3cm

Greetings! To those who faithfully look to see if I have updated our blog and then have gotten 4 new additions due to the fact that I cannot spell check at work and then promptly forget to finish the writings once I get home, Will and I both thank you. We thank you for your prayer and love!

As many have asked and wondered what are the results of the most recent MRI. This MRI was after the second 6 week session of the IV chemo Avastin/CPT-11. We knew it was not the 'end-all-be-all' but we were hoping for some more of the same good news. Although what we found was not entirely devastating, it was a bit maddening. There is a new 2cm growth at the bottom of the surgical cavity. It was frankly an area they were worried about previously but seemed to be shrinking by the last MRI that was taken. Ruth spent some time crying and just being sad and Will spent time comforting his wife. Then it was and is back to the drawing board. Since the tumor seems to be contained in all other areas of the brain the thought of our doctor is to continue with the current IV chemo and treat the small 'problem spot' with some radiation surgery. It would be non-invasive and possibly completed in Kansas. Duke was unable to get back to us prior to the weekend so we continue to wait for their input in the situation. We just have to keep the tumor under 3cm for the radiation surgery to be done. Never though 1cm would matter so much!

Will and I just continue to pray for this to go away and as so many have prayed for the Lord's healing. In the meantime Ruth has learned how to play Risk and tied with Will and then taught a crew how to dominate the game of Clue. A little bit of snow and sleet has kept us indoors but we have learned that a Honda Civic works quite well through the ice and snow. Thanks again for continuing to pray. We just ask for God's mercy.

PS we have been looking for a house in the midst of all this and have an offer down on a 3 bedroom ranch which has been accepted. It is really cute and completely redone. Prayers for wisdom would be wonderful on this account as well!

New Year

New years bring new beginnings and as Tuesday before we learn the results of Will's MRI we just remember how far the Lord has brought us. From Denver to Nashville where Will met Ruth who came from Jackson to spend the summer. To San Francisco where love bloomed to Kansas City where it was sealed before God in a large church in Stanley the verse stands true;
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."[a] 6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"[b] Hebrews 13:5b & 6.














These verses come from Deuteronomy and Psalms and all those year ago the words stood true as they did in Hebrews and as they do now. If you happen to stumble upon this entry today please pray with us for God's mercy and wisdom in this new year.

The Visit

After a week off in SanDiego the temptation was great to go to work but Ruth was able to resist because....Lynn and Abigail were to come into town. The visit lasted a week and provided some sweet time for us to fall more in love with Abigail and for her to realize she liked her mom better than she liked us!!:) Afternoons were spent at the park and a day at the Art Museum where Will and Abigail humored the sisters and their cultural outing. Abigail really is as cute as she looks with a quick laugh and a teetering walk. Will continued to receive treatments and need a nap in order to recuperate in the afternoons which worked perfectly with Abigail's schedule. This provided the sisters with some much needed time to run and just talk about life with one another. Lynn and Abigail headed on to Chicago to meet Jeremy's family and we stayed in KC to prepare for Christmas!






































Since two weeks away from work never seem like enough Ruth decided not to return until after Christmas. We had decided that it was time to start a full-time position and one opened in the Surgical ICU (SICU) so an agreement was made to start on the 26th. With this in mind there was not much reason to go in before, so Ruth just stayed home with Will. He surprised her with a trip to the Nutcracker which she had wanted to see in real life for years. He is a romantic!
Not surprisingly this has been one of our favorite Christmas seasons. There have been many evenings spent just sitting by the fire and enjoying the lights of the tree. Praying together every evening brought a sense of thankfulness for the baby that came and then died for our sins. It is a bit mind boggling to thing the precious baby in a manger died 33 years later. A connection that had not been made in my head and I still struggle to fully realize. Another aspect of Christ that I continue to wrestle with but know is true is the fact the God is good. God is good even though Will is sick. God is loving because that is who He is. It does not change just because Will has become ill. It is truth. I learn faith, true faith from my husband who continues to believe and trust that God is real, present, and active no matter what goes on with his body - he believes in truth. I am blessed.














So Christmas day came with a late wakeup call and a leisurely time opening presents. I am sure if the Lord chooses to bless us with kids one day we will love waking at the crack of dawn but it sure was nice to do everything at a slow pace including taking a nap prior to cooking! Will's parents and brother came over for the evening meal and just made it feel like a real celebration. We are grateful to have family near enough to have over and thankful for the phone to talk to those who are not! So as said before as husband and wife you stay together in sickness and in health and we are truly blessed.

Polar Bears

It is now January of 2007. It is not too surprising that I have not entered anything for the new year but here we are now to share our blessings and requests for prayers. Thanksgiving passed and left Will and Ruth looking for a tree on the 26th. Knowing it had to be real AND perfect they set out to hunt. The first choosing of an evergreen passed with complete agreement on the tree and it still stands in the living room today. Epiphany has passed but the Renos continue to celebrate Christmas with a beautiful tree in the living room.
Through the end of November and beginning of December Ruth continued to work on an interim basis at the Veterans hospital. Will received treatments every Friday at St Luke's and spent time recovering and enjoying time with family. The beginning of December brought a lull in Veteran's hospital census and a perfect opportunity to use a 3 night stay at the Marriott that Ruth had won in a drawing. With Will's free flying privilege the trip provided a wonderfuly stressless vacation including time at the beach, a day spent touring the zoo, and dinner together at night where we could just laugh and be together. Our favorite part of the trip might have been watching the Polar bears together. It is not everyday you run up against such a massive creature up close and to watch him swim made us want to jump in! The whole trip was truly a blessing and a beautiful start to the holidays.