It went well...

Today went well and off Clark goes to chemo tomorrow.

Clark received this card from one of childhood friends, Mark Radanovich (and family of course) and we are sharing because the laugh was well appreciated:

The card shows a monkey who is carefully pondering:

"Be graceful and dignified?
Keep a stiff upper lip?
Throw poop?
However you decide to cope, I'll understand."

The White Blood Cell Count is Up...

so Clark will have surgery tomorrow to install the portacap and then chemo on Friday. His level was 4.6 which was good enough!!! Yeah! Prayers have been answered. Clark has been getting more movement back by the week and that in and of itself is a miracle.

We only have windows around Clark's chemo in which he will be well so we choose not to the couples bible study this time through Cornerstone. Clark will attend the men's bible study as he can (and in fact did tonight).

And I was blessed to start this week the women's bible study. It truly was amazing. I was assigned to a small group unknowingly that I had heard great things about previously. I looked around and thought I could learn so much from these women. Thank you Debbie for making it happen. Really how can you go wrong with a bible study called "ANOINTED, TRANSFORMED AND REDEEMED". What timing, what God timing.

Lastly, pray for Clark tomorrow. His surgery should be simple but they are leaving the portacap needle since he has chemo on Friday. This scares me a little.

Everyone should have some...

Everyone should have some friends who say "enough already we are going out". And tonight I went out with these friends. These beautiful women have just become a part of my life over the last year. They are the ones who you tell you truth in a kind way. They are the ones who do not judge but rather guide you. These women are there on a moment's notice and if need be are only a phone call away.

And strong, these women are strong. I looked around the table tonight and we are so unique in our backgrounds, our histories, but our hearts are true. Our statements are even truer. There is nothing I could not say to these women I call friends. We are not the type of friends who socialize or talk everyday, but once every few months we get together for a meal and talk about anything.

I have best friends and I have a dear friends but everyone should have some "enough already we are going out" friends.


Tomorrow we are off to oncologist. Pray the white blood cell count is up!

I felt like a teenager tonight...

At 8:30 tonight I had to leave for a 9pm meeting (with other moms whose kids like mine had gone to bed already). However when I left the house I oddly felt like a teenager. I felt like was sneaking out and Clark joked that I was going on a date.

But let me tell you in 30 minutes time before the meeting I was able to go to the library,the store and return a borrowed dish. I kind of like the freedom of night time errand running. I felt like a teenager (but no one got TP'd).

The Cunningham's Rock!!!!!

Today we received notification that our dear friends The Cunninghams-Todd, Syndie and Lexi made a large donation to Team Schoening Team One Love (it almost doubled what our original goal was). On more than one occasion I have prayed that they could be here with us on that day and they will be in spirit! Clark and I were blessed to have them in our wedding party almost 12 years ago and our daughters are only 6 weeks a part. We are so humbled by this.

We are blessed that the following people have given money for Team Schoening Team One Love-Gayle Bench, Joyce Suzuki, Joyce Bench, Kira Ollila, Sharon Wilson, Shawn Grace, Brian Caulfield, Michael Challand, Michele Morris, Ron and Cindi Reis, Julie Brown and our neighbors Dave and Peggy.

We are also humbled by the team itself.
Team Captain and Best Friend/Maid of Honor (from our wedding) Terilynn Bench
Michael Challand-Shirt Designer for the walk
Kevin Christensen
Rebecca Christensen
Adrian Miller
Michele Morris
Ron and Cindi Reis
Nancy Robbins
Leslie Sine
Kathleen and Emma Schoening

There is still time so please join our team and help us support the cause!

Terilynn wrote the following for the Lymphomathon Team Page:
We are Team One Love because we all have one thing for each other -- LOVE! And we are now sending all of that love to Clark. We will be walking in the Lymphomathon because we want to do something to show support for him and all of the people who have been diagnosed and are currently or will be fighting this disease. By helping to raise money to help with the research, then this is the best way that we can honor Clark and all of the others fighting the disease.

If you are interested in joining 'Team Schoening - Team One Love' and walking with us, please let me know! We would love to have you join us. Any contribution is welcome!

When: 2009 San Francisco Bay Area Lymphomathon at Golden Gate Park
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Join hundreds of survivors and caregivers as they walk to raise funds and awareness for the Lymphoma Research Foundation!

The Lymphomathon is a non-competitive 5K walk where survivors, family, friends, community and corporate teams walk in honor and in memory of those whose lives have been touched by lymphoma. Funds raised by participants will support the Foundation’s mission of eradicating lymphoma and serving those touched by this disease.

We hope to see you there!

Ugh!

Here is our beautiful angel of a daughter on her way home yesterday from Ian's house. She looks so peaceful there but really it was the calm before the storm. This morning she woke up with a slight fever then it climbed to 102 (she has had a fever seizure before at 102). Ugh! So we quarantined Clark in our room. And I rotated medicines with her and Thank God the fever is now gone. As I am writing she is literally bouncing off the walls.

Since Clark has scheduled another surgery for the portacap and chemo next week we have to get his white blood cell count up. If his count does not go up, we will have to wait. So he will be quarantined in our room for a few more days.

We also have scheduled attorney appointments to finalize our trust. Once this is complete for financial, medical and guardianship I know we will both feel better. The appointed "trustees" have been notified. It is something that should have been long ago...

So please continue to pray for Clark that his white blood cells go up and Emma does not have any more fevers or sickness.

White Blood Count low-no portacap or chemo

Today we went to the hospital so that Clark could have his portacap done. However, when we got to the hospital his surgeon came out and said that Clark could not have surgery. Clark's white blood cell count was way too low. In the last two weeks, the white blood cell has gone from 9 to 1 to 1.3. The surgeon also indicated that unless his count goes up it will not be safe for Clark to have chemo either. A call into oncology has been placed.

Clark's hair is starting to fall out in the oddest of places (if he were a girl he would not need a bikini wax for the summer) and nose bleeds have started. Both of each, make me queasy which makes Clark laugh. Ha!Ha!Ha! Honey, wait until I actually throw up then it will not be so funny.

When we picked up Emma from Ian's we could tell she enjoyed her playdate with Ian. She fell asleep within minutes of being in the car. Thank you Rebecca-you are the best!

What a day and it is not even 3pm yet!!!!