Ashley is Doing Great!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Ashley's appointment and scan went very well! The doctor said that the CT scan showed that everything looks great. Her bloodwork also showed that her counts are staying at a normal level and that her kidney is continuing to function well. Praise God!


Ashley has been very healthy and is growing fast. She has so much energy. She is continuing to do well in school and loves math. (maybe that's because of her daddy's influence!)





Thank you so much for all of your prayers! Ashley was very brave. God gave her and us the peace that we needed today.






"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A BLESSED 2009!
We love you!

Doing Great!

Ashley's ultrasound and x-rays look good! Everything looks normal. Her ANC is up to 3000 now, which means that the infection fighters in her body are increasing. This is very good! It has been a year and 7 months since Ashley finished chemo and her ANC up to this point were around 1500-2000. In the last 3 months her ANC went up 1000 counts. PRAISE GOD!

She looked forward to this appointment and again was very brave. We are so proud of her and we thank God for the peace that he gives her (and us) each time. We praise Him for his healing hand.

Ashley is now in second grade and loves her teacher Mrs. G. She got to have the same teacher from 1st grade because her teacher moved up with the class to second. This has been such an easy transition for Ashley.

She is so full of life, love, and joy! She energy level is back in full force.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers.

I'll keep you posted on any news and you'll be getting an e-mail from me when Ashley's December CT Scan approaches.

We love you all and thank you for your encouraging words and we praise God for all He has done for Ashley.

P.S. I'm sorry about taking so long to update this blog! I know that I said I would do it the week of Ashley's appointment! Sometimes things get a little hectic around here!

HOORAY!

Another great appointment! PRAISE GOD! Ashley was very brave yesterday! God gave Ashley such a peace. The things she does at the hospital have now almost become routine for her. Getting poked for an IV, drinking 20oz of contrast, laying on the CT table for 15 minutes, visiting her favorite nurse (Nurse Joan) at the oncology clinic, and seeing Dr. Krous for her check-up. She knows her way around the hospital and really likes being there. (I know that sounds kind-of funny, but she is smiling for the majority of the time that we are there!)

Dr. Krous said that everything looks great. The scans looked fantastic, her ANC is good for someone who has been through chemo, and her hemoglobin is higher than mine! We praise God for His healing hand. We thank Him for the peace that He gave us while we were at the hospital.

Thanks for praying for Ashley and for us!

Ashley's next ultrasound will be in September, so I'll update the blog in the beginning of Sept. to let you know of any prayer requests.

THANKS AGAIN FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!

Hello Again!

GREETINGS!!!
We thank you for checking up on Ashley!

Ashley is doing great! She is a happy and energetic girl! She will be turning 7 on Sunday!!!! We thank God for the health that he has given her and for the joy that she has.

Ashley's strength has returned, her health has be great, and her hair has grown in beautifully!!! In school, Ashley has continued to progress in school with her reading, writing, and math. She says that math is her favorite. She has made more new friends this year, and loves Mrs. Garabedian, her first and now second grade teacher.


We praise God for his continued protection over Ashley. We thank Him for His healing hand.

On Monday, June 23, Ashley has her bi-annual CT scan at the hospital. She will receive an IV that day for the procedure. Please pray that God will give her peace and that she will not be afraid. Also, for His continued healing of Ashley and that she remains cancer-free.

We are reminded at each of these appointments that God is in control. We trust Him and put her in his hands. We sort of get a "reality check" each time we go back to the hospital for her quarterly check ups and scans. Remembering what she has been through and how precious life is. To value the life and the moments that God gives each of us. And, the gift of His son Jesus, who has given us hope in this life and even after this life because of the sacrifice He made for us.



Thanks for your prayers! God hears! God cares!

We will update this blog next week. LOVE YA!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry CHRISTMAS! We hope you are all enjoying this Christmas season.

This last year sure had some ups and downs for our family. It is amazing how you can go through something you never dreamed of having to go through and how God can truly give you contentment through a crisis. He never leaves us.

We got the results back from Ashley's CT and everything looks great! PRAISE GOD! Thanks for praying for her. She is so full of energy, too. NOW we just have to keep her drinking! That is our day to day struggle- getting her to drink her 1 1/2 liters of water a day. I guess that doesn't sound like a big deal, compared to what she had to go through early this year, but she has got a will of her own!

We will go back to the hospital in March for her next ultrasound and x-ray. (We go 4 times a year for ultrasound/xray or CT for the next 4 years!) We will continue to keep you updated with our appointment times and prayer requests, so keep checking.

This last year has been such a blessing for us. When Ashley finished her chemo in February we were rejoicing! We had a NO MORE CHEMO PARTY in March and she started Kindergarten in April. She graduated in June and we left for a MAKE A WISH TRIP in June. We went to DISNEYWORLD for a week and had the time of our lives! Ashley got her metaport out right after that trip. We went camping over the summer a few times, went to the coast, mountains, and San Jose. Ashley started 1st grade in August and loves it. We have visited friends who live far away and have enjoyed being around so many people! (compared to last year when we couldn't leave our house) We are so thankful for life! For family! For friends! For our church! For our neighbors! For you! And, most of all, for a God who cares! We hope you can enjoy the precious moments in life this next year!

