2011 Comes to a Close

December 30, 2011
UPDATE FROM CHRISTINA:
Part A: Early morning visit to the clinic to check blood levels today. Praying and believing they will all be up so we don't need to wait for a transfusion. One week from today will be a full body catscan to check for new tumors. Asking for your renewed prayers this week!
 
Part B: the result of the blood levels | Platelette counts were low so Blake got more of those.
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I don't know the details of the counts, or the many numbers and the specifics the docs are looking for. However I do know that when it comes to knowing and understanding the many facets of medical care for Blake - I am thankful that THEY know what they are looking for :)

So if the end result of getting additional platelets means that Blake continues to move forward into healing, than knowing he got those platelets makes me a happy Grammy.

We understand that life doesn't always go the way we would have scripted it. There is a measure of peace in knowing that in every seeming setback, God will show Himself strong and is ever faithful to with us.

We ask for your prayers:
♥ ...For continued appetite for Blake and his ability to consume the necessary calories to give his body strength for the chemo battle he is in.
♥ ...For rest and restoration for Steven and Christina as they watchcare over Blake and continue with the routines of life.
♥ ...For a clean scan when Blake goes in on Friday, January 6 2012 for a full body scan to check out his internal condition.

As the year comes to a close we recognize more fully just what strange new territory we have entered...the days ahead will be no more certain than the unfolding of our past has been...

While we are marking off the calendar days to Friday, our hearts are grateful that God is already there.

Thank you for your faithful intercession for our little warrior...♥ ...

May God richly bless every corner of your hearts and homes with much love and laughter in 2012 ♥ ...

Home for Christmas....Eve :)

Steven's Update this morning |   "We'll be home for Christmas. You can count on us."

Just got the word from the Docs: we'll be discharged this afternoon!

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Now, we can start thinking about Christmas :)

...Shopping and baking and paying attention to the list making has been put on the emotional back burner...It feels a bit like the Christmas Carol...taking another deep breath just in time for Christmas ♥.

Your faithful intercesion has carried Blake through a very difficult week of treatment. What a gift to the heart to have our little boy wake up in his own bed to greet Christmas morning with the wide-eyed wonder of childhood...and best of all to be home with Mommy & Daddy...what a perfect gift ♥

From our house to yours, we the very best of Christmas love to you and yours. In this season of miracles ♥ stay close to the foot of the cross...there is no greater gift, there is no deeper love...

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life...(John 3:16)

Seemingly Small Moments

Christina's Update: Today, December 23:  Despite the tough round of chemo he is enduring, Blake's doctor commented that she has been very impressed. His appetite has increased, and he is full of energy and personality. I even had to threaten time-out today...so my stubborn, strong-willed, charming and hilarious little boy is back in full force Merry Christmas!

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I can't think of a better Christmas gift ...thank you for your prayers and for celebrating the seemingly simple steps that are such giant leaps for us these days.

In the growing list of "who would have thought" that we are walking through, we add another few today...Who would have thought that a simple meal of ham and cheerios, a couple of pieces of pizza and a "threatened" time out would be such cause for celebration...but these days, they certainly are.

How appropriate to the season that today we celebrate the seemingly smallest of moments.

Today my heart slips to a moment in time when Wise Men followed a star...and Shepherds ran looking to find...a babe in a manger. In a city filled with people and places and things...what a seemingly small moment.

With every passing day, I recognize more fully that the greatest gifts to my heart often come wrapped in the smallest of moments. I realize that the moments that arrive without intentional fanfare, aren't really so small after all.

Today, I am grateful for a little boy, who had the energy to have a "threatened" time-out cross his path.

Thank you for your prayers...and the very best of Christmas Blessings to you and those you love.

Enjoy the small things that cross your path today, you never know how big those moments will be tomorrow.

Two Slices of Pizza!

Steven's update today:   It was a good day. Blake handled his meds well, ate 2 slices of pizza and is now sleeping comfortably as we watch White Christmas - "Snow, snow, snow, SNOW"

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 Two days down, two to go and pizza!...this is very good news indeed.

We know they sleep tonight because the Father holds them close....and we know the Father holds them close because of the hearts that carry them into the Throne Room.

Thank you for your faithful intercession ...

The In-Patient Patient

Blake is in Nationwide for his first four-day in-patient Chemo treatment. If all goes well, he will be released to go home on Friday, following the 4th treatment.

Thank you for your prayers for Blake as he walks through this first extended stay treatment....for Steven and Christina as they walk alongside and carry him through the many emotions and moments that accompany the protocol.

