A Busy Week

 This week for me was definitely one of mixed emotions. I always like to start with the positive so let me start there! I could not be more proud of Alex! He worked so hard this week, pushing past fatigue to join his youth group and serve locally in Fort Worth for their mission trip. He was completely exhausted, but every time I picked him up it was to a huge smile and lots of chatter about what they had done. Daily he teaches me what it means to make no excuses. He feels worse on his best days then most of us feel when we are sick and yet he continues to live life with a Servant's heart and full of joy. 

While Alex was working on Mission Trip, Maddy was learning to swim and continuing to prepare for her upcoming Horse Show. Her swimming is really taking off and she is gaining confidence every day. Ms. Joli has been amazing at helping Maddy push through her fear and learn how to swim while always making it fun! I don't have any swimming pictures (just video) so you'll just have to take my word for it!

While the two legged kids were busy, Hart and Zoey both got groomed! I love when I can see their eyes. While so different, they both have the most amazing expressive eyes!

So overall our week was going pretty well and then the weekend hit...The weekend definitely hasn't been great! First, on Friday my car brakes started acting up. By Saturday morning my car seemed unsafe to drive. After taking it in, I needed to replace the master Cylinder and Brake Fluid. (Why does everything have to cost so much money???) But at least my car is once again safe to drive.  Then we got Bruce's biopsy results back. They were not as good as we had hoped. All 3 polyps showed precancerous cells. They were removed, but it isn't great that he was already growing these cells a year after surgery to remove a tumor and while on six months of chemotherapy. We are unsure if anything needs to change in treatment, but we do know he has to do Colonoscopies every year for a minimum of 5 years. Both kids are having GI issues that led to me emailing our GI this weekend (I am unsure how concerning they are at this point). Maddy continues to not feel well and is struggling with daily headaches.

So as usual I will finish with prayer requests...Prayers for Bruce not to need further treatment. For Maddy to feel better.  Alex shifts gear this week to start Summer Theater Workshop. Please pray for his health and for him to be able to handle the fatigue that comes from extra activities. And pray for me as I try to juggle everything that comes at me with the kids activities, medical stress, financial stress and just running the house. To say I am exhausted is an understatement.

Thank you for your prayers, your good thoughts and your love!

Ali

Quick Update

 Just a quick update and some prayer requests...

We had a good fourth of July. Maddy and I and my parents went to see fireworks and enjoy the celebration. Alex was still recovering, but did manage to join us for a cookout. 

On  Monday, Maddy got to ride in her Ride a thon to raise money for the NSBA World Show she will be riding in in August. It was fun to have a relaxing ride with friends and enjoy some pizza. We are so grateful fort he staff and volunteers of Victory Therapy Center who pour their hearts into the riders and horses.

The rest of the week was full of horseback riding and swimming for Maddy and recovering for Alex. 

Yesterday was a bit rough. It was our day to re-access (stick a new needle in)Alex's new port for the first time. We tried several times with no luck. We contacted our hematologist who had us come in. The nurse also tried with no luck. After some brainstorming we realized  he was still pretty swollen from Surgery and decided to use a larger needle. We were successful, but after all was said and done, Alex was stuck 6 times with a needle in a new surgery site. Have I mentioned how tough this kid is!

I have some very specific prayer requests. Bruce has his first colonoscopy Monday since his colon cancer diagnosis. Please pray that they do not find anything concerning. Please pray for Alex's continued recovery as well as for his this week as he participates in his Youth Group Mission Trip. And Prayers for Maddy Moo as she hasn't felt well this week. (The good news is the extra fluids are working!)

Thank you for lifting us up this week.

Ali

Craziest 5 Days EVER!

 What a crazy five days this has been!

As many of you know, Bruce went to pick up pizza for us last Sunday and was injured at the store. He asked some teens to move out of a Handicapped Parking spot since they had no tags and was punched repeatedly by the 3 teens. He had to go to the ER and get stitches. He was bruised, swollen and scraped, but luckily had no serious injuries. Poor Maddy was the most effected as it made her worry about any of us leaving the house to do routine errands and winding up hurt. Luckily, she has settled down as the week has gone on. While I am on the subject of Bruce, he just had his six month scans and has his first colonoscopy next week since his diagnosis of colon cancer. He will see his oncologist in a few weeks to get his results and the plan going forward. 

I had my surgery follow up on Tuesday. I am healing well and had the stitches from the roof of my mouth removed. Unfortunately, all of the stitches in my gums have to stay for another month! I am not having any pain any more, but it is not fun to have stitches poking into your cheeks and lips constantly!

Alex and Maddy both had an appointment Monday to pick up their new orthotics. We hope that they are helpful especially in helping Maddy's constant knee and ankle pain. 

Alex had his surgery pre-op on Tuesday followed by a COVID test (his 7th!). 

Maddy had horseback riding and Swimming and lots of time with Mimi and PopPop.

 

Today Alex had surgery to replace his port. He continues to amaze me with his strength, his grace under impossible circumstances and his incredible faith. Today was hard. We were in Pre-op for close to 4 hours because there was a delay with the case before his. When it was finally time for him to go to the OR, he asked them to wait a minute and asked me to pray with him. Alex and I have always had a close, special relationship, but their is nothing like having your child ask you to pray with them. What a gift he is!  The surgery went well.
We are home. He feels yucky from anesthesia and is sore from the surgery, but is doing well overall. We are both glad for the PICC line to be gone from his arm and hopeful we can get some much needed sleep. I have been upstairs to help him no fewer than 3 times a night for the past two and a half weeks. As his pump would alarm every time he bent his arm. 

Speaking of Mimi and PopPop... For the past 16 years, we have had no family in Texas. We are so grateful for the many friends who have stood in the gap and helped us as we juggled appointments and hospitalizations. But what an amazing blessing it has been to have Mimi and PopPop here to help. We have all loved our time together and I have been so grateful to have someone to help with the kids. No one has loved it more than Ms. Moo. She loves her playdates and her sleepovers and cuddles with Mimi and laughs with PopPop. I cannot thank them enough for all they do.

Thank you for all of the prayers this week. We are never reminded how lucky with are as when we have a week like this and see our friends and family rally around us. Thank you for being with us through the laughter, the tears and the total crazy!

Ali