"Kick it For Arde"

     I think we got through those 2 bad weeks post radiation/chemo!  Yesterday Warren woke up feeling good!  I was shocked to hear him say those words.  He had a really rought two weeks so he deserved a good day!  He's still not doing solid foods but that's coming.  He's hungry and really wants to eat he's just got to ease back into that.  He still has pain but it's not nearly as bad so I think this week we will start wheening him from the pain meds a little.
     My best friend, Julie, and Warren's friend, Kris Reiman, put together a soccer benefit for Warren yesterday called "Kick it for Arde".  Along with a lot of our other friends and family who worked it and helped make it a success.  (Thanks to Patrick Wadsworth, Robert, Angie, Melody & Garret Waldrop, Candice and Braxton Clifton, Steve Huckaby, Scotty Barnes and Newks for donating water and food and all of he Referees who donated their time!!!  And thanks to all of those who signed up and participated by playing and coaching!!!  I know there are otheres that played a part and just know that we appreciate it so much!!!)  It was a 3v3 tournament (for those non-soccer fans out there that means 3 against 3) for all ages and it was a great day!  There were over 50 teams that came out and participated and they seemed to have a great time.  Again, how overwhelming to see that many people come out and support Warren and our family!  As I was walking out the door to run up to the fields for a little while Warren said he was going to go.  What???  I couldn't believe it.  He hasn't been able to make it out of the house other than a quick ride to the doctor or once to the bank.  I'm not sure what happened overnight but yesterday was a REALLY good day for him.  He went out to the fields and stayed for several hours, watching games and talking to friends and all the kiddos.  It was so nice to see him feeling that good! 

Candice, Julie, Melody, Robert, Brax, Angie & Garrett





Kris Reiman, Sheldon Baker, Warren & Donnavan
The "Kick it for Arde" Soccer Benefit

 



Aniston warming up with Sheldon...bahahaha


To see more pics of the day go to www.facebook.com/internationasoccerclinic ...I'll be posting them later
 



     This morning is a little different story.  He's not feeling that great.  He's having issues (side effects) from some of the medications and he's pretty much in agony.  Hopefully, we'll get this resolved in a little while and he'll be on the mends!  I do think it's going to be a much better week and I'm really excited about that! 

I'm back to blogging if anyone is still out there following...

     Well, we have been home now for 10 days and it's feeling somewhat normal again.  And again, I apologize for not posting for so long this time for those of you who get on regularly to check on Warren's status.  It's been hard to find the time to blog but I will make it a priority again.  Promise!!! I've got to get better at time management!  I'm dedicating this week to getting more organized...while taking care of Warren and Aniston.  (I had to take her to the doctor today because she ran a fever all weekend and we needed to know what it was in case it's someting we needed to be extra careful Warren didn't get.  It's a virus called the Adenovirus.  Not that big of a deal but makes her feel really bad like the flu.  High fever, a little cough, really tired, sore throat, etc..  It can't be treated with anything so she'll just have to sleep it off.   Bless her heart!  Now, we need to make sure Warren doesn't get it!  I think it's mostly just in kids, though.  Don't think it's too much to worry about.
     Anyhow, about Warren...He's still feeling pretty crumby.  I know the doctors' said that the two weeks after his last treatment would be the worst but for some reason my mind would not let me really believe that.  I guess my logical response is...the treatment is over and each day he wakes up will be a little easier than the last but it's been the opposite.  Last week each day was WORSE than the last.  I'm hoping this week my theory will come into play!  No really, I feel like it can only get better but it still may be just as tough this week as last.  He's got to be the cleanest cancer patient around, though, because his comfort zone is a hot bath.  Can't tell you how many he takes a day!  Maybe 5 or 6, sometimes more.   (This morning he was in the bath when I left to take Aniston to the doctor and when we got back (2 hours later) he was in the bath.  I freaked out because he was sleeping and I woke him up and thought he'd been there since we left.  He said he had been but he was joking.  It was his 2nd bath.  Yes, I know it's dangerous to sleep in the bath but if you saw how small our bathtub is you would understad he's fine! ha ha ha....It's seriously perfect for Aniston's size, not US!!!  That should probably be our next project when all of this is behind us...a bigger tub!)
      Anyhow, whatever works, right?!  He is getting down more shakes than when we were in Houston but it's still not enough.  He's probably lost 35 lbs now.  As of last week he had lost 32 lbs and I know he's lost some from last week but I'm not sure how much.  I asked him how much he weighed when he played soccer in college and he's about that size now.  I know he will come back strong, though, and gain some back so I'm not as worried about it as I was.  We are almost to the light!  I just hope the saliva thing stops for him because that is one of the worst side effects and it's so yuk!  I think he could deal with the dry mouth way more than he can deal with having to spit every minute and he really can't go anywhere having to do that all of the time so hopefully that will subside soon.  Oh yeah, one of his biggest issues right now is sleep.  He is still having trouble sleeping at night.  I realized last night his biggest problem...he has sleep apnea, which he has never had, and it's jolting him back awake everytime he falls asleep and stops breathing.  He does this ALL night and is then miserable because he didn't get any sleep.  (I didn't get any sleep last night because when he did fall asleep last night he snored so loud (also something new) and Anistn snored really loud, too, so there was no chance I was sleeping through all of that.)  All of Aniston's life I've checked on her all night either to change her position or listen to see if she was breathing if I didn't hear her snoring and now I'm doing the same with Warren.  So, now I guess we need to address this issue and see what can be done about this.  I'm sure it's a combination from the radiation on his throat and nose and all of his medication he's on (which is from the side effects of the side effects!).
     So, that's what's been going on with Warren.  I'll keep y'all posted and let you know how he does this week.

