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Thursday, December 25, 2008 9:06 AM CST

Jacer loved to party - he loved to dance, sing, plan, prepare...everything that is needed to put on a big party. I can't imagine the party in Heaven today, can it get any bigger than Jesus' birthday?

This morning was different in so many ways from the last nine Christmas mornings. Although, Jace loved Jesus....he loved "Santa", too and loved preparing for his arrival on Christmas morning. We miss him so much!

Thank you to everyone that added a memory to our memory book....it was helpful and healing as we read it this morning.

Merry Christmas, Little Buddy!
We love you and miss you!
We can't wait to spend Christmas with you again!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 11:15 PM CST

Good evening everyone,

Wednesday, December 17th, 2003...a day that is forever scarred into my mind. It's hard to imagine that five years have passed since that awful night. I can still remember what happened like it was yesterday. I can vividly remember Dr. Narawong's diminutive, expressionless face appearing in the window of the door and hearing the anguish in Tara's voice as she saw her. I remember as if it were last night, kneeling at his hospital bed, weeping aloud, begging God not to take my son; my cries interrupted by the Mayo Life Flight team; strange people in blue jumpsuits invading our room, taking my son with them up into a blizzard...similar to the one upon us tonight.

Somewhere in my soul that night, I knew that my son was not long for this earth. The four and a half years that followed that wintry night were filled with great joy and utter despair. They went by all too quickly but I am thankful to Christ Jesus for them. Some of our friends were denied that privilege and gave their children back to the Lord much sooner after their "December 17th's" than we were asked to. Today, as I relive that time, my heart aches for all of those families we know (and don't know) that have endured this trial. May God grant His peace and comfort to all of you as we all spend Christmas with an indescribable emptiness in our hearts and homes.

Ironically, that snowy Wednesday night five years ago was the night of Tara's Christmas concert at school. Tomorrow is also Wednesday, December 17th and again, Tara will be conducting her Christmas concert. Please pray for her to be strengthened as she gives of herself to her students and to the school.

On December 17th, 2004, I posted the entry below. I remember writing this and how cathartic it was for me at the time. Jace was recovering from his treatments and Hope was still part of our lives then. All seemed well in the world. This entry is not cathartic for me but I post it as a tribute to my courageous little boy...who waits for his Mother, Sister and Father in the Kingdom of God.

**********************************


It’s hard to believe that one year ago, our lives were turned upside down in that dark hospital room in Des Moines. As we approach December 17th, I hope you will indulge me as I’m feeling compelled to exorcize some demons, if you will, and relive that fateful day and the days that followed. I've also put some pictures from that time that will be forever burned into my memory on the photo album page.

On Tuesday night the 16th, I was driving around snowy Newton, looking at a black Chevy Tahoe, waiting for band practice to begin. We had taken Jace in for blood work a week or so before that night (which came back negative) so, at that moment, I was more concerned with the SUV I was looking at than with Jace. Band practice went late and I got home at about 12:30 AM on Wednesday. I hadn’t been in bed for more than an hour when Jace woke up and proceeded to vomit three times over the course of the next hour or two. Even then, Tara & I were thinking it was nothing more than the flu. The next morning, Tara took him to our family doctor in Grinnell. I was working when I received the first punch that sent chills down my spine; Tara was on the other end, sobbing, telling me we had to get Jace to a neurologist in DSM right away.

We spent the next hour in the Jeep, telling ourselves that it would be a minor problem and that there was nothing to be frightened about. Then came the look we’ll never forget. As we checked on Jace in the backseat his head tipped back and his eyes rolled back into his head; I think I knew in my heart right then that something serious was happening. It’s funny how we never thought for a moment that the clinic we were entering would be our home away from home for the next year. Dr. Narawong began to check Jace over and even asked us again, with seeming incredulity, “So, you brought him here because he can’t ride his bike?” We shook our heads with an equally incredulous “yes.” As she looked at Jace and tried to get him to keep his head still while she examined his eyes, I just sat there with a growing gloom, but fighting it with as much stubborn denial as I could muster. Then, the second punch...”I do see signs of pressure.”

I walked out of that little exam room, stifling tears and looking at these other sick kids thinking, “there’s no way my kid is going to become one of these kids.” Tara has told me that even after that first exam, she had no idea what the problem might be. As I look back though, I knew at that point what was happening and was trying, subconsciously, to prepare myself. We walked over to the hospital and they took Jace into a little room while I began signing papers. I finally walked into the room where he was just as they began the third try to start an IV. He was madder than HELL! I screamed in my head, “This can’t be happening...for God’s sake yesterday he was playing computer games with me at home and now I’ve signed papers consenting for an MRI, hospital admission, blood draws and God knows what else! God, tell me this isn’t happening!”

We eventually got him wheeled down to the MRI room and placed on the table. I’ll never forget the helpless feeling I had looking at his limp little body laying on that big table with the huge equipment looming over him like he was a lab rat getting ready for some evil experiment. I held his hand as he began to doze off and that big machine, the harbinger of doom if you will, which had been whirring like an airplane on a tarmac, began to fire up. They put Tara and me in a small little waiting area and we both sat there in utter disbelief wondering what they would find. Our pastor, Reverend Kevin showed up about that time and sat with us for a while. The gnawing, nauseous feeling and the achy malaise I felt all over my body were absolutely unbearable. Sitting in a little bluish-gray interrogation room staring at hospital scrubs and a bathroom made it worse.

I talked with Rev. Kevin while Tara was in the restroom. I told him that I felt like someone in London during the German V2 rocket attacks...”You know what’s coming and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.” We finally got Jace back up to the hospital room (Room 413) and he just sat there, watching cartoons, oblivious to the vicious storm on the horizon. Tara & I sat on the couch, waiting for the news that I already knew in my heart. I kept telling myself, “maybe there isn’t anything there and if there is, maybe it’s small.” At about 4 PM, Tara caught a glimpse of Dr. Narawong’s face in the slim, vertical window on our door. My heart sank as she crept in...her body language wreaking of terrible news. She stood there for what seemed an eternity, looking at us with all the sincere sympathy she could muster, and her hand on Tara’s shoulder. I finally broke the silence and said, “just tell us.” Then, the knockout punch...“There is a tumor and it is very large.”

My heart exploded in a shower of torment that I tried to hide from the child in the bed next to me. “This happens to other people, not to us!”, I screamed in my head. The next hour is buried somewhere deep in my subconscious. Now came the phone calls to family and friends, each one as piercing and difficult as the one before. “They found a tumor in Jace’s brain.” Every time I spoke the words into the phone, my stomach literally cramped up and I couldn’t believe I was delivering this news to everyone.

