an entire year later

and so...it is over a year since i last posted here. i still post on Crosby's cb site. He did amazing his last scans and HUGE praises that they looked good. there will always be the marks of his several surgeries and prayerfully there will never be any change.

Cros has grown-up a ton! he is learning to swim and rocking it! he back-stroked 1/2 of a pool today! woo-hoo YMCA northside! he learned to ride a bike *2 wheeler* in May and goes to Kindergarten this August...yep...only 2 weeks away! yep....i will probably be crying with him! WE HOPE he has gotten out of his come into our room in the middle of the night things...a hangover from Chemo...a LONG hangover at that!

he loves and picks on his sisters all at the same time....has beautiful curly reddish brown locks and still LONG lashes hovering over his big brown marble eyes! he is sweet & caring and well....we are SO thankful he is SIX! I can't believe that it was 3 years ago in August he was diagnosed....it seems like just yesterday and yet an eternity ago....but still...so life changing - i know I will never be the same.....

and for now....in the wee hours of the morning..i sign off....november 16th are the next scans and we pray Cros will always and forever be cancer free!

Colorado

well we are in Ft. Collins, CO!  We are here for our bi-ennial conference (every other summer) and it is GOOD to be here....

the packing linens & pillows & toaster ovens, etc is a pain...but it is GREAT to be here with the people we LOVE and do the same ministry we do!  : ) 

Plus....grandma & grandpa are living with us so we DON'T have to put the kids in childcare (saves $ and also the kids get quality time with the grands!)

ANYWAY....we missed 2 summers ago as I was having Em via c-section...then 2 short months later Cros was diagnosed......then the craziness of our *new* life began.....

Being here brings some sort of "normalness" back....if that IS possible! It is SO GREAT to see his curly locks bobbing around the the pool with other "staff kids"- to see him "scootering" around Rams Village with his siblings & other kids- and him waking up FAAAAR too early out here on mountain time *sigh* and of course....him climbing up onto my lap as we are sitting out on the porch in 'camping' chairs telling me he loves me!  MELT MY HEART!  : )

ANYWAY....

his July 7th scans were clear.....as we left we have not heard the dates of the next scans (NOV) which makes me "slightly nervous" as to why they have yet to call.....BUT.....i am NOT going to worry & just wait for those NOVEMBER dates  (yes...i did call & leave a message that we will not be home for 2 weeks....with cell nmbers) so i hope they call soon!

: )

other than that....we are enjoying the time as a family & gearing up for talks & meetings & seminars....but LOVING be here!

THANKS for praying for our little guy!  

We are blessed.......

moving on up....

so Crosby has moved on  up from the 4 yr old class to the 5 year old class at his Tuesday morning preschool : )  yeah! he was happy!  I am almost positive that we are going to wait a year before sending him on to Kindergarten.  He did OK on his K evaluation....but struggled with all his letters & numbers past 10....plus learning Spanish, etc and being a BOY!  More time for mama to love on Cros & him to bond with Emers and well...i think we are going to just have fun & work on some stuff at home plus Bible study & Tuesday Preschool!  : )

We are awaiting his results from a skin biopsy last week at the Dermatologist.  She was almost positive it was Molluscum....but she wanted to be 100% sure & I am okay with that....although any biopsy makes me slightly nervous.  He did have to get 4 shots on his 5 yr old checkup. NOT FUN....he never got them at 4 because of his suppressed immune system due to Chemotherapy!  But....CROS is a trooper and did great! Daddy & Grandpa took him & then hit Burger King after & all was well : )

That is the update for now. Next scans are July 7th.....PRAYING that his scans are ALWAYS clear & he will continue to be CANCER FREE!  

Praying that my mind would not be filled with lies & that we would live life abundantly!

Praying for Cros...........

next scans

OK....seriously- seeing everyone's blog out there this is pathetic...however I thank God for Caringbridge.org......w/o it no one would know anything.  Here is the link...they are revamping everything this weekend so I will most certainly figure it out one of these days (LOL)

www.caringbridge.org/visit/crosbynathaniel

Anyway....next scan date for Crosby- JULY 7th at 8am.  the usual- MRI of head & neck, chest x-ray and blood workup with a dr. check up as well : )

Continuing to PRAY that all will be clear!!!  we are on a 4 month scan cycle now (for the next 2 yrs!)

thanks....

report is in...

