If it's not one thing...

Something is wrong with my computer.  We are trying to get it fixed.  It is frustrating to say the least. 

On the medical front, my brain lesions appear to be growing, so they have taken me off my oral medication, and replaced it with a regimen of IV infusions.  I am hoping that this is effective. I return to Houston at the end of April to see if how things look.

At this point, it seems the only way I can communicate over the internet is via facebook.  Maybe here, time will tell.  My email doesn't work, and it's a huge inconvenience given all the correspondence that goes through that venue.  I would appreciate your continued prayers for my health and for the health of my family.  You continue to be such a blessing to us. 

Take care! 

Leslie

Long Time A'Comin'

Well, hello! Did you think I had fallen off the face of the earth? I have discovered it is much easier for me to write creatively when I am in TX, without a household and family to look after! We have been so busy that I have neglected to share my updates with you. My last visit to MDAnderson was in November,just before Thanksgiving. My scans showed no new growth of the treated tumors, which is wonderful. Furthermore, no cancer cells were found in my spinal fluid, which was also fantastic news! My physicians decreased my intrathecal injections to once a week, instead of twice weekly. I still take oral chemotherapy (2 tablets per day), and have an IV treatment once every three weeks, all of which I can do within 15 minutes from home. Jeff started a new job that keeps him busier than any of us really like, but he loves what he does, and he is so good at it. The boys are busy with school. Owen is enjoying the 6th grade, while Levi and Isaac are busy learning in the third and second grade. Owen and Levi are having a great time playing rec league basketball, while Isaac and I are enjoying cheering them on without spilling any popcorn! Jeff coaches the 6th graders with his good friend John, and then assists John in coaching the third grade boys. Between two practices and two games per week, plus school, work, and chemotherapy treatments, I haven't found the time or energy to blog. So there you have it. I haven't given up on writing. I just haven't sat down to do it. I hope you are doing well. Thank you for all your continued prayers. They are felt, and their answers are noticed by my doctors, my nurses, and my fellow patients. You are a blessing to my whole family, as well. Take care, and I'll update again soon. Blessings, Leslie

Update

Wow! What a busy and fast summer break we've had. I haven't taken time to write for a long while. To bring you up to speed, I have been taking three different types of chemotherapy. One by IV, one in the form of tablets, and one through the new fangled port in my skull. This began in April, and will continue until it is no longer effective. My doctors and I have finally gotten everything (dosages) synchronized, and for the most part I'm feeling great.

Jeff and I are heading back to Houston this weekend for more rescans next week. Mom and Dad, and Matt and Anita, are keeping the boys for us. School has started, so they're staying here instead of vacationing with us in Houston.


If you have a second, and want to pray for us, here are our needs:

*safe travels
*blessings for those who are watching our boys
*Jeff's work...he'll be taking lots of it to TX
*my tests and scans. I know that one day next week, I'll be in the MRI scanner for a continuous two hours. Pray that my nose doesn't itch and that I don't sneeze during the scan. I will have another MRI that should last about 45 minutes. (my nose always itches during this one...the MRI of the brain. You are to be motionless during the scan, and I always seem to need to sneeze)
*Peace as we get our test and scan results. We are accustomed to good results as well as bad, but your prayers would be so appreciated.

Thank you for checking in on me, or us, whatever the case may be. We know we are blessed to have so many friends who lift us in prayer.

Blessings to you all,

Leslie

1000 words...Our Summer

These folks have kept me busy this summer.  Here are a couple of our family pictures taken by our new friend, Karen, at Lasting Memories Photography in Republic.

I'll write more soon!

Love,

Leslie

Technical Difficulties

My apologies for not updating recently. Our internet has been out. Jeff just got us a new modem, and we have yet to get it hooked up. I'm posting via wi-fi from somewhere.

Praise the Lord, we finally got treatments coordinated here. It has been an unnecessarily stressful ordeal trying to get our local oncologist to give the medicine MDA wanted. There were multiple snafus, but it was finally all worked out. Jeff handled the whole thing beautifully. I told him he's my shield. I just hid behind him and let him do all the fighting for me.

