"Owwie" out today!!

Today is the day!! We had a great night last night and J.J. could not have been any bigger of a boy. We were admitted yesterday around 1pm and I was so nervous about how he was going to handle just hanging out in a hospital room all night. To my surprise there was a HUGE playroom (I'll get that picture on later) and child developement nurses that played with J.J. and showed him everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) about what was going to happen to him today. They gave him a little voodoo doll that he got to put IV's in, drain tubes on and even give medicine to. He knows he has an owwie in his lung that has to be removed by surgery and that he will have a cut like daddy did. I am amazed at how much he is able to comprehend about this at his age. He got his IV in last night and thinks he's being given Superman juice(saline) to make him really strong. I could go on and on about how proud I am of him.......he's really making this a lot "easier" on me.

His surgeon just came out and told us he's getting ready to start and should be done in about an hour - I'll post later on when he's out and in ICU.

Thanks again for the continuous prayers! :)


Saying bye to Jace


Chatting on the phone....


Getting ready to crash out!

MRI results

We found out today that J.J.'s MRI results were totally NORMAL!! What a huge relief it was to hear this news. I didn't think there was anything wrong, but couldn't help but wonder why he's having seizure episodes. Since we started him on another medication they have slowed down a bit, but still happen under random circumstances.

Joel was "unhooked" today and isn't feeling too bad. He says he feels like he's got the flu and his stomach hurts, but no signs of being nauseous. I can tell his energy level is significantly lower, but he sure does keep a smile on his face and a good sense of humor through this. If there is 1 person who can fight til the end, it's Joel - cancer will not win this battle :)

As for me, I'm still making it to the gym so far to release some anxious energy and am amazed at my energy level. I do spin about three times a week and try and vision myself passing and then spinning dirt in cancer's face behind me. I know that probably sounds weird, but several times in our class we race/pass people and I can't help but think I'm kicking its butt as well. I've started making the Starbuck's to-go coffees and can't believe how good and STRONG they are - not a fan of instant coffee, but these are the real thing without using a coffee maker. Maybe that's where I get my energy??!

We are going to try and have a nice relaxing weekend enjoying our time together before J.J.'s surgery next week, before everything turns upside down again.... :)

1 down, 11 to go

Joel had his first round of chemo today and still has the continuous flow going. So far he hasn't felt too sick and seems to be handling it pretty well. They say if he'll just keep something in his stomach he should be okay.....we'll see :)



Tomorrow is J.J.'s MRI so I'm getting ready to crash for the night. I had a lot of anxiety last night not knowing what today was going to hold for us and did't get much sleep, so my body is ready for some rest. We don't go in until 12:30pm and probably won't get any results until Friday.

Please pray that Joel continues to feel well and they find no abnormalities in J.J.'s head!

Tomorrow - IT'S ON!!

We got an unexpected call this morning from Joel's oncologist wanting him to come in asap to have his port put in for chemo. The port is a direct line into one of his major blood vessels that will prevent him from having to be poked every time he gets chemo or has to have blood drawn. The procedure was relatively short and he was awake the whole time (numbed up with some sedation). He is very sore from all the "pushing and guiding", but overall doing well. Chemo will be every other Wednesday lasting about 3 hours. He will then have a continuous dose that is administered for 48 hours through the port that will be portable. We then return on that Friday for that line to be pulled. Here is an image of his exact port - the one on the far left. I thought it was pretty cool.



I'll try and update tomorrow after his 1st treatment, but my days seem to be getting shorter and shorter......
Love and miss you all!

Back home and fight's on!

After a long three days in Houston we are back home and ready to start treatment. Praise God, ALL of Joel's post-op tests were absolutely normal and he will not be having another surgery at this time. WOO-HOO!!! He will undergo six months of chemo here at Wilford Hall, and only go to Houston for a couple of follow-ups here and there. This news could not have been any more exciting. We should have an appointment with the oncologist at Wilford Hall sometime next week to get things started. See, the power of prayer is AMAZING!

J.J.'s doctor has requested an MRI on him before his surgery, and that is going to be done on Thursday. He's had one before and does fine, it's just the sedation that keeps him low for a day or so. Anyways, just continue to keep us in your prayers.

On our way!

After several long weeks of anticipation, we were finally on our way to Houston! The boys did great on the trip, thanks to many of you for all the "trip care packages".
Joel had tests done all day yesterday, and today we meet with the oncologist and surgeon to find out more. I'll update as soon as we're done.

J.J.'s diagnosis

I spoke with the neurologist's nurse this morning and J.J. has absence seizures. After researching this online it makes a lot more sense - he spaces out for a few seconds and doesn't remember a thing, and then snaps out of it like nothing happened. It does occur many times a day, but luckily he doesn't fall to the ground or do something that could harm him.

I know I say this every blog, but thanks again for all the prayers and support!! We truly feel at peace and definitely ready to go in and fight with all we've got.

Love & Miss you all!