The procedure was a success. 1000 cc's was drained off Mike's abdomen today. His stomach looks as though he could handle much more being drained, but they wanted to be careful about losing good fluid that is important to keep things working well. Mike's belly is a little sore and he is resting, but before he went to bed he had me make him 3 scrambled eggs with cheese, 4 pieces of thick, center cut bacon, and a half of a piece of homemade bread toast. :) Yay!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Mike must be feeling a pinch better because his sense of humor has been in perfect form today. He has been giving me, and others, a hard time. It was one of his quirky character traits that made me fall in love with him so many years ago. I think that sense of humor has been profound in helping others in the oncology office, to see a lighter side to the day. No matter how painful or difficult the journey might be, a good attitude helps.

Mike finished his Lovenox injection tonight. He will stay off of them until Tuesday, and then will continue them for a couple of more days after his procedure. He's anxious to get this paracentesis over with, and is expecting great things after it gets in. He's eaten very little today, hoping that tomorrow, he'll be rid of the mini-football he feels is in his abdomen due to the excess fluid. He still will need to clear the INR test before the procedure can take place. We hope to have that done early tomorrow morning. The procedure is scheduled for 1 p.m.

We appreciate your love, concern and prayers. You've helped us stand when life's storms have tried to blow us down. We could never thank you enough.

It is a blessing to celebrate 34 years of marriage with a man who has cherished me every day he has known me, and even though he is in the fight of his life, and probably feeling the worse he's ever felt, I still see the love he has for me in his eyes. That is a gift of a lifetime.

Mike slept in late today, but since he has been up, I have seen a marked improvement. The swelling in his left arm/hand has gone down a little, as well as the swelling in his feet and ankles. I don't know if the Lovenox injections into his stomach are responsible, or if God and prayers are, but I am grateful.

He hasn't eaten very much today. He still feels very full, even after only drinking a half of an Ensure, a pinch of dinner and a pinch of apple pie.

We have been blessed today with visits and phone calls from family and friends. We couldn't be made to feel any more special than we do. AND....my son-in-law even repaired my evil weedeater, which constantly threw my cutting cord across the yard every time I started it up. I can't tell you how helpful that is going to be, especially at keeping my Christian witness. ;)

Anyway, it has been a day of blessings and gratefulness. Gratefulness for 34 years of a love of a lifetime. Gratefulness for 4 children and 2 grandsons. Gratefulness for dear family and friends. We are truly blessed!

Mike isn't well. They almost put him in the hospital today. I think they changed their mind knowing there really wasn't much that could be done over the weekend, and as a cancer patient on chemotherapy, a hospital is probably the last place you should be.

The fluid in Mike's body has built up so much, that the oncology nurse felt Mike needed intervention. The only problem is that Mike started back on his Coumadin (blood thinners) Tuesday. They drew a INR, to see if the procedure could be safely done today. This tests how thick Mike's blood is. If it was 1.4 or under they could proceed with the procedure. We then went to the Oncology office and waited with the RN, to see if the Paracentesis could be done. Mike's level came back as 1.91...which meant NOPE! So, the doctor has worked it out where they can do it possibly on Monday, if another INR returns that he is in a safe zone.

Mike was given a Vitamin K injection today, and that is suppose to speed up the process and allow him to have the procedure done Monday, instead of next Wednesday. Normally, it would require five full days of being off Coumadin to have the procedure. Mike has begun taking the Lovenox injections into his stomach to help this along as well.

On Monday, he will be having a Paracentesis (a tube inserted into his abdomen to drain fluid), and they plan to leave this tube in, since it will likely need continual draining. Of course, Mike isn't happy about getting another tube.

His left arm has swelled up double the size of his other arm. They believe the clot he had in June never dissolved, but must have been under control until he recently got off therapy. So these injections are to also help keep him safe with that, until he can resume the Coumadin. I believe they are planning to do an ultrasound of that arm on Monday, just to see if it is the same clot.

Anyway....Mike went to bed for the evening at 5:00 p.m. Relief lately for him, only comes by sleeping. He had an Ensure before going to bed. I think he is going to accept a feeding tube if it is ever offered again. I believe he's realizing the only chance he has to continue this fight, is to get some nourishment, even when his body is telling him it doesn't need it.

