Vacation pictures......a trip to the emergancy room!

Here are some pictures of our vacation we are on, lots of fun! We made an unexpected trip to the emergency room for Bryce (Sheri is doing great!) He kept complaining about a rock in his shoe. We thought, "that's weird." Come to find out he had an infected sliver in his foot! The puss blister was the size of a nickel! Gross. The doctor lanced it and irrigated it and sent us on our merry way. It didn't slow him down a bit....some of the pictures are post emergency room so you can see for yourself.

Keep looking up!

The La Mar Family

The $300 vacation.......

We're off on vacation! First we hit Winthrop KOA for two days, tons of lightning storms and rain, and cool temperatures! Then we stopped for two days at the Concrete KOA over Highway 20. Now we're on our way to the South Whidbey state park for four days. We've never been to this park, it looked good on line though. We love Whidbey, especially Coupeville. Later this week we're mooching a ride on Roger and Sue's boat in the San Juans. Sheri continues to do very well on her new chemo, she's on round two.

So total with park fee's were spending a whopping $300.00. Food you say?.....we would have eatin' at home. Gas?......I would have bought gas at home. OK so I'm stretching it a bit, but it still feels good to spend so little, yet have this much fun! We'll try to post some pics of beach combing!

Keep looking up!

Brett and Sheri, Alyssa, Bryce, and Cooper (yep he made the trip!)

God's little surprises

Surprises are fun, and a blessing, especially when they are good ones.

We went over to Seattle Wednesday through Friday. Wednesday we went to a M's game with the kids. We sat on the third base line, right down on the field. It was a great game until the ninth inning when the M's blew a 3-0 lead and lost 5-3. Oh well, it was really fun! Thursday the kids went with Sheri's Mom and Dad to their boat in La Conner, and we went South for a few appointments with her nature path Doctors, good stuff! Friday we headed to the U for a mid way MRI checkup. We were briefed during Gamma Knife to not expect much from this mid term scan, and to expect it to possibly look worse! Surprise!!!! All the tumors were at least 75% smaller!!! Our Doctor at the U is a very serious fellow, even he was noticeably excited with the results. Originally he had wanted Sheri to come in at 4 weeks and 8 weeks, now he doesn't want to see her again for two months. God is good. You could see it on her Doctor's face that these type of results are why he does what he does, we're sure glad he DOES! Thanks for the continual prayers and help, keep it up, there is still much left to this journey, and we'll need support and help along the way. Thanks for sharing our journey with us!

Brett and Sheri

A new week

What a great 4th! It was relaxing, with very little stress. This week is packed to the gills. Today Sheri has a couple of follow up appointments with her Doctors in Wenatchee. Wednesday we head to Seattle, we'll take in a M's game with the kids, then they get to go with Amma and Pappa to their boat in LaConner, while Sheri and I visit more Doctors and a Nutritionist in Seattle, then we all head home Friday. Sheri is continuing to feel well during this new chemo, so keep the prayers coming. She's been walking a couple of miles each morning with some friends pretty faithfully. She'll do a blood test today to see how her #'s look, we'll let you know what we find out. Keep looking up and enjoy your summer.

Brett (Sheri's out walking)

Daddy and the Kids

Mommy is off to Seattle in the Mustang to visit her good friend Michelle, and to see her Nature Path Doctor. For the kids and I, tonight is swimming at Mill Bay Resort and cookies! Tomorrow Mrs. Maden is helping us during the day, and Mommy will be back tomorrow night. Off to the swimming hole.....wish me luck!

PS: Sheri has been tolerating the new chemo quite well so far. Next week we go back to Seattle for a MRI on her head at the UW. It's a mid way scan, the real results are in five more weeks, this one is a check up scan.

Brett

Continuing on...

Yesterday a friend and I went to Wenatchee for my doctor's appointment and a little retail therapy (shopping that is!). My doctor is pleased with how the mastectomy is healing. I'm thankful that is going well and equally thankful that the drain is out of my side. I got to keep the drain for about a week. It was a real trick to try to wear something that would cover it up to go out of the house, so I mainly relaxed at home. Brett and I did make it out for dinner for our anniversary on the 20th. That was nice. I married an awesome, supportive man. I'm blessed.

Monday I begin a new chemo therapy. How will it affect me? I don't know exactly. There are a variety of reactions I could have but I've decided not to worry about them and simply deal with any reactions I actually do have at that time. I'm prepared for the reactions with medication on hand, but why worry about reactions that I won't have?

The girls, Cooper and I have been out walking in the mornings. It's been a joy walking, sharing and laughing together.

Looking up,

Sheri

Successful Surgery

Yesterday I went in for a single mastectomy. The surgery went well. My doctor said she got all the cancer tumor that was there. Fortunately it hadn't gone into my muscle under it at all. Yeah!

I am currently feeling well. I have some extra pain medicine in case I need it. At this point I haven't needed it and hopefully won't. I do have a drain still in that I need to empty twice daily. I'll probably have it until this Friday or next Monday. My doctor will take it out when the draining slows down and it looks good to her. I like to leave these decisions to the experts.

The kids stayed with grandma and grandpa Gardner. They happily swam in the pool and had a ball. Hopefully they'll still want to come home!

While I was gone, our Angel Crew showed up and cleaned our home. What a blessing it was to come home to some sparkle and shine. Thank you Angel Crew.

This Thursday I'll see my oncologist and talk about beginning the new chemos. I'm guessing we'll begin on Friday. We'll see when we talk to her. We sure appreciate all she does and the awesome team that works with her. We are blessed.

We are continuing to look up and thank God for each day. And yes, we are still praying for a BIG miracle.

Thankful and rejoicing in today,

Sheri