How Long 'Til We Hear From You?

How long has it been?  I can't believe it has been over two weeks since my last posting!  I am sorry for taking so long, but as you know, life is really happening in my world these days.

My grad classes through California University of Pa. are going great.  They have already inspired me to go above the norm, to strive for more than the status quo.  I'm not gonna lie though, they are pretty demanding and therefore, definitely absorb a great deal of time - but very well worth the effort.

How about the Olympics?  Dawn and I could hardly keep from watching them (while I was in class of course... the one great thing about online courses!).  The hockey match this afternoon was fantastic!  Of course, a win would have added some excellent icing on the cake, but we'll have to settle for the silver.  After all, Jackie let me know that I, "couldn't do anything about the outcome, so breathe, Dad, breathe."  But wow, 25 seconds left in the match and the USA team scores (while risking the empty goal!) to send it into overtime!  CRAZY!

We are still moving a lot of snow around here.  Friday was a day off from school due to snow.  It didn't seem like we got enough to call school off, but after going out to plow I found there was over a foot in many places.  It was the real wet, heavy snow that packed down and became real slick, real fast!  Probably a good call.  So I made the best of it, I finished up the majority of work that was due to be turned in by the end of this weekend for my classes.  You know how it is, use every minute time very  wisely!

Last Saturday we went out for breakfast at a benefit for Emily.  Elizabeth, one of Leah's friends, organized the benefit and did an outstanding job!  She lined up a ton of donations from all kinds of businesses in and around Erie, organized a hall in Wesleyville to hold it in, and lined up all kinds of help for the day.  Here is a picture of Candy working in the kitchen.  She is all cleaned up in this shot, but most of the day she was covered in pancake batter!  Her job happened to be mixing the batter and she was doing it with a power mixer.  She was able to stay ahead of the demand by the girls on the griddle!

Elizabeth, Leah and Jackie

Tori (caught'cha!)

Emily has been having a really tough time since the transplant.  She has yet to eat because her mouth and digestive tract are all filled with open sores.  The treatments have her feeling really miserable so she spends most of her time laying and sleeping.  When she is awake, she doesn't talk hardly at all because it is too painful.  Last night, because her lips are so swollen, she accidentally bit her lip and it bled for a very long time.  Since she has been through so many different kinds of treatments, her blood doesn't clot very well at all.  By this morning when they found the cut and blood she was a mess, so Candy cleaned her up.  They ended up giving her some extra platelets this morning.  This has been so hard on all of them.  

They are still waiting for the bone marrow to take hold and start producing; it is just a waiting period (and lots of praying!).  During times of great trial, the days, hours and minutes just drag on and on.  We only pray that after it is all over, Emily will be able to look back and praise God for his healing.  And so, we pray.

Jim is not feeling well either.  His treatments brought a little relief, but not as much as we would have hoped for, and of course, the distance between him and Candy are very difficult for both of them.  His cancer is pretty aggressive so the doctors are trying to get ahead of it so they can go through with his surgery.

I hate being a bearer of sad news all the time but I know that many family members check in to see how everybody is doing.  On the other hand, I am going to try to write a bit more often and not always focus on the sad stuff.  Not because it isn't on my mind, but rather because all the great things that are happening should be acknowledged too; you know, where the Lord has poured out blessing after blessing.

Until then, I pray that you, too, will see the many blessings that have come your way!

"Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin', into the future..."

The past couple weeks have simply been crazy.  Sorry that it has taken so long to update everybody on the current (and no so current) events but this will probably be par for the course over the next... well, who knows, my classes are absorbing a good deal of my spare time.  I am not complaining, simply explaining.

Emily had her bone marrow transplant Friday night at midnight.  The donor marrow was late getting to the hospital due to the weather.  Dawn spent a couple days with her and Candy in the hospital offering a little extra support and found Emily in good spirits.  The ordeal has definitely taken its toll on Emily and she sometimes gets a bit edgy, but overall, she is a very tough young lady who is trying her best to stay positive. 

The transplant went very smoothly and Emily was able to rest through the night with no immediate reactions.  That was a very good thing.  Now she has a one week window that she may have a reaction flare up.  We are praying that won't happen and the transplant will successfully "take".

Jim has finally started his treatments and is beginning to feel some relief, but it is a slow process.  Unfortunately, Candy has had to spend most all of her time with Emily so Jim has been without her support.  This has been a real challenge for them, Candy would love to be in two places at one time but we know how that goes.  This has really taken its toll on all of them.

My niece, Marissa (18 years old) has been having some serious digestive problems for the last 6 months.  She has seen doctors and specialists trying to figure out what was happening and they couldn't pinpoint the cause.  At the end of last week, they found that her gallbladder removed.  They found that she had gallstones and that the organ was very soft and "mushy" when it should have been very firm.  The surgery was a success and we are hoping that it will take care of her digestive problems, too.

Mary still has her up days and down days.  We visited her yesterday and she was having a good day.  Mel said that she has been losing weight and repeating more words and phrases (due to her PSP), but overall, she had a good day. 

This week, my mom will have another birthday so we had some ice cream Sunday's with her, my dad, Mary and Mel.  We had a really good time together.  My mom is a wonderful helper to the people around her and there is no doubt that the Lord has gifted her in that way.  She loves to take care of elderly people who are in need and serve them however she can helping to meet some of their basic needs.  Mom will often times stop in and "do up" Mary's hair or sit with her as Mel runs some errands.  Thanks Mom, for all you do!

Will is now back in Pa.  He has taken another job offer that is one step closer to achieving his dream of owning a dealership.  He will be managing a new dealership in Summerset, PA.  The New Holland dealership will be owned by a very well established dealer who will use the new store as an investment and will mentor Will as they build the new location into a viable business.

Jackie is, of course really happy with the move and so is Will.  This puts them much closer to family and the area they love. 

The wedding plans are moving along and we all know the time will fly by and soon that date will upon us!  No big hurry though, there is still a great deal that needs to be done between now and then - CRAZY!

As for me, I just finished two straight weeks of district music festivals with some of my kids which equates to about 56 hours of additional time spent after school hours and Saturday's.  This week we have three evenings slated with my pep band and will have to fit my grad studies in there somewhere.  In the end, it all works out and comes together - I have simply learned that I cannot procrastinate.  If there is some extra time, use it very wisely and work ahead as much as possible!

Well, I pray many blessings on all of you!  Take care, and I will post another update as soon as I can.