David has been healing well since his last little bit of cryo. His eye lid is a little droopy now, and it tears up a lot. He will often have tears running out of that eye. I think this is supposed to clear up, but it is something that we will be speaking to the doc about next time we see him.
Our next appointment will be on David's birthday, May 30. I think this may also involve a trip to the oncologists for a follow up, but we will see. Hopefully the news will be good that day.
I am feeling a bit run down these days. Maybe all that the last year has held is now beginning to sink in. I am coping alright, but find myself much more ready to go to bed at night than ever before.
David is in the process of weaning. I need to find a way for him to sleep through the night, so that's a dilema. I have gotten very few full nights of sleep since he has entered our world, so I am looking forward to that. I am hoping that a little less dependence on me will encourage him to sleep better.
Well, I must be quick as I need to go pick up Hannah from school! Thanks for reading!
-Kim
Monday, May 5, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Encouraged
David had his exam this past Monday as scheduled. It was a little more encouraging than the past few have been.
The Doc found some remaining spots, but he really felt that these were old spots and not new ones that had formed since the last exam. He did some fairly extensive cryotherapy on these which also included a small incision so that he could get a better angle on the spots with the probe. We don't have to go back for 4 weeks this time, so that will be a nice break for us as well.
David did spectacularly as normal. We had to wait 3 hours for them to come and get him for surgery becuase the opperating schedule had been backed up for some reason. He didn't fuss or cry, but just played happily with Rob and I until they were ready for him.
He has been in a significant amount more pain this time, though. Yesterday was a very rough day for him, and he was very fussy and refusing of naps. His eye has had a lot of discharge this time too. Overall, he has been bothered more by the surgery (not surprising). He rubs his eye alot, and I have to be sure to get the ointment in it so that he doesn't get an infection. This takes all my strength, and even then, I think I miss most of the time. But I am trying. It will be nice for David that his eye will have one extra week to heal before we have to go back in, though.
Last night was a tough night. David didn't sleep much, and even when he did, it was restless. Today, overall, he has done better than yesterday, so we are hoping for a better night tonight.
That is all for now, but we do thank you again and again for all your prayers. They are so dear to us.
-Kim
The Doc found some remaining spots, but he really felt that these were old spots and not new ones that had formed since the last exam. He did some fairly extensive cryotherapy on these which also included a small incision so that he could get a better angle on the spots with the probe. We don't have to go back for 4 weeks this time, so that will be a nice break for us as well.
David did spectacularly as normal. We had to wait 3 hours for them to come and get him for surgery becuase the opperating schedule had been backed up for some reason. He didn't fuss or cry, but just played happily with Rob and I until they were ready for him.
He has been in a significant amount more pain this time, though. Yesterday was a very rough day for him, and he was very fussy and refusing of naps. His eye has had a lot of discharge this time too. Overall, he has been bothered more by the surgery (not surprising). He rubs his eye alot, and I have to be sure to get the ointment in it so that he doesn't get an infection. This takes all my strength, and even then, I think I miss most of the time. But I am trying. It will be nice for David that his eye will have one extra week to heal before we have to go back in, though.
Last night was a tough night. David didn't sleep much, and even when he did, it was restless. Today, overall, he has done better than yesterday, so we are hoping for a better night tonight.
That is all for now, but we do thank you again and again for all your prayers. They are so dear to us.
-Kim
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Next
It has been difficult for me to find enough time to sit and write lately. I appologize.
David's next exam will be this coming Monday, April 21. I dread this one a little more than usual. David didn't do quite as well coming out from anesthesia last time as he normally does. He was much fussier, and very sleepy all day long. I am hoping that it was just a one time deal and that he goes back to his quick wake up next time.
He has healed quite well from the last cryo. His eye is just slightly bloodshot still, but other than that, you wouldn't know that he'd had anything done. He is such a happy boy. His newest trick of the last few days is standing without holding on to anything. He even lurches forward from that position like he is going to walk. So far, it hasn't worked out so well, but it will be soon! He is quickly learning his way around table food, and seems to enjoy that. I am glad for this since it allows others to get in on the feeding action, and gives me a little bit of a break.
Well, the crying I hear tells me that it is nap time, and I must go. Thanks for keeping up with us. We appreciate you all.
-Kim
David's next exam will be this coming Monday, April 21. I dread this one a little more than usual. David didn't do quite as well coming out from anesthesia last time as he normally does. He was much fussier, and very sleepy all day long. I am hoping that it was just a one time deal and that he goes back to his quick wake up next time.
He has healed quite well from the last cryo. His eye is just slightly bloodshot still, but other than that, you wouldn't know that he'd had anything done. He is such a happy boy. His newest trick of the last few days is standing without holding on to anything. He even lurches forward from that position like he is going to walk. So far, it hasn't worked out so well, but it will be soon! He is quickly learning his way around table food, and seems to enjoy that. I am glad for this since it allows others to get in on the feeding action, and gives me a little bit of a break.
Well, the crying I hear tells me that it is nap time, and I must go. Thanks for keeping up with us. We appreciate you all.
-Kim
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Puffy
On very short notice, David had another EUA yesterday. The doctor found another spot, smaller than the ones last time, but this one didn't have as much time to grow as the last ones. He did a little more cryotherapy, so David has a puffy eye again.
We are supposed to go back in 3 weeks for another exam, possibly more cryotherapy.
The anesthesia seemed to effect David more this time than it ever has before. He was extremely groggy all afternoon, and it took quite an effort for me to get him to drink anything. Eventually, he took some milk and then started to perk up.
