Chase is 20!!

It doesn't seem that long ago that I posted that Chase was 19. Now he's 20 and we couldn't be prouder. We celebrated once again at Cheesecake Factory with the family, Mason, Natalie and Hannah. Stuart's on his mission in St. Louis and we missed having him as part of the family but Natalie and Hannah were a nice addition. Happy 20th to my little boy!

Gratitude

Our feelings right now are of gratitude for what we have and how many blessings have been bestowed upon us right now and during our whole lives. I heard a talk today that reminded me to have "an attitude of gratitude". We can't just feel the gratitude but need to express the thankfulness we have in our hearts. So I want all of you to know how thankful I am for the continued love and support we are shown as we go through this journey. "To live with gratitude in our hearts is to touch heaven." We have experienced highs and lows over the last year and a half. But honestly, I really didn't think we'd be at such a good place right now. Last year at this time, it was bleak and Craig was at a low point I wondered if he'd ever recover from. He has recovered and he is strong and thriving! I do have faith that yours and our prayers have been answered and more time has been given to this man. We've gone along lately almost taking for granted how well Craig is doing but today I am reminded to show our gratitude to all those who have helped this day come. We are not worrying about the weight that is falling off and the energy level and appetite that is dwindling. We are so grateful for the 2 pull-ups Craig can now do and the 10 laps he swam in the pool in St. George last weekend. We are thankful for a Dr. that saw Craig on Thursday and could not believe his reduced liver size and good color in his handsome face. We are thankful for tumor markers that have dropped from 296,000 to 27,000. We are thankful for kids that are doing well in school and conducting themselves in a mature and positive manner. Kids who give their Dad a hug and ask him how he's doing on a daily basis. We are thankful for Scout, our dog, who gives Craig so much joy as he chases balls and enjoys his rub him down after a shower outside. We are thankful to be planning an upcoming vacation with the family. We are thankful for the peace that comes in knowing that if tomorrow never comes, we have everything we could ever need or want. We are thankful for our family and extended family which includes everyone who reads this blog, who waves when they drive by or helps anyone in need. Please take time to reflect on all you have. We are all so blessed.

Craig the Sutent King

Well, it's been 4 weeks this Wednesday that Craig's been on a full dose of Sutent. We went to Dr. Jones a week ago last Friday and his blood work was good, liver function good, nothing to be worried about so far. He had lost a little weight but he attributes that more to summer than anything. He told Dr. Jones that a few days before the appointment he thought he'd tell her he wants to drop down to 2/3 dose but now he was feeling pretty good and felt like he could tolerate the full dose. She said it's best to stay on it to do all we can do to fight the tumors. He'll have a scan in late Oct. to see what's going on inside but unless he feels differently, he'll be able to stay on the full dose for the near future. Dr. Jones thought he looked great and was tolerating the treatment very well. There are just two other patients she has on Sutent and it sounds like Craig is doing the best. We feel really lucky and hope it's actually doing something to the tumors. Craig actually feels at times that he forgets he has cancer. This treatment is bringing quality of life that he never had with the chemo embolization. Last year at this time he was looking much worse and we are so very thankful to have this time. Thanks for everyone thoughts and prayers.

Full dose

Craig jumped up to the full dose of Sutent last Wed. Aug. 18. It's been almost a week and he is tolerating it pretty well. He spends a little more time in the bathroom but that's been his norm since cancer. We will see Dr. Jones next week and do some blood work and see about a scan. Hopefully he won't see more symptoms as it builds up in his system. Now as I'm writing this he tells me the oxycodone isn't giving him as much relief from the pain as it usually does. He is being more active than he was so his body gets more tired as the day wears on (and he is 55, aren't all of us feeling a little more tired as the day wears on!). Thanks for thinking of us.

2/3 dose

Well, he's up to 2/3 dose by last Thursday, August 12 and it didn't make much difference. In fact, I think it's giving him renewed energy. He's pulled out the dead bushes in front of the house with the help of a truck, chain and his good friend, Jason Thomas...eaten at Cafe Rio and Cheesecake Factory...chipped out the tile in the basement (with Jason's help again) for new carpeting...all since taking the chemo pill! He wasn't wanting to do much of that stuff, manual labor or eating out over the past year and a half. If it wasn't Cowboy Grub's roast beef sandwich smothered in gravy, he wasn't interested in going anywhere else. He's thinking of going to the full dose this week sometime. We are just so thankful that this pill hasn't been too rough on him. Hopefully it's doing what it's supposed to which is keeping tumors from growing.

Maddie is 17!

It's true, she's seventeen today! What a woman! Hard at work on her Hello Day assembly video for the first day of school next week. She has been filming for weeks and is now editing for hours and hours. We celebrated at Cheesecake Factory and then some friends came over for cake and an outdoor movie. We had a surprise visit from the McDermott cousins. It was a great day for Maddie. We gave her a trip to San Francisco in October over UEA - just Maddie and mom! Love this girl lots! We're so proud of her!

Backed Against A Wall

Last Wednesday, Dr. Jones called, after reading the last CT scan taken at IMC when Craig broke his rib. She wasn't her usual light and cheery self but wanted to talk to both of us. She said the tumors have once again grown, especially the pancreas tumor which had not increased in size since the diagnosis. This is just from two months ago and Craig has been feeling so good. We talked about options and the words that stayed with us are "you don't have a lot of liver left". She said you need to take the chemo pill now. Craig felt "backed against a wall" and knew it was time to try the pill. He said he'd start on Sunday (today). The last thing she said was "don't drink any grapefruit juice". You would think that wouldn't be a problem for most people but for Craig that is his favorite drink...seriously! The sour, yellow, yucky stuff you buy in frozen cans...he loves it! Everything else is too sweet for him. We had already read that he would have to stop his grapefruit juice habit and I swear that was one of the things holding him back from starting the chemo pill. Now that he didn't have an option he willingly took himself off of it by Saturday and today when I came home from church he took his first Sutent at 12:30 pm. We sat there looking at each other and nothing immediately happened. Within about 20 minutes he started to feel a little upset in his stomach. Nothing drastic but just an unsettled feeling that he has many days. That was about it for the day, no drastic changes, no need for anti-nausea medicine so that was good. This is just 1/3 of the full dose he took today so he'll slowly build up to the full dose if he can over the next few weeks.

We had a Doutré family party tonight and he was able to go to that. His sister Greta-Ann and her daughter Caylie are in town so it was wonderful to see them and spend time together for the first time in a few years. Greta-Ann is the amazing bionic woman with her new leg which she actually stood and walked on. Here is a picture of her standing all by herself...totally great to see her progress. We love them both and wish they lived closer so we could help them out more.