Our counts today:

Hemoglobin 10.4 (Normal 11.0-15.0)
Platelets 337 (NOrmal 140-440)
ANC 4.890 (NOrmal 2.000-6.600) WOWWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!

With everything going so well (knock,knock) the dr said that we can come in for labs weekly, but maybe just do exams every other week. This is sweet because it means we literally will go in, get a finger poke, and then leave. They will call me with the results later in the day....then we can go to the aquarium if his counts are good!!

I was so proud of Eli this morning. He went with Ms. Bobby by himself and told me not to come...he got his finger poke without so much as a peep, then he went back to the playroom to play...what a big boy!!!

Everything continues to move along. Our MRI is on Wednesday morning. Bobby said she would be there early to access him. The nurse in MRI said she felt confident doing it, but I really only trust the clinic nurses and the nurses on 7B. Although they may be confident, that doesn't mean they are good at accessing the port of a 3-year-old while he screams to be "let go" (he hates to be held down). So that is a huge relief and an answer to a prayer.

Please pray for the family of Chase, a little boy that has been recently diagnosed with neuroblastoma. I know what a hard time it is at first....please let the Lord help them through.

It is yucky rainy here, but I actually enjoy those "down" days with the boys.

Thanks for checking in....

Maria

I am thankful that all of this seems to be getting easier (or am I just adjusting....or both) Anyway...I give thanks all the same!!!

I wanted to share a couple of pictures from the weekend. Aren't my boys adorable? Don't you love the hair with the costume?????

Eli's Team has reached 50% of our goal of $7000!! I am so thrilled...thanks to everyone who has donated. If you haven't donated and you really want to....go to

www.active.com/donate/tntsc/elisteam

As I sit here this evening all I can really think about is how very fortunate we are. I know that sounds a little silly when you consider what we are going through with Eli, but unfortunately I am in this "cancer world" now and I see what is going on....a little boy in California whose Mom is doing amazing things without chemo with prayer and other things (the child had horrible complications due to the chemo)...a three year old in Texas who was diagnosed about the same time as Eli and is having bone issues already as a result of treatment (between the steroids and chemo some kids have thinning bones) His mom is really wrestling with what the future will hold in terms of complications due to the treatment....and finally, a little two year old girl in NC from South America who has relapsed a second and final time.....her mother is having the hardest of times....and these are just the ones that I know about. WE are soooo fortunate. I know that we WILL have more difficult times ahead with all of this, but hopefully I will be able to gain strenghth from the now.

Anyway, I didn't write all of this to bring you down...actually the opposite if you can believe that....take stock in what you have today....give your kids that extra hug even if you are in a hurry. Take time to read that story...AGAIN...children are such a gift from God to bring such Joy into our lives....take the time to take it from them.....

Sorry so sappy....John is out of town so I have lots of time to think at night!!LOL!!

Thursday is our clinic day...our weekend was great...weather is great here....

Thanks for checking in.

Maria

I am thankful for my kids...

Thank you God!!!!! WE ARE HOME...NO PROBLEMS!!!!

I cannot begin to say how relieved I am...Eli got his lumbar puncture with methotrexate yesterday around 11am, and has had no problems since. In fact, we were running up and down the halls this morning with me chasing him!! The nurses got a really big kick out of it, but I didn't (since I hadn't gotten dressed yet, and was in my pj bottoms and a tshirt haha)

Our MRI is on Halloween to be sure no more lesions have appeared or that the current ones have not changed...but based on this experience I have complete faith that all will be fine.

OH...labs were:

ANC 2800
Hemoglobin 10.7
Platelets 377

All really good numbers, although I have a feeling when we hit our 6week mark we will be increasing the dose of chemo. They want his ANC to be between 500-1500. Eli also got Vincristine yesterday and we started the dreaded 5 day pulse of steroids. But I have a huge smile on myself and my heart is content....

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. As I have said, throughout this entire experience Eli and our entire family has been so lifted up by your prayers..it is amazing the strength that we get from that.....Thanks.

Thanks for checking in. Have a fantastic weekend!! (JOhn will be camping with the older boys this weekend)

Maria

I am sooooo thankful that the Eli handled the intrathecal methotrexate with no problems!!!!!!

I realized that I haven't put a picture on here lately...I am going to take my camera to the hospital on Thursday and take some pics. I never really think about taking pictures there, but I am coming to realize that this is such a big part of our lives this year....no pictures of it would really not be realistic and I would love to show them to Eli when he is 25 and remind him of what we went through as a family.

Every now and then I have to stop what I am doing and really look at Eli...this kid is so amazing!!! He has such a wonderful spirit. I think about what he has gone through this year and it just brings me to my knees. Thank you God for allowing him to stay the same wonderful kid throughout all of this!!!