We were told that there was a wait to see if our insurance company would allow us to go to Rochester or to Iowa City. We eventually found out that a helicopter was on its way from Rochester. “Thank you, God.” My first thought was that this is more serious than they’re letting on. I suppose it was a weather issue, although the thought of my son in a helicopter during what had become a full-blown winter storm was less than reassuring. We spent the next three hours with our parents, talking on the phone out in the hallway and kneeling at Jace’s bed. He sat there and colored, watched Spongebob and was actually acting like a regular kid. “He’s just a little boy!” A little boy that would have to understand us when we told him that there was an “ow-ie” in his head and he was going to get to take a helicopter ride (like Grandpa did one time) to a hospital far away where they would take it out. “Oh, OK,” he said like we’d just told him he had a cold. Whoever said ignorance is bliss sure knew what the hell they were talking about. I desperately wanted it to be Tuesday again.

We sat there in the room until 7:30 PM, when a faint sound grew in the distance. Louder, closer...the helicopter. Tara and I looked into each other’s eyes and didn’t have to say a word. Utter despair was on her face and I’m sure she saw it on mine. “They’re going to take our little boy, now” I kneeled at his bed and, without a care for who heard, I wept and cried aloud...”Please God, don’t take my little boy!”- over and over, as if He didn’t hear me the first time. Within minutes of hearing the helicopter, a crew of six or eight flight nurses came in wearing their royal blue jumpsuits with scissors in the pockets pushing a large gurney. They put Jace in a large, thick cocoon-looking thing and prepared to take him upstairs. “They’re going to take my son, now.”

Tara & I made our way out to the nearly-empty parking ramp and were frantically searching for our car when we heard the helicopter take off. This was the absolute lowest, sickest feeling of despair I have ever encountered. In a cold parking garage, on a snowy night, having just found out your son has a brain tumor and with no idea if he will live or die, hearing him leave on a helicopter...helpless.

We drove out of Des Moines in a blizzard and headed up I-35. Between phone calls, I looked up into the ominous black night and thought of my son...up in the cold winter sky, alone with people he’s never met on his way to a place he’s never been. One phone call I’ll never forget was from one of my best friends, Chuck Baird, who, 24 hours earlier, had been jamming on his guitar with me at band practice. I had struggled to leave him a message earlier and he returned my call now, obviously knowing that something was very wrong. I told him about Jace and he wept openly for him and for us. I was stunned by his emotion and thankful for such a friend. We pressed on as the storm became more intense. The snow became hypnotic as it blew straight into our headlights. At about 10 PM, we called St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester to see if Jace had arrived. They told us he got in about a half-hour ago and was sleeping comfortably. “My son is in Rochester.”

Around 11 PM, I was physically and emotionally exhausted and Tara was kind enough to drive. My parents had been following me and I found myself wondering what they must be wondering. Even though they were behind us, we felt absolutely alone on the face of the earth during that five-hour drive. As we rolled into a sleeping Rochester, we took the off-ramp to St. Mary’s and turned the corner to see a huge brick leviathan hulking against the black sky. “My son’s in there somewhere.”

We frantically searched our way through the catacombs of the underground parking ramps and made our way up to the main entrance. I felt utterly helpless as I asked the lone sentinel at the information booth about Jace Carrico. “Room Mb-352. He’s in the Mary Brigh Building.” As we walked through the double doors to the pediatric ICU, he was the first room on the left. There was my little boy, asleep in his bed, having drifted off wondering when Mom & Dad would be there. I looked around and the gravity of the situation hit me like a Mack truck...”I was with my son at the Mayo Clinic pediatric intensive care unit.” At 1:30 AM, I laid down on the floor and tried to sleep, sucking back tears and fighting off their frequent surprise attacks.

After the longest night of my life had ended, the morning sun brought Thursday and a meeting with Dr. Corey Raffel, Mayo’s only pediatric neurosurgeon. The only things I can remember him saying are, 1.) “You should plan on spending the next year taking care of this,” 2.) “Statistics don’t mean anything, every child is different,” and 3.) “If I don’t go on this trip, my wife will probably divorce me.” I was immediately thankful that we had caught him before he left the next day as we were told he is one of the best in the country.

Jace was to have another MRI that morning and then surgery possibly later that day. As it turned out, they decided that since he had been sedated for the MRI, they would just wheel him in and begin surgery. I was a little upset at the hastiness of their decision but relieved that they were going to get that damn tumor out of his head. We spent the next five hours in the waiting area (a grim scene I would see endured by many other families over the next 10 days) with our families. The phone would ring about every hour from the OR with an update on Jace’s progress. They finally called at about 5:00 PM to say they’d begun closing. For a moment I was ecstatic...things had gone much quicker than expected. But, then it occurred to me that they may have finished early because there was part of the tumor they couldn’t reach...an assumption which turned out to be correct. Within a couple of hours, Dr. Raffel strode confidently but with noticeable fatigue down the hall. He told us he was confident he had removed 90f the tumor. Maybe more but not less. I think he could tell that we were disappointed with this assessment but I’m sure he also understood that any parent who doesn’t hear “100is disappointed. I thanked him profusely for his work on my son and told him to enjoy his trip...he had obviously earned it.

At about 7 PM, Jace was finally upstairs. I recall hearing a familiar cry down the hallway and began preparing myself for the unknown. What would he look like? Would he be able to talk? Would all his hair be gone? I was amazed when we walked in and saw him with all his hair and a single bandage on the back of his head over the incision. The drain tube coming out of his head was a little disturbing but he looked much better than I thought he would.

What astounded me beyond belief was that the man I was just speaking to had, just a few hours before, had his hands inside my son’s head. That my son could speak to me and resume most normal bodily functions two hours after someone had cut his head open and put their hands in his brain was incomprehensible to me. Jace spent the next day or two crying and being very uncomfortable due to the steroids and catheterization. Just when he began to calm down, the doctors decided he needed a shunt. As Christmas morning came, instead of running downstairs to see what Santa had left, we ran Jace down to have a CT scan and then into the OR for another brain surgery. As well as he had done after his first surgery, he did not do well after this one. The after-effects of the second surgery combined with the steroids and the strong yearning to go home made for a long four days. We spent an emotional last night in Rochester watching a videotape of our church's Christmas eve service and a video tour of New Sharon. It had seemed like months since we had left on that fateful Wednesday morning. We would return home the next day to a community that, even on a cold December night, had never felt so warm and full of love and compassion. I have never felt so truly thankful to be home as I did that day. One random act of kindness I will never forget and one that I'm reminded of each time I watch cartoons with Jace this Christmas season happened the night we returned. I had made a phone call or two to find some Spongebob videos for Jace to watch. Within two hours of my calls, Jason LaRue showed up at our door (after a trip to the video store) with six Spongebob videos and DVD's. Amazing.

