Changes

Matt would like to wish everyone Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Matt heard from the Urologist. Matt and the doctor had decided there was nothing he could do.

 We were referred to Rainbow Hospice to the Edema Center in Johnson Creek.  Matt saw Doctor Goldmen.  He did a battery of test and Matt passed them.  Starting Monday Matt will be getting his legs wrapped.  They feel they can help with the swelling.  He will get a half hour massage and then it will take 15 minutes to wrap each leg.  He will go back on Wednesday and have the wraps taken off and go through the routine again.  They will massage his legs for a half hour and then wrap his legs again. 

He is going to do this every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as long as they feel it is working.  When it gets to a point that there is no change then he will wear pressure stocks.  The Doctor feels this will help with the swelling and relieve some of the pain in his legs.

Matt has also  been going to a chiropractor three times a week.  He has been working on his neck, shoulders and lower back.  Matt says it has been helping to relieve the knots he has.

With all this nice weather Matt has been having the itch to get his car out!  Matt and Casey have been getting out in this nice weather.  They have been going for walks. Casey managed to walk with Matt around the block in his chair without letting him fly down the hill.  Matt has been having some great Days!

Thank you to everyone for all your continued thoughts and prayers!

Test

Matt saw the urologist on Friday about some of his swelling.  The doctor wants him to have an ultrasound done on Monday.  We will not get the results back until Wednesday afternoon.  Hopefully they will find out that the doctor might be able to help him to reduce some of the swelling.

Matt's swelling continues.  Matt did get rid of the thrush he had in his mouth.  That was very
hard for him.  It hurt to eat just about anything.  Matt got some medication for it and and it
finally seems to be going away and Matt is starting to eat again.  He is trying to drink as much
as he can also.   Matt has continued pain in his pelvic region, lower back and some times in
his shoulder.  He says it is hard to get out of bed but once he is out he feels better.

Thank you to everyone for all your prayers!!  I will keep you updated on the test results.

Happy Valentin's Day!

Matt would like to thank all his friends and family for all their thoughts and Prayers!

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Matt still has a little bit of a cough.  He saw Dr. Eastman yesterday and they gave him some ideas of what he could do to get rid of it. Matt's swelling continues to get a little worse each day.  He tries to
stay off his feet when he can.  You know Matt there is to much to do and he has to go, go and go to get
it all done.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Matt keeps on going!

I just can't believe what a strong young man Matt is.  Every morning he has the drive to get up and keep going.  He keeps saying there is so much to do!

Matt's legs continue to swell.  He is weighing about 122 pounds.  Probably lots of it is water weight.  Lately he has been only able to wear boots or his flip flops.  His shoes are a little tight. Matt is eating very good.  He has a pop tart or two every morning.  He eats a good meal at lunch.  His portion size isn't like it used to be but he still eats a generous portion.  Then he has a good supper! Matt has been coughing a lot more.  Possible could be due to the tumors in his lungs are growing and taking up  some of  the space or a possible cold due to his nose is stuffed.  When he gets up to fast from sitting, sometimes everything goes white for a few seconds.  Then he has to stopped and wait for everything to focus and then he goes.  Matt just needs to slow down.  Matt is trying to do to much and pushing himself to hard.

Matt is furiously working on his coupons.  Anyone knows of a good site on the computer for Matt to print coupons let us know!!  Matt gets upset when he goes to the store and the "dumb" computer,  doesn't  give him his sale price then he has to spend his time at the front desk to get his money back.  We have learned to really watch when the cashier is ringing up the groceries.  The sale  price doesn't always pop up on his receipt and he doesn't get his sale price.

Matt still continues on.  He still has things he wants to get done and is working towards them.

"Jesus has you in his hands and holds you with a grip of grace that will not slip and with an arm of strength that will not fail.  Jesus spake unto them, saying,("Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid")".
(Matthew 14:27)

Busy, Busy

Matt has been busy trying to get organized.  He is catching up on a lot of things he had wanted to do but was to busy to do it.  Matt has been organizing his garage, closet and his kitchen.  We have been making food and freezing some so Matt & Casey have some meals to eat on their busy days.  Matt has been keeping me very busy!