We would be grateful if you would pray for our strength to endure, to fight, and to live with this cancer.

It's a "not so good" day for Mike today. It's hard for me to see him so uncomfortable. He's having trouble breathing. He's felt a little nauseated, and his left arm, both ankles and abdomen are very swollen. I don't know if being off the Coumadin for a week, is responsible for this swelling...especially in the arm where the subclavian vein and artery is blocked. That might explain things, but it's necessary for him to be off the Coumadin when he's having these other radiology procedures done.

When I came home at lunch, Mike seemed out of it. I had a difficult time waking him up, and when I did, he just looked like he was staring right through me. It was hard to leave him at lunch to go back to work. The anxiety of not knowing what is going on with him, gets to me. So I asked Amber to drive over to check on him.

He did better this evening, but at 7, decided to head on to bed. Earlier today I had him call the oncology nurse and explain what he's experiencing. There was talk of tweaking his medications, and possibly draining his abdomen next week.

It's alarming me how fragile things seem to be right now for Mike. I appreciate your continued prayers. On Saturday, we will be celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary.

There is plenty I could be writing to you about this evening that has me alarmed, but I feel led more than anything, to just let you know how precious you are to Mike and I. We are so deeply grateful for your love, prayers, and support. Thank you for letting us laugh with you, when we have felt like crying, and crying, when we couldn't hold back the tears. Thank you for your "I love you's" and for your hugs. That has meant the world to me, and has meant the world to Mike.

Pain, fear, and sadness tries to swallow us, but it's a blessing and a victory, when love makes the loudest sound or shows the deepest gesture. Thank you for stepping into our turmoil, to throw us a lifesaver. You have gone far beyond what we could expect friendship, employer, or family could go. Unmerited love is the very picture of Christ Himself.

The past few days have felt like an extreme uphill climb. There have been moments when Mike and I haven't been sure we could go one step further; yet God quietly reminds us we can. We can because of Him. We can because of you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

After a double thoracentesis on Monday, and a treatment yesterday, Mike is doing fairly well. He has experienced chest pain off and on today, but it is relieved by staying on the oxygen. His appetite is a little improved, although we're probably just holding his weight steady, instead of increasing it. He still is having trouble sleeping...and therefore, so am I.

But some more help is on the way. In addition to the graciousness of family and friends; Mike's sister and husband is on their way here. The moving van is coming tomorrow, and they will officially be arriving here September 4th. It will be such a relief to know Mom McSheehy (almost 92) will get the care and attention she should have. I have tried to juggle, to keep all the balls in the air, but I know I haven't been able to spend the time she needs, or deserves.

Our son has successfully passed his kidney stone after the stint was surgically put in. He is feeling so much better. Thank you very much for your prayers. Please pray that he will continue to heal and that he'll be able to have this stint removed quickly, without infection developing.

Please pray the tissue surrounding Mike's lungs would return to a normal condition and the fluid would stop developing in there, causing him trouble breathing. It hurts me the most when I see him struggling to breathe.

Mike is off of treatment until September 8th. We will continue to keep you updated. :)

Update

My parents' internet connection is down, so I've been asked to upate you briefly. Dad had a thoracentisis (sp?) done on both sides yesterday because both had filled back up with fluid. They took a liter from each side. He also had a treatment today and they ran some bloodwork that showed his ammonia level had increased by a few points, so they were altering his medicines to help lower that level. Please also keep my brother in your prayers. He's at the hospital today undergoing an outpatient procedure to place a stent that will help him pass his kidney stone.

Amber Lacy

Mike made some improvement today. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. The coughing has decreased some, and the sharp pain inhaling and exhaling has lessened. We have kept him on the oxygen continually. We are expecting to go in tomorrow, for Mike to have another thoracentesis; this time on the right side. I wish more than anything, God would touch Mike's body and remove this problem.

