Jacob, G and I made it to Orlando today. Brie was supposed to come too, but she has her first job interview tomorrow!! I'm so excited for her. Good luck to my beautiful Brie!!

After a terrifying drive in the pouring rain down I-75, the Turnpike and the 408 (honey my windshield wiper motor needs to be evaluated, third gear should go faster) we found a spot in the parking garage and went to Peds Oncology Clinic. We usually park at the RMH and walk over to Arnold Palmer, but it was raining and the house had called to tell us they were full that morning. They were checking to see if the other Ronald McDonald House at Florida Hospital had any rooms. Clinic should have been quick and easy, but I forgot Jacob's numbing cream and the nurse had to request his labels three times for his blood tubes. Tick tock. Then Jacob and I argued about weather or not his port should be deaccessed after his MRI contrast. I'm happy to report I won. It is safer for sterile reasons for him to stay accessed until he receives his chemo tomorrow and a lot less work, supplies and waste. He's always left it accessed. I'm not sure what the deal was today, but we worked it out. After labs Jacob was scheduled to have his 3 hour brain and spine MRI. I thought it was cool that I was able to do pre registration via the phone yesterday. I was told I would only need to sign in today. Lies! Supposedly my intake was incomplete and we waited 30 minutes to be seen at registration. While waiting Jacob's appointment time of 3:30 passed. I went to MRI and told them we were waiting and filled out the mandatory questioner I fill out every three months. Then I answered the same insurance information questions & gave them the same HMO card I do every time we are there for registration. Nothing has changed. I'm not sure why this aggravates me, a lot, but it does. So much that I find myself being snappy with the registration person and the boys. I mean how dare they call me and register Jacob and then make us do it all over again the next day. Yea, I need to get over it. Today I was mad because it made us late. Then when we did get checked in it took forever because they had to double check the orders. The brain MRI orders came from Dr. RK and the spine from Dr. Smith. They told me things like that disrupt the insurance. While we were waiting an emergency patient came in for imaging and Jacob had to wait for them to have their scan. Maybe it was all meant to be for that person to get the care they needed at that moment. That's the way I want to think about it. All of these hours in the car and clinic are hard on the boys too. Jacob stays sleepy and bored and Gavin is climbing the walls. 

Jacob said his MRI wasn't bad. He watched one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies during his scans and we left the hospital around 7:40 pm, only an hour later than expected, which in reality is really not long. We've waited up to 5 hours before even being seen. 8 hours at Shands one time. That was awful. MRI scans every 3-6 months for the last 15 years I'd love one to get the easy button and maybe there's been one and I just don't remember. Any who.   

While waiting I was happy to get a call that our normal RMH did have a room for us after all. So here we are, snuggled in and as I lay here & listen to the boys snoring I'm worrying about results and things to come. MRI review and chemo in the morning. 

Opening myself and asking for my boys to feel God's peace and understanding...please bring it on!!! 

PS - my daddy's internal echo yesterday showed a severe value leak and he's seeing a heart surgeon Tuesday, which also means his previously scheduled appointment to the hemotologist will have to be rescheduled. 

Praying praying!!! Keep on praying.

Family update...

The Legislative Session is over, Gavin graduated VPK, Brie is now a Junior with honors, Jacob is almost a senior, and, hmmm... I'm another month older and I’ve watched Frozen more times than I'm willing to admit.

We are already one week into our official Summer.  One week down!  The kids and I had a fun week last week, swimming, going to the Jr. Museum, and playing at the park.  Gavin got in a few no-training-wheel bike laps (with my help), started back to gymnastics, conquered swimming 25 meters unsupported in the pool, and warmed his legs up at the GWTC Summer track series 40 yard dash and 100 meter sprint.  Brie is filling out job applications and Jacob is working on finishing up 11th grade math in summer school while also finishing his two remaining merit badges and his Eagle Scout project.

We are preparing for a move after eight years in the same house.  I don't believe in jinxes, so I will say it.  We close on our first home this Friday the 13th.   I am super excited, very stressed, and feeling very blessed.  All at once.  A roller coaster.  Our home is upside down, littered with boxes, and there is a list of things that need to be done at both houses before the end of June, but it's all temporary.  A means to a happy beginning of a new chapter of our lives!

So, inevitably, here comes more craziness.

My biggest concern right now is that my daddy continues to battle Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, which, depending on who you ask, may or may not be the correct diagnosis.  He's also suffering from a type of heart failure.  One of his heart valves isn’t functioning properly and his lungs are filling up with fluid.  This weekend he made his second trip to the ER, being admitted to the TMH Cardiac floor.  Finally, after a month of waiting for the doctors to get it together and provide the appropriate referrals, he is finally having a TEE (Trans-Esophageal Echocardiogram) in the morning.  This will determine the best treatment for his heart.  Please pray for him.  I miss him feeling good, laughing, and being active.  Watching him battle for his health is breaking my heart.  He should have another good 20 years!!  My daddy is a very private person, so I will go ahead and ask for his forgiveness for publicly posting this, but I believe in the power of prayer and I have amazing prayer warriors!  I have also been praying for daddy's brother who recently suffered a debilitating stroke and has advancing Alzheimer's.  I’ve never thought about the difficult emotions of watching parents get older and struggle with their health.  It’s heart-wrenching in a  completely different way than being with a suffering child.

After we make it through Tuesday, the kids and I leave for Orlando on Wednesday morning.  Jacob will have labs and his brain and spine MRI Wednesday afternoon.  It's been over a month since Jacob's radiation was complete (I guess doctors get vacations, too), but it's close enough. We were told that this MRI may show swelling in the radiated tumor, that this month may not be a good indication of the progress. We most likely won't have a full clear picture of the tumor’s reaction for several months.  On Thursday, Jacob will see Dr. Smith in clinic for an exam and review of his MRI.  If his labs are ok, he will start on the Avastin drug therapy.  It takes the pharmacy about an hour to make the drug and get it to the clinic.  Jacob's first infusion will then take about 90 minutes to complete.  After that they push saline and observe Jacob for reaction.  Really thankful that our HMO approved Jacob to receive the Avastin!  That was a concern.  It's an every-other-week infusion. Jacob did 8 months of it in 2011, but went off of it because he needed the adrenal gland mass removed.  Anyway, clinic will be long for us on Thursday. Praying for Jacob's comfort and NO side effects!! After clinic, Jacob will see Dr. Ramakrishna for his post-radiation check-up and MRI review.  Jacob had headaches and some tiredness, but overall has done really well.  That appointment isn't until 3:30 pm, so with our four hour drive home, we are looking at a really long, exhausting day.

Friday morning we close on our house and then I have Yoga Teacher Training all weekend.  We will be painting, cleaning, moving, and, now that I’m listing out activities and opening my brain, I realized that our week of VBS starts shortly as well!  Very excited about volunteering again this year, but, wow, crazy timing.

TD and I continue to do our best to run, walk, or keep active.  TD is feeling better most days.  He's down over 20 lbs, which is a huge accomplishment.  I am very proud of his hard work.   My training for the Diva Half started today.  I'm really looking forward to our very first MRTT convention that race weekend!  It will be EPIC!!  I'm trying to talk TD in to running his first half at Gasparilla in February.  If you see him, tell him how awesome it will be (to collect life insurance).   :)

Enough updating. I will keep you posted on how Jacob is doing and his results.

Thank you all for your prayers, support, and for keeping up with our journey.