fight fight fight!!!

no chemo yesterday...Dr. Savin is allowing kelly to get treatments earlier in the week so she can be "mom" on the weekend. She hates missing the kids' ballgames...she wants to be in the stands cheering her babies on like any good momma. So for all of you diligent prayer warriors saying prayers for kelly yesterday, while she was "supposed" to be getting chemo...thank you, but can you pray again on Tuesday ;-) ?

So here's the real good news:

The tumors on her liver are shrinking and some are even gone! And while the pancreas is hard to read in terms of measurement, the tumor on it showed shrinkage as well. The tumor indicator was significantly lower...from 8000 before chemo to 5000 after 2 rounds of treatment!! And the blood clot is in a vein near the pancreas, which is a typical side effect of pancreatic cancer...so not a surprise, just have to treat it and be cautious. Also found out she is anemic...so another shot will be needed every 2 weeks...needles are not as scary as they used to be! Dr. Savin was certainly pleased with this outcome and we see God's miracle in this wonderful news for sure! He encouraged kelly with this news yesterday and told her to keep smiling! So much of this battle is fought mentally and spiritually...you have to fight with your heart and soul. So many of you have shared that same advice with kelly and shared your miracles with her, equipping her with armor to fight. Dr. Savin held her hands and hugged her and told her he loves her smile...these small gestures are being placed in her back pocket for ammo when she needs it.

Thank you God for all the beautiful people you have placed in kelly's life...a whole army of Team Kelly...fighting right along side her. One day at a time, we trust You with all hearts. When we worry about the future, help us to enjoy and live today fully...feeling your arms wrapped around us.

Ok TEAM KELLY...your shirts are on the way! They should be ready by next week. We will have pick up locations in Murphy, Rowlett and Frisco. Thank you so much for showing your love and support to kelly and her family...Team Kelly is national by the way...we are mailing shirts to 4 states not to mention all over Texas! Truly Amazing! McKenna Place is making the shirts and generously only charging costs...so the rest of the money is going to the Stewart family for medical expense etc. THANK YOU Kenna and Janice! If you need a shirt for anything at all...go see our favorite t-shirt makers on the planet! www.mckennaplace.com

(email me if you need an address on where to send money)

Prayers for the weekend:

1. Thank Him for shrinking tumors

2. Thank Him for TEAM KELLY

3. Pray for kelly's energy to stay up so she enjoy some baseball this weekend

4. Pray He continues to give her the ammo she needs each day to keep fighting

5. Pray for jason, will, ben, sam and ella...always.

Buena Gente

From Jason:

If I could write a book about my life right now, it would be entitled “Buena Gente.”

Not because I think I fit the description, but because I am surrounded by buena gente. It has come to define mine and Kelly’s life lately.

Kim and Carol - doing the dirty work, no questions asked.

Tammy and Barbara – the two angels in the chemo lab that take care of Kelly.

Grand and Papaw – who have been ever present and spared no expense.

Nana and Pops – for making sure that someone is there to cheer for my kid at the baseball game.

Ken, Sheila, Blake, Brandon and Bradley – I know that no small amount of tears have been shed and prayers lifted up. I know it kills you to be miles away.

The “PTA” (you know who you are) – for the gift of laughter that is in short supply at Medical City.

Matt – for coming to my party and cleaning up after my guests at my house like they were your guests at your house.

Matt, Kris, Greg, Joe and Blake - for letting me be the head coach when I can but taking up the slack when I can’t.

Todd and Kelli – I can’t seem to get away from you guys (and glad of it) no matter which ballpark I’m at – Craig Ranch, Triple Creek, Waggoner – and always offering words of encouragement and support.

Greg H. – for insisting that I keep and drive his car while he’s making sure Kelly’s rattle trap is still running, and for not bustin’ my ba**s since the oil hasn’t been changed for 8,000 miles.

Greg B. – for staying late at the clinic and teaching us how to give Kelly her shot. Yes, Kelly gets medical attention at a veterinary clinic.

Kyle and Julie (and Jackson and Griffin) – for knowing just what Kel needed – care and rest in your beautiful home on a rainy day while the kids just got to be kids.

Marc and Sandra – for adding one more girl to your family. You know you can’t keep her, right?

Marc – for throwing BP to the Stewart boys (plus Cole).