Last night, Mike woke me up around 3 a.m. in discomfort. I noticed when I had changed his dressing on his biliary site, there was nothing around it, which is unusual. Mike was feeling such pressure in his abdomen from the ascites; I asked if he wanted me to try and drain the biliary site. I told him I didn't think we should backflush it with saline. I didn't want to have the same problem occur as in June with the bleeding. So all I did was attach the drainage bag. Immediately, it began to drain. Then blood started pouring into the bag, just as before. I didn't know if I should stop it or not, but Mike and I decided to let it go, to see what might happen. Eventually, the bleeding stopped and it returned to the normal bile. It's troubling what is causing this. After it drained for a good while, I detached the bag and capped the drain.

Today, Mike looks like he's about 4 months pregnant. We have had to pull out his big clothes again, to take pressure off his mid-section. The fluid build up is making his legs and feet swell. He told me they feel like they are asleep when he tries to walk on them.

The blessing is that he's eating so much better. Praise God! I just wish we could gather up all our blessings in one swoop, and that his body would remember how to function again properly. We will be getting a treatment Tuesday, and most likely be speaking to the oncologist...about our problem over the weekend. I don't know what he might suggest.

I know God is with us in all that we're going through. As long as we're still fighting; even as exhausting as that has been at times, we've never lost the drive to keep trusting God for one more day, one more week, one more year. I'm straddling reality and hopefulness. I'm trying to brace myself if God chooses not to intercede and heal Mike. But I don't doubt for a second God's ability to completely, and supernaturally, heal him. He is all powerful! And He is Greater than science, or the medically impossible. I have more faith in Him healing Mike, than I have my ability to survive life without him. And I know what a fighter Mike is. He will not give up.

Thank you for being so willing to pray for us. The amount of comfort and peace we draw from you, is unmeasurable. Your loving kindness has lifted our hearts and spirits numerous times...as well as have moved us to tears. We have looked into your faces and have seen God's. He's lovingly caring for us even though we're in a lot of pain. We have so much to be grateful for.

We didn't have a good nights rest last night. At 2:00 a.m., Mike woke up in tremendous pain, with trouble breathing. He fought with the discomfort for about 15 minutes when we decided to head for the emergency room. He felt pretty certain his lung collapsed.

When we got to the ER, we explained the procedure he had done Friday and told them of the plans to have the other side done Monday. They did an XRAY, a blood gas and other blood work, which showed the lung hadn't collapsed, it only had a lot of fluid around them. The doctor felt there was not really anything they could do to help us. Mike was already on oxygen. He offered to admit us, if we felt we wanted to do that, but his suggestion was simply to speak with our oncologist. We were sent home around 7:30 a.m.

Since being home, we have tried to rest, but it's difficult for Mike to get comfortable. It hurts for him to breathe deeply, he has some bedsores that are really painful for him, and this other accumulated fluid isn't comfortable either. We're both pretty exhausted. We could really use everyone's prayers as we continue to fight our way through these obstacles.

A big praise!!! Mike's procedure went smoothly. They decided to do the left side today, instead of the right, since there was more fluid on that side. I believe Mike told me they drew off another liter. Monday afternoon, they want to do the right side. Following the procedure, Mike has had a couple of big coughs, that have been a little painful, but productive in getting phlegm up.

Mike's ankles and abdomen are still swollen, but he is feeling well enough at the moment to play his drums.

We are so blessed to have you praying for us. We would like to ask for you to also keep our son, Matt, in your prayers. He developed a kidney stone, and spent last evening in the emergency room. They have sent him home with pain, and anti-nausea medication, to pass it. We are so grateful for your love and support.

Mike has been doing very well during the day, and a little lousy at night. During these past few days, I have seen more energy from Mike, and less naps. He has been very lively and chatty. But when he tries to sleep at night, this crazy cough he has developed, has him choking at times, and he ends up sitting on the edge of the bed with the lights turned on for several minutes, or he's pacing around the house. He has been able to sleep it off after I leave for work, but I feel like I'm dragging on little sleep.

Mike's procedure (Thoracentesis) will be done around 1 p.m. tomorrow. Please pray Mike will be comfortable, and there will be no complications.

Mike's legs and abdomen have begun to swell again. So today another prescription was increased to see if we can draw some of this excess fluid out. Prayfully, once the procedure is completed tomorrow, Mike will begin to breathe a lot easier, and the pressure in his abdomen might diminish.

We are so grateful you have come to this site to catch up on us and to see how you can pray. Thank you.

