No real news from South Alabama

My MIL is still hanging on. We actually had the chance to talk to her last night while she was coherent. She has slept the past 2 days and when she has *TINY* amounts of food, they go through without stopping. Initially Hospice thought it would be all over by now but God quite obviously has different plans.......and His plan is ALWAYS best!! As for me and the children, we're coming home today. We'll repack and be ready to come back down when Alan tells us we need to be here.

3 nights in a hotel (cramped &expense)

+2 toddlers who are having a blast at Miss Amy's

+ the exhaustion of waiting

+ the need for them to be back in their routine

= Time To Come Home!!!

PLEASE JUST KEEP US ALL IN YOUR PRAYERS!! Pray peace for Alan's family and an easy passing for his Mother. Pray for me and the kids as we come home. I WILL BE MAKING THE DRIVE HOME TODAY AND I DESPISE DRIVING THROUGH MONTGOMERY/B'HAM AREA!!! BLAH!! I just hope I get us hope in the 3 - 3 1/2 hours it usually takes! :)

Update on Alan's Mother

HI ALL......

Just a quick update from South Alabama..... We arrived around 9am today and have been at his parents home most of the day. We were able to check into the hotel around 1:30pm and catch some sleep. That helped all 5 of us.

Faye is not well at all and Hospice feels that it will only be a matter of days. Our hearts are so heavy right now but at the same time we rejoice in knowing that she will be with her SAVIOR and LORD soon. Out of all pain and 100% whole again! We praise JESUS for HIS sacrifice so that WE may have ETERNAL life!!

My sweet hubby is holding up pretty well but family members that are coming and going...not so much. They know that this is probably the last time they will see her EARTHLY body. Pray especially for our cousin Cody. Faye is "Auntie"(aintie) to him and she is his favorite on earth!! Cody(wife Jen & daughter Caylee) had a really hard time saying "good bye" during his visit today.

My heart aches to watch them leave...

Please pray for a peaceful passing of our sweet Faye and comfort/strength for my family. This is by far one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. My eyes fill with tears in an instant......

Please pray for Alan's Family.....

Please pray for Alan's family right now......

We just found out that Alan's Mom's cancer has spread everywhere. It is literally just a matter of time and they have been advised to call in Hospice. We are just trying to digest it all and figure out what to do from here. That's basically all we know. I will keep you posted.

I am really worried b/c AJ's birthday is next Wednesday. The doctor has said that "it won't be long before she's no longer in any pain". I know this is INSANELY selfish but would you please pray that she will not pass on AJ's birthday. I think it'll be longer than a week but my heart is so heavy for my son right now. He has endured more than any one child should and I just can't stand the thought of this happenning at his birthday. July already sucks b/c that's when he lost his granddaddy and his Daddy.

I am just at a loss......

Thanks!

PIGTAILS........FINALLY!!!!

Doesn't she look like "BOO" from Monsters, Inc??

SOX THAT ROCK!!!

My friend Lynda makes THE CUTEST sox evah!! Beads, buttons, bows, lace, ribbon.....you name it, she can make them!!! She is doing a give-away right now as well.

Go check her out and order some SOX THAT ROCK!!!!

http://lund7.blogspot.com/2009/06/calling-all-little-feetanother-giveaway.html

It's the little things that keep me sane.....

When asking Luke why he had Sydney's leapster instead of his,

Luke replied..... "Because"...

I asked "Because why?"....

He answered "Because SHE'S MY BEST FRIEND!!!"

Sydney says..."YEAH"!!!

It's those moments that keep me somewhat sane......

The day has FINALLY come.....

AJ IS GETTING HIS BRACES OFF!!!

CAN I GET A WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

In November 2007, we started the process. First with a pallet expander that was twisted every night for 3 weeks. That was as painful for me to do/watch as it was for him to go through. We cried and cried over this experience....EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!

Then we had to let everything expand and set for 5 months!!!

Then came brackets and wires. Power chains and adjustments. Tightening and cleaning. Braces wax and "christmas tree' brushes. Gray bands and colored bands. Fussing about not brushing. Loose brackets and pokey wires. Busted gums and canker sores.

FINALLY........

19 MONTHS LATER IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO COME OFF.... APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS EARLY AND WITHOUT RUBBERBANDS FOR CROSSBITE ISSUES THAT WERE CORRECTED WITH THE EXPANDER!!!

The date for removal is 6/18 at 10:30am!! They'll be taken off, his teeth will be cleaned really good and his permanent retainer will be put on bottom. He'll be molded for his top removable on at that time. It will be fitted a week later!!!

I DON'T KNOW WHO IS MORE EXCITED....ME OR AARON!!!

Deana's Stem Cell Update......

2:20 pm EST JUNE 4, 2009

GREAT NEWS! Deana just met with her doctor and while 5M harvested stem cells is the optimal number (and they are continuing to harvest today) the numbers are “good enough.” The doctors plan to move forward with the bone marrow transplant next week! Deana has a long day in front of her still: blood transfusion, platelet transfusion and then harvesting. She’ll be at the hospital for many hours and has a morning appointment with the doctor to schedule the steps leading up to the transplant.Please keep Deana and her family in your prayers – keep the mantra up for 5M cells - the medicine and positive thoughts are working.

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10:00 pm EST JUNE 3, 2009

An update from Deana as relayed via Deana's Aunt Laurie . . .

"I'm so tired after spending hours and hours in the hospital that by the time I get back to the motor home, I'm too tired to get online and do it myself. I really appreciate that you will spread the news for me.”

"They collected 1.6 million stem cells on Monday and 1.2 million yesterday. I don't know the counts for today and I will go in again tomorrow. The minimum number I need is 5 million" "If I only get 1 million today and 1 million tomorrow, I will be 1 million short, so I'm hoping that these shots they have been giving me are working to bring my counts up. (She had one today.)

"The pulmonary specialist was a great guy. He really worked with me to help me pass the (respiratory) test. I needed to score 50 and only got 48. He said not to worry about it, though and I really liked him. I asked about taking it again a couple of times today, but no one knew the answer, so we're just letting it ride.”

"They tell me I should start getting stronger now that the shots are over -- I had my last one tonight."I'm having a difficult time with the strength in the fingers of my left hand, so it's hard for me to type. I'm so sorry I haven't been able to answer everyone's emails and messages and do my own updating. My chemo brain is just so tired and after these long days, it's hard to do much of anything. Last night I didn't get home until 11 pm and then had to be back in at 7:30 this morning.”

"I really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers everyone is sending me. It means so much to know that you are all out there praying for me and thinking about me. I'll let you know when I can how we are doing and what's going to happen next.”

As always, Deana sends her love..........

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NOW is the time to storm Heaven with prayer to bring up Deana's stem cell counts and give her the strength she needs to pass her respiratory test (insurance required). We LOVE you, Deana! Keep the faith and please get your rest. You will get your 5M stem cells!