The latest check-up

Emery went to see his doctor this past week.  His blood work and exam went great!  He's still in remission!  Still doing great!  His dr. told him to keep doing what he's doing.  His next appointment is in February!  Thanks for keeping him in your prayers!

The New Normal

I haven't written on here for awhile - but I know some of you are still checking --

School starts this coming week -- Really?  What happened to summer? 

On Monday Jessa starts volleyball practice and on Wednesday school starts.

Emery has been healthy and trying to get in a few rounds of golf.  He spent a week in Wyoming at what he says was the best "professional development" he has ever been to.  It was to teach government - - He told Jessa to be prepared for government to be really
hard this year!  - or at least to work really hard - but I'm thinking it's going to be alot of fun.

I'm starting a new adventure too!  I'm going to babysit for a 4 month old!  Yup!  Grandma Jan!  I think it will be good for me to go back to the "softer side of life" for awhile!

Jessa had her senior pictures taken last week - we are waiting to hear they are on-line and we can look at them!  We had a lot of fun with the photographer -- It was a good day - I'm sure there will be too many to choose!

Next weekend my brother Bruce gets married!  Looking forward to a great day!

Thanks for caring about this family!  Later.............

And the results are in!

Heading to Fargo early in the morning, back to the clinic brought back many not so distant memories.  Somehow the trip put a pit in our stomaches as we were getting closer and closer.

We spent much of the day waiting around.  Getting the pre-procedure "cocktail" and drinking it every half hour for 2 hours to get ready for the dye activated CT scan.

After the scan and blood work - we had a couple hours to waste.  We had lunch and picked up a few things and then headed back to the Roger Maris - to see the doctor. 

We waited for awhile - but found that the news was worth waiting for! 

Everything shows remission - the blood work, the CT scan, the physical exam............... 

No cancer is showing up at this point anywhere!

This is excellent news!  Next follow-up check-up is in September!

and a Happy Father's Day it was!

Today I spent the day with my dad -

and with my brother Tom and his wife Carol and their 3 boys. 

It was a perfect day to spend at the lake.

We had a great time!  I am so thankful that I still have my dad -

and that I was able to spend this day with him.

Here are the two great dads together!

The boys out on the "party pad".

Thanks for having us!  It was a GREAT day!

A Bit of Advice

Today's Advice...................

Open the garage door before you drive out!

PS - It wasn't me!!!!

Back by Popular Demand!

OK - I'm back - maybe not that popular - but I did get asked about it by one person!  First:

Emery - the reason I started this blog in the first place -- He is doing well.  He is feeling good - He has more blood work, a CT scan and a doctor's appointment at the end of June -- That is when he will know where he's standing with the cancer - and how the treatments effectivally shrunk his spleen and lymph nodes.

In other news -- I have been traveling -- I spend some time in Oklahoma, visiting my cousins down there, and learning somethings that hopefully are leading to a new line of work for me -- very fun - very relaxing -

Last week I spent some time in Wisconsin with my dear friend Judy -- she works for Hospice Care - I was able to help her for a couple days with a big event -- so fun to be there! 

Now we're waiting for the weather to get warm again so we can do some lawn mowing and weed wacking and enjoy the summer!  Hope you are enjoying yours too!

Living in a Vacuum

If you're here wondering about Emery - he's doing much better -- now move along, because this post is going to be about the last 24 hours of my life and my relationship with my vacuum cleaner.

Yesterday I was going to vacuum.  The belt was broken on the vacuum cleaner.  I tried to take it apart to change it - I didn't even know if I had a replacement belt.  I spent waaaaaaay too much time trying to figure how to take it apart to replace the belt.  Finally I got on the internet and looked it up.  It said to "unscrew the 3 phillips headed screws".  - Ok - I figured there were screws, if I knew where they were I wouldn't be looking it up on the internet!  -- Finally I found the screws, got the vacuum apart - found a belt, wasn't sure it was the right one, walked up to Dale's Hardware, he didn't have a belt for my vacuum cleaner - but in our conversation he was sure I had the right one - I went home and tried it and it worked.  I put the vaccum cleaner back together -- I started it - and obviously had something wrong - because immediately the belt broke again!  Now I was on a quest - so I drove to Jamestown - yup - 50 miles one way - and bought 4 belts - got home put the new belt on - vacuumed and felt pretty good.

