Round 2 Is Over!

Nate successfully disconnected himself from his chemo today, and promptly returned the chemo pump to the clinic. He can't get rid of that thing fast enough! He didn't fare as well this time during the infusion as he did for round one. He was pretty sluggish all day Monday and Tuesday. To put it in his words, "I'm just blah". The good news is that he looked tons better when he got home from work today! He met us at Sam's soccer game, and it was great to see my cute, trim, husband walking across the field, (with McDonald's in hand, even better)! He had color in his face, and a smile on his lips. Hopefully he will wake up in the morning feeling even better. Hey, one can hope!

Chemo Round 2

We are officially on the chemo countdown! During our visit with Dr. Whisenant today, we discussed plans for the next five chemo rounds (including this one), and timing for Nate's next surgery. If all goes as planned, Nate should finish his sixth round of chemo the week of November 12 and should be able to have his surgery four to five weeks later. We'll keep our fingers crossed that we can wrap this up within the 2012 calendar year so we can go into 2013 with a fresh start! Not to mention the benefit of squeezing all the big bills into one insurance calendar year! I know what I want for Christmas!

Round 2...still smiling!

Nate did really well with his last round. He survived his trip to Jackson Hole, and I think the change of scenery was good for him. He successfully disconnected himself from his pump and isn't looking back. Unless he needs fluids or IV meds for nausea, he wants to continue to disconnect himself at home. I'm super impressed by his willingness to live his life regardless of this dumb disease.

This past weekend we took our kids camping in our trailer up to Smith and Morehouse near Oakley, Ut. The kids had a great time exploring, the leaves are changing, it was beautiful weather, and we just had a great time! We fished for a little while on the reservoir and caught four fish. Seth took a Polar Bear Plunge in his skivvies, just to prove that he could, and survived. We discovered homemade pizzas cooked over the campfire, and realized that all four of our kids are fire bugs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
We traveled home on Sunday in time to go to the Brigham City Temple Dedication with Seth and Emma. It was a peaceful way to spend a couple of hours with each other. I'm grateful for the new perspective we've gained during this trial. I'm so much more mindful of the hours and days that we get to spend with our little family, and I appreciate the opportunities we have.

We're looking forward to seeing Dr. Lambert in two weeks when she comes to town for General Conference. I'm still amazed at the way this all turned out. Who would've guessed that we would form a friendship with our surgeon? I couldn't have predicted it, but I'm so grateful that we did!

Thank you for following our story. It's still overwhelming to me when someone tells me that they follow this blog. It's easy for me to write it all down, but hard for me to imagine that anyone would read it! I'm so thankful that so many people love my husband. He is a good man!

Chemo Round One...Again

I've had so many texts and calls today from family and friends wondering how Nate is holding up during his first round of chemo. I'm still amazed when I realize how many of you are thinking about our family. Thank you!

Yesterday was a good day in the Infusion Clinic. Nate tolerated the new drug very well. He did have a bout of dizziness and felt pretty sleepy, but considering the alternatives, he did great! At one point, his eyes were blinking independent of each other, and although it was a little strange to watch, it was pretty entertaining.

When we returned home, some sweet friends brought dinner to our family. It was so nice not to have to worry about coming up with a meal! Nate felt so well that he was actually able to eat a healthy portion before we went to his brother's house for a family birthday party!

Today he woke up feeling a little groggy, but true to his nature, he pulled out of it and got on with his day. He's been blessed this week to have a very noticeable improvement in his pain level. He's been able to go much longer without his pain meds, and I can see that it's been a big relief for him. After breakfast he packed his bags and left for Jackson Hole. I'm happy that he can get a little "normal" back in his life. For all that he's been through, nobody deserves it more!

Here We Go Again

It's official...summer is over. I'm still not sure how I feel about that. One might think that we would be thrilled to get this summer behind us, but I'm actually a little sad to see it go. I wouldn't say that it ranked anywhere near my top 10 summers, but it did have its value. We had some amazing experiences that forever changed us, and I'm grateful that Nate and our family made it through in one piece...well mostly in one piece. I tried to get Nate a shirt that said, "I left my gall bladder, spleen, and omentum in Massachusetts", but the gift shop was sold out.