We love you!

Finally, An Update!

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long since we posted! We had such a busy summer and then school started up. We want to keep you informed about Ashley and we really want you to know how much we appreciate your prayers.

Ashley started 1st grade this August. She had a hard time leaving Mommy for the first 5 weeks, but one morning it changed for her. She wanted me to leave her at the parent drop off location and she has been fine ever since. She loves her teacher, Mrs. G, and she is making some new friends at school. She really enjoys school now.

On November 28th, (Wednesday after Thanksgiving), Ashley has both a CT and an x-ray scheduled. Her protocol states that she will receive routine CT's or ultrasounds every 3 months for 4 years. Please pray that Ashley is brave for her CT. She has to wear an IV for a few hours and they will inject dye into it. They will not put her under because she usually does really well laying still.

Also, we just got results from a creatnine UA showing that her creatnine level is a little off. They will do a re-test next week when we are there at the hospital. Please pray that her creatnine level will stablize and that she will drink more. They are telling us that she needs to drink 1 1/2 liters of water a day. That is a lot for a kid! We have a constant battle with getting her to drink, but the results from this test will give Tad and I more determination to get her to drink! Pray that she has an easier time drinking.

Please continue to pray that God would give her peace at her appointments. We are always surprised by the calmness she has everytime she gets poked, but also remember it is God who gives her that peace that passes all understanding. Also, we ask that you pray for good results from her CT and x-ray. We thank God for His healing hand and how He has brought healing to Ashley numerous times since July 2006. We are so thankful for how He has given her such a strong immune system throughout this last year and a half. She never had a single cold during her chemotheropy and has only had 2 colds since her treatments stopped. He has protected her from so many germs.

I am also reminded of the lesson we learned so many times over the last year, that God wants us to cast our burdens on Him because He cares for us. To trust Him and rely on Him in the difficult seasons of life, as well as the good seasons of life. Every day is a gift from God. We thank Him also for the gift He gave us of His son and the price He paid for us so that we can have hope eternally.

Thanks for keeping up on us through this blog. I will try to write again when we get results from the tests on November 28th. (Probably the first week of December.) Thank you so much for caring about Ashley!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

DISNEYWORLD- Ashley's Make-A-Wish Trip

Ashley got to Make-A-Wish and go to Disneyworld! What a special trip that was! We got to have so much fun together as a family and everything was taken care of for us. It was a dream vacation!

We were all excited to be picked up by a limo, which drove us to the airport that morning. The kids also got to go on their first plane ride! They did really well traveling from 9:00am (PT) to 7:00 pm (ET). We had to stop once in Arizona.

The place we stayed at is called "Give Kids the World". It is an amazing kid's village, that has beautiful duplexes for living quarters and has a restaurant, castle, train, miniature golf course, carasol, pools, fishing pond, carriage rides, and more. We really enjoyed staying at this resort and one of our favorite things about it, was that they had an ice cream store that was open all day for free ice cream!

Disneyworld was fabulous! They gave us royal treatment while we were there. Ashley got a special badge that allowed her and her family to go to the front of every line, including character greeting. We went to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom (all part of Disneyworld) that week. There was so much to see. We got to see the Country Bears Jamboree, which are no longer in California, and we got to sit in the VIP section at the parade! The fireworks at the parks were great!

It was so much fun for us to go on a trip like this. It has been so neat to see Ashley get through all of her treatments, go to kindergarten, celebrate her 6th birthday with her friends, and then go on such a fantastic trip. We thank God for all of these blessings. We have been flooded with blessings. This year, God has been our Rock, our strength, our healer, and our comforter. We are so grateful for how he has sustained us during this struggle, and how he has given us such a time of celebration right now. We really feel like we are in a constant celebration mode and full of thankfulness.

Thank you to all of you who have continued praying for Ashley. You have touched our hearts. Ashley got her metaport out on June 29. PRAISE GOD from whom all blessings flow! This is a huge milestone for her! At the beginning of treatment, Ashley said, "When this metaport comes out, then I won't be sick anymore." Well, she was so brave that day that she went in for surgery, in fact, she had a smile on her face. The doctor let her keep the metaport and she has put it in her "dolly's tummy" now. Ashley has told us that she wants to be a mommy when she grows up, and also a nurse for babies. She got a real stethoscope for her birthday and she uses it on her dolls.

Ashley will have another ultrasound on August 29 and will have to start getting her blood drawn from her arm instead of a metaport. This might be a little scary for her. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

We praise God for all he has done! We thank him for the plans he has for Ashley and all that he has brought Ashley through!!!

Kindergarten Graduate- YEAH!

Life is good! We have been enjoying the little things, like: laughing, riding bikes, hugging, playdays, restaurants, friends, church, family time, our garden.

Ashely graduated on Thursday from kindergarten. She loved performing songs with her class. She was smiling from ear to ear. School has been so much fun for her. She has made so many new friends, (and so have I).