That was yesterday -- Today I was cleaning, and needed to vacuum this closet -- I vacuumed up some wire and broke the new belt -- so I think - Ok, no problem, I have 3 left -- so I take the vacuum cleaner apart again - and realize now - a piece of the vacuum is broken off -- no fix for this -- So now I need a new vacuum cleaner!  So I'm thinking, I should get one that uses the same belt?  --  Maybe I should just stop cleaning!  It's getting expensive!

Where have you been?

It's been awhile since I've updated -- mostly because not too much has happened.  Emery is feeling "low energy" still - but doing quite well.  He just got back from a school technology conference.

The weather is beautiful - the trees are budding -- and the garage is getting cleaned out!

Hope you all are enjoying your day.   ------------ jan

Sunday

He made it thru the end of the treatments.  Now we're in that yucky stage.  He's feeling pretty crappy, but trying to kind of ignore it the best he can and do somethings and then rest and then do some more.  I think it gives him energy thinking that this is the end! 

We are enjoying a nice day today, and it sounds like it will be a nice week!  Hope you are all enjoying your weekend and have a great week coming up!

Round 4 - Day 3 - THE END!

Today is the last day of chemo.  Emery should be done by about 10:00 this morning.  I talked to him a little while ago and he said nurses are coming in congratulating him -- I wish I would be there -- It's pretty exciting!  We know that the next couple of weeks will probably hold the ugly side effects - but also know that for hopefully a long time -- this is the last chemo!  --

Saying Good-bye..........

Walking away............

Leaving it behind...........

Tomorrow is a quick trip to Jamestown for the last shot of Neulasta.

There will be follow up blood work and tests and appointments

in the next few months, but not chemo! 

Thank you everyone for your prayers and for going with us on this journey.

Easter

The kids were home for Easter

Thats better than a chocolate bunny!

Round 4 Day 1

Today is the begining of the fourth round of chemo -

and after finding out the results

of the bone marrow biopsy from last week --

drum roll please.............................................. THE LAST! 

The leukemia has been wiped out of the bone marrow --

so Em is officially in remission! 

Another Thank you Jesus moment!

Jessa came with today so she could get her ankle checked out. 

Since she sprained it/hurt it in December.

It has never really stopped hurting. 

We found out today she tore ligaments in her ankle --

I did the same thing to my left ankle when

I was a junior in high school - in a basketball game.  -- 

She really didn't have to copy me!

Jessa and I did a little shopping and went out for lunch.

We will be going home tonight. 

Tomorrow Emery will be teaching school in the morning and

heading to Fargo for a late afternoon infusion. 

He will spend the night in Fargo and will have

an early morning infusion on Thursday and head home and teach in the afternoon.

But --- this will be the LAST ONE!!  --

 for a long, long time is the plan!

This day is long.............. but we are again very thankful that this is the last.

Biopsy

Yesterday we left for Fargo before the sun

was even thinking about waking up.

We got to Fargo as the sun was peaking over the horizon.

We headed straight to the Roger Maris Cancer Center.

First a blood draw..........

Then the biopsy.  I got to sit in the room and watch the bone marrow biopsy.  I told Emery I would never call him a pansey - never say he couldn't handle pain - ever again!  He did amazingly well.  They had a difficult time getting the sample - and needed to start over twice -- which was like having 3 procedures done.  Emery did great!  They got a good sample after all.  We won't have the results until Tuesday when we go to Fargo for chemo.  Today Emery is pretty sore -- but off to school.

Then we went out for breakfast!  The End.

Easter is almost here!

Sunday was a beautiful day!

We enjoyed the day with some beautiful girls!