Kris – for being on the top of the “Mexican jail” call list. Don’t worry, I doubt I’ll ever be incarcerated across the border, but you gotta have a list of names you’d call just in case…

Trent – we reconnected just in time after all those years.

Milwaukee Brewers – they’re probably all wondering who Kelly is and why they needed to send her a get well card, but I know that if they knew her they’d do it gladly.

Marshals – thanks for the game ball with the autographs from all the future major leaguers!

Big STIX and Little STIX – I still get the greatest joy out of hitting fungo to my kids and their friends.

Allen – for allowing God to speak to me through you.

Christian and Kimberly – I know you’d move heaven and earth for us. We may still ask you to in the end.

Kevin and Blake – for loaning your wives to help keep my household running, and for big strong arms embracing me.

Gayla – for Kellybridge. It is bigger than all of us put together. It has reached and touched so many.

Dan and Dunc – for making the pilgrimage, for making it easy, for not having to “catch up” in spite of all the miles between and time gone by, for making me laugh.

So many more that I didn’t mention – the smallest gesture of kindness does not go unnoticed.

All of you – for loving one another and coming together in spite of differences, for defying the cynicism of our age, for loving me when it’s really my wife that drew you near in the first place.

And finally Kelly – I’ve learned more about being a husband, father and friend from you than anyone else. I love you more now than ever. I wouldn’t trade one minute of my life with you, no matter how dark, no matter how hard, for anything in the world.

You wonder why everyone cares so much for you, why even people from thousands of miles away that never knew you, or those that you haven’t seen for many years reach out to you with their prayers, and offer to share your suffering. For those who didn’t make it to the 40^thbirthday party I’ll repeat it again – you’re like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life. All those years of giving, being there for others, and then finally it is your turn. You’re the only one surprised by it.

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren," Jesus says, "ye have done it unto me."

Buena gente.

whatever...

~whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

phil 4:8~

A powerful verse...no doubt. Sweet julie is true, honest, just, pure, lovely and good. She is one of kelly's college roommates and a dear friend. She did something outlandish! The 21st century women are bloggers. They follow, tweet and pin the latest and cutest on pinterest...but kelly and julie (and myself)...we are blog stalkers! julie pulled a crazy stalker move today...she sent the following email to a celebrity in the blogging world. Here is what she sent:

--This will by far go down as one of the most "outlandish" things I have ever done and for fear that this may be something that happens to you regularly I will be brief! My name is Julie Phillips. Love your blog since I first soaked it up in 2008. What do friends do when they find something cool - well they tell dear friends, "You have to check out this thing called a blog. You will love it!" So I did and my dear friend is Kelly. Since then we have laughed and joked about our "friend" in Kansas, who has made rainbow cakes, cheesecakes, crafts, and taken lots of pictures. Because that is just what friends do, right?! Well, that dear friend Kelly needs a little sunshine in her life this week. This Valentine's day she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that has spread to her liver. Tough days have followed, but a trooper she is indeed. Hair is falling out this week, third round of chemo on Thursday, and a blood clot to treat. So this is where the crazy part comes in... would you brighten her day with a quick text? Just a short hello...she would love it and I feel sure she would laugh about it!! So much more I could say about this treasure of a friend. For a friend like this I just do outlandish things!! Because that is what friends do , right!!! THANKS! Blessings, Julie Phillips--

Not even 30 minutes later...MEG DUERKSEN texted kelly! This was just the icing on the cake of our day! She called laughing hysterically that MEG texted her. What a treat...julie, you are a clever, sweet friend. We are SO going to Craft Weekend one of these days! Check out meg's blog...she's crazy awesome....we love her. She's a rockstar in our book. Seriously...rockstar status...don't say whatever...she really is...thank you meg for bringing a whole lot of smiles to us today...megduerksen.typepad.com

Yesterday was just supposed to be routine blood work. She had some headaches this weekend that she happened to mention to nurse tammy. That didn't sit well with sweet tammy, so she requested a CT scan of her head...just in case...AND IT WAS CLEAR...praise the Lord! We love our angel nurses that are on kelly's team. So many worrisome situations that just creep up and make you take a step back when you thought you were taking a step forward. It was just supposed to be blood work! Again, this new normal is exhausting and scary and just NOT normal. But He just keeps showing us that He is there. And He is control. The more we trust Him, the more He shows us His grace...whatever happens He is always there.

please pray this:

1. Thank Him for a clear CT scan.

2. Pray her headaches will go away.

3. Pray for healing with chemo again on Thursday.

4. Pray she keeps her body nourished and hydrated, especially before treatment again.

5. Thank Him for TEAM KELLY.

PRAY BIG...

