excerpts from Sydney's page

I know that lots of you are waiting for updates on our niece.  I took these from Sydney's Caringbridge site - this gives you a run down of what the last week has looked like and things you can be praying for...

*praise God for teachers who care and notice enough about their students to call home and tell parents that they just don't seem right!!!!

*that taking her oral medication will get easier

*that she will stay safe from all germs now that she is at home!

*that her sores in her throat will go away so she can eat
*that Sydney will be able to get good rest at night - and mom and dad too!
*that her vomiting will not get any worse

Thank you to all of you who are praying for our sweet niece!  The reality truly didn't hit me until I began reading the caringbridge posts.  When we can't be there, can't see her, can't be with family - it is hard.  But it is reality - her fight over cancer has begun.  And we cry out to God that he will choose for her to beat it!

Monday, September 27, 2010 10:20 PM, EDT

So -- where do we start? I guess at the beginning. It started on Wednesday, Sept. 22...went to the Doctor to see if anything was wrong -- Sydney complaining about being dizzy, heart beating fast and a call from one of her teachers (Mr. Bowyer ROCKS!!) stating that her coloring looked off. Long story short - blood work confirmed really high white blood count and really low platelet count. We were off to Children's Hospital to meet with the Hemotology Doctor on-call at the ER. Sydney was admitted into the hospital and underwent a bone marrow aspiration on 9/23/10 to confirm the type of leukemia. A couple hours later - Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia confirmed. On 9/24/10 (officially Day 1 of treatment) a chemotherapy port was inserted in Sydney's chest and a Spinal Tap was performed to ensure no bad cells around the spinal column. During the procedure, the first round of Chemo was administered (a drug called Cytarabine). The spinal tap results were good...no bad cells around the spinal column!! YEAH!! She did well with surgery and Chemo. Later that day (around 7:00pm) several other Chemo meds were administered (Vincristine, Daunorubicin) and along with high doses of Prednisone . She was a trooper!! Didn't get sick at all!!

Saturday and Sunday (9/25 and 9/26) went well -- Learned that Sydney does not like oral medications (great -- only 4 medicines a day -- some twice a day to take!!). She is working on taking pills...it is about an hour process (two times a day), but, getting better. She spiked a fever in the middle of the night...so, no chance of going home on Monday...soonest will be Wednesday :(

Monday (9/27) -- ROUGH DAY!! The last of the Chemo Drugs (Day 4) was administered. It is EZN-2285 (also known as Asparaginase). Sydney is on a clinic trial with this drug. The drug is usually administered via shots in the leg. Sydney is in a clinic group that is having the drug administered through the Chemo port (yeah -- no shots). That being said, it required blood work (not out of the port) to start the clinical trial. Sydney's veins are REALLY small...it was a horrible experience...three pokes and FINALLY the blood draw was successful (She screamed so hard that she got a migraine headache and Grandma K had to leave the treatment room). Sydney didn't eat much all day -- hungry but her throat is sore (sores from the Chemo treatment). By about 5:00pm we were told that her white blood count was down to 0.8. No external visitors, no trips to the playroom and any time Sydney leaves the room she needs to wear a mask.

Tuesday -- Better day but still rough. Found out that Sydney has to stay in the Hospital another day. She has a high level of uric acid (a breakdown product of cells) - it is good, but too high to be able to go home. The blood counts are still very low (again, good) so no visitors, masks to leave the room, etc.. In the afternoon Sydney started to perk up again (acting like herself). Mom and Dad got to tour the Hemo/Oncology Clinic -- looks pretty nice. It was redecorated a couple years ago with the help of funds raised by mom's work Department (Service Engineering Operations)...bitter sweet to be in there today...never imagined we would see it again after the ribbon cutting. Sydney got her Beads of Courage Necklace. It is a necklace that starts with her name and she gets to add a different colored bead for different Cancer events (Chemo, Pokes, etc..).

Thanks to everyone for their nice words, thoughts and prayers. Keep it up!!!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 10:11 PM, EDT
Sydney is HOME!! She was released from the hospital about 8pm. She had a great morning..then a "not-so-good" afternoon (migraine headache, leading to a dose of morphine, leading to vomiting). Even with the bad afternoon, the doctors released her..hoping that a trip to home would be good. She slept all the way home, but, had a small panic attack when she walked inside. This lead to a headache and then another round of vomiting. POOR GIRL!!! The vomiting is either from the morphine or chemo..time will tell.



