MRI

Thank you all so much for your prayers yesterday. We felt them!

It was not a fun experience, but we were prepared for that. We have not heard anything as far as results and really, we did not expect to. Both scans were originally supposed to be on Monday, and our clinic appointment is Monday afternoon, so all along we knew we probably would not know anything before Monday. At our clinic appointment we will find out results from both scans and talk with the doctors. If they had called today with results, I'm not sure I could've answered the phone. I'm mentally prepared for Monday.

Please surround Jackson in prayer on Monday morning at 9:30 when he goes in for his PET scan. This is a 2-3 hour test. Also, please pray for us during our meeting with the doctors at 2:30 Monday. Most of all, please pray that the scans show improvement!!


{I'm ready Momma!}


{Momma's not quite as ready}


{First time in the new Children's building}


{View from the 1st floor looking up...such a peaceful environment}


{Hangin out inside a tree}


{Such a cool area to climb and play}


{Checkin it all out}


{The nurse said he had gorgeous eyes and I agree!}


{Talkin with Daddy}


{He was in such a good mood!}


{He asked so politely to push the bp button!}


{Checking out the cool playroom}


{Getting Cars stickers...Jack gave them all away...so sweet!}


{Downing apple juice in recovery}


{A stop at the 'Toy Story'}


{Not phased at all by the events of the day}

{wordless wednesday}

{That's his 'BRING IT' face}



{MRI in the morning. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.}

Count check, scans and 5k

We headed to the hospital yesterday for a count check (so much for a week off!). His counts are low (750) but that is to be expected considering he just had a big chemo.
They will drop more before heading back up.

The appointment was pretty quick and there is not much to note (weight was down a tiny bit and bp was fine) except that his port was a little weird when the nurse accessed it to draw the blood. She said it felt and looked a little different to her and he actually said "ouch" when she poked him. He didn't say it like he was in pain though and she felt confident that it didn't hurt him (I'm sure she has seen some pretty big, ugly reactions).

One of the doctors also gave us some more pictures from his MRI in May. He keeps telling me he will email me the PowerPoint of all of the images, but he hasn't (he must be busy or something haha). The pictures show just how big the tumor is. They are still just laying on the counter because neither Ryan or I really want to look at them, and I still don't have any darts to throw at them :(


{LOVED the airplane}


{Found a Superman sticker!}


{Beautiful boy}{Name that song!}


{He wanted NO help with his shorts}{Notice the popped collar haha}


{Green sucker, of course!}


{Hanging out with Gram}


{The trains are working!}

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Today the hospital called to schedule scans. At first I was told that the earliest that both scans could be done back to back is Friday the 13th. Umm, NO! Not on Friday the 13th and not 4 whole days after when we thought they would be. I cannot wait that long.

After some tears and some begging, the (really) nice man was able to schedule the MRI for this Thursday at 8:00am and the PET for Monday at 9:30am. If you could surround Jackson in prayer during those times, I would be forever grateful.

We also have a clinic appointment set for Monday at 2:30 to see the images and possibly hear from the doctors what our plan is going forward. Again, if you could surround our little family in prayer during that time we would so appreciate it.

I feel like we have waited for this for so long (a summer can be an eternity, especially with small boys that you can't take anywhere!) but now that it is here I am very nervous. I am certain I will not be able to breathe while we are waiting for the results.

***************************************************************************************

Now, information on the Heroes for Children 5k.

I have formed The J-Team!! Yay! I am very excited.

Alot of you have asked on Facebook or via email how to register so here are directions:

Go to www.heroesforchildren.org

Click on the 'Events' tab and choose HFC 5k

It will open a page with info on the 5k. On the left side there is a yellow button that says 'Click here to register online'. Click!

That will take you to active.com to actually register. Click on the green button near the top right that says 'Register Now'.

Once you do that it will take through a series of steps. When it asks you to choose your team, you should find 'The J-Team' on the list!

A few more things...

If you have already registered for the HFC 5k, but would like to be apart of The J-Team, just let me know and I will get you added!

The $20 that you pay when you register will go DIRECTLY to families in need.

You get a t-shirt from HFC with your registration. This is not The J-Team shirt.

Please comment here, on Facebook or email if you would like a J-Team shirt for the 5k. This is NOT a fundraiser for Jackson. It is simply a way to show Jackson how many people love and support him! Once I know how many people would like a shirt, I will contact the shirt people for a final price (it's dependent on quantity). Please let me know if you would like one by August 8th.

You can chose to fund-raise for Heroes for Children. You will see this option during your registration. If you fund-raise $150, your registration is free! It's pretty easy to set up a donation site.

