Anyone out there?

Well, it's been 7 months since I've posted. (Thanks Helen and Ang for the reminders) I know it's hard to believe but I really do have a good reason. Back in February we bought a new home. Pretty much all our free time went into totally redoing this house. Actually I should say all of Dave's free time. If we could have picked the perfect home for our family, this would be it. We are so grateful to the Lord for providing this home for us. A lot of land, minimal stairs for Sarah, close to church, and friends. It is the perfect house, but needed a lot of updating. Hence the lack of posts. I was just trying to keep my head above water. I have lots of before shots, but unfortunately our camera is not working right now so I can't take any after shots. I promise I'll try to post more, and if I don't, feel free to keep bugging me! There should be plenty to blog about with four kids in school!

It's that time again!

We would love to have you join our team for the Believe in Tomorrow Port to Fort Walk. Check out this link for more details.

2 year anniversary

Above: Sarah exactly two yrs ago

Two years ago today was the worst day of our lives, the day when we were given the results from the MRI indicating the presence of a tumor near the spine of our little girl. Its been a remarkable two years, one filled with tons of emotions, God's nearness, great friends and amazing family. Two years ago, I wrote the following entry:

"Some of this news you may already know, and some you may just be hearing of. Jen, Sarah and I just returned from Pediatric Oncology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. We were referred there immediately after an MRI at Shady Grove Adventist hospital revealed 2 tumors in Sarah. We went to SG earlier this week because Sarah was showing symptoms of digression in her motor skills, like walking and balance. We went right from SGAH to JHU. The doctors at JHU are some of the finest in the world. And despite being in high demand, we sat at length this evening with three doctors who specialize in pediatric oncology and they showed absolutely no sense of hurry, making us feel like we were the only cancer patients in the whole place. We left very grateful to God for the gift of medicine and very grateful for the oncology department at JHU.

It is most likely that our little girl has cancer, a form known as neuroblastoma. This is cancer of the peripheral nervous system. One of the tumors is right next to her spinal cord, which is why she is experiencing the odd side affects she has been experiencing. From the MRI readings they received from SGH, they were not able to detect the second tumor near the liver and at this time are limiting it to the one tumor near the spinal cord. They will do further MRIs to confirm this.

We will be home for the weekend for some much needed family time, and on Monday at 1pm, we will return to Hopkins to begin days of more testing: blood, urine, bone marrow, bone scan, another MRI and CT scans, all designed to learn more about the tumor before surgery can occur. The doctors are trying to get the surgery done by the end of next week. After surgery, we will begin treatment of some sort. The type and length of the treatment will be determined by what they find during surgery.

At this point, we have been told by our doctors to be preparing ourselves for the likelihood of a treatment and recovery process that will take no less than six months.

Please pray that the tumor is not intertwined with the spinal cord. If it is, we will have to have a neurosurgeon do the surgery with oncology surgeons. And please pray for a full healing from her all cancer and ataxia.

Jen and I are so grateful for your friendship and ongoing prayers. We have been carried along by them. We are also being very well cared for by our care group and family, from visits in the hospital to simply being there with us in the down times. We are grieving a lot, but we are aware of God’s grace. He loves our little girl more than we do, and we trust him."

Above: Sarah two yrs later

Thank you to all who have walked with us over the last two years! We wouldn't be where we are today without you all!

Basketball and Bull Riding

We signed the girls up for basketball this season. Let me tell you, it is such a flashback to my childhood. I love watching how cute they are as they learn to play. When they played soccer, I would just yell for fun. I know nothing about soccer so it was not informed yelling! But since I grew up playing, I'm yelling a bit more now. Dave says I'm one of those "crazy moms". Oh well, I think I'm enjoying this as much as the girls are. Now tell me they don't look adorable!




Once again Believe in Tomorrow gave us an amazing opportunity. We got to attend a Professional Bull Riders Event. Not just attend the event but sit in the front row! I'm not typically into that kind of stuff, but it was so fun!

The Best Christmas Gift Ever!!

This year for Christmas, Dave gave me the most amazing gift ever. He created a book from our blog recounting Sarah's early battle with cancer. It is over 100 pages! There were many tears as I paged through this book. What a treasure to have all the memories in book form. So grateful that my hubby knew how much this would mean to me. Can't wait to show everyone!

Alethea's Christmas cards!!

Believe In Tomorrow is an organization that provides exceptional hospital and respite housing services to critically ill children and their families. They do this because they believe in keeping families together during a child’s medical crisis, because being together as a family is critical in the healing process for the sick child. We support this great organization, not because they have given to us, but because they do great things for families who really need help.

This past summer, they did a contest open for all the kids in their program, which includes our kids because of Sarah's sickness. The contest was a drawing contest, in which the winner's picture would be selected to sell as fundraising Christmas cards for BIT. Well, much to our surprise and delight, TWO of Alethea's pictures won the contest. They are the images below:

(note: they added the calligraphy)



These images were put on a Christmas card's, to be sold by Believe in Tomorrow, with all proceeds going directly to support BIT. On the back of the cards it gives acknowledgment to Alethea, age 7, for the drawing. Pretty cool.

Click here to buy some cards of your own if you are interested. Like I said, all proceeds got directly to this great organization. Click here if you want to see them or order some for yourself.

Alethea turns 8!

I can't believe we have an 8 year old! We had such a wonderful time celebrating Alethea's birthday this year. We did many things together as a family and also had a birthday party with some friends as well. I have to say, we had a blast. The girls decorated picture frames, ate pizza, had their nails painted, made ice cream sundaes, had a dance party, and created their own restaurant. It was so fun to watch them all have such a great time together. What a joy it was to celebrate the blessing Alethea is to our family!

Sarah getting in on the nail painting. Lauren was such blessing as she came to help me paint all the girls nails.

Nail salon on the kitchen floor. Each girl girl got her nails painted and had polka dots put on as well. They loved it!

Finished picture frame with the group shot we took at the beginning of the party. Can't wait to show them when they're older. Such a blessing to have such a wonderful group of friends.

Making ice cream sundaes. Alethea's favorite!

DANCE PARTY!!