Friday, September 6, 2013
Day by Day
Friends & Family,
It's been a while since our last post, so here's an update. We are learning to live day by day and trying to find the good things to be thankful for with each day. Some days it is harder than others but we are putting one foot in front of the other.
Family-related news: At the end of August we spent a night over in Bend, OR. Noah wanted to see an MGMT concert (an alternative-rock band) so he, Keenan, Mark & I made a trip over the mountain. It was a nice little get-away. Mark & I were definitely among the oldest people in the crowd at the Les Schwab Amphitheater, but it was great to be able to share that with the boys. Noah was thrilled! Sunday morning we went to McMenamins at St. Francis School for brunch--this is the school I attended in the 4th-5th grade that has now been converted to a hotel, restaurant and theater. It was fun to show the boys around and point out my old classrooms. A bit of nostalgia. A great weekend to share together.
Becca & Keenan are expecting their baby this month--anytime! They are having a home birth so we will be able to see the baby very shortly after he or she is born. We are so excited about having a baby in the house and thrilled to be able to share in their lives as new parents.
School-related news: Mark was able to attend the "opening ceremonies" at Pratum School and also Silver Crest Elementary. Mark gave an inspiring message to the students, parents and teachers about kindness, thinking of others and striving to do your best. He was welcomed by swarms of students and teachers giving big hugs and kind words. Thanks to all of you who made him feel loved and appreciated. It was a good morning.
Medical-related news: Over the past month Mark had some new symptoms that were a bit concerning. In late August, he experienced a few days of severe nausea & vomiting, more headache pain than usual and had a few seizures. After reporting these symptoms to his medical team of doctors, they decided he should have an MRI. They also increased his steroid dose in an effort to decrease the symptoms. The increase in steroids had an almost immediate effect and his symptoms improved--no more nausea, seizures or headaches. Thank God for good medicine!
The results of the MRI are perplexing to the medical team. There is increased swelling in the brain. This is a normal process after radiation treatment. There are also areas of necrosis (dead tissue), again a normal process, and a good sign that the radiation worked to some extent. The doctors are just not sure if ALL of the increased swelling is due to the normal process of radiation treatment or related to new tumor growth. The next step now is to have a repeat MRI in about 3 weeks. This will give us a better picture of what's happening and we now have a recent MRI to compare new results with.
In the meantime, Mark is hanging in there. He is very tired and sleeps a lot. His doctor told him not to fight that--it is his body's way of telling him it needs repair and needs all the rest he can get. This is frustrating to him; he wants to be able to wake up and feel rested, but the fatigue hangs on and it wears on him. We are hoping that this is just a rough patch and he will regain some of that energy again soon. Please pray for energy and strength for Mark.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers. We feel your love for us and are grateful for the kindness of friends and family. Don't hesitate to send Mark and email of encouragement, a note in the mail or give him a call. He has a new smart phone and may answer if you call, but you can always call our home phone or my cell and if he's up to it, I'm sure he'd love to hear news about your lives and families.
It's been a while since our last post, so here's an update. We are learning to live day by day and trying to find the good things to be thankful for with each day. Some days it is harder than others but we are putting one foot in front of the other.
Family-related news: At the end of August we spent a night over in Bend, OR. Noah wanted to see an MGMT concert (an alternative-rock band) so he, Keenan, Mark & I made a trip over the mountain. It was a nice little get-away. Mark & I were definitely among the oldest people in the crowd at the Les Schwab Amphitheater, but it was great to be able to share that with the boys. Noah was thrilled! Sunday morning we went to McMenamins at St. Francis School for brunch--this is the school I attended in the 4th-5th grade that has now been converted to a hotel, restaurant and theater. It was fun to show the boys around and point out my old classrooms. A bit of nostalgia. A great weekend to share together.
 |
| Keenan, Noah, Mark & Kelley at the MGMT concert in Bend. |
Becca & Keenan are expecting their baby this month--anytime! They are having a home birth so we will be able to see the baby very shortly after he or she is born. We are so excited about having a baby in the house and thrilled to be able to share in their lives as new parents.
