Matt's last chemo stared at 5:30 p.m.and the nurse is getting all the paperwork in order so we can leave as soon as the PICC line is pulled. I already made a HEB run to get his prescription filled so we are set for this weekend. (By the way, HEB was a madhouse to say the least.)
This has been a much easier week than I imagined. I'm hoping the coming week will be just as easy. The nurses have been wonderful yet again and have made our stay so much easier to endure. Praying they are each blessed this coming year.
Our year has been filled with many ups and downs and I would never have imagined as 2010 started that it would end in such a crazy way for our family and Matt. But here is to praying that 2011 will be one filled with much health and wellness. We have been so blessed by all of you these last few months for all your prayers and gifts of kindness. May you each have a blessed New Year. Love to you all.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday - Day 5 of 5
Ashley spent the night last night, so it was good to sleep in a real bed last night. Everything went smoothly last night from what little she said.
So far everything has been really good. Just a few uncomfortable things now and then, but so much better than induction. Bag five of the chemo this morning was done by 9 a.m. and Matt should start the last one between 5 and 6 p.m. so we can be out of here around 9 p.m. Everything is suppose to be ready for us to go as soon as the PICC line is pulled.
We will see how next week goes once we are home. I'm planning to go to work on the days that Matt is well to save up my time off for when he make a turn for the worse. Beka is still home the next couple of weeks so I'm hoping she will be able to help out some while he is at home. He will go to the doctors twice a week for all of January.
Everyone have a wonderful and safe New Years celebrating tonight. May 2011 be full of more blessings than you can count for you and yours!
So far everything has been really good. Just a few uncomfortable things now and then, but so much better than induction. Bag five of the chemo this morning was done by 9 a.m. and Matt should start the last one between 5 and 6 p.m. so we can be out of here around 9 p.m. Everything is suppose to be ready for us to go as soon as the PICC line is pulled.
We will see how next week goes once we are home. I'm planning to go to work on the days that Matt is well to save up my time off for when he make a turn for the worse. Beka is still home the next couple of weeks so I'm hoping she will be able to help out some while he is at home. He will go to the doctors twice a week for all of January.
Everyone have a wonderful and safe New Years celebrating tonight. May 2011 be full of more blessings than you can count for you and yours!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Thursday - Day 4 of 5
So Matt finished his fourth chemo last night and is beginning to get that blah not feeling so good feeling today. This is normal and about the right time he starts feeling not so good. He just took something this morning for the headaches he has been getting so he should be sleeping the morning away again today.
I didn't go home yesterday to shower, yuk I know. So I'm headed home this morning to shower, wash some clothes and try to clean up some of the mess that I'm sure is at home with the rest of the teenagers home for Christmas. It is amazing how they can't take a simple cup and put in the dishwasher or how many socks get pulled off and left on the floor where they fall.
The goal of the doctor is for Matt to be finished by 9 p.m. on Friday so they can pull the pic line and he can go home a.s.a.p. We will then be going to the dr. office on Monday and Thursday (or Tuesday and Friday) for blood counts. Matt will need a blood transfusion by the end of the week and I learned that we will have to come to the hospital as an out patient for that to happen. I guess we will learn more each day as we come home just how all of this works. But pray that it will be a smooth transition for us to recuperate at home.
Off to shower! Have a great day and thank you as always for keeping us in your prayers!!!
I didn't go home yesterday to shower, yuk I know. So I'm headed home this morning to shower, wash some clothes and try to clean up some of the mess that I'm sure is at home with the rest of the teenagers home for Christmas. It is amazing how they can't take a simple cup and put in the dishwasher or how many socks get pulled off and left on the floor where they fall.
The goal of the doctor is for Matt to be finished by 9 p.m. on Friday so they can pull the pic line and he can go home a.s.a.p. We will then be going to the dr. office on Monday and Thursday (or Tuesday and Friday) for blood counts. Matt will need a blood transfusion by the end of the week and I learned that we will have to come to the hospital as an out patient for that to happen. I guess we will learn more each day as we come home just how all of this works. But pray that it will be a smooth transition for us to recuperate at home.
Off to shower! Have a great day and thank you as always for keeping us in your prayers!!!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday Night - Day 3 of 5
So Matt has just finished his fourth chemo bag. All is going so well right now. Still hates the taste of burning tires...but doesn't complain as much. No fevers or any other major pains right now, so all is good. YEA! I'm getting a little worried now about how things will be next week when we are home. That is when the fevers and bad stuff should begin, but praying strongly that everything will continue to be smooth.
