later 2.17.08

While the swelling and spots are all but gone, John continues to experience extreme lethergy and fatigue. Blood in the stool is gone to the naked eye, which is good; but I am concerned about how completely run down he is. He is getting rather thin and just looks really weak. Also, there is a mystery pain in his stomach that has come and gone for the past few weeks (so I tend to think it's not the chemo) that is intensifying. It has come and gone about 10-20 times both yesterday and today, lasting about 5 to 20 minutes each time. He says the pain is an intense burning that even the pain meds don't touch. The waves come on so strong that he stops talking and just breathes in and out with his eyes closed until it passes. He is keeping a journal and is trying to track it to eating patterns or something in his routine but nothing seems to be consistent. We do not go back to the doc for almost two weeks. If this continues I suspect we will need to call and get in sooner rather than later. Please pray for relief from these waves of intense stomach pain for him. He is weak enough; after one of these waves he is even more so.

Noah is finally completely well (should I knock on wood?) and Isaiah is down to just a cough. Mary continues to vomit so I don't see John coming home soon, though at least her fever has gone away. This illness has been terrible. Three weeks for each kid and not even at the same time; staggered. Geesh.

We continue to take one day at a time so as not to get overwhelmed. As frightening as this all is, I have to admit that at no time have I felt like God isn't with us. I can tell there is prayer out there because John, as sick as he is, has not become discouraged. And I, as ...whatever as I am, have not felt like I can't handle it. We both certainly have our difficult moments, but nothing that has overtaken us. I am certain that people are praying for his health and my strength, ...I can feel it. I'd ask that you all please pray for our kids too.
Thanks to all,
k