Round Four.....

  Well, here we go again, we checked in last night to the ninth floor of Texas Children's Hospital for round 4 of Immunotherapy after a much needed break.  At 10:00 a.m. we will start the Chimeric Anti-body at 5 ml over 20 hours.  We are expecting high fevers, low blood pressure and to have to keep a close eye on Halie's I's and O's (input & output)   Praise -- The Doctors have agreed not to try to run the anti-body at full dose 10ml over 10 hours so by God's grace this visit will run smoother than past visits.   Please pray that God will continue to protect Halie's Kidney and Liver function.  With our much needed break came better labs, the trace blood we have had present in her urine since round one has worked itself out and our levels are within normal range.  Thank You Jesus!
  The past few weeks that we were at home were a mixture of the Joy of just being together and grief as we experinced sickness, fear and loss.  We have lost too many friends in their battle with Cancer recently and seen many that we have come to love and pray for return with relapse after leaving this floor months ago so full of hope that remission was achieved.  I confess I have struggled, grappled with how to console a grieving mother or encourage a weary heart when mine felt so sorrowful and overwhelmed.  I am thankful that God  taught me His goodness before this present trial and so thankful that I have seen with my own eyes His love, provision and grace because this road is hard and it is easy to lose your way in the fog of fear and uncertainty.  Please pray for these precious families some know the Lord others do not.  My mind cannot comprehend this journey without the help of our Savior and I am desperate that they come to know Christ as He alone is their only hope.  We have also in our own family seen loss as Jason's beloved Aunt Frances, his Dad's sister, went to be with the Lord last week.  Jason loved her dearly and she will be missed but we rejoice that she knew Christ and loved Him deeply and is in His presence rejoicing with a body that will never again know loss or sickness.  Jason was unable to attend the funeral because Friday Halie had to have a last minute surgery to replace her central line. Her line came out of her right aorta and it would not have been safe to start the antibody until it was replaced. Jason's Grandfather has also been in the hospital undergoing major surgery and Praise God is now home recovering.  Please keep his family in your prayers as they make arrangements for his continued care at home. 
  Our time at home was a mixture of sorrow and joy but I am encouraged that just as we are tending our own gardens and getting ready for Spring that God will not leave us here.  He is preparing our hearts for Spring, a revival of sorts, and pulling out the weeds that we have left unattended in our own hearts during this time of winter.  For though "weeping may tarry for the night,  joy comes in the morning"
  Thank you for the precious prayers for our family.  I will update more as the day goes on......