The doctor has pretty much let us know that this cryotherapy is the last ditch effort before removal of the eye. He said that we will "cryo until we can cryo no more", and then we will have to think of the next step.
I would love for David to be able to keep his eye since it would look much better than any prosthetic that they can produce, but more than that, my prayer is that his left eye will continue to stay healthy. I pray that there will never even be the hint of a tumor in that eye.
That is where we are for now. I am tired since we had to get up at 4:30am yesterday morning and it was a long day, but I think I am in good spirits.
Talk to you again soon,
-Kim
We are supposed to go back in 3 weeks for another exam, possibly more cryotherapy.
The anesthesia seemed to effect David more this time than it ever has before. He was extremely groggy all afternoon, and it took quite an effort for me to get him to drink anything. Eventually, he took some milk and then started to perk up.
The doctor has pretty much let us know that this cryotherapy is the last ditch effort before removal of the eye. He said that we will "cryo until we can cryo no more", and then we will have to think of the next step.
I would love for David to be able to keep his eye since it would look much better than any prosthetic that they can produce, but more than that, my prayer is that his left eye will continue to stay healthy. I pray that there will never even be the hint of a tumor in that eye.
That is where we are for now. I am tired since we had to get up at 4:30am yesterday morning and it was a long day, but I think I am in good spirits.
Talk to you again soon,
-Kim
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Getting Better
David's eye is healing well. It is still quite red in spots, but they are far to the sides of his eye where you can only see them when he is looking far right or far left. The swelling is pretty much gone.
I still haven't heard when the next exam will be. I will probably call them tomorrow if I don't hear from them sooner.
David has, once again, dealt with all of this in his normal way. He hasn't seemed to be bothered by it at all.
Rob and I took a little trip together this past weekend. It was really nice for the two of us to get away together. My mom took care of all the kids. I think we all enjoyed it :-).
I will update you as soon as I can on when David's next exam will be. We will cherish your prayers for us on that day since it could be a wild one.
-Kim
I still haven't heard when the next exam will be. I will probably call them tomorrow if I don't hear from them sooner.
David has, once again, dealt with all of this in his normal way. He hasn't seemed to be bothered by it at all.
Rob and I took a little trip together this past weekend. It was really nice for the two of us to get away together. My mom took care of all the kids. I think we all enjoyed it :-).
I will update you as soon as I can on when David's next exam will be. We will cherish your prayers for us on that day since it could be a wild one.
-Kim
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Chemo to Cryo
David's exam yesterday didn't give us the results that we were hoping for. The doctor found several new growths in the right eye (the bad eye). Thankfully, the growths were at the periphery and he was able to use cryotherapy on them. This is the same basic technology that they use when they freeze warts off at the dermatologists'. David seems to be handling it all in his normal happy way, although he looks like he's been in a championship boxing match.
So, now I get to wrestle him to try to get some ointment into his bad eye several times a day. This is no easy task since he's such a strong little booger. I have to admit that I don't think I have really gotten much of the ointment into his eye....just around his eye. Maybe it will soak in.
We have to go back in 3 weeks and see how the cryo worked. Rob and I also have to weigh the benefits and risks of continuing to treat an eye that is already mostly blind.
Rob and I are really doing emotionally quite well with this news. I think that we were both prepared that this was a real probability, and it didin't come as too much of a shock. It was discoraging, but we are dealing with that.
Again, we appreciate your prayers more that words can say. The older kids are handling the scariness of the eye alright. Isaac is fairly unsure of it, but I think he is coming to understand it.
I will update you some more later.
-Kim
So, now I get to wrestle him to try to get some ointment into his bad eye several times a day. This is no easy task since he's such a strong little booger. I have to admit that I don't think I have really gotten much of the ointment into his eye....just around his eye. Maybe it will soak in.
We have to go back in 3 weeks and see how the cryo worked. Rob and I also have to weigh the benefits and risks of continuing to treat an eye that is already mostly blind.
Rob and I are really doing emotionally quite well with this news. I think that we were both prepared that this was a real probability, and it didin't come as too much of a shock. It was discoraging, but we are dealing with that.
Again, we appreciate your prayers more that words can say. The older kids are handling the scariness of the eye alright. Isaac is fairly unsure of it, but I think he is coming to understand it.
I will update you some more later.
-Kim
Monday, March 3, 2008
Port Free
David is scheduled to get his port removed tomorrow. I know this is kind of short notice, but it was short notice for us too. I have also been very sick, so I haven't been able to update.
All of this is health permitting, though. He still has a pretty decent cough, and a runny nose, so I don't know if they will go ahead with this tomorrow or not. There is no way for us to know until we get there, though.
Once the port is removed, we don't have to worry about him getting fevers as much. One of the main concerns for him currently when he runs a fever is that the port has an infection in it. Once it is removed, and since we are this far past his last round of chemo, it is just the normal concern of any child with a fever.
We are really looking forward to warmer weather and healthier bodies. Thanks again for your prayers!
-Kim
All of this is health permitting, though. He still has a pretty decent cough, and a runny nose, so I don't know if they will go ahead with this tomorrow or not. There is no way for us to know until we get there, though.
Once the port is removed, we don't have to worry about him getting fevers as much. One of the main concerns for him currently when he runs a fever is that the port has an infection in it. Once it is removed, and since we are this far past his last round of chemo, it is just the normal concern of any child with a fever.
We are really looking forward to warmer weather and healthier bodies. Thanks again for your prayers!
-Kim
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