July 7th 9:00 pm It has been a good couple of days with Michael. Yesterday, he got up at noon and came out on the
patio and sat out there all day. He was there from 2:30 until about 9 pm. Then he watched a couple of movies in the living
room with Chris and the boys. It was so nice to spend the time with him while he is in good spirits. Today, he came out in
the afternoon again and spent until around 7 pm out there again. His friend Chris came over and spent a few hours with
him and Kelcie. Later, his friend Peter came over too. He said he felt normal the last couple of days. He and the boys are
going to the movies tonight. Michael wanted to do a late movie. Michael, Kelcie and Nate are watching one movie while
Taylor and Chris are both watching two different movies. They are just getting ready to leave now. I am the only sane one
and am going to bed!
Updates on procedures and chemo: Michael will have a CT scan on Monday the 11th to see if they can remove the
tube in his kidney. Then he will start the next round of Chemo on July 15th. He is going to ask his Dr if he can try this next
round at home. He really wants to do it that way. We will see what Dr. Pan says. I'm not convinced, but he thinks he will
handle it better being at home.
We want to tell Michael's new friend Lisa, in England, that we are praying for her family and friends there in her country
after what happened today with the terrorist attacks. We hope you weren't personally effected in any way, although we do
understand that having it happen in your backyard already effects you. We pray for peace there and comfort and healing.
July 8th 8:30 pm I am so stupid sometimes. I'm sorry to all of you who faithfully check the website and found no new
updates! I wrote them, but forgot to put a link to this page! So sorry!!!!
Now...today was another great day! Michael was up all day again and feeling well. He is going to the mall tomorrow with
Chris and with Kelsie! He is looking forward to that.
Now: for another update: We're pregnant! I am due in late January. The timing is a little crazy, but we are happy. Some
of you may know that we lost a baby four years ago. I was 7 months pregnant when the baby was born and didn't make it.
However, the Dr I saw today doesn't think it has anything to do with this time. He said that something was just wrong with
the last one and it didn't make it. He feels that this one will be ok as long as I take it easy and just do what I need to do.
We appreciate everyone praying for us on this also.
My grandma had a great idea. She wants all of you that sign the guestbook to send me a picture of yourself that I can post
on the internet so that people can put a face to your writings. I will create a new "friends & family photo" page as soon as
some of you give me some pictures. You can email them to me at shannschriner@msn.com.
July 10th 7:30 pm Chris took off for Chicago today. He will be gone until Thursday evening. I asked Michael what he
wanted me to write today and he said he wanted everyone to remember that he was going in to have CT scan tomorrow.
He wants everyone to remember to pray so that the results are good and he can get that tube removed.
He has been up for the last two days and again sitting outside most of the day. His girlfriend comes over and his friend
Peter came over again today. He really likes having his friends come over as it helps pass the time. Tonight, he came in
and announced he was going to go take a walk. Nathan wanted to go with him. What he wanted was to go get our mail,
which is maybe a hundred yards away. Then he came back. I thought that was pretty funny.
July 11th 7:35 pm Michael wanted me to say to you: "Boo! I scared all of you!"
Don't ask me...sometimes he is strange...
He did the CT Scan today, but it cost me $100! He wouldn't drink the two bottles of barium solution. It's a thick chalky drink
that is flavored like berries, but tastes like vomit. He has to split it into three sections and drink it over and hour and a half
period. I finally told him if he would drink it and keep it down like they do on Fear Factor, I would give him $10 per
section...so that would have been $30! He said he wouldn't do it unless I paid him a hundred! Geez! I told you he was
learning to work the system and now I feel like I am part of that system. I FEEL LIKE I GOT ROBBED! Michael also wanted
you to know that he almost fell asleep during the scan cause it took so long. (I have no idea why he wanted to tell you that,
but i did). He also wanted Kelcie to go in the scan with him, but they wouldn't let her as they said she would turn radioactive
and glow like the incredible Hulk!
Dr. Pan called Chris, but he was in a meeting and didn't get the call. So, the Dr. left a message on his machine asking that
we call him and come see him tomorrow. He didn't say anything about the tube, but did say that the tumor was really
shrinking and the chemo was really working and that he wanted to show us the tumor on the CT scan.
We don't know what to think about that as he didn't mention the tube which was the reason for the scan. We are just
praying that when we go see him, there will be good news.
Chris was in meetings in Chicago today for Pondemonium week with Aquascape. I am glad he decided to go. Chris has
obviously lost his work focus since all of this is taking place and now that we are settling into a routine with the chemo and
the well periods, it's time for him to get back into his own routine. He is so good with our business that it is running itself for
the most part with some oversight, but there are always things that can be done better. We are so blessed to be in the
position we are that I can stay home with Michael and now rest with this pregnancy. I don't know how families do this if they
both have to be off to work.
7/12/05 6:17 pm Michael's appointment for the results is tomorrow at 2:45 in the afternoon. So...the waiting continues.
Michael had another day sitting out on the patio working on getting a no hitter game on his game system. So far, no luck.
Chris has checked in a couple of times. I miss him. I don't sleep well when he isn't in the house with us. I don't know what I
think he would do any better than I would as he sleeps so hard it's impossible to wake him up! But...still...I miss him a lot.