let's send some good vibes Belle Plaine's way

[Mr Blotto]

Yes Chris - thanks for the update. Good to hear Emma is keeping up the fight. That is one tough cookie you guys have there!

Thinking of you guys often.

[hambone]

Miracles abound donchaknow. I have seen it with my own eyes.

[BellePlaine]

Good news everyone, no, make that great news.

The results from the first round of tests came back showing improvement and that is really good. Our doctor would have been happy just to not see her tumors getting worse and the two smaller spots might now be gone altogether. At least the treatment is working. We're going to continue with two further rounds of chemo and then the next step is to plan out the next step. I guess fighting a relapse trickier the second time around.

Our no-yelling exercise is going well (I think) although we haven't yet earned a day at the water park. We have gone as far as four days without the kids fighting with each other. This is an improvement because car didn't move off of the "start" spot for a few days when we first introduced it.

Brady, my dad and I launched an Estes model rocket today. My dad and I used to make model rockets when I was a boy. He once made a five-rocket launcher for my Cub Scout pack. The rocket that we launched today got stuck in a tree. But dad says that he got it down after we left. He has a bad hip so he shouldn't be climbing ladders.

That's the latest.

[Xelmon]

Great to hear that Emma's doing better! :D

[dtrumbo]

Fantastic news! Looks like you got yourself a 'Rocket Boy' there!

[Cindy]

Belleplaine, I saw a book yesterday called Duct Tape Parenting. I haven't read it yet, but the premise is: less is more. Meaning, the less you say (or shout), the less your kids will do it. I personally NEED this book!

I'm reading something else about brain chemistry that says we are hard-wired to mirror other humans in our midst. So what we do, even in the simplest interactions, our children will surely copy. I kept that in mind just this morning when handling an issue with Emmett. No matter how upset he got, I stayed calm. It was so hard! But the resolution to the problem took less than half the usual time.

Cindy

[Amskeptic]

we are hard-wired to mirror other humans in our midst. So what we do, our children will surely copy.

Cindy

You mean, you mean???? you mean, YOU MEAN all we had to DO was brush OUR teeth?
Colin

[BellePlaine]

Update time.

Emma and Keri are away at the hospital this week getting a 5th round of chemo. She had an in-depth MRI of her hip last week and some other cancer detecting tests. The treatments are working. Her hip was a "5" in December and now it's a "2". The plan is to keep throwing chemo at it but we'll switch to different kinds of chemo soon.

Other than that, its been a pretty boring winter. I've been working a lot, and beginning to travel again for my job. Keri is going back to Yoga Instructor School. Brady got in trouble recently for annoying one of his 2nd grade classmates that he has/had a crush for. And Emma is always dancing around the living room. This is our normal, I guess.

Thanks as always for the good vibes all!
Chris

[Xelmon]

Glad to hear things are rolling along!

*Sends more good vibes*

[Mr Blotto]

Good Stuff!

Strong little girl that Emma...

[deschutestrout]

=D>

[Amskeptic]

Update time.

The treatments are working.
I've been working a lot,
Keri is going back to Yoga Instructor School.
Brady got in trouble recently for annoying one of his 2nd grade classmates that he has/had a crush for.
Emma is always dancing around the living room.
Chris

From the vantage point of an asteroid in the middle of deep space, that is
Paradise on Earth.
Colin

[BellePlaine]

I realized that it's been a while since I've updated you all about what's happening with Emma, and all of us. Well, no news is good news, and today Emma is getting a full work up of tests and scans before starting a 2-year study on a treatment program to keep her cancer away. It was a few weeks ago that her doctors have determined that are again disease free. The side effects of the treatment are not well understood so Keriann and I are a bit concerned about all of that but we're grateful to be at this hopeful place.

Emma started 1st grade and Brady is in 3rd. The kids are doing pretty good all in all. Keri and I have our struggles on occasions but we're committed to each other. I gather marriage is no cake walk regardless of cancer.

Lets see, this summer we only went camping twice which is a shame but the times that we did camp were really wonderful. Keri and Brady are nature lovers and we took some nice long hikes this year. Old Jack, our 11 year old yellow lab, always lead the way. I'm hoping for Maupin trip next year; I've got it figured out that I'd have the bus shipped to San Leando, Ca and drive up the coast to the DRVWR and then drive home. Fingers crossed.

[Xelmon]

Way cool! Glad to hear that things are really looking up!

As for Maupin, I'll be making long term plans to make it down for the 2013. =)

[Mr Blotto]

That pic made me smile. Thanks for the update!