I thank you for asking about my eating and sleeping situations.

Those of you who know me well, know about my affinity for junk food and weird eating habits. Like how I sometimes cook a well-balanced meal for my family, then eat potato chips in the laundry room.

Anyway. I did get decent sleep last night. And here is proof that I am eating, even something healthy.

Justin received several units of blood and platelets last night, and is responding well so far.

Thank you friends, who are helping out with providing distractions for Nicky and Michael.

We are still in the waiting game, but I’m hoping it’s at least the second half.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

The results of the bone marrow were not clear so the biopsy – piece of bone – that was taken is being studied by pathologists.

Justin’s hemoglobin (red blood cells) dropped again so he is receiving another unit of blood and another unit of platelets as well.

He got a visit from some special friends today and we had some laughs playing games.

Waiting is hard but my help comes from the Lord. Thank you for support, prayers, visits and encouraging words.

But will hopefully know soon.

A lab tech came earlier to draw bloods, but I said no more pokes until we know why.

I am told there are prayers going up from around the country, even Spain, England and Australia.

We are blessed. Thank you.

We haven’t gotten any results yet and our nurse just told me they are still pending.

Jeff is home with Nicky and Michael. I talked to them on the phone and they are both stressed. I am trying to think of things to distract them.

Think I’ve slept about five hours since Sunday so I’m hoping to catch a few now while things are relatively quiet.

Good night and thank you for praying.

Justin came through the procedure very well and is resting.

We are waiting on test results of his bone marrow to see if the cancer has returned.

Thank you for continued support and prayer.

We stayed until Justin was asleep.

Funny. As Jeff signed the consent forms, the doctor gave him the time. He said “…and it’s exactly one o’clock.” Then he left and we bowed together.

I have seen your messages and I thank you so much. I’m blown away by how many of you, even from around the world, who came together in one small moment with a common purpose, in prayer talking to our Creator and Healer, for one sick little boy on an operating table.

From my heart to yours, I thank you for petitioning God for His intervention. Miracles do happen. But if He chooses not to heal at this time I will still believe it is for our ultimate good.

I just may have a tantrum first.

First I deeply thank you for braving our story and staying with all my thoughts and descriptions – the scary, the beautiful, the sad, the gritty, the ridiculous.

And now I have a specific request for you. Well you HAVE been offering to help and all.

Will you join me in the operating room today at 1pm through prayer and listening to a song that God has given me? I know you are at work, school, home, wherever. But, if possible, would you drop it for a moment to listen and pray? This act of community and solidarity and coming together to bang on the doors of heaven would mean so much to me.

Please pray for healing but ultimately for God’s will to be done. And grace for us to meet that, whatever it looks like.

I am including a link to the song but sometimes that gets tricky with those of you who receive this by email. So it is “Surrender” by Hillsong, which of course is on YouTube.

Thank you. If you’d like to shoot me a text or message that you will be with us in song and prayer, I’d love to know. Grace be with you my friends.

Justin is scheduled for 1pm bone aspiration. A long needle will be inserted into his hip to take marrow and a piece of bone. He will be heavily sedated. I was told I can be with him and I will.

Then I will demand lots of pain meds. Maybe they’ll give me some too.

The pic line and spinal tap are both on hold for now.

The bone marrow will tell us if the cancer has returned. I am praying for healing, but trusting in God’s will.

Justin and I woke up in the middle of the night, lying in a small pool of blood. His IV had fallen out in his sleep. It had to be replaced. They brought in an ultrasound machine to help find a good vein. After a serious amount of torture, which I won’t describe because I’m desperately trying to forget about it, he had a new IV.

Justin has to fast today and that just plain stinks for everyone. I write from the family lounge. I stepped out of the room to eat so he didn’t have to see or smell food, but this breakfast sandwich tastes like sawdust.

Someone please remind me to hydrate. I look like a corpse.

I am including pictures of a hospital room birthday celebration. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to have cake with Michael last night. My mom packed an entire party in a Target bag.

We played charades and we laughed and it was good.

Justin is receiving his second unit of blood and so far his body is handling it well. He will need another unit of platelets as well.

Justin is still vomiting some and now has mouth sores on top of everything else. But he has some color in his cheeks and says he feels a little better. We reinstated a video game, that I had previously deleted in one of my media purging blind rages, to help pass the time.

Tomorrow he will have a bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture in the morning and a new central line placed in his chest in the afternoon. He had a port before, and this will help with the needle stick problem. But it is a surgery to place it and a surgery to take it out. Not fun.

He will be sedated in the morning and under general anesthesia for the afternoon procedure. That’s a lot of fasting and a lot of drugs. Please keep praying.

We should know by late tomorrow if he has relapsed, but the doctors have been very honest about leaning in that direction. I will wait for the facts before I jump to any more emotional outbursts.

I was able to eat and sleep a precious little. It’s a revolving door here. But your prayers, texts and messages are holding me up.

A very special thank you to Kathy for bringing me a toothbrush and some other essentials. To my mom for providing a birthday treat for Michael to take to school. And to Michael’s teacher for sending me a picture and video of his classmates singing to him. Debbie, this made my day.