We enjoyed pizza delivered to the room tonight. Matt ate almost half the pizza. It was good.
Tomorrow is another off day and by Friday they should have moved up the chemo start times so that his last chemo should end around 9 p.m. so we can get home before the new year begins. Matt did comment today that the 3rd floor waiting room would be a good spot to watch the fireworks. Sitting so high up we could get a really good view of everything looking south.....hummmmm....maybe we might stay just a little....not.
Enjoy your Thursday and thank you for your continued prayers and support.
We enjoyed pizza delivered to the room tonight. Matt ate almost half the pizza. It was good.
Tomorrow is another off day and by Friday they should have moved up the chemo start times so that his last chemo should end around 9 p.m. so we can get home before the new year begins. Matt did comment today that the 3rd floor waiting room would be a good spot to watch the fireworks. Sitting so high up we could get a really good view of everything looking south.....hummmmm....maybe we might stay just a little....not.
Enjoy your Thursday and thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Wednesday - Day 3 of 5
So Matt started his second day of chemo around 10 a.m. so he should be finished around 1 p.m. Someone asked the other day which drug he is on. It is Ara-C also called Cytarabine. I guess there are really so many different kinds of chemo that each is unique to the type of cancer, so this is one commonly used for AML. Basically he is getting a mega dose of Ara-C twice each of the three days. This time around he is getting drops to protect the corneas of his eyes. Matt hates eye drops almost a much as he hates the taste saline leaves of burning tires.
Matt ate Whataburger around 8 p.m. last night and ate the whole thing. So his appetite is still good. He does feel nauseous, but mainly when they do the saline flush of his tubes.
Hopefully all continue to goes well while we are here this week. The nurses have been so good and it makes such a difference this time with Matt feeling better compared to the first time we were here in November.
Thanks to Keith for bringing in a box of Round Rock Donuts for breakfast this morning. Matt really enjoyed the chocolate ones and has made it known that I'm not allowed to touch any more, since he will be finishing the box later.
Please continue to keep us in prayer.
Matt ate Whataburger around 8 p.m. last night and ate the whole thing. So his appetite is still good. He does feel nauseous, but mainly when they do the saline flush of his tubes.
Hopefully all continue to goes well while we are here this week. The nurses have been so good and it makes such a difference this time with Matt feeling better compared to the first time we were here in November.
Thanks to Keith for bringing in a box of Round Rock Donuts for breakfast this morning. Matt really enjoyed the chocolate ones and has made it known that I'm not allowed to touch any more, since he will be finishing the box later.
Please continue to keep us in prayer.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday - Day 2 of 5
Matt did pretty good last night. He finished his second bag of Chemo around 2 a.m. He is smelling and tasting everything to the extreme. He did have a problem with one of the medications for nausea that we will now add to the allergic reaction list, but all in all he is doing good.
He is sleeping right now, which is his normal, sleep during the day thing anyway.
Today will be a pretty boring day, hopefully. Just sitting around waiting. He will begin chemo again on Wednesday morning.
Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers and enjoy your day. Love to you all.
He is sleeping right now, which is his normal, sleep during the day thing anyway.
Today will be a pretty boring day, hopefully. Just sitting around waiting. He will begin chemo again on Wednesday morning.
Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers and enjoy your day. Love to you all.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday - Night 1 of 5
So Matt finished his first chemo bag around 4 p.m. today. He will start his second bag around 11 p.m. tonight. Tomorrow will be an "off" day for chemo.
Matt was a little nauseated after the chemo finished, but we think it is the saline flush that is giving him the bad "burning tire" taste in his mouth. One of the nurses showed him a tip tonight to smell the rubbing alcohol pads when she is doing the flush and it seemed to help he thought.
Terry brought Matt up some Dairy Queen chicken strips and an Oreo blizzard for dinner. He ate some of it before getting a little sick at his stomach.
Once the chemo bags are finished Matt isn't hooked up to the IV machine right now. So that is nice that he is able to get up an move around more than he did the first time we were here.
Pray that we have a good night sleep without the continued nausea and that the second bag of chemo goes well tonight.
Thanks to all who are keeping up the prayers! Love to you all.
