I am not sure how many people who visit this site have a relationship with God vs. those who don't. But for those of you who don't, let me share a little bit about how big OUR God is.
Jacob went into the Dr. today for another round of Chemotherapy administered via IV. During this visit, he also had a blood draw done so that they could check his cell counts and immune levels. Not sure if you remember, but a couple of weeks ago we got the results and Jake's ANC level was up from 40-50 to 180. For a normal, healthy individual, counts will be between 1500-8000. When this level gets as low as 500, the body's immune system is incredibly vulnerable to infection as it will have a very difficult time fighting off the bad bacteria. Today's counts for Jacob were 1130.
In case you missed that - I said it was at 1130
Because of these counts being as high as they are, the Dr. gave him the OK to go swimming and he can be taken off of all dietary restrictions. With his body improving at this rate, they said that he is at the extreme high-end of expected recovery rate. He is improving at a much better rate than any of us could have expected. Because of this, we are celebrating this evening by going out for pizza and ice cream. Jake has had a craving for Old Chicago for a few weeks now, so we felt this was the perfect time.
So back to my initial question, how big is your God?
Our God DOES hear our prayers and the prayers of our loved ones.
Our God DOES take tough situations and turns them into good.
Our God DOES bring healing to the broken.
Our God DOESN'T leave us or forsake us when times get tough.
Our God DOES love His children
Our God IS a miraculous God.
He truly is the God of Jacob!!!!!
Here's to a great start to the weekend.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Friday Breakfast
It has been a few weeks since Jake has been able to start his Friday with some food in his system. For the last 3 weeks he has been scheduled for surgery on Friday morning, so he has not been allowed to eat any food after 2am.
For most of us, that is a small inconvenience and we can deal with it. However, for Jake this has been a pretty big deal. Most of us will eat 3 meals a day as well as some snacks in between. Jake eats about 6-10 "meals" a day thanks in part to the steroids that he is on. These meals are not just small things like a sandwich and chips. They are full meals with multiple helpings. Within an hour of eating, he is already looking for something more to eat. It is a very strange thing to watch someone of his size put away this much food.
He was blessed this morning by some very large cinnamon rolls. He said it was very hard to wait for them to be ready because they were smelling so good.
Today he will be heading into the clinic to receive an IV treatment of Chemo as well as having some blood drawn for more tests. We are hoping...No, we are EXPECTING to hear great results today.
For most of us, that is a small inconvenience and we can deal with it. However, for Jake this has been a pretty big deal. Most of us will eat 3 meals a day as well as some snacks in between. Jake eats about 6-10 "meals" a day thanks in part to the steroids that he is on. These meals are not just small things like a sandwich and chips. They are full meals with multiple helpings. Within an hour of eating, he is already looking for something more to eat. It is a very strange thing to watch someone of his size put away this much food.
He was blessed this morning by some very large cinnamon rolls. He said it was very hard to wait for them to be ready because they were smelling so good.
Today he will be heading into the clinic to receive an IV treatment of Chemo as well as having some blood drawn for more tests. We are hoping...No, we are EXPECTING to hear great results today.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Box
The President may have an aide that carries "the football", but Jacob has a Mommy and Daddy that carries THE BOX!
It is hard to believe that it was less then 3 weeks ago that we were sitting shell shocked in the hospital listening to Dr Odom explain what Jacob's treatment plan would be. The sheer number of letters in each drug name made them impossible to pronounce - how would we ever figure out what drugs , when and in which amount to make sure that Jake was getting exactly what the DR wanted and when.
Jacob is very good at swallowing pills and that has helped the whole process immensely. He has to take a lot of them. And for the most part with absolutely no complaining.
Morning Medicine
Lunch
Dinner Meds
Makes a daily multi vitamin seem a little puny. The good news is all of the medicine is working!!! The finale count from last weeks biopsy (Day 15) showed that the percentage of leukemia cells in Jacob's bone marrow was .2%. Please note the decimal point. His ANC (ability to fight of infection) was up to 180. The Dr is very pleased and we are ecstatic. This Friday we will be visiting the clinic for blood work and IV chemo but there will be no surgery!
God has been more faithful and more present then I could have ever imagined. Our friends and family have been more loving and supportive then we could have dreamed. Our pastor said in his blog last week, "Share Jesus and the gospel with everyone you know... and if absolutely necessary, use words." In the last three weeks we have seen people live like Jesus. Thank You!
