Thursday, May 29, 2014

May Updates: A Busy Month!

I have not posted in awhile because May is a crazy month for our family--Mother's Day, countless birthdays including Zach's and mine, and our anniversary.

Zach has had a few complications with his feeding tube this month which included a trip to the doctor on his birthday.  Nothing says "Happy Birthday!" quite like spending an afternoon in the doctor's office to work out the kinks.  But Zach hasn't used the tube in nearly a month.  He is able to eat normally and is had been very good about cutting out dairy, most breads and sugar.  

Zach's 7th round 2 weeks ago came and went with few side effects.  What a difference Irinotecan is compared to the toxic DCF earlier this year!  His 8th round begins tomorrow morning (Friday).  PET scans are scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 and we will know the results on June 13.  We continue to hope and pray (as I know you do too) that the cancer in the lymph nodes is responding to the Irinotecan.  

Last weekend Zach and I enjoyed a wonderful trip to San Diego thanks to a dear friend, Bruce Christiansen.  Bruce and Zach had originally discussed a "guys' weekend" to see the Cubs and Padres play. When we found out their 3-game series would be played over Memorial Day weekend (our anniversary) Bruce offered to take care of our flight and hotel so we could enjoy the weekend.  We spent time at the beach, visited the San Diego zoo, toured the USS Midway, enjoyed amazing food, spent some time with my aunt and uncle, and cheered the Cubs on to a win.  We've seen the Cubs play 3 times before in Chicago and each time they lost.  It was fun to finally witness a win--miracles DO happen!  

Nathaniel is now home and living with us for awhile. Go visit him at the downtown Lucky Fin's! 

Zach and Oliver enjoying the morning outside.

Max posing for the camera.  Unlike his big brother he LOVES a photo opportunity!

Max.  A chubby and perfect 7 month old.

Oliver wearing his favorite accessory--Max's chew beads. And he's SMILING!

Zach and I celebrated his 35th birthday with a massage and Thai food.

Max chowing down on frozen bananas.

Oliver "bonking" Max on the head. A favorite pastime of Oliver's...not so much for Max. Go figure. 

Oliver and Max came shopping with me (how nice of them to join!) and Max hammed it up for the photo op. 

Max!

Oliver eating bark chips. We get creative with snacks in this house!

Oliver built a pillow fort.

Max sat on his own for the first time on my birthday.

What a great present for this mama!

Birthday selfie with Max.

Selfie with Oliver who actually smiled!  Which is why I look so stinkin' happy.

Oliver and me on Mother's Day morning.

Zach's brother Ben, Max and great grandma Laura.

Zach with his birthday cake!  We celebrated his birthday a few days early on Mother's Day with family.

Oliver enjoying a giant slice of heaven.

 Cousin Brett and Max!  Such cute boys.

5 generations--grandma Shirley, great grandma Laura, Zach, Max and mom Kris.  

Max snuggling with me for another Mother's Day photo op.

Max taking a bath.  Santa bought him a new sink for Christmas and finally installed it in May. Better late than never--he loves his new "spa!"

Grampy Pat and Oliver planting.  I thought my dad would bring over a flower..instead he brought over a watermelon plant.  I'm sure it won't get THAT big, right?!

Zach and Kris.

The hubs and I went out to celebrate my birthday.

My brother Mitch and his girlfriend Jessica.  We take my mom to lunch on the river in Horseshoe Bend every Mother's Day.  Although we celebrated it a week late this year we had perfect weather.

Max and mom.

The Ingersoll Family! No one is crying, squirming or throwing a fit.  Success!

Max and Zach.


Mitch, my mom Kathi and me.  

Mitch and Max.

Headed down to San Diego!

 My dear Aunt Kathy and Uncle Carl.  They treated us to a fantastic lunch, great conversation and a personal tour of the USS Midway.  Carl is a navy man and knows it all. A perfect afternoon with them!

Touring the USS Midway.

