We're Outta Here!

These last couple weeks have been a little tough on Emery.  He has gone to work every day.  He has coached his basketball girls every day - but he has not felt the best.  This past week he had a fever for about 3 days - - but, the last couple days, he said he's feeling better.  This is great - because............ We Are Outta Here!  -- Tomorrow Morning - (Saturday) - 5AM - our flight leaves for some place much warmer! - Tonight we will be going to Ashley to Jessa's basketball game, and coming home, packing up and heading to Fargo.  (Who needs sleep anyway).  We will be gone till next week-end - just in time to head to chemo on Monday, Feb 8th --  so, if you don't hear from us for a week, you will know why.  Stay warm, I know we will!

Oh the weather outside is............

I look at these HUGE evergreen trees outside my window at work every day.  Yes, on the bottom of the picture is the top of the house.  They have a simple beauty about them - with the snow - I know, hard to find beauty in days like this.

Windy Sunday

We're back to Sunday -- why do week-ends go so fast?  We were without power for about 4 hours yesterday afternoon -- long enough to get a good nap in - and for Jessa to read her book.  Emery was blowing snow and making a trip to get a generator.  By the time he got home, the power was on!  So now we are prepared for next time.

Emery is feeling better.  He has a couple side-effects but doing so much better.  We have a busy week this week with three basketball games and packing and getting ready for our trip.  (More on that later).  It's hard to believe this is the last week of January already.  I'm not even ready for Christmas yet! ha, ha!

The big storm that was supposed to hit this week-end has been a little weak - trust me, I'm not complaining!  I think it's supposed to still get bad tonight -- the wind has picked up.  Glad we'll be safe in our house watching the Vikings!


"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.:  Romans 5:3-5

Back to the Norm

Just thought I'd pop in today to let you know how things are going.  Emery has been feeling "flu like" this week, and continues to feel that way today.  We are hoping that this will end soon - and he'll get some energy back quickly.  He is getting up and going to school and teaching all day - and not happy when the dog wakes him up in the middle of the night!  He did coach basketball last night - his JV girls didn't quite pull off their game, but the varsity girls won!  Ya, Jessa!  -- Looking forward to having a night without anything going on to just sit down and relax.

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me! — Dr. Seuss

What is CLL?

This is going to be an informational post -- (boring to some) - so if I'm losing you.... no, don't go...........

ok - those of you who are still with me.

What is CLL?

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made.


The term "chronic" in chronic lymphocytic leukemia comes from the fact that it typically progresses more slowly than other types of leukemia. The "lymphocytic" in chronic lymphocytic leukemia comes from the cells affected by the disease — a group of white blood cells called lymphocytes, which help your body fight infection.

Doctors aren't certain what starts the process that causes chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Doctors know that something happens in order to cause a genetic mutation in the DNA of blood-producing cells. This mutation causes the blood cells to produce abnormal, ineffective lymphocytes — one type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infection.


Beyond being ineffective, these abnormal lymphocytes continue to live, when other cells would die. The abnormal lymphocytes begin accumulating in the blood and certain organs, where they cause complications. They may crowd healthy cells out of the bone marrow and interfere with normal blood cell production.

Doctors and researchers are working to understand the exact mechanism that causes chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Factors that may increase the risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia include:


■Your age. Most people diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia are over 50.

■Your sex. Men are more likely than women to develop chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

■Your race. Whites are more likely to develop chronic lymphocytic leukemia than are people of other races.

■Family history of blood and bone marrow cancers. A family history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or other blood and bone marrow cancers may increase your risk.

■Exposure to chemicals. Certain herbicides and insecticides, including Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War, have been linked to an increased risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

(info from the Mayo Clinic website)

So, if you are still with me, you now can feel educated today! 

Sunday - Vikings Win!

Sunday - we're all resting and taking it easy -- since Emery and our kids are big Vikings fans -- they are all happy today!  -- 

Emery is not feeling the best today -- he says he feels like he has the flu - you know, achey, stomach upset......  but it says it could be much worse.  Tomorrow there isn't school but he has a teacher's inservice at school so will still need to be at school tomorrow -- blood work later this week --

Back to Monday and our real day to day world!