Ashley's ultrasound came back clear. PRAISE GOD!! Everything looks good. We don't have to go back to the hospital until June 29, when they will surgically remove Ashley's metaport. We will be at the hospital for about 3 hours, but the surgery only takes about 30 minutes. So, please pray for Ashley on that Friday. Her counts looked good. They were at 1957 (ANC). The doctor said that she was very pleased with her counts. We are so thankful that she has not catch the Strep throat, Scarlet Fever, or Fifths Disease that was going through her kindergarten class. In the 9 weeks that she was in school, she stayed well.

We will be visiting the hospital for ultrasounds every 3 months for the first year. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue praying for Ashley. That she will remain cancer free.

We have had a very busy week. The kids are going to be in my cousin, Laura's wedding today. They are so excited. Cade will be wearing a tux and Megan and Ashley will be in beautiful dresses. I will post pictures in a few weeks. Also, this week, we were interviewed by channel 30 news at our home. They are covering Ashley's story and the "wish" that she got to make through Make A Wish Foundation. I will let you know when that will be on t.v.

The "wish" that Ashley made is to go to Disney World in Orlando, FL. We can't wait for this exciting trip! It should be a blast!!

Very Good Counts Today

Hello everyone!

Ashley had her monthly appointment today, and her counts looked great! Her ANC (infection fighters) were 2052, and her RBC and hemoglobin are fantastic. She is feeling great, and even has rosy cheeks again. PRAISE GOD!

Don't you love those piggy tails?

Ashley still loves school. We have been working with her this week on staying focused and finishing work on time, and she is doing great. Ashley enjoys going to the library, playing at recess, and coloring. She comes home each day telling me about all of her new best friends (I think she has 5 now). Mrs. Koop, her teacher, has been so supportive through all of this. We are so thankful for her.

During Ashley's first week of school, she came down with her first cold. She handled it very well, and didn't ever get a fever or a cough. We were so glad. We know that God is continuing to protect her from illness and infection. Thank you for remembering Ashley in your prayers.

We are really enjoying the freedom that we have now. Ashley is going to the park tomorrow for the first time since summer and she cannot wait!!!

Please continue to pray for Ashley. She has another ultrasound on May 30 (Wednesday). After this appointment, the doctor will schedule a surgery date for the removal of her metaport. Ashley can't wait for this. We pray that she will have good results from her ultrasound. We thank God for being her healer.

I will keep you updated on anything new. Otherwise, I will write again when we get the results from the May 30th ultrasound and x-ray. We love you all and appreciate your concern for Ashley and all of your prayers.

School Days

Ashley started school on Tuesday! She loves it! She is coming home pretty tired after school each day. We think it will take her a couple of weeks to get used to going somewhere every day and being around so many kids. She comes home from school each day and tells me about all of the things that she got to do, but on the first day, she told me that recess was not long enough. We thought that was pretty cute.

Please continue praying for Ashley. We greatly appreciate your prayers, and we know that God has answered so many of them . Thank you for praying for her. Right now, the obvious prayer request is that God would protect Ashley from the many illnesses that are in her class. That he would put a hedge of protection around her and help her counts grow. Also, please pray for her teacher, Mrs. Koop. She is doing such a good job taking care of Ashley, and has done great in preparing the class for Ashley's arrival. With the stress of having a child with a low immune system in her class, I pray that God would give her peace and that God would bless her. She is a really special lady.

We thank God for what he has done for Ashley. We are amazed that she is back in school and are overcome with joy when we realize how He has cared for Ashley and that she is able to go to Kindergarten. We put her in His hands each day that we send her to school and we know that He is her protector. We wouldn't want anyone else to have that job.

Ashley has another blood draw on May 2nd, so I will let you know how that goes. Also, if there is anything new that comes up or any additional prayer requests, I will let you know through this blog.

Thanks you guys! We love you!

She's Gonna Start School!

Ashley has been doing great! We are happy to say that her counts today were 1428. That means that she will definitely get to start school next Tuesday! Hooray! She is soooo excited. Her teacher says that the class can't wait for Ashley to start school.

Last weekend was loaded with a couple of firsts. Ashley got to go to Sunday School for the first time since last July! She loved it. The picture above is of Ashley and some of her friends from church. After church, we went on our first long distance trip since July. We went to San Jose and stayed at Grandma and Grandpa Kroeker's house. We had a great time.

Thank you for supporting us in prayer. Our prayer requests now are for Ashley's counts to completely recover so that her body will be able to fight infections and sickness well. Also, please pray for God's continued protection over her while she is at school. We also ask God to keep her body cancer free. We thank God for the peace that he consistently gives us, day after day.

Havin' Fun

Ashley and the family got to celebrate by having a "no more chemo party"!! Ashley chose her favorite restaurant for dinner and her Aunts and Uncles, cousins, Grandparents and Great Grandparents came too! We had a great time! Then, after the dinner, we came back home and Megan, Ashley, and Cade all got new bikes!
Yeah!

OH YA! Ashley is feeling great and full of energy!

Ashley had an appointment last week (Mar. 14) with x-rays and ultrasounds. We got the x-ray results back and everything looked good. We still haven't heard anything about the ultrasounds, but the doctor said that if she didn't call back the day after the appointment, then the results came back negative (good).