Big Brother Jeremy was shocked at all the medications!! (It was a brown grocery bag full of meds for the next 30 days). Medicine that is part of the Chemo Treatment and medicines to counteract side effects of the Chemo Treatment. WOW!!

So, sleeping sound right now. Pray for a good night and the end of vomiting :)

bluegrass 2010

2010 Memories of Winfield...

This year we arrived earlier than ever and had already saved our camping spot with our camper (borrowed from a friend) the weekend before. We ALMOST went Wednesday night - sure glad we didn't.

There was a tornado near Winfield, the sirens went off, thousands and thousands of campers had to run for shelter. We watched the news from home, hoping that our borrowed camper woudn't blow away.

We got Dave's parents to come for the first time -they drove down with us on Thursday and stayed till bedtime.  We loved having them there!

2 of our friends came Friday night and their wives joined us on Saturday.

It was a blast having more friends there with us this year!

My parents were there - camping with the clan they have camped with for years and years.  They are always so helpful with the kids - giving us a good afternoon and night break to enjoy the festival on our own and not have to be confined to the camp once the kids go to bed.

The weather on Thursday was beautiful - perfect fall weather. We got to put jeans and sweatshirts on that night.

The rest of the weekend it was HOT - although evenings were pretty nice.

Dave said this was his favorite year YET!

I think the combination of our best ever camping spot and neighbors, and the friends and family that joined us helped make it that.

The Prep...

For the last few years, Dave has been saying he's going to build the kids an awesome wagon for bluegrass.

This year he did it - finished it the day before thanks to our friend Matt and his wood-working skills!

We got stopped many times over the course of the weekend by people admiring the wagon.

I spent almost a whole day in the kitchen preparing all our food - it's a lot of work, but SO worth all the prep when we get there.

 I made Pioneer Women's cinnamon rolls - the first attempt I've ever made at cinnamon rolls.

And I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

It was definitely messy, but they were SOOO good.

 I made hobo dinners for one night, got chili ready for another, and Dave smoked ribs the last night!

We definitely eat well when we camp!

The Camp...

 We met the guy who owned the big RV beside us - he quite possibly is the nicest guy we have ever met!

He let us plug into his RV for elecricity (meaning we didn't have to pay)

He brought out a kids table for the kids - and bubbles.

He made us popcorn one night and let us use his toilet and shower.

THAT definitely spoiled us.

I really could go on and on about him, and everything he did for us.

He was a HUGE blessing!

The People...

 Dave wants to name the wagon "Winfield War Wagon"

Something to do with Nascar - I didn't really get it, but he was excited about it and already planning how he'll put the name on it.

If you can't tell - this is a person with glowsticks tied to them in the shape of a person - hilarious!

The Music...

I looked over during John McCutcheon and saw the kids cuddling and swaying back and forth to the music - it melted my heart.

 Check out the little guy playing the harmonica...

 It was SOOO hot, and all but a couple of the stages are in full sun - we were so thankful to find these seats back in the barn to be able to watch the show.

 One of our favorite spots - Stage 5.

The Relaxation...

This was a huge purpose for the wagon - so the kids would be comfy and fall asleep if they needed to.

It worked!!!  They slept like this for an hour and a half. 

 Chillin for snack time..

 With the heat, Stage 5 was the perfect place to be.

We sat there for a few hours and I'm pretty sure all 6 of us fell asleep at one point or another.

The Fun...

I walked into my parent's camp and saw this on their camp message board...

We had chili and my annual FAVORITE zucchini cake (made with love by my mom!) with everyone at their camp - friends from many different states that have been helping me celebrate my birthday for as long as I can remember.

 This table is now on our wish list to add to our camping supplies - it was perfect for the kids - plus it folded up!

 The kids loved all the "jewelry" on this car - really it was just beads.

And they found a new love for Stage 2...

351 days till Bluegrass 2011.

The only thing I was bummed about all weekend was having to miss this...

I was registered, had trained for it, and had planned to take a 4 hour break from bluegrass to drive back to Newton to run.

What I didn't account for was the heat that I had sat in all day and dehydration, the amount of walking I had done, and the lack of sleep (not horrible, but definitely not like home). I tried to drink water all day long - still planning on making the race.