School-related news: Mark was able to attend the "opening ceremonies" at Pratum School and also Silver Crest Elementary. Mark gave an inspiring message to the students, parents and teachers about kindness, thinking of others and striving to do your best. He was welcomed by swarms of students and teachers giving big hugs and kind words. Thanks to all of you who made him feel loved and appreciated. It was a good morning.
Medical-related news: Over the past month Mark had some new symptoms that were a bit concerning. In late August, he experienced a few days of severe nausea & vomiting, more headache pain than usual and had a few seizures. After reporting these symptoms to his medical team of doctors, they decided he should have an MRI. They also increased his steroid dose in an effort to decrease the symptoms. The increase in steroids had an almost immediate effect and his symptoms improved--no more nausea, seizures or headaches. Thank God for good medicine!
The results of the MRI are perplexing to the medical team. There is increased swelling in the brain. This is a normal process after radiation treatment. There are also areas of necrosis (dead tissue), again a normal process, and a good sign that the radiation worked to some extent. The doctors are just not sure if ALL of the increased swelling is due to the normal process of radiation treatment or related to new tumor growth. The next step now is to have a repeat MRI in about 3 weeks. This will give us a better picture of what's happening and we now have a recent MRI to compare new results with.
In the meantime, Mark is hanging in there. He is very tired and sleeps a lot. His doctor told him not to fight that--it is his body's way of telling him it needs repair and needs all the rest he can get. This is frustrating to him; he wants to be able to wake up and feel rested, but the fatigue hangs on and it wears on him. We are hoping that this is just a rough patch and he will regain some of that energy again soon. Please pray for energy and strength for Mark.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers. We feel your love for us and are grateful for the kindness of friends and family. Don't hesitate to send Mark and email of encouragement, a note in the mail or give him a call. He has a new smart phone and may answer if you call, but you can always call our home phone or my cell and if he's up to it, I'm sure he'd love to hear news about your lives and families.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Beach Trip August 2013
Cannon Beach has always been one of our favorite places to visit. Our visit here this weekend holds special significance. I never thought we would be here--together--ever again. After all, we were divorced in mid May! I'm feeling especially grateful today for being married (again) to the love of my life. Life is good; God is great.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Quite a week
This is actually the first time I have posted anything to a Blog, so be patient with me. Honestly, it feels kind of weird to write about myself, Believe it or not, I don't like attention, and writing seems to be asking for it!
So here is an update of the last week or so. The last couple weeks I have been more tired than previously. Not surprising as fatigue is a common side effect of both radiation and chemo. Last Wednesday was a bad day. Staarted out good. I showed up for half of the district administrators meeting, and it was nice to see everyone. But then things turned south. Headaches and vomiting. Kind of scary as that's what was going on for my first trip to the ER back in June. Now that I think about it, that was also the same day as an administrator's meeting! Now things are starting to make sense. (Smiley Face!) So back to the ER we went. Got some IV fluids, pain medication and anti-nausea medication and felt better pretty quickly. Finding a balance of steroids seems to be the tricky part of this drug cocktail. The steroids make it hard to sleep at night (I seem to have no problem at all falling asleep in a comfortable chair)! But they also keep headaches under control. I think we are getting closer to that balance. Most of my headaches are dull aches behind the eyes kind of in the back ground. Those have been much better. I'm a little wobbly but other than that feeling pretty good. I get restless and need to get up and walk once in a while. Been riding my bike a little, especially enjoying rides when Kelley is right there with me!
Emotionally it's been a mix. Lately I've come face to face with some of my limitations, and that's been hard. Biking, Driving, running, reading, doing my job, for examples.
