GREETINGS FROM MARK AND JEN

Well, another week has passed and we count down 7 more days until round 2 of chemo. mark still has his hair and looks good. His mornings are usually pretty good and around noon he starts to fade. He has been able to do some Everpure work and enjoys keeping up with his clients. His company has been terrific through all of this and really told him to focus on getting better and they would take care of the rest. We are grateful for that. Thanks Eddie.

I have been subbing a lot this week and will continue to as long as Mark stays strong. The kids received midterm reports today and they did great. I can't believe school is out in 5 weeks. Where has the year gone.

Everything is so green and I love it.

Thanks for thinking of us.

love,
jen

Praying for you!

Mark,

  We missed you at Mom's 70th.  We thought and talked of you often.  We continue to pray for you as you come up to your second round of chemo next week.

  Love you,

Ali

Hang in there!

Mark, I can't imagine what you are going through and how difficult it must be on so many levels.  I admire your strength and courage.  The medical and technology world is amazing though and to hopefully lighten your day here is a link to some truly amazing (and a bit bizarre) robotic technology being developed our here in Boston (and yes apparently the video is real). 

All my Best, Dan.

(hope this link works -- if not go to youtube.com and search for Big Dog robot).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1Ww

Hang in there!

Hey guys,

  Hopefully Mark you are rebounding from your tough couple of days!  Glad to hear you are still able to get to Andy and Liv's activities.  Remember to rest as much as you can, your body will thank you by cooperating more.  Love you guys,

Ali

tough day

Yesterday was a rough day. Mark was exhausted for most of the day. This stuff is really setting in and taking its toll. He managed to get to Andy's baseball game last night but went right home to bed. I have not seen him this morning but heard the shower going. This is hard for him because he is such a get up and go person and feels frustrated that he can't beat the exhaustion. I think he can count on this middle week to be his worst and then start to feel better again in the 3rd week. (just in time to go back in and do it all again) I got up and dragged a friend to the gym with me at 5:15. It was rough but we finished. My mom's birthday is sunday so don't forget to call and wish her at happy 70th. I love you mom.
love,
jen

Some good words

Hey Mark,
Just ran across a neat saying in a book I am reading. Made me think of you.

Humor is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles.

Sometimes you gotta laugh...and it is OK to cry.
Thinking of you and your family. Prayers coming long distance should be there soon.
Uncle Jeff and Cousin Renee

does boys ain't white

Hey Mark thanks for the laugh! That is some good medicine. Now that Livie is confirmed I think that means she is old enough to date...Let me know if you need a shot gun or some old dad advice. Yes boys are creeps! Good weather heading your way. Havent been fishing yet here in Colorado but going soon.
FISH ON DUDE!!
uNCLE jEFF

white men CAN dance

Try JibJab Sendables!

Checking up on you

hey Mark,
Still thinking and praying about you. Livie congragulations on your confirmation. This blog thing is working good . Jen please keep up the good work keeping us informed. Let us know if there is anything you need.
Love you guys
Uncle Jeff and aunt Renee

ONLY ONE TOUGH NIGHT SO FAR

After the first chemo treatment on wed., things have been pretty good except for Friday night. Mark is taking such massive doses of Prednisone (steroids) that he had some bad uncontrollable shaking and moving all night. The Doc on call told him he could take a benadryl but it did not help. I looked over at him when he finally fell asleep and he was twitching intensely. I guess your body has to eventually fall, doesn't it? He is still in a lot of pain from his latest surgery but gives in to the vicodene and that helps.

We had a great celebration today for Livie. She was confirmed at our church this afternoon. Mark's whole family came down from Crown Point to share the day with us. She looked so pretty. We had a picnic with fried chicken and all the fixings, yummo.

Andy had a doubleheader yesterday and had a double, a few singles and a walk. He is a great little ball player. He will also literally take you down when it comes to guitar hero!

I am going to start tackling the trim work in the basement. It has to be painted before the rest of the walls can be done. The new carpet will come on Friday. I think this basement thing is really going to happen. It will be a nice place to hang.