Up and Back

Today we made a quick trip to Jamestown.  We left at about 10:30 this morning, walked into the clinic at 11:30 - got the injection, left the clinic at 11:35 - hhhmmmm - wasn't that a fun way to spend 2 hours and over $4000 - yup you saw that price right.  --  I was going to take some pictures, but forgot the camera.  Oh well, next time! 

Emery is feeling fairly good today.  A little queasy and a little headache -- he keeps saying his head doesn't feel quite right -- but all in all he's doing very well.

Thank you everyone for your emails, phone calls, text messages, personal visits, and comments here on the blog -- we appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers!

Home Sweet Home

We are home and it feels GREAT! After a stop in Jamestown to watch the boys Edgeley-Kulm Rebels win their basketball game! We came home -- and are glad to be here with Jessa! Tomorrow we will be heading back to Jamestown for a shot of Neulasta - and back home. "On the Road Again" may become our theme song! Good Night everyone -- thank you for your comments and your prayers for us!

Round 1 Day 3

Here we are! We made it to Friday! All in all things are going really well! A little blah feeling this morning, but nothing too bad. We are looking forward to going home today.

Yesterday after we broke out of here - we went to eat with Pastor Dallas - and then went shopping. -- Yes, I know - shopping -- and get this, shopping for Emery! -- And he bought a sport coat and 2 pairs of dress pants and two dress shirts and two ties!!!! -- WOW! someday there may be pictures of this -- I know, non of you believe it, but he even said it was pretty painless! Must be the medication! Ha, Ha! --- Oh, and for the record, I didn't buy anything!

Last night we went out to eat with Ross and Juli - (I kind of like this eating out, and visiting with these people) - headed back to our room and crashed.

Next scheduled infusion is Feb 8, 9, 10.

Here's today's picture - I know you miss looking at us!

"The only cure for suffering is to face it head on, grasp it around the neck, and use it." Mary Craig

Round 1 - Day 2

Today's self portrait!

Good Morning from the Roger Maris! -- we're here again waiting to get started with today's infusion. After the saline and steroids and anti-nausea meds - there will be the two standard chemo drugs - and we should be out of here around noon.

Last night we left here around 5:30 - which made 10 hours in the cancer center a long day! We checked into our motel and went out to eat with Ross and Juli - best part of the whole day! Stopped by Target and headed to our room - since we had been up since 4AM - we were ready to sleep!

If you look at the new pictures and wonder why Em's face is so red and blotchy, it's from the steroids that he is getting. No, we are not secretly at a tropical location, and it is not a sunburn.

Today's the Day

Edited to add - - we are still sitting at Roger Maris -- a small reaction this morning -- so we got behind about an hour or so -- we will be out of here about 5:30 and back tomorrow at 8:30 -- I will post more then!

We are sitting in our room at the Roger Maris Cancer Center - the infusion has begun - everyone is so kind and professional - -

Emery first got Tylenol and than Benedryl in his IV - and now is getting Rituxan

Rituxan is a monoclonal antibody - how it works is: that is 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. - this infusion will take around 4 hours (it's 11:00AM right now)

Cytoxan - is one of the chemo drugs that he will be getting after that -- and then Fludara another chemo drug - (these two drugs will also be given on Thursday & Friday)

Saturday - Em will need to go to Jamestown to get a shot of Neulasta - - This stimulates the body's bone marrow to make more neutrophils - which are a type of white blood cells that help fight infections. This shot will be given after each round of treatment.

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

when you pass through the waters, I will be with you.

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you.......

Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Isaiah 43:2,4,5

Same Date - but a change

Craziness -- still the same date - Jan 13 - 7:30 AM - standard treatment -- not in the clinical trial study -- It's time to just start -- then we'll know what's really going on and what and when and how and.........

There's a date

Wednesday, Jan 13, is the official chemo starting date. He is in the clinical trial thru the Mayo Clinic and will have chemo Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday -- after this we should really know what's going to happen and when and how and what. Til then we keep doing what we're doing.