Anyway, all's well that ends well! I've had three treatments here already, and the remaing 11 are scheduled. I am pleased with the medical staff and facility where we are administering the injections. The biggest side effect that I've noticed is that I'm tired for a day or two after treatment.

Thanks so much to everyone who has brought us meals, given us money to help with gas, food or bills, helped with childcare, provided tranportation, and sent us words of encouragement. We consider ourselves abundantly blessed to have such fantastic friends.

Have a wonderful week.

Blessings,

Leslie

Wednesday's Update

Just getting ready to head over to my surgeon's office and see if I can have these stitches taken out of my head.  That would be sooooo nice.  Tomorrow I have my 2nd treatment, and then, I hope, we are free to leave and head home!  We are ready to be back in Missouri, although Jeff reminds me daily, we will miss the Final Four if we head back before Friday.  Oh well, such is life.

My first treatment went very well.  It's not an IV, but rather the doctor stands over you and v...e...r...y...slowly injects medicine into my head. It was a little creepy to have someone standing over me for 5 minutes squirting something into my head.  I just shut my eyes.  Even though I was laying down, I still felt a little faint.  It's because I was thinking about it.  Maybe next time I'll take my iPod and put in my earphones so I can think about something else.

 For those inquisitive minds out there, they always draw off as much spinal fluid as the medicine they are putting in so the pressure inside my skull remains the same.  Glad someone was thinking about that! 

Better make hay while the sun shines.  Have a wonderful day.  Thanks for your continued prayers.

Blessings,
Leslie

Abrupt ending

The post below has a very generic ending, and you need to know why. The medical transport folks showed up to roll me doen to nuclear medicine, and I couldnt get my iPad to save it as a draft, so I tied it up with a very sloppy bow before sliding over to another rolling bed and scooted down the hallways of the hospital. And now, I can't get back to it to correct it.

Oh well. Now you know.

In the Still of the Night

Since my diagnosis in September of 2007, I dread nighttime. Not so much when all is well, but especially when I have a new diagnosis or a new treatment. When night falls, and everyone else is snug in their beds, you will often find me puttering around the house or watching TV. I just stay up until I am drop dead tired, jittery with fatigue, because i know I can go to sleep quickly.

When I stayed in Houston with my cousin, Jenny, some of our best visits were after 10pm. I probably drove her nuts, but she didn't complain. She'd fix me a cup of hot tea, and we'd discuss medical issues (she's a doctor), scripture, kiddos. It was one of my favorite times.

Now, though, it is habit to stay up way too late. I mean, I shut down the neighborhood. Not a creature stirring when my light goes out.

Quiet night time promotes vast amounts of activity in my brain. Worry and fear decide to have a footrace through my thoughts. Pictures of the day's events roll through my mind like index cards in a Rolodex.

So,when this began last night, in the quiet of my hospital room (Jeff went to our room to sleep) I decided to fight the rolodex and the footrace. I pulled out my handy dandy iPad, (thank you D & M, and J & J) on the songs I had downloaded, and let the Martin's, Phillips, Craig, and Dean, Laura Story, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, the Sidewalk Prophets, Chris Rice, and the Gaither Vocal Band sing my tired self to sleep. Worry and fear stopped their racing. Pictures of the day slowly stopped rolling. Scripture in song filled the room. And when I shut off the music I felt like
I wasn't alone. And I rested.

Hope you are having a great week. Looks like there's pretty weather at home.

Blessings,

Leslie

Good morning!

Well, nothing says good morning quite likke a needle in the bend of your arm! Hello! I was in the lab at 6 a.m. this morning. Bloodwork done, and off to have my brain scanned at 7. Good news! I have one (a brain). Then Jeff and I grabbed some breakfast, and we are now back at the room. Going to rest for a bit before my next appointment at noon.
In case you are just catching up, when I was here last week for my regular check up, they found even more, new cancer. This time on the surface of the brain. The most effective treatment is to deliver chemotherapy directly to the brain through what is known as an Ommaya Reservoir. Google that phrase if you'd like to know more.

