2nd Treatment

Yesterday, Melanie got her second chemo treatment. We saw the doctor first. He commented on how the lymph nodes in her neck have gone down....the big one is almost back to normal size. Asked how she was feeling and such. He'd like to cut back on the chemo and give her radiation, but I think the 'B' symptoms she has is going to prevent that from happening. We certainly only want to do this once and most definitely don't want it to come back.

The chemo treatment went well this time. They took it slow and about 6 hours later we were leaving. If you click on the picture, you'll have a better view of the medication she gets. Look at the IV pole. All those bags, plus 2 that were already administered and another 2 that are delivered through a "big" syringe, encompass the medication she gets at each treatment. The big bag (second from right) takes about 1.5 hours to drip. That little bag that looks like it's floating in the window is not one of hers, it belongs to the patient on the other side of the wall. Under her left had is where her port is. The white paper is there to protect her shirt.

This time Melanie had something to occupy her mind. She cut boxtops and Campbells labels. Then she took a little nap...oh and she got a massage. There was a volunteer there giving free 20 minute massages to the patients. Melanie really enjoyed it.

She's had a pretty good day today. She's felt a little nauseated and achy, but has made it through without getting sick or taking pain pills. She's quite proud of herself and so are we. The doctor gave her a voucher for 2 anti-nausea pills. Without insurance they cost $219! for 2 pills! We're not sure what her insurance will pay next time...we'll find out before then. If they are not covered, we hope he can keep giving her samples.

She goes back on the 5th for blood work, checking those white blood cells again (they were 8.4 yesterday) and her next treatment is scheduled for November 12.

Tyler was 1 month old yesterday and weighed in at 6 lbs 14 oz. He's doing great. Thank you for your prayers. Keep praying for Jennifer too. Her condition hasn't changed.

Psalms 46:10a - Be still, and know that I am God...

A Nanny's Love

Well, it's official - Tyler has more hair than his momma! Nanny, my mom, with tears in her eyes and love in her heart, shaved Melanie's head tonight. I'd venture to say it was one of the hardest things she's ever done. Actually, it was hard for both of them. My mom used to be a hair dresser and has cut Melanie's hair since she was two. So it was only natural for Melanie to ask her Nanny to shave her head. And my mom, bless her heart, agreed. Melanie's hair began falling out last Friday, 2 weeks after receiving her first chemo treatment. Its been coming out by the hand-fulls since. So Melanie decided to take control and end the agony - literally. Her head was hurting. We assume it was because her hair was falling out.

Through tears, Nanny's, Melanie, and mine, mom took the scissors to Melanie's hair and shortend it, then she took the clippers and shaved as close to the scalp as she could. There's about 1/8 of an inch left, but it'll be gone by the end of the week. You just rub on it and it falls out. Melanie said " I never thought in a million years, I would be shaving my head". Nanny said "I never thought in a million years, I would be shaving your head". We laughed and cried.

Personally, I think she looks adorable, and I'm not just saying that because I'm her mom either! She wouldn't let me take pictures so you'll have to trust me when I say she has a pretty round head and her skin is just a little lighter than the insides of her arms. Now with some cold weather here, I don't think she'll get it tanned evenly before it grows back....not that she'll go anywhere without something covering her head.

I never thought in a million years my daughter would have cancer and shave her head so she would have some say on when she'd had no hair. I think she's pretty brave and I stand in awe of her determination.

Oh The Pain

Melanie got her third shot today. The last one for a while - I hope! Who knew that producing white blood cells causes you so much pain? The rapid growth that goes on in Melanie's bone marrow is causing her a lot of pain, that at times it's almost unbearable. I didn't think her cancer was going to be this hard. She has been though so much in such a short time. I'm amazed at her inner strength. She's in pain, she hurts all over, she's in tears and yet, she still gets up to take care of her children. I pray that it gets easier for her, that there will be a balance, that we will get into a routine, that the day will come when the doctor says "that's it, we're through." I pray for these things, and yet we are just getting started. We all wonder how we will make it through. We know we will, but we just can't imagine how God is going to carry us through.