Matt was a little nauseated after the chemo finished, but we think it is the saline flush that is giving him the bad "burning tire" taste in his mouth. One of the nurses showed him a tip tonight to smell the rubbing alcohol pads when she is doing the flush and it seemed to help he thought.
Terry brought Matt up some Dairy Queen chicken strips and an Oreo blizzard for dinner. He ate some of it before getting a little sick at his stomach.
Once the chemo bags are finished Matt isn't hooked up to the IV machine right now. So that is nice that he is able to get up an move around more than he did the first time we were here.
Pray that we have a good night sleep without the continued nausea and that the second bag of chemo goes well tonight.
Thanks to all who are keeping up the prayers! Love to you all.
Monday - Day 1 of 5
So we arrived on time for Matt's 7 a.m. check-in time this morning. And the nurses were so excited when we got to the third floor, so proud that they saved Matt his "old" room. So he is back in 332.
The plan was to be completely pre-registered so Matt could get started asap with chemo, which involved placing in a pic line. Well there was a mix up somewhere along the way and they didn't have him on the list downstairs to insert the line...which takes about an hour to do. So after waiting, waiting, and a little more waiting (and several phone calls to downstairs and the doctor's office) Matt finally got the pic line inserted and back upstairs to his room around noon.
Matt has had the pre-mes dripping since about 12:15 p.m. and his nurse is now starting his first bag of chemo. This time around Matt will also have eye drops four times a day to help protect his eyes from the chemo (which anyone who knows him knows he hates anything touching his eyes).
During this stay Matt will have a chemo drip for about 3 hrs. two times a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Ideally, the bags will drip beginning at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., but they may try to shift several hours during the week so that we can get caught up from starting late today and to hopefully get us home before the New Year on Friday.
One of the first pre-drugs he was given was a steroid which made him very quickly sick at his stomach. So hopefully that won't be the norm this time around.
Thanks in advance to all those who have Matt on prayer list at their church. It made all the difference the first time around as I know it will this time. So please continue your prayers.
I'll try to update a couple of times a day while we are here this week. Enjoy your time with your families and love to you all.
The plan was to be completely pre-registered so Matt could get started asap with chemo, which involved placing in a pic line. Well there was a mix up somewhere along the way and they didn't have him on the list downstairs to insert the line...which takes about an hour to do. So after waiting, waiting, and a little more waiting (and several phone calls to downstairs and the doctor's office) Matt finally got the pic line inserted and back upstairs to his room around noon.
Matt has had the pre-mes dripping since about 12:15 p.m. and his nurse is now starting his first bag of chemo. This time around Matt will also have eye drops four times a day to help protect his eyes from the chemo (which anyone who knows him knows he hates anything touching his eyes).
During this stay Matt will have a chemo drip for about 3 hrs. two times a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Ideally, the bags will drip beginning at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., but they may try to shift several hours during the week so that we can get caught up from starting late today and to hopefully get us home before the New Year on Friday.
One of the first pre-drugs he was given was a steroid which made him very quickly sick at his stomach. So hopefully that won't be the norm this time around.
Thanks in advance to all those who have Matt on prayer list at their church. It made all the difference the first time around as I know it will this time. So please continue your prayers.
I'll try to update a couple of times a day while we are here this week. Enjoy your time with your families and love to you all.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Prayer Time Again
Hope everyone had a wonderful, blessed Christmas with their families. I know we did. It was wonderful to have everyone here together and well! Matt seemed to enjoy being with everyone which makes it that much harder for tomorrow morning. As he said last night, I feel so good right now like nothing is wrong, so do I really have to go in again?
Matt will check in at 7 a.m. in the morning. They will have everything ready for him to get right into a room and get started kicking the rest of leukemia's butt. He will go in for a total of four more months to finish up the consolidation part of his treatment and then he will have another bone marrow biopsy to confirm the chemo has completely, 100 percent done it's job and he can get on with what he has to do in life.
The girls are both still home, so they will come up to visit him some in the hospital so I can get home and begin making the home as germ free as I possibly can before he comes home on Friday night.
So pray tonight will be one of restful sleep for all of us so we can go in refreshed and ready to battle. Love to you all!
Matt will check in at 7 a.m. in the morning. They will have everything ready for him to get right into a room and get started kicking the rest of leukemia's butt. He will go in for a total of four more months to finish up the consolidation part of his treatment and then he will have another bone marrow biopsy to confirm the chemo has completely, 100 percent done it's job and he can get on with what he has to do in life.
