The Latest: Part Two

Well, another week has come and gone. In some ways the weeks are just flying by, in others they are not. Another couple of days and we will be down to only four more treatments, which will mean 8 weeks have come and gone... wow! Still, four more weeks seems like a long time! I know many of you can relate to exactly what I am saying... the rest of you just think I am rambling!!!

We finally got Michelle's blood sugar panel back and the results were great. The normal level for when you fast before blood draw is between 69 and 95; Michelle's result was 75. Praise the Lord (!!!), that rules out things like early onset of diabetes at this point. The basic thought at this time is that the steroid she has been taking may be the culprit when it comes to her blood sugar level being elevated on treatment days. She takes the steroid the night before (Sunday evening) to offset any possible side-effects of Taxol, but they have told her to not take it this time. The prayer is that this will have no adverse effect on her ability to tolerate the treatment. If it doesn't, they will just leave that out of her weekly regimen. If it does, it's back to the drawing board to figure a way to mitigate the negative effect. As always, the only thing any of us can do is pray to and trust in the Lord... which all of you have been so faithful in doing on her behalf. Thank you!!!

Other news:

Still waiting to hear back on any progress on the sale of the condo... lets all pray it will be this weekend that the Lord sends a buyer who has money in hand and is ready to move forward with the purchase!

The kids are doing fabulous; they are all VERY excited that there is only one week of school left. What they don't know is after this week packing up begins in earnest!!! Steven has been having a blast caddying over at Cantigny (pronounced "Can tee nee"...not "Can tig nee") and they really like him there. It's one of the "sad" points of moving! Sarah got the highest grade in the English class she was taking at the College of DuPage; her final paper, which was on the Reformation and who she believed had the greatest impact between Luther, Calvin, and Wycliffe, received a 100%! It was a VERY good paper, you should all read it... I won't spoil it for you but she did not pick Luther!!! Rebekah and Moriah, well, they are just wonderful young ladies who are growing up WAY too fast. The Lord truly has blessed us with great children!

Please pray for two people who are dear to us. First, my dad; he had surgery on his back yesterday to shave off some bone from a couple of vertebrae that were pinching nerves and causing all kinds of difficulties. The surgery went well so pray for his recovery. Also pray for our friends, Walter and Tina Karbowski, who are having their second child. They went in last evening and her doctor was going to induce labor; we have not heard anything yet! I have a great story to share about them and us sometime... a real "God story"!

Okay, that's it for now. Blessings to each of you and GET TO CHURCH this weekend! We love you... - Steve and Michelle -

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Phil 3:7-117; NKJV)