Ashley's counts last week were only 830. That isn't very high, but it was only 3 weeks past her last chemo. The doctor expects her counts to go up in the next few weeks. Ashley has another appointment on April 4. They will check her counts again to see if they are high enough for her to begin Kindergarten at the school. We pray that her counts go up, that she doesn't get sick (which would drop her counts), and that God would continue to heal her body.

Thank you for your prayers! I will continue to keep you updated. I will write again on April 4 (Wed.) to let you know how she is doing and any other prayer concerns.

Our God is so good! We have had so much peace and joy! We are grateful for what God has done for us!

Doin' Good

Hey everyone! We are having a great week! This weather has been so wonderful! The kids have been playing outside everyday and are loving it. Today has been good, too. We didn't have to go to clinic today! Ashley woke up this morning and said, "No chemo today!" and then Cade ran around saying, "No chemo for Ashley, no chemo for Ashley!" which means, "no hospital today." This is the first time in 7 months that we didn't have to go to a Wednesday appointment and the first time in 7 months that Ashley didn't have to get "poked" on a Wednesday!!!! We celebrated with a tea party.

Ashley got an award on Tuesday at school for "The Reader of the Month". We took her to class just to receive the award. Mrs. Koop is so sweet to remember Ashley in this way and continue to make her feel like part of the class. Ashley can't wait to start school right after Easter. The picture above is of Ashley with her award in her classroom.

Ashley is scheduled for an ultrasound and x-ray, next Wednesday morning. Please continue to pray for healing. We have a real peace about this appointment, knowing that God is in control and that he has done amazing things for Ashley. God is good.

I will give you an update next week when we get the results. Thank you for your prayers and your faith in God.

Good Counts Today

We have been feeling great this week. It has finally sunk in that Ashley is done with chemo. We feel so relieved knowing that she has completed the 27 weeks (which actually became 32 weeks) of treatment. We are still so grateful to God who absolutely amazed us by showing his complete protection over Ashley for the past 7 months.

Ashley went in today for bloodwork. Her ANC was 1380, which is very good after having received DOX-O last week. Praise God. She really handled this last chemo well. She only had a little tummy ache on Thursday afternoon, and was fine by Friday. We thank God for that.

The doctor told us that we won't need to come to clinic next week because her counts looked so good. Ashley and I are thrilled!!! This will be the first week that we will not have to go to the hospital in 7 months!!!! YEAH! I think we will have to celebrate by having a little tea party next Wednesday at 9:00 am.

We have an ultrasound and CAT-SCAN appointment on Wednesday, March 14. Please continue to pray that all cancer cells in her body have been destroyed. Also, pray that those counts keep climbing up. Her doctor said that her body will probably take until June to be able to fight a cold or infection like a normal/healthy person. She still suggests that Ashley starts school right after Easter, since influenza has finished it's course by then. We will have to continue watching for fevers, but the doctor believes that the benefit of Ashley going to school outweighs the risk of her getting a cold. We have seen how God has protected her in our own home from sickness, so we will trust Him with this too.

I will let you know how Ashley's ultrasound goes on March 14th. Keep prayin'.
If anything comes up before than I will let you know. Thanks for covering us in prayer! It has been fantastic!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

ASHLEY GOT HER FINAL CHEMO!!!

We are so excited!!! Ashley is finally done with her chemo treatments!!!
It is really so amazing to us! We have to tell you that God has again, protected her from another illness in our house. Cade had a fever on Sunday, and we thank God for his continued protection over Ashley for 7 long months!!!!! I remember the days at the hospital, when Ashley was diagnosed with cancer, feeling so overwhelmed, and how God gave us a peace that we couldn't explain. We felt concerned about how we could ever get through the months ahead, but He was our source of strength. We were reminded by God to take it day by day. To ask Him for help and He would answer. And I remember thinking that if Ashley could stay well throughout this treatment, it would be a miracle from God. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

We are so thankful to every one of you who has been reading Ashley's blog and who has been praying for Ashley and our family. We know that God has heard you and we hope you are encouraged by His answered prayers. So many of you have blessed us by sending cards, bringing meals, giving gifts, and calling us right when we needed encouragement. Thank you!!

As for today, Ashley's ANC was really good (1200). We will go to the hospital for the next 2 weeks to get her counts checked, and in 3 weeks, she will get her ultrasound and CAT-SCAN done. YEAH!!

Please continue praying for Ashley. The chemo she received today (DOX-O), is very strong and can affect the heart and other organs. We ask God to use the chemo where it needs to be used and to protect her organs. Also, Ashley's ANC (infection fighters) will probably be pretty low for the next few weeks, so pray against fever, infection, and illness.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!


ASHLEY IS SOOO HAPPY TOO! NURSE JOAN GAVE HER A BALLOON, TODAY!

Happy Valentines Day!

We have had a really good day. We hope you have, too.
We are so grateful to God for another miracle. Ashley is still well and did not catch the flu (type 1) from Megan. We have had them separated since Friday night and today Megan was finally able to go back to school. The doctor told us that it was really good that Ashley didn't get the flu. We praise God for His awesome protection over Ashley. "He has done great things for us and our hearts are filled with joy."

Ashley has had a great day. Her ANC was 900 and everything else (RBC and hemoglobin) are still looking perfect. Next Wednesday, is the scheduled final chemo day. She will be receiving DOX-O. We pray that her ANC will be high enough for chemo and that she stays well and free from fever or illness.