There is no doubt this is a huge struggle we are going through, but my dear friends, there are others who's struggles are much bigger than ours. A friend from church, Jennifer, was in a car accident over a week ago. She is still in ICU, she's heavily sedated so her body can heal, but only time will tell. I'm told she has all kinds of tubes going in and out of her body. I don't doubt that she will go to heaven if the Lord calls her, but I do feel the pain her husband and her sons and family feel. And I've been praying and praying for a full recovery. Will you pray for her and her family? Pray for peace, the knowledge that God is in control, today and forever.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Blood Counts

The goal of chemotherapy is to interfere with the growth of cancer cells and and destroy them. Unfortunately some healthy cells may also be damaged along the way. As part of the treatment plan, Melanie goes in on her "off" week to have her blood checked. Today was the first check. They are watching to make sure Red and White blood cells and platelets don't go to low.

They were able to use her port to withdraw the blood for testing, which Melanie said was "really cool". They used some numbing spray so the stick was like a pin pick. She thought she was getting off easy today, but alas no. Her white blood count was low, also known as Neutropenia. She had to get a shot (1 of 3), not through the port, but in the fat of her arm. She has 2 more shots to get this week. These shots will help her bone marrow produce white blood cells. They won't give her more chemo treatments until they get back up. Currently, her next chemo is scheduled for next Wednesday.

Our dear family and friends, we are now becoming germ conscience. Since Melanie's white count is low, she is more susceptible to infections. She will most likely ride this roller coaster throughout her treatment. We ask that you be cautious when you are around her (and Tyler). Please don't share your germs! We didn't attend a family going away party for my nephew, because he and his sister had strep throat. We were sad we couldn't go and wish him and his family much success in their life together in North Carolina (and the Air Force), but we couldn't risk bringing home the germs to Melanie and Tyler.

We have so much to learn! Proverbs 15:30 says "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." Your task this week is to give us lots of smiles and to share your good news...we could all use some good health!

Sick Day

Thursday afternoon and evening Melanie was sick. Yesterday mid-morning the anti-nausea medicine wore off, sooner than we expected and Melanie got sick. Then she spent the rest of the day and evening trying to keep ahead of it, but nothing was staying down. Plus she hurt all over, sort of like the flu, but worse. Thankfully, she is doing much better today, still not 100% but she's able to keep food down and she doesn't hurt as bad. I don't think they told us there was going to be pain afterwords. Her little pharmacy is sitting on the bar, and we have to write down the meds and the time she takes them, so we know what she took when. Once her neck and the port area get better, she'll be down to 4 different kinds of medicine.

Yesterday, Tyler went in for a check up, He now weighs 6 pounds! He has also let us know he has some healthy lungs. :-)

The echo went well today. Melanie said that it looked like "something" was clapping. It didn't look like a heart to her. Rebekah was off school today, so she got to help her big sister by driving to and from the appointment.

Thought for the day: We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world ~ Helen Keller

First Treatment Done - Round One

Hoo rah! Melanie made it through the first treatment. I was wrong about how many medicines they gave her on Friday. They got two in before the headache, so there was only two to do today. It did take three hours, they went real slow. First she got the pre-meds...4 medicines to help tolerate the chemo (Benedryl, nausea medicine, steroid and another drug I don't remember). Next she got Bleomycin, then IV solution (a 30 minute break between drugs) and then DTIC (Dacarbazine). She started to get a headache in the middle of this one. I told the nurse, they gave her some Advil and checked her blood pressure. It was a little on the high side. So they checked it every 15 minutes for about an hour. I think taking the BP medicine before we went helped to keep things in checked. She also took an anxiety drug this morning to help keep her calm. Before you know it, she'll be an old pro at this. We are all so proud of her. She didn't give up and didn't give in to the fear. She's stronger than she thinks she is, and with the support of many loved ones, she'll get through this.