Since our summer with the kids was cut so short, I wasn't ready for them to start school last week. I miss them! Seth started Junior High, Emma's in 5th, Sam's in 2nd, and our baby Sydney started Kindergarten! Before school started, we were able to squeeze some fun into what summer we did have. We took our trailer out camping to the Uintas over Labor Day with some friends and had a great time! We cooked over the fire, rode bikes, and all the kids caught fish! Seth's taken up a new hobby of knife throwing (gulp), Emma practiced her archery skills, Sydney finally learned how to ride her bike without training wheels, and Sam got addicted to fishing. Nate and I are grateful to share our love of camping and the outdoors with our kids. 

This moose wandered into camp for a closer look.

Last Tuesday, Nate had a CT scan and an appointment with his Surgical Oncologist. The scan looked really good. It showed that Nate's abdominal cavity is healing well, his organs are settling into the void spaces where his gall bladder and spleen used to be, and his abscess was gone! Because of this, his surgeon was able to remove his wound drain. Nate said it was pretty painful, but he was so relieved to have it out! It's good to see the equipment go...one less thing for Nate to worry about.

Since the drain was removed, it's time for the systemic chemotherapy to begin. Yeah! Can you hear the enthusiasm in my voice? It's weird to have something like chemo to look forward to, but I'm learning to look at it as one more step closer to being done with treatment. Nate is, of course, ever the optimist. He isn't worried about the chemo or the side effects, and still has a sunny outlook. In fact, he's planning to drive to Jackson Hole tomorrow for a work conference (yes, I agreed...against my better judgement and high levels of anxiety). I actually think it will be really good for him to do something by himself, even if I have to go through withdrawal! You can't blame me though, I got to spend an entire summer with my best friend and now he thinks he can run off to Jackson? I knew this day would come :). In all seriousness, he's an amazing example to me, and I continue to learn from his example. I can only hope that if I'm ever faced with something like this, I'll be able to endure as well as he does.

Nate is still bringing home the bacon. We remain grateful for a supportive work situation.

So, here we go again. We're back in the Infusion Clinic at IMC starting Nate's first of six rounds of chemo. The chemo is another colon cancer regimen and is similar to the Folfox he was on before. One drug is switched out for another and has some different side effects. Abdominal cramping, dehydration, and hair loss are what he's trading for the numbness and tingling with the Folfox. The timing will be the same. Every two weeks (Mondays for now), Nate will start a new round. We stay at the Infusion Clinic for 4 to 5 hours while the anti-nausea meds and two of the three chemo drugs infuse. Before we leave, they hook him up to a pump that will continue to infuse the third drug over the next 46 hours. Since Nate will be in Jackson when the infusion is complete, our nurse will show him how to disconnect himself from the pump, and flush his port line. Chemo and a new skill, what a deal! 

The kids and I pray daily that Nate will be able to endure the chemo as well as he did last time. He still has quite a bit of weight to gain, but he's getting stronger every day. He's tired of taking pills all the time, but true to his character, he remains compliant. He really is a model patient! I love this man. He's the bright side to my day, and I'm grateful for the blessing that he is.

I'm also grateful for our good friends and family who stand at the ready in case we need anything. From an understanding employer, to friends who watch my kids, bring us dinners, send texts of encouragement, and put up with my spaciness, I know we are blessed beyond measure. I'm grateful for my ever changing perspective, and recognize that there is no way we could do this alone. I'm learning to rely on other people, and am thankful for the blessings I have. There are miracles all around us, and I'm glad my eyes are open to them. I only wish I'd learned to recognize them before all of this began, because now I realize that they happen every day. Here's to our miracles, and to yours!

The Man Who Lived

It's hard to believe that a month has passed since we returned home. I knew I'd have less time to write in the blog, but this is ridiculous! Fitting cancer and recovery into summer life and our regular responsibilities has been quite a challenge. We're trying to figure out what our new normal is, and how it fits into the life we used to have. The days still seem to run together, and there never seems to be enough time or energy required to get everything done.