We look forward to completing chemo!! This last week was very difficult for us, with Megan being sick. Fear started to creep in and we felt overwhelmed. But we remembered that God is all powerful and that He hears our every cry and request. He brought us comfort through yet another storm and reminded us to rely only on Him. That nothing is impossible for Him. That He is the Healer. To trust Him. To call to Him. To cast our anxieties on Him because He cares for us. We are grateful!

Thank you everyone for praying for us. God answers prayer!

PRAYER REQUEST

Please pray for Ashley. Her sister, Megan, has Influenza Type A. Everyone in our house has received the flu shot, including Ashley, but this flu is not one of the flus that the shot covers. So, we are asking God to do another miracle in our household. He has provided for our needs and we are so thankful for the many times that he has already protected Ashley from illness and fever. We pray that God will continue to put a hedge of protection around Ashley, guarding her from this flu virus. We know that God is in control.

The Countdown Begins

Ashley had another good appointment today and I am reminded how far Ashley has come during this process of treatment. At the beginning, I remember how she would cling to me and refuse to get out of her stroller to get weighed. Many times, she wouldn't even acknowledge the doctors when they spoke to her. But now, she definitely feels comfortable around all of the nurses and doctors at the oncology clinic. In fact, last week, she told one of her favorite doctors (Dr. Krouse) that she loved her.

Ashley's ANC today was 1006. We expect her counts to go down a bit next week, but we are praying that they will be up enough the week after so that she can get her final chemo! The final chemo (DOX-O) is scheduled for February 21. We can't wait to complete the treatment!!! Ashley handled this last chemo well, with very little nausea. She has experienced some stomach aches this past week and some tiredness. Please pray that her tummy feels better.

We are all feeling good this week. No one in our house has a cold! Continue praying that Ashley stays well and doesn't get any fevers, illnesses, or infections. Also, with soooo many sicknesses going around at Megan's and Tad's schools, please pray that they will not get sick or bring anything home.

I just have to say again, that it just amazes us how God has persistently shielded and protected little Ashley these past 7 months from any sicknesses or fevers. We know that nothing is too hard for Him and we know that He hears all of your prayers and ours too. Your prayer support is such an encouragement to us!!!! THANKS!

SHE GOT IT!

PRAISE GOD!! Ashley got her chemo today!!! YEAH! Her counts were the highest they have been since early December. Her ANC was 1300, which qualified her to get her AMD chemo. Now she is down to only one more chemo left, scheduled for 3 weeks from today.

These last few weeks have been a roller coaster ride with our emotions. Now, we have finally jumped over a challenging hurdle and look forward to the finish line. There are still some very important prayer requests for Ashley.
1. Pray that Ashley's body will stay strong and that the side effects from the chemo will be minimal.
2. Pray that God will protect Ashley's organs from the chemo, but that any cancer cells would be rid from her body.
3. Pray that God will continue to shield Ashley from any illnesses or infections.
4. Praise God for how He brought us peace and comfort this last week when we really needed it. Psalm 86

Thank you for praying for Ashley and our family.

Maybe Next Week

Well, Ashley's counts were too low again today to get chemo. Her ANC was 740. They did give her a mild chemo (VCR), but she still has the two strong chemos left. She seems perfectly fine, and her red blood cells and hemoglobin are great.

Please continue praying for us. Ashley's counts have to go up so that she can get chemo (AMD) next week. This last mile in the marathon of treatment is sure taking it's toll. These last few days have been difficult for us because we feel like we are on a roller coaster ride. Today, we decided to get back to taking it one day at a time, and we are comforted in knowing that God is in control and we trust Him fully.

Pray for Ashley's counts, her health, our health, and our endurance.

No Chemo Today

Ashley is still feeling good and full of energy and smiles!!!






Well, Ashley didn't get her chemo today. We are feeling pretty bummed about it, too. It's so strange how she can look so great and feel so great and have low counts. The doctor said that she is probably battling a virus and that is why her counts are low. Since I had a cold last week and Megan is fighting one now, that is probably the case. Her ANC today was 792. The doctors want it to be around 900-1000.

So, please pray for us. Pray that we stay healthy, that we keep our hopes up, and that we don't forget God's goodness to us. We are so grateful that God has protected Ashley (and our 3 year old Cade) from all of the viruses that they have been exposed to these last 6 months. Neither of them have been sick at all since we started treatment. We thank God for walking with us through this and giving us peace. We are learning to fully rely on God. We also know that it is amazing that Ashley has not had any infections or fevers during her treatments and it is God who has kept her well.

Thanks for remembering us in your prayers!
Pray that Ashley's counts will go up for next week's chemo and that she continues to stay well by the power of our God. Nothing is impossible for Him.

Lookin' Good!

Another week closer to Ashley's next chemo. Her counts today were higher than we expected. They were 750. She is still feelin' good and lookin' good. Ashley continues to have lots of energy. She has even been out riding her bike since the weather has been so nice in the afternoon.

Next Wednesday, Ashley is scheduled for chemo (AMD/VCR). If her counts are close to 1,000, her doctor will give her chemo. So please pray for Ashley's counts to go up. Also, please pray that the side effects will be minimal and that she won't be as nauseated from AMD this time.