The girls are both still home, so they will come up to visit him some in the hospital so I can get home and begin making the home as germ free as I possibly can before he comes home on Friday night.
So pray tonight will be one of restful sleep for all of us so we can go in refreshed and ready to battle. Love to you all!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Checkup was Good!
Today's checkup went well with the doctor. Matt hasn't gained anymore weight and his joints still feel like "fire balls" but all in all he is continuing to hold steady.
Dr. will already have Matt pre-checked in on Monday morning at 7 a.m. for consolidation chemo. He is expecting that Matt will go home by 10 PM on Friday, December 31st....just in time to ring in the new year. Matt will do two rounds IVs of chemo on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then go home to recover on Friday night. Matt is expected to go in at least twice a week after he is released to monitor blood counts, etc. Matt will still need blood and platelet transfusions, but those can be done at the doctors office. Of course we will continue to monitor at home for fevers and maintain a germ free visitors zone to hopefully prevent Matt from having to re-enter the hospital. Dr. said this will be our routine for the next four months of consolidation treatments.
Praying everyone is enjoying their families. Bless each of you have continued to pray for us. Your love and support means more to our family than you will ever know. Love to you all!
Dr. will already have Matt pre-checked in on Monday morning at 7 a.m. for consolidation chemo. He is expecting that Matt will go home by 10 PM on Friday, December 31st....just in time to ring in the new year. Matt will do two rounds IVs of chemo on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then go home to recover on Friday night. Matt is expected to go in at least twice a week after he is released to monitor blood counts, etc. Matt will still need blood and platelet transfusions, but those can be done at the doctors office. Of course we will continue to monitor at home for fevers and maintain a germ free visitors zone to hopefully prevent Matt from having to re-enter the hospital. Dr. said this will be our routine for the next four months of consolidation treatments.
Praying everyone is enjoying their families. Bless each of you have continued to pray for us. Your love and support means more to our family than you will ever know. Love to you all!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Great Cowboy's Game!
So everyone survived the Cowboy's game yesterday. Glad it was a win since the car trip back home would not have been a good one with Ashley in the car. Thanks Ashley for a great Christmas gift!
It's been a while since we have all been together for a road trip. Matt did get tired and had to go sit down during the game, but in the party deck area (or what ever they call it at the stadium) there were some nice couch things to sit on. We ended parking about a half a mile away so the walk was a little much. He described his pain as fireballs behind his knee caps. He says every bone in his body hurts.
Matt has his actual checkup tomorrow with the doctor (not the P.A.) so we are praying that all counts are remaining great. We will learn more about his next chemo treatment starting on Monday. Glad the girls are home so they will be able to visit him while he is there for the week.
Hope you all have a great day (get your shopping finished)! Love to you all.
It's been a while since we have all been together for a road trip. Matt did get tired and had to go sit down during the game, but in the party deck area (or what ever they call it at the stadium) there were some nice couch things to sit on. We ended parking about a half a mile away so the walk was a little much. He described his pain as fireballs behind his knee caps. He says every bone in his body hurts.
Matt has his actual checkup tomorrow with the doctor (not the P.A.) so we are praying that all counts are remaining great. We will learn more about his next chemo treatment starting on Monday. Glad the girls are home so they will be able to visit him while he is there for the week.
Hope you all have a great day (get your shopping finished)! Love to you all.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Slowly - Family is Coming Together
Slowly but surely the girls are getting in for the holidays. Ashley made it from Seattle last night. Roads were all closed in NM, but Bekah got a ride from a friend of a friend to airport last night and was able to get a flight out first thing this morning. We should see here in Austin by 2 PM today. YEA!!!
Matt seemed glad to see Ashley. We headed out to Fuddruckers for dinner and Terry and I were rolling listening to Ashley, Nolan and Matt in the back seat. Just going crazy with stories, seeing who could get their points across by talking louder than the others....just like when they were all little. I couldn't understand any of it since they were all talking on top of one another.....can't wait to add Bekah to the mix.
Hopefully Matt has the energy to keep up. We leave in the morning around 6 a.m. for the Cowboys game, Ashley gift to all of us. Praying for close and affordable parking lot. He seem excited about going.
Matt has spent the past several days hanging out with Kyle. They have been staying out late, which I'm glad Matt is out and socializing again. Matt seems to be in such a great mood, eating better and enjoy life before we head back for Chemo on Monday the 27th.
