Good Afternoon!
What a wonderful weekend we had! Olivia's party was a big success, Elena stayed healthy, and the Saints are going to the Super Bowl!! We could not have asked for anything more!!
Olivia went to the Dr. for a well visit Monday afternoon and she is growing right on schedule. We did find out that she had strep throat however, so she stayed home from school yesterday while taking an oral antibiotic. She feels much better today and is right back at it. Please pray for continued good health for Olivia as we try to limit the exposure to Elena.
While Olivia was at her visit, Elena was on the way to get her counts checked when we received a phone call from the oncology nurse telling us that counts were not needed because she was going to get all or part of her chemo on Wednesday depending on what her counts were then. Elena was very excited about the news of one less needle stick!! As it turned out, we received more good news this morning. Elena's counts were back up and she was able to get all of the chemo she needed to complete this phase of her treatment!! :-) God is so good!!
Elena will now have two weeks off before starting her next phase of treatment which is scheduled to begin on Feb. 10, depending on counts of course. This is a scheduled break to let her body recover before starting Delayed Intensification, which is the most intense phase she will go through. This will be a 56 day phase consisting of two 28 day cycles. It is hard to believe that at the conclusion of this phase Elena will have been in treatment for right around a year! Time flies and cancer stinks! Please pray for Elena to have a rehabilitating two weeks and for her body to recover as much as possible before heading into this difficult phase of treatment.
Thank you for taking the time to join us as we humbly stand in the grace of our God and are constantly awed by His love and the generosity of all that he has placed in our paths!
In Him,
The Tates
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Patience is a virtue!
Happy Friday!
Today is the beginning of a very exciting weekend! It all started with a clinic visit for Elena this morning. The visit went very well! Mainly because that is all it was, a visit. Elena's platelet and red cell counts were still too low to receive any treatment, so we spent some time chatting with old friends and new acquaintances while the doctors readjusted her schedule. The plan moving forward is to check Elena's counts locally on Monday, and if they are good, she will have her last visit of this phase on Wednesday! We would then move on to Delayed Intensification, the last phase before Elena would enter maintenance! :-) DI will be two 28 day cycles with visits once a week. Please pray for Elena's body to recover and for our patience to remain resolute during this period of waiting.
Tonight, Olivia will be hosting a Pizza, Popcorn and Puppet Show Party! The evening promises to be a smashing success with lots of fun had by all! Mommy and Daddy included!! We love this stuff!! It is so wonderful to be able celebrate these milestones along life's winding, and sometimes bumpy road. I believe that they are made even more special in spite of the bumps! :-)
Speaking of bumps in the road, we hope that the Saints have hit all of the bumps they are going to hit this season and that they can finish what they started by bringing a Championship home to the great state of Louisiana! Who Dat Baby! We will be rooting for the home team on Sunday!!
Finally, on Monday afternoon, Olivia will go to the doctor for her 8 year check-up, when did our baby turn 8?, and Elena will have her counts checked once again. Please pray for these visits and that all is well with Liv as she continues to grow and learn, and that Elena's counts have rebounded enough to continue her treatment.
Thank you for all that you do and for taking the time to check in on us!
In Him,
The Tates
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
Today is the beginning of a very exciting weekend! It all started with a clinic visit for Elena this morning. The visit went very well! Mainly because that is all it was, a visit. Elena's platelet and red cell counts were still too low to receive any treatment, so we spent some time chatting with old friends and new acquaintances while the doctors readjusted her schedule. The plan moving forward is to check Elena's counts locally on Monday, and if they are good, she will have her last visit of this phase on Wednesday! We would then move on to Delayed Intensification, the last phase before Elena would enter maintenance! :-) DI will be two 28 day cycles with visits once a week. Please pray for Elena's body to recover and for our patience to remain resolute during this period of waiting.
Tonight, Olivia will be hosting a Pizza, Popcorn and Puppet Show Party! The evening promises to be a smashing success with lots of fun had by all! Mommy and Daddy included!! We love this stuff!! It is so wonderful to be able celebrate these milestones along life's winding, and sometimes bumpy road. I believe that they are made even more special in spite of the bumps! :-)
Speaking of bumps in the road, we hope that the Saints have hit all of the bumps they are going to hit this season and that they can finish what they started by bringing a Championship home to the great state of Louisiana! Who Dat Baby! We will be rooting for the home team on Sunday!!
Finally, on Monday afternoon, Olivia will go to the doctor for her 8 year check-up, when did our baby turn 8?, and Elena will have her counts checked once again. Please pray for these visits and that all is well with Liv as she continues to grow and learn, and that Elena's counts have rebounded enough to continue her treatment.
Thank you for all that you do and for taking the time to check in on us!
In Him,
The Tates
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
Thursday, January 21, 2010
January update!
Just a little update on the happenings in the Tate house.
January is a busy but enjoyable month for us. We celebrate the start of a new calendar year as well as the anniversary of Olivia's birth! She turned 8 on the 15th and is having her party friday night! We are all looking forward to celebrating this very happy occassion!