She is a trooper. She is realizing that we are getting close to finishing treatment and is starting to talk about what she can't wait to do when she is done. She told me today that she "really wants to get this metaport out!" And that she really wants to go to the coast and walk on the beach. When she is there, she wants to "collect some beautiful shells and rocks and bring them home to put on my shelf." She also says that she would "like to go up to the snow and play." I think that spending time outdoors will be something she won't ever take for granted again.

We also have to tell you, that once again, God has shielded and protected Ashley and the rest of the family from the stomach flu that I had last week. We are overwhelmed by the power that God has and that cares so much about us.

Please pray for me (I've been fighting a cold that started Saturday!!) Also, please continue to pray that Ashley stays well and that her counts go up so that she can get chemo next week.

Thanks!

Quick Update

Ashley's counts on Wednesday were higher than we thought they would be. Her ANC was 870. We have learned from how Ashley's counts have been affected by DOX-O in the past, to know that the second week after chemo is typically the lowest. (That would be next week.) So . . . please pray that her counts will spring back up for the scheduled chemo on January 17.

Also, please pray for our families' wellness. I came down with a stomach virus on Wednesday night (which is why I haven't gotten around to updating the blog until today). We are asking God to continue shielding Ashley and the rest of the family from this illness. He continues to give us strength, daily. We know that "he is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us". Eph 3:20.

KEEP PRAYING!!

Another Good Day

Everyone in our household is well!!! Praise God! We got to spend Christmas with my family, as well as Tad's family for Christmas. It was just what we needed. We thank God for blessing us with health on both sides of the family so that we were able to be with them, even though Ashley's counts were low. (Megan had a cold last Thursday through Saturday and Ashley never came down with it. We are so thankful for God's protection over her.)

Ashley got chemo today!!! Her counts weren't very high (only 779), but her doctor decided to give her chemo anyway. She said that she thought Ashley would do fine with it. Please pray that, once again, the side effects from this chemo (DOX-O/VCR) would be minimal. Also pray that Ashley's counts will not drop too low. We also got the results back from her ultrasound and everthing looks normal. We praise God for this.

We look forward to finishing chemo. Now she is down to only 2 more treatments! Hopefully Feb. 7 will be her last treatment day. She keeps telling us that she can't wait to have playdays, go to the park, play in the mud, go to school and church, and eat out. Not too much longer, Ashley!

Happy New Year!!! Thanks for keeping up on Ashley and for praying for our family! God Bless You!

Christmas With Low ANC

Ashley has continued to feel well this week. Her ANC counts were very low today (476). This is the lowest her ANC has been during the last 5 months of treatment, so we are going to have to continue watching her for any signs of infection or fever. Please pray that Ashley's ANC (neutrophil) counts go up. We are going to be around a lot of family this weekend, so pray that we have the wisdom to avoid anything that would expose Ashley to more germs. Pray also that Ashley continues to stay well and that God shields her from any infections or illnesses.

The doctor said that he is going to change her treatment slightly, so that if her counts aren't high enough for treatment on the third week, he will simply try her counts each week after until she can finally get chemo. (No more tacking a chemo on to the end of treatment, or giving her chemo 2 weeks apart.) This makes more sense to me. So, even though she was scheduled to receive chemo this week, next week is technically the third week from the last chemo she received. (everything is just bumped 1 week later.)

She had an abdominal/pelvic ultrasound today, so we should get the results in the next week. It is amazing how well Ashley does laying still for these tests. The nurse always asks me if I want her to give Ashley sedation and I say no, because she always does fine.

We hope that you enjoy your Christmas and that you find peace in knowing the Creator of the Universe would care to have a relationship with you. That he would care about the hurts that you feel and the trials that you go through. How He hears every cry and sees every tear that falls. And most of all, that He would care about your salvation. God Bless You!

Merry Christmas from the Kroeker family!

Happy Girl!

It's hard to believe that it is almost Christmas! Ashley has been loving all of the decorations, lights, nativity scenes, trees, presents, and fun that go along with this special time of the year. It definitely helps the treatment time to go by faster when you have a patient who is grinning from ear to ear!

Last week's chemo (AMD/VCR) hit Ashley pretty hard this time. She was pretty nauseated in the mornings from Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday, she switched and suddenly felt fantastic! In fact, ever since Sunday she has been more excited and energized than I've seen her in a while. The picture above was taken on Sunday when she went to "school". Her teacher has been so sweet to allow Ashley to "attend" school on Sundays. It has been so good for Ashley to feel like that classroom is her kindergarten class too. School on the weekdays at home have also been going pretty well. Ashley has been learning her sight words, addition, writing numbers to 20, counting by 5's, journal writing, letter writing, crafts, and some reading. Cade is also learning to write his name and count to 20, knows his colors, and is learning the zoophonics song. Ashley's teacher has been providing plenty of work for Ashley to do during the week. Home schooling lasts about 1- 1 1/2 hours a day, (it just depends on how involved Cade wants to be that day.)

Here is a picture of my "little elves" at "school".

