Happy Birthdays and an Entertaining Baptism

Megan and I returned from NYC Friday evening, and have had a busy, but very enjoyable couple days since then. We celebrated Ethan's first birthday a little early since my aunt and uncle were in town from CA for the baptism, and so was my sister and her family. We had my family over to our home on Saturday for a birthday party, and it was great to see Ethan enjoy eating and playing with his first birthday cake! He had it everywhere. He was so excited to eat chocolate cake he began smacking the cake with both hands and cake and icing was flying in every direction. He apparently takes after both of his parents in their love for chocolate, except we would not have wasted any chocolate by throwing it around the kitchen. I am sure he will learn better with time.

Sunday Ethan was baptized with his cousin Cale, and it was entertaining to say the least. Ethan did well throughout the service, but when we got up for the baptism he apparently thought we were getting up to play. He walked right up to the front of the church, but then was none to pleased when we tried to hold him or keep him in one place. At one point he was squirming so much in his grandfather's arms that he ended up hanging upside down screaming. The congregation was well entertained. His cousin fared much better, thanks to a supply of Cheerios in his father's pocket, and because he was also entertained by Ethan. It was a memorable baptism, and in the end, both boys behaved well in the pastor's arms.

Today is my birthday, and I have many things to celebrate. It was wonderful to see so much of our family this weekend. What a gift to see my son celebrate his first birthday, and then to be baptized with my nephew. It was a great weekend. Additionally, we received some good news late in the day on Friday while driving home from New York. My HCG was tested on Thursday and it actually had gone down since the last blood test two weeks earlier! Previously it was 1750 and on Thursday it was 1250. I don't know exactly what that means yet. The doctor cautioned me that there is variation between labs, so these numbers are not absolute. On the other hand, I look at this as a sign that my HCG has at least stopped climbing. If it had continued to climb at the same rate it was climbing for the last 2 months then it should be up to 3500 by now. At the very least I feel this indicates a levelling off of my HCG if not an actual reduction. It is encouraging news.

So now I am on track to start the clinical trial next Monday in New York, unless my doctors feel this news regarding the HCG points us in a different direction. I have tests that need to be performed prior to the trials. I had another MRI last night, and I am headed to Ann Arbor today for more blood work and another chest x-ray. I will also attend the final session of the Livestrong program at the Y today. Hopefully I will also hear back from my doctors today to find out more about what this change in the HCG means.

The beat goes on; more waiting for information and then we can begin to plan the next few weeks. It feels great to have more options for treatment, and I am hopeful that the news about the HCG is an indication that the tests are finally beginning to catch up with what I have been feeling for weeks; I am getting better. You may recall that when I returned home from Indy I barely had the strength to walk to the mailbox. At the time I set out to walking everyday and gradually increased the distance I walked each day. In my mind I considered setting a goal of jogging by my birthday. I thought about setting the goal for jogging a mile by my birthday. Then I thought this may be too ambitious and thought about setting it at a half mile by my birthday. I don't recall what I finally decided, but I can tell you this, today I ran just shy of a mile and a half with Ethan. (Well, he didn't actually run with me, he slept in his stroller.) I continue to believe that if I feel stronger each day, the cancer must be getting weaker. Maybe we are finally seeing signs of this with the blood results on Thursday. No matter what those test truly mean, I will keep running, I will keep seeking treatment, and I will keep getting stronger until the cancer gives up the fight. It will not be me that gives up this fight, I can guarantee you that.