Even though life's been crazy, home has proven to be the best medicine for Nate. Spending time with the kids as they've been out of school is like the 'spoonful of sugar' that Nate needed. We're so glad that the kids had an extra two weeks of summer this year. They usually start school around August 22nd or so, and this year they don't start until September 5th! What a blessing this has been for our family.

Since my last post, Nate's had appointments with his wound care nurses, Dr. Bowles (surgeon), and Dr. Whisenant (medical). Dr. Bowles is pretty happy with the progress. She was a little concerned that Nate's wound drain was still draining so much, and thought that his pancreas might be leaking. Labs were ordered, and came back negative for pancreatic fluid...whew! Nate measures the output in the drain daily, and when the levels are consistently low enough, he'll have a CT scan to check the size of the abscess. If it's small enough, the drain can be removed. That will be one less thing for Nate to deal with, plus he'll finally get to go swimming with the kids! We're specifically praying that his body will be able to take care of the abscess so the drain can come out.

Nate's been seeing his wound care nurses every Monday, and they've been a big help. They were able to clean out his open wound so it could heal faster, and it's been good to have them monitor the healing progress. This Monday, the nurse took one look at the wound, threw her hands up in the air, and said, "You're healed!". If only she had a magic eye that could look on the inside of Nate's belly and still give the same proclamation! Nate was glad to hear some good news, and was glad that he has one less appointment to attend. 

We had our first visit since we've been back with Dr. Whisenant last week. It started off with the usual vital signs and weigh in. Nate's gained a whopping 8 pounds! The nurse came in to access Nate's port for labs and couldn't get any blood to come out so we had to wait while she ordered up a medication to dissolve any blood clots in the line. We waited about an hour before the line opened and she was able to get the blood she needed. Grateful the port still works!

When Dr. Whisenant finally entered the room, it was apparent that he did so with some hesitation. It was like he was a little nervous to see what waited for him inside! When he saw Nate his whole aura changed and he actually took a big sigh of relief. He said Nate looked way better than he thought he would, especially after he read through all of Nate's clinical notes from Dr. Lambert. Through the entire visit he kept commenting on how impressed he was, and how he expected Nate to look way worse. It was good for my 'wife ears' to hear those comments. I see Nate everyday, I've seen him at his worst, and I've seen him at his worse than worst. I have the disadvantage of seeing the very minute improvements day by day, so it's harder for me to see how far Nate has come in his recovery. It all blends together for me, and sometimes I have to go back and look at pictures to remind myself just how far he's come.

The main reason for our appointment with Dr. Whisenant was to discuss the timeline for starting systemic chemo. Dr. Lambert feels that the sooner he can begin, the better. She's taken so much cancer out, that if any remains, it would be best to start attacking it with the chemo. Yet another reason we're anxious for the wound drain to come out! The specific type of chemo is still a colon cancer chemo, but is slightly different than the regimen he was on in the Spring. He'll still receive two of the same drugs, but one drug will be switched out for another. The drug he won't get is the one that gave him the numbness and neuropathy in his hands and mouth. The new drug side effects are hair loss (we hoped to dodge that one for the kids' sake), and severe diarrhea and dehydration. The schedule is the same, he'll go to the infusion clinic for 4 to 5 hours on Mondays, take the pump home for 48 hours, and return on Wednesdays to have the pump removed. We think he'll do at least 6 rounds, or 12 weeks of the therapy. As long as the pump comes out, Nate will start chemo on September 10th.

When the appointment was wrapping up, Dr. Whisenant expressed his fondness of both Dr. Lambert and Dr. Bowles, which is always great to hear! As we were saying goodbye, he put his hand on Nate's shoulder and said, "Congratulations, you look great! The man who lived!" I told him then and there that he had summed it up, and that I was going to quote him in my blog. I'm so proud of my man who lived, and so grateful for the miracles that allowed him to do so. We are in such capable hands, and I'm so very thankful for the Lord's hand in our lives.

