Weekend Update

Friday Night Festivities with the Rally Across America Friends:
Happy 7 1/2th birthday to Shayla!










Saturday morning the amazing young gentleman hopped on their bikes and took off continuing on their 5,000 mile journey. We pray for their safety and praise Him for amazing people on earth working so hard to help others! Christi & Shayla escorted them down our road on their bicycles (yet still in their PJs) and Shayne continued cycling with them for about 20 miles to Upper. (Knowing Shayne and his love of fitness, I thought perhaps he'd quit his job and continue on with them, but he returned! Whew!) By noon we loaded up Christi’s chemo powder, capsules, etc. and we were off to the lake where we stayed at “Grandma Nee Nee’s”. As you can tell from the pictures, we had an enjoyable time. The girls enjoyed swimming and playing and I accomplished a lot of reading and writing. (My final summer class ends on Friday, Praise the Lord!)

Christi's chemo will end Tuesday night after her second daily dosage of a hefty number of large capsules stuffed with Fenretnide. We are quite surprised that other than an upset stomach and related “bathroom issues” from the chemo, Christi is really feeling well. We cannot possibly praise Him enough for that. So many of our cancer family members are not doing well. I’m already anxious to learn what Wednesday’s blood counts will be and I’m already fearful of them too. Our much needed prayer request continues: Platelets Up, LDH down. Low platelets could signal that the disease is continuing to infiltrate her bone marrow with tumor cells taking over her marrow. Low platelets could signal that she's becoming platelet transfusion which most likely will be irreversible requiring a couple platelet transfusions at the hospital each week. Most frightening is the fact that low platelets could single that she's not going to quality for other treatment attempts with a low platelet count. We're trying to just enjoy one day at a time, but we are very worried and scared.

Meanwhile, Christi continues to play happily with her wonderful sister, Shayla, and to work on her keychain beading project which she will give to the new girls in her class tomorrow night at “Open House”. (She’s so excited about going to open house and arranging all of her school supplies in her desk and getting to see her friends and teacher.) Last year she had to miss it as the two of us were in Philly and on a plane flying back to Columbus after we learned that her disease had progressed (again). Last year I never thought she’d still be alive to get to go to "Open House" year. You can’t imagine my gratitude! (And you can't imagine my giggles every time the girls call it "Full House" instead of "Open House", hee hee!

Thank you Partners in Prayer!



Christi's favorite way to breakfast: with book on balcony
Christi jumps into the pool.

We borrowed a fancy little car and went for a romantic drive around Port Clinton for a hour ! What fun!

A REMINDER FOR UPPER SANDUSKY FRIENDS:
"Alex & Christi's Lemonade Stand - raising $$ for pediatric cancer research":
HEADLINERS & COMPANY
120 EAST WALKER STREET
UPPER SANDUSKY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 15th
11-1PM and 5-7PM