--Some of the hardest times in my life, I have been able to make the more difficult choice out of pure blind-eyed, bent- kneed acceptance that is somehow part of a greater plan. Against self-centeredness...as much as my flesh wanted relief, I knew that when all was said and done, I'd sit on the side of glory having much rather fulfilled my calling than served myself all the way to meaninglessness. I had to accept that I was not called to an easy life, but a purposeful one! -- a text kelly got today from a dear friend on the study of Esther.

Dr. Savin called today...there is some shrinkage...the chemo is working! Such positive news! He also said there is a blood clot. She will have to take a blood thinner shot twice a day. Scary as it is, she has God and TEAM KELLY cheering her on!! Some of us teammates were worried about doing a scan so soon...thinking the chemo has not had enough time to do its job. But God knew she needed that scan...her doctor ordered it, but God already designed every minute of this past week for kelly. Dr. Savin, her family, her friends, her boost of energy...He planned it all...in precise detail. He has planned a purposeful life for kelly...for all of us.

If you want a TEAM KELLY shirt, let us know by Sunday night. We are ordering Monday.

PRAY BIG...

1. For her anxiety and sadness about her hair loss

2. For the blood thinning shots to dissolve the clot

3. For the twice a day shot to be easy and pain free

4. For peace and reassurance of His presence

5. Thank Him for placing good, loving friends in her life

6. For jason, will, ben, sam and ella...always

No news yet...this new normal of waiting and ct scans and blood work and doctor visits and infusions and prescriptions and more waiting...is exhausting. But we are being patient with His help.

From today's devotion--Instead of trying to fight your fears, concentrate on Me. When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you.

By the way...we have shirts...TEAM KELLY needed some shirts. Niece cate helped us with the color...purple is the color for pancreatic cancer. Want one? Let us know what size and we'll get ya one. $10.

Thank you for keeping Kelly and our family in your prayers. Love to you all.

thank you God for aunt kelly...

I told my kids on the way to school this morning to pray for aunt kelly today...I told them about the shot at 1:15pm. After school, sweet meg (aka meggers) said she prayed for her aunt kelly. I asked her what she said...

"thank you God for aunt kelly. i hope she won't get sick from the shot. i hope there is no cancer in kelly's body...amen."

I love this little girl made by Him. Thank you God for answering meggers' prayer today.

Kelly has a CT scan tomorrow at 12 noon to determine if the treatment plan she is on is working.

1. Pray the scan shows results, however small or large, please show Your divine intervention.

2. Pray she gets the energy she craves but for the pain from the shot to be minimal.

3. Thank Him for hearing our prayers today.

4. Pray for healing and miracles.

5. Pray for jason, will, ben, sam and ella...always.

God will provide

Blessings have showered Kelly and her family her whole life. They are all grateful and praise God for those blessing, over and over. 


I want to share something with you that has been an inspiration to us. Please take five minutes to watch this video link from Matt Chandler, the pastor of The Village Church in Highland Village, TX. His words about how God is enough and He will provide through it all is a humble reminder for us all. Bryan, my husband, gleaned so much from this in 2010 when his life was 'interrupted' with a brain tumor just a month after Matt was diagnosed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMerKVKssQU

My prayer is that we can all continue to trust God in everything. He is good and will provide for Kelly and her family through all of this.


PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Kelly is going in for a shot to boost her white blood cells at 1:15 pm today. Please pray for it to give her the energy she needs with minimal pain as those cells multiply in her bones.

Blessing,
Gayla

 

praying for you too...

kelly is feeling so much better this time around!! She is laughing and eating and drinking. We may have to shove a little down her throat, but she is cooperating!! So thankful to Him for answered prayers.

from our devotion today--Don't take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and laugh with Me. You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about? I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long as it is My will.

kelly had a good long talk with the Lord last night. She told us today that she prayed for everyone that is praying for her. It took her a long time as she prayed specific prayers for each of you reading this blog. She must have been awake all night...and I am not kidding...she told us specifically what she prayed for...for so many of you! She also prayed for a miracle...she loves that word...miracle. So many miracles in her life. So many in all of our lives that we don't always see. I too pray for a miracle. I know He has a plan specifically designed for each one of us. I try not to question it. But my brave sister isn't asking Him why, but HOW can her life and testimony be used...HOW will He use her to help others.

