A Free Day

Ryan didn't have to have any blood work done or attend any appointments today. He slept in a little and then worked on some farm stuff today. After his nap this afternoon, he endured a trip to the grocery with me and Aubrey. When we got home he made supper while I fed Aubrey. After we ate, he was pretty much done for the night. Left me to clean up all the dishes! I guess I can handle that. I think we're all going to bed early tonight.

-A

A Much Better Day

Today was by far, much better than yesterday. Ryan slept much better last night than he did the night before and felt better when he woke up this morning. We had a class to attend about chemotherapy before his treatment and then he had about 45 minutes in the treatment room at Good Sam North. Things went well. We were able to stop at school and pick up a few things before heading home.

Ryan seems to be in better spirits today than he was yesterday. He felt so bad yesterday that it was hard to smile, but he pulled through, being such a strong believer.

Thank you all for the prayers, we continue to appreciate them.

-A

A Long Day

Today has been a long day. Ryan had a doctor's appointment in Greenville this morning at 8:00, that went well and we got out of there in about 20 minutes. We then had to head to Miami Valley so he could get his lumbar puncture and his chemo. This was supposed to be an in/out procedure, maybe being there around 2 1/2 hours. It was scheduled for 9:30. We arrived and checked in and got sent to the outpatient care area, and then the confusion set in. Ryan's nurse called radiology (the department doing his chemo), but they didn't have him on the schedule. Because of a scheduling mistake, it took about 3 hours before he actually got the procedure done. Then we waited another 2 hours while he had to lay flat on his back before he could come home.

He was pretty tired when we got here and rested for a little while, but I needed help with Aubrey too, so he tried to play with her a little while.

Supper didn't go over too well with him and he's gotten sick a few times tonight. I ask that you pray for a good night's rest for everyone. Neither one of us slept very well last night, and we both could use a full night's sleep. Aubrey is doing well. Her mysterious rash has gone away, still not sure what it was or if it might return, but for now, she's well.

Ryan has another outpatient chemo tomorrow, this is just a push of an IV bag into his line so hopefully we'll be home sooner tomorrow than we were today.

Pray for strength.

-A

What a Beautiful Day

This was a great Saturday. We got to sleep in a little this morning, Aubrey actually slept longer than 6:00 for the only day this week! The poor child developed a rash again yesterday, not sure what it is this time. It doesn't seem to bother her though, she went on like nothing was wrong both yesterday and today.

Oh, and about Ryan. He is doing well. His counts are below 1000, but you wouldn't know it to see him. He put in a full day today. He went to help his brother with a tractor this morning and then we went to town for some parts. After a short nap, he helped me pick up sticks in the yard and then back down to this shop to work on the planter with his friend Curtis. I finally got him inside just a little while ago.

We look forward to another nice day tomorrow.

-A

Home Sweet Home

Ryan is home again. I brought him home last evening and after we had supper he slept for the rest of the evening. He had been sick in the hospital a couple of times, but he has felt pretty good since he has been home. He had to go to Greenville and get his blood drawn this morning. He told me he was going home to take a nap.

I told him he needs to pick up things in the yard, but he'll probably be too tired for that. He did say he took out the trash! He didn't even have to be asked to do that :)

-A

A Good Day for Sleeping

Ryan is about 5 hours away from finishing his 24 hour drip of chemo. Dr. Davis, his Wright State professor came and visited him this morning to get him started on this week's work, he couldn't get a video that he needed to watch to play on his computer, so her husband graciously came back this evening to bring another computer to watch the video on. Thanks so much to both of them for wanting to help Ryan finish his coursework.

As long as things continue to go well through the night, he will get to come home tomorrow afternoon. He will have another lumbar puncture and a shot of chemo over the next couple weeks, but those are both outpatient procedures so hopefully he'll be home for another two weeks.

Aubrey is having a much better day today than she's had recently, so I believe that she is on the mend as well.

Pray that Ryan's energy begins to come back, he's slept a lot this evening, and that when he comes home that he doesn't have any complications that will send him back to the hospital.

-A

Almost Day 4

Tonight around 9:00 will begin day 4 and the last day of Ryan's chemo for this round. He will get a 24 drip and also a push of a chemo drug (on Tuesday sometime). Doctor was in this afternoon for a lumbar puncture and to give him the results of his cat scan, the minor alarming thing is that they found nothing when they looked at the brain scan, ha ha :) The doctor said everything looked fine on that and his chest x-ray. He'll get to come home sometime on Wednesday as long as he continues to do well as he has been.

Ryan was very tired yesterday, but his hemoglobin was down and the nurses said that can make you tired. He got 2 units of blood, but was awake the whole time I was there yesterday afternoon.

