Still around

Hey everyone, I am sure all of you have given up any hope of hearing from us again, at least on this blog. I guess this post is to try and reconnect, so those of you who are far away can still know what's going on.

Erin, the kids, and I are still living in Apple Valley, MN with Erin's sister and family. It is going okay, but we are ready to find our own place. We have looked at many houses in Red Wing, as well as a couple in surrounding towns. It is a hard process, because all of the houses that are big enough for us and in our price range, are pretty rough. But we are still excited to get in one and make it our own.

Erin has had an appointment at the Mayo Clinic for follow-up for her Thyroid Cancer. The meeting with the doctor went well, he was very smart and a good communicator. Also, he told us that a radiation treatment was going to be a last resort. Our doctor in Canada had recommended a radiation treatment, but the doctor here only wanted to do that as a last resort. She goes back on Wednesday for an ultrasound and a scan. They will do these periodically to continually be checking for any new "things". She is feeling great, and was so encouraged by the appointment.

The kids are doing good also. Living with their cousins has it's pro's and con's. On the up-side, there are other kids to play with, and more toys, but on the down side, there are more kids to fight with, and more toys to fight over. Reed is still the best baby ever. Sleeping good, eating good, and still the most popular boy in every mall and store we go to.

I am loving being a waiter again at Perkins Family Restaurant in Red Wing, MN. I was able to draw from my previous Perkins experience and dive back into it right away. The only drawback is that I have an hour commute each way right now, but that will change when we find a house. The tips are great, I am making much more than I ever expected. God continues to provide for this family, and we are so thankful.

Thanks for checking this blog, and for checking in on us. Send us a line sometime, we'd love to hear from you. And if you ever want to tour beautiful Red Wing, we'll show you around.

Until then,

Luke

Finally moving!!

Hey, I should have updated earlier, but didn't get to it. There has been lots going on and more to come.

We finally have a moving date, we are leaving Norquay the evening of July 2nd. We are moving to Red Wing, Minnesota, but will be staying with Erin's sister and family in Apple Valley Minnesota until we find a house in Red Wing. I will keep the same email, theluke27@hotmail.com so if you want to contact us, that will work. When we have our own address, I will post it so you can send us birthday cards and the like.

Erin is doing well healthwise, just super overwhelmed because of the move. She did a round of radioactive iodine treatment on June 11, and had to spend a few days in Saskatoon in isolation because the treatment made her radioactive. It was actually good, because she was forced to get some much needed rest and relaxation. Our two older kids stayed with Dan and Leah, so it was just me and the baby at home, which went great.

We are all together again now, and Halle is counting down the days until we move. We are really going to miss our church family in Norquay, as well as the free health care and the loonies and toonies, but we are really excited for this new step.

I will try to update, but don't know how much access I will have to the internet, so be patient, as you always have to be with my blog.

Thanks again for your prayers, they are so appreciated.
Luke

Praise the Lord!!

The news we have been waiting for has finally come. Erin and I were in Saskatoon yesterday, for the scan that was supposed to happen in the middle of April. We met with a doctor that afternoon to discuss the results, and the results are good!! There was no spreading, and only very trace amounts in the neck area. Less than 1% of the radiation stuff was absorbed, and the doctor said that it could be just some thyroid cells that they missed. He said it is nearly impossible to get every cell during the surgery.

This news was such a relief, and so exciting to finally hear. The only thing that is still a little frustrating is that yesterday the doctor asked a radiation oncologist (RO) his opinion on whether Erin would need a follow-up treatment or not, and the RO sounded like he was leaning toward doing one, which would tack on another 6 weeks, and maybe more to our time here. A small price in the scheme of things, but still frustrating. Our specialist had said that he would be shocked if Erin did need one, but it is up to the RO.

Thanks to everyone who has been traveling this path with us for almost an entire year. We would love to be able to celebrate with you all.
I'll update on what happens with the RO.

Waiting yet again

Sorry it took me a while to update following the scan that didn't happen.

