MRI Results

For some of you this will be a repeat.

Dwayne and I saw the oncologist yesterday afternoon. The MRI looks good. There are still two areas-one 2mm , one 3mm that they are watching. They do not appear to be lymphoma. Dr. Cheng spoke with the radiologist while we were in the room and after a lot of conversation in "doctor", the term they used was artifacts (Didn't realize this was an archeology project). Could be scar tissue, or a blood vessel that is throwing a shadow. But bottom line-There is no change since May! That is the good news.

 So for now, we continue on with "normal". He will have three rounds of chemo, for you who are counting this will be the 13th round next week. Then another MRI in October.

Dr. Cheng was pleased with how Dwayne is doing. It was good encouragement for him. His strength continues to improve. He is working four full days a week. Has so much vacation time that will expire, he is taking Fridays off until sometime mid-November. He gets tried easily, but on the other had he is doing more. Dr. Cheng reminded him that for all the has been done to his body in the past year and a half, he is doing very well. Sometimes I don't realize there is much Dwayne does not remember about last year (in some ways this is a good thing). I am glad for this wonderful man in our life!

I realize that I have been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster the past 8 weeks. Even though I know that God has everything under control. I'm a planner and like to know what is coming at me. One thing this last year has taught me is to not hang on to my plans too tightly.

Thank you all for standing beside us through all of this.

Thirty three years!

We just got back from a wonderful three days along the central California coast. We celebrated our 33rd anniversary, enjoying the beautiful scenery, a great tour of an old light house and the grounds near San Simeon and stayed a delightful bed and breakfast in Cambria. Thank you Tim and Alice for introducing us to this area.

A full month of May!

 It has been a busy two weeks at the Roberts' household! On May 19th, Jared graduated from CSUMonterey Bay. The ceremony was wonderful and a very special day for all of us. We were in Monterey for four days. Two of those spent getting Jared moved into his new place. He has a very nice room that he is renting in Carmel. A Christian family from his church rent out two of their rooms. He was all ready to begin work on May 24th. Two days before he was supposed to start. He got a call that a contract that they were expecting was delayed. He is continuing to look in the area for another job, or hope this one will open up soon.

At Jared's Capstone (senior project) presentation. 

Look at the list of thank yous...

Go Otters!

Beautiful Coast!

The graduate!

A windy, but sunny day! 

Dwayne and Jared
Two miracles!

This week a year ago, Dwayne was in the rehab unit using a wheelchair or walker. We even took a couple of walks on the beach! Grateful for God's blessings!

Dwayne was able to make a trip up to northern California. He had a good visit with his parents and sister. It has been almost two years since he had seen them. A big thanks to my sister, Kerri for the plane ticket!




On May 29th, he went back to work for the first time in 14 months! He is glad to be back. So far, it is going well. This week he is doing his 11th round of chemo. His last MRI showed a "smudge" the oncologist's word. He will be repeating the scan in July to see what it is doing. There is a good chance that this is only scar tissue. We appreciate your prayers on this.

Exciting things are happening!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today was bittersweet in some ways for me. This was the first time in 27 years, neither Nathan or Jared were living here.

Two weeks ago, I told you that Dwayne had gotten his driver's license reinstated. He has been driving quite a bit, even solo twice. He is doing very well. The latest for him is that he got a release from the doctor to return to work the beginning of June.

Two weeks ago, Jared was called back for a second interview for a company in Monterey. He really wanted to stay in the area, since there are more opportunities in the marine science field there. He found out on Monday that he got the job! In this economy to be able to get a job in the field he has wanted to go into since he was 13 years old.  Yesterday, he found a place to live in the area. We will be going up next week for his graduation!

Many years ago when Nathan was just a toddler, my wise friend Pat, whose children were grown, told me "As a mom, your responsibility is to work yourself out of a job." I have never forgotten that. The sweetness is seeing Nathan and Jared becoming responsible, godly men.  I am proud of them both.

Big Step-today!!!

This year has been a year of small steps. When Dwayne first came home from the rehab unit last May. It was like having a toddler in some ways, he could not be left alone, reasoning skills were not always the best.. Mid-summer, he could be left alone for short periods of time, was reasonably good about getting his homework done for rehab, fix a simple meal for himself, things you could expect from a older elementary student. Since the fall, I could go for the morning to teach, leave him with a list of things to do around the house and he was pretty good about getting them done. So, we're talking middle schooler.

Then we come to today, after 13 months.....

  He got his drivers license reinstated today !!!

This was a huge step for him. I'm so proud of him!

Now, where do I go to turn in my chauffeurs license? 

One Year

Dear Family and Friends,

In some ways it does not seem possible that it was a year ago today that an MRI had Dwayne in the ICU at our local hospital two hours after it was done. In others, it was a lifetime ago.

We have learned a lot this past year about ourselves, the people around us and God. When I look at where he was six months ago, there has been so much progress. But still a ways to go. Overall, we have adjusted to our new "normal". I am learning to let my plans go easier than I used to, to be more spontaneous and go for a walk, enjoy a sunset, and we have found that the birds, rabbits and lizards are quite entertaining to watch in the back yard. Dwayne is learning not to be so hard on himself when he can't do something the first time he tries. This was tough, because he has always been able to do most anything he puts his mind to. Nathan and Jared have been a great help to us. They have surprised us with their strengths and how they have used them. We have found that humor to be a great gift, because sometimes all you can do is laugh at the situation. My dear friend, Kathy sent my the book, 1000 Gifts last summer. Have tried to keep the "gift" in mind in our day-to-day life.

Most of all we have seen how God has been faithful and met our needs, many times even before we knew the need was.

March 26, 2012

We appreciate your prayers and concern for our family this year. Thanks so much!

Life!

We have managed to pack quite a bit into the past few weeks.

Dwayne's MRI came back clear incase you missed that post! He saw the neurologist and he did the paperwork for Dwayne to be retested by the DMV. That will happen mid-April.  He will have his eighth round of chemo this week.

Jared has now had four visits to UCLA. Last week when they took pictures, they couldn't even find some of the skin cancers that they photographed a month ago. Huge praise, the meds are working!

Happy 25th Birthday, Jared!

A special thank you to Judy Allen for all her care for Jared through the years!
I still remember the conversation we had when he was 5, and was he ready to start school. Amazing
to think he will graduate from college in May!
Thanks for your long friendship. You have been a blessing to our family. 

Since Jared is coming home every two weeks, he ended up being here for his birthday! We had a nice dinner and evening with friends.