She truly amazes me...how selfless she is. I look up to her so much. I always have. All of you praying for kelly...please know that is SHE is praying for YOU.

happy...even if it is unfair...

ben is such a happy, sweet, loving, smart kid. He loves his momma...so much. I love this pic kelly captured on will's 13th birthday at the lodge last summer...it's just plain happy...just like kelly... just like ben.

--A person might have to suffer even if it is unfair, but if she thinks of God and can stand the pain, God is pleased. 1 Peter 2:19 --thank you Valerie for this text...it came at just the right time today. No coincidence of course. He speaks loud and clear...some of the time.

Chemo kills cancer...but it also kills the good stuff. Such a double edged sword. Pray this 48 hours of chemo are not as hard as they were 2 weeks ago. Kelly's visit with Dr. Savin was good today. He reassured her. He is studying her case in its uniqueness. He is working toward the best outcome. He asked about the kids. He held her hand. He is on her side. He is a good doctor. He is a good man. We trust God has placed Kelly in the right hands.

Prayer Warriors...please pray for this:

1. Side effects to be minimal

2. That she stays hydrated and nourished

3. Lessen her anxiety so she can sleep

4. Ease her pain as the chemo is so hurtful

5. For the chemo to attack and kill the cancer

6. For kim, carol, grand, pa-paw, nana and pops

6. For Jason, Will, Ben, Sam and Ella...always

expect a miracle...

"Where there is great love, there are miracles."

-Willa Cather

laughter is good medicine

Been a good spring break so far. Lots of good times with cousins and friends. Lots of good laughs...LOTS!! Ella's 8th birthday surprise party, scavenger hunts, fishing, golf cart riding, pogo jumping, apples to apples...so much laughter. And she feels good...almost like herself. So thankful to Him for that.

From our devotion yesterday--Learn to live above your circumstances. This requires focused time with Me...trouble and distress are woven into the very fabric of the perishing world. only My Life in you can empower you to face this endless flow of problems with good cheer--

Chemo today. She's been feeling so much better the last couple days. God has given her strength and spirit back...but she is dreading the chemo knocking her back down. Pray for an easier treatment. Losing her hair is very close and she has a lot of anxiety about that. Pray His comfort will surround her and ease that anxiety. She is brave and strong, but scared....as we all are. Thank you for keeping Kelly in your constant thoughts and prayers. Pray for the kids and Jason...always.

thank you....

Thank you all for your love and prayers and your generosity. Kelly is overwhelmed. Our hearts are full with warmth and gratitude. Right this minute painters are at work... some dear friends pooled together to do a mini makeover on their master bedroom. It really is so hard to express gratitude...you just feel it. I hope you all know how much all of you...with your prayers and meals and carpooling and texts and calls and emails and generous gifts...mean to us all.

If you would like to help with meals, the calendar has been extended for 2 more months 3 nights a week. This has been a huge help to Jason and Kelly.

www.carecalendar.org
Calendar ID: 102912
Security Code: 1403

Wish we were shoppin' Nordstrom's

Have you ever shopped for a wig?...NOT my favorite kinda shoppin'! Us sisters (and mom) would have rather been at Anthropology, or Nordstrom's, or Sample House. But we needed a wig...so we went wig shoppin'. Tough day...rough start....but we ended at just the right place...with just the right person. Such a good and truly, lovely lady...Mrs. Tate treated kelly like the rock star that she is. Because kelly is...Amazing. Strong. Resilient. Pure. Loving. Kind. Beautiful. AND Faithful. Thank you Mrs. Tate.

"It's just hair"...I hate that saying. Here is the ugly truth...your hair is a part of who you are. It's a part of how people see you and know you. Chemo is going to make it fall out...it's not going to be easy...but God was there at that stupid wig place today making us laugh and cry, and sweet Mrs. Tate helped us find the perfect "kelly" cut and color. Deep breath. Hair or no hair. God will be there.