Please keep us in your prayers Thursday and Friday. As the time gets closer,I find myself really getting nervous. It was such an awful time for us in January...I really don't want to go back there. I keep reminding myself..."Be strong and courageous....." but sometimes it is better said than done.

I am going to my Bible Study tomorrow morning. This is something I have soooo missed this year, and Pam Hawver has been sitting with Eli now on Wednesday mornings so I can go. I really feel the support and strength when I am with these women, and it will certainly come in handy this week....

I will update on Friday when we get home.

Thanks for checking in.

Maria

I am thankful for Eli and the wonderful love that he gives me.

Eli's counts yesterday:

WBC 6.750 (Normal 5.000-11.000) In the NORMAL RANGE
Hemoglobin 11.1 (Normal 11.0-15.0) NORMAL
Platelets 441 (Normal 140-440) NORMAL
ANC 4000 WOW!! It has NEVER been this high!!

So of course John says,"The ANC is too high, it means the meds aren't working"...which would be true if it were for a LONG period of time. And they won't let it stay this high long, they will increase the chemo. But I will take it for a week. I also need to ask about the cold. I know that infections bring the ANC down, so I don't understand how he can have such a high ANC with a cold. But again, I will take it!!

Our clinic visit was really good. We had to wait a while to see the doctor, but that was alright. Eli just got his finger poke...so he was really full of himself.

The weather here is absolutely beautiful....in the 70's and sunny. Lots of outside time for us. John is going to the nascar race tomorrow so the boys and I will go to Park DAy here on the island and have some fun.

Th big Methotrexate day is next Thursday. They will do his LP with the Methotrexate and then we will be admitted for observation overnight. Please pray for PEACE for me and for no seizures. The docs really seem to think that was a one time deal, but I am very worried. Eli will then have a follow up MRI on Oct 31 to see what his brain looks like.

Please pray for Zachary, a little boy with ALL who is having a hard time right now. His mom is dealing with him as well as a younger sister, Jaden while Dad is overseas with the military. Please ask God to cover them and protect him and give her some rest and peace.

Thanks for checking in.

Maria

I am thankful for all of the wonderful friends and family that are walking the half marathon and helping me raise money for LLS!! Go ELISTEAM!!!

Nothing much to report today, Thank You God!!

Eli is still doing so well, it is hard to believe he is sick sometimes. We went to the beach on Sunday (something Eli has wanted to do for months now) and everyone had a blast. Unfortunately, we forgot the camera.

My women's retreat went really well. It is nice to get to know folks who have already walked this long road. And no matter how bad you think your story is, there is always someone who has had it much harder. It really makes you count your blessings. The one thing that really struck me is how many of these kids are misdiagnosed. It is almost as though cancer is the last thing anyone expects, even the doctors.

We go back to the clinic on Thursday. Eli just has to have a finger poke....he is really excited about that!! I am hoping his counts haven't dropped too much, he has a little cold. I think both of us have enjoyed having a "normal" life and being able to get out more. Just in case I am taking him to the aquarium in the morning.....

Thanks for checking in...I will let you know how Thursday goes.

Maria

I am thankful that we live in such a beautiful city and area. It is so fun to go out walking and look at the marsh and the beach.....AHHHHHHH!

Eli's counts today:

ANC 1568 (normal 2000-6600+)
Hemoglobin 10.1 (Normal 11-15)
Platelets 366 (Normal 140-440)

We have had such a good week it has felt as though we are on vacation!! Eli has been doing fine, and doing all two-year-old stuff. The older boys are playing soccer and football and having a good time.

Our clinic visit today was quick. We went in at 9 and were out by 11:30. It was good. He got the Pentamadine, the profilactic (sp?) antibiotic and bloodwork and that was it!! The doc said that we will give him the Methotrexate at the next LP and he will be admitted overnight (this was for John and my benefit...after the last siezure we didn't want to do that at home) then we will do another MRI a couple of weeks later and see what his nogin looks like....if all looks good, we will continue with the Methotrexate for the remainder af treatment.

I am going on a girls night with some other moms from Courageous Kidz (a cancer help group) this weekend on Sat night. I am looking forward to it...it is nice talking and getting to know other women that are going through this. It is at a beach house on IOP..I will let you know how it went.

Take a look at the Team In Training website....thanks to all of those that have donated money....as I have said, I feel we can make a difference by supporting the research to end these cancers!!

Please pray for the Nash family and the Ward family. Both lost thier little girls to cancer this weekend, I can only imagine the pain they are going through. Please pray that God give them some peace during this most difficult time.

Thanks for checking in....it is nice not to have much to post....have a great weekend.

Maria

I am thankful that we are into maintenance and doing well.