Thank You’s! July 24, 2010

I wanted to take a blog update and thank some people for a few things….we have been blessed by our “family” and wanted to share our gratefulness.

CFA Eastgate Mall–Thank you for the plethora of coupons….we WILL use them as we frequent CFA more than once a week when we are at home:) 

Sheila H…thank you, again, for the gift card and the DVD’s.  You are so giving! 

Riley’s….thank you for the DVDs as well.  –  Seriously, thank you….I was going insane watching the same ones over and over and over:)

Cassie….thank you for all the hairbows and headbands….you are bulky sweet–I love you:) 

Linda…..thank you for the blankets for both Makayla and McKinley.  Makayla absolutely loved hers and is sleeping with it each night and we are using McKinley’s here at the hospital.  They were perfect!

Jenny E…..thank you for dinner this past Monday/Tuesday:)  It was yummy as usual!

Laura C….thank you for taking Makayla last week.  She had a fantastic time and it was SUPER convenient:)

Peggy T….thank you so much for the cards for each of the girls.  Makayla was jumping up and down as I was reading it (I figure you can envision her excitement).  She has worn her bracelet ever since she opened it.  Thank you, too, for reminding us to FROG:)  Your card was a Godly timed encouragement for us!

We also received a Cracker Barrell Gift Card and another DVD in the mail, but they did not include a name, so THANK YOU to whomever sent those through Amazon.  They are and will be used:)

Jodie and Megan for visiting this week and bringing the girls gifts.  Makayla is sleeping with Minnie:) 

CELINA!!!!  Thank you so much for serving us this week and helping take care of Makayla.  She has played and played with the items you got on your Dollar Tree shopping.  She and I had a tea party last night.   Your transporting her made our week SO much easier!

Scott H…for MOWING our yard AGAIN!  Thank you, thank you! 

Thank you, too, to anyone who has sent a card or word of encouragement.  We sincerely appreciate every word:)

I’m sure we are missing someone, but don’t think for a second we are not grateful.  We are blessed beyond reason with amazing family and friends and we are thankful for your giving hearts. 

SOME SPECIAL THANK YOU’S:

Jodie Watts, a friend we met at Urban Hills Church, called the other day to ask me if McKinley could be one of her heroes when running the Goofy Challenge at Disney in January.  She runs with Team in Training and they raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  She has ran with them since 2001.   We are THRILLED and touched that she wants McKinley to be one of her inspirations for the marathon.  Please feel free to donate to her specific fund raising efforts for research!!!  I have attached a link to her fundraising page.

We have another “running” story, which I have failed to mention until now.  I am simply going to paste the email I received from the cross country coach at Coldwater High School:

You do not know me however I have come to know a little bit about you through McKinley’s grandmother Marlene Springer. You see I am a teacher like Marlene at Coldwater Schools and also the high school cross country coach. I first found out about your story on June 1st, our final day of school. Your story touched my heart as I have two young children Lucas (5) and Zachary (will be 2 tomorrow). Although they are both very healthy, I couldn’t but think about what you are going through and how hard it must be. Just know that I am praying for you everyday and hoping that God sees you through all of this with a very happy ending. Well anyway, on that very day that I heard of McKinley’s story, I had planned a meeting with my cross country girls and boys teams to prepare our summer running goals. To make a long story short, my athletes decided to participate in charity running this summer. Both the boys and girls team picked a charity to run for and will go out and get sponsors to make a monetary pledge per mile they run this summer. In turn we will donate that money to their cause. I have 9 athletes on my boys team and they chose the Mercer County Cancer Society as their charity. My girls team of 23 could not come to a consensus about what their charity would be. I finally stepped in and told them about McKinley and within a few minutes it was unanimous. They wanted to help her. So my 23 girls made it their mission this summer to run in the name of McKinley Springer. They all have wrist bands that they are wearing to remind them of her and motivate them to run more. All 23 girls will go out and get sponsors to pledge money per mile to help McKinley and your family out through this difficult time. This is not through the Leukemia Foundation, everything we earn will go directly to you and can be used in any way you see fit. I am sure expenses can add up. I see this as a win win situation for us both. For you, lots of prayers and support and for us valuable life lessons will be learned………”It’s not about me, its about helping others.”

Thank you Coldwater cross country team and Dan Pohlman for serving us all summer long! 

 

You know, Scott and I have always enjoyed serving and it is somewhat difficult to be served and even express our needs at times, but what I do know is that Jesus is loving on us through those of you who have served us and given to us.  So, again….thank you for being eyes and ears and hands and feet:) 

“For you were called to freedom, brethren, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  Galatians 5:13

Friday…. July 2, 2010

Love her:)

McKinley’s ANC was 1,000 today.  They will drop about seven days after her next round of chemo, which starts Monday, but we will take it and run with it.  We may attempt to get another pass on Sunday and have a little 4th of July celebration in spite of our hospital stay.  The plan (hope) is to go home on Tuesday after day two of 4 days of chemo.  We will have to come back to clinic on Thursday for a checkup and another the last round until the following Monday…..so if all goes well, we will be home Fri, Sat & Sun with absolutely NO activity.  I just pray that she feels well enough to enjoy being home a little bit. 

