner (currently scheduled for October 6) and meet with my oncologist sooner (right now isn't until November).  The positive side of the possibility of needing to have more chemo is that I am not resistant to the first line of treatment which was the first chemo that I received.  Some people's bodies become resistant to that chemo treatment.  

This Wednesday I will be going to Teusink's Farm with Emily and her preschool class and then heading to the lab after that (with Emily and my Mom along for moral support).  That night we have our first night of GEMS which is always "controlled chaos".  That will be a good thing though for keeping my mind busy.  I will call the doctor Thursday morning for results after I drop Emily off at preschool.  I will post them as soon as I hear.  Sometimes I don't connect with my nurse right away and have to wait to find out the results.  I'm sure it will be an anxious morning.  

Please pray specifically for my CA125 level to be low and for Brian's job.  Please also include Brian's coworkers as this is a very stressful time at his work.  Thank you!