We would ask that you continue to remember Ryan in your prayers, but remember Aubrey as well. She had a high fever over the weekend and has developed a rash, doctor says roseola . . . on top of that, the doctor gave her some antibiotic when the fever first spiked and we think she's also had an allergic reaction to the medicine. She has not been the happiest baby since Thursday, but she seems to be doing better today. We continue to appreciate prayers and cards.

Thank you everyone!
-A

Day One and a Half

They started Ryan's first bag of chemo drugs last night around 11, so he has now had 2 of the 6 doses of that drug that he will get. After those 6 doses are over he will get one drug that is a 24 hour drip and he will get another drug that is pushed in. He will also get lumbar punctures on days 4 and 11.

So far, everything is looking good. We watched the movie, The Bucket List, this evening - so sad! It was a good movie though, so if you haven't seen it, it is worth renting.

We ask that you continue to pray that all will go well with this round of drugs and that Ryan will be back home soon.

Until tomorrow
-A

Starting Over Again

We are back at the hospital this evening. Ryan came down this morning with his mom and was admitted and in his room around 11. We waited until about 6:30 for the doctor to come in and they started Ryan on fluids and then will start the chemo as soon as he is well-hydrated. The doctor said that could be tonight or early in the morning. This round is about 5 days so he'll probably be here until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

We begin to pray again that Ryan responds well to the 4 drugs that he will be getting this time, that he doesn't get too sick or have any other major side effects and that when he is finished he is well enough to come home and stay home for another 2 weeks.

Ryan had a couple of headaches last week after they did the lumbar puncture with chemo on Wednesday and so the doctor is ordering a cat scan to make sure all is ok. He said headaches are a side effect of the drug that he had last time.

We learn a little more about things every time we meet with the doctor, process things, and then ask more questions. The doctor is happy with how well Ryan's bone marrow regrows white blood cells between rounds.

Aubrey, who has loved having her daddy home, is getting her first tooth as I write this. She has not been the most pleasant baby the last couple of days, but she'll sure look cute when the tooth comes in!

The Numbers Look Good

Ryan went for blood work again this morning. His platelets were up to a much better number than they were on Monday. He did not have to get any blood or platelets today. When he heard back from the doctor about that decision, the doctor also said he is on track to be ready to return to the hospital for round 3 of chemotherapy on Friday. He is scheduled to be at Wayne Hospital for blood work at 7:00 AM on Friday and if the numbers are where the doctor believes they will be, he will then go on to Miami Valley to be admitted for the next round. It should again be about 5 days in the hospital and then back home, we hope!

Ryan had to get up early today because my van had a flat tire . . . he couldn't find the air hose that is supposed to be at our house, so we had to drive the van to the shop at his parents' to fill the tire with air so I could drive to work. With a little help from his Dad, we got the tire fixed while Ryan was in Greenville for blood work and I was in a meeting at work.

I thank God for a wonderful husband and loving and helpful families, without whom we would not get through this ordeal so well.

-A

Waiting on the Numbers

Ryan had a doctor's appointment this morning. Apparently he was supposed to have gotten platelets over the weekend, but no one told us. The doctor seemed to think we should have gotten a phone call on Friday, but the office never called us. So, we thought he would probably have to get some platelets after he got his bloodwork done today. We waited at the hospital for about 2 hours while they did the bloodwork and waited for the doctor to call back, but he decided not to give any platelets today. Talk about confusing!

Ryan feels pretty good and we're just waiting for his numbers to come up to somewhat normal levels before they will zap him again.

We had a great Easter yesterday, Ryan was strong enough that we could celebrate with both families, but he was worn out by the end of the day.

We continue to appreciate your prayers.

-A

The Good and The Bad

We are still enjoying Ryan being home and are so happy that we get to keep him here. We have been to the doctor or to have blood drawn every other day this week. The doctor continues to say that Ryan looks good.

At Wednesday's appointment, Ryan had to get a lumbar puncture and another shot of chemotherapy into his spinal fluid. Ryan was sick afterwards and woke up with a sore throat and headache on Thursday. His throat is feeling a little better but he continues to battle the headache. He hasn't had any fever though, which we are very thankful for. He has slept much of the last two days. Aubrey and I wish that he felt a little better, but we are glad that at least he is here in the house with us.

For those of you reading and wanting specific prayers requests, I ask that you pray for his headache and that he begins to build energy up over the next few days.

-A

Still Going Strong

Ryan is feeling better each day. Although he still gets tired quickly and is weaker than he normally is, Ryan is feeling pretty good. He has been enjoying trips to TSC and Apple's with his dad the past couple of days.

Tonight he enjoyed . . . er endured a trip to Wal-Mart with Aubrey and me for groceries.

Everything sounded good from the doctor on Monday. Ryan has another doctor's appointment tomorrow in Dayton, while there he will get a shot of chemo through a lumbar puncture. A nurse came today to change the dressing around his port and his blood pressure and temperature were good.

