Houses, Benefits and Baby Showers...

It has been an eventful week once again.  I have been on my "off" week from my chemo medications, so I have been feeling great.  We are working on developing more of a routine, so I have been doing normal activities like cleaning, organizing, grocery shopping...you know...the fun stuff.  I am blessed everyday that I am able to stay home with Arya and be "mom".  It's my dream job.

Tim is now back to work from the government furlough.  He is really enjoying training at the tower. He is truly one of those people who always likes to learn new things, so he is excited about this new experience.

Arya is continuing to amaze us.  Our "preemie" is now 12 weeks 3 days old and weighs well over 14 pounds!  She is visually tracking more accurately, intentionally smiling and just this weekend she started grasping toys and putting them to her mouth.

Since I last wrote, there have been two more benefits to raise money for our cause.  Monday, October 14th my cousins in San Diego, Jaime and Jeanna Kylstad, held a fundraiser at Ponce's Mexican Restaurant where they work.  The owner graciously donated 15% of all sales that evening to us.  On top of that, multiple cash donations were given.  The entire San Diego Kylstad-Coulon crew was on board for support.  They even had a 5k beach walk in solidarity with family who participated in the Fort Ransom 5k on October 5th.  I am so lucky to have such an amazing large family who supports in all ways they can.  Thank you to Ponce's Mexican Restaurant in San Diego, those who were able to attend the event, as well as my awesome family.  Love you guys.

Saturday, October 19th, another HUGE benefit was held in Glasford, Illinois, Tim's hometown, by our family and friends there.  There was a raffle with multiple items donated by local businesses, a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, children's events, a dinner, etc.  Tim's parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and numerous friends all pitched in to help.  The night was a huge success, and once again, we are grateful and left feeling extremely humbled by the outpouring of support from Tim's hometown community. The generosity of many we know and even complete strangers is amazing.  We really wish we could have been there because it sounded like a lot of fun.  Tim was able to talk to many people at the event on the phone.  He spent over 2 hours talking, and he was so glad he was able to catch up with old friends and family, as well as thank many involved in the event.  We would like to give special thanks to the committee of family and friends for all your hard work, Whitetails Firepit and Grill for hosting the event, all individuals and businesses who donated either time, money or items, and lastly to all of those who were there making our night a success.

Donations continue to arrive in Fort Ransom as well.  With the help of everyone, we have been able to secure medical financial stability for the many years of treatment to come.  We could not be more grateful.

Yesterday, many friends of ours at our church in Fort Ransom hosted a baby shower for Arya following the service.  Little Miss received a ton of great gifts.  She now has enough clothes for 3 wardrobe changes a day, and enough pink for 5 little girls.  It was great to once again feel the love and support of our tiny community.  Thanks, ladies, for hosting.  We had a great time.

In other news...we sold our house in Kansas City!  We finalized an agreement last night, and we will be closing on the deal November 12th.  We are so excited to have that burden relieved as we start the new chapter in our lives.  We close on our house in Fort Ransom October 31st.  We are ready to have a permanent home again with all the comforts of a true home.

It has been nearly two weeks since we lost Bentley.  We think about him everyday and miss him terribly.  Thank you to all of you for your kind words for our loss.  He was so special.

As always, I will continue to keep everyone updated on our newest news.  We are excited for life to become a little "boring" so hopefully I won't have a whole lot to say in future posts.
Love and God Bless-Jenny

LIfe's ups and downs...

Once again, a lot has happened since my last post...

The benefit in Fort Ransom was held October 6th.  Because of very rainy weather, the event was held at our friends Larry and Shirley Kenyon's shop.  It is a good thing it was moved.  We needed the space.  Between the vast number of donated auction items and number of people, we had the building packed.  There were four long rows of silent auction items, multiple (about 9) raffle drawings, meat raffles, free will donation dinner, and live auction. Many people in the community commented on how they had never seen a benefit that large.  Tim and I as well as our family are overwhelmed by the support, generosity and general heartfelt concern from our community, family and friends.  Things like this bring people together, and you can see how truly good people are, and we couldn't be more grateful.   I was able to visit with many people I hadn't seen in years, and Tim was able to meet many people in the community.  I will be putting out a formal thank you in the paper, but I would like to thank the Kenyons, Thor's Bar, the LARGE committee of family and friends who made all of this happen, all those who donated items, all those who donated money, Titan for use of tables and chairs, Joe and Deb Billing crew for food, and all those I might be forgetting (I am sorry I am so scatter brained sometimes).