May you all enjoy your family this weekend! Life is so good right now....but continue to keep us in your prayers.
Matt seemed glad to see Ashley. We headed out to Fuddruckers for dinner and Terry and I were rolling listening to Ashley, Nolan and Matt in the back seat. Just going crazy with stories, seeing who could get their points across by talking louder than the others....just like when they were all little. I couldn't understand any of it since they were all talking on top of one another.....can't wait to add Bekah to the mix.
Hopefully Matt has the energy to keep up. We leave in the morning around 6 a.m. for the Cowboys game, Ashley gift to all of us. Praying for close and affordable parking lot. He seem excited about going.
Matt has spent the past several days hanging out with Kyle. They have been staying out late, which I'm glad Matt is out and socializing again. Matt seems to be in such a great mood, eating better and enjoy life before we head back for Chemo on Monday the 27th.
May you all enjoy your family this weekend! Life is so good right now....but continue to keep us in your prayers.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Great Blood Results!
Praise God!! Everything is fantastic on all Matt's counts. He also has gained 2 lbs. since last Tuesday. Dr. Kocs made fun and told him he needed to drink Muscle before next week. Looks like everything should remain good for our 7 a.m. check in to hospital on December 27th. I'm so thankful both girls will be here so they will be able to spend some time with Matt while at the hospital.
Counts are so good they said Matt can go to the Cowboy game, no problem, since he is basically normal counts on everything. YEA!
So we continue to pray that his appetite continues to remain good and his counts stay normal.
Thanks again to everyone for your continued support in more ways than I can list. We love you!
Counts are so good they said Matt can go to the Cowboy game, no problem, since he is basically normal counts on everything. YEA!
So we continue to pray that his appetite continues to remain good and his counts stay normal.
Thanks again to everyone for your continued support in more ways than I can list. We love you!
Checkup This Afternoon
Tuesday's are Matt's checkup days. Will continue to have blood and lab works done each week we come. Here's to hoping to another set of good results. I'm sure we will learn more today about his next chemo treatments that start on December 27th. Matt seems to be eating more, so hopefully his weight will have gone up.
Ashley and Bekah come in this Friday and Saturday for the holidays (and their birthdays). Ashley has bought family tickets to see the Cowboys play this Sunday. I've got to double check today with the doctor that it is okay for Matt to go (keeping my fingers crossed the doctor says yes, since Matt is actually wanting to go).
It's not too late to give blood in Matt's name. He will still be needing blood and platelet transfusions as he continues with consolidation chemo. You'll have to check my earlier post about how to do so, but I've figured out the trick if you want to donate both blood and platelets. You should donate platelets first and then you just have to wait a few days to donate blood. If you donate blood first you have to wait quarterly to give either blood or platelets again. I'm eligible to donate again the first part of January and since I'm now a member of the Central Texas Blood Center, I can schedule my donations online. Can't get much easier than that.
Pray for great results today (and yes to the Cowboy game). Thank you to everyone who is sending in their blood donation coupons. Each coupon credits' Matt's blood cost $10....and it seems the blood center here in Round Rock gives you stacks of coupons when you come...even if you were not eligible to give.
Love to you all!
Ashley and Bekah come in this Friday and Saturday for the holidays (and their birthdays). Ashley has bought family tickets to see the Cowboys play this Sunday. I've got to double check today with the doctor that it is okay for Matt to go (keeping my fingers crossed the doctor says yes, since Matt is actually wanting to go).
It's not too late to give blood in Matt's name. He will still be needing blood and platelet transfusions as he continues with consolidation chemo. You'll have to check my earlier post about how to do so, but I've figured out the trick if you want to donate both blood and platelets. You should donate platelets first and then you just have to wait a few days to donate blood. If you donate blood first you have to wait quarterly to give either blood or platelets again. I'm eligible to donate again the first part of January and since I'm now a member of the Central Texas Blood Center, I can schedule my donations online. Can't get much easier than that.
Pray for great results today (and yes to the Cowboy game). Thank you to everyone who is sending in their blood donation coupons. Each coupon credits' Matt's blood cost $10....and it seems the blood center here in Round Rock gives you stacks of coupons when you come...even if you were not eligible to give.
Love to you all!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Saturday Night - Shower...Check
So tonight Matt and I went over to babysit my nieces......and Matt took a shower before we went over there. We then order a pizza and he ate half of it. So sounds like maybe we need to babysit more often if he can shower and eat for that.