Update on my dad:  He ended up having a stent and angioplasty on Wednesday.  He, actually, said that he felt better after the surgery.  He is even able to drive today (Friday), but can not lift anything over 10 pounds.  I’m thankful for the wisdom of the doctors and their hands that helped doctor his heart again…..YEAH GOD!!

Please pray for our transition back home.  One that is happens on Tuesday and two that we are able to find a quick routine for both of the girls. 

Pray for this next phase….it looks pretty tough and we pray for her to not have any side effects to the chemo and continue to stay on path.

Continue to pray for no fevers or infections and overall good health!! 

THANK YOU!!

Scott H for mowing our lawn today.

Jenny for dinner tonight

Sarah for the adorable portrait….we ALL love it!!

Barb for lunch today

Chuck for arranging our furnace to be cleaned out….what a terrific gift that was to us!!

Suella & Aunt Deb for your gift to the family

The Knepfle Family for the wings of love….they are SO soft

Jodi and family for the thoughtful care package…love the hat:)

Kim for taking my Makayla this week

Pack’s for filling in those last minute things we forgot or needed:)

Dayna for the yummy yummy lunch this week!!

I have to mention my sister Sharon who has been up here almost every weekend since McKinley was diagnosed….all of my family has been wonderful and extremely helpful, I just have to tell Sharon a special thank you for ALL the things I have depended on you for.  You truly have a servants heart:) 

I’m sure I’m forgetting someone, but know that we appreciate all the love and support we have from our BIG family.  We love you all!

Happy Fourth of JULY!!!

Day ?? I lost track….June 22 June 22, 2010

I’m really hating cancer right now and the sin that allowed it to enter into this world.  The past couple of days have been somewhat depressing around here.  We were disappointed with her counts going down on Monday morning.  We thought she was trending up and we’d be able to make it home on Thursday, but 300 to 60 came on Monday morning.  Then she barely increased today to 70…..we both had to reboot our mind and plans and hope for Sunday to early next week on coming home, but still have to play the waiting game.

She has also had some noticeable side effects from the chemo and/or steroids.  She is walking a little more wobbly and she has a very difficult time getting up once she sits down on the floor.  It is very hard to see her having such difficulty.  We are going to talk to the doctor about getting her some physical therapy while we are still here.  We both really just noticed it on Sunday.

Sometimes the stories of those around us become burdens to us.  It is hard not to care deeply for those who are experiencing similar devastation in their lives.  We have a friend, Bella, who is 4 1/2 and is planning to get a bone marrow transplant soon.  In talking to her mom, I feel her pain deeply.  Transplant is very intense and hard on the families.  Bella is running around today, but once she moves to BMT (bone marrow transplant), she won’t have that freedom and soon won’t even feel like running around.  We met Blake when we first arrived here….he is 5 and is on BMT now and his mom wears the pain on her face.   We spoke with her today and she was expressing how hard it was to see her son so lifeless. 

My new hairdo....still BeauTifUl!!!

We pray for the energy and endurance to love on those even when our own days may be hard or painful.

Today was emotional, too because her curly little locks are gone.  We decided to cut the rest of her hair off today as you can see from the picture.  She was loosing hair by the strand, but it was starting to look really patchy so we decided to jump through the emotional hoop and get it over with.  Makayla was here and didn’t like the trimmers, but she didn’t seem to mind that her hair was gone.  I’m really glad that we had her here for it.  Of course, it was much harder on mommy than anyone else, but that was to be expected.  Sherie Miller happened to stop by right after we cut it and I had a very comforting hug from a momma who completely understands.  Again, God provided! 

Scott decided to work a few 1/2 days this week to ease back into that world.  I know it is going to be hard for him to emotionally balance being away from us and diving back into his vocation.  Please pray for him in this respect.  It is a little hard on me, too.  I’m use to having my best friend around all day:)

And yet in my discouragement today, I look at our door and there is this verse written on a frame that some friends made for us…….”Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9   

There were times in the past 48 hours that it didn’t feel like God was with us, but that is not the truth.  We are choosing to follow the truth and to not be discouraged.

 HUGE THANK YOU TO:

Kim Johnson for bring food yesterday and cleaning our house all day today!  Kim, you are my 4th sister, you know?!  Thank you for serving us in such a practical way.  I know our house is cleaner than I would have cleaned. 

Kris Durand for grocery shopping for us!  We’ll, actually, have milk when we get home…..

Brad Ellis for mowing our lawn sometime this week!! 

Amie, Chelsey & girls for the wall art for Jameson and Becky for the ice cream….I drowned my sorrow in chocolate chocolate chip today:)

For all of you who have sent cards, thank you.  Your encouragement means much:)

PRAY:

McKinley’s legs to regain their strength.

