Still at the ER

Forester and Pete are still at the ER. Forester is getting some color back thanks to the bags of fluid, and is getting ready to try some pretzels. We're praying those go down ok. Tests are being run to make sure he isn't fighting anything else and we're still waiting on results. I'm hoping they'll be home in the next hour or so. Keep praying & thanks so much for doing so! ~Whitney

Headed to the ER...again.

Forester has been home since early Friday evening. Round 4 went ok. He had some vomiting in the hospital but otherwise things went fine. In the last several months we've been able to manage the vomiting pretty well with all of the drugs he's on. For some reason, this month the meds don't seem to be doing the job. Forester has been unable to keep much down since he got home & today he cannot even tolerate a small amount of liquid. This is a vicious cycle because his nausea medicines aren't staying down either... So, per doctor's request we'll be heading to the ER when Forester awakes from a nap. He'll get some fluids via his port and hopefully this will help the dehydration and in general help his body to return to "normal". Please pray for him! He is scared to eat or drink anything now...so tired of being sick. I just feel so bad for him.

Pete is leaving town for the week on business. He was supposed to leave tonight but was able to change his flight to tomorrow morning. Please pray for all of us as the timing of this trip is not great. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your prayers!

Whitney

One way you can help!

As you know, Forester's hospital stays are tough and to be honest, quite boring for him. One thing that really helps pass the time and is something to look forward to is the Atrium Playroom at MUSC Children's Hospital. One of Forester's favorite things to do in the Atrium is play Xbox. Unfortunately, it was broken this week. Children's Miracle Network and Microsoft are teaming up to provide an gaming upgrade to a Children's Hospital playroom but it will be determined by VOTERS. We need this upgrade! Please follow this link, and take the short little steps to vote for MUSC Children's. You can vote 10 times per day! If each of you from this blog would vote 10x each day, I'm sure that MUSC would win this upgrade. We are currently in 6th place. The top 3 win! Please take a moment and VOTE! THANK YOU!!! (more details from this week and future happenings to be posted soon!!)

Here is the official info and link: (thanks Betsy!)

The Children's Miracle Network has partnered with Microsoft to award an upgraded game room to the three CMN children's hospitals that receive the highest number of votes in a national contest among pediatric hospitals.

YOU can help us win this amazing opportunity for the children at MUSC Children’s Hospital.

People who vote also have an opportunity to win one of several Xbox 360 game systems. Each person may submit a maximum of 10 votes per day.

It only takes a few minutes to sign up (heck, it took me 47 seconds, but your results may vary). Register and vote here: http://xbox.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/default.aspx

Please vote 10 times EVERY day and pass this email along to others!

p.s. The contest runs until 16 OCTOBER.

p.s.s. MUSC Children’s Hospital is currently sixth on the list. Remember: we only need to reach the top THREE~!

Hearing Test

Forester's hearing is still PERFECT! PRAISE GOD!! Woo-hoo!

BRAVES GAME!

We had the very best day at the Braves game! It truly was a boys' dream come true. Forester was given his own jersey, ball and glove all signed by the players. Coach Glenn Hubbard took Forester into the clubhouse and he was able to meet all the players. He said it "was so cool"! Coach Glenn is an amazing man. We just can't express our appreciation to him for making all of this happen. Forester even got to say "Play Ball" to start the game! Thank you sooo much to all of you who came out to support Forester and love on us. I am sorry most of you didn't get to see Forester. He was so wiped out from the heat, the walking and pre-game festivities, he took a 2 hour nap on the couch in the suite & missed half of the game! I am also sorry we weren't able to see and talk to each one of you who came out. :-( It was a crazy day, but PERFECT (minus the loss in the 12th inning!).

A lot has been going on the last couple of weeks and I haven't had a chance to blog. I'm limited on time today too as Forester's 4th round of chemo starts today. He will have a hearing test today (PRAY) and then the 4 chemo drugs will start this evening (PRAY!) Remember all those yucky side effects and keep praying against them. Also, Micah apparently bumped his front tooth a few months back and it has died and become infected. He has to have his 2 front teeth extracted today at 2:30. Please pray that everything goes smoothly. As always, please continue to pray protection over our family from any illness as germs are our biggest enemy these days. It is obvious these prayers are working!! Please keep it up. More very soon. We love you all and thank you so much for your love and prayers for us.

