A New Journey

I started this blog to record cute tales about our kids and to share stories of our lives. Life continues to happen, but with it brings the busyness that has made blogging less of a priority. In April we sold our house in Leo, moved in with Zach's parents for over a month, and were thankfully able to move into our new house in Bluffton in mid May. We were just starting to get settled again when God chose to open our eyes to a new journey He wants us to take. A journey that we are thankful we don’t have to face alone.

On June 12th Zach had a colonoscopy and after the procedure the Doctor shared with us that he had found a large growth in Zach’s lower colon that appeared to be cancerous. On Monday Zach had a CAT Scan and then on Tuesday received the news that the growth was cancer and that the CAT Scan showed spots in his liver and lungs. We met with an oncologist in Fort Wayne on Wednesday the 16th and he ordered a PET Scan to verify the CAT Scan Results. Zach had to have a blood transfusion on Friday the 18th because his hemoglobin levels were too low. On Monday (21st) he had the PET Scan and on Tuesday (22nd) we met with Dr. Helft a specialist at Indiana University’s Simon Cancer Center. Dr. Helft verified that the cancer has moved from Zach’s colon to both his liver and his lungs, which means that Zach has Stage Four Colon Cancer. This type of cancer has no cure at this time, but we are thankful that there are chemo treatments effective in shrinking the cancer and preventing it from spreading. Research has shown that people receiving treatment for type four colon cancer live on an average of 2 ½ years and 1 in 8 live for 5 years.

Zach has an MRI on Friday the 25th and is scheduled to start chemotherapy on the 29th. Our hope is that the chemo will decrease the size of the tumor and also the pain that Zach is experiencing. Dr. Helft and his nurse are hopeful that Zach should be able to continue working and function fairly normally as he is given this first type of chemo. We are thankful to be working with medical professionals who along with being experienced in treating colon cancer have a great compassion for their patients and their families.

In the coming weeks we are hoping to be able to settle into a new routine. A routine that includes trips to Indianapolis every other week for chemo and tests every few months to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. We find our future very uncertain right now, but are thankful for the things we know are true. GOD is in control. HE will give us the strength to endure everything we will face. No matter what happens we can look forward to Heaven.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:7-9

Zion is enjoying his new room and apparently his floor is comfortable because he prefers to sleep on it instead of in his bed. He is learning how to pray by repeating after Zach before bed each night. Zion loves to ride his bike in the basement and asks to play at the park across the street almost everyday. When we take walks through the neighborhood he almost always stops to pick a flower or two or three (one fore each person we are walking with).

Moriah turned one on May 15th and had a great party with her cousins a few weeks before her birthday. Today she is finally starting to get excited about walking from one person to another. It is kind of crazy how much amusement and joy a group of adults can get from watching a little girl's excitement in learning how to walk. She is still the Princess at our house, although she is learning that she sometimes needs go to bed even if she isn't quite ready. It is so sad to hear her cry for her mommy, but she is usually asleep within a few minutes. Moriah loves to eat and eats more than Zion at many meals. She is also learning that it is fun to climb up and down the basement steps. Thankfully she hasn't tumbled down yet.

SPRING-WE HOPE

Moriah enjoyed playing in the grass tonight for the first time and got jumped on my our neighbor's new puppy. Its hard to believe she is 10 months old. Zion also enjoyed the freedom of being outside. He is getting more vocal everyday and is starting talk on the phone more often. We are all hoping that winter is over, so we can continue to get outside for some much needed exercise and sunshine.

Life is kind of crazy, but we have so much to be thankful for. We traveled to Ohio the last two weekends. The first to meet Jacob's fiance Beth Miller and the second to attend a Family Life Marriage Conference. We may make one more trip to Ohio before the end of the month for a wedding shower. Providing the sale of our house goes through we will be moving out in April. At this point it looks like we won't get possession of our new house until mid May, so we are thankful that Zach's parents have offered to let us stay with them for a while. I will be so thankful when this moving process is over. I totally understand why moving is listed as one of the more stressful life events. Zach is getting tired of the long drives to work and I am ready to feel more settled again.

 

Moriah Grace 7 months

ZION

QUOTES:
-IT MIGHT BE FUN!
-I'M BEING A GOOD BOY! (WONDER IF EVERYONE ELSE ON THE PLANE THOUGHT SO?)
-I'M TIRED TOO. (AFTER THROWING A LONG FIT ABOUT GOING TO BED-HIS RESPONSE TO MOM STAYING SHE WAS TIRED)
-I'M ALMOST DONE. (WHEN MOM WOKE HIM UP AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO WAKE UP-FROM HIS PLACE ON THE FLOOR-SINCE HE DOESN'T LIKE TO SLEEP IN HIS BED)

FAVORITE SONGS:
-CHORUS OF HALLELUJAH THINE THE GLORY
-ABCD...
-BUTTERFLY KISSES (ACTUALLY DAD'S VERSION OF THE SONG SINCE THEY DON'T KNOW THE WORDS- IT CHANGES EVERY NIGHT AND INCLUDES LOTS OF TICKLING)
-THE WISE MAN BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON THE ROCK...
-CLEAN UP, CLEAN UP... (CHRISTA AND JACK MUST HAVE TAUGHT HIM THIS)
-JESUS LOVES ME
-JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN

One fall day-

Zion's quote of the day:
After hiding his milk cup- "bye, bye, see you later"


Moriah's Accomplishment for the Week:
Rolling from back to stomach