I praise the Lord that he is handling this round of chemo well and that we get to continue to keep him home through next week. Aubrey and I are really enjoying Daddy here at home with us.

-A

A Nice Weekend

Well, the weekend isn't quite over, but it has been a good one. Ryan has felt pretty good, a little tired and still quite weak, but he doesn't feel bad.

Yesterday he put together one of Aubrey's Christmas presents because she is deciding that she might like to try walking out. He also drove himself to Apple's (a tractor dealership not far from here) when I left him at home to go to Wal-Mart. I guess I might need a baby-sitter for him after all :)



After his driving expedition, Ryan needed a nap and took a long one yesterday afternoon.

We had a few visitors last night, Aubrey enjoyed Lucas Bohman the best!



We went to church together this morning. Ryan made it through the first half before he was tired of sitting and needed to go lay down.

After church, my dad brought him home and Aubrey and Camryn (one of our nieces) went to dye Easter eggs.





Ryan has been down at the shop all afternoon, "supervising" my dad and Russell (Ryan's brother) working on a tractor.

We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon and hopefully we'll know more about what the next two weeks will bring after that.

Thanks for all the prayers, we continue to appreciate each and every one.

Saturday is Gone!

Sorry no post last night. I put Aubrey to bed and then went to bed myself, forgetting that I should blog and tell everyone about our good day. I thought I better post a little this morning because I know many of you check this daily and didn't want anyone to think that something might be wrong.

We had a good day and I have some pictures to post, but we're heading to church in a little while, so I'll post more this afternoon!

-A

Another Room Change

BUT, I didn't have to redecorate this time, its already decorated! We're home again.

I talked to Ryan about 7:45 this morning and his methatrexate level was 3.4, it had to be down to 1 before he could come home. So, we figured tomorrow, maybe not till Sunday, but we were hoping . . . he called me at 9:30 and his level was down to .15. I said, so are you coming home? The doctor hadn't been in yet, so he didn't know for sure.

Around 10:30 he called again and the doctor had been in and said he could leave after 4 today. So, I headed down around lunchtime and got prescriptions, a little less hassle this week, but still had to look for one of the meds. We got home a little after 6. I had to learn how to give shots because Ryan has to get a shot to help his marrow begin to make white blood cells again and since the nurses won't be there to give it to him, I had to learn. I could probably still use a little practice, so if anyone wants to volunteer their arm tomorrow afternoon, let me know.

The babies (well Aubrey and Ryan) are sleeping in the living room right now and I'm unpacking our million bags.

We have a doctor's appointment Monday afternoon when we should know a little more about exactly how long he gets to stay home. As long as he doesn't get a fever, he'll be home for a while though.

Praise the Lord that he gets to rest in his own bed tonight.

-A

A Room Change

About a half hour after I arrived at the hospital today, the nurses came in to tell us that we had to move rooms. They suspect that there is some type of fungi in the bone marrow unit and they cleared it out until Tuesday so that they could take care of the problem. Ryan has been moved to the 6th floor, room 6657. He is in the bariatric unit and the nurses feel that he looks pretty good for just having had surgery.

Ryan has gotten through this round of chemo pretty well. He is fairly tired, which he was with the last round, but hasn't been sick or really seen any other side effects. He hasn't had any fever this week either.

The first drug he got this week was methatrexate (I'm really not sure of that spelling) and before he can come home, the levels of that drug in this blood has to be almost completely gone. So, they will test his levels every day and when it is low enough he will get to come home. They originally thought it might be Saturday, and it still might, but it could also be Sunday before that happens, depends on how quickly his body gets rid of it. They give him some medicine (can't remember the name right now) to help his body get rid of it, so we just have to wait until it can work.

I'm still hopeful for Saturday!

Also, I've taken a new job as an interior decorator since we've now had to decorate Ryan's hospital room 3 different times. Anybody needs any advice, just let me know :)

Praying that the medicines do the job they are intended to do and we get Ryan back home as soon as we can!

-A

April Fools Day

Well, Ryan is a pretty good prankster, but he had trouble thinking of something to do to the nurses that would get them good. He got the doctor this morning when he came in. Ryan mentioned that he thought his tie looked a little loose and the doctor reached up to fix it.

Ryan seemed a little more tired today than the past couple of days, but he was able to work on his Wright State classwork throughout the day.

He had his first lumbar puncture for this round this morning, he said all went fine. He will have another one of those next week, but it is an outpatient procedure at Miami Valley. He said it sounded like the doctor would allow him to come home Saturday as long as he doesn't get any fever between now and then.

My prayers this week are still that his doesn't have any major side effects and that this doesn't cause his body fever so that we can get him back home again for a few more days.

We continue to appreciate your prayers and cards. God is so good to bless us with wonderful families and friends.

-A