Last Saturday, Noah, Kelley, Noah's friend Jesse and I went to the Tillamook County Fair. The Andersons, Kuenzis and Zenchenkos weren't too embarrassed to sit by us!.
We had a good time at the horse races, even came out a few dollars ahead. Of course, the Pig N' Ford Races were entertaining, too. It's an annual event!
Yesterday I finished 33 days of radiation treatments. Nice to have that over with. Not exactly sure what's next, although I think I'm getting a short break from radiation and chemo, then it will be chemo only for a while. If you're looking for details, you're going to have to wait because I don't think the docs know them yet.
This weekend Kelley and I are celebrating the end of radiation with a trip to Cannon Beach.
I've been working a little bit via email from home.
Thanks for your continuing thoughts and prayers. There is tons of evidence that they are working!
So here is an update of the last week or so. The last couple weeks I have been more tired than previously. Not surprising as fatigue is a common side effect of both radiation and chemo. Last Wednesday was a bad day. Staarted out good. I showed up for half of the district administrators meeting, and it was nice to see everyone. But then things turned south. Headaches and vomiting. Kind of scary as that's what was going on for my first trip to the ER back in June. Now that I think about it, that was also the same day as an administrator's meeting! Now things are starting to make sense. (Smiley Face!) So back to the ER we went. Got some IV fluids, pain medication and anti-nausea medication and felt better pretty quickly. Finding a balance of steroids seems to be the tricky part of this drug cocktail. The steroids make it hard to sleep at night (I seem to have no problem at all falling asleep in a comfortable chair)! But they also keep headaches under control. I think we are getting closer to that balance. Most of my headaches are dull aches behind the eyes kind of in the back ground. Those have been much better. I'm a little wobbly but other than that feeling pretty good. I get restless and need to get up and walk once in a while. Been riding my bike a little, especially enjoying rides when Kelley is right there with me!
Emotionally it's been a mix. Lately I've come face to face with some of my limitations, and that's been hard. Biking, Driving, running, reading, doing my job, for examples.
Last Saturday, Noah, Kelley, Noah's friend Jesse and I went to the Tillamook County Fair. The Andersons, Kuenzis and Zenchenkos weren't too embarrassed to sit by us!.
Yesterday I finished 33 days of radiation treatments. Nice to have that over with. Not exactly sure what's next, although I think I'm getting a short break from radiation and chemo, then it will be chemo only for a while. If you're looking for details, you're going to have to wait because I don't think the docs know them yet.
This weekend Kelley and I are celebrating the end of radiation with a trip to Cannon Beach.
I've been working a little bit via email from home.
Thanks for your continuing thoughts and prayers. There is tons of evidence that they are working!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Our Story ( a link to Our Town article)
Thank you Kristine Thomas for the article written for the Silverton Our Town newspaper. Here's a link to our story:
http://ourtownlive.com/ourtown/?p=3824
Sincerely,
Mark & Kelley
http://ourtownlive.com/ourtown/?p=3824
Sincerely,
Mark & Kelley
Saturday, July 20, 2013
 |
| A beautiful celebration. |
 |
| The best hug ever! |
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Mark & Kelley's Wedding Info
July 6 / 7pm / 285 SW 3rd Street / Canby
We are getting remarried! Those who know our story, know how difficult these past few years have been. We could have never anticipated this most recent turn of events, but we are determined and committed to spend our lives together. We have always been surrounded by family and friends who love and care for us. Those of you who can offer support, encouragement and a dose of laughter are invited to attend.
Bring: 1) A dessert or appetizer to share, 2) picnic blanket or folding chair
We are getting remarried! Those who know our story, know how difficult these past few years have been. We could have never anticipated this most recent turn of events, but we are determined and committed to spend our lives together. We have always been surrounded by family and friends who love and care for us. Those of you who can offer support, encouragement and a dose of laughter are invited to attend.
Bring: 1) A dessert or appetizer to share, 2) picnic blanket or folding chair
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)