Kara - Saturday update

As of last night Kara had two options. They recommended that she just go home and spend her last few weeks at home with Skylar. The other option was to start a new chemo regimen that has a very good chance of killing her. Well, being the type of person Kara is, she's not going to go home and wait to die. So she is going forward with the chemo. It's a combo of drugs that have not been tried before so we do not know how how Kara or the cancer will respond. They will start Rituxan today and infuse Gemzar, Navelbine, and Doxil tomorrow. From what I understand this is typically a Hodgkins regimen (minus the Rituxan). Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.

I also have Facebook and am posting frequent status updates if you'd like to add me.

Kara

Well, I think I've updated most everyone I know with what's going on with Kara but I'll post an update here as well.

Kara was having some pain and nausea over the weekend last weekend and when she checked her temp and it was 103 she thought it was time to call the doc. Her doc told her to come to Vandy right away so she could get checked out. After a multitude of scans and tests, it was determined that the lymphoma is back. It was found in her liver, spleen, and her lymph nodes under her arms. We aren't really sure what the next plan of treatment is. She is already so sick and weak that the treatment itself could kill her. They may try to chemo to slow it down and then give her some mature lymphocytes to attack the cancer. The docs are meeting this afternoon to come up with a new plan. They did say that a cure was "slim." Praying that God will prove them wrong.

Memorial Day 2009

For Memorial Day we decided we would spend the day being Memphis tourists...hahaha. Our first stop was the VA National Cemetary. Every year the boy scouts put flags on all of the gravesites. It was really something to see. The kids were amazed at all of the flags. We didn't get out and walk around because it was raining but we did drive through the cemetary and the kids enjoyed reading all of the names and dates on the markers. After we left the cemetary we headed downtown to walk around and ride the trolley. Carter loves trains so this was right up his alley. We rode the loop around Mud Island...it was quite relaxing! Our last stop was our favorite burger joint....Huey's!

School Play - "Annie"

For the past several months Madison has been practicing for the school play, "Annie." She was cast of one of Daddy Warbucks' servants and a NYC pedestrian. They did 5 performances....one for the school, and 4 at the Bartlett Performing Arts Center on 2 separate nights. I thought all the kids did an outstanding job! This was our first attempt at using our digital camera for video but I think it turned out ok. Take a look!

Madison 4th Grade Honors Program

Today was Madison's 4th grade honors program. She also received a certificate and ribbon for Academic Excellence and Citizenship, and also got 2nd place in her class for Accelerated Reader points. We're very proud of her too!

GA Coronation

At the end of every year at church the GA's have a coronation ceremony where they get their charm for the year. They learn about a new continent each year. This year they learned about South America. Good job girls!

Strawberry Pickin'

Today Carter and I went out to John's parents' house to help pick some strawberries. I'm pretty sure he ate half of what he picked!

Harrison 1st Grade Honors Program

Today was Harrison's 1st grade honors program. It seems like just yesterday he was finishing kindergarten. He received a certificate and ribbon for Academic Excellence and Citizenship, and also got 2nd place in his class for Accelerated Reader points! We're so proud of him!

Harrison's 7th Birthday

Today was Harrison's 7th birthday party. I can't believe he is 7 already!!! Where has the time gone?! This year we decided to do something a little different and I'm glad we did! Earlier in the year his class did an in-school field trip with a company called Mad Science. I thought it would be really cool to do a Mad Science party so I checked to see if they offered birthday parties and they did! The guy Marc that came out to the house was great with the kids and everyone had a wonderful time. Harrison was the "lab assistant" for the day!

Putting rubber gloves on

Blowing up a balloon to show air pressure

Flash paper.....

....burns so fast it doesn't produce ashes!

Acetone dissolves styrofoam....who knew???

Electricity!

The kids thought it was funny to shock each other!

Waiting for the rocket launch....

Waiting to blast off....

Running to the backyard to see where the rocket went!

Big Daddy showing the kids a black widow spider that he found!

Getting ready to make slime!

He got lots of cool gifts from his friends. He got some new outdoor toys, a stunt kite, some cars, a Speed Racer cap, and some gift cards.

Grilling out after all the kids left

Harrison got lots of cool gifts this year...his main request was books! From us he got an animal encyclopedia, some Magic Treehouse books, a Time Almanac for kids, and some biographies on historical figures. He also got a new DS game (Monsters vs. Aliens), a new Wii game (Mariokart with the steering wheel), and a chemistry set for kids. John got him a posterboard sized dry erase board with some markers. John's parents gave him some money, a Spongebob movie, and some pjs. The Jasons gave him some money and a model car kit. He can't wait to enjoy all his new gifts!