Her counts to rise and stay risen!

Us to transition back home quickly and easily.  It is going to be a little bit of a challenge.

All of our friends here at the hospital…..Bella, Blake, Jameson & Allison.

June 11 *** Day 16 Special Thank YOU’S June 12, 2010

So, I’ve mentioned this before.  I really like to send out thank you notes for the kindness everyone has shown, but I’m going to just do that on the blog for now, even though it is a bit tacky.

We have so many people to thank….for our recent meals…thank you Vanessa, John Crabb & the Brandts’.  These yummy non cafeteria meals have literally warmed our heart and it is nice to have friends joins us for a meal!  Thank you for your hospitality.  We have already received several packages and gifts.  We received a fantastic box from my accounting friends at Burkhardt & Co.  Thank you for all the thoughtful gifts, treats and words of encouragement.  Granny Wylie sent me (Sherri)  lounging clothes…you are too sweet Granny!  Thank you for thinking of me!  My mom’s high school friend, Patty, Wayne High School class of ’59:), sent a very nice card and generous gift.  Kathy from our church gave us a fun, fun bag of treats.  The monkey is hanging from her IV pole…perfect animal for that!  Sheila H….oh, my…thank you for the assortment of gift cards.  In case I forgot to mention the bag of toys for Makayla & McKinley from Hill’s….Thank you!  For Aunt Darlene and Memaw painting McKinley’s room–thank YOU!   And just a general thank you to the Springer’s and Pauley’s for giving and giving and giving!  We are so thankful for the kindness of so many people.  Thank you for the emails, cards and blog posts…for your great encouragement….we feel loved!  If I have missed someone, please forgive me.

MEDICAL:

We are still maintaining at noneventful.   Which is a really good thing.  We didn’t have much activity yesterday.  McKinley was a bit grumpy and sleepy all day yesterday.  I think it was the effects of her chemo on Thursday that got her a little down.  She is still doing fantastic in our mind….so keep praying for her!  We were all able to get a good night sleep last night (Friday).  We talked to the Drs about turning down her maintenance fluid at night so she isn’t filling her diapers so much.  She has been drenching overnight diapers about every 4 hours….on the bed, her clothes, etc.    They did turn down her fluids  and she and we slept through two sets of vitals.  We had to wake her up at 6am to change her diaper for the nurse to weigh, but we all went back to sleep and slept until 8am!  It has been good for us to get a little rest. 

The goal is to leave on June 24 or 25…..my perfect birthday gift!!  We are heading on course!  We will have to be back in on July 1st, overnight, for treatment, but should be able to leave on the 2nd.  She will receive her port that trip.  She has one more round of chemo on Thursday of this week and then a final (for this phase) bone marrow aspiration on the 24th.   We have a preliminary schedule of outpatient treatment…Monday and Thursday for the first two months we will be trekking up to hospital hill for treatment or evaluation.  I’m not sure how all of that will look, but we will get it done.  There may be an overnight stay ever so often for chemo, but I’m not sure the schedule for that and hopefully there will not be any fever/infection related overnight stays.

Dr. Turpin is the fellow doctor that is going to follow McKinley.  His last day with her on inpatient rotation was yesterday as they do three week rotations.  McKinley has taken a liken’ to Dr. Turpin and Scott and I have enjoyed getting to know him.  We are going to miss seeing him around the floor.  He has been more than helpful during our time here –stopping even in the hall to answer the smallest question or ask how she is doing.  We are thankful for the kind heart of Dr. Turpin and are all thrilled that he is the doctor following McKinley.

We are so blessed and thankful to God for the gift of the church Body.  For the support and care God has given us through people has been overwhelming.  Thank you ALL! 

I will try to post more specific prayer requests for us later this weekend.  Scott and I are, actually, going to get out for a few hours this weekend since two of my sisters and mom are here this weekend.  We are looking forward to a few hours of uninterrupted married time!

Shine Jesus Shine……….

Thank You May 28, 2010

We want to say thank you to all of you supporting us and praying for us.  Words can not express the thankfulness we feel in our heart.  First for Dr. Saluke for sending us for the blood work.  Some parent’s have to struggle much longer to find out.  I’m so thankful we know and are on the way to healing.  For the Pack’s taking our Makayla, the Blackledge’s dropping everything to be here two nights in a row, the Miller’s for rearranging everything to come alongside us in this journey, to my parent’s for coming back up to Cincy, the Crabb’s for lunches, Celina, Alex and Laura for sharing your interior decorating gift and the basket of goodies, Eric for creating this blog for us, Kim for visiting with us and the soft tissues and diet coke! and for all of you who have prayed and prayed and sent words of encouragement, called or texted….WE THANK YOU and we feel Jesus through you.  We see the BODY OF CHRIST at work all around us and we need the Body.  And to whomever is mowing our lawn today….thank you:)