As we enter this Christmas season, I find my memory being jarred back to those 12 days in Rochester. It's usually a song, a Christmas cartoon that is back on TV or just the season itself. We have been and continue to be overwhelmed by everyone's sincere love and concern for our son. My purpose in reliving last December with all of you is to help us all remember that our lives can be changed forever in one day, hour, minute or second. With Christmas approaching, remember that it's not about how many gifts you can give your child or days full of shopping and other holiday activities, it's about being together as a family and genuinely cherishing your time together. Yes, we were in Rochester last Christmas but we were together and we felt the love of an entire community with us for those 12 days. Please remember that this Christmas and cherish this time with your families.

To everyone who has touched our lives over the past year, we hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
Travis, Tara, Jenna & Jace

******************************************************

Thank you for checking in and God's peace to you as we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Saturday, December 6, 2008 9:28 AM CST

This morning, I thought I would post a couple pictures of Jace's stone. It was hard to get a good picture (without a glare) and one that could truly capture how strongly his spirit shows through it. We are very pleased - the detail is incredible! Thanks to everyone that continues to visit Jacer at the cemetery. It was neat to see footprints leading up to his stone yesterday when we went out to visit.

Here's the front: The drums you see behind him our Jace's drums. We were happy that they could put his all-time favorite shirt on him and include his cute freckles.



Here's the back: It's really hard to capture how neat it turned out. You will see his "B" as the background (holes from his toes included), Super Mario in the Nintendo screen, Jace's rosary beads, and the picture that he drew of our family. This is the picture that was on his program. We also included drumsticks with "Class of 2018" etched in them.




The only part I didn't get was the back of the vase. It has the SuperHero character on it and the saying from his wristbands is wrapped around the vase.

I'm including photos of Jace from the last five years. At this time last year, we were planning on enjoying many more holidays with him. He was feeling so good and really enjoyed Christmas. We miss him so much.....

Sunday, November 23, 2008 11:52 AM CST

Good afternoon, everyone.

OK...it's my turn to share some memories with you. However, please read the following DISCLAIMER carefully before you proceed any farther:

While reading the following material, you may come across content matter that could possibly be considered offensive, such as (but not limited to):

Mild profanity
Unpleasant bodily functions
Various parts of the human anatomy
Numerous shining examples of bad parenting

Everybody OK so far? Now that I'm legally off-the-hook for any emotional distress that may arise after reading this post, I'll continue. ;-)

I've been adding to this list for quite a while and I know that as soon as I post it, I'll think of something else to add. But the fact is that EVERY day with Jace seemed to result in some kind of memorable moment...that is his legacy; he was probably THE most memorable kid/person I've ever known. He could touch your life without you even knowing it.

One last warning: this list is very LONG! I've posted it here to share with you but also, as Tara mentioned in her post, to preserve it for posterity's sake. Enjoy.

Memories of Jace…by Dad

NICKNAMES:
Doobie
Doo-frikkin’ Bee
(I would only use this one when Mom wasn’t around! He would always laugh though…the kid loved mild profanity! ;-)
The Doobs
Frankie
Officer Frank Farkle
Dooboski
Meenya Man
Little Buddy
Bald-headed Badger (from Ed, Edd & Eddy)
(We came up with this one when his hair started to fall out the first time…around 2/04.)
Mister Man
Frizzle
Little – est of Mins

A song I made up for him when he was just a little shite:
“Jace, jace, jace b’gace…little bitty boy in a big ol’ place. Jace, jace, jace b’gace, just look at that handsome face!”

Wickford Walnut
I had a song with this one: “Wickford…wickford walnut!”

Wickus

Byoo-tole Boy (This one came from an “alternate” pronunciation of a funny body part...I'll let you figure out WHICH body part! ;-)

Pelwick
Jacer the Eraser
Frankie Friskers (a.k.a. Mr. Friskers)

Loudmouth Louie (Any of you who sitting in the balcony at church but could still hear him singing will know what I mean!)

Morty Megaphone

FAVORITE SAYINGS
Deeker-liest of the men…Ha- Ha! (I would say this all the time to him when he was very little. He would always reply, "HA-HA!")
How’s yer burger??? (From "Dumb and Dumber")
Dad: “Who has the roundest butt in town?” Jace: “I do, I do.”

THINGS I MISS
*Putting my nose in his hair and saying, “Jace, you know what…you smell like a puppy.”

*Having him meet me at the door when I got home and giving me a great big hug.

*Changing my clothes, getting ready to cuddle up on the couch and watch the Simpsons with him and hearing him yell, “DAD, it’s on…you’re missing it!”

*Making his elbow into a buttcrack. (Any of you who don't know how this is done, stop me next time you see me and I'll demonstrate.)

*The face he would make when he raised his eyebrows and curled his upper lip. (This started out as the look he’d make behind our backs after we got upset with him.)

*Hearing him take his morning leak and all of the sudden hearing a massive fart blow out of his tight little buttcheeks. I swear some of them lasted for 10 seconds and they sounded so “slappy and sharp.” He would laugh and shake so hard as they came out that he would pee all over the toilet.

*Hiding around the corner and jumping out to surprise him when he was walking with his class to lunch. He got so excited and was never embarrassed to hold my hand in the lunch line.

*7:00 EVERY weeknight: Cuddle on the couch (or in his bed) and watch Spongebob.

*Sitting at the computer, playing my guitar and rocking out to Wiggles songs with him.

*Praying an “Our Father” and a “Hail Mary” before bedtime and on our way to school. He would ALWAYS bring it up if we forgot!

*Reading Old Testament scripture about Moses and the plagues of ancient Egypt.

*Every Christmas for the past several years, Jace would put on a small skit he came up with when he heard Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Christmas Eve: Sarajevo 12/24" for the first time. If you've never heard it, it's basically "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Carol of the Bells" with a heavy metal flavor. Jace would dress up as the villain and Jenna was the "victim" and when the part came on right before the heavy guitars kicked in, he would stomp in beat with the music, holding his sword, ready to do Jenna great harm! It was very dramatic.

* Every Christmas we would watch the following movies:
Home Alone Pts. I and II (with KB always in attendance)
Scrooge
The Polar Express
Elf (I'm just a cotton-headed ninny-muggins!)

SOME FAVORITE MOVIE QUOTES:
“Uh, you’ve got some on your nose. I know, that’s how we drink it in Belgium!”
“Ow! You shot me, you A-hole!”
-The two above are Dr. Evil from Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

“Chlorophyll? More like Bor-ophyll!”
“No I will not make out with you!”
“Don’t put it out with your boot, Stan. Don’t tell me my business, Devil Woman!!!”
“Eric is pregnant! Congratulations, dippy. Oooh, he’s gonna be a soccer playa!”
“THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS LIPPY!”
-The five above are from Billy Madison

“YOU are an old potato!”
“I like life, life likes me, life and I fairly fully agree!”
-The two above are from the Christmas musical “Scrooge” starring Albert Finney. We would always get excited to watch this when December rolled around. It was a favorite of mine as a kid and my kids both came to love it. Jace would always ask me to warn him when the scene at the grave came on. The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come is shown as a skeleton face. He freaked out the first time he saw that!

