Monday 2/18

Blessings on you all for your continued prayers. We are excited this morning because the Dr just called and gave us some encouraging results from the bone marrow test last wed. He said her ANC went up to 212, it was 126 on the 6th. The percentage of Leukemia in her marrow had reduced from 20% to less than 1 %!!!! Isn't that a blessing?? It isn't remission yet but it seems like it will sure put her in a good position for this round of chemo. God is so faithful!! We check in tomorrow at 11:00 for labs and then hopefully there will be a bed available for Erin. She is at the top of the list for a bed but you know how hospitals are, they sometimes fill up. We are also hoping they were able to get genetic studies from the marrow but that will take another week to grow. Knowing the specific genetics may help them pinpoint the best therapy to use. I guess the prayer requests for the day include: peace of mind about starting chemo again, decreased side effects this time, and of course complete remission.
Thank you all so much for loving us through your prayers. We feel them and yes we still hear them through the prayer pager. You should have seen Laura jump this weekend every time the pager went off. She wasn't used to the sound like we are. It was so funny to see her jump! We love you all and are so thankful to have you on our team!! hugs, janet

Sunday 2/17

Good Morning Prayer Warriors! Thanks for continuing to lift Erin's name up to our Lord. We depend on His strength daily to keep going. Erin had a good day yesterday and is feeling fine. She walked 45 minutes on the treadmill yesterday!! That's more than I can do, I am whipped at 30 minutes. Ah youth, it is definitely in her favor in this disease. Of course her greatest blessing is knowing the God of all creation is right by her side loving her!! We couldn't do this without the knowledge that God is in control. Bill just got home from church and is giving Erin the scoop on all her friends. Yes, someone is always watching you guys!! Erin just mentioned that she hopes she will be done with her second round of chemo in time to be home for Easter. It would be even better if her numbers were up so she could actually attend worship. Thanks to all of you for continuing to pray for Erin's healing. We love you all, janet

Sat 2/16

Good Morning!!! Life is good in the Blonshine house, all three of us girls are here picking on each other and laughing. I love it. Laura came home for the weekend, and I have a three day weekend. Erin is feeling well, just hanging out. We are watching movies, and joking about eachothers clothes and eatting habits. =) We are so blessed to have such a close family!! God continues to work through our friends and their prayers. We were told that this was going to be a long road. We are now a month and a half into it and it seems as if it will never end. Although I am sure in hind sight we will see extreme amounts of growth and spiritual learning. I continue to pray for strength and wisdom for my mom and sister as well as the entire family. God can and WILL help pull us through this time period. If you are cuurently keeping up with Erin's progress through the blog please pray in the following ways:

- We find out the results of her bone marrow biopsy on monday.
- Erin will be returning to Emory on Tuesday afternoon to begin her second round of Chemo
- She is scared and nervous about going through this ordeal again
- We are all anxiously hoping that this round will rid her of Leukemia
- The stinky part of having to be in a hospital room for another month
- Erin is tired, and ready to be done. Please pray for endurance, and energy to continue this fight. I think the same goes for my mom.

Thank you all for your thoughts, kindness, and care. We are counting our blessings daily. You have been a wonderful Christian family.

~Amanda Varner

Happy Day after Valentine's Day

Hey everyone - It's Erin again :) I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Today has been a good day - I walked for an entire episode of Gilmore Girls this morning. I got so caught up that I just kept going! Ok, ok, not true. I watched every minute tick by, but I felt good, so I kept walking. :) Not much else to report, I guess. We are just enjoying the rest of our time at home before we start up again on Tuesday. I feel like God is really strengthening me and helping me gear up for round two. The day I was diagnosed, we didn't have any time for the news to sink in, and we were shipped off to Emory right away, no passing go or collecting $200. This time, I at least know what I am facing, and I have a few days to get my head in gear and make a packing list (including lots of movies and comfy pajamas). I can really see God using this time to work in me and prepare me. I am so thankful for that because if it were up to me, I would be making a get away plan instead (but I'll wait on that until I get really desperate :)).

Thank you for your continued love and support - I am thankful and so blessed that God is using each of you to help me get through this trial. He is so faithful and I appreciate the faithfulness of His amazing people. Thank you for your constant love and encouragement - I cannot believe the ways in which God is using this experience (well, I can believe it, I am just continuously, and pleasantly, surprised at the different things He is doing). Love you guys! - Erin

Valentine's Day

Dear friends and family, Happy Valentine's Day!! Erin had a good night and is visiting with her friend and watching GG. Nothing to report. In typical Erin style, her attitude is fresh today, obviously by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Thanks for the prayers. We all feel the power of your prayers. You know how God talks to you when you aren't really listening? Well yesterday, God comforted me by letting me know that low numbers are good too because that means the Leukemia hasn't gone up either. It may not make sense medically but it did comfort us. Thank you God. We know that God has prepared Erin for this experience and the testimony of His Glory will shine through her. We just have to watch and wait for His plan to unfold. I am not very good at waiting. Thanks for helping me be patient, through your encouragement. We pray you will all be blessed by traveling this road with us. LOVE is the word of the day!! Live it! Janet

2/13

Good afternoon, we just got back from Emory. Erin had her labs, saw a PA, and got her bone marrow biopsy. Her WBCs were only 1.1, very disappointing after a week at home. We were really hoping for higher numbers especially since she has been feeling so good at home. Anyway, God knows the plans He has for her and we trust Him with everything!!! Her biopsy went well and we should have results by fri or monday. They want her to check back into the hospital on Tues to start the 2nd round of chemo. We didn't actually tell them our bags were packed and in the trunk. Ever the Girl Scouts. Please pray for Erin's spirits, she is so upset by the low numbers. And since they didn't come up, we can't risk going anywhere yet. She has lots of books to read and Gilmore Girls to watch so that's good. Thanks for all your prayers, please keep them coming. Erin sends her love, janet

Birthday Day

Celebrate with us, today is Erin's 23 birthday!! She had another good night and is looking forward to the day. I must correct my mistake from yesterday. Jeff was the video producer. We are enjoying watching the video and showing it to everyone who comes over. It's a hit! People may start faking horrible diseases just to get a personalized video and rap songs written for them!!

Erin got to talk to her 8th grade girls group last night and that was such a treat. Almost like being there, minus the hugs!!

Tomorrow is Erin's appt at the Dr to get labs and a bone marrow biopsy. As much as she would like to put it off, I am anxious to hear her numbers and get started with the rest of her treatment so we can beat this thing and be done with it forever!!

Thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love. "The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up....Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:15-16

We thank God for all of you and your prayers!! janet