Mike and I have few pictures taken of us together lately, but Amber caught us synchronize eating cake, at our grandson's 3rd birthday party, so I had to post it!

Mike has really been putting forth effort eating the last couple of days. He cooked, and ate, a pound (minus two little guys) of shrimp scampi last night. He was so stuffed he couldn't sleep....
:(.....and neither could I...but I didn't eat the shrimp.

Tonight, he looks like he is six months pregnant. His stomach is so swollen, and his ankles are puffing up as well. I think the Ascites is on the return. We need to pray that away! It is so frustrating fighting this balance of fluids and the ammonia problem! Mike is weighing about 142 pounds, but I'm afraid it appears to be all fluids, and little actual weight.

He should be able to get some relief on Friday, when he has the Thoracentesis done. At least he might breathe a little easier. The cough he had been experiencing, has been remarkably better. I haven't seen him fussing with it at all today.

Thank you for praying for us. Nothing is more painful than watching someone you love struggling to breathe while coughing.

We learned today from Mike's oncology appointment, he will need to have another thoracentesis on his right side Friday. A chest Xray was done this morning which indicated a lot of fluid surrounding that lung. It would explain the congestion and cough Mike has had the last couple of mornings that can be frightening to hear. It sounds like someone with the worse case of pneumonia, but evidently, it's this continual problem we've been having. The thoracentesis should help him breathe better, and he also has prescribed a small capsule for Mike to take to reduce the problem with the coughing. It's just frustrating with the small amount of time the last one was done. Mike will need to be off the blood thinners until after this is performed.

Also alarming was Mike's ammonia level has increased to 63, which is high. Mike has caught himself doing odd things, so he had already suspected this had gone up. When he tried to use the remote control for the TV, as a telephone last night, Mike knew it had to be high. So they have increased an amount of one of his prescriptions to help get this number down.

Things just seem to be raging out of control since May...when Mike began taking the Xeloda. I just wish there were some way we could get him back to before that, so he could continue being strong in fighting this cancer.

Mike's other counts, including a bilirubin count of .06, were all good....except a sky rocketing alkaline phosphate total of over 2000, for which the doctor couldn't explain. His liver seems to be draining well, but not filtering correctly...and this is causing these other problems he's experiencing.

The oncologist also remarked how underweight Mike is...and told him he needs to get 2500 calories in him a day. Mike has improved his appetite the last couple of days, but trying to rise that number is going to be challenging for someone who already feels bloated and full. We may need to just buy enough Chocolate Ensure for Mike to have six shakes a day to get him anywhere close.

The additional problem Mike has been having is the development of bed sores. He has them on his tailbone, shoulders....anywhere where bone presses against skin. The oncologist said added protein in Mike's diet would help, alongside the antibiotic cream we're using.

Things became very difficult for me at one point, as I was waiting with Mike for his treatment to be over. Hearing Mike's raspy voice trying to talk, hearing his deeply congested cough, and seeing how frail he looked compared to all the others taking treatment, really upset me. I can read the concern in the doctor and nurses eyes, and I want to force Mike to follow their instructions, but I know realistically, I can't make him do anymore than he feels he can do. The desperateness I feel is overwhelming.

I was able to encourage Mike to eat lunch by suggesting a small cheese pizza at Brickoven after we left the treatment room. I've had more success getting him to eat that way, since he can choose what he feels like, at any given moment. We made sure he had an Ensure shake beforehand, just to get the nourishment he needs as well.

Please continue to pray Mike will increase his appetite, that we can get 2000-2500 calories in him a day, that his ammonia level would come down, that this thoracentesis would help Mike to breathe easier and possibly stay clear for longer than 2 weeks. That this cough wouldn't disturb Mike's sleep. That his liver would begin to function properly and filter out any bad guys.

We praise God for His enduring strength, the support of our family and friends, for God's provision with insurance and bills, for my compassionate and understanding employer, and for promising not to give us more than we can handle. It's really hard for me to say that last one without a grimace on my face.....yet, we would be nowhere without our Savior's grace and mercy. It feels like a dumpload of bad luck has buried us, but there still is enough voice to praise Him.

VICTORY THIS EVENING: Finally found the name of Mike's hematologist/oncologist, while we lived in Texas. We also have a good phone number for him, but don't know if they would still have his records. Tomorrow, we'll give it a try!

