Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday
Hello all. Erin just got back from the clinic. Her WBC was 6.5 which is normal and her ANC was 1235. WOW!! We praise God for normal numbers. So she didn't need any blood products which is awesome. She feels pretty crummy today though. She feels like she is bruised all over and she can't get comfortable. She also has hot and cold flashes at the same time. Half of her body will feel cold to the touch and the other half will be hot. Strange,but we are chalking it up to chemo side effects. The Dr said they will do another bone marrow biopsy in a week or so. At that point we hope to hear the "R" word. Then it will be time for another chemo round in 2 weeks or so. They like to give her a break to get stronger before they start again. She has 3 "consolidation" rounds to go, shorter than the first 2 rounds. The first 2 rounds were called "induction" rounds. It's all quite confusing, but hopefully effective!! Anyway, God is good ALL the time and we are looking forward to a peaceful Easter weekend. He is Risen!! God bless!! love, janet
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Thurs 3/20
Go Dawgs! 35-26 at the half. Oh wait, I'm supposed to be updating you on Erin. Erin is doing well today, just watching her Bulldogs and resting. She slept until 11 today. She hadn't slept in 3 days, so she needed to catch up. Sleep is good medicine, especially in your own bed. Thank you Lord for the restoring power of sleep. We are going to the clinic tomorrow for labs. Yesterday her WBCs were 0.3 so we are definitely at the lowest point. On a positive note, she has learned a new/old game. Bill and Erin have been playing Backgammon every night. She is becoming quite the player even though Bill is hard to beat!! We pray you all are getting ready for a wonderful
Easter weekend with your families.
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. " Psalm 62: 1-2
We love you. janet
Easter weekend with your families.
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. " Psalm 62: 1-2
We love you. janet
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Going home!! 3/19
Good morning Good and Faithful Friends,
Thanks so much for walking this journey with us. You inspire us to keep our chins up and our eyes on the Lord. Erin had a MUCH better day yesterday. Her pain and nausea subsided, thanks be to God!! She was able to eat and walk her mile. What a difference from the agony of Monday. Isn't it cool to see how God has been answering our prayers? It is so awesome to watch these amazing turn-arounds!! We are so thankful!!
" Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?
Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer."
Psalm 6:2-4,9
Isn't that just the verse for Erin!?? WOW!!
We are scheduled to go home this morning, we are just waiting on the Dr. I don't know our numbers yet but I assume they are close to the same...low. Erin really wanted to attend Easter service this Sunday but with her counts so low and her recent temp episode, I think we had best stay home. Please know we miss being there to experience God's presence in worship but we know His presence is with us here as well. Love to you all. janet
Thanks so much for walking this journey with us. You inspire us to keep our chins up and our eyes on the Lord. Erin had a MUCH better day yesterday. Her pain and nausea subsided, thanks be to God!! She was able to eat and walk her mile. What a difference from the agony of Monday. Isn't it cool to see how God has been answering our prayers? It is so awesome to watch these amazing turn-arounds!! We are so thankful!!
" Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?
Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer."
Psalm 6:2-4,9
Isn't that just the verse for Erin!?? WOW!!
We are scheduled to go home this morning, we are just waiting on the Dr. I don't know our numbers yet but I assume they are close to the same...low. Erin really wanted to attend Easter service this Sunday but with her counts so low and her recent temp episode, I think we had best stay home. Please know we miss being there to experience God's presence in worship but we know His presence is with us here as well. Love to you all. janet
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Long Day & Night
"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." - Psalms 119:50
We are thankful for a new morning and the hope of a better day today! Erin had a rough go of it yesterday, a lot of nausea and severe bone pain and tears as the weariness of the fight caught up with her. She had less pain and nausea last night but got no rest for the seemingly constant interruptions for one thing or another. The praise this morning is that along with reduced pain and nausea, her blood cultures came back negative for infections. The had told us that 85% of the time they never find a cause for the fever and they just treat with antibiotics anyway. She has shown no signs of fever since she has been in the hospital and the doctor just told us she may be able to go back home tomorrow!! Our prayer today is that she will be free of pain and nausea and will get her appetite back so we can get back to the comfort of home.
For those of you interested in the numbers, Erin's WBC is 0.3 which is essentially bottomed out. Her red cells are okay since she got the transfusion on Sunday and her platelets are actually up in the normal range. When we asked about that, they said..."platelets will be platelets" which I guess means its fine. So we are entering the phase where we start focusing on the WBC and the ANC numbers to recover.
Thanks for your continued prayers as they help carry us through! Being awake most of last night I was amazed and comforted to hear the gentle buzz of the prayer pager throughout the night! Blessings - Bill
We are thankful for a new morning and the hope of a better day today! Erin had a rough go of it yesterday, a lot of nausea and severe bone pain and tears as the weariness of the fight caught up with her. She had less pain and nausea last night but got no rest for the seemingly constant interruptions for one thing or another. The praise this morning is that along with reduced pain and nausea, her blood cultures came back negative for infections. The had told us that 85% of the time they never find a cause for the fever and they just treat with antibiotics anyway. She has shown no signs of fever since she has been in the hospital and the doctor just told us she may be able to go back home tomorrow!! Our prayer today is that she will be free of pain and nausea and will get her appetite back so we can get back to the comfort of home.