Last Friday we were able to take our kids to the new Brigham City Temple open house. It was beautiful! It was wonderful to attend with Nate's brother and his family, and Nate's parents.

Doesn't Nate look awesome?!

After the open house, we went to the Box Elder County Fair for a little bit of 'country', and to consume our yearly ration of "furgers", or fair burgers to the layman. The kids enjoyed the food, the sights, and mostly the rides. We've discovered that our little Sydney is quite the daredevil as she wanted to go on every ride. She's got Nate so wrapped around her little finger that he even relented and let her ride the 'Starship', one of those centrifugal force rides that spins around and the floor drops out. I was a little nervous about it, but when I saw the smile plastered on Sydney's face as she got off the ride, I couldn't help but laugh. Emma, Sam and Seth are also pretty fearless. Seth was so dedicated to having fun that he continued to go on ride after ride, even though he was greener than his new pet frog. He never did get sick, but he walked the line all night long! Nate's brother and his family were also there, and the kids had a blast with their cousins. We got home at 1:00 a.m. and the kids were hammered! A pretty successful night at the fair, if you ask me!

Crazy kids!

Monday night we planned a special family night and did something we've been talking about doing for years. We drove to the top of Willard Peak, above Brigham City, cooked our dinner over a campfire, made s'mores, and hiked along the peak. We had such a great time together. The best thing for me was to watch Nate doing what he loves to do as he was surrounded by his biggest fans. Our kids look to him, they admire him, and they trust him. My heart swelled as I watched them enjoy and discover one of Nate's greatest loves. 

 

 

So Grateful...

Little By Little

It's been great to be home! I'm happy to report that the kids all managed very well while we were gone, and have definitely adjusted to being home. They've been on their best behavior, and are having a great time with their friends. Seth left for Scout Camp Monday through Saturday, and we missed him, but he had a ton of fun!

Nate's doing well. We're slowly figuring out his diet, meds, and activity level. He has a long recovery ahead but we do see little improvements each day. His mornings are getting better so he's able to increase his activity level throughout the day. We've been taking walks at night and he can go farther each day! He's been very patient through this whole thing. I know he'd love to be doing more than he's able, but he's really good not to push himself too hard.

We had our first appointment with Nate's local surgeon, Dr. Bowles, on Thursday. I woke up that morning and had a little panic attack because I realized that I'd been assuming/taking for granted that this new surgeon would be just like Dr. Lambert. I realized that the chances of that were very slim, and that just because Dr. Lambert knew Dr. Bowles from their residencies at Dartmouth and their fellowships at MD Anderson, didn't mean they would be anything alike. However, my heart was calmed as soon as we met Dr. Bowles. She was so personable and attentive. She is supportive of the HIPEC procedure which means she won't chastise us for the decision we made to have it. She's very willing to help Nate deal with the unfortunate complications he's had, and she has a very positive outlook. She's also well acquainted with our medical oncologist, and her office is just one building away. She stays in contact with him and Dr. Lambert, and is willing to approach Nate's care as part of a team.

I came away from the appointment with so much gratitude in my heart. I know this is yet another blessing in a long string of blessings. It reminds me that there is most definitely a plan laid out for Nathan. I feel like he's in great hands, and I'm so grateful for the comfort and trust I have in his doctors. It's one less thing we have to stress about.

Dr. Bowles thought Nate looked really good. He's up a whopping 3 pounds! His labs are looking better from his last draw at UMASS before we left. His white count was the same, but that was expected. His hematocrit (red blood cells) was ten points higher, which is great! His kidney function is all the way back within normal range...so grateful for that! His liver function is still abnormal but that's not surprising because of all the trauma. The wound drain will remain in place for another few weeks until we can have a CT scan to see how much infection remains. She gave him a couple new meds to help with nausea and digestion. He's definitely on the right track!

We have an appointment with Dr. Whisenant, Nate's medical oncologist, tomorrow afternoon where we'll discuss plans for the systemic chemo. Even though it gets tiring to have so many appointments,  I'm relieved to have so many eyes on Nate. He has a great team behind him, and I know we've been guided.