Of course the clinic never seems to call us...which I guess...."no news is good news...." but I find myself getting all up in knots waiting....ahh....waiting.  so by 2pm i had Bret call up the Clinic. It seems every dr. has a different way of saying the words you want to hear......I WANT TO HEAR- ALL CLEAR!

however....we have heard

"no evidence of visible tumor"

" stable"

" no new tumor growth"

I want them to put a note in the file...just tell this family "clear or not clear"

so...from what we understand we go to a 4 month scan schedule now.  : ) so it looks like July!

Cros & Brendley go for Kidney ultrasounds tomorrow.  To check that they don't have the reflux like Emery has.....did I mention how much I HATE scans.  Scanxiety even with  "routine" scan.  Just this week I have run into 3 kids with kidney tumors (on top of the ones that I already know) *sigh*....continues to force me to walk by faith.

However, I may just pass on this one & let Bret & his mom take the older kiddos since UK is on spring break this week  & bret is home : )  only so much I can handle in a week emotionally i thinnk : )

BUT so thankful. Oh so thankful!!!!!

btw....Emery can indeed hear (audiologist said so) so now we have to keep REPEATING words & helping / make HER SAY THEM!!!!!  Dana said something like her mouth needs to wake up or she has trouble getting her mouth to make the sounds she wants to say....so please pray that she will put it together!  Also...Dana thinks she is STRONG WILLED!!!! ( i knew i would get one kiddo like this!)  so when we want her to say something....if she doesn't...she won't!  *sigh*....but she was so sweet & complient during Crosby's chemo....we will suck it up....she indeed took one for the team for sure!  But i guess we are paying for it now (LOL)

well...time for bed......as I seem to run on sheer adrenaline these days...and caffeine...and girl scout cookies!

Mer

It's scan time again

I simply have not had time to conquer the blogging world...I know...it should not be that hard....but with caringbridge.org so convenient....well.....we stick with what we know!

something that we are coming familiar with is the routine of our 3 month scans.

Yep...it is that time again.....and on St. Patrick's Day!  (tuesday march 17th) at 8am.  The usual....mri of head & neck.....chest x-ray....and blood workup.

I try not to fret during this time....but when Cros says he is tired or gets a cough...i attempt to not panick....but heck...when any of my kids get a fever, or cough or even me, with a cold or fluid behind the ears...I think the worst.... a scar of childhood cancer.....

SO.....Tuesday begins our crazy week.

Tuesday is the scans...& oncologist visit.  PRAYING they come back CRYSTAL CLEAR and then (i think) we move to 4 month spacing : )

Tuesday night i am meeting my old track teammate in Frankfort for dinner : ) have not seen Caroline for 15yrs....she will be Dr. Caroline & teaching at UL (boo) in the fall...but hoping to reconnect more frequently since we will be living in the same STATE!!!!  we also have our meeting with service providers in the afternoon as well...just a jammed packed day! I am hoping to get Cros to preschool that day as well- CRAZY!

Wednesday Emery gets her hearing tested in the morning & Brendley goes to the orthodontist in the afternoon...and oh yes.....Emery's speech therapy is the afteroon as well

Thursday Cros & I get our dentist appt. in before picking Brendley up from school & heading to the urologist for their "sibling scans" of their kidneys!  PRAYING there is nothing to note....they get scanned b/c of Emery's reflux issues. sigh.

I think that is all for thursday.....Friday we rest and prayerfully hear gREAT results from scans.

Throw in a meeting or two....and so thankful my mother in law is flying in from Oklahoma to help / extra pair of hands....b/c quite frankly I am worn out already!

Thankful that UK is on spring break this week....so Bret will be around! whew!

That is all...pray for ALL of our health & protection & PEACE!

praying for Crosby......

danceBlue & next scans

We are still plugging along....from scan to scan. I seem to post on Crosby's caringbridge site (www.caringbridge.org/visit/crosbynathaniel) often since I can't seem to get "into" this blogging. oh well.....maybe someday when life slows down....sigh.
2 things.
1. danceBlue is march 6-7 www.danceblue.org we have the priviledge to talk about Crosby & our story on Saturday morning- so PRAY for us!!!! it will be emotional for sure! If you want to donate you can do so from the above website : )
2. Crosby's next scans are St. Patricks Day! PRAYing they are Crystal Clear! He of course is up coughing right now : ( which ALWAYS makes me slightly nervous!
Thank you for praying!!!!!