every captive thought

Scan one is done!  We go back tomorrow at 2.  I assume the nuclear medicine doctor will read it right then but I am not sure.  Hopefully I will know something before the weekend.  Jude handled the scan really well.  He just kicked back and crossed his little feet like he didn't have a care in the world.  He is showing this cancer who is boss! We are still fighting the rash from the iodine and hopefully will be able to keep it under control that way. Thank you again for your prayers for our little Judie Bug.  He's handling all of this a lot better than Mommy and Daddy are.  He's our little champ! Jamesie had a pretty great day with Nana and Papa.  He watered Papa's tree... Took his Puppies for a ride in the wagon... Played with a neighborhood cat... Read the Bible... Played with that cat some more... And took the Puppies on another wagon ride... I'm sure Mom is already in bed exhausted...that kid will wear you out.  I am so t...

Jude is radioactive!  He was injected and now we are waiting for the scan at 4 and again tomorrow at 2.  I am watching him closely because there is iodine in the contrast..."radioactive iodine"...so we are hopeful he doesn't have too much of a reaction.  I am keeping the Benadryl in him to help counteract that.  Another IV...boo. Injecting the radioactive iodine. As I was walking into the hospital this morning I ran into two PRECIOUS friends.  The Lord knew just what I needed at just that moment as I was starting to feel a little discouraged and overwhelmed.  I continue to be amazed and blessed by the Lord's goodness and very personal attention and love. James continues to be a real champ about all of the changes going on in our lives right now.  He says, "YEEEHAWWW!" Thank you for your prayers for today's scans.

One week ago today I found out my baby boy has cancer. Cancer. It still doesn't feel real when I say it. The radiologist told us and took us from the sonogram room to the CT room. After the CT, we were walking out of the hospital holding Jude and I wanted to RUN. I felt hot and nauseated and dizzy and confused and I wanted to run as fast as I could out of the hospital and back to when there was no cancer and then it hit me...."I'm the mom!" I can't run away from this. I've run away from a lot in my life. But I couldn't run away from this one. I had to be the mom. I had to stay and be as strong of a mommy as I could for Jude. I had to stay and be a wife to Brad. I had to stay and listen to what the doctors were telling me. I had to stay and walk my child into the PICU. I had to stay and watch while they hooked Jude up to more wires, tubes, and IV's than I could count. I had to stay and sign papers that talked about blood and cancer and su...

Today was our first appointment with Dr. Regueria.  I was concerned because it seemed awfully quick for our first appointment and it has been our experience that they bring you into the office to give you the bad news.  But in a brave attempt to be positive I didn't even wear waterproof mascara.  That's progress yall! We got there and Dr. Regueria seemed confused as to why we were there.  Finally he said, "why are you here???"  We told him when we were discharged from the hospital they told us to call for an appointment and the receptionist asked us to come in today at 2:00.  But even though it was an unnecessary visit he checked out Jude's incision, gave us a schedule of our visits, scans, x-rays, blood work, bone scans, CTs, and MRIs for the next three years.  I was totally overwhelmed.  BUT...he also told us that he got one of the tests back and it was good!!!!  Jude was so excited he chewed on his toes. Dr. Regueria also mentioned agai...

Jude had a really great night last night.  No fever and he finally ate an 8 ounce bottle.  This morning he got a little sponge bath. Later he got his IV removed!  Finally all wires and tubes are removed...at least for one whole day. After talking to Dr. Nirgiotis and Dr. Honey we finally got to leave the hospital. My guys all snuggled down and took a little nap. To look at Jude you would never know that he just had surgery. What does a cancer diagnosis get you???  A one way ticket back into Mom and Dad's room.  Maybe until he's 18 years old. Plus his big brother is being extra sweet and protective. Tomorrow we start giving Jude the iodine stuff to protect his thyroid during the MIBG scan.  We also have our first out-of-the-hospital appointment with Dr. Regueria at 2:00.  Maybe he has some of the pathology back to tell us about...but I don't know.  Then it's back to the hospital on Wednesday and Thursday for the scans.  Unfortunately t...

We are finally home and resting.  There is no place like home.  I will update tonight on the newest developments after I find the floor under all of our laundry.

Sadie the therapy dog came to see Jude today. He didn't need therapy before but I am certain he does now. Jude was not feeling the Sadie love. Now Brad on the other hand....   I think he found a new soul-mate.

More good news!  The head/brain CT came back normal!  Thank you Lord!!!!  This is Dr. Regueria.  We LOVE Dr. Regueria! He is the pediatric oncologist. Brad wants to grow a beard like his.  It. Is. Awesome. Thank you for praying with us each step of the way.  We are so grateful for all of the prayers.  Once we are settled back at home and life falls into a more normal routine I will post about all of the incredible ways the Lord has answered prayers along the way but I wanted to tell you this one thing. This MIBG scan we are having done on Wednesday is a full body scan to see if there is any more neuroblastoma anywhere is Jude's body.  Amarillo JUST got the equipment used to do these scans.  Previously Dr. Regueria has had to send all of his patients to Dallas to have the scan done.  I am so thankful we have it here in Amarillo now!  Next two steps...the scan on Wednesday and waiting for the pathology.  We are almost the...

We weren't supposed to have Jude's head CT until tomorrow but they surprised us and came and got us early.  He just had it done and we are waiting for the Radiologist to read is and hear from Dr. Regueria. 

Jude's day got off to a rough start.  He had a fever most of the night and had a lot of pain for the first half of the day. I made him snuggle with me anyways. (Thank you Lord Jesus that the tiny baby bed did not collapse). But the GREAT news is that he got his NG tube out today!!!  Thank you Lord!  He was a much more cheerful little man after that! He had some very special visitors today too.  Dr. Honey and her two beautiful girls.  We have Dr. Honey to thank for being so diligent and thorough and finding that bad ol tumor.  She's our angel! After having his NG tube removed he got to have some pedialyte.  But he didn't like the bottle.  He wanted the ones from home that he is used to. So I ran home to get him one.  That did the trick! It felt so good to feed him again...even if it was just pedialyte. The next great news was that we got to move out of the PICU!  YAHOO!  And what's even better than that is that we got a room th...

Jude has been running a fever all night and this morning. Would you please be praying that it comes down. I haven't talked to Dr. Nirgiotis yet this morning so I'm not sure how big of a deal this is or isn't. And there is the possibility of his NG tube coming out soon which will be really exciting! I am praying for the timing on that as well as his little tummy to start working again. Thank you again and again for your prayers for our little Jude.

I got my first post op smile today!  I can't tell you what it did for my soul. But he still doesn't feel great.  I know he is in a lot of pain. But he sure can lift that leg. It is hard on us to see him in so much pain.  We can calm him down by leaning in and singing "You Are My Sunshine" to him.  Hope the neighbors brought ear plugs. Jude also got a little sponge bath today.  I don't know about him but it made me feel better. James came by to tell his baby brother good morning and then came back later to tell him good night.  He has been most delighted to discover the toy room and especially this cool car.  He also stole some banana bread off the dinner tray and hijacked Jude's balloon. He also got in a good Nana nap this afternoon.  I know that my boy is tired if he is taking a nap...much less in someones arms.  I think he might be having too much fun while he's away from Mom and Dad. Down to business... We have gotten more good ne...