Friday October 11th, I met my oncologist at Roger Maris Cancer Center for the first time.  I really like him.  He is very soft spoken and gentle, both good qualities for someone in his line of work.  He has worked with my Mayo oncologist before and is 100% on board with Mayo's recommendations and plan of care.

Many of you have been asking about our Bentley, so here it goes.  Bentley's health had continued to decline so Tim brought him in to an animal hospital for further evaluation.  By the time he got there, Bentley was nearly in shock and bleeding internally.  He was told Bentley had lymphoma and has had it for quite some time.  He had developed a severe GI infection which resulted in the bleeding.  There truly was nothing that could be done.  October 9th, Bentley was put to rest.  Tim and I are truly heartbroken.

Why do people cry when Old Yellar died?  Why is it impossible to watch the end of "Marley and Me"?  Because it is sad.  We get attached to dogs, the most loyal of friends, who are such a part of our family as a whole.  Anyone who knows Tim and I, knows how much we loved Bentley.  He was such a sweet, gentle boy with the emotions and facial expressions of a boxer.  It's hard to look around the room without seeing him there.  It's hard to lay down at night without him right next to us.

So rest in peace our buppy, Mr. Puppy, puppy-pants, Mr. Bentley.  We love you and miss you so much.  March 17, 2006-October 9, 2013.

Mayo or Bust.

A lot has happened since my last post.  I am currently sitting in a hotel room in Rochester, MN with Tim and Arya.  Mom and Aunt Sherry are in the next room.  We are all relaxing after an eventful day at  Mayo Clinic.  Let me get you up to date from where we left off...

Arya had her follow-up pediatrician appointment on September 20th.  She weighed in at a whopping 10 pounds, 9 ounces at just 8 weeks old!  I contest that she was wearing her wet diaper when they took that measurement.  She had her first round of shots.  She did fairly well, but of course, Mom and Dad had a rough time with it.  Overall, she is thriving!  She's becoming more alert and vocal, and she's visually tracking so much better.  

Many of you may know our beloved boxer Bentley.  He's seven and a half years old and a total slobbery sweetheart.  Unfortunately with all the changes occurring in our lives the past several weeks, he had been acting somewhat "off".  He has always been sensitive to changes in his environment but never to this degree.  After multiple times becoming physically ill, Tim took him to the vet.  Sonogram shows a severe inflammation of portions of his GI tract.  He's currently on steroids to see if the inflammation reduces, but we have been told to prepare for a more severe diagnosis.  The meds have helped him regain some of his spunk, but boxers are prone to cancer, so we are on a "watch and wait" pattern with him.

Monday, September 23, Tim, Mom, Aunt Sherry, Arya and I made our first trip to Rochester's Mayo Clinic.  My first appointment was the morning of the 24th.  I saw a gastroenterologist who specializes in pancreatic disease.  We didn't get many answers from this appointment, but tests were ordered along with a oncologist consult for the following week.  I had blood work and an MRI then we were sent home.

Fort Ransom was abuzz all weekend with the annual SVACA festival.  It felt great to be home and a part of this annual event.  My sisters, cousin and friends had a stand to support the benefit in Fort next weekend.  All their hard work paid off, and again we couldn't be more grateful.  

We returned to Rochester yesterday.  I had some tests this morning and the much anticipated oncologist appointment in the afternoon.  We received EXCELLENT news.  When comparing my most recent MRI scan with the scan completed in May, the lesions have significantly shrunk in several areas.  Tim, Mom and I were able to see the images, and it was astounding!  In other words, the 2 rounds of chemo I have received have worked tremendously.  I was told that we will continue this therapy as long as needed.  Some patients take this chemo combination for years.  We may be able to surgically remove a portion if the lesions shrink enough.  The doctor said that this combination of drugs has become the standard of care and that there has been great results.  I will resume treatment through an oncologist in Fargo, and we will return to Mayo in three months for follow-up scans.  This was obviously a very emotional appointment.  I know that everyone's prayers have been paying off.  I have one more appointment tomorrow, and we should be able to come home after that.

Meanwhile, benefits in Fort Ransom, Illinois, and San Diego are planned by our friends and family.  We are eternally grateful and humbled by the generosity of family, friends and complete strangers in our time of need.  We look forward to seeing many of you at the benefit in Fort this weekend, and our hearts will be with you in Illinois and California.  Thank you and God bless.