WOW!

     Well...who would've thought I would be updating so soon.  Daddy got the call with his blood results this afternoon...and...THE RESULTS WERE WONDERFUL!  He is responding very well to the chemo.  Praise God!

     Now, for my MM friends who want to get a little more technical, he is currently on the chemo Revlimid, along with the steroid Dex.  His M-spike was 0.8 after the transplant (remember 0 is the goal).  It had recently risen to 1.1.  After this first round of chemo, it is down to 0.4!  WOW!  God is SO good!  This is even lower than what he got with the transplant.  Just as the verse I mentioned yesterday says, "little by little."

     I will admit that we don't always understand why Daddy has to face this battle.  And, I will confess we question and ask why from time to time.  But, God reminds us always that He is in control.  He continues to encourage us and give us confirmation at just the right time.  The devil tries so hard to get in our mind and make us doubt what God is doing.  I had to ask for forgiveness just today for that.  I went running this afternoon and I couldn't do anything but tell God how thankful we are and how undeserving we are of His grace and mercy.  

     As I was running, I was thinking about how much harder it is to run on a hill (or at least the 2 we have on our dirt road).  I know my "upstate" friends are laughing at this because our "hills" really don't equate to much at all.  Anyway, back to the analogy...I was thinking that yes, it is harder to run up a hill but it is so fulfilling when you get to the top and oh so much easier on the way down.  That is how life is.  Battles aren't fun and they test every bit of our being.  But, when we get to the top, we are so much more grateful for our blessings and appreciate what we have in ways we wouldn't if we didn't face them.  For that, I am grateful.  My prayer everyday is that God will use Daddy's "hill" for his glory.

     Please keep the prayers coming.  If you know Daddy, you know he doesn't say a whole lot and NEVER complains.  But, if you could have heard the relief in his voice today, it was very evident how heavy this must weigh on his mind.  He will continue for 3 or 4 more rounds of chemo which should take us into June I believe.  Just in time for Joey and DeAnne's big day :)  As I mentioned, we will meet with the transplant team next week and our prayer is that the right decisions are made.  Please, please know that your prayers and sweet words mean so, so much to us.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

~much love to you all