Thanks again for all the continued love and support we feel. We received meals all week last week, which really helped me focus on Nate and the kids. I think we're slowly getting back to "normal" life (if there is such a thing), and we even find ourselves making plans for the coming months. Nate's working a little from home and hopes to get into the office again this week. His employer has been so good to us, and I know it'll be really good for Nate to get back to work!

My good friend, Tara, sent me a text the other day of a great quote that gave me comfort. "Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don't think that you've lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time." -Asha Tyson

There's No Place Like Home

If you've ever flown into any airport, I'm sure you'll know what I'm describing here. Your flight arrives and you head down to baggage claim, you see a family or a group of friends watching the terminal exit, you see the signs and the balloons, you feel the buzz in the air as anticipation builds for a long awaited arrival, and you just keep walking because you know you're not (but wish you were) part of the celebration. Each time I've been lucky enough to catch one of those awesome homecoming scenes, I've secretly wished that I could be a part of it. Well, it was a steep price to pay, but my wish came true!

When we got the green light to come home, our good friend who flew us to Boston, offered to fly us home. What an amazing gift! Boyd, we will be forever grateful for the burden you lifted. He made all the arrangements, and we were on our way. We flew out of Logan International in Boston, and were whizzed right through security in Nate's hospitality wheelchair, saving us at least 45 minutes! One of my biggest anxieties of this whole trip was getting Nate home. Well, Boyd took care of that burden too. We took advantage of our priority boarding status, and to our great surprise, found our seats in first class!  Nate was so comfortable, and had all the leg room he needed! We flew into Washington D.C., and had a very short layover before we took off for Salt Lake City. Nate did really well on the flight, and even slept most of the way.

First Class Baby!

We probably should have been more tired than we were, but we were so full of anticipation that Nate walked right by the wheelchair that came to meet us at the gate and practically sprinted, almost, to baggage claim. What we saw there was a sight I'll never forget. Four of the cutest kids I've ever seen were holding homemade 'Welcome Home' signs and bouquets of yellow balloons. Our two little ones, Sam and Sydney, ducked right under the ropes and ran to us! Seth and Emma were right on their heels. What an overwhelming feeling! They looked so big, and grown up. (They also looked so tan...I could tell they were thoroughly entertained this summer.) Nate's parents were just behind the kids, and my parents also surprised us by coming down from Idaho for the reunion!

  A sight for sore eyes!

   

My parents and Emma

The reunion seemed like we were all moving in fast forward...it was one of those "Is this really happening?", and "Can we just freeze this moment?" moments. We were overwhelmed with gratitude, joy, and love. Like I said, it was a steep price to pay, but it was worth it!

Finally, together again!

 

 

The surprises weren't over either. As we pulled into our neighborhood, there were our awesome friends and neighbors lining the street and cheering for Nate! They had signs, flashlights, and yellow balloons on all the mailboxes leading to our house. Our house was completely lit up! Literally, they turned on our Christmas lights (yes we still have our lights up...bad diagnosis timing)! There were yellow balloons all over our yard, and tied on every tree and outdoor light. Our garage was adorned with 'Welcome Home' signs, and we had kids running along side the car as we drove! We were so surprised! What an amazing feeling. We were both in tears by the time we pulled in. Once again, we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love.  

We couldn't spend much time outside with friends, Nate needed to rest, but it was something we won't soon forget. It was so good to go inside and cuddle, and hold our kids. I never want to go that long without their hugs and kisses again! While Nate was in the hospital, and especially in the ICU, we couldn't really manage a good hug or a snuggle. When he was finally free from all the tethers, I broke into tears when he gave me that first real hug. I hadn't realized how much I missed his touch, and I literally melted into his arms. I experienced that same feeling with my kids.

It's a little overwhelming to be back home. I realize that life continued on without us, and it's a little tricky to jump right back in. However, my friends have been bringing meals to us since we got home, and will continue to do so this week. What a huge burden they've taken from me! Our yard looks amazing, and we continue to learn of all the acts of service that went on while we were gone. The 12 and 13 year old scouts helped every week with our lawn, along with their adult leaders, and have set the bar really high! I think I needed someone back home updating a blog for me so I could know of all the service that was rendered on our behalf. I'm sure we'll never know of all that went on, and I know that we'll never be able to thank everyone enough.

