EXCITING RESULTS!!!

We had a very exciting day today! God has truly answered our prayers! Let me explain... one month ago Brent's while blood cell count was at 120,000. As of today, just 4 weeks later, it was down to 3,600. That is amazing news! These pills must be working, huh?

They actually took Brent off the pills for one week. Next week Wednesday we will go back to the cancer center. They are going to adjust his dose in hopes that it won't upset his stomach anymore.

OK, I just had to post that exciting news! I promise that I'll post pictures soon!

Kelli

Tomorrow...

I know that I haven't posted for quite some time, and I'm so sorry! This is just a quick post, though, to let you know that we're still here. I promise that I'll update this week with pictures from Christmas. We had a great Christmas with our families!

Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) Brent and I have to be up at the Cancer Center at 8:00. We'll be there all day again. Basically they do the same thing they did last time he was there. They take blood and do an EKG before he takes his pills. Then they do that at 3 hours and 6 hours after he takes the pills. All together, we'll be there for about 8 1/2 hours. I think they just do this to see how his body reacts to the pills that he's taking.

Well, I just didn't want anyone to think that I had gotten out of the blogging business. Like I said, I'll update soon with more!

Have a great day!
Kelli

Santa Clause Came to Town

We've been telling Karter stories about Santa. He's watched him in movies and on TV, and he recognizes him and knows him by name. He gets so excited when he sees pictures of him or sees him on TV. And then he comes to your house...

And he's scared to death!

Don't tell Karter or Brody, but this wasn't the real Santa Clause. Warren and Fonda Post came over this evening. It was so much fun! I remember having Santa coming over every year when we were little. It was so cool! Thanks Warren and Fonda!!!

Brody had his 2 month shots today. He is getting bigger every day. Today he weighed 14lbs and 6oz and was 23 1/2 inches. He had 3 nasty shots. He did OK (probably better than I did) after the initial cry. He's still doing pretty good, but I have him doped up on Tylenol and Motrin (not at the same time). Hopefully our night goes well and he doesn't have any reactions.

Here's a picture before shots...

A Good Weekend

It has been a great weekend! The snow definitely came, and along with it came the bitterly cold weather. Normally, I wouldn't consider that a good weekend. BUT... Along with the snow and bitter cold came family time. We've been home pretty much all weekend. Brent (who is now my hero) installed a dishwasher for us. And get this... it works. We've had a dishwasher ever since we moved in, but it never worked. I've been making all kinds of dishes dirty just so I could run the dishwasher. (I'm pretty easily pleased.)

Today Brent and I played about 15 games of Nertz (a card game that is a lot like Solitaire). He said I turn into quite a jerk when I play cards. I don't have any clue what he's talking about.

Tonight we might open Christmas presents with the boys. (I'm sure that Brody is so excited!!!) I'm acting like it's a good idea because then Karter can play with the toys while we're stuck in the house. Actually, it's probably because I'm terribly impatient. I get so excited to give people their gifts. In fact, Brent has had one of his for about a month now.

Hey, if any of you are looking for a good book to read I have the perfect suggestion for you. (Thank you Helen for telling me about this book!) It's called My Sister's Keeper, and it's by Jodi Picoult. It's an awesome book! Let's just say that I shed a few tears! A friend of ours dropped off another book for me to read, but it's pretty short. If you have a favorite book that you think I'd like, let me know. Just leave a message on this post, and I'll check them out. I love reading!

Anyway, that's probably a lot of random thoughts and kind of a strange post, but that's how my brain works most of the time.

Hope you're all having a great weekend and that you're all ready to have a wonderful Christmas!

Kelli

Sleep

It's going to be a good day. Yes, it's true that we got lots of snow during the night... and I hate snow. But it's still going to be a good day! Wanna know why? I put Brody to bed last night at 10:45, and he didn't wake up until 7:00 this morning.

Like I said... It's going to be a good day!

Relay For Life Fundraiser

Oops! I forgot one thing in my last post. We're starting a fundraiser for our Relay for Life team (Camp Cureageous is the name of our team). We are collecting used printer cartridges (from simple home printers all the way to the fancy printers at businesses) and used cell phones. We will then be sending these to a company that will recycle them. They will give us a certain amount depending on the type of cartridge/phone. If you don't know what to do with your old cartridges/phones and would like to donate them to our cause, please contact me.

Note: This is not just for the immediate area. This will work as long as you live in the 48 states. Just shoot me an email or call me for more details.

Thanks everyone!

Oh, and if anyone is interested in being on our Relay team, please let me know. We would love to have more team members. (We don't make anyone do any individual fundraising or anything.)

Kelli

Some Firsts...

I can't believe all the firsts that we've experienced in the last few days. Here's two of my favorites...