 

He did it! It's over, done, history!!!

     Well, the last treatment was Friday and then we hit the road!  We were home by 12:45pm.  Sorry, I haven't posted.  I spent the weekend with the kids and haven't even unpacked or openend my computer.  Warren, is doing about the same.  He hasn't wanted to eat much and he's not getting much sleep.  It's a cozy, rainy day here today so maybe he'll feel like catching up on some sleep!  I have lots to unpack!

Warren ringing the bell after his last treatment!!!

 

 

He's finished!!!

 

     They gave Warren his mask to bring home.  (What in the world do we want that thing???)  Our car was so packed to the top with everything I told him he would have to wear it all the way home because we had no room for it! he he he....He did great, by-the-way, on the way home.  He slept the entire time.

     We'll be going back to MD Anderson in 6-8 weeks for another PET scan to see how the treatment worked.

Getting Ready to Say Goodbye to MD Anderson...Stay Tuned

     Stay tuned tomorrow!!!  We...ok, (I) am packing us up now and getting us ready to hit the road after Warren's LAST radiation treatment in the morning.  (I did lock myself out in the parking garage earlier while bringing suitcases to the car.  Ya think my husband came looking for me after 20 minutes, nope, nada! Had to wait for someone to walk by in the parking garage to let me in.  Then they acted all suspicious like I was full of it and trying to break in or someting.  Really?  In slippers and pj's?)
     Warren started out feeling pretty bad today but ended it feeling a little better.  The IV fluids he received every day this week kind of made him sick after each one of them for some reason.  Maybe because he felt really full???  Not sure.  He threw up after all of them, though, this week.  Weird.  I hope he will be ok for the 6 hour drive home tomorrow.  I'm going to make sure he has ALL of his meds so maybe he will just sleep.  I'll get him all comfy with pillows and a blanket and hope for the best. 

     I will be posting a video tomorrow of him "Ringing the Bell" after his last treatment.  (I hope it works!)  Check back later!  I'll try and post it before we take off or on our first stop. 

Hasta La Vista, Houston!!!

 

 

Romans 12:12  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

 

Two more sleeps until we are home!!!

