"I do!" Part Two

We hope everyone had a great weekend - Cash's vocabulary seems to be exploding and of course I'm biased, but it's pretty adorable...



Cash was Superman for Halloween - he truly is strong!!!!

I'll post tomorrow after Cash's MRI - we keep praying that God continues to bless us with more time and that He heal Cash - we continue to be thankful for each and every moment.  Thank you for your prayers and support as always!!!

Great Weekend and Prayer Request

We continue to be thankful to God for how Cash is doing - he has had another great week and he's talking more and more each day.  Below is a very short video of his latest phrase - last post I wrote that he says 'I do!' when anyone asks if he wants something (in fact you can just say, 'Who wants it?' and he'll say 'I do!' - 'It' can be nothing he just likes to say it)...



Please pray for the MRI on Monday - I'd like to say we've become pros at the follow-up meeting to review the results, but we still approach it with a great deal of anxiety. We know God is in control and trust that He has Cash in His hands and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't pray for a hedge of protection around Cash.

Finally, for those not on Facebook, I posted a picture of a pumpkin I carved this week - it's a replica of my tattoo. I'm now trying to find someone who can make me a belt buckle with 'A Cash of Hope' (if you know of someone please let me know).

Have a blessed Sunday and thank you for your prayers and support!!!

Looking Forward

I apologize for the lack of posts this past week - there isn't much new to report (which is good news).  Cash finished his last chemo on Thursday and threw up a few times over the next few days - he did the same thing last time so I have to remember to keep the anti-nausea medicine going for a few days after chemo...

He has another MRI next week - it will be the first MRI since the gamma knife procedure.  As usual, we are nervous for the MRI, however, our trust in God continues to be strengthened.  It's amazing, Cash is moving from what is called the monosyllabic phase (speaking just one word) to speaking more than one word in a sentence.  This weekend when we asked him if he wanted more M&M's, he said very clearly, "I do!"  It's adorable and another reminder that he's still developing, in spite of the tumor.

Last week was great and we're praying for another great week!  Have a blessed week and thank you for your prayers!!!

Pumpin Patch Fun

This morning I left for work at 6:45 as Wendi and the boys were still waking up...By 8:00 she called me and said they were on their way to Lynden to go to the pumpkin patch with her mom, Laura, Jen and the kids.  I'll let the pictures tell the story...

Cash continues to amaze us - His strength and resilience is truly something that only God could give him.  We are 5 days into the oral chemo's and it doesn't seem to phase him (giving the medicines that is)...Oh and he knows how to use the iPad all by himself now...(thanks Jack Jr for teaching him...:-))

We are in for a quiet weekend - Jack Jr. went with Mike and Julie D (& family) to Twisp on a hunting trip.  It is right up Jack's alley - on the drive over they saw a bear and a deer - he is going to come back with tons of stories...:-)

Please continue to pray for healing and strength for Cash - We are thankful each day and I can't tell you how many times a day our eyes water up with joy in seeing him play, laugh, and interact with his brothers.

Another Round Starts

This morning Wendi took Cash to Children's for another intrathecal (spinal tap) of methotrexate.  He did very well for the procedure and on their way out they picked up the next 12 days of low-dose chemo.  One chemo we will do for 5 days and the other for the full 12 days.  I typically give them to Cash at 5:00 p.m. and today when I gave them to him he didn't even balk at the meds.  I think he's getting so used to me giving him liquid it doesn't bother him - he gets antibiotics twice a week, 1-2 ounces of Xango (mangosteen) every day, anti-nausea meds (prior to chemo), etc.

He has had another great day and is finally eating what I would consider to be adequate.  His new favorite foods include pancakes, fried potatoes, rice, corn, watermelon, popcorn, okra (if you can believe it), and M&M's.  I think he probably eats at least a bag of M&M's a day, which normally wouldn't be a great food for a toddler, but it's an easy 250 calories...:-)

Wendi also was given a walker today from a family that we met on the walk.  Their son was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 16 months as well and is now 4 years old so they gave us his first walker.  We put Cash in it and he immediately took to it, however, I think it may have hurt his back where the spinal tap was given so we'll try it again tomorrow.

