Here I go again...having to apologize for not posting. I wish I had some eloquent excuse, but I don't. Just summer-time blues. We've been busy riding bikes, going for nightly strolls, planting flowers and just enjoying the wonderful Eastern NM nights.
Brooke is doing good. We leave tomorrow for the Special Olympic state track meet in Albq. This is always fun. We're taking it a little slower this year and with more precautions. I am worried about all of the touching and hugging that special people do! I may have to hand gel Brooke every 2 minutes! But she misses her teammates and is looking forward to doing the "special O." (For those of you who don't know what that is...the athletes always stand up and put their arms in a big O over their heads and yell OOOOOOOOOOO...it's a standing O for ovation.) They get a kick out of it and it's become one of Brooke's trademarks. So much so that I have to email the head of SONM each year to remind her to be sure to do it. When she forgets...it crushes Brooke. It's cute. Opening ceremonies are tomorrow night at 7:00 and she competes at 8:00 Saturday morning. We go to Olympic Village at 10:00 where she plays with the Special Orchestra for as long as we let her. It's another favorite of hers. Then it's off to the SO gift tent to see what all we can buy this year. Last year it was a chair and a yellow stocking cap. You never know. It's a lot of fun overall!!!!
We went camping last weekend...Brooke's first time camping and her first time at Angel Fire. What a gorgeous place! How can anyone not believe in the wonders of God when seeing sights as pretty as that? WOW! If I ever find a spare million laying around the house - it will go to a second home there. It's my favorite spot in NM. Right outside of Angel Fire between Black Lake and the Moreno Valley. Brooke did well other than constantly worrying about the other 8 family members when they weren't in her immediate site. She worries. We slept in the trailor, which is as nice as any motel. Thank goodness for in-laws with nice toys!!!
10 days to Mickey Mouse...and yes, I'm very excited! And you know Brooke is!!! I have everything ready to go except for the packing list. I am really looking forward to my mom going...what a treat for her. After being a care-giver for my dad for so many years - she really deserves the magic that only Disney can offer. I am glad she is going with us.
Please pray for continued health for Brooke and for safe journies for us in our upcoming travels.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
No one is immune
Did anyone see the Farrah Fawcett story on TV last night? WOW. It was incredible! I noticed that it's on again right now and will be on again tomorrow. You've got to see it! She did a video journal of her experiences over the past several years with her rare type of cancer, the treatments she has endured in LA as well as in Germany, and most importantly - her feelings and how it has changed her life. It was very touching and extremely emotional. I wonder if famous people realize how much they help the cause by making their experiences public? A star can do so much just by speaking out. While none of us would wish any hurt or pain on another human, we should all be thankful to those who try to help the cause by making their personal struggles known to all. It's not easy putting yourself out there like an open book for all to read. But regardless, none of us are immune to the debilitating, horric effects of cancer. Pray for all who have to endure this awful disease. I will add Farrah to my daily prayers.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
PET Scan scheduled
I apologize that it's taken me so long to update this blog. No excuses. I mean, I have plenty I could throw out there, but none that really matter. The good news is that I finished my class last week and am not going to take anything this summer. I have enough on my plate right now without having to worry about homework! 9 more classes folks!!! This senior can finally begin to see the light at the end of the VERY long tunnel. This has been a 6-year process to date. Time is precious. No hurry.
Brooke is doing well. She's always waiting for us at the door in her hat and sunglasses when we get off work every day ready to go somewhere and do something. We usually wait until it cools off and then go on ride bikes. She loves riding her bicycle (and it's an incredible workout for me). She got to go to our church's annual fireperson appreciation dinner a few weeks ago, which she loves. She loves being around the fire station, the trucks, the people, etc. She did great. This was her first "big" crowd to be around and the second social event she's had in over 4 months. I took her to the high school to visit everyone several weeks ago but I made her wear a mask. The swine flu is very scary! She was excited to see her friends! Mike brought her annual home a few days ago and she's had so much fun looking at people and telling them to "come over." She loves people!
We have our summer doctor's appointments and test dates already scheduled. July 1 and 2 at UNM. We'll see the Immunologist on the 1st and do blood work and then see Dr. Libby on the 2nd. Brooke will also have a PET scan done on the 1st. When the CT scan was done in March, there was one lymph node that was a little concerning to the doctor. He said we would watch it and see what happens. The PET scan is used (in most instances - like ours) to detect cancer. I believe in being honest with you; we're not out of the woods. It doesn't seem that Dr. Libby has a warm fuzzy about all of the negative cancer results. I'm by no means a mind reader, but he's made enough comments for me to say that I believe he thinks there is still a good chance she has Lymphoma. This is primarily why he isn't treating the neutropenia right now. He doesn't want to treat the unknown and potentially run the risk of masking another problem. That's understandable. I pray this isn't the case. I pray it's still side effects of the salmonella and that time will rid her of it and all of the problems that have been associated with it.