Please continue to pray for Ashley's health. Her counts were low today, 620 ANC. Ashley had an ECHO and a chest x-ray today and they both came back normal. We thank God for that. Ashley is scheduled to get an abdominal ultrasound next Wednesday and also chemo (DOX-O), if her counts are high enough. We pray that the results from the ultrasound will be normal and that Ashley's counts go up.

You can also pray for Tad and I. We have been feeling cooped up these last few weeks. Maybe it's because Ashley is reaching the end of treatment, and we can't quite see the finish line. I think it's also because we are so used to being busy this time of the year with parties, friends, family, and go, go, going. We are praying that God will help us to feel content at this time in our lives. In Psalm 46:1 it says "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." We know that He is the source of the peace we have experienced for the past 5 months and we know that He will give us the strength and the help that we need to have contentment every day, even on the days where we feel alone.

High Counts and Chemo

We are so happy to say that Ashley got her chemo today!!!Her ANC was 525 last week and has jumped to 1344 this week. We praise God for answering prayer! We thank Him for giving us peace last week when she couldn't get chemo because He reminded us that He is in control and we can trust Him, and now, we are literally thrilled that she was able to get her chemo today. We are down to only 3 more chemos!!! Please pray that the side effects from this chemo today will, again, be minimal. Also, Ashley is supposed to get another ultrasound, CAT-SCAN, and ECHO next week. Please pray that the results will come back good and that God will continue to rid her body of any cancer cells (if there are any).

As you can see from the photo, Ashley is still smiling and enjoying every day. Tad built Lilly (our dog), a dog house and the kids helped him paint it. We are so thankful to God for protecting Ashley from whatever her body was fighting. She didn't end up with a cold last week, even though her counts were extremely low.

We hope you are enjoying this Christmas season and remembering that God is there for you. We are amazed at what God has done for us and we know that nothing is impossible for Him.

Missed Another Chemo

Ashley didn't get her chemo today. Her ANC counts were too low. They were only 525, which is lower than last week's counts. The doctor believes that they were low because she is probably fighting a cold. Megan (her sister) had a mild cold over the weekend. So . . . we are praying that her ANC counts are high enough next week to get chemo and that she doesn't come down with a cold, infection, or other illness.

Ashley has continued to have a lot of energy!!! We were actually pretty surprised that her counts were as low as they were today, because she seems fine. She still loves to go outside and swing, play nonstop with her brother or sister, dance, sing, and talk your ear off. She tells us every once in a while that "when my tummy gets better, I'm going to go eat in a restaurant!!!" or "when I'm better, I'm going to play in the yard all day!" It's amazing the simple or normal things you miss when you go through this kind of treatment, that most of us take for granted.

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family or friends. We are touched when we think about how many people all over the U.S. are praying for our little girl. Thank you for keeping up with our journey and praying for us. God is so good. We know that He cares so much for Ashley, and we have seen, time and time again, how He has given us wisdom when we've needed it and how He has completely protected Ashley from illnesses that she has been around. We have experienced God as our Comforter, Healer, and Father.

Keep prayin'!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Today was a good day! Megan is out of school this week, so she was able to come to clinic with Ashley for the first time ever. Ashley was very proud to show her around and tell her what the nurses needed to do next. It was fun (even though Ashley had to get her second flu shot.)

Ashley's ANC (neutrophil count) was 720 today, which is pretty low. We are praying that her counts get up enough for next week's chemo (AMD) to happen. They have to be above 1000. Her hemoglobin was back up again this week, so that was great.

She continues to feel great and full of energy. We praise God for another week of protection from colds and other sicknesses.

We hope you have a great Thanksgiving and that you remember God is the giver of hope and peace even during the most challenging times.

Surprising Counts

Ashley has had another great week. She had handled her chemo very well last Wednesday. She experienced some mild nausea and only had a lack of appetite for about 2 days. We are so grateful that God, once again, protected her from illness this week. Tad had a cold from Thursday through Monday and Ashley never caught it.

At clinic today, her counts were surprisingly fine. The ANC was 1007 (for Ashley, these counts are good after having just received a very strong chemo last week.) Her hemoglobin was a little bit low, but they gave her a dose of medication that should help that.

As you can see from the picture, Ashley continues to stay active doing ballet (at home). I think that we are all getting used to "living in a bubble" (that's what it sometimes feels like) and enjoying time together. It's kind of nice not having to rush to get anywhere. But, we look forward to the completion of treatment!

We know that all of your prayers are being heard by God, and that He is answering prayers and doing so much for us.

Keep praying!!

Yeah! She Got Chemo!

Isn't it kind of strange how excited we get when Ashley is able to get her chemo? We are so happy to say that her ANC (infection fighters) were 1020, which means her counts were high enough for DOX-O and VCR (chemo). Only 4 more heavy chemos left (over a period of 12 weeks.) We are still living day to day, but the number 4 sure sounds good!

Ashley is feeling good right now, but please continue praying for her in the days to come. We are praying that God protects her heart from the DOX-O treatment she received today and that she continues to have minimal side effects (no tummy aches).

We are amazed at how healthy our family has been and we know that it is God who has been protecting our household from illness.

Psalm 33:20-22 We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.

Thanks for keeping up on how Ashley is doing. Thanks for your prayers.

