Super Bowl Bound!

Wow...January's half gone...

I've been so busy lately...I haven't blogged. The situation with my Mom is about the same. She is still taking Temodar therapy...5 days of the drug...then 23 days off. She didn't have a lot of side effects last time. She's still very weak and won't eat much. I haven't been out there for over a week because John was sick all last week. He was having excruciating pain in his jaw clear back to his ear. The doctors were baffled and thought it might be Bell's Palsy or trigeminal neuralgia. They treated him with prednisone, neurotan and vicodin. They helped dull the pain but we still didn't know what was causing it. After a week they ordered a CT scan and it was normal so Dr. Frankenfield put him on a strong antibiotic as a last resort. The next day his upper gum had a huge swollen spot on it that subsequently burst and started draining pus. He went back to the doctor today and they've decided it was an abscess of something...not sure what! He's feeling 100% better and is only taking the steroid and antibiotic. What an ordeal for him! It was really scary not knowing what was causing the pain. I'm so grateful to all our friends and family who were praying for him!
Molly, Myron and Betsy are coming to visit this Friday and are staying a week! It will be so great to see them again. We've been hearing from Joel that Wendy is doing well in the first trimester of her pregnancy and has only been sick once that we've heard. She's flying to Disneyland tomorrow with a group from her church for a Children's Ministry Seminar! So Joel will be "batching it" with the puppies. He's pretty happy about the Colts victory too! That's about all the news for now.

Mom

I talked to Dad tonight and he said Mom is even weaker today. She has difficulty even getting out of the chair now and can't make it out of the room to use the bathroom. He said she was so lethargic that they had to shake her to get her to respond today. He's really worried. He isn't sure if it's the tumor or the chemotherapy making her so weak. He had the nurse check on her today and the dr. called in an antibiotic prescription for her bronchitis. I'm afraid if she gets any weaker we may have to hospitalize her.

I haven't posted for awhile...life has been hectic since Christmas has passed. I have some great news! Joel and Wendy are expecting a baby in September! We're so happy for them! They'll make such wonderful parents...they both love the Lord and are committed to Him and to each other. I'm so thankful that the Lord brought Godly spouses to my children.
I talked to all the "kids" this weekend and they are all doing well. Myron has accepted a promotion at Gospel Light and is travelling to California next week to learn more about his new responsibilities. He and Molly are coming home to see us in a couple weeks...I'll get to see Betsy again! Joel and Wendy are doing well...she hasn't had any morning sickness yet...I hope she doesn't at all! Joel was given an excellent evaluation for his actuarial work and received a nice raise. Wendy is starting back to her teaching jobs at LCC and MSU. They keep so busy! I wish we could see them more often!
John and I spent Saturday evening and Sunday with Dad and Mom. She started back on the chemotherapy medication. She has to take 5 days of a large dose of Temodar and then be off of it for 23 days...then begin again. She seems to be tolerating it fairly well although she does seem to have bronchitis and that has caused her some problems. We had her sleep in her recliner last evening to help her to breathe better. Our biggest concern right now is her lack of appetite. She's lost over 40 pounds and is very weak. It's difficult for her to even stand up to walk to the bathroom using a walker. We keep trying to offer her foods we know she loves but she has no desire to eat at all. If she gets much weaker, it will be difficult for her to get out of bed. She seems to be having a little trouble with her vision too. She sees things that aren't there and we aren't sure if it's an eye problem or something neurological. She still seems sharp in her thinking at times and then at other times, is very confused. The course of this illness is such an unknown...we really don't know what to expect. We're so thankful she was able to enjoy Christmas with the family.

Molly & Betsy pretty and ready for Grandma's church 

Myron & Betsy ready for church 

Christmas

We had a great Christmas! Molly, Myron and Betsy stayed from Friday until Tuesday and Joel and Wendy were here from Sunday night until Tuesday so we had some time to visit and catch up on news. We had our gift exchange together Christmas morning. It was fun to see Betsy with new toys and just enjoy the time together. That afternoon we went to Deerfield for the Hoffman family Christmas. Each year we all assemble at Dad and Mom's until the house is bursting! This year, due to Mom's ill health, we met at their church. This is the church I grew up in, was married in and has been my folks church since they were teens. We were all thrilled that Mom felt strong enough to celebrate with us. Dad brought her over in a wheelchair and she stayed with us all evening. She got lots of loving from all the grandkids and great-grandkids. I know she was tired but really enjoyed seeing all the family. We all are so thankful to God that He gave Mom the strength to share this special holy day with her family.

Our little family 

My daughter, Molly, her husband, Myron and their daughter, Betsy 

My son Joel and his wife Wendy 

My baby brother, Jim and his family...Shana, Jacob, Elizabeth and Rachel 

My brother Gary, wife Jennifer and sons, Colin and Hunter 

My niece Miranda and her fiance Ben 

My Aunt Lois, Uncle Hillard and cousins, Gloria and Nancy 

Dad and Mom 

My brother Fred's family 

My brother Fred and his wife Linda 

My sister Ruth's family 

My sister, Ruth with her husband, Chip and her grandson, Johnathan 

My nephew Jeremy and his family