Another update...

Yes indeed, you are reading that thermometer correctly!  The last couple days have been frigid!  It has been so cold, in fact, that we had to turn our furnace on this morning - if you know us, you know that is REALLY COLD!  Brrrrr...  Ironic that the "sun" is only 3 degrees!  And that doesn't take into account the wind chill.

Sorry it has been so long since my last posting, but it seems this might be par for the course.  The new classes have started off very well and I am enjoying them, but they absorb a great deal of time.  Like I have an overabundance of that.  Right?  But the classes have been energizing so far and Cal U certainly does a very good job with their online program.  So, due to the new schedule, my goal is to write an entry at least once a week.  We'll see.

Emily is going back to Pittsburgh for the beginning of the bone marrow transplant process and all that goes along with that.  Her spirits are very high and she is approaching this challenge with a very positive attitude.  Later this week she will undergo both chemo and radiation treatments daily as they kill off all of her bone marrow and abnormal blood cells.  That leaves her immune system very vulnerable, so she has to remain quarantined as she goes through this process.  Once that has been accomplished she will receive the donor marrow through an IV.  As the new marrow cells make their way into her bones, if all goes well they will repopulate and restore her marrow with renewed healthy blood cell production.

All she knows about the donor is that the marrow is coming from a boy.  She struggled with that a little and said with a smile, "I didn't want a boy in me."  We all had a good laugh over that!  In the end though, this is the best match for her so she will make due.  [grin]

The biggest concern the doctor has with this whole process is for Emily's liver.  Because it was already acting erratically with the ammonia levels in her blood, he is worried that the combination of chemo and radiation might damage her liver to the point that she would need a liver transplant.  We, of course are praying that her liver will make it through the treatments just fine!

Their family had another big scare last week when Jim had to be taken to the emergency room when his tumor began unexpected bleeding!  They admitted him to the hospital and had to give him blood and fluids.  He has been very uncomfortable and dealing with a great deal of cramping due to the tumor.  They decided to begin some of his radiation treatments.  This week he will be taking chemo pills daily and two radiation treatments each day in hopes of shrinking the tumor to a size that can more easily be surgically removed.  He was released yesterday from the hospital and was in pretty good spirits, but was tired and still very uncomfortable.  He will be out of work for 6-10 weeks as he goes through the treatments and recovery.

Candy has been at her wits end wondering how much she can really take.  She is confident that the Lord will not give her more than she can handle, but that must mean that He feels that she is one tough lady!  She too, is very upbeat about all that is going on, "What else can I do?  I just have to take it one day at a time."  A very real concern for her is financial.  The transplant process for Emily will take about three months (6 weeks in the hospital and 6 weeks in the Ronald McDonald House) and Candy will be out of work for most of that time.  They will hold her job, but she has already used her sick time up with all of Emily's treatments through last fall and winter so her time off will be without pay.  She is confident that they will all get through this ordeal somehow and shows a great deal of faith that somehow the Lord will take care of them.

Leah and Tori continue to support their sister, step-dad and most certainly, their mother in every way they can - a couple of classy young ladies!

They are a special family who could really use your prayers.  Thank you for joining with us as we go through this challenging time together.