Mike had a better day today, after a bad nights rest. He has developed a cough, that sounds like someone badly congested, yet he doesn't have a cold or virus, as far as we know. He went back on the oxygen Sunday after complaining of being short of breath. I'm concerned it has some thing to do with the pleural effusion problem. Mike is telling me he has a tightness in his chest and abdomen. He also says that his esophagus hurts when he coughs. We see the oncologist tomorrow and it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't order a chest xray, or press us to have an endoscopy. Mike will also receive another treatment tomorrow, if all the labs are good.

On the praise side of things....Mike has eaten better the last two days and nights. They are still smaller portions than he usually eats, but I'm grateful he is receiving some good nourishment. We have been so blessed to have friends from church, prepare us meals a couple of days a week, for the entire month of August. A lot of love has gone into them, and we're so grateful!

His lovingkindness is new everyday!

Mike did well yesterday. We were able to attend Drew's 3rd birthday party. Mike eventually wore out, so we left early, but it was wonderful being with family. Afterwards, Mike came home and slept four hours. I figured he would certainly wake up hungry since all he had that day was a Ensure shake before we went to the party, and a small piece of cake and ice cream, which he didn't finish. But, when he got up, all he wanted was Chicken Noodle soup.....AGAIN! (Cindy....thank God for your homemade Chicken Noodle soup!)

I picked up a couple of DVD's to watch in the evening. It was something different to do. Mike had some coffee ice cream, but not what I consider a portion. (No jokes! I know some of you probably would like to make comments about what a portion is to me!) He may have eaten one scoop, but that would be pushing it.

Then Mike had a rough night, and ended up sitting and watching TV in another room because he couldn't get comfortable. He got little sleep last night.

But today is starting off good and hopefully Mike will do better. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers.

Mike had a good day. He hasn't done well eating, but I'm trying to not let that trouble me too much. He was sleeping when I went to work this morning. I did wake him enough to take his medications and to change his dressing, but I didn't force breakfast on him. I'm thinking I should have now, because he never ate breakfast. Said it didn't even cross his mind. All he wanted for dinner was chicken noodle soup. I probably should be happy, but it gets a little depressing serving him that most evenings, and trying to figure out what to eat myself. It's too easy to just grab this, or that to snack on, instead of eating a regular meal. Mike and I use to share our love of cooking and eating...in or out, together. It is something I'm missing.

Our grandbaby is three today. He will be having a birthday party tomorrow that we are invited to. I pray Mike wakes up feeling well enough to attend. Everyday is a surprise....but I doubt anything could come between Mike and his grandson on his birthday.

Thank you for your constant support and prayers. I couldn't imagine going through this without your love and friendship.

"Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry." Psalm 39:12

Mike is doing okay today. Probably not as well as he felt yesterday, but certainly not as bad as he felt a few weeks ago. He is still struggling with eating, although, as I write this, I hear him getting a snack in the kitchen. =) He is enjoying a football game on TV this evening so he is happy.

I pray Mike regains some of his energy and strength soon. I can tell he's a little bored, especially on days when I'm gone at work. Please pray with me that his appetite would increase and he can get back to physical therapy.

We have had several good days in a row! Praise the Lord! Mike is eating better, and is not becoming sick to his stomach after eating. God IS answering prayer!! Mike's weight is at 130 pounds. Still very light, but he has made a pinch of improvement.

His strength hasn't returned yet, but I feel he may be getting closer to being able to do a little more. He has drummed a couple of times when he's had a little extra energy. We've discussed his returning possibly to physical therapy, although he may need to be driven the first couple of times. He hasn't driven himself, in a long while. He still gets pretty dizzy when he stands up fast, and he still has lapses of time when he's dazed, and doesn't remember things which have just occurred.

But so far, this course of treatment has been kinder to him. He is off this week, but will receive another dose next Tuesday. We will also meet with the oncologist to make sure all the other lab levels are good.

Our prayer requests are to fatten Mike up.....for him to continue to do well on this course of chemotherapy....that he will become stronger, and might be able to begin walking, or doing physical therapy....or get back into his workshop building again.

