It is not a walk in the park...

The stem cell transplant was Tuesday. Ron has not been feeling well, especially today... but, he did get to witness to another patient today by praying with him. He still tries to walk on the treadmill some, and has so far kept down a couple of bites of his lunch... which is better than nothing. His counts are starting their dive.

Thank you for your continued prayer for our family.

another update

Ron just finished the last chemo a little bit ago. He is doing well so far. The transplant is scheduled for tomorrow, and then if all goes well, he might get to go home in a just two more weeks. I can hardly wait!!!
The children are okay... missing Daddy, but doing they are doing fine otherwise.
I have to tell you that I am so thankful that my good friend Gloria Jean McGinnis was with me the other day when I had a moment of not being able to swallow my food (remember that thyriod nodule), and I threw up big time in the Wendy's here in the hospital... I was so embarrassed. I don't usually do that, but I was choking... what a memory.... She just kept running for more napkins. I actually had a good laugh about it later! It is funny now, but scary then. I certainly hope that nodule shrinks really soon.
I am having fun learning my way around here. When I first came up, I kept getting lost. Now, it is very easy (well, if traffic isn't too heavy and I have good directions).
I am so grateful for the fantastic babysitters I have, and all of the other support we have received. I have received backrubs, got travelling companions, received laundry help and financial boosts, got cards and have seen visitors, heard prayers, received hugs, free lodging and... well, you name it... it means sooo much. I just want to say THANK YOU! Most of all, I want to thank God, because He is teaching me some things during this time... I have not been abandoned (although I may not always "feel" He is near, I know that I can trust Him! He is the One who has worked out our needs.)

*I just edited this post... sorry if you did not get to read what I wrote earlier, because you would have been SHOCKED! I didn't proof-read it (and, it is still poorly written, but definitely better than what I had written), and it looked like I was saying something that I was not, and I laughed out loud when I came back and read it later! It would not have been good if you had read it. If you are a close enough friend, just ask me what I wrote and I can tell you in person. OOOPS! How embarrassing! HA!

little update...

Here we are at OSU Hospital... and, I am using the laptop they loaned Ron. Ron has had several doses of chemo in the last couple of days. Everything is on schedule. God is helping us. Ron has had many opportunities to witness to medical staff, etc. We are sooo thankful for the support we have received from friends and family. We have even had some BIG surprises already with friends we haven't seen in a VERY long time popping in to say "Hi." They were sooo encouraging!

Not much of an update, I know, but at least you know that we continue to press on!

LET ME BE REAL FOR A MOMENT...

Well, the stem cell apheresis is completed. Ron is glad! It was getting old getting poked over and over, and sitting for 5 hours at a time while they did this procedure... plus, getting all those Nupogen (sp?) shots every morning does give bone pain. I was able to be with him one of the days while they did apheresis (not for people who cannot handle watching blood being pumped out and through a machine and then returned... can be a bit woozy to watch if you ten d to get light-headed). The minimum requirement is 2 million stem cells and 5 million is the highest goal. In three days, they were able to get about 3.5 million, I think. They quit after that.

That was the easy step! He starts the BIG deal on his 33rd birthday... this week. Poor Ron! We are so thankful for all of the great Christian and family helpers we have lined up! We have house watchers, fish sitters, great trustworthy babysitters, mail collectors, laundry service, house cleaners, etc. I even have a lady friend at church who gives me backrubs!!! Wow!!! God is taking good care of us!!! Please, pray for our little girls as this will be hard for them, I am afraid, with their schedules being messed up and their parents not being there all the time. Well, I will be with them part of the time, but it is still tough.

Please, pray for Ron! The stories we have heard about this procedure is not fun! He will need prayer and your friendship! He has done sooo very well through everything, I am amazed! I know it is because you are praying for him!

This month marks about a year since we started this journey... beginning with the first biopsy... oh, what a journey! I never knew the struggles that families go through, marriages battle... yes, it is a battle. New thoughts, uncertainities, disagreements, hurts, a roller-coaster of emotions... pains physically and emotionally. Spiritually, there are mountains I have had to hurdle. Sometimes, it is like I am in a fog... not sure which way is up. Or, in a bad dream, waiting to be awakened back to that day when we first found out the news... hoping to be awakened and told it was just some nasty infection and that 10 days of antibiotics would take care of it all. Told that my fears were in vain... but, nay, here we are not sure what this all means... knowing this must fit into a great plan, but not sure how... you want to know what it is really like behind the happy mask... well, now you know a little, but you cannot know in whole unless you have walked this path. I lay in bed last night thinking about if Ron didn't make it through this transplant... I imagined myself yelling at him that he could not leave me... we have three little girls to raise! Oh, God, give us more time together! But, then, God knows best... We don't have to understand.

Ron is at church with Charity. I am home with Faith and Hope. Faithy is sick with a fever and pains and aches. I sure hope I don't catch it! I want to be able to be with Ron at the hospital, and I won't be allowed if I am sick.

We had some good family time this past week. I am thankful. Whatever happens, it will be okay, because God will carry us through. Thank you for your loving comments and prayers!

Forgive me for being drab today, but, I thought I would let those who are going through simular things know, it is normal to have confusing feelings and extra struggles. I just choose not to go around sad all of the time, because we are in good HANDS!

The new look...

I know that the pictures below are a bit overwhelming, but when I have a chance to go to the library, I like to be thorough... since it is very difficult to upload pictures on my computer, I felt compelled to catch you up on some fun photos. There is more I would like to share with you, but I would have spend more time on the computer at the library.
How do you like the new look? I like it quite well... I tend to get bored after a while, so I was ready for a change. You must stroll to the end of the page to see a large picture of our family! Ron doesn't care for the picture because of the look on his face, but it is difficult to get a decent picture with everyone looking okay.
This next week, things are planned to start the stem-cell transplant process, so please pray for us very hard for the next 6 weeks!!! It is goin' to get tough... help us hang on by praying for us, would you?

While we have been on this journey...

We have been able to do many things...
Here are just a few!
A late-winter trip to a cabin

Our family trip to Cincinnati Zoo for Faith's birthday in July.

Ron, please forgive me... but, I just had to do it! HA!

I know... it is pathetically late, but here are some pictures from Youth Camp

Dark or light... here are some pictures from the Baby Hope's Dedication