We believe God has a plan....

We believe God has a plan and we find our HOPE in him. Noah is right in the very middle of treatment. Nineteen and a half months of treatment to go!!! Seems like a long time but with that much of treatment behind you the home stretch doesn't seem that far off! We have been very blessed throughout this journey despite Noah's toughest days when I break down and ask... Why? I don't think I will ever understand why this has happened during my time here on this earth. I can only guide Noah where to look to during it ALL... so with that we choose to believe that God has a plan for us and we find our HOPE in him every single day!

Bake Sale! Cookies for Kids Cancer

Bake Sale! Cookies for Kids' Cancer ~

Finally.... A new post!

Finally... A new post! I almost forgot about my blog with everything that has been going on. Plus I usually send all of my updates out through my Facebook. Noah is back in school and starts playing the violin next week. Which he is very excited about! Our neighbors might not like it so much. He had a great 10th birthday party! We are very blessed with a great bunch of family and friends. Birthday's have become another "thanksgiving" we are so thankful that Noah's treatments are working and we are able to celebrate his birthday at home with our family and friends. We think about ALL of the kids who may have to spend their birthday in the hospital. It is the small things that you learn to appreciate so much more through this journey. We are in the process of putting together a bake sale for cookiesforkidscancer.org. A great organization for a great cause. Please check out the website if you get a chance.

Love,

Amy and Noah too =)

It use to be Wednesday's............

It use to be Wednesday's.......

Every single Wednesday we would drive to the hospital for Noah's appointment at Childrens Hospital in Madera. Noah told me that he would never like Wednesday's again. I thought to myself I wouldn't like Wednesday's either if I had to sit in the back of the car for two hours to get poked & sick from chemo. Then get back in the car and ride home another 2 hours not feeling well. I promised him that it was going to get better and tried to explain how important it was to get treatment for his Leukemia.

Most of the trips my mom would go with us so we could share the driving and not be so exhausted. But one day when it was just Noah and I he said, " Mom just turn the car around and go home." I wished it was that simple to just turn the car around and not have to fight this darn cancer.

Well now it is Thursday's and we are going every four weeks. Noah calls it a vacation from the hospital. Spinal tap every 3 months ( Noah hates that word & doesn't want to hear it). Just so happens the visit this week is the 3 month yucky Spinal. Headache happens everytime so far but I still HOPE & PRAY that this time it will be different. The most important thing is the test results which have been negative every time and we "THANK GOD"!

Noah is doing his very best to get back to being a kid again & it's so nice to see. Going to the skate park, Cousin Delilah's Party, watching a movie at the theatre. All the things we take for granted being able to do so many kids like Noah couldn't and some still cannot.

New Addition

We have a new Addition to the family and her name is Katie. Ever since Gizmo went missing our dog Khloe has been so lonely. I have been looking for a while because we wanted another black & white cat like Gizmo. Found her on Valentine's Day she is so cute & dainty.

Noah goes back on the 25th for his 4 week appointment. He is still plugging away on all of his school work. Despite another set back of him getting a bug last week he is doing well.

XOXO - Amy & Noah

Good Report!

Good report for my Noah last Thursday. He brought an Xbox 360 game to play while we were at the hospital but someone else had it. But he was nice enough to let Noah get another remote & play with him. He was a teenager & I thought it was really great of him to let Noah play. Not all teenagers are so nice Noah said to me later. He cracks me up sometimes. So he played & we waited for labs & chemo.

Labs came back good & we told them about the headache's & bone pain he has been having. Monitoring it this week so far none! YEAH! If it does continue they may change the dosage on some of the med's he is on. Spinal tap next visit in 4 weeks. Noah hates, hates, spinal taps! No eating after a certain time the night before & of course no eating in the morning. At least they schedule us early so he doesn't have too long. He gets a headache and doesn't usually feel good the rest of the day.

So chemo got there fast on Thursday just a quick push and access needle out. Made our appointment & just the two of us stopped at Chili's to eat on the way home. Now we are back to the day to day & school work like crazy! We thank God for all he has done and all that he continues to do in our life. God promises: "I will instruct you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye." Ps. 32:8

Tomorrow is Noah's appointment it's almost here and I am anxious. I have been reading my devotionals and then sharing them with Noah in "kid" terms so he can understand. I write down notes with saying and scriptures and leave them in my car, on my desk, anywhere and everywhere. They help me to get through the rough days and through traffic too!

Noah didn't feel great this week and he had a pain in his neck. No it wasn't me! Even though he is tired of hearing "school work" and "homework". The pain is in the same spot as in the beginning and it scares me. Satan really knows how to hit those weak spots and boy has he lately. I kept repeating don't let fear in! I needed to go one more step and give it ALL to God.

Cast all your cares upon Him; for cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Can it be that simple? Yes, God makes it that simple for us. Trying to do things ALL by myself without God's help is one of my biggest obstacles. I need those daily reminders that He is our greatest supporter when is comes to fighting ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia)!

Storms are not an option but, fear is.

Where to begin.... We are now going to the hospital for Noah's check-up's every four weeks. Next Thursday will be our first four week visit and it seems that the "vacation from the hospital" (that is what Noah calls it) has been good for us in more than one way.

1. Noah's Spirit's are up!

2. Each day we are closer to the end of treatment.

3. We save on gas.

Noah is working very hard to finish up all of his school work so that he can go back to school. We both have mixed emotions about this although I don't share mine with him. He is nervous about seeing old friends and fitting in with new friends. My main concern is keeping him healthy but, friends are important too!

During this whole journey I have made a point not to show Noah when I am scared about all of this. One day when he was in a lot pain I asked him if he was scared. He said, "Never Mom, not once!". Right then I said to myself you need to make the same choice as Noah and not let fear in. Storms the challenges we face are not an option. We didn't have a choice in the matter when it came to Leukemia. But we do have a the choice to not allow fear in.

Matthew 14:27

Don't be afraid. Take courage. Iam here!