Thanks again to all of you for your prayers and thoughtful words. They mean the world to us. We will always be grateful.

love,
jen

Good Luck for the Long Haul

Hey Mark,
I am getting first hand information from the best sources in Crown Point, your mom and dad. As soon as I figure out how to blog better I will get better at this. Drop me a line anytime. Good luck with the procedures coming up.
From,
the real Denny Crane

Group Support

We love you Uncle Mark!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep on Bloging

Thanks for the update! When you mentioned that you would be sporting the Mr. Clean look did you mean like... an ear ring? If it is what I am thinking do you loose ALL your hair? (If you know what I mean) Pics would be appreciated...not really....Prayers still heading your way , followed by snow.
Snow bound in Co.
Uncle Jeff and Renee

Cycle 1 Day 1

Today we finally moved the life ball forward toward normal. I'm scheduled for six cycles of chemo, one every three weeks. The treatment process itself is very routine, but long (all day) in my case. The nurse spent the first couple hours installing the IV and administering a mix of pre-treatment drugs. That's followed by a couple hours dripping in Rituxin, the big killer. The last drugs are pushed in by the nurse, which took just 40 minutes.

If you're interested, here's the recipe for my R-CHOP cocktail:

Rituxin

Adriamycin

Cytoxoan

Prednisoe

Vincristine

You can scramble these words ten ways to spell the word "toxic."

Price tag for today's cocktail: $9,300. Pre-treatment and nursing care additional. Thank you.

I feel fine but I'm told to expect considerable fatigue within a couple days. Nausea will be controlled by Phenergan tablets if and when needed.

Within three weeks I'll proudly sport the Mr. Clean look.

Jen continues as my advocate, keeping everyone in line. She reviewed my files today (until confronted by my nurse) and tells me I'm categorized as a "pleasant 47 year old male patient." Outstanding. The files weren't spotted the rest of the day.

With You Today

Oh Jen and Mark.................what a day this will prove to be for both of you, and the kids. I have been praying constantly today and can't shake the feeling that everything will be okay with the treatments. I can't imagine how scary it is to ask how the chemo will affect you and be told "it depends on you and your body". Yeah, bite me. If I kick you in the kahunas, how will you feel? Bet he would have an answer for that! We love the both of you and are right next door to provide anything you need and will expect that you will call on us when it's necessary! Pick up kids? No problem. Sour Cream? Got it. Surgery gloves? Yep (don't ask why I have the stupid things).............Clorox Wipes, you know I do!! We love you both. I am off to Florida tomorrow and will be back on Monday night. I will be checking the blog to keep informed.

Maria and Kevin

Here we Go

Wow! We feel so special to have so many people praying for us. Thank you Stacie. Tomorrow we come face to face with the Devil. Chemo is not our idea of a good day. But we are ready and geared up to melt this thing away. It is hard for mark to swallow solid food now and the oncologist believes he will notice an easier time after the first treatment. We are praying for no horrible reactions to the drugs tomorrow so that we can complete the cycle and check off week one. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers and sharing a little bit of your lives with us. It really is a wonderful distraction and much appreciated. See ya manana.
love,
jen

Hey cousin in law

Hey mark,
Just figured out this blog stuff. Would like to wish you the very best on your treatment tomorrow. You are in our prayers and we have been thinking of you constantley.
A qwick toast to the person who influenced us the most to change from Catholic to Lutheran (and you did not even know it) ...Keep a careful watch ...the Pope is in town and he is pissed!
Uncle Jeff and aunt Renee

Never alone

Mark and Jennie,

  Now that Mom's gone home it will seem harder at first.  You have sooooo many people who love and cherish you. I can be on a plane in a moments notice to hold your hand, say a prayer, wash a dish, do some laundry or simply to be another person to sit with.  You are NEVER alone!  Love you,

Ali

now what?

I think I am using this blog more for me than mark. Well, my parents left to go back to virginia this morning and I find myself saying, "now what?" Just having my mom here for a month gave me a sense of having a net and I feel a little now like I am suddenly supposed to fly solo. Thank heaven for our family and friends. I don't at all feel alone but maybe a little less sure of what is to come. Wed. we begin the treatments and the rest is in God's hands. Please pray for us. Pray that Mark tolerates this poison and isn't out of commission for long after each treatment. Also please pray that his heart is not compromised by the adriamyacin in the chemo. We sure would love to hear from you all. Sign up for a google account and let us know what's going on with you.
Thanks for your prayers,
love,
jen

touched lives

Mark,
I wonder if you have any idea of the lives you've touched. So many people today at church have told me they are following your progress via this blog and are praying for you. Friends in other circles of our lives have told me the same thing. Some of these have health and personal issues of their own they are dealing with but they have time to care about you.

Support like this does not come by accident. To have a friend you must be a friend so the way that you have conducted your life speaks volumes about your character.