They splashed in the water............

and fell a time or two.........

They looked for Easter eggs

They enjoyed the sunshine....

They got Easter hats!  (even the big girl)

They are adorable.............

They colored Easter eggs.........

This is Solveigh

This is Alice

Thanks girls for a great Sunday afternoon at

Grandma and Grandpa Gackles!

It's Been Awhile - Catching Up

The last week or so has had it's good days and not so good days.  Tired, sick, leg pain.............. usual stuff.  Nothing terrible, but frustrating to not really feel the best.

On Wednesday, Em has another bone marrow biopsy  and aspiration - what this is:
A bone marrow biopsy is the removal of soft tissue from inside bone. Bone marrow grows inside some of the larger bones in the body. It produces platelets and red and white blood cells.

The bone marrow biopsy is done in the health care provider's office. The sample is taken from the hip bone. The skin is cleansed, and a local anesthetic is injected to numb the skin.

An aspirate is performed, usually before the biopsy is taken. After the skin is numbed, the aspirate needle is inserted into the bone, and a syringe is used to withdraw the liquid bone marrow. If this is done, the needle will be removed and either repositioned, or another needle may be used for the biopsy.

The biopsy needle is then inserted into the bone. The center of the needle is removed and the needle is moved deeper into the bone. This creates a tiny sample, or core, of bone marrow within the needle. The needle is then removed, along with the bone marrow sample. Pressure is applied to the biopsy site to stop bleeding, and a bandage is applied.

He has had two of these before -- they aren't the most fun - but tolerable he says.  The results of this will determine if next week will be his last round of chemo!  We are praying for this!

Here's Jessa and her mom -

before the prom in Edgeley this week-end.

Just call him Gimpy

Emery has chemo induced gout in his ankle --

(remember last month it was in his toe)

It started Monday - He say this was the most painful thing he has ever had. 

He is off crutches now, but still limping --

On March 31st - Emery has a bone marrow biopsy --

We are praying that the results of this are good -

which will mean the April round of chemo will be the last one.

I'm going to spare you another foot picture...........

Neulasta

Just thought I'd document Friday -- this is the shot of Neulasta --

this is driving 50 miles to Jamestown, walking in the clinic -

getting this shot and leaving --

 thank you for your $4600 - enjoy your day!

Week-ends are for Warriors

This week-end has been a tough one for Emery.  He has not felt well.  He says tonight he's starting to feel better -- hopefully the worst is over.  Thank you for your prayers.  Have a great week everybody!

Round 3 - Day 3

Emery is done with chemo this morning - and at 10:00 is heading home. He should make it home in time to teach this afternoon. Everything went well this morning. He said he's still feeling ok.

ok - this isn't today.......... but starting to get some spring fever!

Round 3 - Day 2

I just talked to Emery - he is getting his "joy juice" right now -- made it back to Fargo by 3:00 - (He taught school this morning - and then drove to Fargo) he will be done around 5:30 today - and will take Ross out to eat -- and pick up a few things for us.  He will stay with Ross tonight and be back for Day 3 at 7:30 tomorrow morning - and be done around 10:30 - and head straight home so he can hopefully teach school tomorrow afternoon.  On Friday he needs to go to Jamestown for his shot of Neulasta -- These weeks are crazy busy - - but then it's past us for another 3 weeks!

Rituxan

This bag here --

Is Rituxan  --  Rituxan is a monoclonal antibody -

how it works is:

it attaches to the CD20 protein on cancer cells -

once it attaches to the cells,

 it brings other immune cells to help kill the cancer cells.

Oh Emery - be careful -- don't drop that - it's very expensive -- let's see -

 any guesses how much this one bag is?

a little over -- $10,000

He gets this each time before he gets chemo --

It takes 3 to 4 hours to get it -- but wow! 

Here's Emery and Maynard -- out for a walk.

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We have talked about how much we have to be thankful for --

good jobs and insurance are two of the things

that we are very thankful for today.

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Wishing you many blessings today!  Thanks for checking in on us!