Even if you cannot participate in the walk, but you would like to help in some way, you can donate HERE. All money raised goes directly to help families of children with cancer in Texas.

Please, please help if you can. Every dollar counts! People have been so kind to us during our journey and I know just how much ANY kind of support means when you are on the receiving end. Families all over Texas will benefit from your donation or registration for the walk!

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16

Round 10

***I am wiped out and exhausted so I was going to just do a picture post, but I want Jackson to be able to read all about his journey one day and know all that he endured. Please forgive any typos and I hope it all makes sense...Momma is tired!!

Round 10 was yesterday and we celebrated! We are SO thankful that we now have 10 rounds of chemo behind us. In some ways these 10 weeks have been so drawn out and in some ways they have flown by.

The next two weeks are pretty much a waiting game. The scans (a PET scan and an MRI) are tentatively scheduled for Monday, August 9th. We should meet with the doctors that same day or the next day to discuss the next step--surgery, more chemo or radiation.

We go back next Monday for a count check only, which is a bummer because we thought we were getting a week off. His counts yesterday were much lower than normal at this stage (last time he had big chemo his counts were at their highest since starting chemo) so they want to check his counts again next week to make sure he doesn't need a blood or platelet transfusion.

Thankfully, his counts were high enough to get treatment--but it was close. We just weren't expecting that since they were SO high at the last big chemo. The doctor said the change in the pattern we were used to is likely due to how much chemo he has had...the further along we get, the more unpredictable his counts are from what I understand.

He also pointed out that his reflexes are mostly gone due to one of the chemo drugs. They should return as soon as we stop chemo. The same drug is known to cause joint pain and he does complain of his legs or hands hurting occasionally.

We had a lengthy conversation with one of the doctors about recurrence rates, which scans to do in two weeks and how the process works for testing after they consider a patient to be in remission. I have some issues with the spacing of the remission scans and feel like some of the information they have given us is conflicting. I fully realize they are way smarter than me and this is their job, so they probably know best. BUT. This is my baby and I am just not at peace with it. So, while this is not something that has to be resolved right this minute as he is not in remission (although hopefully we will be there sooner rather than later!!) it is bothering me. Most of the things we talked about were fairly upsetting because they were harsh reminders of how serious our situation is, but he did say a couple of positive things.

When we first got to the hospital, we went up to the 6th floor which is the floor we stayed on for 3 days when Jack was first diagnosed. At first, he was fine. He saw the huge Chipmunk statues, the fish tank and some new toys. Then we turned the corner to go towards the nurses station. BREAKDOWN. He lost it. He has never had such an immediate reaction to something. It was so upsetting for him--he must have thought we were staying. We calmed him down and he was ok, but unsure, after that. He wanted to be held and I was happy to oblige. We went down and visited with the head nurse and asked a few questions about donating books and toys. Jack wouldn't talk to her, but he was very happy to tell her "Bye!" and get outta there!

There were some definite low points to the day, but we still celebrated our sweet boy and his big milestone. I am so proud of him. He is the bravest boy ever!


{Happy day!}


{Chick-Fil-A to start our celebration!}


{Sneaking a drink in the waiting room}


{He found Woody and immediately put him into the school bus}


{Being independent and insisting on taking his shoes off all by himself!}


{Weight was down a tiny bit, but still over 35lbs}


{BP was great}


{So happy after pushing the button}


{Open wide}


{Reflexes}


{Singing to pass the time}


{Coloring to pass MORE time}


{So brave}


{Checking Woody's reflexes}


{Checking out the goody bags full of Smarties and Lifesavers for the doctors and nurses--another part of our celebration}


{Convincing Dr. Goldman to share his candy}


{Coloring on a Toy Story paper}


{Coloring on his hand}


{Skis for feet}


{So handsome}


{Giving Nurse Eryn her goody bag}


{Celebratory cupcake}


{DONE!}


{Leaving with balloons}


{Toys R Us on the way home for being SO brave}


{BATMAN!}

After we got home, Jackson played for hours with his new Batman and Batmobile! He LOVES it and that makes me love it--loud noises and all. We were all beat from our long day and thankfully Jackson did not get sick. He did today though which caught me completely off-guard. However, after some crackers he was back to himself, playing and trying to wrestle with his brother!

Thank you all so much for your prayers yesterday and the past 10 weeks!! Please keep them coming! Knowing we are not alone is so helpful. We are nervous and scared for what the scans will tell us but our faith is keeping us afloat in the sea of unknown.

And without faith it is impossible to please God...
Hebrews 11:6