*A professional photographer was taking lots of pictures on Sunday and I know some of you have some that are much better than mine, but I wanted to get something on the blog right away. Here's a little snapshot of our day!

12 Years Ago Today...

This post is dedicated to my sweet, Pete, whom I married 12 years ago today. I still honestly can't believe this man wanted to marry me. He was and IS my dream come true. I love you, baby. We've been through quite a lot over the last 12 years...working in ministry in Atlanta, surviving seminary, leaving all our closest friends in Birmingham and moving to Charleston where we didn't have friend (minus my mom and dad) or a job! We've endured a lot of change as we've grown our family. And this year, enduring the biggest challenge of our life...a daughter. (hee hee.) Of course I mean Forester and cancer. You have been, and continue to be, the rock of our family. You are an amazing husband, a wonderful, completely involved and fun father, you are a hard worker and a dedicated provider. You love God, you love me, you love our children. And, you are so fun and funny! I truly enjoy being with you and feel so blessed to be the lucky girl who gets to call you her husband. I know others are jealous and they should be. :-) Thank you for loving me so well these last 12 years. Thank you for giving me the gift of our three children even though you were really apprehensive about the third one. Thank you for being understanding about my short comings and patient with me. I know I'm not easy to live with. I know I test your limits and you extend grace to me over and over again. You motivate me to be a better wife, a better mom and better person. I want to be someone you'll be proud of and brings you joy. I hope I succeed at least some of the time. You are the one I try to dress to impress. You are the one I hope and pray still thinks I'm cute after all these years....even though I wear the battle scars of carrying our children. There is no one else I desire to please other than my God. I am so thankful you serve Him and love him as I do. More than anything, that is the greatest blessing to me. Your love for Him. I pray we will have many more wonderful years together, that we will see each child leave our nest, and enjoy many years after as best friends. I love you, now and always.

Happy Anniversary!

Whit

Updates on Braves Game

Hey, friends! It's Katie (Whit's sister). I just wanted to mention a few of things about the upcoming Braves game on September 6th:

1. We have almost 100 people in the Friends of Forester section - woo hoo!
   
2. Our seats are in the upper level in Section 402, Rows 17-25. This is straight back from home plate, so we should have a great view. I THINK these seats are covered (but don't hold me to that), so we might have some good shade.
3. As mentioned before, Forester and immediate family will be visiting our section, but they will have some special seating that Glenn Hubbard has provided that's a little closer to the field.
4. If you have paid me for your tickets and t-shirts, thank you!! I will be mailing your tickets tomorrow. If not, I'm holding them ransom until you do :) You can either pay my via PayPal (swaneyrox@gmail.com) or mail a check to Katie Swaney at 4020 Andover Circle McDonough, GA 30252. Each ticket is $10 and each t-shirt is $7. One payment for everything is fine. No need for separate checks or transactions.
5. The plan is to wear our t-shirts at the game, so I'll be distributing them as you get to your seats. Please don't feel like you HAVE to wear your t-shirt, though. No pressure.
   
6. A God thing....A Christian singer, Matthew West, will be performing after the game. I've downloaded his top two songs and I really like them. Check him out.
7. Email me at fofbraves@yahoo.com if you have ANY questions. I'm happy to help.
   
8. THIS IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN!!! We're so excited. I think Forester is going to have a blast and all of you are going to be to blame for that. Hee hee. Thank you, again, for the support! See you Sept 6th.
   

Just Another Long Monday

We made it through hospital week and had a very low key weekend.  I'm here at the hospital clinic now with Forester and Slade.  Forester's red blood cell count is already low so he's getting a transfusion now.  He will also be getting another dose of vincristine today.  This may be his last dose of vincristine for a while because his legs are getting so bad.  I'm posting two videos below (if you received this via email, you usually have to go to the actual blog site to view the videos).  One is Forester walking through the hospital today - just trying to show you how much his legs/gait have changed.  I was trying to be subtle about it so I'm walking too - sorry if it's shaky.  The other video was taken moments ago - I was trying to whisper since everyone is asleep in here so I'm sorry if you can't hear my commentary very well.  I'll write more soon.

*don't forget to scroll down and pause the playlist songs

oh, and a HAPPY 41st Anniversary MOM and DAD (muzzy & pop)!!  I LOVE YOU!

~Whit