When we got to the house, the girls looked at him a little worried with his cap on. So then he took it off and then Kiana was all worried about what happen to his hair. He tried to tell her he lost it, but I don't think she could figure that out all. I think she was a little scared, cause it didn't look like Matt with no hair. She finally got over her shyness and we had a great time. But she did have to tell me that she only likes girls and that Matt was a boy.)
Have a great rest of your weekend and continue to keep Matt in your prayers. He still has some weight to gain before he goes back for chemo on December 27th.
When we got to the house, the girls looked at him a little worried with his cap on. So then he took it off and then Kiana was all worried about what happen to his hair. He tried to tell her he lost it, but I don't think she could figure that out all. I think she was a little scared, cause it didn't look like Matt with no hair. She finally got over her shyness and we had a great time. But she did have to tell me that she only likes girls and that Matt was a boy.)
Have a great rest of your weekend and continue to keep Matt in your prayers. He still has some weight to gain before he goes back for chemo on December 27th.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thursday - He's Eating Again
So Matt seems to be eating more now. I guess after not eating for so long it takes a while for the stomach to stretch back out as well. We went to the store after his doctor appointment on Tuesday and he got all sorts of stuff to eat. I was surprised that he actually went into the store with me. (He has lost so much weight his jeans are too big, so he had drawstring pj pants on and a big sweat shirt jacket and of course his cap on top of his bald head.) By the time we finished he started to get really hot, so hot he took his cap off, in public!! I thought that was great since he has been so worried about what he looks like.
I've been coming home each day at lunch to check on him and he is always asleep on the couch, but wakes up for a little bit while I'm home. He promises me that he is eating though and when I get home there is always a sink full of dirty dishes, so he must be.
It is suppose to get warmer through Saturday here in Austin, but then a blast of cold on Sunday. Wonderful Texas weather, hot one day, freezing the next.
Looking forward to my girls coming home next weekend for the holidays. I know they are excited to see their brother.
Have a great weekend! Continue your prayers they are felt!
I've been coming home each day at lunch to check on him and he is always asleep on the couch, but wakes up for a little bit while I'm home. He promises me that he is eating though and when I get home there is always a sink full of dirty dishes, so he must be.
It is suppose to get warmer through Saturday here in Austin, but then a blast of cold on Sunday. Wonderful Texas weather, hot one day, freezing the next.
Looking forward to my girls coming home next weekend for the holidays. I know they are excited to see their brother.
Have a great weekend! Continue your prayers they are felt!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Dr. Visit Update
Yea! Everything is still at normal levels. Just a little anemic and slightly jaundice, but really good counts on everything. I was right at my prediction of weight loss. Matt was 164 lbs. when he entered the hospital and he was 144 today. Matt now realizes how important it is to start eating big time while he is at home, since he will loose weight every time he has chemo.
Since his counts are so good, they told us we could start the next treatment on this coming Monday, but since Matt wants to feel good for Christmas and be able to be around family members, we are going to wait and go in the Monday after Christmas, the 27th.
They did stress the importance to watch the germs still. Need to continue to monitor visitors for colds and sickness. So hopefully everyone will remain well over the next couple of weeks.
So thankful for a wonderful God! Continue to keep Matt in your prayers.
Since his counts are so good, they told us we could start the next treatment on this coming Monday, but since Matt wants to feel good for Christmas and be able to be around family members, we are going to wait and go in the Monday after Christmas, the 27th.
They did stress the importance to watch the germs still. Need to continue to monitor visitors for colds and sickness. So hopefully everyone will remain well over the next couple of weeks.
So thankful for a wonderful God! Continue to keep Matt in your prayers.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday Night
So I survived first day back at work and I even remembered how to do stuff! I was so touched by all the great good wishes and phone calls from everyone. I forgot just how special my co-workers are and just how many have been effect by cancer themselves or by a close loved one. So comforting to know I have so many I can talk thing through with if I need to. Love you guys!
I guess I'll have to mark it a loss for Matt and taking a shower or eating today...though as he would say, technically the day doesn't end until midnight. Even MaMaw couldn't convince him and that's pretty hard to do. I guess I'll need some help in getting Matt over to the car wash tonight to hose him down at the rate we are going. He did promise that since tomorrow is his doctors appointment that he will shower before he goes. Now if I can figure out something good for him to eat.
Pray for a shower and good food. Pray that good news will continue tomorrow at his dr. appt.
