First Outpatient Treatment...

We've had quite the morning! Our night wasn't that much better, as Kateli was up a couple of times trying to come into our bed for the night. We fought the first few times, and then about 4am this morning, finally gave in. Yes, she woke up in our bed! Oh, well! Joshua did great, he slept like a champ and is feeling a whole lot better. The little guy still has stuff that he is coughing up, and a runny nose, but I suspect that will last a few more days still.

Today, was Kateli's first outpatient treatment appointment. We were scheduled for 8:30am. Our dear friend, Mrs Jo came over this morning to stay with Joshua while Dan and I took Kateli to the appt. It's been a little tough this morning, keeping Kateli from eating anything. She has been asking for "water" and "eat" since about 4am, and we couldn't give her anything! She was supposed to be npo after 4am :(. We got to the clinic and immediately she was inserted her "needle" into the port, and some blood was drawn. Kateli didn't like that part--it was as though the needle in her port incapacitated her left arm. She drew up that arm against her chest and didn't release until the needle was out after the appt; about 4 hours later! :( We spent a lot of time in the waiting area, which is play room for the kids. However, Kateli didn't play. She sat in my lap the entire time that we waited.

We met a lady and her son; whom we had seen at previous appointments. This time, I talked to the mom and found out a little more about them. Her son, Jared, was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma in Sept last year; shortly after his 10th birthday. The tumor in his neck was was removed and Jared went through Chemo for a couple of months. Weeks before his last chemo and final scans to make sure Jared was clear of cancer, he relapsed and had another small tumor removed from his neck area. He is again undergoing chemo; this round harsher than the first and is scheduled for a bone marrow transfer in St. Louis next month. Please keep this sweet family in your prayers as well. Jared is the middle son of three boys in the family. He has an older brother, 14, and a younger brother, 4. Please lift them up as they are traveling tonight to St. Louis for some final meetings concerning the upcoming bone marrow.

When Kateli was finally got called back to get the bone marrow test done, Dan held her as all the nurses came in and out of the room, preparing for the procedure. The anesthesiologist came in, asked a few questions, and then gave Kateli the "white milk" stuff to put her in a sleep state. Dan handed Kateli over to the nurses and we walked out to wait in the waiting area for the doctor to come out when he was done. It was only a few minutes this time, Praise the Lord! The doctor came out, said she was fine; the procedure had been very quick and we could go back in there with her for when she woke up. While she was asleep, they did administer another dose of the chemo drugs. Kateli woke up shortly thereafter, and guess what she said? "momma, eat" "ham and cheese"....had to get that poor girl some food!! She ate almost an entire chocolate muffin before we left the hospital and then got home to eat a few slices of ham and two string cheeses! The girl has quite an appetite these days!! She is eating well and feeling great!

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Specific prayers:

* Please keep Chris, Dawn and Jared in your prayers. Pray for safe travels to and from St. Louis. Also pray for their meetings with drs and nurses at the St. Louis Children's hospital tomorrow. May the Lord put everything in place for a successful bone marrow transfer for Jared soon.

* Please pray for Kateli to continue taking the chemo with such grace. She is so strong; and has taken these rounds without a side effect! Please pray that things continue to move well with her treatment.

* Please pray for us as we try to figure out a way to get Kateli to take her meds in the morning and at night. She is on a steroid that must taste HORRIBLE!! We smell it, and the thing wreaks, so I can't imagine what it tastes like. It's quite the ordeal to get her to take the med twice a day. We've tried juice, gummies, and jelly to chase it down with but that doesn't seem to have Kateli convinced either.

* Please just pray as the Holy Spirit leads you.

Thank you for your prayers, love and your support!