So that is why Jeff and I are back down here this week...to have that placed, and for the physicians here to make sure it's working right before we head home. My local hospital can administer the infusions for me. Surgery tomorrow, then stay for about a week to make sure things are going well, then homeward bound.

Thanks for your prayers and all the ways you are helping our family. We are truly blessed.

I'll write more when I know something new. Have a fantastic week.

Love,

Leslie

My apologies for the typos. Using my iPad, and cannot go back and correct for some reason.

Blessings

Jesus Cares for Me

"Jesus cares for me. 
Seems too good to be.
All my worries and doubts released,
Jesus cares for me."

I am thoroughly enjoying our new CD of all the hymns I grew up singing. (Bart Millard of MercyMe---Hymned (1st cd) and Hymned again (2nd cd)).

Hope you are enjoying this warmer weather. Here's a short clip of Bart and Vince Gill recording this song.



Have a great week!

Blessings,
Leslie

One of my All Time Favorites

The latest Update

I've been home from TX since the evening of the 12th, and am just getting around to posting about my visit.  We've been so busy with life, that typing a paragraph on the computer seemed to get lower and lower on my list of things to do.

As of January 10, 2011, everything remains stable or continues to shrink.  I met with the neurosurgeon who does the gamma knife surgeries on the brain, and he said that I "100% do not need gamma knife surgery at this point."  But, he said, if I ever do need it, now he knows me and if my oncologist calls, he'll work me right in.  He also said that because of the results of the MRI, they can tell that my chemotherapy (11 pills/day) is "100% doing what it's supposed to".  So much easier to swallow 11 pills when you know it's working!

And...drum roll please...I have gained another 8 pounds since December.  Almost back to my starting weight.  10 lbs to go.

I had a wonderful trip down and back with my cousin Jeannie and my momma (Bootsie).  On our return trip, we stayed overnight with another cousin, Cari, and got to hug her neck and love on her sweet, sweet children.  It was a very enjoyable pit stop, and  a very entertaining trip.

So...that's that.  My oncologist also suggested that since nothing is growing, that monthly MRI's are no longer necessary, and that I can stay put until March when I'll return for a rescan.  Ever been to Houston, TX in March?  It's BEAUTIFUL!  Everything is green and flowers are blooming.  It's warm enough to sit outside and soak up the sun.  Lovely, lovely.  So, that will be a fantastic time for another visit.

This week, however, I am home, taking care of my 2nd child to come down with strep this month.  So glad to be here. Preparing for a freeze-out, where I'll air out the house, and then disinfect everything.

Thank you all for your continued prayers.  We consider ourselves abundantly blessed to have friends and family who care for us so much.

Have a great week!  Blessings to you all,

Leslie

My New Favorite Christmas Song

This is the song that was playing in my mind while I was having my MRI at the first of the month.  Love, love, love it.  Hope you enjoy it, too.

Backtracking

Here are some photos of what we've been up to these past two months:

In November, my sweet baboo, Levi, turned 8.  He is so much fun, and so inquisitive.  He is very cautious about believing anything, and isn't easily led astray.  He always wants to know the "why" to every answer, and although that's so bothersome and often untimely, I remember a little girl who was a lot like that.  She turned out pretty good, so I think he's going to be alright!  Sometimes he wears me out with all the questions, but he is a sweet boy.  He loves to play with his brothers, and his best friend, Scott.  For his birthday, he had Scott sleep over.  They "camped" in the living room, and then we went out for doughnuts the next morning.  Afterwards, we went to Firehouse Pottery and painted puppy dogs.  What fun! 

Then, later on in November, Owen killed his 2nd deer, this one bigger than last years.  It is a beautiful 8 point, and we are so proud of him.  I am enjoying this 11th year with him.  He's still a little boy, but he's got all the makings of a fine young man.  He's an impressive kid!  Both he and Levi are getting ready to start rec league basketball.  They love playing, and I'm glad since that is my most favorite sport! 