We are so grateful for every ones love and prayers. We have also been tremendously blessed by the meals some of you have provided for us, a couple of days these past few weeks. That has given me the flexibility to come home from work, eat quickly, and get some chores down before the sun goes down. Thank you so much for being a blessing to us.

Mike is up and feeling pretty good this morning. He wanted to go IHOP to eat some breakfast before his labwork at the hospital. Then afterwards, we went to visit his mom. So far, this is looking like a good day for him.

Thank you for your prayers.

Mike has made improvement over the past couple of days. He is trying hard to eat more, and thankfully, his experiences of throwing up hasn't ruined his taste for the Ensure shakes. He's trying to get one or two of those in each day.

The new medication seems to be helping, because the nausea hasn't been a problem and he seems to be able to eat more. I'm not so much worried about the size of his portions, as much as I'm concerned about his nourishment.

Last night our daughter-in-laws' birthday was being celebrated, so we were invited to Matt and Jill's home, to eat pizza and play the game "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" with all of the family. Mike did well. He ate a slice of pizza, played the game with all of us, and even sat outside to watch the grandsons play in the yard. During the game, he was acting like his usual happy and goofy self. For a moment, life felt right again, but even though that did my heart a world of good, it tears me apart coming back to reality.

This week is a wallop of good and sad memories for me. It celebrates, not only my own birthday, but my daughter-in-laws birthday, my first grandsons' 3rd birthday, Matt and Jill's 8th wedding anniversary, and the 2 year anniversary of my dad passing away. It's hard to celebrate, with so much pain and uncertainty. Especially when it involves important men in my life.

I'm in a strange place right now. Needing to be strong, when I've lived my whole life always having someone strong, watching over me. That probably sounds pitiful, but the truth is the truth. Mike has always cherished me, protected me, and took care of the difficult. Life is just a little scary and out of place for me right now. I'm not comfortable in the shoes I'm walking in today. So many new responsibilities I'm unfamiliar with, and so many hats I'm needing to wear.

I'm thankful for my faith and trust in my Heavenly Father. I know He is watching out for me even though I don't understand His will for my life right now. I just keep placing all my trust in Him to see me through this.

I love all of you and appreciate the role God has given you in my life. I'm so grateful for your love and support. I'm so thankful for all of your prayers. I only pray God will allow me to repay you one day with my love, prayers and support.

I want to thank all of you for continuing to pray for Mike, myself and our family. There have been a couple of very difficult days this week, but I'm hoping things are leveling out enough to settle our spirits and our nerves. A "good day" can be loaded with great concern and anxiety, but we've learned it can get a whole lot worse on a "bad day".

Mike had the tissue surrounding his lungs drained last Friday and this past Tuesday. You would think with that much fluid collected, Mike would automatically feel so much better. But actually, he didn't. In fact, Tuesday night he vomited from eating 3 meals that day, and then Wednesday, he was in worse shape. He couldn't sleep because he had so much reflux, he was burping and hiccuping non-stop. All this with hardly eating. Thursday morning, I called Mike while I was at work to see how he was doing. He told me he had vomited again. Because his behavior had changed so drastically overnight, I asked him to call the oncologist.

So Mike called yesterday late morning, and they wanted us at the hospital by 2 p.m. to run labs, and to see the doctors. Mike could barely walk. He looked troubled about even getting to the car. So we ended up inching our way to the car. Thankfully, Tuesday I got our handicap parking pass, so when I got to the hospital, I was able to get a close parking spot and a wheelchair. After they did Mike's labs, he asked me not to move the car, just to push him all the way over to the front of the hospital to see his doctor. He didn't have the strength to get back into the car and drive around to the front.

As soon as we got to the chemo-lab, the nurses jumped into gear by giving Mike two large bags of fluids. They also spoke with the oncologist. I raised the concern that Mike never feels hungry. That every time he tries to eat, he feels full before he starts, and if he pushes through that, he eventually throws it all up. For the first time, I felt they understood what I had been trying to explain, since June 10th, when Mike first landed in the hospital. They wanted to scope Mike's esophagus to see if they could find any blockage, but the doctor that would do that, would be unavailable till the end of August. So the oncologist decided to try a new anti-nausea medication, given intravenously, and then to put Mike on another medication (Reglan) at home, to see if there were any improvements, before putting Mike through the stress of another procedure.

