Happy New Year

Well as a friend put it ' Out like a lion and in like a lamb'! Our 2008 ended not quite as we had planned. You know, celebrating the boys birthdays, Christmas and I would be getting ready to go back to work. God definitely had different plans for us!! After going to many appointments and getting worse news everytime we saw a doctor we were given the news that Dave has Stage 4 esophageal cancer with metateses to his abdominal wall. After some quick decisions Dave had an tube placed down his nose down and passed the stomach and started Chemo.

Dave was admitted on Dec 15 - Dec23 for his first chemo(for observation for 24hrs and then it spiraled) He gets an injection of 2 types of Chemo every 3 weeks and then is hooked up to a continous pump of chemo for 3 weeks(it is changed every week). So every wednesday we go to the Tom Baker and have his picc dressing changed and get a new chemo pump and then ontop of that every thrid wednesday we also get the 3 hours of injections. Every monday we have to go for blood work prior to the chemo to check the white blood cells and such. Dave seems to be doing well and the only side effect that he has at the moment is fatigue. Considering all the side effects he could get we will be happy with just fatigue. The oncologist says that the lack of side effects means that he is tolerating the chemo well but the more that he is on chemo the more side effects may show up.

He was discharged and we had an enjoyable and blessed Christmas. Both our works sent us wonderful packages and friends and co-workers nominated us to CJAY 92 for the childrens wish foundation. We were truly blessed. We had many meals brought to the house and friends babysat, cleaned and many other tasks! Thank you. We had not only my family up for Christmas but Dave's as well. The New Year brought visits from close friends and Dave's uncle Kenny.

I was supposed to go back to work yesterday but I am taking my sick time and then if need be short term disability. My supervisor Shelley and the department have been extremely supportive. Shelley said that I need to focus on him and getting him back on his feet, which is much appreciated.

God has blessed us with wonderful Family, friends, and co-workers that are supporting us through this. Thank you for your support and prayers. Both are appreciated more than you know.