     Well, the time is nearing!!!  I really can't believe our 6 weeks is just about up!  Don't get me wrong...the time has not flown by but it really doesn't feel like it's been 6 weeks.  I guess staying busy going to appointments nearly all day everyday has helped the time go by a little quicker.  (Even though I've had my fair share of sitting and waiting and sitting and waiting, on the couch, in a chair in the waiting room, in a chair in the hospital room...anywhere and everywhere!  Needless to say I'm over sitting.)  I'm definitely ready to get my exercise on!!!

Does this look familiar?  We wait a lot but at least they
provide comfy waiting room chairs!
(I had to sneak a shot or he would've gotten mad at
 me because it was way too early for all that.) 

     Warren had his last chemo treatment this past Monday and the last radiation treatment will be Friday morning at 6:20am.  Woo Hoo!!!  With that being said, the two weeks following his last treatment is expected to be his worst.  :(  Then he should start to get better...given he starts getting some nutrition down.  As of today, he's only had IV fluids and gatorade.  I've given him two Boosts throughout the day that have just sat in front of him.  (Ugghh...so frustrating.)  Some days he does well getting them down and others he puts it off over and over again.  He's been getting the IV fluids everyday this week. ( Dr. Lu thought it was a good idea since he started loosing a good bit of weight and didn't want the feeding tube and because we were leaving to go home on Friday.)  Yay, home!  I can't remember if I blogged about the appointment on Tuesday but if I didn't his doctor was pleased with everything and did not mention the feeding tube.  I was shocked but she's the expert.  Warren wouldn've denied it anyway but I really wanted them to harp more about how important it was to get thost Boosts in and any other nutrition but they didn't get on to him.  (Darn!  So, I really looked like the evil witch that won't stop nagging him or trying to shove nutrition down his throat!) 

     As far as how he's feeling, it's pretty much the same.  His throat hurts but he's able to control a lot of the pain with all of the meds.  (I may be speaking too soon because as I'm typing this he's trying to take a pain pill and he's in a lot of pain!)  He did wake up this morning at 4:30 vomiting.  I'm pretty sure that's from all of the yucky stuff that he's probably accidently swallowing while he's sleeping.  (That thick, mucus like saliva.  Ooooh.)  He's really, really tired every day.  Maybe fatigue from the cancer, maybe from all of the meds he's on or maybe because he doesn't sleep well at night...not sure but he sleeps most of the day.  He doesn't talk much but he can talk fine.  I do see a little difference in his voice and his speech.  Just a little.  I'm thinking it's maybe from all of the sores in his mouth, the radiation making his tongue feel weird or because it's all swollen back there.  Again, I don't know but that's just something I've noticed a little when he's talking a lot with the doctors becuase that's really the most he talks during the week.  It's just takes too much effort for him to talk right now.  He saves it for when he has to.  (Good sign...Duck Dynasty just came on and he just laughed!  That's the first laugh I've heard in quite a while.)
     Alrighty, like Bree, Glenda and Kedan say, "Two more sleeps until we go home!!!"  THANK YOU ALL so much for the support and prayers!  I can't imagine where we would be in this journey right now without them!  Not that I EVER want anyone to go through this but, unfortunatley, the odds are against us.  1-2 Men and 1-3 Women get cancer...but if it does happen I hope that we can help anyone in anyway and I hope everyone remembers that most cancer is treatable these days and there's ALWAYS HOPE no matter what the cancer and no matter what the doctors say!!!  Everyone is different and it's GOD's battle NOT our battle!!!  "This is what the Lord says to you. 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's'" (2 Chron. 20:15).

Do you see all of these birds?  This was while I was trying to eat lunch!  There were literally 20 people eating lunch outside and for some reason about 15 birds came and sat at my table and stared at me.  Not kidding, there were no birds anywhere near anyone else's table, only mine.  They were even walking around ON my table right by me and practically in my food.  It embarassing!  I had to take my lunch in because even when I tried to scare them with my hand they didn't flinch! They got closer!  I thought they were about to jump in my plate!!!  Weird!!!

This is our LAST week!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!

