Update on Pop

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Nana and Pop are still in Texas - tomorrow (Monday, the 20th of April) will be the start of their 4th week there. Pop spent several days in the Emergency Room at MD Anderson this past week. He had been discharged to the Rotary House but then he developed a fever, so they had to go through the emergency room in order to get admitted; however, there were no rooms available. I think it was Thursday night (or maybe Friday night) when they finally got re-admitted to a "real" room at MD Anderson. He still has a fever - but today it was right around 100.5 - which is better than it has been at 102.5! It is my understanding that once the fever breaks - they can go ahead and start with Round 2 of Chemo!

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Also in the past week - they've had to give him a couple units of blood because his hemoglobin was low and he shaved his beard and mustache (I've been with Brannon for 12 1/2 years and I have never seen Pop without his beard). The last I heard - they were pleased with his platelet counts and that they were coming up.

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Hopefully, the fever will break so that he can get onto Round 2!

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My understanding of his treatment plan is 6 rounds of chemo; 5 weeks of radiation (at 5 days a week) and then surgery. I don't know this for sure - and as everyone knows - things can change.

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Update on Pop

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We talked to Nana and Pop last night and Pop sounded much better than when we talked to him on Wednesday. He said he was feeling better too - still a bit weak, but good. He was not discharged to the extended stay facility yesterday - but is looking to be today. I'm think they just wanted to monitor him for another night inpatient. The doctor that visited him yesterday was pleased with how he was doing. While at the extended stay facility - they will be monitoring him and his bloodwork. His second round of chemo is scheduled to begin on or around April 23rd. --

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Today, I will leave you with some pictures of the girls and Nana.

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Update on Pop

Updated 4/9/2009: Pop did not get discharged yesterday. He is hoping to be discharged today to the extended stay facility and then to the Rotary House. He is doing ok - a few effects from the chemo - vomitting and he has fainted twice now. All in all - they are saying he is handling it fine.

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We talked to Nana and Pop last night. Pop sounded tired and weak - but he is still doing well (given the circumstances). He finished his first round of chemo yesterday (Tuesday, 4/7) and was expecting to be discharged today. They will stay in Texas so that his bloodwork can be monitored. He begins his second round of chemo on 4/23. In between now and then - he is hoping to come home even if for just a few days. But that will depend on how his bloodwork looks!

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I've included some pictures of Pop and his girls - these are from late last year...

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Update on Pop

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We are calling Nana and Pop most every night - if nothing else so the girls can talk to Nana and Pop! You must remember Nana had been at home with the kids full-time since the end of January when I returned to work after being out with Brady! So the girls are missing seeing their Nana every day!

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We called tonight and Pop answered and sounded great! I honestly didn't expect him to answer tonight given they were starting the chemo last night (I wasn't sure if the side effects would happen immediately or what). He said they did start the chemo finally around midnight last night and that he slept pretty well and that today had been a quiet day and they had enjoyed that!

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I asked Nana about the MRI results - I've hesistated to ask too many questions when I talk to them because I know it can be exhausting rehashing everything over and over - but at the same time we really want to know! From what I understand - the cancer could be from his knee to his pelvic area but they aren't sure because they feel there is adema in his leg which might be what they are seeing. She also mentioned that it could be in his lungs and the cells are just too small to detect. Either way - they are optimistic the chemo will do the trick and hopefully be the only course of treatment!

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We are so thankful for everyone's prayers and sooo very thankful that things are going as well as can be expected - we can't change that the cancer is there, but it doesn't seem to be a "worst case" situation!

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Update on Pop

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They have (finally) given a name for Pop's cancer - it is High Grade Pleomorphic Sarcoma. He has had a chest x-ray, CAT Scan and MRI. The chest x-ray and the CAT Scan came back with nothing out of the ordinary. I'm not sure of the MRI results.

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As of now - Pop will have 2 rounds of chemo and depending upon how the tumor responds to the chemo - that may be all that has to be done. There will likely be a third round of chemo - but he can likely do that closer to home. The doctor is very optimistic.

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As of tonight- they had put the central line in and were planning to begin the chemo tonight. He sounded good and upbeat - so...

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Given that we cannot change the fact that he has cancer - we are very thankful of the prognosis right now and are praying that the tumor responds to the chemo as they expect and that he will be home soon!

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Pop and Brady

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And a little while later....

The kids and their Pop

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Pop

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Pop (Brannon's mom's husband) has recently been diagnosed with Sarcoma, a rare cancer. Sarcoma accounts for approximately 1% of all new adult cancer cases per year. We do not know a lot other than it has been classified as late-stage sarcoma. Nana and Pop are in Texas at MD Anderson to finalize the diagnosis and to (hopefully) begin the treatment phase. Hopefully we will have more information today after their appointment in Texas.

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Please keep them in your prayers!!!

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An Early Visit from the Easter Bunny

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The Easter Bunny heard that Nana and Pop probably would not be in town for Easter - so he (or she) made an early visit to their house Friday night!! The girls each got a bucket with a shovel (for the beach, of course) filled with stickers and outfits and hair clippies!! The Easter Bunny hid eggs around Nana and Pop's house and the girls had a great time finding them!

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Friday night with Nana and Pop

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The kids and I went up to Nana and Pop's (Bran's mom and her husband) Friday night. Nana and Pop had bought some beads to make bracelets and necklaces!

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Brooklyn hard at work making her necklace!

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Pop showing Bella how to do it...
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Out to Eat!

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The weekend before Christmas we went out to eat with Nana and Pop at the new casino in Atmore - they were having an "Employee Appreciation" dinner at the new buffet for employees. I dressed the girls in their Christmas dresses and they looked quite cute - if I say so myself!

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It was a nice buffet but I think Bella's favorite was the chocolate cake for dessert!!!

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They had people making balloon characters and the girls each got a poodle puppy (which were late confiscated by mean old mommy because Brooklyn would not keep it out of her mouth - I don't like kids and balloons - I'm okay with the mylar balloons because they don't pop as easy as the "regular" ones)! Here the girls are patiently waiting for the puppies. Brooklyn really enjoyed talking to the lady making the dogs!

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Christmas with Nana and Pop

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After eating lunch at Van and Debbie's - Nana and Pop came back to our house and we "did" Christmas with them! The girls each got a Cabbage Patch Doll, a Princess Barbie Doll (Bella - Cinderella; Brooklyn - Snow White), pajamas and clothes! Brady got some onesies (the good ones that snap on the side and you don't have to pull them over his head), some little pants and a Teddy Bear! Bella is really into opening presents. Brooklyn on the other hand didn't quite get enough of a nap - so she'd only open her presents in Pop's lap! Thank you Nana and Pop!!!

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Bella is showing Brady his new teddy bear!

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Fun with Nana and Pop

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Nana and Pop went with us to Williams Station Day and afterwards we went to Wolfe Bay to eat supper - YUMMY!! They have a dock and the girls love to look at and in the water for fish!

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Here they are laying on the dock looking for fish..

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Feeding the fish some fish food (they have a little candy type dispenser that you can buy fish food from for feeding)!

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Pop and Bella and Brooklyn - oh how they love (ok more like worship) their Pop!

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Brooklyn and Pop

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Bella and Nana

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Nana and Brooklyn - Brooklyn wouldn't smile but she would stick out her tongue!

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