On a lighter note...

We are nearly 18 weeks along. I can feel the baby wriggling inside me. I get excited and just a little freaked out--can we handle three kids?? Too late to worry too much... We go in to the OB on March 11 for an ultrasound. Jeremiah wants to go along so that he can see his little brother or sister. And guess what? We are NOT going to find out the gender of this little one. Saving up the surprise for the big day.

Stem-cell update

So far, Tim's mom has been handling the stem cell transplant process well. She went through nearly a week of chemo with little side effects. Seemed upbeat the whole time. We have so much to be thankful for, that the process has been for the most part smooth. This past week she drove in to UIC four days in a row so that the DR.s could harvest her cells. We originally thought this would be extremely painful (remember the needle in the hip bone process people used to do). But, in fact, the cells were collected through a port already placed in her chest (just below the shoulder bone). So, although she had to lay in bed for hours at a time, she experienced little pain. She is recovering at home now, feeling tired. But, we are thankful that this stage wasn't more painful.

So, up next is a week "off", and then (on Feb 28) she will return to UIC, undergo chemo for 5 days and then have the stem-cells reintroduced to her body. This will be the most critical and most dangerous stage of the whole process. We are trying to prepare for the difficult weeks ahead. Tim plans to visit Mom three times during this last phase, driving down for the day twice, once staying over night. I will go with him on the overnight. It is hard for Tim to feel so far away during this time.

Continue to pray for her strength, both physical and emotional. Pray that her spirit is uplifted. Pray that the family will know when to surround her and when to give her space. Pray that we continue to find peace, and gratitude for the success thus far.

Update already

Her chemo will be administered to her 24 hours a day. Yuck! Keep her in your prayers.

Is It In The Water??

More babies. My sister, Jessie, and her hubbie Brad are pregnant! They are due around Jeremiah's 5th birthday. What a great present! My nephew Elijah is going to have TWO baby cousins to play with! Praise God for creating and sustaining life!

Mom's treatment

Well, Tim's mom made it into the hospital today for the first round of her bone marrow/stem cell transplant. Off to a bit of a rough start. She and Dad, with Tim's sisters, left the house at 7:00am. They would have gotten to the hospital roughly an hour after that. She did not get a room until well after 3:00 in the afternoon! Hopefully the rest of the stay will be better. For the next five days, she will be undergoing chemo for nearly 11 hours each day. Intense. Pray for her and the family that this difficult phase will be over quickly, that her body responds well to the chemo, and that her spirit and mind will be filled with peace.

baby baby baby

Two things:
One: Jason and Shannon had their baby! Elijah Jason was born Tuesday, January 15! We are so excited, it has been a LONG time in coming; and has been such a proof of God's unfailing faithfulness. Besides, he is SO cute!

Two: For those of you who didn't know yet, we are pregnant also! We are due on July 27. Perhaps a girl this time? We are already excited to see baby. I am not sure that Jeremiah and Logan will make it to July~they are bursting with excitement and plans already. Quote: "Mom, when the baby is born and needs a room, and needs the crib, Logan can sleep with me. I will move my pillow over so he can share this bed..." Jeremiah, bedtime, describing his willingness to sacrifice for baby.

Tim's Mom

After many months of questions and concerns, of fear and faith, Tim's mom is in remission! She received a phone call around Christmas day from her nurse to let her know that the cancer is gone. So, since her body has been without chemo for almost a month now, she is feeling great. I am posting a picture of her and dad at Christmas.
We visited her and the rest of the family in Chicago this weekend. It was wonderful to see her healthy and full of energy again. She will begin the next phase of her treatment, the bone-marrow transplant, next week. Pray for her as she takes on the next stage of the fight. It will be long and hard. But God is faithful. He has brought her this far, He will continue to carry her on.