     Sorry there have been no posts for several days!  There really hasn't been much to blog about.  Warren is doing about the same other than the weight has finally started dropping off, unfortunately.  When we saw the doctor last Tuesday I was surprised that his weight was what it was because I expected it to be a lot less but on Friday he had more IV fluids and when they weighed him he was down 20lbs total from when we got here.  I was shocked that a good bit of weight came off so fast and all at once.  I still have not been real successful in getting him to eat much.  (I welcome suggestions if anyone can think of anything!)  I did order him some shakes called Scandishakes.  They have 600 calories each in them!  (I wish he would've told me sooner about them because that's what he's needed.)  He not eating much because it's painful to get anything down and he doesn't have his taste now so it all tastes horrible, as well.  He really doesn't even like soups anymore.  All he's really doing right now is vanilla Ensure, jello, gatorade and water and sometimes yogurt.  That's about it but on most days here lately it has only been about 400 calories total for the day.  He knows he has to get more calories in and sometimes he really tries but then just says he'll try again later and doesn't end up doing it.  I'll bring it to him and it just sits on the table for hours until I throw it away.  :(   I really think he needs the feeding tube but it't going to have to be someone else convincing him because he doesn't want to hear it from me.  We'll just have to see what Dr. Beadle thinks about it this week!  I'm sure her tune will be different with him this week along with the nurtionist.
     Our days have pretty much been the exact same the last several days.  He's on lots of pain meds so he's staying really tired, not sleeping that good at night and has started to choke a little from the thick saliva that his glands are producing.  (The doctor explained that to me more in detail last week...The radiation kills his lower saliva glands but the top ones still produce some saliva.  You have two types of saliva glands.  One produces watery saliva and one produces a thicker saliva and the glands that produce the watery saliva has stopped but the other gland kicks in to try and compensate but it actually produces the saliva thicker than usual.)  That's the best I can explain it!  It's really yuk!  He would probably be better off withouth that gland, too!  The good news is this is our LAST week!!!  Warren wants us to have everything packed up on Thursday night so that we can drive straight home after his last radiation treatment, so I guess that's what we are going to do!  I can't wait but I'm a little worried it's going to be a miserable trip for him.  This week should get a little harder and then they say the two weeks folling the end of treatment will be the worst and then he should start to get better.  We have to come back here to MDA 8 weeks after the last treatment for a PET scan. 
    

On a brighter note, I actually won something this week! I've never won anything in my life. I read this book about a year ago called Secrets of Millionaire Moms. (The author, Tamara Monosoff, interviewed lots of mom inventors like the creators of Lillion Vernon, Airborne, Build-a-Bear, etc., and has written many other books and has a line of products with the brand name Mom Invented...anyhow, I filled out a survey she sent out last week (to win an Apple TV) and she emailed me yesterday and said I won an hour of mentoring from her over the phone. Yay! I'm so excited! She's calling me on Wednesday!

 

 

 

It was Maison's Birthday Friday, April 5th.

She went to Orange Beach with friends.

Happy Birthday, Mae!

Happy Birthday, Jess!

(her best friend's bday was Saturday)

 

 

...and Ani said this was the best play date ever!!!

 

...and Jarred spent his weekend working on a group project and coaching a soccer clinic they had for the Ruby Van Meter School in Des Moines.

 

Can't wait to see my family!!!

 

 

    

Is that chicken, octopus or sea anemone in my soup?

