SAFE!

Jace is SAFE for now…In more ways than one! When he awoke from the anesthesia Thursday, it was obvious this time was hard on him. Matt carried him to the pick-up, and then into his second appointment for more chemo. He continued to be mellow most of the morning, but when he rolled his eyes at his esteemed Doc, I knew he was perking up. By the time the IV chemo was finished, he walked out on his own.



As with almost everything in life, sometimes things don’t go just how they should…and Jace’s blood work Thursday gave everyone a scare. His second draw Friday morning looked MUCH better, and we relaxed somewhat. After receiving the call that he had to go back for more lab work, Jace stood under a hot shower, shed a few tears, declared that he “hates cancer,” and then dried up to be his usual brave self. It reminded me of how gracefully he slides into base just under the fielder’s mitt. Every time I’m screaming from the stands, “DON’T SEND HIM!!” his coach knows he can make it…and every time he’s safe, I have to humble myself and have more faith in the system. It’s true for cancer too…

Would you believe we are STILL learning about chemotherapy even 21 months later?? (has it really been 21 months??) We thought Jace would be his sickest on Saturday, but it turned out that Jace felt well enough Saturday to enjoy a beautiful horse ride in the mountains with his Grandpa Randal, Matt, and Hayden. Then Sunday and Monday turned into pretty sick days for our chemo babe. He’s doing better today.

The local Relay for Life is this Friday in Rexburg, and we’d love to see you there! Jace’s legs are feeling weak lately, so he wondered if he could bring Grandpa's horse, Blue!:) That would be a sight, right? We giggled with Jace at the image of him riding his horse around the track all night. Although we probably won’t take Buck and Blue, we DO hope you will ALL join us in walking for a cause.

21 months of chemo down.

15 to go. We can do it.

Love you all.

We Danced!

Although the Relay for Life event in Rexburg is a few weeks away, we were a little more organized this year and actually raised funds before the week of it! Imagine that! Thanks to EVERYONE involved in making our Zumbathon a HUGE success! We actually had a packed gym with nearly 100 dancers, and we are so excited to donate ALL of the proceeds from our fun night to the American Cancer Society.

 

Jace and Hayden were a hit too, as they lead the crowd in a warm-up and cool-down song. I fought tears as I felt the support and energy from the crowd of friends, family members, and even people I didn’t know, and I couldn’t stop smiling as my boys once again proved what COURAGE looks like. (I wish I had a picture to post, but unfortunately, I don’t! I forgot to take my camera.)

 

This week Jace faces another chemo treatment starting bright and early Thursday with an LP at the Surgical Center. This particularly tough treatment is only every third month, but he’s already decided it isn’t going to get him down. This morning he asked Matt and me if he could play in his baseball game Thursday night. I reminded him that the LP is like a surgery as he goes completely under anesthesia to receive the chemo treatment to his spinal fluid and brain. Then after he wakes up, he has his regular chemo through his port; he usually feels pretty crumby by the end of these brutal treatments. As I finished my best ‘mother’s warning explanation’… he looked at me to make sure I was finished. Then he persisted, “Well? Can I play in my game?”

 

COURAGE has many faces …
COURAGE this week wears a red and white baseball cap and swings a bat with force. 
COURAGE slides into 2nd base after running for his life to hear the ump call him, “SAFE!” 
COURAGE ignores his often sick stomach, the virus on his face that his body can’t fight, and his all too sensitive chemo skin that burns in the sunlight way too quickly. 
COURAGE is still fighting cancer…and HE is amazing.:)