Pictures, Video and a Benefit

Today was Cash's 5th radiation treatment - we're thankful to God that he's tolerated the treatments so well, he always wakes up and seems refreshed and excited.  He drinks a lot of milk and talks and talks and talks.  I know my parents are really enjoying their time with him and he will definitely miss them.  This morning they played with Cash and even though he was hungry and wanted his milk, you would not have known it...

We had our weekly appointment with the oncologist and Cash's counts are good so no transfusion this week. Three more radiation treatments left and we're done with week 2...

The team working on the benefit have been working very hard to prepare for the event on the 21st. I won't be there in person, however, we are working on a way for me to say hi via the internet. The number of donations has been incredible and Laura put together a piece on the benefit and the donations (see below).

Still no news on the baby to report - Wendi keeps walking and walking hoping the little one has decided it is time...

Finally after a great day today, here is Cash with new toys given to him by our friends the Middlebrooks - sitting on his car with his new friend the giraffe.  Thank you for continuing to pray and praise God for small blessings and good days!

Another Permanent Hope

Yesterday Cash went to his first Astro's game - thanks to our new friend Carol, we sat in a very nice suite on the third base line.  Cash did well, except he didn't watch the game at all, he watched Diego on the iPad (oh well, we enjoyed the game).  Here are a few pics:

In addition to the game, I had to follow in my dad's footsteps and we visited the tattoo shop...Wendi and I started working on a tattoo for my arm as soon as we saw my dad's.  We already have 'Cuts for Cash', now we're working on 'Tats for Cash' - here's a pic of the still-swollen and a bit red tattoo:

Mucho thanks to my lovely wife for the beautiful design, she told me it was a great Mother's Day present so that makes me happy.

Speaking of Mother's Day, this has been the first time I've been away from my wife on Mother's Day and I know my mom misses all of kids and grandkids but we're making due.  No baby yet but Wendi's staying busy on this Mother's Day.  I miss her tremendously but I know we'll be together soon - she is an amazing mom to our two sons and third on the way (hurry up baby!).  Happy Mother's day to all mom's and especially to my mom who has given three-plus months of her life recently to caring for Cash, she is a very special mom and we love her very much.

Thank you for your prayers and support as always!!!

Early Morning Laughter

Cash loves to stack blocks and knock them down - This morning I captured a perfect example of what he does when he stacks and knocks blocks down...His laugh is precious and makes us all laugh here in Houston...



Have a blessed day everyone!

The Past Few Days

We have had a pretty good first week with proton therapy.  Yesterday, however, we received a call at 8:00 a.m. just as we were getting ready to head over there and they had had a power outage and the proton machines were down.  We waited for the call to tell us it was up and running, but by noon I canceled his appointment - Cash was hungry and ready to drink his milk.  They did get the machines back up around 4:00 and today we continued his treatment, the appointment we missed will be added to the end (tentatively set for June 16).

Cash tolerates the radiation pretty well - he is definitely more tired and tells us, "night-night" around 6:00 p.m.  I try to keep him up a bit later because he's also been waking up very early (4:30/5:00 a.m.) - when he wakes up he immediately wants milk, but on treatment days he can't have milk or juice so we have to keep him busy and his mind off of milk...

Tomorrow we'll be heading to an Astro's game and I'm excited to see how Cash reacts to the crowds and stadium (although I hear the Astro's are about as bad as the Mariner's right now, maybe there'll be no one there).  My parents are still here and have provided incredible support - I haven't lost any weight because of their great cooking.

No baby yet either (hurry up baby!), however, Wendi is doing well and I'll continue to post any updates on that front.  I hope everyone has a great mother's day weekend and thank you for your support and prayers!

A Permanent Hope

I was tempted to simply post this picture but it's a great story so continue reading for the story behind the picture...After proton therapy today we went over to the main campus because Cash needed a transfusion.  My mom mentioned that dad wanted to have his tattoo filled in (on his other arm) b/c it's 30+ years old and needs a touch up - I found them a few tattoo parlor's and they left while Cash had to endure another 3.5 hour transfusion...

They come back about three hours later and told me they couldn't fill in his old tattoo so he decided to get a new one - it was all covered with a patch to protect it for the next 24 hours, however, when we got home, my dad did the reveal (which is what you see above).  I immediately had my mom text it to my brothers and Wendi.  Dad told me he's been wanting to do it since Cash got sick - to me it's truly a permanent reminder of his hope and love for Cash.  I was waiting for the third baby to be born to get a new tattoo but I may not wait and join him soon...I did give him a big hug and we shared a few tears...

Speaking of baby #3, no news yet.  Wendi is at home with Jack Jr. and her sister and they're just waiting.  I will obviously post as soon as the little guy is born - for now we are praying for a safe and healthy delivery.

Corey (@ Hage Creative) sent us a few more photos he took before we left today - they are great and I had to post them.

The last one is what Jack Jr. does best, run around with a big smile on his face...Cash and I miss his energy and can't wait for him to come down soon with mom and little brother...

Cash has endured treatment and all of the additional appointments well - he's tired from the radiation, however, he's still very strong and continues to pick up new phrases and words - he definitely knows how to tell us 'No' when he's not interested in something (usually food-related).  We're extremely thankful to God and I continue to pray for healing and that God puts a hedge of protection around him so he stays healthy and able to keep going to treatment each day.

Thank you as always for your prayers and support!

First Day of Proton Therapy

This morning we headed to the MD Anderson Proton Center for Cash's first treatment.  I wasn't nervous, just anxious to get started.  Everyone there is wonderful and the process is pretty smooth - Cash and I check in and I take him to get his vitals (blood pressure, temp, and oxygen levels), then we wait for the anesthesia team to call us to the area with the proton machine in it.  They then give him the sleepy juice through his line and he falls to sleep almost immediately and I leave and go and wait until the radiation is done and then I meet him in recovery, where he is sleeping.  This morning he slept for about 30 minutes after the procedure and as soon as he wakes up, I give him as much milk as he can drink (we have to stop milk 6 hours before any anesthesia).  Then we leave and come back the next day...

My parents were with me today and dad went back with me to see the machine - it's impressive and everyone we meet in the waiting room is as positive about the therapy as we are.  Cash will develop a slight 'burn' in the area on his head that they are targeting, but two of the parents indicated it is almost like a sunburn and we just keep a special medication on it to prevent irritation.

My parents and I were talking on the way home and it's hard because unless you are here, it's very difficult to feel assured and comfortable with the process.  We were very excited about the process today and I want you all to feel comforted (if at all possible) with the radiation treatments as we are.  We also received confirmation that the chemo Cash was receiving (and will receive) in Seattle was/is the best protocol available for this type of tumor - we're thrilled now to have two teams working together to help us beat this.

Yesterday we took Cash to the pool - he can't go underwater b/c of his port, but he sure likes to splash and have fun...
 


Please continue to pray for Cash and all those that have cancer - we met even more families today with similar stories - God has all of them in His hands.

A Few More Pics

Jeremy left this morning (:-() - We will miss him but thankfully my mom and dad are on their way.  They are driving over 2400 miles from Lynden to Houston and should be here this afternoon.  It will be great to see them, I know they are looking forward to spending time with Cash.

A few days ago Jeremy and I went to the Bass Pro Shop here in Houston - it's an a amazing place with lots to see for Cash:

In addition, today I shot a short video of Cash after I read a Tigger book - he's fascinated with tigers lately...



Tomorrow we have a audiology appointment and then he starts radiation on Tuesday - keep praying for healing as radiation will definitely start killing tumor cells...