It is hard to believe that it was less then 3 weeks ago that we were sitting shell shocked in the hospital listening to Dr Odom explain what Jacob's treatment plan would be. The sheer number of letters in each drug name made them impossible to pronounce - how would we ever figure out what drugs , when and in which amount to make sure that Jake was getting exactly what the DR wanted and when.
Then Brian created THE BOX.
Jacob is very good at swallowing pills and that has helped the whole process immensely. He has to take a lot of them. And for the most part with absolutely no complaining.
Morning Medicine
Lunch
Dinner Meds
Makes a daily multi vitamin seem a little puny. The good news is all of the medicine is working!!! The finale count from last weeks biopsy (Day 15) showed that the percentage of leukemia cells in Jacob's bone marrow was .2%. Please note the decimal point. His ANC (ability to fight of infection) was up to 180. The Dr is very pleased and we are ecstatic. This Friday we will be visiting the clinic for blood work and IV chemo but there will be no surgery!
God has been more faithful and more present then I could have ever imagined. Our friends and family have been more loving and supportive then we could have dreamed. Our pastor said in his blog last week, "Share Jesus and the gospel with everyone you know... and if absolutely necessary, use words." In the last three weeks we have seen people live like Jesus. Thank You!
message from Jake
Dear Mrs. Goodman's class,
It's me Jacob. Iv'e been very sleepy latley so iv'e taken naps every now and then. today, I have a lunch date with my dad. We are going to have Mcdonalds for lunch. I am having another lunch date with Mrs. G. next Wednsday some time after school.
Sighned,
Jacob Carlson
It's me Jacob. Iv'e been very sleepy latley so iv'e taken naps every now and then. today, I have a lunch date with my dad. We are going to have Mcdonalds for lunch. I am having another lunch date with Mrs. G. next Wednsday some time after school.
Sighned,
Jacob Carlson
Monday, June 2, 2008
Last haircut for awhile
Isn't it weird how we are shocked by things we know are going to happen?
Yet, when I brushed Jake's hair off his forehead to kiss his sweet face, and my hand came away full of hair, I was shocked. Some how it made him seem so much... sicker.
I think this one is also a little harder on Jacob. We have talked about it a couple of times and he did finally relent to having his hair cut. I am not sure what finally persuaded him, the thought of all that hair being on his pillow case as it came out or Daddy pointing out the a hair cut would make him cooler (yeah for summer heat!). Either way we now have our "official" summer hair cut.
We have also spoke with Jacob about the generous offers from friends and family to join him in the "bald is beautiful" movement and so far - he is not on board. No real explanation why, but so far every time we mention any one else shaving their head (from Mommy and Daddy to friends and family) the answer is always a very polite "No Thank You".
If that changes - we will open the Carlson Barber shop and if you are ahead of us and already shaved it ...
ooops
Chemotherapy = hair loss.
Yet, when I brushed Jake's hair off his forehead to kiss his sweet face, and my hand came away full of hair, I was shocked. Some how it made him seem so much... sicker.
I think this one is also a little harder on Jacob. We have talked about it a couple of times and he did finally relent to having his hair cut. I am not sure what finally persuaded him, the thought of all that hair being on his pillow case as it came out or Daddy pointing out the a hair cut would make him cooler (yeah for summer heat!). Either way we now have our "official" summer hair cut.
We have also spoke with Jacob about the generous offers from friends and family to join him in the "bald is beautiful" movement and so far - he is not on board. No real explanation why, but so far every time we mention any one else shaving their head (from Mommy and Daddy to friends and family) the answer is always a very polite "No Thank You".
If that changes - we will open the Carlson Barber shop and if you are ahead of us and already shaved it ...
ooops
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Even Super Hero's have bad days!
The days following surgery are usually very hard. Extra tired, fatigue and lots of emotion catch up with even the best of super hero's. As a photographer I knew I was not getting the best out of my hero - as a Mom these pictures are so precious! Enjoy.
Got Cancer?
Here is a T-Shirt that Jake got from the Oncology clinic.
On the back, in case you can't read it - it says:You can't catch it from me.
I'm the same old me -
I just have a new look
Sometimes I feel sick
because of my medicine
I still love to have fun
When I am done with my medicine,
my hair will grow back
I still think about what I want
to be when I grow up
I am NOT my cancer
I'm the same old me -
I just have a new look
Sometimes I feel sick
because of my medicine
I still love to have fun
When I am done with my medicine,
my hair will grow back
I still think about what I want
to be when I grow up
I am NOT my cancer
Friends don't let friends
go through cancer alone.....
go through cancer alone.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