When Mike weighed himself yesterday, after he vomited last, his weight was down 10 more pounds to 122. It had us both pretty upset. We both realize he can't continue to live at this pace. If this new medication fails to help, the plan is to get Mike scoped either here in Russellville, or in LR. If a blockage, or mass is found, they are considering putting in a feeding tube, to nourish Mike. The recent CT's didn't show any tumors in that area, but I suppose there's always a chance, something could be hiding.

Before we even were released from the chemo-lab, Mike was feeling much better. It's just the craziest thing....balancing fluid in him...to fluid getting out of him. He's either dehydrated, or excess fluid has built up in his abdomen and lung area. So far, his tubes are holding up and the infection he had last week has passed. He has pulled out the middle tube by about 3 inches, so we're anticipating getting that repaired next Monday or Tuesday.

I'm sorry to leave so many of you worried. The stress of dealing with all of this has been very exhausting and time consuming. Needless to say, I've got my hands full.

It hasn't been a very good day for Mike. He's not acting like himself. He's a little withdrawn and it's leaving me feeling a little down this evening.

I left for work a little early this morning, so I wasn't able to rouse Mike awake before I had to leave. When I came home at noon, he was still sound asleep in bed. He didn't hear me come in. He hadn't eaten breakfast. He hadn't taken his morning medications. I tried to offer him some lunch, and could only get a half of a toasted ham and cheese sandwich down him, and a snack container of applesauce. He went back to sleep.

Amber dropped by with Ethan later this afternoon, while I was at work, and she commented that Mike was acting a little odd. She called me sharing that he wasn't really talking to her while she was here, so she decided to go ahead and go on home. I found the same behavior from him when I got home from work.

I've asked him if he is alright and he just says he doesn't feel good. When I try to ask for details, he doesn't really answer, except to say he's not feeling well. I couldn't get him to eat dinner. He asked for me to make him some spaghetti, which I did, but he didn't eat it. I finally begged him to drink an Ensure shake, which he did. He went back to sleep.

The company that brought out the oxygen, got orders from the oncologist today to drop by some testing device to test Mike's oxygen overnight. He's not suppose to have the oxygen on tonight...just this tester attached to his finger. Then we are suppose to hang the device outside on the front door, and they will pick it up. I guess we'll eventually find out what this is all about.

My spirits are really low this evening. I think most of it is just feeling tired and a little bit discouraged. The reality is, this is not getting any better...or any easier....and today I'm not as sure I have what it takes to run this race to the end. Tonight I'm more the child, than I am the warrior. I'm grateful to have your prayers.

Last night didn't go very well for Mike. He had tried to eat 2 meals and an Ensure shake, but after eating supper, he was on the verge of throwing up all evening, despite taking the Phenagren. He said he had so much pressure, indigestion wise, that he felt totally sick to his stomach. At midnight, he couldn't fight it any longer.

We didn't end up seeing the oncologist today. We misunderstood the schedule. Mike had his second treatment today and we just finished getting his other lung drained. Mike misunderstood the measurement yesterday of what was removed from the left side. It was 1000 cc's of fluid, not 1000 mililiters. Today they removed 1300 cc's off the right side. He struggled at one point during the procedure, which they said was a charley horse of sorts, in his right lung. It scared Mike briefly, but he was able to catch his breath moments later, and the spasm went away.

Mike has been very unsteady on his feet today. He was strongly urged to ride in a wheelchair at both the doctors office, and later at the hospital, when he had to quickly sit down because of dizziness and weakness. He felt pretty drugged following the treatment...I'm assuming, from the Benadryl. He is home and in bed now, so maybe he can get some rest and feel better.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us.


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Wanted to update everyone that Mike came through his procedure just fine. He was in good hands, with Dennis and Patsy's daughter, Ashley. She was the doctor/technician that did the procedure. :)

We learned today, that it really isn't Mike's lung being drained, but the membrane surrounding it. Only one side was drained today. They prefer to do it this way, to avoid a lung collapse. So we will schedule the other side to be drained hopefully sometime this week. 1000 milliliters was taken off, which by Mike's description, sounded like quite a lot. There looks to be just as much on the opposite side, noted by the sonogram, that we still will need to get drained. The previous times he's had this done (when he was in the hospital), one side drained at 700 milliliters, and the other at 450. It is common for this fluid to return, so unfortunately we may be revisiting this procedure often.