We went to Saskatoon on Monday, the 16th for Erin to take the drink, that would be followed by the scan on the 19th. She was being asked the normal questions of diet and any medications. A week and a half earlier she had been prescribed her thyroid replacement medication my our family doctor. She found out from the nurse that she can't be on any thyroid medication for 4 weeks prior to the test. Obviously we didn't know this, and neither did our family doctor. So now we have to wait yet again until the medication is out of her system, and we will try it again.

So if you are looking for something to pray for, pray that we will get a good date for the scan, that it would be clear, and that Erin's body can handle being off the medication for an additional 4 weeks.

Thanks everyone.
Luke

Radio-Iodine Test Date

Erin and I have been given a date for the last (hopefully) stage of Erin's bout with Thyroid Cancer. On April 16th Erin will go to Saskatoon Hospital to take a drink of the stuff, which will spread throughout her body and be absorbed by any remaining thyroid cancer cells. We will then return on the 19th for a scan to see of any has been absorbed.

We are gearing up for this final stage, and are continually grateful to God and to you for your continued support and prayers. If you haven't heard yet, we are moving in June, and it would be great not to have this as an issue anymore.

The things I have learned from this experience are too numerous to mention, but the biggest thing is God's faithfulness, and the ability of His people to pull together around someone. It grieves our hearts to be leaving Norquay Covenant Church after this experience, because our bond with these people has been cemented with tears and sharing in the fellowship of suffering. I have to disagree with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves in the movie "Speed" where they make the quote, "I hear that relationships based on traumatic circumstances rarely work out." I have to disagree because of the support and familyness this congregation has poured out on us.

Thanks for travelling this journey with us, and we are gearing up for one final hurrah. I will update after the test to let you know what we find out.

Luke

Successful Surgery

Sorry I was so slow on the update. Erin had her surgery in the morning of the 7th, and all went well. Her thyroid was completely removed, as well as a few lymph nodes, but the doctor said it went well. She has been recovering quickly, we went home the afternoon of the next day, which was very fast. My parents as well as Erin's mom have been here helping with the kids and with meals, and it is very nice to have the help.

Again, I want to say thanks to all of you who have been praying, it has made a difference. We can't explain the peace we have had outside of God's care for our lives.

The next step is in 5 weeks we go back to Saskatoon for the radio-iodine test to see if the cancer had spread. Please pray for a clean report, and an end to this whole ordeal.

"Seniors, though slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose."

Think twice the next time you feel like messing with a senior citizen.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - An American senior citizen killed an alleged mugger with his bare hands, and his traveling companions aboard a tour bus fended off two other assailants in the Atlantic coast city of Limon, police said.

The American, who is about 70 years old and retired from the military, put the 20-year-old in a head lock and broke his clavicle after the suspect and two other men armed with a knife and gun held up their tour bus, said Luis Hernandez, the police chief of Limon, 80 miles east of San Jose. The suspect, Warner Segura, was later declared dead, apparently from asphyxiation.

The two other men fled when the 12 senior citizens started defending themselves during the Wednesday attack. Afterward, the tourists drove Segura to the Red Cross where he was declared dead. The Red Cross also treated one of the tourists for an anxiety attack, Hernandez said Thursday.

The tourists left on their Carnival cruise ship after the incident and Hernandez said authorities do not plan to press charges against them.

"They were in their right to defend themselves after being held up," he said.
Hernandez said Segura had previous charges against him for assaults.
In a media statement, Miami, Fla.-based Carnival Cruise Lines said the attack occurred during an outing at a Limon beach which a group of a dozen passengers had arranged on their own.

"According to witnesses, while sightseeing at a local beach, the group of guests were approached by three assailants, one of whom was armed," the statement said.
"The victims struggled with the armed perpetrator, and were able to disarm him. During this process, the gunman's two accomplices fled the scene. In the course of disarming and restraining the assailant, he died from apparent asphyxiation."

Neither the Costa Rican police nor Carnival identified the man involved in the struggle with the mugger.
The cruise line said the guests were questioned by local law enforcement and then returned to the ship. The ship's departure from Limon was slightly delayed.
"All of the guests involved, who had booked the cruise together as a group, have opted to continue with their vacation plans. Carnival is providing full support and assistance to the guests," according to the statement.