Making the Most of it!

A bit of what we hope is a sign of progress...

Tim mentioned to the doctor yesterday, that he had not taken any pain medicine for the last few days. Tim added that his pain was not completely gone but it was tolerable. Tim had been on daily pain medication for almost a year so this has to be a good sign!

Tim's next round of chemo is scheduled for July 6, followed by a shot of Neulasta to help his expected low blood count to replenish. We are hoping that things will go better this time around and that Tim will not have to return to the hospital with any complications. We are also hopeful that these treatments will be effective. A CT scan will be done on July 21 and a follow-up appointment with the Oncologist is scheduled on July 25.  The results of the scan will determine the next course of action.

July 10 will mark 6 months since Tim's diagnosis. Our lives have dramatically changed, our future has become very uncertain, and many days have been emotionally draining and depressing; but, we try to keep busy, remind ourselves that God has a plan, and make the most of the good days.

During the last 6 months, I have also learned to do things that I never had an interest or a need to learn.  Mostly, because Tim took care of such things, like home repair and upkeep, but also because Tim spoiled us and did so many more things for us that we could have otherwise done ourselves.  Some of my learning experiences have been frustrating, while others have been rather funny.  I like to recall the funny ones instead.  Like the first time I attempted to mow the lawn and ended up covered in dirt and grass because I failed to secure the waste bag on the lawn mower.  Or the time when I used the edger for the first time and left a curvy edge with some bare patches instead of a straight and clean-cut edge.  There is a most recent incident, in which it took me a good 15 minutes of failed attempts to air a bike tire, before I realized that I was just taking the air out.  Apparently, there is an additional piece that should be attached to the end of the hose in order for it to work.  It is moments like these that help alleviate some of my stress.

Our days are normally low-key and quiet, but this weekend was a busy one.


Katie & Maegan Decorating plates with Daddy to use at home.



 

We started the weekend by taking the girls to Color me Mine for a little fun & to Islands for dinner on Thursday.

Katie & Maegan keeping Daddy company in the waiting area.

Early Saturday morning, Tim had both of his bottom wisdom teeth removed.



 

Later that Saturday morning, Maegan had a blast on her first day

of her Music and Movement class.



Katie & Maegan enjoying music time.



Katie & Maegan enjoying tumbling time.

 





On Saturday evening, Katie enjoyed her first clay spinning wheel class!
She had been begging to go since last year.

Katie molding the clay.



Katie's finished work of art.



On Sunday, I edged and mowed the lawn and then, with my sister's help, trimmed a big bush (in the background) that has grown out of control.
Thanks Maggie!

After I mowed and cleaned the yard, Maegan played and cooled off with the water sprinkler.

We finished our weekend the best way possible by attending Sunday evening Mass!

Maegan walking next to Daddy on the way out of Mass while holding her favorite hat and purse.

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." 

I praise God for the many blessings he has given to us during our life and pray for the strength and courage to trust and accept his will.  Thank you  to our family and friends for being with us in this journey.  God bless you!

Tim's coming home!

Katie & Maegan trying to cheer up Daddy!

Hi Family and Friends,

Thank you all for all the prayers this last few days!  Tim has been released from the hospital and should be allowed to come home in a few hours.  Tim's red blood cell count, white blood cell count, and platelet count decreased to a dangerous level on Thursday and continued to drop while he was at the hospital.  In addition, he acquired a tooth infection due to his weakened immune system.

While at the hospital, Tim received lots of fluids, two blood transfusions (one on Friday and the second on Sunday), a platelet transfusion on Saturday, round-the-clock antibiotics (Zosyn, Fortaz, & another antibiotic) to help with infection, and frequent shots of Neupogen to help his bone marrow bring up his neutrophil levels (white blood cell count).  He was also given Tylenol for fever, Zofran for nausea, Pepcid for irritated stomach, and Morphine, Vicodin, Dilaudid, and Oxycontin for pain control.

Tim was also prescribed an antibiotic to continue to take at home: Augmentin (a combination of Amoxicillin and Clavulanate).  He will have some lab work done in the next few days to determine if additional Neupogen shots are needed.  The next chemotherapy treatment originally scheduled for June 27, may be postponed until Tim's body is able to recover.

Tim is feeling very tired, is still experiencing pain, and has started loosing his hair.  Still, we are just so happy that he gets to come home!  It is always very difficult for when he is hospitalized.  For me, the hardest is feeling torn, and having to split time between our girls and Tim.

We continue to pray that God may grant Tim healing and allow us the opportunity to enjoy our family for years to come.

Thank you to all of you for your prayers, the meals, the notes, the calls, the texts, the talks and everything you all do for us.  Thank you especially to my wonderful Mom who stayed with us for two whole weeks and lightened the burden for us.

God bless you all!

Father's Day in the Hospital?

Just a very quick update...

Just when we thought Tim was looking so well and doing so much better, he began having a severe toothache and fever of 103.  The on call doctor instructed us to go to the ER and there we were told he had to be admitted and treated.

Tim's blood count was extremely low and will be having a blood transfussion soon.  He is also having antibiotics, fluids, pain medicine, amongst other treatment.

I will update as I know more.  At this point I don't know how long he will stay there and what will be decided for his treatment plan.

Please keep Tim in your prayers.

Chemotherapy Treatment Schedule

Tim is now settled into his room (211) at Torrance Memorial and his treament has just begun.  He even had his first visitor: A black lab named Bearcat!
Tim will receive the same treatment daily, at the same schedule, Monday through Friday.
The treatment:
* Etoposide at 2pm for 1-2 hours
* Ifosfamide or Ifex immediately after (approx. 4 pm) for 3 hours
* Mesna or Mesnex (recovery drug) three doses every 3 hours after Ifosfamide
In addition, Tim will receive Zofran and Compazine for nausea and he will have lab work taken every morning.

A sigh of relief...

Just yesterday, we were discussing the fact that for the last six months, we had not seen any positive results from treatments that Tim has undergone.  So it was hard to fight the anxiety and negative thoughts as we waited for the results of Tim's MRI of the brain.

This afternoon, the triage nurse contacted us and gave us the great news that the MRI indicated that there were no traces of metastatic nodules in Tim's brain.  Phew!!! Praise the Lord!  This news has definitely recharged my faith and energy.  I feel and hope that this is just the beginning of a streak of good news and that the next round of chemotherapy will prove effective in destroying the cancer once and for all.

Tim has been complaining that the skin in the area in which he received radiation feels irritated.  He has also been complaining that it hurts to swallow.  These symptoms although bothorsome for Tim, confirm what the radiologist told us recently when he said the radiation Tim received during the six weeks of treatment would continue to work for weeks or even a couple of months after the treatment was completed.  While I am not happy to see Tim in discomfort, I can only hope that all his pain and suffering will result in his complete healing at the end.



Most days are rough, but the days in which Tim
feels well and has some energy are such a gift from God!



Today, my prayers are of thanksgiving to the Lord!

May God bless you all!