April Update

I've been working on a new post for quite sometime now and I believe I have "bitten off more than I can chew" as they say.  Lately we seem to be surrounded by a lot of difficult situations...my grandmother's health is declining, we lost one of Pete's best friends to cancer 2 weeks ago, some of our closest friends are dealing with a very fragile pregnancy with twins - one twin with Downs Syndrome & possibly other complications. Frankly, too many people I know have CaringBridge websites! Are you picking up what I'm puttin' down?  YUCK.  And again it begs the question WHY? So, I started a post about what I have learned in the last year or so about asking God that question.  It's not a small thing to try and put into words and I'm currently stuck due to my lack of communication skills and feeling completely inadequate to tackle such a question. But,  I'll keep working on it.  Meanwhile, it's been a month since I've updated you on Forester and I know it's overdue.

The last month has gone quite well.  We are back into the normal routine of school and homework, church and play, and even some normal weekend activities like golf with Daddy & Pop & Uncle Steve, and kicking the soccer ball in the backyard. Forester continues to go to physical therapy once a week to work on improving his balance and regain strength in his legs. He met all of his goals in physical therapy last month and was so proud to show me.  Things such as, 15 jumping jacks, & running on the treadmill! His therapist is very good and we are so pleased with the progress he is making.  We continue to see some side effects of his chemo like; random nausea/vomiting, fatigue, emotional ups and downs, depressed blood counts & loss of appetite.  These are minimal compared to what we were dealing with a few months ago but can still be stressful at times.  Our biggest concern at the moment is Forester's weight.  He's about 10lbs under weight and looks pretty skinny.  He just isn't eating much at all and still has what I describe as being like 1st trimester pregnancy morning sickness symptoms.  Something may sound good until he sees it and then he rejects it. Certain foods will sound good for a week or so and then he doesn't want it all at anymore. He'll take 2 bites of something and that's it. I know it must be so tough for him.  But, it can also be so frustrating for Pete and myself. Especially for me when I spend time cooking what he wants (in addition to what I've already made for dinner) and then he doesn't eat it.  Please pray for patience for us where food is concerned. 

At Forester's check up on Thursday his blood counts were really good - almost normal! Everything we heard was positive except he was put back on Megace, an appetite stimulant.  Pray that it increases his appetite and that he eats and gains weight! Again, in comparison to our worries a few months ago this is nothing and we are so thankful that this is our greatest concern at the moment. We are also so thankful that we are in the last 2 months of chemo! Is that a light I see at the end of this tunnel?? God is so good and YOU and your prayers have made all the difference. We are so thankful for you - that you care and that you pray. It is overwhelming and completely humbling.  Thank you and don't stop. :-)

Love, love, love,

Whitney