Isaac is busy enjoying all the holiday preparations.  His big interest is cutting out paper snowflakes.  He's a whiz at it, and I hope my house will be covered with his creations soon.  He is quite the creative engineer, as well.  Check out his newest train track he constructed.  He makes these all the time all by himself.  What a sharp little mind.  He is a huge problem solver, and is quite encouraging to anyone trying to figure something out for themselves.  His newest love is the game "Traffic Jam" where you have to rearrange a parking lot to get one car out.  Very challenging, and he loves it (so do his brothers).

Hope you are enjoying your holiday festivities, as well as the preparations.  I am loving it!

Blessings to you and yours!

Leslie



Good Tidings of Great Joy

Great report today. The spot of something new that showed up last month remains unchanged. This is a good sign and most likely means that it is scar tissue and not new cancer growth. Yeah! No gamma knife surgery for now. My doctor said he'll see me next month for another rescan. Yeah! And, weight gain is going well. I've put on 6 pounds in a month. 19 to go to get back to my fighting weight.

Thanks so much for all your prayers. God heard and answered. God is good. And so is life!

Blessings and Merry Christmas!

Leslie

Keeping you Current

On our way to MDAnderson. Follow-up MRI Monday at 1:30. See the doctor at 4:30. Results will determine if I need gamma knife surgery. Traveling with Jeff, and that is always fun. Seriously! He's my favorite...no offense to my other traveling companions! Hoping for great results and a quick return trip home. I'd much rather be "Christmas-ing" it up at home. So ready for baking, wrapping, and reading Christmas stories to the kids.

Our current favorite..."the Yuletide Ice Cube Fair", a Veggie Tales story of the real meaning of Christmas. Perfect for preschoolers and elementary age. My boys love the rhyming.


Thank you all for your continued prayers. I will try to keep you updated as soon as I know more.

Love and Blessings,

Leslie

The Decision

Well, the verdict of my oncologist, as of 11:00 last night, is that we will wait a month, and rescan to see if this is growing or if it is scar tissue.  Don't know yet if I'll have the lumbar thing-a-ma-jig (rather not say that other painful word!) this month or when I go back for the rescan.  Let's just not think about that today.  How's that sound? Sounds good to me!

Jeff and Owen are out in the woods trying to bring down the big buck.  I don't think you could pay me enough to go sit in the shady woods in these temps.  Not now anyway.  I don't have any insulation, and I'd freeze to death! Going to make a run to town in a bit.  Thank heavens for my seat warmers in my van.  1st time I've ever had those.  What a GREAT invention! 

Have a wonderful weekend!  Enjoy life!  Every day is a blessing.

Love,
Leslie

Still Waiting

The Doctors agreed that it seems reasonable to wait a month and see if what was spotted on the MRI stays the same size or grows.  I'm a bit concerned with that tactic.  What if it mushrooms?!  They still haven't decided completely.  A large group of them agreed that I should have the gamma knife surgery and a lovely little procedure called a "lumbar puncture" to check for cancer cells in my spinal fluid.  Lord have mercy!  All I want to be thinking about is pumpkin pies, and turkey and dressing.  Must I really have to hear the words "lumbar puncture"?  Great day in the mornin'! 

I'm all for a "lumbar puncture" (when it means an epidural) when I'm delivering a baby, but this sounds painful.  *Deep Breath* I'll try not to worry about it until the time is here.  Then I'm going to try to convince Ted Lennard to go down there and do the procedure.  Hahahaha!  Just kidding...but he is the doctor to have if a needle is to be stuck into your spine!  Speaking from experience! (Ted is our good friend of many years, and an elder in our church, as well as an excellent physician.)

So, to set my mind on other things, I have posted one of my all time favorite songs and my all time favorite comedian.  Hope you enjoy!

Thanks for the continued prayers. They are felt.


Blessings,

Leslie

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