HAPPY FALL!!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!! OK, so maybe that refers to the Christmas holiday season, but for me I just LOVE Fall! We have so many family traditions that happen during these months, the weather is usually perfect, and God's paint palette is full of beautiful colors!!! My sister's burning bush has begun it's change from green to a flaming red already! Although we don't celebrate Halloween, we do celebrate the season with our Fall Harvest Family Festival. It's time to replace our shorts and flip flops with sweaters and jackets ... time to pack away our little wading pools in the back of the garage ... time to turn off the a/c and open up the windows in the house. MMMMMMMM!!!!!! I love Fall!

I realized this morning that it has been almost a full month since I last blogged. I suppose you could say that I had "blog-block." I appreciate all of you who check here regularly to keep up with my little crew and my medical saga. I am sorry it's taken this long to write. So here's a brief catch-up from this past month ...

The kids have been in school long enough to have received their first progress report for the year. All things considered, they are doing GREAT! Anita's challenge is math, and she's trying very hard to pay attention this year and wants to get an "A" or "B". The 6th grade arithmetic is actually a 7th grade curriculum in our school district. Nathan absolutely loves school this year. He, like Nita, is a 6th grader. He tells me that his favorite subject is "everything, but not math." Isaac is now in 3rd grade. He's discovered the joys of reading ... FINALLY! Reading used to be so frustrating for him, but now it's difficult to find him without a book in his hand. He loves to talk about what he's read, and it just tickles me when he gets so excited and animated with his summaries! Allie is in her final year of preschool. She's loving being back in school. Her teachers and specialists have all said that she's doing well and has matured a lot. She loves playground time the most. Brandon is also in preschool and is really coming out of his shell! He says that he has "a new best friend in the whole world and his name is Alexander!"

A dear friend of the family sent the kids a check with funds to spend anyway they chose (or I chose). I was so proud of their decision! They chose to buy a fish tank and all of the fixin's to put in our family room. They told me they wanted the tank because it would be "relaxing" for me to sit in my "momma chair" and watch the fish swimming around. Isaac is using his birthday coupon from me to buy his very own fish. He's been wanting one for the last 3 years. I told him when he turned 8 he would be responsible enough to care for it. Our tank is set up and ready for it's first occupants. My three oldest have asked if they could blog about their fish here on our blog ... so expect some fun posts in the near future! With the remainder of the money the kids want to do something special for somebody else. This summer we talked about "paying it forward". I guess they were really listening to me. Go figure! They have yet to decide who or what will be blessed with their kindness, but their list of ideas is impressive and rather sweet.

A couple of weeks ago I took my two oldest boys out for a morning with Mommy. We had so much fun! The highlight was a trip to our local Lowe's. They were holding a workshop for children. They got to build their very own drum set! They looked so cute in their little handyman aprons and protective goggles! I think this Christmas my kiddos are going to get their own little workshop set up downstairs. How fun would that be? SHHHH! Don't tell them!

This past weekend we got to spend Saturday with our little friend Chase, whom I have mentioned in previous blogs. He is turning 3 years old tomorrow! We had a great time at the park playing on the slides and eating cake. My biggest regret is that I neglected to bring my camera! Please keep Chase and his mother in your prayers.

The stomach flu has hit the Jones family, including extended family members, with a vengeance! I told the kids that they are only allowed to get the flu once a year, so no more sickness until next year! I'm praying we can avoid the H1N1 junk. My kids have always been so healthy, that they are horribly miserable when they are sick! Mommy is sad when she can't make them feel better too. :-(

Yesterday afternoon I received a wonderful surprise! When Nathan's bus pulled up to the driveway, the bus driver stepped off of the bus with him carrying a casserole dish. One of Nathan's teachers, Mrs. Campione, made our family dinner! Not only was the chili mac casserole delicious, it was also gluten free for Nathan! After having spent the day at the hospital getting the crappy news about my CA-125 numbers, her gift to us was perfect. Thank you, Mrs. Campione for being an angel to our family! I just adore the teachers and staff that care for all of my kids when I'm not with them. There really ARE good people in this world.

Now the cancer junk ...

I got bad news and good news yesterday. My oncologist informed me that this last type of chemotherapy that we've been trying isn't working. My CA-125 is now up to 310. That is not good. The goal is to be in the normal range which is under 21. I am very sick. The good news is that there is a Phase 1 clinical trial that I qualify for. There are only 18 participants ... I'm number 18. It is a unique study in that I will not be getting chemo. Instead I will be receiving an immunostimulator which is called rBBX-01. I will have to travel to the hospital 5 days a week for this shot. Even though it's a simple injection as opposed to the infusions I received for chemo, I will have to spend my days there to be observed. I'll leave home at 6:30 every morning and return around 4:30. Although the time involved is going to make it difficult on not just me, but my children and my friends and family who will have to help me get them to and from school, there is an up-side ... it gives me HOPE. The trial will last for 8 weeks. It begins on Monday. Please pray that God's Will will be done. I am not willing to accept defeat yet. God has given me the strength that I have needed up until this point ... and I know that He is always there.

So, that's about it in a nutshell. Kids are happy ... house is a mess ... dogs have been fed ... politics are as usual ... and God is so good. I promise to try to keep up with my blog better this next month. I really do appreciate and love you all for caring about me and the children. We are blessed to have you.

Until Tomorrow,
Kathy