I knew I'd have to leave at 3:30 at the latest to make it back in time.

I'm pretty sure I made my decision at 3:29.

And I hated that I was going to miss it.

pray for sydney

When you pass through the water, I will be with you; and when you pass through the waters, they will not sweep over you; When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... Isaiah 43: 2-3

Late last night we got the call that our 6 year old niece, Sydney, has been diagnosed with Leukemia.

I am still in shock today. Wishing so desperately this is just a dream.

This came out of no where.

She had been really tired lately, and her teacher at school said she just wasn't herself.

They took her for a checkup - and the same day got the diagnosis.

Today they are doing tests - determining what type, how bad, etc.

So we are asking for prayers - for little 6 year old Sydney, for her brother Jeremy, and their parents Jason and Stacy.

Dave's parents left in the middle of the night to catch an early morning flight to Detroit.

Please keep them in your prayers too - as his dad is still recovering from open heart surgery.

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3, 6

I don't have many words right now.

We spent some time last night in prayer and conversation about the road we have been on with dear friends over the last almost 2 years.

The lessons God has taught us.

The truth he has revealed to us.

We are resting on these things right now.

Because really, what else can you do?

The verse in Isaiah 43 was one that was laid on my heart while following little Kate McRae's story.

It was one that her parents rested on A LOT.

So I ask that you begin to pray...

that as Sydney walks through this fire, that she will not be burned and that the flames will not set her ablaze.

and just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3...

"They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them"

We cry out that Sydney will come out of the fire with not a hair on her head singed, nor a smell of fire on her body.

another year over

Another year at Winfield is over.

This may have been our best year ever!

The only thing that could have been better was the heat.

We got one good, fall day - had a camp fire, put on jeans and sweatshirts.

IDEAL Bluegrass weather.

But the rest of the time was HOT.

Although once the sun went down, evenings were wonderful.

Packing up and coming home is always exhausting.

And because of the smell of campfire in pretty much everything,

we produce more laundry this weekend than any other weekend of the year.

Can't wait to share our 2010 Bluegrass story with you.

the best month ever

For lots of reasons, I name this the best month ever.

Not just this year - every year.

My birthday month.

Our first taste of fall month.

Bluegrass.

Football.

The State Fair.

And several of these things combined means it's the best FOOD month too.

Because we all know, that's why we go to the state fair.

Gator Tators might just be my all-time favorite.

And I learned something new this year.

Eat them FIRST, they are pretty filling.  Then I wasn't going AS crazy over everything else.

The kids LOVE this slide - and we do too - except for that long walk up.

Then they dug in the sand for money.

Really, they wanted to be just like Joel.

He's in the background with the blue shirt- on whatever you call that machine.

Doing the same thing the kids are doing - but with a real one of course.

Instead of money, he's trying to get a golf ball in a little hole.

It was quite entertaining.

And of course, I had to finish the night off with a funnel cake.

YMMMM, fried, greasy goodness.

And now let's get on with this week...

it's WINFIELD time!!

3 days and counting.

Maybe sooner if it rains and Dave doesn't have to work.

Ahhhhhh....can't wait.

a first

Last night was Taylor's first night in our church's Awana program - Cubbies!

The day before, she didn't think she wanted to go.

I think it was just an act.

Because on the day of, she told her brother 100 times that she was going to Cubbies because she was 3, and he couldn't.

Mason tried to tell all of us many times that he too wanted to go to "ubbies".

We tried to tell him that he was going to get some good quality mommy and daddy time all by himself.

He was okay with that.

Taylor did great - and already memorized her first verse!

I was excited for this FIRST of hers.

Dave was the one that was a little more nervous.

I don't think he's gonig to do well with her FIRSTS at all.

Which means her FIRSTS will be all the more harder on me - to see her Daddy having a hard time too.

Thanks goodness we can take baby steps.

And Cubbies is a great first step.

We're excited for this opportunity she'll have to begin learning more of God's Word and hiding it in her heart.

sleeping beauty

She was sound asleep, but I couldn't resist getting the camera...

I've had this eye mask around the house for years.  It came with some pampering set and I've never used it.  I've about thrown it away several times.

Never thinking that our little princess may make some use of it.

I never know when she has it, she doesn't sleep with it always.

So it's extra funny when it pops up from time to time.