This picture is from Friday (click on it to see a larger picture). The nurse is giving Melanie Adriamycin (a.k.a the "Red Devil"). No picture today, the batteries were dead. Today, they were able to use her port to draw blood and to give her the medcine. The port made it so much easier. She already has brusies on hands and the crook of her elbows.

On Friday, she goes for an echo cardiogram. They need a baseline of her heart. One of the drugs could cause heart damage, so they need to baseline to measure by. She'll have several more echo's as she goes. On Tuesday next week, she goes in for a blood test and then the following Wednesday (29th) she'll have her second round. This puts her off the scheduled she originally wanted and now puts her having chemo just days before my sister-in-law's wedding and the holidays. But as my mother-in-law said - if it makes her well, it's okay. I agreed.

Psalm 119:114 - You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

We've Jumped Another Hurdle

Yeah! Melanie's port is in. We got up about 4:15 this morning (ugh!), we had to be at the hospital at 5 (valet parking wasn't even open when we got there at 4:50!). After registration, we went up to the surgical floor. They did all the assessments and got her ready for surgery. She did fine. I was worried that her blood pressure would go up...and it did during surgery, but not too high. They did ask me for her BP pill when they finally let me come in to see her, a little after 9. She is sore, but doing fine. We are so glad this step is over!

We also went to Melanie's primary doctor today, to have someone review all the prescriptions meds she's been given over the last 2 weeks by 3 or 4 different doctors. I was getting uncomfortable with the amount of meds she has, when she takes what, and how they interact with each other. So we now have that figured out (and I feel better!). Her doctor also evaluated the neck pain she's been having and order some physical therapy. She'll also have Melanie's other doctors send over reports about their treatments on Melanie...so again...I feel good and so does Melanie.

They will probably use the port tomorrow morning at the oncologist office. We are going to finish the chemo treatment that was started on Friday. We are praying for a successful jump over this hurdle. I've reminded Melanie, that the medicine for tomorrow, she hasn't had before so we don't know if there will be an immediate side effect and to remember that the headache was from her high blood pressure, not the chemo meds. I'm anticipating a successful outcome, it may not be easy, but we'll be over another hurdle and know what to expect going forward.

Tyler is doing great. He is so precious. He goes back to the pediatrician on Thursday...we are hoping he has gained some weight.

Thanks for your random acts of kindness, we are truly blessed to have a loving and caring support group. Whether obvious or hidden...your gifts are much appreciated and we are very grateful and feel very blessed.

This verse is for you, our dear ones: Matthew 5:8 - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Melanie's Back Home

We just got home from the hospital...Melanie is doing so much better now. They put her on blood pressure medicine and she needs to followup with her OB doctor next week. She'll call the oncologist on Monday to see if she can come in on Tuesday to finish her treatment. This way she can stay on this schedule and her off chemo weeks will be over the holidays and her Aunt's wedding.

We've been in 3 different hospitals in the last 13 days, 8 in the last 12 months. It's not really a record we are proud of, but one of amazement and wonder. Yes, I think we've had more than our fair share of medical crises, but God has led us through each of them (no matter how much we feared or doubted) and has brought each one my loved ones back home to me. And for that I am thankful.

Just as in any loving relationship, you may get mad at one another and don't understand, but in your heart of hearts you know you are loved and that you love them....and when you need Him the most, he is there - carrying you evey step of the way.

1 John 4:16 - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Frist Chemo Treatment

I know everyone wants to hear about Melanie's chemo treatment yesterday and there is only one word for it. Awful. I'm not going to give much details now, not enough time.

They got all her premeds in and the first chemo drug, Adriamycin (a.k.a. the red devil) when she spiked a headache. A headache worst than any migraine...and it scared her. They stopped all meds, gave her Demerol for the pain. The doctor and nurses were perplexed because a severe headache is not a side effect patients experience. The headache began around 10:20 and by 1 PM they still couldn't alleviate the pain, and her blood pressure was high. They took us downstairs to the Emergency Room (St. Anthony's). After waiting an hour for triage, they took her back. Finally around 4 they gave her a narcotic that took the pain down, but not gone. She's had a chest x-ray, CT scan, EKG, and spinal tap...and thankfully everything was good there.

