It's Gone!

Steve got home a short time ago and is doing well. It took 3 sessions to remove all of the cancer cells, going down to the cartilage and muscle.  However, they were able to close with stitches instead of a graft so there should be minimal scarring.  He will probably start swelling soon and may develop "raccoon eyes."  He's taken some Tylenol and is sleeping now.  We are so very grateful that everything went as well as it did, he was apparently only one session away from needing a graft.  Thank you to everyone for your prayers!

Surgery

Steve is having his Mohs surgery this morning.  Depending on how deep the cancer is, the procedure could take several hours.  There will be lots of waiting around between sessions on his part, 45 minutes or more while they determine where, exactly, there are still cancer cells to be removed.  We are praying that it is small. I will post an update once his surgery is over and we have the final results.

Science For Breakfast

This morning cried out for pancakes and bacon.  It happens.  The kids love to help cook and bake so I had Gabe pull up a chair and help put all the ingredients together.  We talked about what was going in the bowl, counted cups and teaspoons, and Gabe gave a sniff test to everything added. He declared that flour smells "dewishous." When the griddle was hot enough I poured on the batter, we watched the bubbles and talked about irreversible change.  Not your typical breakfast conversation, I know.  We can thank Sid the Science Kid for this one.  They watched the "perfect pancake" episode while I finished up cooking and plating. They ate applesauce with their pancakes though we didn't make our own like they do in the show.  That's for next time.

Old Fashion Pancakes

3/4 cup (each) white and whole wheat flour
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
1 1/3 cup milk
1 egg
3 Tbsp applesauce
1 Tbsp veg oil
1/2 tsp vanilla

Whisk dry ingredients together then add wet, whisking until well combined.  Pour 1/4 cup on griddle set at med-low heat, cooking until edges set and bubbles pop without refilling. Flip and cook another 45 seconds - 1 minute until browned.  Yields approx 12 pancakes.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors

While taking a spontaneous joy drive with the kids last week I happened upon a nature preserve.  I had seen the sign on the side of the street before, but had never ventured in to take a look.  The kids were behaving well so I turned in and we set out to see what was there.  We passed a large, attractive picnic shelter and soon found ourselves at a welcome center of sorts, surrounded by mini gardens, wildlife statues, birdbaths, and all number of scampering squirrels.  A little further in was the entrance to the trails, a few of them at just under a mile long.

Feeling excited and adventurous we set out to see the creek at the bottom of the bluffs.

There were many, many stairs to be descended but soon we had reached the bottom and found ourselves surrounded by trees and enveloped in complete shade (a real blessing on these scorching hot days!)

We continued across bridges and boardwalks, looking at different kinds of plants and trees, collecting fallen nuts to offer to squirrels, oohing and aahhing over the creek, and simply enjoying being out in this beautiful area.  Ana got tired of walking eventually and often asked to be carried.  She knows she's hard to resist.

Eventually we completed the trail loop and found ourselves back at the stairs.  We took a break for snacks at one of the decks.

I was so pleased we were able to venture out and try something new. Often times keeping up with my littles in new situations can be frustrating and anxiety riddled.  But this place is perfect for keeping the calm, getting some exercise and fresh air, and simply enjoying their company. I hope to make many trips back this summer.

A Bump in the Road

A little over a week ago Steve went to a dermatologist to have a bump removed from his nose. Yesterday we received a call from the doctors office informing us that the results had come back as basal-cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.

He has surgery scheduled for the end of this month.  He will be receiving Mohs Micrographic surgery, the most effective treatment for basal-cell cancer. There's a very informative video about this treatment on the ACMS (American College of Mohs Surgery) website.  His doctor actually established the Mohs surgery program at Tulane University, serving as it's director for almost a decade.

We will keep everyone posted on his situation and are hoping for the best.  In the mean time, we ask for your prayers, as we pray to the Lord for healing and strength, and pray to St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer, for his intercession.