We are so thankful to God for his progress and are very proud of Cash for his tenacity and strength.  He continues to amaze us and each day when we go to sleep Wendi and I both pray prayers of thanksgiving for another day.  We feel very blessed to have Cash in our life!

Thank you for your prayers and support as always and hopefully this week I'll get some video of Cash using his new walker - it was very encouraging today to see him start to use it...

Quiet Week

Sorry for the lack of posts - after the great Seattle Run of Hope last weekend it's been a very good, yet quiet week.  Cash continues to do well and only had a few moments this week where we were concerned, but they were short-lived.  He does have swimmers ear due to the fact he's in the bath every day, swimming and splashing, but other than that everything is ok.

On Monday he has his second injection of methotrexate via spinal tap and will start the 12 day low-dose chemo cycle again.  We're continuing to hope these methods keep the tumor at bay and that he keeps progressing and developing. 

I pray everyone has a great weekend and we are always thankful for your kind comments and continued prayers!!!

Tons of Pics from the Run

The pictures have been flooding in from all of the wonderful photographers on our A Cash of Hope team - these pics are courtesy Jodi VS (part of the Snapsisters team).  What a wonderful day!!!

Relaxing in the hot tub...

I will keep posting pics as they come in - thank you to everyone who has sent them in - Today Cash had another great day, in fact, Wendi took the most amazing pictures of him today playing in the backyard...I had to share them:

Thank you for continuing to pray for our little Miracle - God is good and continues to be with us each and every moment of each day!

A Day of Hope

Today was an amazing day!  Over 130 people showed up for the Cash of Hope team for the Seattle Run of Hope.  From the information I've read, over 1700 people ran or walked and they raised well over $200,000 for pediatric brain research.  I even had a moment to talk with one of the researchers and shared some of the most recent information we've learned about methotrexate and we will continue the conversation this week.

Our team was one of the largest at the event - we had people from Washington, California, Colorado, Idaho, and more - it was great to catch up with old friends and meet people that have been supporting and praying for Cash.

There were tons of pictures taken today and as they start to come in I will post - these are pics taken by Julie D.

We cannot thank you enough for your support and I'm already looking forward to next year - It was so great that so many turned out and were able to spend time with Cash.  I will blog more over the next few days but I wanted to say THANK YOU for everything!  I can't even begin to list individuals today, that is how overwhelming and amazing it was - Have a blessed week and thank you for continuing to pray!!!

Look for Diego

Well we are two days away from the Seattle Run of Hope!  Everyone I've talked to is very excited and we can't wait to see all 127 of you!  We've been brainstorming about a meeting place and with over 1000 walkers/runners it will be difficult to identify a particular place to meet at Seward Park.  So today I purchased three balloons - a large Diego, a blue star balloon, and a silver star balloon.  The Diego balloon looks like this:

We will attach the balloons to Cash's stroller and fly them 8-10 feet above the stroller.  Hopefully other teams don't have the same idea so when you arrive at Seward Park look for the balloons you will find us.  Please email me at jackp@zionprep.org or message me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/parriera) and I'll send you my cell phone number.

Tomorrow we'll be heading to Zion to set up for the luncheon - please join us after the walk, we'll have plenty of food and it will be great to see everyone to personally tell you Thank You!

This has been a very good week for Cash - he's eating again and is as independent as ever, playing around the house all day.  Despite the fact that his sleeping habits are horrible (his average wake up time in the a.m. is between 3 and 5) he still manages to keep going all day.

If we miss you at the walk for some reason, head over to Zion (4730 32nd Ave. S., 98118) so we can visit - it's also Cash's 2nd birthday (on the 5th) so we'll sing Happy Birthday to him as well.

We feel incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful group of friends and family and cannot thank you enough for your prayers and support - God continues to be with Cash and each day it seems he is getting stronger and stronger.  We are so thankful to Him for the time we have with Cash and will be excited for everyone to visit with us on Sunday.

The times/details for the walk are in the prior post if you want to double-check.  See you in a few days!!!