Today's Lab Work

Ray was back to the Dr. today for lab tests. His counts are low, but not dangerously low. The Dr. did order three shots for him that had to be taken at the hospital. (out-patient) These shots will help to bring his counts back up. We are trying desperately to keep him out of the hospital through this round, even as he bottoms out. Since the last round went smoother than the first, I think he'll be able to handle it OK at home and so does the Dr. However, he will be visiting the Dr. every other day for a while.

We took a look back over the past three months, and realized that in the past 90 days, he has spent 43 in the hospital. Needless to say, he is so tired of being in there that he just cannot stand the idea of one more day in that place.

We pray he stays healthy, especially as flu and cold season (and the holidays) are closing in.

Love you all,
Kim

Home form the Hospital

Ray made it home this afternoon around 2:00 and shortly after that was on his way to the shop. After spending a couple hours at the shop, he came home, exhausted and slept in the recliner. He's glad to be home and we're all so glad to have him home! There's no place like home.

Love you all,
Kim

What's This?

Another picture? This one taken Sunday afternoon while Mary was celebrating her birthday with her brothers. It's always a good time when we get some of the family together. It would have been nice to have the girls home also; but the distance is too far for Katie and Jenna to come home for a weekend, and Amber's baby is due any day now. I promise a "new grandbaby" picutre soon.

Oh, yeah. This blog is supposed to be about Ray. He's doing well. Very tired of being in the hospital, but doing good. We're hoping to bring him home Sat. morning. It looks as though he'll finish this round of meds early Sat. and he's already making plans for what he's going to do when he gets out. If things go as they have in the past, he'll probably have about 4-5 good days before his energy is totally zapped.

Thanks again for your continued prayers, phone calls, cards and visits.
Love you all,
Kim

Mary's 8th Birthday!

Where do the years go? I know I'm getting old and it's no wonder as fast as the years fly by. Can you believe Mary is already 8 years old today? Just doesn't seem possible. We had birthday cake yesterday for her while Ray was still home and tonight we had a little birthday celebration for her in the hospital. She sure did not want her Daddy to be in the hospital on her birthday.

All is going very well for Ray. He (reluctantly) checked into the hospital around 10 this morning. That admitting procedure (all the questions) just gets easier and easier. You know you've been there way too much and way too often when you can anticipate the next question before it is even asked! But, we're not complaining. We are so thankful for all the latest technology and modern medicine.

Love you all,
Kim

A Good Report

Ray's blood counts were much improved today. In fact, his red blood count is nearly normal!! What this means is that he is ready for the next round of chemo. Sooooo, Monday morning he'll be admitted back into the hospital and "continue annihilating the cancer cells." He'll be there about 5-6 days if all goes as planned.

The Dr. told us today that he'd like for Ray to have 3 more rounds. We hope and pray these next rounds go as smoothly as the last one did.

Thanks to everyone for all the prayers. Please don't stop! We know it is because of all your prayers that Ray is doing so well. You are a tremendous blessing to our family!

Love you all,
Kim

A Short Update

Just a short update in case anyone is interested. Ray is feeling well, and growing impatient. He feels as though he should be doing more to move this whole process along a little more quickly.

We had a busy, but very good weekend. Amber and kids were here since it was a holiday weekend. A baby shower was held for Amber on Sat. afternoon and then on Sat. evening we celebrated Willie Faye's (Ray's mother) 80th birthday.

Those of you reading this that grew up in the Texas panhandle, and have moved away, you would not believe the way it is raining here. It has rained nearly non-stop for four days. At times the rain has been light and other times very heavy. The ground is saturated! You know how unusual this is for our area. What a blessing!

Friday Ray will be going back for his Dr.'s visit and lab work. We're thinking he'll be ready for the next round of chemo.

Love you all,
Kim

Trying to be a patient Patient!

The Dr. was not pleased with Ray's red blood count today, so he was given a shot ( promotes the growth of red blood cells) and goes back to the Dr. next Friday (17th) for lab work again. Obviously, he will not not begin chemo next week.

This was not part of the plan that Ray has in his mind. His plans are to begin another round of chemo every 30 days or so, (not exactly the Dr.'s plans) and then be finished in 2-3 months. He's counting the days when treatment will be finished and life (work) goes on. End of leukemia!

The words of St. Teresa Of Avila: "Be patient and leave it in the hands of God.... In every event the best we can do is leave ourselves in the hands of God."

Words for all of us to live by.


Love you all,
Kim

Finally, a Picture!

I feel like I'm getting soooo blogger savvy!! I've added a picture! O.K., O.K., I had to have help. Thanks, Sr. Mary Michael!!

Ray is really doing well. He feels better today than he has in about 2 1/2 months. He'll be going back to the Dr. tomorrow (Thurs) afternoon for lab work. He claims he knows the routine now, and since he's feeling so well, the Dr. will set the date to begin the next round of chemo. He's thinking possibly next week. We'll see what the Dr. says tomorrow and I'll let you know.

Love you all,
Kim

Good Week-end

Ray continues feeling better little by little each day. He even felt strong enough to go to the Bitonel wedding Sat. and we stayed longer than I figured we would. Tomorrow we are going to drive up to Booker for the day to see Amber & Steve & kids. My Mom and Gaylene (one of my sisters from Wichita Falls) are also going with us.

Ray will be going back to the Dr. Thurs. for lab work. We feel certain the Dr. will want to set a date then to start the next round of chemo:(

Love you all,
Kim

Good Report!

Ray got a terrific report on his blood counts today! The Dr. is so pleased, that we don't have to go back for lab work again until next Thurs., and we were expecting to be going in every day. Ray had sort of shuffled into the Dr.'s office, but after hearing such good news, he walked out of there with a little bounce in his step. He even wanted to go to Wal-Mart, which we did and then later to Daniel's football game. The power of words!

But even more amazing, is the power of prayer which we have felt so powerfully each and every day since we began this walk. Thank you, thank you so much to everyone that is praying for our family. Please don't stop, you're prayers are powerful! We are asking the Lord each day to bless all who are praying for us. Many of our prayer warriors we don't even know!

Love you all,
Kim

Home!

Dr. came in this afternoon and announced Ray could go home since he was feeling so well, but would need to come in each day to the Dr.'s office for lab work. We readily accepted his offer before he changed his mind and immediately began packing. We got home around 4:00 and it wasn't a moment too soon for Ray.

He's has plenty of time to think of all the things he'd like to do while he's stuck in the hospital. So now that he's home he's got plans to get so many things accomplished. But he's still weak and just runs out of energy before he can get anything done. It's so hard to be patient in our fast-paced way of life.

There's no place like home!

Love you all,
Kim