November News

November started just like October ended.  Dad spent over a week in the hospital in Topeka recovering from a massive Heart attack on October 31st.  When he was dismissed Lindsee and I were there to drive he and Mom back home and try to get them settled back into their home.  They would need lots of help for the next weeks and months to come.  Dad was still very weak and started receiving home health and in-home physical therapy to aid in his recovery process.  He was not driving so any appointments that Dad or Mom needed to get to Lindsee and I took them to and tried to take notes.  Lindsee was able to secure some time off from work and was able to stay with Mom and Dad for almost the whole month of November to help them.  We were all so grateful for her and her gift of time and patience.

Mom had a repeat PET scan the week of Dad's heart attack.  This PET scan showed nothing good.  Her tumors had grown, meaning the chemo was not working.  Her oncologist suggested she take a month off from chemo and then we would reevaluate in December and come up with a new plan.  In the meantime her cancer continued to spread.... Right before Thanksgiving she was in terrible back pain.  Lindsee took her to the hometown ER where they did some checking and determined that it was muscular skeletal and dismissed her. The pain did not go away and worsened.  When I took her to the oncologist On December 7th he ordered a CT scan and a Bone scan.  From these it was determined that her cancer had spread to her (bones) vertebrae, specifically her T2, which was causing her tremendous pain.  Five days of radiation was ordered to treat this "spot" and to hopefully get her out of some pain, along with some pain meds.  (I am getting ahead of myself, as some of this is December news.  For now she is holding steady.  She will see the oncologist again in about 1 month to revaluate again and see where we go from this point.)

I want to say "THANK YOU" to all of our friends and family that have been helping us through these past few months.  It has been rough.  We have been tired and beat down.  We have been down, and up and back down again.  We're still standing.  We are resilient.  But, we have a good support system standing behind us, holding us up, propping us up, and keeping us looking up and forward.

It's YOU! YOU keep asking how YOU can help and YOU keep showing up.  To YOU, I am saying a big "THANK YOU".  

I know my parents have good friends and family members, but it has been illustrated over and over again to us in the phone calls, the texts, the cards, the visits, the random acts of kindness, the meals, the rides given, the prayers, the hugs, and the help with our families when we are helping Mom and Dad.... Thank YOU, a hundred thank yous!

Our family IS BLESSED.  Even when we face troubles and times of uncertainty we know we will not face them alone.  We have YOU.  And, God has told us............. 

Don't be afraid, for I am with you.  Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

From Dad's hospital window in Topeka we watched several helicopters come and go bringing others who needed immediate treatment.

It was good to finally see Dad up in a chair, out of the hospital bed, and with a smile on his face.

After we got him home, he couldn't wait to see his grandkids.  Phoebe (who wants to be a doctor when she grows up) learned how to help him check his blood sugar.  And, continues to help him every time we are there now before each meal.

Silas's team got to play in an end of season Bowl Tournament.

Uncle Bret got to go with us to the first game and watched Silas's team win.

Day two of the Bowl, Silas's team took first place!  It was an exciting game.

We celebrated Phoebe's 12th birthday one week after Dad's heart attack.  I was not on top of my birthday plans because I had been in Topeka the whole last week, but we celebrated together nonetheless before I headed back up to Topeka again.  We had Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and Red Lobster for a late lunch.

Basketball practices started on Monday, November 8th, the day after Phoebe's birthday.  Our good friend Traci planned a little birthday surprise for Phoebe and her teammates.

It started to turn cold so that meant our dog, Jessee, got some new hay for her dog house and kennel area.  She loves this time!  Below in the pictures she is trying to get right in the dog house before Eric had even finished putting all the new hay inside.

Silas and his friend Isaac accidentally dressed liked "twins" one day.

Later in November for Phoebe's birthday, I took her, Sarah, and two of her friends, Haylee and Shawna, to Color Me Mine and Applebee's to celebrate together.

We got out our Christmas decorations a week or so before Thanksgiving.  We were able to get it all up and looking great inside and outside.

We spent Thanksgiving with Dad and Mom, Lindsee, EP, and Will.  It was a good couple days and we all enjoyed being together.  I think we all were reminded this year how blessed we are and how thankful we should be for everyday spent with family.

Lindsee wore Dad's ski goggles to keep from crying while chopping up the onions.... So great!

We took one last trip to Branson for the year.  A quick family get-away so see the Christmas lights, hear the Christmas music, and to enjoy the Christmas sights together.  It was a wonderful trip.  We spent time at Silver Dollar City and went on the Showboat Branson Belle for dinner and the Christmas show.