For those of you interested in the numbers, Erin's WBC is 0.3 which is essentially bottomed out. Her red cells are okay since she got the transfusion on Sunday and her platelets are actually up in the normal range. When we asked about that, they said..."platelets will be platelets" which I guess means its fine. So we are entering the phase where we start focusing on the WBC and the ANC numbers to recover.
Thanks for your continued prayers as they help carry us through! Being awake most of last night I was amazed and comforted to hear the gentle buzz of the prayer pager throughout the night! Blessings - Bill
Monday, March 17, 2008
Happy St Patrick's Day
Dear Family and Friends,
Thanks for your love!! Erin is having a very bad day. This is her low point for this round. She is having a lot of bone pain in her legs. Her pain is 10 out of 10 and the tears break my heart. They can't seem to get the pain under control. They just keep bringing more Dilaudid and it isn't working. Now they gave her Ativan and she is knocked out but when she wakes briefly, she says it still hurts, even while she is asleep. We praise God for the knowledge that bone pain is a sign of regrowth in her marrow. So I guess, no pain, no gain. L&D nurses love that phrase! She is also experiencing alot of nausea and can't seem to keep down the bucket of pills they want her to take. Hopefully, the pain will only last a day or 2, that is how I remember it from the first round. Obviously we are asking for specific prayers for her bone pain and nausea, but I'd also like to add her need to worry to the list. She is a worrier you know!
On the bright side she was able to watch and enjoy the GA basketball game and is proud that they are SEC champs!! Go Dawgs!
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
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! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21
Thanks for the prayers, we are depending on the Good Lord to listen! love, janet
Thanks for your love!! Erin is having a very bad day. This is her low point for this round. She is having a lot of bone pain in her legs. Her pain is 10 out of 10 and the tears break my heart. They can't seem to get the pain under control. They just keep bringing more Dilaudid and it isn't working. Now they gave her Ativan and she is knocked out but when she wakes briefly, she says it still hurts, even while she is asleep. We praise God for the knowledge that bone pain is a sign of regrowth in her marrow. So I guess, no pain, no gain. L&D nurses love that phrase! She is also experiencing alot of nausea and can't seem to keep down the bucket of pills they want her to take. Hopefully, the pain will only last a day or 2, that is how I remember it from the first round. Obviously we are asking for specific prayers for her bone pain and nausea, but I'd also like to add her need to worry to the list. She is a worrier you know!
On the bright side she was able to watch and enjoy the GA basketball game and is proud that they are SEC champs!! Go Dawgs!
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
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! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21
Thanks for the prayers, we are depending on the Good Lord to listen! love, janet
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sun 3/16
Good morning, Erin is back in the hospital. She was running a temp this morning when she woke up so they asked us to come to the hospital. They have done blood cultures and are giving her antibiotics as we blog. Unfortunately, she got hives from the Vancomycin. That is not so good since Vancomycin is one of the big guns for infections. I just keep saying, God knows what He is doing. Erin is really upset by this set-back, she doesn't want to be here. On the good side, we did have a week at home, so if we have to stay a couple of days, it will be o.k. Please pray that they figure out this infection quickly and that we can go home again soon. I praise God that Erin is being so strong through all of this. Thank you for your prayers. More later. janet
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Sat 3/15
Happy Saturday everyone,
Good morning and thanks for your prayers!! Erin is up and her stomach is still hurting but her head is better. She says it is the medicine for her stomach pain that makes her head hurt, so we are waiting to see if it starts after she takes her pain medicine. If it's not one thing it's another. We praise God through it all because at least she is at home, and home is good medicine. She was so sick last night that we decided one of us should sleep in her room on the floor in case she needed us. Bill took the first turn and ended up keeping Erin awake with his snoring! I told her it was probably just the storm, but she didn't buy it. She may get better today out of self defense! All in all I think she is doing great. Anything is great compared to the first round!!
"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. " Ps 86: 5-7
Amen to that!! Have a great weekend and thanks for your continued prayers. janet
Good morning and thanks for your prayers!! Erin is up and her stomach is still hurting but her head is better. She says it is the medicine for her stomach pain that makes her head hurt, so we are waiting to see if it starts after she takes her pain medicine. If it's not one thing it's another. We praise God through it all because at least she is at home, and home is good medicine. She was so sick last night that we decided one of us should sleep in her room on the floor in case she needed us. Bill took the first turn and ended up keeping Erin awake with his snoring! I told her it was probably just the storm, but she didn't buy it. She may get better today out of self defense! All in all I think she is doing great. Anything is great compared to the first round!!
"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. " Ps 86: 5-7
Amen to that!! Have a great weekend and thanks for your continued prayers. janet