From our ALL TIME favorite Christmas movie: Home Alone (Pts. I & II):
Marv: “That was the sound of a tool chest…rolling down the stairs.”
Marv stepping on the nail on the staircase with his bare foot and how his yell comes instantly.
Harry: "Marv, why the hell'd you take your shoes off!!??"
Marv: “Why the hell you dressed like a chicken?!”
Buzz: “Top that…trout-sniffer!”
Marv: “Suck brick, kid!!!”
Marv: “Wow…what a hole!” (Jace never missed this line!)
Kevin: “You guys give up…or are you thirsty for more?” Marv: “NEVER!!!”

Favorite Spongebob Episodes, Quotes & Moments: Spongebob Squarepants first aired in 1999…the year Jace was born. Kind of ironic, I guess. He and I pretty much lived for Spongebob over those first 6-7 years.

Dad’s Top 3 Favorite Episodes:
•Bubble Stand
•Opposite Day
•Squid’s Day Off

Jace’s Favorite Episodes:
•The Christmas Episode – I can’t tell you how many times we watched this videocassette when we were in Rochester over Christmas of ’03. We would sing the song from that episode every Christmas: “It’s shaping up to be a wonderful holiday. Not your normal, average, everyday…What do you want, can’t you see that I’m busy, step outside we’ve got something for you to see. This Christmas feels like the very first Christmas to me!”

•The episode where Spongebob takes in a seahorse and names her Mystery.
-Spongebob’s impression of Mystery: “Wee-saw!” Mr. Krabs response: “Well keep workin’ on it…that was terrible!”
-"Ohhh, I knew I should've named her Debbie!"

•Spongebob B.C.
-Jace could do the “weeping club” and all the “caveman talk” perfectly.

•“Fools In April”
-Spongebob and Squidward exchange April Fool’s pranks
Squidward: "April Fools...ya little sausage!!!"

•“The Sponge Who Could Fly” – One of the first songs Jace sang: “He’s flying, he’s flying, he’s really, really flying.” This became the song for our famous Friday Dance that I would do when Jace & Jenna got home from school on Fridays: “It’s Friday, Friday, it’s really, really Friday!” Jace would get EXTREMELY ticked if we started without him.

•RANDOM SPONGEBOB QUOTES:
Squidward: “That’s not art…that’s just annoying!”
Squidward: "Hurry it up Ginsburg, we don't have all night!"
Spongebob: “I’m sorry Grandmother, but the kissing has to stop. Kisses are for babies!”
Squidward: “Fu-ture….fu-ture….fu-ture!”
Barnacle Boy: “You made me come all the way down here in my underwear just to open a jar of mayonnaise!?”
Security Guard at Squidward’s new housing complex: “He’s not leaving, Orville!”
Spongebob: “This one time, I saw a guy…and he did this thing…well, anyway, he said ‘If you believe in yourself, all your dreams will come true.” Plankton: AAAHHH!
Lifeguard from the "Ripped Pants" episode: "HOLY FISHPASTE! IT'S A GUY!!!"

"DRAKE AND JOSH" FAVORITE MOMENT:
The episode where Crazy Steve asks Josh for some help at the theater. Josh says, “I’m not working tonight. Can you find somebody else?” Crazy Steve replies, “SURE! THANKS FOR NOTHING!!!” He proceeds to take Josh’s hot dog and throw it across the room. Jace could recite this entire scene perfectly…even down to the part where Crazy Steve holds the hot dog in front of Josh’s face before he whips it across the room.

OTHER ODDBALL MEMORIES:
*Arguing with Jace and Mom over the proper pronunciation of the La Quinta hotel in Rochester: I said “La Keenta” and Jacer would always say “La Kwinta”…it was very cute.

* On our trip to Colorado right before he passed, we were listening to The Catholic Guy (a Sirius Satellite radio program I like.) They were doing a segment called "What's Lino Whistling?" where the host, Lino Rulli, whistles a song (very poorly I might add) and the callers have to guess the song name. Jace told us that it was dumb (his subtle way of suggesting we put it back to the Kids Songs channel). After a few more minutes of whistling (and not a word from Jace), a hand appears holding a notebook. All it said was: "I am geting sik of this wisling!" Classic Jace!

* When we moved into our current home, we got Jace a headboard for his bed with shelves and compartments for all his "stuff"...notebooks, pens, "guys," cars, little things he would find, etc. I used to joke with him that he had plenty of space for "all his crap" now. He took a lot of pride in how much "crap" he had accumulated and would always say "I've got a bunch of crap in my bed!"

*Getting him ready for church or other special events. He always like to look good so we would spend quite a bit of time picking out the right clothes and then I'd plaster his hair with some hair spray and comb it so it spiked up in the front.

*Jace singing a song he learned in Bible School: "I don't wanna be a hyp-na-krit!"

*Getting excited when Fred Fredburger would make an appearance on "The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy." If you don't know who Fred Fredburger is, go to YouTube.com and enter his name in the search box: you won't be disappointed.

* Some of Jace's favorite Fred Fredburger quotes:
"Uh...don't you find the justice system fascinating?"
"Judge, NO, SHUT UP, judge, SHUT UP, judge, SHUT UP, judge...WHY WON'T YOU SHUT UP!!!???
"Um, I feel it's important that I get one of those hammer thingies."
(Reading from a piece of paper): "We the jury find the defendent...IN-NO-CENT..." "You IDIOT...that says GUILTY!!!"
"I need to make a poo-poo real bad!"
"Uh...where are the nachos?!" There ARE no nachos!

*SOME SONGS THAT JACE REALLY LIKED (that you wouldn't think a 9 year old boy would like):
- "Clocks"...Coldplay
- "If You Could Read My Mind" - Gordon Lightfoot
- "Babylon" - David Gray

- "I'll Fly Away"

A neat story about this song. We just found out from Jenna that on the Sunday before Jace went to heaven, while Tara and I were at church, Jace and Jenna held their own church service. They prayed, said a Hail Mary, and then Jenna cranked up "I'll Fly Away" on the computer. That was a little much for me to digest when I heard that.


-"Ring of Fire" - Johnny Cash (This became our blood draw song at the clinic uptown.)
-"Surrender" - Christafari (This is a Christian reggae song he liked: "Long is the road to Mt. Zion, strong are the arms that carry me there.")

Well, there you have it. I hope nobody got too offended. Are there things in this list that most parents wouldn't allow their kids to do? Yes. Do I regret it...not for a second. I have too many other regrets of how I fell short with Jace to worry about the ramifications of letting him watch the uncut version of Billy Madison.

The moments of overwhelming grief continue to sneak up on me when I least expect it. I miss him so much and miss the things above more and more every day. I continue to remind myself that he will one day soon have a new, incorruptible body and we will be reunited with him...free to relive these memories and spend eternity together.