They are thinking that it is pregnancy-induced hypertension (a.k.a. pre-eclamsia or post-partum pre-eclamsia). They kept her for overnight observation, my sister stayed with her. Hopefully we will know more today and have a better understanding.

It was a really hard day yesterday and I tried to hold to the Bible verse my mom gave us...Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength. But we were both scared, we didn't know what was happening or why. I got a little mad, because we have been through so much this past year, we're tired...I'm not sure how much strength I left.

PET Scan

Melanie had the PET scan today. Just as she was walking back into the room, they told her that she couldn't hold her baby for 24 hours. She'll be radioactive (no, she doesn't glow in the dark). It would have been nice to know before hand so we could have planned the evening better. ..but then again, I get to take care of Tyler until tomorrow afternoon. Melanie's upset that they didn't tell her this in the beginning, but it's only for 24 hours....both will be fine.

They gave her an IV, then brought out a metal box that contained the radioactive shot in a metal syringe. They waited an hour for it to go through her veins. Just as they were getting ready to do the scan, the machine broke. So they had to wait about 30 minutes for a repairman. They took 2 scans. One lasted about 40 minutes and the other lasted about 10.

My mom (a.k.a Nanny) went with her while I watched the boys. I suggested to her that after the scan she take Melanie up stairs to Dr. K (the oncologist) and ask him to do something about the pain in her neck. After all, I'm the mom and I'm imagining all kinds of things that could be wrong. He doesn't think it's the cancer, a muscle spasm maybe. He gave her some Demerol and she'll get to sleep all night, so hopefully tomorrow she will feel like new!... Just in time to start Chemo on Friday.

Micah 5:5 - And He will be their peace.

Doctor Appointments

The rest of this week is filled with doctor appointments. In the morning, Tyler goes tomorrow for his post NICU checkup with the pediatrician. Hopefully he's back to birth weight...although I was just trying to feed him and could only get about 3/4 oz down him. He's more interested in sleeping. He's doing good, so adorable and his siblings just love him...lots of hugs and kisses.

At 12:30 tomorrow Melanie has the PET scan. We won't know the results until Friday. Although she found another lump under her left arm today. For the last 3 days she has had this incredible pain from the base of her neck on down. Nothing seems to relieve it. We're not sure if it's from the lumps in her neck pressing on a nerve, stress, or something else. She's got some prescription pain medicine now so hopefully after the next dose, there will be some improvement.

Melanie has pre-op testing Thursday morning and on Friday she has her first chemo treatment. We'll be at the oncologist for most of the day. She's going to have the port put in on Monday. I hope she's feeling well enough for it, after having a chemo treatment the Friday before.

The last few days have been peaceful, except for Melanie's pain. After this week is over, we'll know what to expect from the treatments, maybe, and we can figure out a routine. It's the uncertainty that causes the fear. Isaiah 41:10 says "So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Everyday, we get gifts from God, sometimes they are little and we almost miss them (or do, until we look back), other times they hit us between the eyes. But they're there and I know God is going to uphold us and take away this fear, leaving comfort and peace.

Hooray For Poop! Tyler's Home!

Tyler came home today! The doctor called just before noon and said that Tyler was keeping his body temperature, eating well and had gone potty during the night. (Hooray for poop!) So he's able to come home. Needless to say we were thrilled! We put the kids in the car and headed for my sister's. Dropped them off and picked up my mom (a.k.a. Nanny) and went to get Tyler. After all the paperwork and his hearing test he was cleared to come home. They even checked to make sure we had strapped him into his car seat right before we could leave.

Melanie fed him at 5 PM and he threw up most of his bottle, but his body temperature was low, so she thinks that was the problem. He slept all afternoon. She'll check his temperature and try the next bottle at eight. Please Lord let it all stay down.

We are happy to have him home. Catie and Jake think he is the "cutest thing ever"! Both got to hold him and give him lots of kisses. Melanie is going to have 2 great helpers. In fact, with all of us hovering - waiting to do something for her, she'll probably be glad when 6:30 AM gets here and we leave for work and school!