Love to you all
I guess I'll have to mark it a loss for Matt and taking a shower or eating today...though as he would say, technically the day doesn't end until midnight. Even MaMaw couldn't convince him and that's pretty hard to do. I guess I'll need some help in getting Matt over to the car wash tonight to hose him down at the rate we are going. He did promise that since tomorrow is his doctors appointment that he will shower before he goes. Now if I can figure out something good for him to eat.
Pray for a shower and good food. Pray that good news will continue tomorrow at his dr. appt.
Love to you all
Monday Morning Updates
MaMaw will be coming up to watch Matt today while I'm at work. Hopefully she will be able to motivate him to get off the couch for a while to take a shower and to eat more. He still can't find anything that taste normal, so I keep saying if nothing taste normal the just eat something. He has lost so much weight that at this point I really don't care what he eats, just eat. He has his first check up tomorrow afternoon. Praying that all levels are still normal. Hopefully they will know more of when they want to set his next chemo treatment, and we are hoping that it is the week before Christmas instead of the week of. But we will see.
Here's to everyone having a great day!
Here's to everyone having a great day!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Finally Eatting Mandola's Pizza
My sleep patterns are still as messed up as Matt's, hence I'm writing at almost 4 a.m. - which is about the time they always came to take blood while we were in the hospital.
Anyway, he is finally warming up his two day old Mandola's pizza and actually eating it, without complaining that it tastes funny. YEA! He has probably lost close to 20 pounds, so he needs to be eating a lot more than just pizza to try and gain some back. Right now he is just eating small amounts maybe once a day. So continue to pray for an appetite.
Enjoyed meeting some of the many ladies praying for Matt from CBC yesterday. Thank you so much for your prayers and please keep them up!
Anyway, he is finally warming up his two day old Mandola's pizza and actually eating it, without complaining that it tastes funny. YEA! He has probably lost close to 20 pounds, so he needs to be eating a lot more than just pizza to try and gain some back. Right now he is just eating small amounts maybe once a day. So continue to pray for an appetite.
Enjoyed meeting some of the many ladies praying for Matt from CBC yesterday. Thank you so much for your prayers and please keep them up!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Ready for the Weekend
Matt has pretty much slept away the past few days home. Pray that his appetite will increase. Pray that things will taste more normal. It seems that nothing tastes as it should. I made a trip over to get his ravioli and pizza today at Mandola's and it is now sitting in the refrigerator. I guess it didn't smell as good as he thought when I brought in the door since he never got up to eat at all.
I will be heading back to the office next week. My thoughts were I should get on back while he is at home, since I'm not sure how the next rounds of chemo will effect Matt. With him in the hospital for five days each month, I want to make sure I have enough days to be with him if he needs me. Pray that after 30 days off the job I will have energy to finish the day with some sense of knowing what I'm doing still.
I feel like the Christmas season has snuck up....seeing how it doesn't seem like Thanksgiving really happened yet. I'm hoping to get the tree up this weekend to at least make us feel like the holidays are here.
I'm looking forward to my sweet girlfriends from Plano days coming and seeing me Sunday. I'm so lucky to have "old" girlfriends through thick and thin. (BTW - Kim I finished Eat, Pray, Love the day we left the hospital so I can now see the movie.)
Have a wonderful weekend, love to you all!
I will be heading back to the office next week. My thoughts were I should get on back while he is at home, since I'm not sure how the next rounds of chemo will effect Matt. With him in the hospital for five days each month, I want to make sure I have enough days to be with him if he needs me. Pray that after 30 days off the job I will have energy to finish the day with some sense of knowing what I'm doing still.
I feel like the Christmas season has snuck up....seeing how it doesn't seem like Thanksgiving really happened yet. I'm hoping to get the tree up this weekend to at least make us feel like the holidays are here.
I'm looking forward to my sweet girlfriends from Plano days coming and seeing me Sunday. I'm so lucky to have "old" girlfriends through thick and thin. (BTW - Kim I finished Eat, Pray, Love the day we left the hospital so I can now see the movie.)
Have a wonderful weekend, love to you all!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Great First Night Home
It was a great night for all to finally home.
Matt is back to his normal old sleep pattern of staying up all night and sleeping during the days, which is what he did before he was sick. He did really good last night when I checked on him. For now he is staying downstairs on the comfy couch, but I'm sure today we will venture up to his bedroom for a while.