We were blessed with an off-schedule Skype visit last night: Blake was in good spirits, Santa had even poked his head in to greet Blake...Ada was correct, Blake is on the "Very Good List" ...three more days of treatment and then it will be Christmas in Ohio ...

Thank you for your prayers ...

RING THE BELL...December 16, 2011

Today begins and ends with such an amazing feeling...it began with an early morning call and hearing Steven say that “Blake has rung the Bell!”

 

I thought I was ready to hear to hear the glad news.  I thought I was ready to celebrate.  Leading up to this morning, this was yet another of the “waits” we had waited for...we waited for the diagnosis, we waited for the surgery date, we waited for the adjusted times, we waited for pee, we waited for blood counts, we waited to be released from the PICU, we waited to walk, we waited for the draining to stop, we waited for consultations, we waited for protocols, we waited for radiation to begin, we waited to go home, we have come to realize the waiting does not end...and in this season of waiting for the Bell I thought so many things.

In that moment of the call, I realized I was not ready.  I was not ready for the great sense of joy that flooded over my heart.  I was not ready for the feeling that my heart was going to leap out of my chest and jump around for joy.  I was not ready to hear that so many others had also been waiting to ring the bell and celebrate this milestone with us for this little boy that they have never met.  I was not ready to hear of the decisions that have been made to travel along this journey with us.

As the morning stretched into the afternoon and afternoon has become night...I am grateful.  I am grateful to have a community of faith that continues to fight on their knees for Blake.  I am grateful to know that the Father's watch care over Blake has reached to hold Blake in the palm of His hand through every moment of treatment.  I am grateful to know the Father has carried Blake through to this Bell Ringing day of celebration.  I am grateful that what once sounded like such a far off event...eleven difficult treatments...is now a memory book date...marked with not only a star, but with a glorious golden bell.
I know that the journey is not yet complete.  I know there will be moments ahead that will be marked again with emotions we may not yet be prepared to meet.

Today, it is enough to know that the sword can be placed to the side and our little warrior can rest from one set of challenges as he prepares to reach into yet another round of events. 

Today, it is enough to know that whatever tomorrow holds, God is holding our tomorrows. 

Today, it's enough to know...
                                                       ...  the bell has been rung and Blake is smiling :)

RING THE BELL!

TODAY!...Friday, December 16:
Blake rang the Bell! ♥ and I am handstand happy!...Thank you for your prayers ♥...

UPDATE THIS MORNING: From Steven
Final radiation had to be postponed until at least tomorrow due to some early morning vomit. Not a big deal, just a delay, our life is full of them these days.
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And so it goes…The timing of the patient’s vomiting seems to be a significant consideration in treatment. To date Blake’s sessions of getting sick have been prior to midnight and therefore the radiation went on as scheduled. Since Blake got sick this morning, they are rescheduling today’s appointment to tomorrow.

We are thankful that the medical team is careful to put the patient ahead of the calendar. We will hold onto the bell for another day....the ringing will be all the more joyous, the victory all the more grand…the battle belongs to the Lord and this reschedule does not catch Him by surprise.
So though there is not a radiation appointment today, Blake will be going to Nationwide to have his chemo port cleaned and cared for.  The doctors were intending to take care of changing the port following his radiation today while he was still sedate.  Blake doesn’t much care for the procedure, and having watched the process, I can’t say that I much blame him for not liking it.
From where I stand I can see one shining star with this delay: Lilly is heading up to Columbus today for a pre-planned visit…so now Mamaw has the opportunity to ring her bell in Columbus, standing in the hallway, cheering Blake on as he stands on tiptoe to ring the bell….and in that moment, it’s reason enough for this day delay.
Thank you for your continued prayer for Blake through the treatments, tests, pokes, discomfort and pain. We rest in the assurance that this delay in treatment will bring a better day tomorrow for the ringing of the bell that will signal the end of this round....so tomorrow we ring!

STEVEN'S UPDATE this morning:
Yesterday was a good day. 1st no-vomit day since chemo began! Even felt strong enough to catch a little bit of "Wildlights" @ the Columbus Zoo.

Today is radiation #10 (2nd to last) and chemo #3.

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I talked with Christina earlier today and she and Blake were home resting....watching Wildcrats :) and I am counting the moments till morning.

I think I have hunted down every representation of that OSU James bell that I can get in the city limits of Puyallup...and yes, there will be crafting involved :)..and in the morning you can be certain that the bells will be ringing for Blake's courageous day.

...just in case you might be wondering, the treat of choice on my "counter of surprise"...Reese's peanut butter bells and Ohio Buckeyes of course :)

Thank you for your love and prayers as the journey continues ♥...