We have tests (blood etc) this morning at 9:10, if these labs come back alright we will get to leave for vacation on Thursday which we all are really looking forward to A Couple of things could show up in which they either tell us, no dont go–or we need to do another transfusion which would simply delay trip a day or two.  We all would like a rest, so please pray with us that it works out–although far more importantly is that he is doing well, so hopefully we will get those desired results today/tomorrow.

I will be able to sit down on vaca and give a more full update about what the next 3 years will look like (because we now know).  We are so thankful to be at the end of these 6 months of intensive chemo!!!  The effects of all this hard stuff should have just started hitting us.  And although we see some of it (his hair is back to falling out again–but not all gone AMAZING, for us and in the eyes of the doc–glory be to God)… for the most part he is doing GREAT again, and the docs continue to be amazed at how well he is doing.

THANKS for all the love, support and prayers and fighting this fight with us

SODESTROMS

Today’s appt. is at 2 and then tomorrow at 11am Saturday.  Overall Brayden seems to be doing pretty well.  His numbers have bottomed (expected, but still a sad part of chemo) out so potential infection is one of the biggest concerns.  He also had such low counts that yesterday he needed a transfusion this is definitely expected but something we always like to avoid.  Although we were encouraged by the fact that the doctors were surprised this was his first one since induction (over 5 months).  So like we said, doing as well as can be hoped for.

These 2 appt. are suppose to be pretty simple, 2 hours or so, so that will be nice and then after Saturdays they will take out the port access which just makes life easier.  For the next 5 nights we have more oral chemo at home, which continues to go fairly well–so please pray with us that he continues to like the taste of coffee for at least 5 more days.  Then on Wed. we will celebrate being “done with this phase” minus 3 lab appointments to check his blood/counts etc.

This week we have started to expereince more and more of the symptoms from the chemo: vomiting, tired, anger, some leg pain etc.  This will continue and grow over the next few weeks until maintanence begins (hopefully around the first week of October).

Thanks for the continued prayers and support, I will keep trying to update this as much as possible.

DS

FORGOT TO MENTION the ultrasound tests came back and not cancer hiding in the testes PRASIE GOD!!!!

While we were at the hospital the doctor wanted to do another ultra sound on Brayden’s MAN parts.  This is one of the places the cancer can hide so we are appropriately anxious about the results (we hope to get them by Monday, but the holiday weekend could delay things).  So please pray with us while we wait.

The good news is the first half is done!!!  During the past 4 days they left the port accessed so today it is finally out till Wednesday which makes wrestling and showers possible so that is another bonus.  He is also taking these new oral meds very well with coffee: decaf and black–he is more of a man than I am!

Because we knew it was going to be such a long day we brought some special gifts for the little man–specifically 2 min RC cars (remote control) he was the champ of Choc as all the doctors and kids thought he was so cool he even shared with his daddy and showed a little girl how to play cars.  We watched movies and of course took a nap, which for mommy doesn’t get to happen very often so that was nice too.  His little body did GREAT and we were discharged by 5 pm, home by 6 and had dinner and meds by 7–so overall a very good day 1.

Night time of day 1 was rough as was day 2, which is probably why I’m so tired.  They left him accessed which means there are cords coming out of his chest from his port and makes for him being a little uncomfortable and awkward.  It also means every time he rolls over I (as the overprotective, paranoid dad) freak out and try to role him back.  Unfortunately the meds have made him hyperactive (weird for him huh? please note sarcasm!).

So far so good, no side effects.  Although the doc warned us that it would probably take 7-10 days to start really seeing them and from here on out for the next 3 months we will start to see the cumulative effects of all the chemo over the last 5+ months.  But they, and as a result we, continued to be incredibly encouraged by how well he is doing.  They tested his bone marrow again and the CSF was clear (so cancers not hiding in the marrow )

Today chemo is at 1:30 and tomorrow at 11 am.  Then a few days off and then four more days in a row at hospital.  These 2 weeks we are on chemo at home, which means back to Jen no touching meds and trying to avoid diapers (bummer for her I know).  Please keep praying for strength and endurance for Jen and I as we are continually geting a little more tired each day.  Also pray to protect our minds and hearts as even when news is good Satan casts doubts and concerns about long term prognosis etc.  And then of course please pray for Brayden and his strength, physical healing and ultimate proclamation of the Glory of God to any and all who will listen (today and the rest of his life).

Thanks for the prayers and support, hopefully when I updated this tomorrow afternoon we will be in an even better spot as they will take the port access out after chemo Sat!!!  And I know I FAILED at adding the videos so I will try that too later thanks for the patience

So tonight we fast, and tomorrow morning at 8am we get to choc for our 9am Procedure.  This chemo is suppose to be pretty hard on little man, so please keep us in your prayers.  Some of the side effects are flu like symptoms which would surely send us to a hospitalization etc.  But that is what we are praying against and would love for you to join in with us although it is what the doctors have expected all along we know our God can handle any and everything.  They plan on keeping him all day (still not sure what that means exactly) but hopefully discharging him so we can spend the night at home.  Then we have chemo the next 3 days in the hospital (TR, FR, SAT).  Then off for Sunday-Tuesday and back for another 4 days of Chemo in the Hospital.  All while being on new at home meds/chemo.  So a rough next 11 day stretch, and really next 4 weeks as the chemo has continual lingering effects.

We feel appropraitely confident and cautious, continually trying to trust God and thankful for all that He has done for us and continue to do so in healing our little boy

I will try to update this tomorrow as we get home, and daily throughout this rough stretch.  We definitely feel like we are in the last stretch of the 1st marathon (since we know 3 years will follow) but are so thankful to be where we are and excited for October to come… because that means Brayden will be in maintenance and the Giants will be in the World Series (B and I are dreaming at least).