We've got a lot of unpacking and sorting through all the stuff we received while in the hospital, so that is going to keep up busy today. (The nurses couldn't believe how much stuff we had in the room, and neither could I as I took out 4 loads of stuff out to the car.)
If Matt continues to feel as good as he is seeming to today, I plan on heading back to work on Monday. I'll still be taking off one afternoon a week for his weekly checkup and blood testings. I'm thinking our visit next Tuesday is when we schedule his next hospital stay for a week of chemo.
Hope you all have a wonderful day, I know we will now that we are home!
Love to you all.
Matt is back to his normal old sleep pattern of staying up all night and sleeping during the days, which is what he did before he was sick. He did really good last night when I checked on him. For now he is staying downstairs on the comfy couch, but I'm sure today we will venture up to his bedroom for a while.
We've got a lot of unpacking and sorting through all the stuff we received while in the hospital, so that is going to keep up busy today. (The nurses couldn't believe how much stuff we had in the room, and neither could I as I took out 4 loads of stuff out to the car.)
If Matt continues to feel as good as he is seeming to today, I plan on heading back to work on Monday. I'll still be taking off one afternoon a week for his weekly checkup and blood testings. I'm thinking our visit next Tuesday is when we schedule his next hospital stay for a week of chemo.
Hope you all have a wonderful day, I know we will now that we are home!
Love to you all.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
We're Home
Of course it took all day to get us all checked out. We finally arrived home about 4:40 today. Our dogs were so excited to see Matt, smelling him over and over again to make sure he was really home. I don't think they have strayed very far from his side since he got home. Matt is currently enjoying resting on the sofa and watching the BIG screen tv.
We are headed off to Nolan's football banquet tonight and my dad is coming to keep an eye out on Matt while we are gone. Sounds like a bunch more tv watching will be happening.
We have already set Matt's weekly appointments for December and we are looking at going back in for the next round of chemo in about 2 or 3 weeks...date still to be determined.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers since the battle isn't yet over.
Love to you all....now off to enjoy some bar-b-que.
We are headed off to Nolan's football banquet tonight and my dad is coming to keep an eye out on Matt while we are gone. Sounds like a bunch more tv watching will be happening.
We have already set Matt's weekly appointments for December and we are looking at going back in for the next round of chemo in about 2 or 3 weeks...date still to be determined.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers since the battle isn't yet over.
Love to you all....now off to enjoy some bar-b-que.
Total of 28 Days - Going Home Today
Okay, today is for real the day we are going home! YEA!
Matt's blood counts, etc. have all come back this morning and he is set to go. We are waiting for all the discharge paperwork (I guess) but looks like we could be leaving around noon today.
Doctor will want to start next treatment in 2-3 weeks. Matt will be re-admitted back to hospital for 5 days for chemo on day 1, 3, & 5 for anywhere from two to four months. We will be going weekly into the doctor's office for blood workup and transfusions when needed. So we are on the road to a total remission by Matt's 21st birthday.
Matt looks totally different this morning. He is awake, smiling and cracking a little laugh as the nurses are coming in joking with him this morning. We still want him to eat a breakfast and take a shower before we go. Matt's even talking like he wants to drive over to Mandola's to eat lunch if we get out in time.
Continue your prayers for us. We still have a ways to go. Of course I will not be updating the blog quite as often as I have been in the hospital, but do check back weekly for updates.
Again, thank you to all our family, friends and strangers for your support. Love to you all!
Matt's blood counts, etc. have all come back this morning and he is set to go. We are waiting for all the discharge paperwork (I guess) but looks like we could be leaving around noon today.
Doctor will want to start next treatment in 2-3 weeks. Matt will be re-admitted back to hospital for 5 days for chemo on day 1, 3, & 5 for anywhere from two to four months. We will be going weekly into the doctor's office for blood workup and transfusions when needed. So we are on the road to a total remission by Matt's 21st birthday.
Matt looks totally different this morning. He is awake, smiling and cracking a little laugh as the nurses are coming in joking with him this morning. We still want him to eat a breakfast and take a shower before we go. Matt's even talking like he wants to drive over to Mandola's to eat lunch if we get out in time.
Continue your prayers for us. We still have a ways to go. Of course I will not be updating the blog quite as often as I have been in the hospital, but do check back weekly for updates.
Again, thank you to all our family, friends and strangers for your support. Love to you all!
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