Thanks God....

For ending that miserable week. Treatment #9 proved to be a real pain in the buttocks or I guess more appropriately the mouth. On about day three when Mark was pretty run down already, he developed a mouth full of sores. This of course made is difficult to eat and even to talk. After several days of this, several different medicines and mouthwashes and several different varieties of mashed foods, he finally started feeling a little better on this Friday evening. That was awesome, because it made Saturday much more enjoyable. To see him, you would never have guessed how bad his week had been. We went to the Cypert reunion at Lake Fort Phantom. He got to eat everything!! Even brisket! And he talked all day long. They had a great turn out and it was so good to see everyone there. The kids had a blast swimming and riding the jet ski and visiting with family they don't get to see very often. Thanks to all who made our day so enjoyable.

Mark is going to get a much anticipated break now. He would routinely have treatment three days from now, but it will be put off until after the 4th of July. WoooHoooo. So, starting on July 8th, treatment 10, 11, and 12 will be every other week with #12 being on August 5th. Woohoo, Woohoo, Woohoo!!! That was a happy dance in case you couldn't see! I know he will be so glad to have this behind him.

Getting ready this week for the Berend Family Reunion at Lake Whitney. More fun and sun and catching up with family. Mark is all about the fun, but will probably avoid the sun as much as possible. It might be lots of dominoes indoors for him. Suits him just fine.

Have a great Sunday. Love to all, Missy

Happy Fathers Day

Hope all dads have a great day tomorrow. We love all of you and know that each of you have a special place in many people's lives. Just wanted to let everyone see the kids entry to the fathers day contest at KFDX.

http://thp.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?PageType=APPROVED&ContestID=7114&SubmissionID=1008091&IncrementNumber=1&SSMode=STOP#SubmissionDisplay
(couldn't get it to make a link. copy this to your search)

He didn't win the contest and the chainsaw given away, but no worries, he probably won't be using one for a while anyway. Mark is a little drained this weekend. Although, if you had seen him and Austin racing on the go karts yesterday you would never guess it. In fact, maybe it is because of the go kart riding that he feels so poorly today. Anyway, better days are ahead. Have a great weekend, Missy.

Wow.

I got up thinking I better go back and read what I wrote last night. Good thing, it was horrible! I am hoping there were few who were up late last night and read it. I have edited and hopefully it is more readable now. I know Judy must have squirmed in her seat to see the misspellings and grammatical errors and just plain jibberish. I have got to stop sitting in the recliner before bed to post.

Hoping for a terrrrrific Tuesday for everyone. The kids are at basketball camp half a day and I am trying to catch up on several things I am way behind on and Mark will work on getting in everything he won't be able to do for several days.

Hope all are well. We are looking forward to the upcoming family reunions to get to see everyone. Love you all, Missy

Gosh, Time flies!

It has been quite some time. Yes we are still here and doing well. Nelda is right, we did get kind of wrapped up in all of the baseball goings on. We made the trip back to Austin to support the boys baseball team. Such a heartbreaker. Glad we got to make the trip, but really hard to see the championship game slip away from them. We have really enjoyed following these boys. Their committment and hard work is a joy to be a part of. They have much to be proud of.

Thanks so much to Deanna and Donna and Judy for taking such good care of us when we come to see you. I promise, we never want for anything when we are there! God has blessed us with wonderful family. (I would say big sis's, but the boys are pretty awesome too!) Many thanks to Danny for the help with the lawn. And to Mom and Dad and Grandmother and Grandaddy for bringing us all together.

We are just working workin, and the kids are adjusting to being at home and having to entertain themselves. They fight a lot, but are actually completing a few tasks a day for me to help out. I am really proud of them, but am having to watch them grow up rather quickly right in front of me.

Mark is good. He did really well in Austin, even in the heat of the day at the ballgames. He had some dizzy spells this wlate in the week, but I think we are on top of that now and he seems to be much better, Chemo #9 starts this wednesday.

Falling asleep again, better go.

School is out.

I think I should have been a teacher? Sure would like to be out for the summer! You know, I always thought I would be a teacher when I was tired of nursing, that was until the TAKS test came along. What ever happened to the good ole achievement tests. Those were the days. Anyway, we enjoyed seeing Austin graduate into the high school. I am not sure he had anything on his mind but whether he would make the ball game that night. Abby and Landon are really excited about the break as well.

Congrats to the Trojans on advancing to regional finals ( I think that is the right round???). I know I witnessed a huge number of true blue fans. Anyone who sits roasting in that kind of heat must either bleed blue or need to have their head examined. Thanks to all those who confirmed the miserable conditions. I think Mark thought I was being a little pansy. A huge thank you to James and Gwen for a little shade. I should have found you 13 innings earlier.

Many applause to our Tanna for being the valedictorian of the Windthorst graduating class. All that hard work eventually pays off! And to my nephew Justin, we look forward to celebrating the end of your high school years next week also. You guys make us really proud and our kids really look up to you. You should be very proud of yourselves as well.

This is chemo week. #8 starts Wednesday. Mark has had a pretty good week leading into it. I know everyone is so proud of how good he looks. It makes it really difficult to even think that there is anything going on with him. Believe it or not, I can on think of a very few times that he actually looked sick through all of this. We are so lucky. Daily we are reminded of how much worse it could be. So bad, in fact, that sometimes we even feel lucky to be where we are!. God is good. We have an appointment scheduled with the cardio thoracic surgeon on August 11th. Of course that is pending the end of chemo treatments. We have it all planned and lined out. We all know what that will do for us. In time we will know if God's plan works out even similiar to how our plan looks on paper!?!

Congrats to Michael Wipperman. Michael is the young man I have requested prayers for. He is undergoing treatment at MD Anderson. I believe has received three treatments and they have seen miraculous change in the cancer in his body. They feel that his cancer is 85-90% gone. Many kudos to all of those people who walk all night so that successes like these are possible.

God is good. Love to all, Missy