Love from some of my cute MiaMaids!

Our family has been amazing. They gave up a large part of their summer to watch our kids, drive them back and forth, and just plain love them. Thanks Family!

Nate is doing really well. There's something about being home that does so much for the soul. He seems pretty comfortable, although with Nate it's hard to know because he still hasn't learned to complain. He's eating pretty well, and is getting his appetite back little by little. His wounds are healing well, and we have our first appointment with the surgeon here on Thursday. He hasn't made it back into work, much to his chagrin, but I'm sure he'll make it to the office by the end of the week. He's one determined man. He'll begin systemic chemo in the next month or so, but for now he will  focus on his recovery and work to gain some strength back.

I've quickly realized that I don't have the down time I had in Massachusetts, but I want to continue to update this blog as often as I can. I really hope the content won't be too exciting, and I hope to cut down on the medical lingo as well. Nate's been through so much, and we're both grateful for all of you who've followed him on this blog. We deeply appreciate the prayers, thoughts, notes, packages, support, and love we've received. Thank you for constantly, and consistently buoying us up. 

Day...Who Cares! We're Coming Home!

Actually, I can't resist. Today is Day 43 since we left home on June 14th, and Day 36 post op. Hey, I can't break the countdown now!

We had our last post op visit with Dr. Lambert this afternoon. When we walked in, one of the front clerks said, "Oh there you are Nathan!" Another said, "How are you today? Think you'll get the green light this time?" It's crazy...the staff knows us, and pretty much our whole story. The funny thing is that we've only had five appointments there (because we've spent most of our time in the hospital), and haven't really told our story...Nate's always been too sick to tell anyone anything before he gets whisked away in an ambulance.

Dr. Lambert came in and looked more relaxed than I've ever seen her. She was so pleased to see Nate looking so good! He did drop another pound, so he's down to 161, but otherwise looks amazing! She asked us if we felt comfortable going home, we said yes, and she said she did too. It was a rush of the most extreme relief I've ever felt. I wish I'd had my camera on Nate so I could've captured the look on his face. The only thing that would make this better is if we could bring Dr. Lambert home with us. We formed a wonderful relationship with her, and count her as a dear friend. She said it's hard for her to see us go, that she'll really miss us, but that she's very happy for us. She'll be out in Utah this October and we hope to see her then. We would love for our children to meet her. She's helped us get through a very difficult time, and has touched our lives in a profound way. We are forever grateful.

We'll miss seeing Dr. Lambert every day!

As if all the great blessings we've seen come our way weren't enough, we've experienced another little miracle. Nate has a drain inserted into his abdomen that continuously drains the infection that remains from when his bowel ruptured. He'll keep the drain as long as the infection continues to drain from it. Unfortunately, it's still putting out a lot of fluid, and one of the requirements for us to go home is that the drain has to come out. Dr. Lambert could let us go with the drain if we had a surgeon at home who was willing to follow Nate, but she was concerned that we might have a hard time finding one in Utah because most surgeons don't want to touch a HIPEC patient with a ten foot pole.

Dr. Lambert emailed our Medical Oncologist, Dr. Whisenant, to give him an update on Nate, and asked him if he had any thoughts on the matter. He immediately responded, and told her that there is  a surgeon in his practice that studied at MD Anderson Cancer Center who would be happy to follow Nate when we got home. It turns out that Dr. Lambert knows her! They trained together at MD Anderson. Because of this, we are able to go home with the drain in place, rather than wait here for the drainage to stop. This could be saving us weeks! Coincidence? I think not.

I know the Lord's hand has been over us throughout our entire journey here. We feel His love every day, and know that we've been carried much of the way. Having a surgeon to go home to is very comforting. I carry a certain amount of anxiety about leaving Dr. Lambert because I trust her with Nate's care. I'm so grateful that we'll have someone local who's willing to follow Nate, and coordinate with Dr. Lambert. We are truly in the Lord's care.

