How Low Can you Go?!?

I have had the blessing (occasionally the curse) of growing up with a Father who loves music. Blues, Jazz, 50's & 60's Rock and some other styles that I have blocked out. I am pretty sure that music is the source for the very deep voice in my head that is now chanting, "How low can you go?" I am not sure if the song referred to the twist or the limbo, I can't remember any other portion of the song, but as I move through my day, my mind is cycling that phrase over and over.

For me, it references how low will Jake's blood counts go. Last Tuesday he completed his 3rd and final doxorubicin treatment and is currently taking his last week (I think) of high dose steroids. His ANC had lowered to the 800's as of Tuesday and is on the way down. It is very possible that it will go all the way down to 0 (very similar to our first month of chemo after the hospital). We have been given the official word from Jacobs Oncologist that our status has been changed to 'lock down'. For Jake that means no more church, stores, play dates for a couple weeks, and for the family it means a heightened vigilance to kill germs and avoid them as much as possible. Jake's immune system is low enough that an encounter with any type of sickness or infection will send him to the hospital.

I would again ask for all of our friends and family to pray for Jacob. This phase of chemotherapy is critical to moving past remission and towards cure.

• Pray for Jacob's total healing.
  
• Pray for protection from sickness and infection.
  
• Pray that his spirits would stay high (This has been particularly challenging right now. The emotional roller coaster of a kid on steroids puts PMS and menopause in the kids zone.)
• Pray for the rest of us - patience, wisdom, patience and patience

Daily I am reminded that only with Gods presence and the loving support of the amazing people in our life are we making it through this journey with any degree of success. I was reading over some earlier blog posts and was again blown away by the love and support that you have given us.

Over and Over and Over you have been there for us.

Thank You!

Duckbill Platypus

This is Jacob's 3rd grade oral report on the Duckbill Platypus. Since we are working at home with a tutor during this phase of chemo we decided to share it with his class via blogging technology.

Enjoy!

Kicked out of Man Zone!

The sub title for this post would be - Why I adore Sundays!

Lets start with my husband waking me up - gently - with sweet words.

"It's almost 11. I think that would be a good wake up time."

(For anyone out there who is not married, my advise is to be patient and marry up, like I did! It pays such wealthy dividends for the rest of your life. Brian is the best thing to happen to me, ever!)

When I finally crawled out of bed and made it downstairs it was to discover that the kitchen disaster of Saturday evening (spaghetti and meatballs) was all cleaned up, the dishwasher ran, famous Carlson Chicken Chili was already simmering in the crock pot and Taquitos (football fare requested by the junior men) were cooking in the oven.


Then, my boys inform me that I can't be downstairs today - it is the Man Zone!

"You know Mom - guy stuff!"

Football on the TV, snacks in the oven, Nintendo in the grubby little hands of my boys. They had definitely taken over the lower level of the townhouse. And they were very firm in telling me that I would need to be upstairs for the day.

Here is the secret. SHHHHH

I love being banished to the upstairs once a week. HGTV on in the office, a great cup of coffee (also prepared by my honey!) Sunday newspaper and my laptop. In my comfy pj's and robe, slippers on my feet - it is ALL good.