From St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians:
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed...Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I'll see you again soon, Little Buddy...
Dad

ICXC NIKA

Sunday, November 16, 2008 8:38 PM CST

The picture above is from the YouTube clip featuring Jeremy Camp's "There Will Be A Day" that Tara recently posted. As I was on my way to Mass that Sunday morning, Jace was weighing heavily on my heart and mind. I asked him for his prayers on our behalf and asked Jesus to take good care of him and, if possible, for a sign that he was doing OK. I returned home later that morning to have Tara tell me to look at one specific picture from the YouTube clip (the picture you see above): a picture of a little boy being hugged and welcomed by Jesus, having just gotten out of his wheelchair. What really pierced my heart was the Golden Retriever sharing their joy. Even though Chipper is not living with us now, he still is a big part of our lives and this picture just cemented that. I was stunned (and ecstatic) that God had answered my prayer so quickly and provided this simple little picture to reassure me/us that Jace is indeed experiencing the indescribable joy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Lastly, this "wish list" is something I found on the Caringbridge site of a family who lost their son in March of this year. I was amazed at how accurately it portrayed how we feel and what we are experiencing. Thank you for all your ongoing support and love.

THE GRIEVING PARENT'S WISH LIST (Author unknown)

1. We wish you would not be afraid to speak our child's name. They lived and were important and we need to hear their name.

2. If we cry or get emotional if we talk about our child, we wish you knew that it isn't because you have hurt us; the fact that they have died has caused our tears. You have allowed us to cry and we thank you. Crying and emotional outbursts are healing.

3. We wish you wouldn't let our loved one die again by removing from your home his pictures, artwork, or other remembrances.

4. We will have emotional highs and lows, ups and downs. We wish that you wouldn't think if we have a good day our grief is over, or that if we have a bad day we need psychiatric counseling.

5. We wish you knew that the death of a child IS different from other losses and must be viewed separately. It is the ULTIMATE tragedy and we wish you wouldn't compare it to your loss of a parent, spouse, or a pet.

6. Being a bereaved person is not contagious, so we wish you wouldn't stay away from us.

7. We wish you knew all the crazy grief reactions that we are having are in fact very normal, depression, anger, frustration and hopelessness and the questioning of values and beliefs are to be expected following a death.

8. We wish you would not expect our grief to be over in six months. The first few years are going to be exceedingly traumatic for us. As with alcoholics, we will never be "cured" or a "formerly bereaved" but forever be "recovering" from our bereavement.

9. We wish you understood that the physical reaction to grief. We may gain weight, or lose weight, sleep all the time or not at all, develop a lot of illnesses and be accident prone, all of which are related to our grief.

10. Our child's birthday, the anniversary of his death, and the holidays are terrible times for us. We wish you would tell us that you are thinking about him on these days and if we get quiet and withdrawn just know that we are thinking about him.

11. We wish you understood that grief changes people. We are not the same people we were before our child died and we will never be that person again. If you keep waiting for us to get back to "our old selves" you will be frustrated. We are new creatures with new thoughts, dreams, aspirations, and values.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis
ICXC NIKA
John 3:30 "He must increase, I must decrease."

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 4:07 PM CST

O.K…..this one was hard. I’ve always enjoyed “messing” with photos. However, today when I was putting together a collage for Jenna’s list it hit me – there will never be anymore pictures of them together. It’s hard to think about it….
Jenna brought her typed list to me last night. She said it was helpful to write about Jace and the times they shared together. She put it all together by herself – even the ending.
Please feel free to share your memories with us, too. If you’re not comfortable with the guestbook, don’t hesitate to email them to us. Your memories mean so much to us, also.

Grab a tissue….

Jenna’s List

I miss:
• Him calling me ‘Sissy’
• His toes scraping my leg when we slept together ;-)
• Sleeping with him
• Constantly being asked, “Will you sleep with me?”
• Playing “Quick-man” – even at 11:00 P.M.
• Making TWO bowls of cereal in the morning
• Being yelled at for no reason :-)
• Being bossed around by him
• His cackle - the laugh
• Having to lay “B” on him – he wanted it just perfect.
• His LOUD voice
• Him telling me his head was ‘mishaped’
• Watching the Disney Channel with him
• Helping him get to the next level on his games
• Having Mario/Nintendo wars
• Staying home alone together
• Always knowing where he was
• Riding the scooter outside with him
• Listening to him smack his food with his mouth :-)
• Having to ‘check’ after a bathroom trip - wasn't I a good sister?? :-)
• Picking out his outfit for school or Sunday school - He loved clothes!
• Listening to him say, “Huh” when I would say something that he didn’t think was funny.
• Hearing him say, “Can we be friends now?” after we had a fight
• BROTHER & SISTER DAY!!!
• Him saying, “That was awesome, Jenna!” after we had done something fun
• Playing cooking show
• Taking care of him
• Hearing him say, “That is true”
• the weird sayings he would make up
• Having bands, shows, etc.
• Playing doctor…. I was always the patient!

I miss…
• Rubbing his back
• “bottle fingers” - what we called his fingers
• Having afternoon snacks when we got home from school
• Him playing my ringtones all the time
• Hearing him say, “Can I say it, Mom?” when he wanted to say a bad word. :-)
• Always having to talk in the car - Now, that’s all I want to do.
• Saying Hail Mary’s and The Lord’s Prayer together
• Listening and watching him pluck his eyelids….over and over again.
• Him telling me about all of his problems
• Making jokes about Grandma Sandy & Baxter ;-)
• Hearing him and Uncle Troy fight…. “No, you shut up!” :-)
• Him getting mad at me because he had to share the computer
• Cuddle time
• Playing games with him – there is too many to name
• How excited he’d get over the “little things”
• Seeing him run into my room yelling, “Nudey magazine day!” (from Billy Madison)
• Going on rides in the car
• “Guarding” while he hid behind the chair at Grandma’s house to call Mom
• Comforting him when he cried :-(
• Quoting movie lines back and forth – we knew a lot!
• Being told to “not ever give up the Holocaust” ( I never will, Buddy!)
• Him coming to my room and telling me, “he couldn’t sleep”
• Big, slobbery kisses….I miss those a lot!
• Naming every commercial we hated as we sat on the couch
• Laughing and playing together
• Spending all my money at the pool on sour gummy worms :-)
• Seeing his face when he saw me at school :’-(
• Getting ALL the details from his school day


I Miss…
• Doing all of his chores for him (I would happily do them again)
• The touch of his fingers running up and down my legs
• Watching him play with his fingers – he always did that!
• How he loved ‘being old’ and wearing Dad’s cologne
• Watching him play with his hair when it got too long
• How honest he was…. (for those of you that knew him….)
• How worked up he got over stuff
• Screaming in a pillow with him - to help him just..let it out!!
• How he never wanted to eat at the table
• How he listened to every detail of my day
• How he always left ‘one bite’
• Him calling all of my friends his ‘girlfriends’ – he loved them a lot!
• Listening to him sing
• Seeing all of his facial expressions when he sang
• How emotional he was
• How he didn’t ever get embarrassed
• Being told that I’m doing my part wrong ;-)
• Worrying about him
• How much he loved me – he told me and showed me all the time!
• Hearing the words, ‘I love you, Sissy!’ come from his mouth

As you can see, I miss my little brother a lot!!! This is definitely not everything I miss about him. I just ask that every person who reads this, that has a sibling, never take them for granted! I don’t get why my family and I can’t have these things anymore, but I bet I will when I finally get to hear, “I love you, Sissy.”

