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!

Round 3 - Day 1

Good Morning!  We're back at the Roger Maris Center.  We saw Dr. G and looked over lab work.  He is very much encouraged and very happy!  His blood work looks great!  Emery's hemoglobin has actually increased.  This is amazing - and we are thanking God today for all that is good.  He will need to have a bone marrow biopsy at the end of March - and depending on the results of this - he may just need one more round of chemo.  This would be awesome!  Another thank you Jesus moment!

It's about 10:30 and Emery is still getting the pre-medication iv's.  So we have many hours left here today.

But they always have donuts here..............

Emery is working on school work -- checking emails - reading newspapers -- and finding other things to work on and do while he gets poison pumped into his body.  (That's what we're calling this whole experience these days.)  Jessa started it!

This is Maynard -- it needed a name -- Emery drags this around with him if he needs to get up for anything.  Usually in the morning of this first day, he gets tired, because of the pre-meds that he gets to keep him from having a reaction from the chemo drugs - so he usually ends up falling asleep for awhile.

Updates and Pics

The toe is much better.  Shoes can now be worn!

This Makes Emery very happy!

Memories of the ship!

And the beaches!

And the sunshine!

Do you see the humming bird?

Waiting for the snow to melt!

Next week Tuesday - the 9th of March - round 3 of chemo starts!