Love you all, thanks for the support!!!!

I will be posting some new videos today too

Just heard back from Doctors and will try to ride it out at home, trying to nap with mommy now

He has had some rough patches: a little nausea, spit up, meds were a PAIN that first week (but tonight went down great with my newest coffee concoction )… but overall we are so thankful for how well he is doing, as are the doctors.  We know it could be so much worse.  He is doing well enough that we are even planning/dreaming of going up to Redding for a little Vaca at the end of the phase–assuming he is doing alright.

Please keep praying for the Chemo to kick the you know what out of any cancer left in his body and that at the end of this phase he will be officially classified as being in remission!!!!!!  Pray also for meds for the rest of this week and that his body gets ready for the next dosage coming the following week; as it is all new stuff to his system (both in the hospital chemo as well as at home chemo).  Please also pray for God to guard our hearts and minds.  It seems like the hair (which has held on so well) may soon be coming out–all along they said it would go (actually it was supposed to be gone by the second week).  We’ve only seen a few pieces come out, and this happened once before, so who knows what will actually happen.   But we continue to pray for health over hair–but hair sure has been a WONDERFUL blessing to this point.  It has allowed us to not have that constant physical reminder of what Brayden is going through.  So if God grants our prayer for hair–GLORY be to him, and if not–GLORY be to him.  We know the hardest part is still yet to come but for now we are SO THANKFUL and appreciate all the prayers and manifestations of help.

Finally I wanted to share our schedule from the past 2 1/2 weeks as we have been trying to do fun things with little man as we are in lock down mode.  So everyday we try something fun, it is amazing the little things we so often take for granted.

Here are a few of Brayden’s notes…

7/31: counts were high, so we went to the park (Happy Anniversary mom and dad)

8/1: counts still high friends/family visited (Carson and I were in bed by 815, mommy and daddy got to play cards:) )

8/2: got to go to CHURCH, but daddy doesn’t seem to pay attention to me there its otay I still love him

8/3: Bamma (grandma) Kathy came to play for the day–it was SOOOO FUN

8/4: I know this may sound weird in a few years, but daddy and I took a shower

8/5: Mommy and I got to plsy in our pool and then  I “had” to mow the lawn (dad says its why he had kids

8/6: We called Chuck E Cheese and they let us in because no one goes in the morning (although I’d eat pizza in the morning if mommy wasn’t so mean–maybe that’s the steroids talking) IT WAS AWESOME!!

8/7: Bath time with Daddy… too many owies outside so we stayed in and played in the tub.

8/8: Our friends told us about this forest of redwoods hidden in YL, we didn’t believe them–but are SO glad we checked it out anyway.  It was so fun and daddy kept saying how it reminded him of home, I think he got choked up

8/9: I got to go out to LUNCH today after daddy was done with church… it was rad

8/10: Today we rented movies… my favorite was James Bond.  There was a boat chase, plane chase and of course a car chase… hahaha–just kidding–my parents wouldn’t let me watch that movie.  They are too old fashioned.

8/11: Today I suprised daddy at the office!!!  I love Church, sometimes I wish we could live there–but daddy would go crazy I think

8/12: I went with dad to Trader Joes today, it was fun–but what a downer.  I couldn’t touch anything or be by anyone–can you say par-a-noid

8/13: We had coffee and played cards inside mommy’s BIG car at the Sbucks parking lot tonight (I know its how they give me yucky medicine, but I play along because they make it taste good )

8/14: Chemo day–YUCK, but on the bright side I had french fries for breakfast, french fries after chemo, and mommy made me french fries for dinner….mommy said that today was a special day and it wouldn’t happen ever again:)

8/15: Sbucks twice for mommy and daddy!!! And I got to watch a lot of cars and trains

8/16: Took a drive to church, helped daddy make dinner–always an adventure

8/17: Sbucks and cards again… also had some friends come over and clean the house for mommy and daddy it was so good for them… they are becoming crazy clean freaks

FINAL THOUGHT: Have you ever tried to get stuck at a light with a train?  Normally if I see a train coming I rush to get through before the gaurd rails come down–NOW I slow down because it is fun to watch trains (expecially when you cant do anything else)!

This week we are on a reprieve from at home oral meds.  (they start back up Friday ) and have been a real struggle so please continue to pray that he takes them well and doesn’t lead to vomiting etc.  But seriously LOTS to praise God about so far not just in this phase but the entire treatment.  We cant believe that it was 133 days ago that He was diagnosed (but whose keeping count).  And although the road at times ahead looks intimidating (at least in length) we know we can rest surrounded by His presence as well as yours.

We have lots of pics to post, especially of the new baby and Brayden, and I will try try try to get them up in the next couple of days.  If I forget, just keep sending me those nasty hate emails, until I get the picture(s) –pun intended–

Until then, we enjoy the week, and wait till Friday for more Hospital Chemo.  I am taking a week of vacation spread over 5 of the next 6 Thursdays which will allow me to be home and help a little more–so we are thankful for that.

Thanks for the continual prayers and support!!!

Sodestroms

Another way to pray for us is this afternoon at 11:30 (guess just a few hours) we will be going back to CHOC for another big round of chemo… they call this PEG.  It is a couple of shots of chemo into his legs, which last time was pretty rough on him.  We will stay in the hopsital for at least a few hours as he recovers, but hope to get home in the afternoon assuming he does well.  After today the next chemo doesnt come till TR labs and then FR chemo again, to couple with all the at home medication he is already on.

So far so good though, 4 days into the tough part and we are kicking strong.

Thanks for prayers and support