And the Wait Goes On

We are so appreciative of the many of you who are keeping tabs on how we're doing while we play the waiting game. We hope it goes without saying that we don't mind being asked about how things are going, and there are times you will probably want to tell us to quit talking about it. There seems to be a therapeutic element to just thinking out loud about all we have processed and what we are anticipating.

While we wait, we both have been experiencing some highs and lows, which is probably very natural. To dwell too long on the "maybes" and "what ifs" definitely doesn't do much for our moods, but we have had some good conversation about those very real possibilities and we are ready to face them head-on.

Please continue to pray. Just tonight, a friend mentioned that he is praying that the cancer will be completely gone when Dr. Polascik starts the surgery. My personal prayer is that every cancer cell will be contained within the gland and therefore completely removed at surgery. In whatever way God chooses to show Himself in this, we will give Him all the credit. We know He is bigger than any cancer or the effects it leaves in its wake, and He will strengthen us for the road ahead.

Did he really say that?!

I had to laugh last week as we were standing in line at Fuddrucker's with the swim team after the last dual meet of the 2010 season. Anyone who has ever eaten out with Charlie knows exactly what I'm talking about here and why I almost laughed out loud. We were both pondering the large overhead menu, mouths watering, when Charlie leans down to me and says, "Y'know, there's really nothing on there I should be eating." He really is taking seriously his personal challenge to shed a few pounds before surgery in August! It should also be made perfectly clear up front that I wasn't the one who put him up to losing some weight. He simply identified with a patient in one of the prostate cancer books we've been reading and determined then and there he would be a better surgical patient if he were a few pounds lighter. So, he's had almost NO ice cream, few desserts of any kind, and has been quite agreeable to most of our menus at home (meatless main dishes, lots of fresh fruit & veggies, skim milk, etc.). I'm thinking a big milkshake or some French fries will be in order as soon as he is up to eating "real food" again after the surgery!