This week Melanie has 2 doctor appointments. She has her PET scan on Wednesday and starts Chemo on Friday. She skipped having the port put in last Wednesday because Tyler was transferred to St. Joesph's that morning. The oncologist had already told her it was OK if she didn't have it for the first treatment...with having a baby and recovery, it was gong to be hard to work in it.

Whoo hoo! So far he has kept most all of his formula down, just had a few wet burps....Hooray for poop! Tyler just FILLED his diaper. His momma is so happy to change his messy diaper.

It's over whelming sometimes the love we have for each other and the love others have for us. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful support group praying for us and helping us through these very tough times.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Some Good News

Tyler had a really good day today. Both GI studies didn't show any obstructions so they took out the suction tube and started giving him a bottle. He still has his IV cocktail for now. He ate 15ml (less than 1/2 oz) at 10:30, 1:30 and 4:30 and kept most of it down. Melanie got to feed him his 4:30 bottle and hold him all afternoon. Tomorrow they want him to eat 30ml (about an oz) a feeding...and keep it all down. He still needs to go potty, but maybe that will be later tonight. Melanie told him that she's really looking forward to changing his dirty diaper....not something most parents look forward to!

They did put him "under the lights" last night to flush out his jaundice. He looks better and probably won't have to do that again.

White Gramma, one of Tyler's great grammas got to visit him today. (With two grammas and a nanny around, Catie has dubbed Jim's mom as White Gramma because she has while hair and I'm brown gramma, because I have brown hair.) She was amazed that he wasn't all wrinkley and of course thinks he's a sweet baby. She told Melanie that he doesn't look sick. that they will all be coming home soon, and that we may not know why God allows these things, but our faith keeps us strong. Melanie was really glad White Gramma got to see him as she didn't get to see him before he was sent to St. Joesph's NICU.

Hebrews 13:5 - ...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.

Wait and See

This morning started off a little tense for all of us, but the day ended on a happy note. The upper GI didn't show any problems, so today they did the lower GI. We thought the testing yesterday was both because it took so long, be we were wrong. The lower GI only consisted of one x-ray. Melanie should know the results tomorrow. Tyler did go potty today, we're just not sure if it was from the GI study or his doing, but we took it as a positive sign. They may try him on a bottle tomorrow if the x-rays show everything is good.

He still has an IV in his arm and a tube down his throat. The IV is giving him glucose, lipids (fat), calcium, and vitamins/nutrients. Its 4 syringes converging into the IV. Two are normal needle size and the other tow are huge! They put them on this machine, that slowly squeezes the plunger. This way Tyler gets everything he needs through one IV.

His color is looking good, so he may not have to go under the lights. ...another wait and see what the doctor says.

Melanie got to hold him for about 3 hours today. That made her happy. Grampa (Jim) stayed with Melanie today and watched over her and Tyler. He made sure she ate lunch, and that made him happy. Grampa Dan (Aaron's dad) visited but didn't want to hold him with all the wires and tubes. Mr. and Mrs. Boehme came over and got to see Tyler and talked to Melanie and Jim. Both providing great comfort to Melanie and Jim. Mrs. Boehme brought a banner that her class made for Tyler and we all got teary eyed looking at the wonderful drawings, get well messages and bible verse. I got to see/touch him for about 20 minutes at the end of the day...and he opened his eyes and looked at me. That made me happy. So we had several happy moments today and thank God for them.

I told Melanie, one day we are going to look back and see all the good things that God provided for us during this time, things that being overwhelm, we've over looked. But we have not over looked our friends who so lovingly "adopt" Catie for the afternoon and make her lunch for the week, my mother who has watched over her great grandson, Jake for the past 5 days, and for friends who tell us they are praying for us and that they are going to make us dinner, so that's one less thing to worry about. We feel your love and thank you for making each day a little better.