Kathy, Carl and Zach.

 At Petco field cheering the Cubs on to victory!

Baseball selfie!

A happy ending to a great night of baseball.


Sunday, May 4, 2014

A Chubby Baby and Oliver's New Word

Oliver learned a new word this week: chemo.  I suppose it was inevitable and there are far worse things he could learn to say.  We talked about what chemo is and how it is helping daddy.  It makes my heart ache a bit though to hear him say it.  

Round #6 is over.  Zach is feeling much better than he did 2 weeks ago after his first round of irinotecan.  They upped his anti-nausea meds on Friday during treatment and that has helped keep the nausea at bay.  He even managed 18 holes of golf yesterday...but was completely wiped out after.  2 weeks ago his first round of irinotecan was awful.  So we are very thankful he is feeling pretty good.  He has 2 more rounds--Friday, May 16 and Friday, May 30.  We will rescan in early June and go from there.  Our prayer is that his lymph nodes are responding well to the irinotecan and a clinical trial won't be necessary.  

Zach is no longer have difficulties eating.  The radiation in March and April shrunk the esophageal tumor.  Although he still uses the feeding tube at night, it isn't a dire necessity like it used to be.  He's put on the 10 pounds he lost earlier this winter.  

I taught middle school English and worked in the Gifted and Talented field before I become a mom.  With new state requirements if I wanted to teach English again I would need an English endorsement.  So I began taking classes a few years ago and finished my final class the week Max was born.  But I still had the Praxis looming over my head.  In late February I began studying...hard.  My wonderful mom kept the boys every day for several hours so I could study.  I took the test in April and got word this weekend that I passed!  I am so thankful.  This means that I am now qualified to not only teach middle school English again but I also can teach at the high school level.  Before Zach was diagnosed I had planned to teach on-line so I could stay home.  With so many unknowns regarding Zach's health I am not sure now what I will do this fall...but at least I passed the Praxis and I have options should the need arise.

My days are now busy being mom again.  I no longer have to leave my boys for hours each day to study.  It has been wonderful to have lazy mornings at home and not have to study.  All of this down time means I have plenty of time for taking pictures.  You've been warned!

Oliver enjoys playing in the dirt.  He's all boy!

Zach and Oliver love Grinkers.  Unfortunately Oliver has now figured out that games require money. He will no longer pretend to play each game with "GAME OVER" flashing across the screen.

Maximus is a chubby, happy baby.  

He loves to pull his foot into his mouth and suck on his big toe.  This is a habit we will need to break.  

A beautiful day!

Max loves his thumb even more that his big toe.  I guess that's a good thing. 

Stare down contest between Max and Max the Bunny.

Max's first taste of solid food.  "You mean I have to get rid of this delicious thumb for THAT?!"

He's sold--loves bananas!

Family time at Jabbers.  

Oliver taking a quick break from playing.  It is a rare occasion not to see this boy on the go!

Oliver's a good shot!  Grandma Kris gave the boys the hoop for Easter.  Best Easter gift ever!

Max smiling and happy as usual.  

Zach and Oliver at our church's Easter egg hunt.  We made the mistake of showing up early.  Oliver was very troubled by the fact that he had to wait 20 minutes before he could collect some of the 35,000 Easter eggs...  


...Thankfully the one thing in the world that could distract him was there.  They had fun chasing each other around.

Oliver filled his basket halfway, realized the eggs were filled with goodies and promptly began eating the candy.  










Max was relegated to riding in the Ergo.  No complaints from either of us though!

Max and Oliver on Easter Sunday.  Such cute boys!

Family picture time--apparently the yellow loader is also a part of our family.  

Grandma Kris and Oliver!

Kris and Zach enjoying some sun during Oliver's second Easter egg hunt.


Mitch and his girlfriend Jessica (or "Gaga" as Oliver calls her.)

Mitch, my mom Kathi, my grandma "Cokee" and me.