Having Fun!!!

We've had another great week!
Tad's mom came to stay with us for the week, so we got a lot done and had a great time. Tad's family from San Jose also came to visit this last the weekend. It was fun to see them again.

As you can see from the picture, Ashley
got to dress up and go trick-or-treating
last night. She loved it.

We had clinic today and Ashley's counts were higher than we expected. Her ANC (infection fighters) were 1100. This is great considering she had chemo last week. PRAISE GOD for protecting Ashley from sickness. Her doctor told us that if her counts are high enough next Wednesday, Nov.8, she will receive DOX-O and VCR (chemo). DOX-O is the strongest chemo that she gets, so pray that her counts are up to get it and that the side effects again will be minimal. She did great after last week's chemo (AMD). Her lack of appetite and slight nausea were the only side effects. The DOX-O that she will receive next week is notorious for causing stomach upset and vomiting as well as lowering her counts. So we ask God to do another miracle in our little Ashley. We know that He is able. He is the Great Comforter and the Great Physician. We thank God for keeping our entire family healthy this week.

We are thankful for all of you who are praying for Ashley and our family.

She Got Her Chemo!!!

Again, we thank God for caring for Ashley. He has protected her from the virus that Megan had last week, and today her counts were high enough that the doctor decided to give her chemo (off schedule). If you remember, last week, the doctor told us that the chemo would be bumped to the end of treatment, but after some discussion, he decided it would be more beneficial to give Ashley chemo today when her counts are up, instead of waiting another 3 weeks without chemo. Ashley's ANC this week was 1344! I was reminded that God is working in our little girl and that He is also working in Tad and I. He is teaching us to trust him and that nothing is too hard for Him. "When doubts filled by mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer."
Psalm 94:19

Thank you for continuing to pray for us. We pray that Ashley's side effects from this chemo will be minimal and that the chemo will destroy any cancer cells remaining. We ask God to put a wall of protection around Ashley, guarding her from illness. Also, that her RBC, WBC, and ANC will continue to grow and stay strong.

This is a picture I took of Ashley, today. As you can see, she is feeling pretty good right now, even after chemo and a flu shot!!

Thanks for your prayers!

What a Week!

This week has been a challenge. Megan (our oldest daughter), came down with a stomach virus on Sunday that lasted 48 hours. We had to keep her separated from Ashley for 2 full days. It was tough. My mom took Ashley and Cade for a day while I scoured the entire house with every disinfectant that I had. I cleaned every light switch, door knob, floor, counter, etc until my hands were raw. We've been praying and waiting and are grateful that the rest of us have not gotten sick. Praise God for keeping us well.

Today, Ashley had her clinic appointment and we found that her ANC (neutrophil count, infection fighters) went down pretty low. She was at 700 today. We were so disappointed. The doctor wouldn't allow Ashley to get the heavy chemo (AMD) today, but he did give her a stronger dose of VCR because that chemo doesn't affect the counts much. I guess what discouraged us the most was that the strong chemos that she has missed will now be added to the end of the chemo schedule. So instead of Ashley's final chemo dose being on Jan. 10, it has been extended 6 weeks later, to include a chemo (DOX-O) on Jan. 31 and a chemo (AMD) on Feb. 21. The doctor said that he thinks her counts are low because she is probably fighting a virus.

Please pray that Ashley's ANC counts go up. Her RBC (Red blood cells) and hemoglobin both are great. It's the ANC that needs to be above 1000 in order for her to receive the strong chemo. When her counts are below 1000, risk of infection increases. So, I'm trying to get over my disappointment of a longer chemo treatment end date. I know that an extra month or two of treatment is not that much compared to a lifetime after, but it's just hard to accept. We just want to be done with being overcautious about germs and would love to have Ashley start Kindergarten sometime this Spring. Please pray for us.

We know that God has a plan and that He is taking care of Ashley and caring for us too.

This Week No Chemo, Counts Are Up

Yeah! No chemo this week! We went to clinic today for bloodwork and everything looks good. Ashley's ANC is up to 1430. We were glad to see that her ANC and WBC have gone up. Her RBC still looks fine, no need to transfuse. She has had so much energy lately. We have kept her inside for the last 2 weeks because her allergies had gotten so bad. It has defiantly helped. We think that the bad air from the fire down south was affecting her, so hopefully, in a few weeks she will be fine to be outside.

Next week Ashley will receive her next chemo. This will be a stronger dose of VCR (vincristine) combined with AMD (dactinomyicin). The doctor said that she will be "achy" and probably nauseated. Again, we pray that the side effects will be minimal.

We also ask that you pray for us to have wisdom. We are constantly having to make decisions about what is safe for Ashley to be around (germ wise) and balancing that with how to make her life feel normal. We thank God for giving Ashley, and all of us, health for the last 10 weeks. We pray that He will continue to shield us from the colds, flus, and viruses that are going around. It has been because of God's protection that Ashley has stayed well and we are grateful.

Please continue to pray for Ashley. We know that God hears every prayer.

Good Results

We finally got the results from Ashley's abdomen ultrasound and chest x-rays. Both tests showed there are no tumors.
PRAISE GOD from whom all blessings flow!!