Matt has been wearing his pressure stockings a few times.   He says they are to tight.  I explained how they work and are supposed to be tight.  Matt does have a few sores on his feet that make the stocking hurt.  Due to his feet swelling he knows the stocks are a good thing.  There are days that Matt's feet up to his knees are swelled.  When they are so swelled it hurts him to walk.  Matt does some things and then  he tries to keep his feet up and rest.  He is not to go about behaving!

This past weekend he had a Christmas party and baptism.  This kept him very busy this weekend.  Matt is trying to save money by clipping coupons.  He has been going through the papers and ads looking for great coupons.  Today it was double coupons at Pick N Save.  I have been learning a lot
from Matt and his coupons and why we should keep lists!!

"Some things just aren't in our hands. It's tempting to try taking charge and try making things right, but we know they're best left to God!"

Thank you to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers.

Things are going

They last few weeks we have been working at trying to fatten Matt up.  He has gained 5 pounds!!  Matt is working hard at trying to eat better foods!!

This last week we visited Dr. Eastman about the swelling in his legs.  His feet up to his knees get swollen.  Matt tries to keep his feet up when he is sitting.  That seems to be helping some.  Dr. Eastman said he should get the pressure stockings to help with the swelling and the pain when Matt walks.  The socks seem to help some too. 

We thought things have been going good with his Nephrostomy tube.  Last night it seemed clogged so Matt tried to flush it himself.  He thought things were working but this morning the bag was not full like it normally is.  When this happens Matt gets pain in his abdomen from the back up of urine. I tried to flush it but nothing was working so we called Maria from Rainbow Hospice.  Of course while she was en route to Matt's house I figured out the extension that I need to use to help flush was not working.  It was a faulty piece of equipment.  I change that piece of equipment and tried the flushing again and it worked!!  So when Maria got there she changed the dressing on Matt's back.  That had not been changed for awhile.  Matt and I were getting a little nervous when we could not get the Nephrostomy tube flowing!  Luckily it started working and we went on with our day.

Matt is busily making lists.  He is getting everything off his mind and down on paper.  We are accomplishing a lot of things he wants to get done.  I need to take note myself.  The making a list looks a great idea.  I need to start one myself!

I believe in mind over matter.. I believe in the human spirit to prevail... I believe in miracles and blessings, both great and small...I believe in possibilities...I believe that hurdles in life are meant to be jumped over, not as something to stop us...I believe in God.... I believe in Matt!!!

Thank you for all your continued thoughts and prayers!

Great Weekend

Friday night Matt's Uncle Andy got together a family poker party.  They started out with 12 players at two different tables.  When the first two were out they combined to one table.  One by one they started dropping out until they got down to the last three.

The last three that made it into the championship round with Matt, Nate and Cousin Eric.  They played many rounds and it finally ended up; Matt, 3rd place, Eric, 2nd place and Nate, 1st place!

Here are a few pictures.

This table was: Brian, Chad, Eric, Nate, Mike (Jenny's), Mike (Becky's)

Uncle Chris, Uncle Mike, Uncle Jeff, Uncle Andy, Matt and Grandpa Tony

Matt got 3rd place, Cousin Eric got 2nd place, and Nate got 1st place.

Everyone had a great time playing poker!  Lots of good talk and lots of food.  Cousin Eric slept over and Matt, Nate and cousin Eric stayed up talking.  It was a good night.

On Sunday Matt and the family went to Cousin Emily's baptism.  Again way to much food but had a great time!

Matt has been feeling okay.  He has had fluid built up in his legs and abdomen. Matt said that if he keeps his legs up the swelling seems to go down.  Yesterday we went to Johnson Creek to see Dr. Eastman.  Matt explained about the swelling in his legs and abdomen.  It seems like it comes and goes.

The doctor said that Matt could try pressure socks.  This might help with the swelling his legs.  When his legs are swell it hurts to walk.  The doctor thought these socks might help.  Matt's bag continues to have problems once in awhile.  Maria showed me how to clean Matt's tube and bag.  When it gets clogged up it take it apart and flush his bag and tube.  After I do that it seems to start working again.

Today Matt had a visitor from a friend from Watertown High School.  She was the person in charge of Peer helpers when Matt was in school.  She found some pictures and wanted to show them to Matt and reminisces about the past.  Matt, Nate and Tammy had a good visit.

Thank you to everyone for ALL your continued thoughts and prayers for Matt and Casey and his family!