VAN VOORHIS FAMILY BLOG

12 years old today – how time flies. We love this boy.

First day of school 2009

Originally uploaded by SisterPV

Well, this was from a week ago Wednesday, but I’m finally now getting my pictures uploaded. Kids are doing well – Ethan in 6th and Anna in 8th grade. It’s nice to have them both in the same middle school and on the same schedule. It sure is quiet around here during the day! J

Kids are back in school full time. Sam’s parents are back in South Carolina. Sam is in California.

What to do with all this time?

Sam’s mom, dad and sister Elizabeth are en route to Greenville, South Carolina today. They have been with us for almost 4 weeks and know they are so ready to get back home and get settled back at their own house. I know they are really looking forward to seeing their friends and getting into their own routine.

Sam’s mom was discharged on Wednesday and Thursday had meetings all day at the Mayo Clinic and Jacksonville for follow up appointments. She still had some infection in her incision, so they had to open that up and clean it – so that will be something she has to deal with in the short term. Other than that, she’s getting stronger every day and has no other known complications.

At the meeting with the oncologist, they were told that with this stage of bladder cancer (stage 3 – into the fat layer outside of the bladder wall) – that the rate at which the cancer may come back is about 50% in two years. Chemo is not something that Mrs. VV wants to do – so we’re appreciating the time we have with her and taking things day by day.

This has been quite a “journey” as the touchy-feely type say – but I think we all have grown closer and shown our strength through this. We love his parents and all the relatives we’ve had with us over the summer, but we are looking forward to some quiet, down time – just the 4 of us here at the PV house.

Thanks again for all your prayers for our family – they truly are felt. J

She was discharged this morning and is happy to be out of the hospital and home with us. Hopefully will be heading back to Greenville to her own home soon. Home health care nurse will come out to the house tonight and tomorrow she has doctors appointments all day back at the Mayo Clinic here. Thanks for your continued prayers. J

We all are very happy. Continue to covet your prayers for her strength, health and healing.

after the hair cut

Originally uploaded by SisterPV

Nice to see his face and his eyes.

before the hair cut

Originally uploaded by SisterPV

Ethan’s long locks finally had to come off. He had been growing his hair out since last December, but school rules came into play and he’s back to school on Wednesday.

Every day has been up and down it seems. We’re 2 weeks and a day post surgery for Sam’s mom. She was transferred from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville last Friday and is presently at the Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Jacksonville as well.

The last few days she has been able to do her 3 hours of physical and occupational therapy, which as been positive, but it’s also been a continual battle with blood sugar levels, low hemoglobin (which is why she is having blood transfusions today), blood clots, and other issues which seem to have her on constant iv’s.

Mr. Van Voorhis has been staying at the hospital for the lion’s share of the days and Sam and I have been there as often as we can while dividing our time trying to get the kids ready for school. Anna and Ethan start next Wednesday with 1/2 days the first week and go to full days the following week. We’ve been doing Target, Office Max and School Uniform store runs non stop it seems.

I’ve been feeling guilty being away from A & E so much – but I’m trying to assuage my guilt by remembering all the time we spent together as a family in New Zealand and count that as banked time.

Sam’s sister Elizabeth flies in tomorrow night from Australia, so it will be nice to have here with us. Thanks again for your prayers for Mrs. Van Voorhis. Recovery is a slow process. J

Well, the doctors have found 2 blood clots in her lung, so they have put her on a blood thinner via IV and placed her on bed rest for today and tomorrow. Understandably, this has been frustrating for her as she is really antsy to get involved in her physical and occupational therapy and regain her strength to return home. The doctors also have concern about her creatinine levels rising and how her kidneys are functioning. She had an ultrasound late today for them to look at her kidneys.

Sometimes it’s two steps forward and one step back. She is in good spirits, but voiced that she doesn’t want people to think that everything is rosy and stop praying – she (& the rest of us) really appreciate everyone continuing to lift her up in your prayers.

Sam’s brother Tim has been here with us since Saturday but is returning home to Virginia tomorrow. Sam’s sister Elizabeth arrives here this coming Saturday from Australia and flies back in 2 weeks. Our hope is that Mrs. Van Voorhis will be able to be discharged from the hospital and that she will be able to travel back to Greenville while Elizabeth is here.

Thanks again for checking in and we’ll try to post updates as often as we can. J