I love and miss you more than you’ll ever know, Jacer!
Hugs, Kisses, and Love, Sissy

Saturday, November 8, 2008 1:23 PM CST

Over the next couple of weeks, we are putting together a list of things that we each miss about Jace. Posting on Caringbridge is the best option for us, because it will be safe and we will always be able to find it. (I don’t trust our computer) We want to remember all the little things that made our relationship with him so special.
I have started making Jace’s journal entries (with pictures) into a book for Jenna to have for her family someday. I will probably finish it around next Christmas. It’s very time consuming – especially finding all the pictures. The list is a little long, but it was hard to keep it small ;-) Travis' list should be up soon and than Jenna.
So, feel free to read if you like…


Mommy's List:

I Miss…
* his chubby cute fingers
* touching his leg when I’m driving and talking with him in the car
* his hugs
* hearing his voice say, “Hi Mommy” after I said “Hey buddy”
*his cheeks… both sets ;-)
* how excited he would get when The Wiggles were on T.V. “Yeeeessss!!”
* how innocent he was….he always believed in everything…Santa, Easter Bunny,tooth fairy....
* seeing him wear his favorite clothes – black “priceless shorts” , NM “Class of 2018” shirt, puma socks and zip-up shoes
* the way he walked around with “B” (his blanket) since he was a baby
* how polite he was to others. He always said, “please and thank you” - even to his nurses AFTER they gave him a shot.
* the way he always left “one bite” of his food.
* our car rides around town
* how much he liked to play pretend
*how bossy he was ;-)
*his voice
* the way he performed…. He loved music of all kinds!
* how much he hated to “mess up” when he practiced his drums, wrote his letters, drew pictures, read books
* his laugh - the “cackle”
* the way he use to ask me to scratch his back. He would lay on his tummy and say, “ummm, mom…..please, would you…. You know….” He loved back rubs, too.
* seeing him draw
* Saturday mornings when he and I would be the only two up……just planning our day.
* Sunday mornings…. I would sit on the floor and read the paper - he would come down the stairs and plop down on my lap with “B” It’s something we’ve done since he was very little. (That first Sunday was so hard, buddy…still hate the Sunday paper ;-)
* hearing him get excited. He loved life and often yelled “This is the Life or This is Awesome!!”

I Miss…

* his shows that he put on for us……the many, many shows!
* crawling into bed with him – he would always tell me, “Mommy, I love how warm you are.”
* how he still said, “mommy” at 9 and he was always kissing and cuddling.
* the connections that we had with those that were a part of Jace’s life
* the stupid hospital crap, the appointments, the pills, the dumb Emla cream…etc.
* his nurses, child life girls, and doctors
* how he loved to know EVERY detail of our day - down to the minute!
* watching him eat Scooby Doo Snacks – especially the blue ones.
* hearing him get mad at me because I would sneak a couple of his corn nuggets
* the quirky things he would say and do
* his voice when he would laugh at himself and say, “Oh, man….that was funny.”
* watching him play his video games – he would get so mad when he lost and so happy when he moved to the next level.
* hearing him laugh, talk, scream, sing, and even, cry.
* his temper and how easily he would get annoyed
* how he said, “granoler bar” and “nackin” instead of the real words
* knowing that he is in his classroom in the elementary
* knowing where he is at ALL times
*taking care of him – even the bad stuff
* Toilet talk - some of our best conversations “So, mom what do you want to talk about?”
* shower time – we both loved really hot water!
* hearing him tell us that he would live with daddy and me forever – he didn’t want a job or a wife.
* all the memories that we had at the funeral home - it will always be his ‘home.’
* thinking about the fun summer times at the pool – eating sour gummy worms.
* hearing his voice say, “I love your hair in a ponytail, mom” ;-)
* hearing him say, “Mom, I’m bored”
*watching him and Jenna walk into the school. He would always turn around and hold up two fingers – our sign for “I love you, too”

I Miss…

* seeing him at recess when I drive home or knowing that he is playing Connect Four inside with Mrs. Goemaat – “I just love her…” ;-)
*seeing him and Jenna interact and enjoy life together
* the way he played with the front part of his hair
* the loudness that he brought to our house
* going to Caseys and getting a doughnut and a pop
* seeing him on the couch in his jammy pants - his “comfy” clothes
* the way that he would want to come to my room and tuck me in. Sometimes, coming back for just “one more kiss.”
* the way that he would say his prayers for “sweet dreams” , and The Lord’s Prayer
* cooking with him – pretending we were on a cooking show
* the way that he would call my cell numerous times when I was away from him ...just to talk.
*calling home to talk to him when I was driving… just to talk. (Dad and Jen, still don’t like to do that ;-)
* our special kiss – “normal, bonjour,nosers,monster, butterfly and regular”
*how he would say, “Mom, I’m going to sleep now” ….than he would
*his clammy hands….he didn’t like them.
*the way he said, “that is true.” So, cute!
*singing “Hush Little Baby” to him at bedtime or when he was upset.
*making him cream corn and cooked carrots
*the way he “plucked” his eyelids when he was tired.
*his dancing
* putting bubbly stuff in his ears – he loved that!!
* his voice calling me “Pat or Rita” “Thanks for the pats, Pat”
* him asking me “how do you fall asleep?”
* my “Jace blankie” - when he would lay on me and cuddle.
*making him toast with cinnamon and sugar He made me a card this summer that said, "Mom, you make the best toast!" ;-)
*calling him “Jacer” , “Yacer” or “Jacer the Eraser”

...I miss my little guy!!

Monday, November 3, 2008 9:38 PM CST

I'm a little late in posting this but I wanted to mention All Saints Day which was this past Saturday. All Saints Day is commemorated on the first of November as the Church honors all the saints, known and unknown. As I attended Mass this past Saturday evening, I had a special Saint in mind who I wanted to honor and remember. Our Little Buddy.

