Just a reminder to everyone that our River of Hope show is going to be on this weekend. Saturday night it is on at 5:30 on My UTV and Sunday morning at 10:30 on Keloland. Thank you to all our family and friends who helped put this all together. It is going to be great and we can’t wait to see it.

Last round of chemo this week Wednesday! YAHOO! I am once again dreading it and looking forward to it all at the same time. I know that I am going to feel kind of crummy, but it hopefully will be the last time so I can take it. Thank you everyone for supporting me through this, I couldn’t do it without all of you. Anyone who wants to come and say hi on Wednesday is more than welcome. Second floor of the Avera Cancer Institute. It is sad to say, but I will kind of miss going there. GREAT people.

On a second note, Darwyn’s dad is doing pretty well. We were home this weekend so we got to spend some time with him. He is slowly learning how and what to eat. But he is eating some real food, so that is a great sign. Just eating small amounts and real slow. He still gets pretty tired, but he looked good. He did not get to meet with the oncologist this past week, but will in a couple of weeks. His surgeon was happy with the progress so far. It is a long road, but he will do it!
Thanks everyone!
Andrea

Well, I am starting to feel a bit better after round 5, but I have had kind of a tough go of it this time. I was EXTREMELY tired (sleeping most of the weekend), and also had some serious waves of nausea this time. I guess it is just a cumulative effect. I am starting to feel a bit of energy return today, but still have stomach ups and downs. I am thankful that I was able to work however, because I have been trully blessed by the people there once again. On Monday the Fitness Center had a fundraiser bake sale and silent auction for me. There should NEVER be that many baked goods allowed in a Fitness Center. It was trully amazing. And the silent auction items are awesome too. I do not know any amount yet, but I still cannot believe the wonderful support system I have there. My mom was able to experience it as well since she helped out at the bake sale. I am so glad that she was able to see the support that I have around me. I love you guys!!

A sad update on Darwyn’s dad.Although he was able to return home yesterday, they recieved a call today that his tumor was cancerous. They are pretty sure that it was all contained in what they removed, but we are unsure of the future plans right now. He will meet with the doctors again next week. I ask for prayers for them right now, because I know what those days of waiting are like even AFTER you know that it is cancer. Pray that God will give them the same comfort, peace, and confidence that he has given me.

Andrea

Ya hoo? Chemo number 5 tomorrow, only one more to go after this! Once again I am not looking forward to tomorrow, but I am almost done. I can’t believe it! I am kicking this cancer thing in the butt!
Thank you to everyone who came to our River of Hope reveal, it was a great night and am amazing outcome. I still can’t believe it. It is great sleeping with the windows open and hearing the running water. Darwyn and I left the next morning for DC and we had a great time. The weather was HOT, but we got to see lots of things and I also had a few days or R & R. WONDERFUL.
We have one other prayer request tonight. Darwyn’s dad had surgery this morning which was supposed to be small surgery for a small tumor in his stomach. Well, when they got inside the tumor turned out to be the size of a softball and they had to remove is ENTIRE stomach. They then connected his esophagas to his small intestine It is basically like having a gastric bypass. He is in a lot of pain today and has a lifetime of eating habits to change. Please pray for strength for both of them as this was very unexpected and also that the tumor comes back as cancer free.
Andrea

For any of you that can make it, please come to our River of Hope REVEAL on Friday night the 27th. We are supposed to tell people to be here between 4:30 and 5 for the reveal at 5:30. I know that it is Friday, and many of you will be working, so please just come when and if you can! We are excited, but it is going to be an interesting week!
Andrea

Yes, I have round 4 of chemo tomorrow so I am now on the downhill slide! I am kind of dreading tomorrow because I have been feeling SO GOOD the last week to 10 days that I am not looking forward to feeling kind if icky again. But I actually did very well after round 3 so hopefully it will be similar this time.

I also wanted to share with everyone that I have been chosen to recieve the next project done by the River of Hope foundation in Sioux Falls. To save some time in explaining their foundation here, I am going to include their website so you can all check it out: riverofhopefoundation.org. It is amazing stuff! They also have a TV show that goes a long with each project that I am not to excited about, but I AM excited to share my story. Darwyn and I will feel like we are on a reality show with the TV cameras following us for the next few weeks! The BIG REVEAL of our new backyard with be Friday Aug. 27th at 5:30pm. We would love as many of our family and friends to be there, so if you are available please come on over and share this special night with us.

Talk more soon!
Andrea

I am happy to report that we all had a great time in the Black Hills. I felt much better than I thought I would so I told Darwyn that I think I need a weekend diversion trip after EVERY round of chemo! I wasn’t so sure about that idea. If you are on facebook I posted some great pictures of our trip. The kids did a great job in the camper and had a lot of fun.

This week the kids are at Grandpa and Grandma’s because our daycare lady is on vacation. It is super quiet around the house. Even though I miss them a lot it is kind of nice to have some quiet after such a busy weekend.

The Fitness Center is having a “corn benefit” for us tomorrow. They are selling corn and 50% of the proceeds are going to us. I believe the corn is coming from a great friend’s parents farm. We again feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

God is good, all the time!

Tomorrow I have my 3rd round of chemo which means I am half way through! Even though I have good and bad days, I guess it hasn’t been soooo bad. I have been starting to have a few complications from the Herceptin infusions that I get every week that Dr. Krie was not to happy about. The worst one was that after my last infusion my lips swelled. She was very concerned about that since she is afraid that it could spread to my throat and cause problems with breathing. So, I now have an Epipen just in case I go into aniphilactic shock. It sounds scarry, but she is going to give me few extra steriods and some extra Benadryl when I have those infusions so it hopefully will not happen again.
I will have to admit that I am having the biggest problem with the weight gain. Weight gain is hard on me especiallly when I can not work out as hard as I am used to. I know that it will be temporary, but it is hard on my self esteem.
We leave for a family reunion in the Black Hills on Thursday which we are all really looking forward to. Please pray that I can tolerate the weekend well, and enjoy our time away since it is a “chemo weekend”.

Love you all. Andrea

Yes, it has been kind of a difficult weekend for us since Friday night I decided I wanted to shave my head. I was sick of all the hair falling out, it was everywhere, so I just made the decision to get rid of it all. It was hard for Darwyn to do it, but he did with Jenna’s help. Jenna once again had been great with it, although she thought it was fun to pull my wig at church this morning because, “Well, it doesn’t hurt mom!” I will not be wearing my wig to work I don’t think because it is just to itchy and hot. So, I am nervous about going to work tomorrow morning, but I know everyone is going to be SUPER supportive.

As far as how am I feeling otherwise? I am MUCH more tired after this round than the first. I have not had much energy for the kids this weekend which makes me feel bad, but I know Jenna understands.

Please pray this week for Darwyn as he will be in Dallas for training Tuesday-Sunday. I am dreading him going, but my mom is going to come up and help for a few days which I am thankful for. This will be the first time since all this started that Darwyn and I will be apart from each other so I know he has mixed emotions as well. (Although I think he is kind of looking forward to some time away on his own. )

Love you all, have a good week.
Andrea

Just a little note to say that round two went well yesterday. I am feeling good today so far, but I am ready for a little nap. The hair is continuing to fall out more and more each day so that is my biggest battle right now. Hopefully the next few days I feel ok, and can get some rest. Looks like I have a little busier week at work next week as well, so please pray that I can handle a possible full 30 hour week.

Jeremiah 29:11 ” For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and give a hope and a future.”

I have hope in Christ and I KNOW I am going to have a great future.
Andrea