Scanxiety and so much more...

     Sometimes I wish I could just think my thoughts and have them appear on here for you all the read. (Then there are many times I am grateful they don't!) I only say this being that it just takes time and determination to sit down here and type these things out. I always have something I need to be doing, but I just have to make myself sit down and type once in a while. And although I need to be cleaning up the kitchen, especially after the mess I just made making laundry detergent, I just realize that sometimes other things are just more important. What could that be? Prayer! Yep, prayer.
     I have some many children and families on my heart right now. I would say that not a minute goes by where one of them doesn't just pop into my head. So, I am going to give you some request for prayer that I have, and then end with an update on Ivee.
    1. Justin Tollett. Justin and his parents lived with us at the RMH from February to May of 2011. He was diagnosed with Medullablastoma in Feb. Underwent radiation and four months of Chemo. Right after Christmas, he had an emergency CT scan that showed two new aggressive tumors bleeding in the front of his brain. They are operable, but only to extend his life for a few days/weeks. He is in the end days of his little 5 year old life. Not a day goes by that I don't send Ivee off to K5 and think about how much his momma would love to be sending him off to school for the day. Please, pray for a miracle in Justin's life here on this earth. We know, whatever God's choice, he will have healing soon! Pray for his momma Kristie and daddy Jerry. Today is Jerry's birthday. Pray for a great day with his boy!
    2. Brandon. He also lived with us in Memphis during that time. He has an inoperable and aggressive tumor on his brain stem called a DIPG. He is still fighting for his life. The tumor is still progressing and they are fighting it still with a 2nd round of radiation. Pray for healing and answers and cure!
    3. Starla. She was diagnosed right before Christmas with a rare leukemia. After 3 rounds of chemo, she went into cardiac arrest. The doctors have done all they can. Now it is up to God to heal her little body.
    4. Harrison. A friend of mines cousin. They have discovered that he has a very rare leukemia, perhaps never even seen before. Looking for the right treatment for him.
    5. Lucy. Lucy was in the hospital having tumors removed the same week as Ivee's resection back in February. Her family went through radiation the same time as we did. Lucy is recovering, but her little body is very fragile and she is having difficulty gaining weight and learning to eat again. She had a feeding tube placed last week. The feeds are hurting, and she needs to adapt to this new way of getting nutrition. We have walked this road with Ivee. G buttons and I have a love hate relationship. They keep my Ivee alive, but they are a source of inconvenience, infection, concern, and an inhibitor to want he to eat by mouth. Pray Lucy heals, gets better and stronger and eats again by mouth so she can get that thing out! Lucy also has her MRI this Friday. Please pray for NED! We need clean scans!
    6. Dillan goes for his MRI today. Praying that God has completely healed him of his cancer.
    7. Jaryn. Praying for a good report on his MRI.
    8. Levi: He has an MRI next week. Praying for great results!
    9. Isaiah. Praying for continued healing and that his family will be able to maintain his sodium, output and the endocrinologist will continue to help him with growth hormones and what he may and may not need.
****You can visit most of these kids sites on this website. Their links are in the left pane.
   
    Okay, now Ivee. She is still doing very well. Every once in a while her eye is off, or she gags, or she's tired and I start to get that little feeling. So, I watch her closely for any signs of anything "off" but she just keeps on trucking on...She is amazing.
    She is still taking very little by mouth, but she eats a little of something everyday now! It isn't much, but to me it is just amazing. Even at this pace, she wouldn't be able to sustain life by eating until she is 15 or 20, but she is trying! Not only that but she ASKS for food now. She tells me she's hungry. I am so thankful for the gastro doctor in Memphis. Who knew putting her on this 1/4 of a little tiny pill would make her gagging pretty much disappear and cause her to have a little appetite.
    She is learning to read. She sounds out her words VERY well. I am so proud of her love for education. She necessarily want to go to school everyday, cause she wants to stay home with mommy, but she doesn't fight me. She goes willingly, and loves it while she's there. She walks all over the place with her walker, well, everywhere but at home. If the market were better, we would sell the house to get one with all even floors. When we bought our house (which I do love) with it sunken living room, we weren't anticipating having a special needs child with a walker.
    She goes to hippotherapy every Thursday and does PT and rides horses. It is really helping her stability. She doesn't like everything about it, but I think she likes "her" horse....Buttercup!
    Our next visit to Memphis is next week, and DADDY is going with us. She is so excited that Daddy gets to go with her to see Dr. Merchant! She said so! We decided to leave a few days early to give Em and short vacation and to visit with some of our cancer families that we love while we are up there. Ivee will begin visits with St. Jude departments on Tuesday. Wednesday is her MRI scan day and follow up visit with Merchant. We should know the report by that afternoon. Praying, praying, praying for NERD! This marks the 1 year anniversary of her reoccurance, and 5 year anniversary of initial diagnosis scans! I try not to stress over it. I internalize my stress, so I have been very busy cleaning, making soap, washing dogs and the like. My body compensates by telling me to stay busy. So, I obey it! I am not a worrisome person, but you cannot control stress. You can only control your actions. I try to take my thoughts captive and give them over to the Lord, and then I try not to snatch them back, but keep them there.
    Thank you all, once again for the love and support you give to us. I know I don't hear from any of you, but I know someone is visiting this page. (I can see it in my site meter). So to those who do visit, thank you for the prayers and thoughts. Cissie and Grandma Betty, thank you for the notes of encouragement you leave me! Teresa and Phil, thanks for the words and your friendship!