One thing Jace loved to do (and one that I did not do nearly as often as I should've) was have a scripture reading before bedtime. His favorite Bible story was of the plagues that God brought upon the Pharaoh in ancient Egypt. As I was driving home from work last week, it occurred to me that as a saint now dwelling in heaven, Jace might have access to a guy like Moses. This is how I saw it in my mind:

Jace: "Hey...are you that Moses guy from the front part of the Bible?"
Moses: "Yes, that's me. What's your name?"
Jace: "I'm Jace from New Sharon. I haven't been here very long but I just wanted to know something. You know those frogs and locusts and snakes and stuff? Was that real?"
Moses: "It was very real. They were everywhere, even in our beds. It wasn't a very pleasant time to be hanging out in Egypt."
Jace: "Cool. Did the river actually turn into blood?"
Moses: "Yes it did. No one could swim in the river for a week."
Jace: "I like to swim. Did you really paint your doorways with sheep's blood?"
Moses: "Yes we did. That was a terrible night."
Jace: "I think I kind of know what you're talking about."
Jace: "I have to go to band practice. I'll see you later."

It may not have happened EXACTLY like that but the thought of Jace actually getting to communicate with Moses about his favorite story in the Bible brought a smile to my face; and I'll take all of those I can get.

Thanks for remembering our little Saint.

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Monday, November 3, 2008 6:36 AM CST

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

This verse from the first chapter of Hebrews has given me great comfort...even before Jace's passing, but never more so than tonight. Many of you may have seen an astounding lunar halo visible in the sky; the giant ring around the moon that is supposedly a portent of bad weather. As I looked up at this perfect circle floating in the heavens, my mind kept visualizing a window, possibly a window through which Jace, for only a moment, was able to look down upon me, standing in my yard, insignificant and alone, looking back at him.

Whether this actually happens or not, we'll not know until we've made that journey ourselves. Scripture seems to tell us that those who have gone ahead are witnesses in the clouds above us. My heart longs for the day when I will be with my son once again and can look with him through that window in the heavens.

As the days grow shorter, the nights grow longer. Evenings were a fun time in our home; always together, laughing, sharing, cuddling in bed. Now, every picture I see of him pierces my heart like an arrow; I hear his voice in my sleep and wake to realize that it has vanished as quickly as he did. I walk by the closed doorway to his bedroom and am reminded that he is not there.

But, as the verse above reminds us, we MUST persevere; we MUST run the race. We must avoid the sin that entangles our lives and weighs heavily upon our hearts; we must climb out of the mire of self-pity and do God's work on earth so that one day, we will be witness to it ourselves; watching from the Kingdom of God.

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Thursday, October 30, 2008 2:11 PM CDT

The first Holiday will be here soon. Jace loved to plan his Halloween costume. The “firsts” are ahead of us – starting with trick or treating tomorrow night. I’m sure you look at us and think we are doing o.k. however we’ve figured out quickly how to put on a mask and pretend. Life is going on. It seems unfair, but it is happening. Thankfully, with God’s help, we are moving ahead slowly.

Everything I see reminds me of Jacer. When I am around others, I want to share those memories, but at times I can tell that it makes others uncomfortable. There is a hush that happens in a room when I bring up his name. At the same time, I do understand how they feel and I know that many times they just don't want to make us cry. After awhile, you figure out who are your “safe people” and tell them the same stories and memories over and over. We are blessed to have many caring people in our life who always listen.

We have almost survived October. Tears flow when I remember how excited Jace would have been to carve pumpkins and plan our Halloween supper together. Tears flow when I hear the kids talk about High School Musical – a movie that he would have loved so much. Tears flow when I hear that his classmates are going on field trips - he would have been so happy to go. This week, he would have spent a lot of time deciding what to wear for Red Ribbon Week . He loved special dress up days at school – especially pajama day. In Jace’s eyes, the week would have ended perfectly with a day off from school tomorrow. He loved days off because it meant that he could stay up as late as he wanted the night before and sleep in the next day.

Living in the moment was so empowering before Jace passed away. I wanted to make each moment with him and Jenna the best. We were not going to let cancer get the best of us – we were going to live. Yes, there were times when I would think about what was happening, but I didn’t want to waste our days like that. I realize now how much God was helping us through those days.

Now, we are also “living in the moment.” However, it hasn’t been empowering at all – it just stinks. There are smiles and laughs, but the emptiness we feel is so real. Our emotions are raw. We are different people. We are searching for a new normal. Our house has three now instead of four. Everything is different. It’s not what I wanted, but it’s what we have been given. Again, we look to God for help.

We have seen many “signs” from Jace throughout the last ten weeks and they come at just the right time. However, we are careful about sharing our “signs” – some just don’t understand. Earlier this week, I was driving home from school and felt a strong desire to stop by the cemetery. As I was walking, a hawk was soaring in the sky above me. There was a strange peacefulness that I felt at that moment. On my way back to the car, I looked down and saw a McDonald’s cheeseburger wrapper placed perfectly in the grass. If you remember the weather from Sunday, it was very windy. This was Monday…. I think someone wanted me to have a little reminder. McDonald’s cheeseburgers were Jace’s favorite food and it was the last thing he ate the night before he passed away. It was pretty appropriate. I hope it was a “cheeseburger with only ketchup” – the official Jace way.

November will be here soon and so will the the first snow …..exciting to most and heartbreaking to some families. Jace loved the first snow of the season. I will miss him a little more on that day.

God Bless, Tara




Dear Jacer,
Happy Halloween! Last year you had so much fun dressing up as a Rabbi (from a Drake and Josh show.) We wonder what you would have been this year? I think that you would have been Greg Wiggle since you got a shirt like him this summer. I’m sure you would have changed your mind a couple times. It helps to know that you have never liked all the scary stuff that comes with Halloween. You never went through the Halloween aisle at Wal-Mart. You had no desire to see any of those really bad mask. Remember the time dad put one on and scared you? Boy, we do!! You were ticked off and let us all know it! I know trick or treating got long and many years you were too tired to really appreciate it. However, you did a good job walking with us. You really didn’t like it when Jenna’s friends would get to the door before you and yell, “Trick or Treat.” Man, that would make you mad. Jenna was reminding me of a fun memory from last year’s trick or treating. You wanted to go to Mrs. Schilling’s house sooo bad ….you pumped yourself up. I remember you walking out of her garage yelling, “Yes………. I did it!!!! That was awesome!” You had always wanted to attempt the Schilling house, but had never had the nerves to do it. I’m glad you had that memory and realized it that it wasn’t too scary. Mrs. Schilling would have been your teacher this year. I can’t imagine how much you would have been talking to her about what what her house would have been like this Halloween . You would have wanted to know every detail. The best part of that memory is that you accomplished your goal with Sissy! She loves those memories, too. She misses you a whole bunch. Help her each day, buddy. We love and miss you! XXXOOO

Sunday, October 12, 2008 10:51 PM CDT

Good evening, everyone...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

This verse from the first chapter of Hebrews has given me great comfort...even before Jace's passing, but never more so than tonight. Many of you may have seen an astounding lunar halo visible in the sky; the giant ring around the moon that is supposedly a portent of bad weather. As I looked up at this perfect circle floating in the heavens, my mind kept visualizing a window, possibly a window through which Jace, for only a moment, was able to look down upon me, standing in my yard, insignificant and alone, looking back at him.