BRODY'S FIRST SMILE (on camera)
Oh my... look at my little Brody Alan smile at the camera. This is the first time that I've been able to catch his smiles on camera. I'm seriously loving all these stages. I can tell already that he's going to be a sweet little boy. And, like his brother, I think he's going to be a Daddy's Boy. I may get smiles like this one, but you should see the smiles he saves for his Daddy. I love my life!

KARTER'S FIRST TIME SCOOPING SNOW

Wednesday night Karter and I had to get out of the house, and coincidentally enough, there was some snow that needed to be scooped. So, for the first time, we put on his winter attire, handed him his own little shovel, and out to the driveway we went.

He had a ton of fun, and he giggled every time he slipped and fell. He would just act like a puppy and send the snow flying into the air. He's so much fun to be around! Every day he is learning new words. OK, so maybe not everyone would know what he is saying, but I do. Example: a "Dootch", (pronounced just as it looks) is actually a horse. Not sure where that one came from.

We're supposed to get some nasty weather over the night tonight. That kinda figures, though, since we were supposed to go to a Christmas program in Sheldon tomorrow morning for Brent's nieces. That happened last year too, but we went anyway. We're also supposed to go to a Christmas program tomorrow night for my sister Wendi's kids.

Well, since Karter and Brent have both retired for the evening, I suppose I'll shut down for the night. Brody is asleep in my arms, and I'm just going to enjoy this for a while.

Goodnight to you all! Have a great Sunday!

Kelli

Time Flies

Can you all believe that it's December 8th already? It just shocks me. Maybe it is because I'm on maternity leave, and sometimes my days can seem to run together. Maybe it is because I'm on maternity leave, and I want time to stop. I look at Brody and just can't believe how quickly he's growing. Then I look at Karter and wonder where the last two years went. My life is so full, and I have so much to be thankful for!


Last Thursday was Brent's 26th birthday. He's getting old (but he'll always remind me that I'm older than him). Friday night we went to Sioux City to a Mexican restaurant to celebrate his birthday. I'm teaching Karter that it's OK to be a picky eater. We were at a really good Mexican restaurant, and I ordered popcorn chicken and french fries for him and a taco salad (with just the lettuce, hamburger and cheese) for me. Brent actually ordered Mexican food with all the bells and whistles. I would have ordered grilled cheese if it was an option. :-)


Today was Brent's 6th day of taking his chemo pills. We are taking it one day at a time. We've had to learn as we go. It takes time to figure out different things like how soon after eating breakfast he should take the pills, or how much activity is just too much for him, or how do you explain to Karter that Daddy is tired and needs to rest. We were told that it could take about a week before he starts to feel the full effect of the side effects. We're a little nervous for that, but we'll have to wait and see.


So far the pills have managed to make Brent's stomach a little upset. Most of the days it has gone away after a little while. Our families and friends have been wonderful. We've had food brought in, many offers to take the boys off our hands, and they guys took Brent out this past weekend for his birthday. Those things have all been wonderful! But I must admit, the thing we appreciate the absolute most is all the prayers! It's amazing to know that people out there are praying to our Heavenly Father on your behalf. Honestly, what would we do without our friends and family?


Living in Maurice, we have taken part in the Christmas decorating. Sorry the picture is kind of fuzzy, but at least you can get an idea of what we've done to our house. If you have a chance, you should ride through Maurice and look at all the lights. It's tons of fun!

We're supposed to get snow tonight. I got Karter some snow pants, and he loves wearing his boots. If it snows tonight and isn't bitterly cold tomorrow, maybe Karter and I can go out and play in the snow while Brody sleeps. He would think that was so cool! If so, I'll have to have my camera along and post pictures asap!

And finally, here are a few pictures of my boys...

Tomorrow...

Hey everyone. I just wanted to let you know that tomorrow is Brent's first day of treatments. He is still going to be taking chemo in the form of a pill. Because he's part of a study, we won't know for sure which pill he'll be on until we get there tomorrow. We have been told, however, that we should just plan on spending the entire day at the cancer center. That makes us think that he'll be on the newer of the two pills (Bosutinib). That's actually the one Brent was hoping for. Newer is usually better, right?

Karter went to Gretchen's house today. I think he really misses the kids there, so we thought we'd just let him play and have fun there for a day. Brody and I have been hanging out and getting our Christmas decorations ready to go up outside. Brent and I are going to try get that accomplished yet tonight. It's pretty nice out today, so it's a good day to do it. I'll try post some pictures if we get it done. We don't go all out, but I was happy with how it looked last year.

Brody is growing like a weed. I've had to put his newborn and 0-3 month clothes away already. That's always hard for me. I always think I want them to stay little and cuddly for longer than they do. But, on the other hand, it's so fun to watch them grow and learn all kinds of new things. Karter just loves his brother, and that just makes me melt!

Well, back to my decorations. Have a great day!

Kelli