Great Day

OK, Landon here, to tell you that we're all getting along great today and that my dad caught a foul ball at my game, but he DIDN'T get hurt! :) I'll be trying to post about the present day each time unless I get a comment that says otherwise.I hope everyone had a good day today, because I did! All else seemed to go well. Until next time...

First time blogging!

Hey everybody, It's me, Landon, (The ten year old son!) This is my first time blogging, so I'd like to say hi to everyone on this site and that I'll be praying with you to raise the strength in recovering my dad. I'll also be posting when I can to help my mom keep up, because I occasionally hear her say "I haven't posted in a while, Mark." So, I look forward to blogging in the future!

Some things just make you smile!

Good Morning to all. Now if this picture doesn't make you smile, then what will? That is just pretty sweet. I know Mark would give a whole lot for an ice cold coke right now. Mark is taking it easy this weekend and it is a terrible inconvenience for him. Pray for patience. Better days are ahead, it's just so hard to see through the mud and muck. I am hoping lots of sleep and lots of faith makes the sun shine sooner. Speaking of sunshine, Abby sang our special song for me this morning.

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine,
You make me happy when skies are grey.
You'll never know dear,
How much I love you,
Please don't take my sunshine away.

I am pretty certain she doesn't know I got that off a mustard commercial! Anyway, sweet words we share together. Along with the Barney song. (Okay, I know it was Barney, but the simple words are great anyway.)

I love you,
You love me,
We're a happy family,
With a great big hug,
and a kiss from me to you,
Won't you say you love me too.

Have a happy day. We love you, The Brown's

The pump is on.

Treatment #5 is almost half over. New side effects this week - visual disturbances. Mark says he has had some focusing trouble since yesterday. His hands seem to be more sensitive as well. He might have to wear his gloves around the clock. He did get a little rest yesterday afternoon. Overall he is feeling fair and hanging in there. He did get his perscription for potassium three times a day, and as I suspected, he was ecstatic about that! He really didn't complain too much, just was really impressed with the size of those pills!

More as it comes to me, Missy.

I Love You Mark!

Today starts treatment #5. Many, many , many prayers for strength over the next week. We are committed to making Mark do as little as possible this weekend. We are hoping that if we don't push quite so hard to keep up our pace, maybe he can get the rest he needs and feel better. We will see how that plan works??!!! Mark's potassium was pretty low yesterday, so we are waiting to hear the plan for that. This can happen commonly with ileostomy patients. He has not noticed any side effects from it either which is good. It will probably mean more pills though. Oh, he will be so excited!
Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers. We love you all, Missy.

By the way. Mark's dad has had a couple of follow up visits this week and is getting many good reports. He is recovering so well and we are so thankful for that and also for the time he is getting to have at Danny and Sherri's. God is good.

Saturday Morning

Well, it is Saturday, praise God. Such a blessing not to have to get up for work or school today. At least for most of us. Mark is working today. Praying for a great day for him.
Well, it's that time, I have a request for everyone who asks what it is you can do.

Oops, interrupted by the beeper which brings up another subject. Fires! As you might have read, Archer County and many surrounding counties have been devastated by wildfires over the past several days. There was just another call for a hotspot near a friends house. We were so fortunate with our own home and many others who were spared from the trajedy of the fires. The fire departments worked so hard to preserve as much as possible. Thankfully, a little divine intervention, calming the wind slightly helped, to control the multiple fires. I never have enough appreciation for the fields surrounding the house. Looking out over green fields with the glowing fire just on the other side provided a sense of comfort. I'll do my best never to give anyone a hard time about dust or manure again!

Anyway, back to my request. I think we could be in need of a little "pick me up". I know how proud Mark is of the sea of people he has supporting Him. Chemo has become quite challenging for him, as we expected. The effects of one treatment and the anticipation of the next are becoming quite a nuisance for him. His difficulty keeping his usual routine, and the discomforts of the side effects are just mounting. I know so many of you can relate to what I am saying. I have found my encouragement to be kind of like talking to my kids. It never seems as effective as what others have to say! I am thinking that just a little reminder from so many loving people in our lives could be a huge dose of inspiring medicine. An e-mail or comment just to say hey and update us on you or your family would be great. If you are in Wichita, you might stop in with a smile, or leave a message at the house for his return home. It may sound so simple, but we are all so busy, that taking even a few minutes can be a challenge. I promise, I have seen the difference all of you can make in him and I would sure love to see it again.

The kids are all into ball games now. Of course, all days of the week, all times of the day, so we will be running as usual with lots of time on the road and lots of bad eating habits! They are already talking about the end of the school year. I can't believe it is just around the corner. Even worse, I got our transfer papers in the mail yesterday for the kids. It says I will have a freshman nest year! Lord have mercy on me. I am overly aware of the fact that I have a teenager, but now a highschooler!. Maybe we just think cancer is our biggest challenge!?!
We are so blessed by it all!!!!!!!!

Much love and thanks to all of you. Missy

Relay is over.

So many people have been working very hard since January 2009 to make the 1st Archer County Relay for Life a huge success. 42 teams braved the high winds to line the track of the football field in Archer City, all with a purpose to aid in the fight against cancer. I think the majority of those present that night would agree that the relentless wind was less than enjoyable, but it didn't stop the large numbers of people who came out to support a good cause. Thanks to all those on the team who worked so hard for us, and thanks to mom for getting the team together. And, thanks to all of you who have given of yourselves over the last couple of months, your generosity means so much to all of those hoping to one day eliminate cancer. As of 5 am on Saturday, the total raised for the event was over $115,000.00. Best wishes to Knox County for their upcoming Relay for Life. Praying for great weather for you.

Mark has been trying to catch up from the busy weekend. Getting some much needed rest will hopefully be the key. Thank goodness for a Sunday for him to rest.
Hope all of you are well. More later. Missy