Elena has been doing well physically but has had low platelets counts on her last two clinic visits, which has prevented her from receiving all of her chemo treatments. She has her next visit tomorrow and will hopefully be able to get the treatment she needs to get back on track. Please pray for all of her counts to be where they need to be and for a good clinic visit all around!
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers and in your hearts!
In Him,
The Tates
January is a busy but enjoyable month for us. We celebrate the start of a new calendar year as well as the anniversary of Olivia's birth! She turned 8 on the 15th and is having her party friday night! We are all looking forward to celebrating this very happy occassion!
Elena has been doing well physically but has had low platelets counts on her last two clinic visits, which has prevented her from receiving all of her chemo treatments. She has her next visit tomorrow and will hopefully be able to get the treatment she needs to get back on track. Please pray for all of her counts to be where they need to be and for a good clinic visit all around!
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers and in your hearts!
In Him,
The Tates
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Quick Update
Good Morning!
Elena had a clinic appointment yesterday. She was scheduled to be sedated and receive chemo via spine and also in her port. Her platelet count was lower than they would have liked, so she was sedated and only received chemo in her spine. She is scheduled to go back to the clinic on Friday to receive the other two chemo drugs that she did not receive yesterday. Hopefully, her platelet count will rise and she will continue with this round of treatment. Elena has been having some bouts with nausea, but other than that she is doing well. Her attitude and spirits are great!
Monday we celebrated as both girls brought home excellent report cards from the 2nd nine weeks of school. Elena had straight A's again and Liv had all A's and B's. Yahoo!! Both girls received Achievement ribbons for academic work. Liv received a Perfect Attendance ribbon and Elena received a Citizenship ribbon as well. We are so very proud of their hard work in all areas of their lives!
Friday we will be celebrating Liv's 8th birthday!!! We can't believe she will be eight!! It is true time goes by so quickly.
Please pray for Elena's platelet count to rise and for continued good health for all of us, extended time in our day wouldn't hurt either : ) We continue to praise God every day for surrounding us within the loving arms of the body of christ here on earth! Thank you for being there for us and for taking the time to check on us!
In Him,
The Tates
"I will always thank God for what he has done. I will praise his good name when his people meet." Psalms 52:9
Elena had a clinic appointment yesterday. She was scheduled to be sedated and receive chemo via spine and also in her port. Her platelet count was lower than they would have liked, so she was sedated and only received chemo in her spine. She is scheduled to go back to the clinic on Friday to receive the other two chemo drugs that she did not receive yesterday. Hopefully, her platelet count will rise and she will continue with this round of treatment. Elena has been having some bouts with nausea, but other than that she is doing well. Her attitude and spirits are great!
Monday we celebrated as both girls brought home excellent report cards from the 2nd nine weeks of school. Elena had straight A's again and Liv had all A's and B's. Yahoo!! Both girls received Achievement ribbons for academic work. Liv received a Perfect Attendance ribbon and Elena received a Citizenship ribbon as well. We are so very proud of their hard work in all areas of their lives!
Friday we will be celebrating Liv's 8th birthday!!! We can't believe she will be eight!! It is true time goes by so quickly.
Please pray for Elena's platelet count to rise and for continued good health for all of us, extended time in our day wouldn't hurt either : ) We continue to praise God every day for surrounding us within the loving arms of the body of christ here on earth! Thank you for being there for us and for taking the time to check on us!
In Him,
The Tates
"I will always thank God for what he has done. I will praise his good name when his people meet." Psalms 52:9
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Happy New Year!
The new year has begun and so have Elena's treatments. She went for a clinic visit yesterday and received two types of chemo in her port and got the PEG shots in both legs. What a way to welcome in the new year! She did great! We thought it was going to be a quick in and out visit with just the IV chemo, but found out about the PEG when we saw the doctor. Elena was not too thrilled about this but handled the news, and the shots, like a champ.
We celebrate the start of this new year with joy and hope for the future. We are encouraged by Elena's progress and know that every visit brings with it another step in the fulfillment of God's plan for our lives. Each day still has its struggles...questions of why and wanting everything to be normal again...but each day also holds promise and love. We have God's promise that he will never forsake us and a love for each other made possible because He first loved us. We are thankful for each new day given us and grateful for the many blessings continually showered upon us. Thank you for being a part of our lives and for sharing this journey with us.
We wish each of you a very blessed 2010!
In Him,
The Tates
"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19
We celebrate the start of this new year with joy and hope for the future. We are encouraged by Elena's progress and know that every visit brings with it another step in the fulfillment of God's plan for our lives. Each day still has its struggles...questions of why and wanting everything to be normal again...but each day also holds promise and love. We have God's promise that he will never forsake us and a love for each other made possible because He first loved us. We are thankful for each new day given us and grateful for the many blessings continually showered upon us. Thank you for being a part of our lives and for sharing this journey with us.
We wish each of you a very blessed 2010!
In Him,
The Tates
"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19
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