The Last Hurrah

Tuesday and Wednesday of this week are Anna's last scheduled days for chemotherapy.  Cycle six begins.  Thus will end Anna's treatments for brain cancer.  On my list of questions to ask while at the hospital is "What comes next?"  Actually, I'm planning on asking this question of several people, but for different reasons.  "What comes next?" for appointments.  "What comes next?" for scans.  "What comes next?" for rehab.  And on and on.

We are gearing up in our home for the separation, tiredness, extra work, and uncertainty of the next few weeks.  Matt and I made a conscious effort this past weekend to enjoy our time, knowing how the chemo stays affect us all.

Our weekends together as a family have always been special, but I think our "normal" weekends are that much more precious now.  On Saturdays, the kids don't have to go anywhere, and they love it.  Kate likes not having to be on a school schedule; Anna likes having Kate around to play; Ethan likes having both his sisters around all day.  On Sundays, we watch some of the Packers game all together and we all enjoy that time together, too.

This past weekend was extra nice for me.  For the first time since January, I was able to go shopping for clothes for me at a nearby outlet mall with a good friend.  It was a spur of the moment trip, but definitely well worth it.

Now that it is fall and the soybeans in the field behind our home has been harvested, we get to explore out there again.  Ethan and I went to check out the various "islands", which is what our family calls the clumps of trees scattered amidst the field.  Matt and the girls named the different islands during the last few fall seasons.  Kate and Matt went out exploring again over the weekend, and I took Kate and Ethan back again another time.  Although it's fun to get out there, my heart hurts remembering how much Anna loved running through the field in years past.  It's just not the same without her out there.  Maybe next year.


Last Friday Anna's new wheelchair and stander were delivered, finally.  She was measured for them back in July, but it takes a long time for the proper paperwork to go through the proper channels, and then for the actual equipment to be built and shipped.  The stander, named Stephanie, is a much better one than poor Stanley.  We will work to find Stanley a good new home.  The wheelchair, named William, is also pretty classy, and a much better fit for Anna than the rental, Willy.  The wheelchair, however, challenges Anna's system and required her to use more muscles in different ways than Willy did.  She's adapting, though.  I didn't have a chance to get any good pictures of the new equipment; I'll try to do that soon.

Time for prayers

Thanksgiving
Please give thanks for the relative respite of the weeks leading up to Anna's chemo treatments.
Please thank God that this is the last round.
Please give thanks for the season of autumn; it has always been one of our favorite times of the year.
Please thank God for the delicious garden food we get to pull out of the freezer and basement.
Please give thanks for all those working with our family (doctors, therapists, educators, nurses, etc.).

Requests
Please ask God to grant our family peace, patience, wisdom, strength, and joy during this last round of chemotherapy.
Please continue to pray that Anna's treatments are 100% effective.
Please continue to pray for all those working with our family (doctors, therapists, educators, nurses, etc.).
Please pray that Anna's body can handle this last round of medicine in the best way possible.

Thanks, especially now, for your prayers and support as we come down the home stretch.