Tomorrow we have lab work, an oncology appointment, and a treatment. So far, Mike is doing fine on these new treatments. The Levaquin is taking care of the recent infection Mike had around his drain. The oxygen is helping him to breathe better and Mike ate a good lunch today. I'm so grateful for God's protection over Mike, and for encouraging us with the little successes we can celebrate. God is Lord over the big and little things!

Thank you very much for all of your support, love and encouragement. We especially appreciate your help in providing us with meals these next few weeks. When Mike isn't hungry, or can't eat very much, I'm not inspired to cook for myself. Hopefully, his appetite will improve and I can get back to enjoy cooking again soon.

Please pray Mike's procedure tomorrow will go smoothly, and will enable him to breathe more easily. Then again on Tuesday morning as he'll have his second chemotherapy treatment since last week.

I wanted to share a poem, that is special to me, by Beth Moore. I have loved it for several years and noticed it shares a verse, "the lifter of my head" (Psalm 3), which is a Bible verse that is one of my favorite. That same wording is in the lyrics to a song, done by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, which was recently introduced to me through our church. I hope you will click on to the link below to listen to the song, and you can follow along with the lyrics at the bottom of this page.

God is Good ALL the Time!

Trust Me With Your Issac

For every Abraham who dares

To kiss the foreign field

Where glory for a moment grasped

Is for a lifetime tilled....

The voice of God

Speaks not but once

But 'till the traveler hears

"Abraham! Abraham! Bring your Issac here!

"Bring not the blemished sacrifice.

What lovest thou the most?

Look not into the distance,

You'll find your Issac close"

"I hear the tearing of your heart

Torn between two loves,

The one your vision can behold

The Other hid above."

"Do you trust me, Abraham

With your gravest fear?

Will you pry your fingers loose

And bring your Issac here?"

"Have I not made you promises?

Hold them tight instead!

I am the Lover of your soul--

The Lifter of your head."

"Believe me, O my Abraham

When blinded by the cost.

Arrange the wooded altar

And count your gains but loss."

"Let tears wash clean your blinded eyes

Until unveiled you see-

The ram caught in the thicket there

To set your Issac free."

"Perhaps I'll send him down the mount

To walk right by your side.

No longer in your iron grasp

But safer still in mine."

"Or I may wrap him in the wind

And sweep him from your sight

To better things beyond your reach-

Believe with all your might!"

"Look up, beloved Abraham.

Can you count the stars?

Multitudes will stand to reap

From one dear friend of God."

"Pass the test, my faithful one;

Bow to me as Lord.

Trust me with your Issac--see

I am your great Reward."

-By Beth Moore-

It was comforting watching Mike sleeping peacefully last night. I was thankful the oxygen allowed him to sleep soundly for the first time in a week. For whatever reason, the machine isn't as annoying to us this time, as it was last year. Perhaps that was because it was foreign then, and now we knew what to expect. The dogs are use to it, getting less tangled up in the tubing. But poor little Ethan is wary of it. He preferred me picking him up to get him around it.

I've noticed Mike is pretty much taking his highest dosage of pain medication, as timely as possible now. His neuropathy pain is minimal, now that he is on the Lyrica, but the right drain is incredibly uncomfortable for him now. He's also developing sores from where his body is sitting, or lying down, now. It is pretty much skin to bone in those areas.

Mike and I are wondering what the plan will be for Monday for the thoracentesis....whether it will be one lung, or both. At one point today Mike thought the oxygen was helping to possibly dry out his lungs. He felt the crackling, when he was breathing, was less. It was hard for me to tell a difference. I think Mike wishes he didn't need to have this procedure done. It's somewhat uncomfortable for him, and I think the bad experience he had once before, is always in the back of his mind.

As always, we covet your prayers. We are so grateful to hear how so many of you care about what is happening with us. Thank you for not giving up on us...for continuing to trust God with us, for divine healing. Hope, love and prayers is what is keeping us going.