We fly home tomorrow from Boston. We have a short layover in DC, and arrive in Salt Lake City at 8:15 p.m. My heart races when I think of seeing our kids. I was so happy to hear their excitement as we told them of our plans. They've had no idea that we were even getting close, so when we told them we were coming home, then told them that it would be tomorrow, they were so excited!

We're grateful for the hospitality of the people here at the Hope Lodge in Worcester. Being able to stay here took an enormous amount of stress away from this whole ordeal. The people we've met here are wonderful. Everyone here has a story to tell. We've all experienced bits of heartache and bits of victory. I hope that I'll be able to figure out a way to give back to these amazing people.

I know I'm going to hit the ground running when I get home tomorrow, and I'm not sure I'm totally prepared. BUT, I am sure that I'm totally grateful!

Day 35 Post Op

We had a very quiet day today. Our visiting nurse came this morning to look Nate over. His wounds  all look really good and he seems to be healing well. He also felt well this morning for the first time since he's been out of the hospital. It's nice to see some progress, no matter how small.

Nate claimed the 'coveted' chair for his afternoon nap.

We thought it would be fun to take a little drive today, but Nate "wilted" after lunch, and ended up taking a little nap instead.

The picture doesn't do justice...a Florentine Canoli.

We had a very nice surprise later in the afternoon when a friend from the Worcester 2nd Ward dropped by for a visit! Yay, we had a visitor! Allison and her three cute boys even brought us a canoli from Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street in Boston. It was such a thoughtful thing for them to do, and it was great to visit with them. I'm so thankful for the good people we've met here. They've loved us from the start, and have made this adventure bearable. We'll never forget the generosity and love we've felt here.

We're slowly figuring out Nate's diet and meds. He actually craved McDonald's fries and a smoothie tonight! I consider that some serious progress.

I think he's looking pretty good!

 

 

 

 

We have another post op appointment tomorrow at 3:30 with Dr. Lambert. We're praying that she'll give us clearance to travel home. If Nate has another day like today, the chances are good! We are so homesick, and I think that getting Nate home will make a world of difference in his recovery. I get a little nervous about the actual travel, but we've been watched over this entire trip, and I know we can count on that to continue. Thanks for all of your continued prayers and support. We can't wait to thank you all in person!

Who Is That Guy?

"Who is that guy?" That's the question I asked today when Nate stepped off the scale and only weighed in at 162 pounds!!! Although he's a little bit on the thin side, he's still easily recognizable. All you have to do is ask, "How are you feeling?". True to Nate's character, the answer you'll get every time is, "I'm feeling great!" Dr. Lambert and I chuckle about it every time. He remains upbeat and is always ready with a smile to calm my nerves.

We had our Post Op visit (#3) today with Dr. Lambert. She paid Nate a very nice compliment when she told him that the nurses on the Oncology Floor told her how they loved being assigned to her two Utah patients (Nate and Tami), because they're both so kind and have such positive attitudes. Understanding that nurses care for all kinds of people, I consider this a huge compliment. It makes me feel so lucky to have such a positive influence in my life.

Our appointment went well. Nate's lab values all looked pretty good. White blood cell count is stable at 17. His red blood cell count in steadily rising. His kidney function is almost back to normal. While we wished that we could have received the green light to go home, we're thankful for Dr. Lambert's conservative nature. We know that Nate has a long recovery ahead of him, and respect the fact that she wants to see a little more improvement in the recovery.

Mornings have been pretty tough for Nate, so we need to figure out how to better regulate everything. There's a lot to balance with his meds, his diet, his activity level, and his calorie requirements. He needs so many calories for wound healing, red blood cell production, fighting infection, and gaining weight, but his stomach is still tiny and he doesn't have his appetite back yet so it's a tough balance. We have another appointment on Wednesday afternoon, and are just hoping for the best.

We have amazing friends and family out there, and know we couldn't make it through this crazy time without you. Thank you, we love you!