I love this picture. Dena took this picture the other day without us knowing and just showed it to me. Mike is holding Elizabeth's foot and I am holding Mike's hand. You can see the bracelet Elizabeth made Mike - it says Jehovah - to go with his allergy bracelet and hospital bracelet. It is funny because when Elizabeth was little she would cry in the back seat. So Mike would reach back and hold her foot. It would calm her down. As she grew older, the action became known as "foot pie". So while Mike is not really aware during this picture, he was still calming his baby with a simple, loving action of foot pie.

Mike is holding and fighting. His oxygen rate varies from the low 80's to the low 90's. His white blood count is high, which indicates an infection. His red blood count is low and he might need a transfusion in a day or so. His lungs are very congested from the aspiration and he is doing breathing treatments every 4 hours and getting suctioned, which he hates.

I keep reminding him that "Nothing is impossible with God" just breath. Or I will say, "Mike all you have to do is breath and let Jesus to the rest". This road is uncharted. Never in our wildest dreams did we see this coming. But, we are walking every moment. Living every moment. Praising for every moment.

Thank you for your prayer and posts. So many wonderful friends and so many good memories.

Pray. Pray. Pray.

I don't know where to start this post. I am seeing amazing things before my eyes. Elizabeth too. Mike's condition is improving though still tough. His blood pressure is normal when it has been extremely low. His oxygen is at 100% when on oxygen. His breathing is so much better. His kidneys are working. They tried to turn Mike last night and he woke up. He was talking, though I couldn't understand because his mouth is so dry and tongue swollen a little bit. It took 4 nurses to keep him from getting out of bed.

Just a short time ago, Mike had no kidney output. He was beginning to swell. His breathing was extremely difficult. He had very low blood pressures and everything is changing without medication.

So this morning, I have called off hospice and put Mike back as a full code. I have told the nurses to get the doctors here. Mike is fighting..... God is moving...... So my job is to be in prayer, listen for His direction and act on behalf of Mike. You should have seen it last night. After Mike settled down the nurses went out in the hall and I went with them. I said," What is going on?" and the tech looked at everyone and said, "See I told you." The nurses said, "That man was awake and is strong." "His strength shocked me" "That man isn't in a coma".

I am praying and asking for continued miracles. The battle does belong to the Lord. Mike's life here on earth is in a delicate balance right now. Every minute is precious. Every breath is ordained by God. Please continue to join me praying for Mike and for Godly wisdom in walking this uncharted road. However, I am in a really good and peaceful and confident place right now where ever this road leads.

(I have read all comments to Mike and continue to be in absolute awe and joy and strength from everyone.)

One more day

Time is getting more and more precious with every minute. We are still in the hospital trying to arrange hospice at home. We are not sure Mike is strong enough to go to our physical home. We are waiting on the hospice nurse to evaluate the situation.

We have had some amazing moments. Last night as we were transferred out of ICU to a private room, Elizabeth, Melissa, Dr. Bo, Alexa, Erin, and I circle around Mike and pray incredible, powerful, healing prayers. It was electrical for lack of better word to describe. As we were praying, different Ministers from around the US called and prayed for Mike over speaker phone. Col. Weigand called and prayed for Mike over the speaker phone. It was powerful.

Please know I read every comment to Mike today and to our dear Boneman, Doug and Dena are on the way from Omaha and Jeff and Wendy are on their way from Germany. Wingman to the core. Thank you.

We are holding fast to our Savior and know that victory is a short time away. Thank you God for sending your Son to die for us on the Cross and that He rose on the Third Day. Mike's home is waiting for Him and as the song says, "It is Well with My Soul". I can not end this blog without letting you know that the incredible peace that we have is available to you if you don't know what we are talking about. Read John 3:16 and know that everyone falls short and everyone sins, but Christ took that sin for you on the cross.

Take you Jesus for one more day as a family. One more day...

Reminding myself that This is the Day the Lord Has made and I will Rejoice and be glad in it

It is an incredibly beautiful day outside. It has been snowing sometime now. We are expecting 6 inches of snow and yet I am looking at it from an ICU window as my beloved is laboring for every breath. My wonderful, brave husband who has fought so hard and is continuing to surpass time lines even now. Oh how I love him.

Mike aspirated during the procedure and things went down hill from there. He has had a few seizures, but he is clinging to Jesus. The second to the last thing he said is, "Ok Lord, the Battle belongs to you."

Elizabeth has been with us through it all. The nurses brought in a bed and she slept in the ICU room with us. She is a brave soul and brings laughter and joy. She went outside and collected snow and made a snowman for Daddy.

We love you and please pray that Jesus does the "parting of the Red Sea Miracle". I still believe He can.

Praising for one more day together as a family.

mike in icu fighting the battle belongs to the Lord - wendy fly in

Procedure at 3:00 pm CST

Today, Mike is going under at 3:00 pm for the pain block. Mike requests prayer specifically for miraculous super natural healing. He is asking God specifically that they go in and the tumor that they say is there is not.

I ditto that and ask specifically that all hands laid on Mike be God's hands. That he directs all treatment, care in every way regarding Mike. I specifically ask that His presence be so literal that the Doctors and nurses talk about this specific procedure for years to come. I can literally see it right now.

I will post more today, but it will probably be very late.

Energizer Bunny

As of now, it seems we have turned a corner on the pain. We have not done the nerve block. It is schedule for tomorrow. The doctor who is doing the procedure came in and talked to us about the risks and benefits. There is a very the possibility that Mike will go through it and it will not work. So I am praying that it will work and allow us to control the pain to continue this fight.

The bone scan brought us good news on two fronts, that cancer is not in Mike's bones and it means that the pain is nerve related. We know the tumor is very near the celiac nerve area in the abdomen. All this pain could literally be centered there and this procedure could solve or reduce the that issue.

The pharmacist in the hospital stepped in and helped with the pain issue in the mean time. Mike was on a continuous drip and then would buzz the nurses for breakthrough pain. So for the past 24 hours we were buzzing the nurses every hour. The problem was that sometimes they can't get it fast enough and the little pain would escalate and now we were behind the pain. So today Mike is on a continuous drip and a "clicky" as we call it so he can self medicate when the pain first starts to appear. It has worked for the past 5 hours and I am hopeful that it will continue working through the night.

Tonight, Mike started laughing and I asked him what was up. He was looking at all his cords, machines, iv's, etc and said this would make a great Energizer Bunny commercial. "I have stage 4 cancer, but I keep going and going and going." We both giggled because it is funny. The past week has been difficult and everywhere we turn there is bad news - but the Hope is still there. I have heard it all, been given time lines, told what should happen, but Mike is the ultimate Energizer Bunny and God is the battery. He gives us strength, power, Hope, and keeps going and going. Nothing can stop Him. Death didn't stop Him either. As an incredible minister in North Carolina prayed in a prayer call over the cell phone last night - Kingdom Vision. We will always keep our eyes on Him.

Please pray specifically for this procedure to work tomorrow and that there are no complications and that Mike tolerates going under for it. Pray for Elizabeth. She is missing her Mom and Dad. Pray for a restful night. Please also pray for Mikes Grandmother. She is in the hospital in Elyria for bleeding.

Again, I am praising Jesus for the tide of prayers, the great comments, wonderful emails, phone calls, and help - Gini, I now have 3 deodorants in my possession... I really did need it and I guess others noticed!! LOL!!