I'd be lying if I said we were ok. How could we be? This is hard. It's been the longest, toughest 4 months of our lives! And I feel guilty telling about how we feel when it's sweet little Brookie that has to endure everything. The hardest part is that she doesn't look sick or act sick. Not that I want her to..don't get me wrong, it's just so deceiving. And it's especially difficult to try to explain to her. She doesn't understand why she can't go to school, or to the mall, or to Wal-Mart. She's the innocent and unknowing victim of a invisible illness. That's hard for everyone to comprehend. I get asked all the time if she feels better. She never really felt bad. She's tired a lot, and she fights with her allergies like she always has, but she's happy most of the time, loving all of the time, and super excited about seeing Mickey Mouse.
Speaking of Mickey Mouse...24 more days! I've already warned Mike that super-germ-o-phobe mom will be disinfecting the airplane, the hotel, and all 5 of the parks we'll be visiting so if he's easily ashamed...he better pretend not to know me. Ha. I've got my "bag of germ-fighters" already packed and ready to go. Yes, I've even emailed SWA asking if I can bring a "baby can" of Lysol on the plane. The plane scares me. Disney not so much so. I can clean...that's all any of us can do right now. Keep Brooke's hands and face and mouth clean, and pray.
Well...I better get. We're taking Brooke out to eat tonight because Mike leaves tomorrow for the state track meet in Albuquerque. He'll be gone through Saturday. Please continue to pray for all of us. Ask God to continue to watch over Brooke and to make her feel safe at all times. Ask Him to help Mike and I deal with the stress associated with the unknown. And ask Him to guide us to provide the care Brooke needs. I pray every day for wisdom on my mothering and as a wife. My professor said something in class last week that really has stayed with me. She said, "What do you want your headstone to say?" That says a lot. How we choose to live our lives now indicates how people will remember us forever more. I want my legacy to be one of a Christian woman who was a good mother to a special little girl and a kind and loving wife to her husband.
Thank you God for Brooke and Mike...they complete me!
Brooke is doing well. She's always waiting for us at the door in her hat and sunglasses when we get off work every day ready to go somewhere and do something. We usually wait until it cools off and then go on ride bikes. She loves riding her bicycle (and it's an incredible workout for me). She got to go to our church's annual fireperson appreciation dinner a few weeks ago, which she loves. She loves being around the fire station, the trucks, the people, etc. She did great. This was her first "big" crowd to be around and the second social event she's had in over 4 months. I took her to the high school to visit everyone several weeks ago but I made her wear a mask. The swine flu is very scary! She was excited to see her friends! Mike brought her annual home a few days ago and she's had so much fun looking at people and telling them to "come over." She loves people!
We have our summer doctor's appointments and test dates already scheduled. July 1 and 2 at UNM. We'll see the Immunologist on the 1st and do blood work and then see Dr. Libby on the 2nd. Brooke will also have a PET scan done on the 1st. When the CT scan was done in March, there was one lymph node that was a little concerning to the doctor. He said we would watch it and see what happens. The PET scan is used (in most instances - like ours) to detect cancer. I believe in being honest with you; we're not out of the woods. It doesn't seem that Dr. Libby has a warm fuzzy about all of the negative cancer results. I'm by no means a mind reader, but he's made enough comments for me to say that I believe he thinks there is still a good chance she has Lymphoma. This is primarily why he isn't treating the neutropenia right now. He doesn't want to treat the unknown and potentially run the risk of masking another problem. That's understandable. I pray this isn't the case. I pray it's still side effects of the salmonella and that time will rid her of it and all of the problems that have been associated with it.
I'd be lying if I said we were ok. How could we be? This is hard. It's been the longest, toughest 4 months of our lives! And I feel guilty telling about how we feel when it's sweet little Brookie that has to endure everything. The hardest part is that she doesn't look sick or act sick. Not that I want her to..don't get me wrong, it's just so deceiving. And it's especially difficult to try to explain to her. She doesn't understand why she can't go to school, or to the mall, or to Wal-Mart. She's the innocent and unknowing victim of a invisible illness. That's hard for everyone to comprehend. I get asked all the time if she feels better. She never really felt bad. She's tired a lot, and she fights with her allergies like she always has, but she's happy most of the time, loving all of the time, and super excited about seeing Mickey Mouse.
Speaking of Mickey Mouse...24 more days! I've already warned Mike that super-germ-o-phobe mom will be disinfecting the airplane, the hotel, and all 5 of the parks we'll be visiting so if he's easily ashamed...he better pretend not to know me. Ha. I've got my "bag of germ-fighters" already packed and ready to go. Yes, I've even emailed SWA asking if I can bring a "baby can" of Lysol on the plane. The plane scares me. Disney not so much so. I can clean...that's all any of us can do right now. Keep Brooke's hands and face and mouth clean, and pray.
Well...I better get. We're taking Brooke out to eat tonight because Mike leaves tomorrow for the state track meet in Albuquerque. He'll be gone through Saturday. Please continue to pray for all of us. Ask God to continue to watch over Brooke and to make her feel safe at all times. Ask Him to help Mike and I deal with the stress associated with the unknown. And ask Him to guide us to provide the care Brooke needs. I pray every day for wisdom on my mothering and as a wife. My professor said something in class last week that really has stayed with me. She said, "What do you want your headstone to say?" That says a lot. How we choose to live our lives now indicates how people will remember us forever more. I want my legacy to be one of a Christian woman who was a good mother to a special little girl and a kind and loving wife to her husband.
Thank you God for Brooke and Mike...they complete me!
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