As the words on Mrs. Boehme's class banner to Melanie says "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Tyler - 4 days old

This morning they took the tube out of Tyler's throat and fed him a bottle, which he threw up. So with Melanie watching, they put in a new tube in, through his nose this time, to suction out his stomach. They started the GI study on him around 1 PM and took the last x-ray around 8 PM. Melanie should know the results tomorrow.

He's in a "incubator" now, with walls on all sides including the top and arm holes on the sides to keep him warmer. Melanie couldn't hold him until the last hour of visitation and had to hold him on his right side because of the GI study.

The good news for the day is that the placenta showed no signs of Hodgkin Lymphoma. So Tyler doesn't have it. There was a slight chance that he would, since it is a blood disease.

Now I know the real reason why he was transferred to St. Joesph's and not All Children's....it's 10 minutes from my work. While All Children's is on our side of the bay, it sure would have been inconvenient to drive there every day. Around 2 PM today, I got to run over to the hospital to see and touch Tyler. He is so precious. I know he looks big in his pictures, but he's small....not as small as Layla, the little girl next to him. She was 26 weeks when she was born and weighed 2 pounds. She's 12.5 inches long and no wider than the palm of my had.

I just know the whatever Tyler has can be fix. Thank you for your prayers, and your love. With them, we will get over this hurdle that feels like a canyon.

Tyler James

That's the thing about Tomorrow...it never gets here... What Can I say, Tyler is so beautiful! See for yourself. Tuesday Morning.

On Monday, Pastor came out and baptized Tyler. Since he was early, Melanie and Aaron wanted him baptized right away.

Tyler began developing digestive problems shortly after birth. First he wouldn't take the bottle, then he would gag and spit up only after a few sips. The nurses thought his tummy was full of amino fluid and just wasn't hungry. The other problem was that he did not have his first BM in the first 24 hours. So they helped him, but by evening time, he still hadn't gone on his own. This was a big concern to the doctors, along with the spitting up, so they ordered an x-ray. That showed, his stomach was distended....full of undigested formula. They thought there may be a blockage, so they wanted to do some more tests. But the tests they wanted to do needed to be done by a Pediatric Radiologist...which Morton Plant doesn't have. So they sent Tyler by ambulance to the NICU at St. Joesph's Women's Hospital in Tampa at 1:45 this morning. He went to Tampa because All Children's NICU in St. Pete was full.

When it was decided that he would go, Melanie called us...in tears... and Jim and I went to be with her. We got there about 9:45 PM, just as the NICU nurse was taking him to start his IV and to put the tube down his throat and into his stomach to drain out the formula. They were doing this to prevent infection. From 10 PM on, we sat in the NICU at Morton Plant, praying and waiting, waiting and praying. We made phone calls and sent out text message after text message, asking for prayer. We cried and tried not to ask why.

The transport team from St. Joesph's finally arrived about 1 AM. They assessed him, unhooked him and put him on the stretcher that has a little bassinet molded to it, strapped him in and took him away. They called Melanie about 2:20 AM to tell her that they arrived safely. The doctor called her about 4:30 to give her a report. He had a BM when he got there, but we are not sure if it was unassisted. Then he had another one several hours later, but again, we are not sure if it was unassisted. After this one, they did another x-ray and it looked real good.

Melanie was released from Morton Plant around 10:30 and we headed to Tampa. We got there and the first thing the nurse says is that he is doing really good! We held him and loved him all day long. He spent the rest of the day in NICU with a tube down his throat, and an IV in his hand. Tomorrow, they are going to try the bottle again. If he spits up or doesn't have a BM, they will do an upper GI to see if there is a blockage there. If no blockage, they will do a lower GI.

The really sad thing is seeing all these preemies in one room....meeting other parents and grandparents who have slept little for the past 3 days...and instantly bonding with them. The little girl next to Tyler only weighs 2 pounds and is half his size. It's amazing to see teeny tiny blood pressure cuffs, IVs, stethoscopes...and meeting doctors, nurses, and techs who all LOVE their job and does whatever they can to make things better for you, May God Bless each and every one.