     Not much to say today!  We didn't get much sleep last night.  There's really no reason other than we just couldn't sleep.  Not sure why.  Warren was not in a ton of pain or anything.  He did get up and vomit once (which was the first time since the first weekend) but other that we just tossed and turned all night for no reason so when we had to get up at 5:45am to go to radiation we were so tired!  Warren takes his Ativan (the Happy Pill) at 5am each morning so that when we go at 6am he's relaxed but it's starting to not work as well so when we went this morning he got up on the table, they locked the mask down over him and right when they were about to start he just couldn't do it.  He told them he had to get out, so they made us come back at 1:30pm.  (The doctor said to take 1 1/2 Happy Pills.  He did and it helped a little more but just barely enough for him to make the 20 or 30 minutes it takes.)
    He hasn't been in a whole lot of pain today, or if he was he didn't say, but he has slept a lot.  I've just been waking him up to drink and eat some.  He's falling into a weird sleep, actually.  I guess it's all the meds!  Like falling asleep in the middle of trying to tell me something, or sitting up to drink and then falling asleep while trying to get up.  he he he....it's kind of funny sometimes.  (I'm not mean!  I have to find humor somewhere! Come on!!!) 
    So, other than that much of nothing that happened today there was just this one last thing that's totally blog worthy!!!  Now this is exciting!....Warren said he would eat miso or egg drop soup so I got all excited and remembered where I saw a Japanese restaurant on the way home from church on Easter and went there tonight and ordered take-out.  On the menu it said they had egg drop soup but with shredded chicken.  I asked them to leave out the chicken and ordered two.  (I got him Miso, too, just in case he couldn't do one or the other.)  Got home, opened it up and...what in the heck was in that soup???  I asked them to leave out the shredded chicken but this chicken had balls at the end of the shredded chicken (or so I thought it was chicken).  If you haven't seen my FB page someone solved the mystery for me, thank goodness!  I was so freaked out I threw it all away.  I did try it...had to...and the weird thing was it tasted like shredded chicken at the top but the bottom was rubbery.  So weird!  It ended up being something called enokitake mushrooms.  What in the heck!  Why would they put this is egg drop soup.  Chicken was weird enough to put in it.  (Sure wish I would've known that before I threw it all away!)  I was seriously intrigued! I stared at it, picked at it and took pics of it for like 30 minutes.  Have a good Thurday, y'all!!!



What would you think???  In soup!

Is Today only Tuesday???

     Wow, I just realized today is only Tuesday!  (I was about to say Week 5 almost over.)  It's been a long two days!  Warren is actually doing a little better today than he was the last couple of days.  We had a serious discussion last night about his eating and drinking.  (Mainly eating!)  I got serious and pretty much told him I was going to tell his doctor's on him and tell them exactly what he ate for about 3 days straight...NOTHING!  (Time to start being a tattletale!!!)  After he threw a temper tantrum and pouted he got over it and got his stuff straight!  He started consuming calories and did very well last night and today.  He really didn't loose any more weight since Friday, which I was shocked about.  Actually, I think he lost 1-2lbs and then he gained it back.  Yay!  I was certain they were going to tell him he had to get the feeding tube but not this week.  I think he's figured out how to get some shakes and yogurt and few other things down.  I found some vanilla shakes that are 350 calories each with 13 grams of protein, yougurt that's 200 calories and few other things that will work.  Dr. Beadle did tell him to start wearing 2 pain patches now and he can take his Hydrocodon on top of that.  Wow...that sounds like a lot!  I guess when he's really in a lot of pain his body uses it.  She, also, called him in some gel like stuff he can use to numb his tongue and mouth so that will probably help when he eats and drinks.
     Well, not much else to tell today.  I'm going to post a picture of his doctor's so y'all can see who we see each week.  (I would really like to get Dr. Beadle to say "hi" on video...maybe next week.)

                                         



Dr. Lu




Dr. Beadle





 

 

2 Corinthians 12:10

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insults, in hardships, in persecutios, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Only 1 more chemo after this!!! Yay!

Looks like we're going to be here for a while today. Warren had radiation this morning and then we came up to the 2nd floor for chemo. (Radiation is in the basement.) We told them he needed IV fluids after the chemo was finished and they said that would be fine but it's going to take another 4 hours for the fluids. Whoa! Ok... (Can I get another warm blanket, please?) ...I'll be able to post some more good reads soon so stay tuned!
By-the-way, Warren sleeps really well every time we come for Chemo. He's snoozing now. I guess maybe its the Benadryl they put in his IV before he gets the chemo. (I wish it did that for me...I've been taking it all week because for some reason I've been itching really bad from head to toe for the last month. I know, I know...I'm gonna go see someone about it later...But the Benadryl does absolutely nothing for me!). Maybe he should take one before bed from now on!