Monday, August 5, 2013

NED!!! No Evidence of Disease!



Super quick update!  Received the news a few minutes ago.  Elan NED (no evidence of disease)!  This marks 1 year post treatment and is a big, huge, uber milestone.  Statistically he now has a shot of long term survival!

Today we are so blessed and feel the scripture at Ps 5:11 to be true in our case today:

But all those taking refuge in you will rejoice;
To time indefinite they will cry out joyfully.
And you will block approach to them,
And those loving your name will exult in you.

Today we have such joy!  Throughout our year and a half battle of cancer we do feel our prayers have constantly been answered even in the darkest of moments when given no hope.  We do feel our prayers for peace of mind as well as being able and allowed to go forward with the treatments we felt best were answered every step of the way.  Thank you everyone for all you have done to support us.  We are so grateful!

Our battle is by no means over, but today is a day of celebration for us.  Our hearts go out to all the other fighting families who don't get the same news we did today.  To those families, please know we love you.  Our boys pray every single night for your little ones.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

MRI Tomorrow - 1 year out of treatment, 24 Hrs of Booty photos and other updates

Tomorrow is a BIG day.  It will be Elan's 1 year out of treatment MRI.  Realize that every MRI is a big deal full of what cancer patients call "scanxiety".  It did help that Elan woke up with a 102 temp but did have diarrhea so probably just a bug.  tonight he is running around no problemo so not going to pull the plug and postpone the MRI.  The MRI starts tomorrow at 9 AM and lasts about 3 1/2 hrs.  So we should be able to get him home around 2.

This weekend we tried to not think of things and filled it full of activities.   Saturday we did our regular volunteer work in the morning.  Here is a picture of Elan and me in front of a house that looks a lot like the house I grew up in (OK, a way better version of the house I grew up in) Elan is pointing back at it for you :)


Finn and Erik at Starbucks washing hands.... Erik must have thought photo worthy :)



We then headed to Target for Finn's Kindergarten list of what to buy since NC had tax free weekend and of course I hadn't thought about school supplies until it was announced.  He starts in 2 weeks :(.  Elan really did fall asleep but Finn pretending.




Notice in the pictures how BIG i am getting!  I am now 27 weeks and doing really well for twins!  Even my OBGYN who is a triathlete was on bed rest with her twins at 28 weeks and so far all ultrasounds look as if I will be able to walk around.  The only restriction so far that I hit is no flying.  I can still drive though as long as stop every hour to walk around a bit.  I will be missing my work sales meeting in Orlando since I can't fly.  I will miss everyone!  I already heard some crazy stuff as the Orlando airport had a fire!  Erik and I lived in Orlando 7 years ago and I will miss meeting up with our friends there as well!

Sunday was messed up a bit with Elan being sick but we still had fun!  We had to cancel a few things so as to not have Elan around other kids but did go to our movie as it has been out a while and we didn't have him around anyone else.  It was Elan's very first "real" movie besides a short thing at a museum or something.  WE went to Despicable Me 2, pretty cute.  We then headed to Finn's Elementary school to see the playground as I knew there wouldn't be any other kids for Elan to get sick.

outside movie

at the movie!



when the tylenol kicked in this am...
Other photos since last update including playtime with neighbor girl, playdate with Francesco and Sophia from our congregation (superheros on the wall), a great spraypark with a trainride for only $1 about 30 minutes away we did last weekend!  And photos from 24 hrs of booty!!!























Here are the photos of 24 Hours of Booty which our dear neighbor rode in honor of Elan!  He did a century ride which is 100 miles.  We went with his family to cheer him on!  It was loads of fun as it started to rain too!








Barrett, Alex and Finn all walking and holding hands...  so cute!  Barrett and Finn both start Kindergarten in a few weeks!