The last month, really since the end of June, Brad has gradually lost his energy. We expected it because baseball season is hard on healthy people but he has continued to need more naps during the day, had stomach pain and issues etc. He didn’t want to go to his doctor until after our vacation with Brad’s family in Florida. Once there he battled through the week and had some rest but vacationing can be some work too.

Brad is really good at putting on a show. He smiles through pain and fatigue. By the end of our amazing trip he was exhausted, feet and legs swollen, belly swelling each day and couldn’t eat much. I called his Nurse and told her what was going on and they got him right in. They are very good at talking about positives and dance around negatives. Blessing and a curse in my eyes. Since he’s not getting any treatment right now we are kind of on our own to determine if something is *wrong enough* to make an appointment. They ordered at CT for today and we meet with his Oncologist on Monday. I called again on Thursday to beg for a diuretic to help his swollen belly. I’m hoping he starts to get relief from the swelling soon.

Dear Friends, we need your prayers for the doctor to have a plan to relieve his growing symptoms. His liver is not happy and all we can hope for is intervention to help him push past these latest symptoms. He continues to work from home when he can but the kids text me with nap reports. Whitney and Russell see him struggling like he did last year at diagnosis. It seems so weird for this all to be escalating again at the same time of year. I am here to tell you….my children are the strongest humans on the planet!! They work hard to keep their responsibilities in check and their attitudes are amazing. They make their dad laugh, give him their full attention when they are talking and little Russell is always by his side. It’s been a wonderful Summer for them to all get more time together. I’ve been working at much as I can and we’ve been crazy busy. I feel like I’m juggling chainsaws some days and just trying to not miss a meeting or to do with the busy days of school enrollment. We are forever grateful for that stolen week away as a family having fun in Florida and forgetting the heavy reality we face every day. Our dear friends, the Davis Family came to spend a day with us in Daytona which was so good for our souls. We started our lives together in KC, having our babies almost at the same time and always wished the kids could have grown up together but they don’t miss a beat when we get together. Yvette and I say “first best friends are the best friends”.

How do these kids grow up so fast? And how did our families get so lucky to have smart, kind, talented, beautiful and super fun kids! I’d choose to vacation with this bunch any time anywhere!

13 years ago Yvette and I were talking in the phone and both tried to interrupt the conversation with big news…”I’m pregnant! Me too!” Miles apart, oblivious that we both were blessed with Caboose babies! Trent and Russell are two peas and so cute with their opposite dark and light hair. They both are excellent soccer players on the top teams in their conference. They have big plans to try and play together in college. Hey it would surprise me in the slightest if they made that happen.

Whitney wants to keep Trent so she can “have two Russell’s” she adores them both! We are already planning our next trip back to Florida. We are good and easy travelers so that makes all the difference. Everyone is happy, helpful and appreciative. 🌞🌴 if only we had more time, money and less responsibilities we would do it all and more!

Thank you for your continued prayers, please lift up my children as they will struggle to stay focused at school and I can only pray God will help them balance the worry they have for their dad with learning. Please pray hard for Brad’s mental, emotional and physical strength. As for me, I ask God to give me what I need because I don’t know where to start when it comes to specifics. I trust him and his plan and ask him to give me the words, the actions and guidance to carry out his beautiful plan for our lives.

God bless and I’ll update here on Monday after our appt.