We thank Him for being with us today. It was a a brutal day, but we saw His humor and unconditional love through Mrs. Tate and Old Don. And we are thankful to Him for it.

Unusual shopping trip

Kelly, I heard wig shopping today was tough.

Maybe this will help.

I found an old picture when Jason used to model Codi Grace's wig.

Did you find anything similar???

This is the day that the Lord has made...

Let us REJOICE and be glad in it!

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

sic 'em

From our devotion today--the best way to befriend your problems is to thank Me for them. This simple act opens your mind to the possibility of benefits flowing from our difficulties. You can even give persistent problems nicknames, helping you to approach them with familiarity rather than with dred.--

So...the chemo lab needs a new name...anyone?? let's get creative...need to laugh a little.

and maybe we need something for the constant necessary blood work...tween vampire lovers...counting on you here ;)

This morning started out really scary. She nearly fainted from the shot. Jason and lots of nurses holding her...but also Jesus right there...keeping her safe...she fought through it. One of our little presents of the day...and there were many actually...ready for the best one?? She went home at 3pm, loved on her babies and sat at the kitchen table with Nana and Pops and ate some home cooking' and it actually tasted good to her. She saw friends, talked to family on the phone and she sounded like Kelly! So grateful for a huge burst of energy that was needed for her body and her spirit! Sic 'em...niece Jill and Will in the pic :-)

Prayer requests for tonight and tomorrow-

1. Pray she sleeps without pain from the shot today.

2. Pray for her to keep liquids in her as dehydration seems to be part of her weakness.

3. Pray for healing and energy to carry on through tomorrow.

4. Pray a BIG thank you for all the many gifts He gave us today.

5. Pray for Jason, Will, Ben, Sam and Ella...always.

blessings...

Kelly was up walking around the house today! Even spent some time outside! God gives us little blessings every minute of every day. Funny how we don't see them until those every day tasks become huge mountains to climb. I am so grateful for these blessings today...no Sunday blues for us...none at all. Ready for a new week with a lot more blessings...like opening little presents each day. This pic of ella was taken on Christmas Adam...you know...the day before Christmas Eve :) One of Kelly's little traditions is for everyone to open one present on Christmas Adam. I think ella was probably saying Grace before dinner...or maybe she was thanking God for her little present she was about to receive from her family. Sweet ella reminded me to thank Him for the little presents He's going to bless us with this week.





Prayers for tonight and tomorrow:
1. Pray a big thank you for giving Kelly some strength today
2. Pray the shot she gets tomorrow to boost her white blood cells is easy and painless and gives her the energy she craves
3. Pray whatever blessings He gives us, we see them with a grateful heart
4. For Jason, Will, Ben, Sam and Ella...always.

hurts to heal

Nothing to blog about yesterday. Just needed to feel...and it hurts. It Hurts her body. It Hurts her family to see her this way. It's harsh medicine. But our pastor 'Papa' says Healing only comes through Hurt. Kelly is in a great deal of pain, but this is where the long road to healing begins.

From our devotion on Thursday (chemo day) -- Thank Jesus for the opportunity to trust Him more--

The 48 hours of chemo is finished. She had to take a trip back to the hospital Friday to be rehydrated and more anti-nausa. Two long days in a chemo lab was a bit dampening on her spirit. But friends and family with encouraging texts and prayers and more texts and more prayers and calls and visits comforted her so much.

Prayer requests:

1. Pray she can drink and eat and keep it down so the nausea stays at bay

2. For her body aches and pains to ease and lessen.

3. For her sweet friends that are worrying so much.

4. For Jason, Will, Ben, Sam and Ella...always.

sisters...

Cancer is the ugliest word in the human language. Grace is one of the prettiest words I think. I pray God will show our sweet Kelly grace right now...this minute. We love you Kelly. Maybe this picture will make you laugh...

love this pic...kim is 11 maybe, kelly 6, carol 3....kim's wings are awesome. carol's dress might be a little short-probably a hand-me-down ;) and kelly's outfit and hair...well that's just priceless.

Prayer requests for now, tonight and tomorrow:

1. Pray to ease Kelly's pain

2. Pray for strength for Jason, Will, Ben, Sam and Ella

3. For comfort so she can sleep tonight

4. For a better tomorrow

5. For a constant reminder that He is in control