Whether this actually happens or not, we'll not know until we've made that journey ourselves. Scripture seems to tell us that those who have gone ahead are witnesses in the clouds above us. My heart longs for the day when I will be with my son once again and can look with him through that window in the heavens.

As the days grow shorter, the nights grow longer. Evenings were a fun time in our home; always together, laughing, sharing, cuddling in bed. Now, every picture I see of him pierces my heart like an arrow; I hear his voice in my sleep and wake to realize that it has vanished as quickly as he did. I walk by the closed doorway to his bedroom and am reminded that he is not there.

But, as the verse above reminds us, we MUST persevere; we MUST run the race. We must avoid the sin that entangles our lives and weighs heavily upon our hearts; we must climb out of the mire of self-pity and do God's work on earth so that one day, we will be witness to it ourselves; watching from the Kingdom of God.

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Saturday, October 4, 2008 4:38 PM CDT

Another beautiful day.... and we miss our Jacer more and more each day.






"This author describes the death of a child to an experience he had as a young boy, watching fireworks with his mother. He was so awed by the beauty of the fireworks that he unknowingly wandered away from his mother. She spent a desperate 10 minutes trying to find him, shouting and screaming his name, fear tearing her apart. And just as he turned to say, "Mommy, look at that one!" she appeared around the corner. For her, the separation was agonizing; for him, it was as if those 10 minutes simply didn't exist, he was so absorbed in the glory before him."

Friday, September 19, 2008 9:47 PM CDT

Good evening, everyone...

It's hard to believe that an entire month has gone by since our son went to Heaven. The emptiness that continues to encompass our home is unbearable at times. I find it more difficult each day to look at pictures of him as the physical pain is becoming too much to handle. Our lives (and Tara's more than anyone) centered around him so much that it sometimes is hard to find purpose in this new chapter that has begun. Tara has gone back to work this week and although it helps somewhat to keep her mind occupied, the emptiness of our home is even more noticeable when she gets home.

I wanted to take a moment to clear up a misconception that's been brought to my attention. I am not angry that this happened. Nor is Tara. Since December 17th, 2003, somewhere deep in our minds, we have been preparing for this to happen. We have grieved much in that time but never have I felt angry at God for allowing my son to suffer or for taking him home to Heaven. I have feelings of overwhelming sadness interspersed with the occasional "good day," but no anger. If I call myself a follower of Christ, then I must be a devoted follower of Christ during good times AND in bad times. My son's death doesn't change the fact that Jesus is still worthy and deserving of my praise and that I am called (and desire) to worship Him, serve Him and bring Him glory. This doesn't make me a "super-Christian" nor am I better than anyone else, I just feel that it is what I (and all of us) are called to do.

Back in February, I posted the lyrics to a MercyMe song called "Bring The Rain" and I think it deserves to be posted again. Being bitter and falling away from my faith when things don't seem fair goes against everything I believe. I'm certainly not happy that my son is gone...but regardless of what's happened, Jesus is still Jesus...and He's still the Lord of my life.

MercyMe - "Bring The Rain"

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain you who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me whats a little rain


I also wanted to let everyone know that we are in the very beginning stages of Jace's memorial. We will be meeting with the Prairie Knolls Country Club here in New Sharon to discuss the details of the playground and picnic area to be constructed by the swimming pool in memory of Jace. This was Jace's favorite hangout and we want to create something that kids and their families can enjoy for years to come. A memorial fund has been established to create this lasting tribute to our son.

Lastly, we most likely won't be updating this site as often as we use to simply because each entry will probably look pretty similar to the one before it...we miss our son. Tara, Jenna and I are so appreciative of the cards, emails, texts, phone calls and visits from everyone. We are so fortunate to live in this loving, caring community surrounded by people who loved Jace...almost as much as we did! ;-)

Thank you all for checking in,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 10:02 AM CDT

Tuesdays will never be the same….the 19th of the month will forever be in our hearts. It’s the day that both of my babies took their first breath (June and February) and the day that one of my babies took his last breath here on Earth. Going through this illness, has given us many dates that we have embedded in our minds. The 17th of December – first diagnosis; the 12th of June – relapse; 12th of February – news that the cancer had spread and there was no cure and the 19th of August when our Doctor told us that ‘his fight is coming to end and it will be tonight.’ A piece of my heart broke on each of those dates and every year I will remember what happened at that time. You can’t forget those days and yet I pray that someday the pain will lessen.

Last night, Jenna played her first Volleyball game of the season and to be truthful I wanted to stay at home on my couch, but I knew that wasn’t right and I went. I can’t describe how painful it was to walk into that school and know that Jace will never be walking or dancing in the halls of NM again. I could picture him as a kindergarten student dancing before school in the lobby with Mrs. Does, or smiling and waving at me when I would meet him in the hallway , or standing with his class in line as they waited for lunch. Never again…. It broke my heart. It was all I could do to sit and watch that game with my “game face” on. As soon as we got in the car, Travis and I just lost it and mourned for what will never be. Next week, I return to school to teach and pray that I make it through each day. I’m excited to get back to the kids, but nervous also.

Thank you for your comments on the guestbook. I did not mean to come across as a “supermom” because I am not. Jace helped me become the mom I was and now I have to continue that pattern with Jenna. I haven’t been a great mom to her right now; I’m just thankful she has a great dad that has kept things going around the house. My prayer is that all parents might hug a little more, play a little more, and not ‘sweat the small stuff.’

Today, I think I will leave the house. It seems like such an easy thing, but its not. Everywhere I want to go - has memories of Jacer . I know that in time we will smile at the memories instead of cry. I’m excited for that day, also.

Thanks for your prayers, support, yummy meals, encouraging phone calls, text messages, guestbook entries,cards - we are blessed to live in such a great place.

Tara

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 2:23 PM CDT

Hi everyone it’s me…Tara. Today feels like a good day to journal some random thoughts and express my thanks to everyone. I am doing o.k. – I’m sad, but doing o.k. I get up and I shower (sometimes) and get through the day. Jace never loved school. He loved socializing, he loved his teachers and friends, but he didn’t love the work. In the mornings, he would get up and I would say, “Choose your day, bud. We have to go and you can either be miserable or happy.” (He was always fine once we got there.) I find myself saying the same thing, “Choose your day, Tara” As you go through grief, it takes every ounce of effort to do anything…and I mean anything. It would be easy to lie in bed and be sad all the time, but it doesn’t help. Some days are good and some are bad – the waves of emotion are unpredictable. Thanks to your prayers…I survive.

For the past 4 ½ years, we knew this could happen. In February, we were told that there wasn’t anything else they could do to stop Jace’s tumors. The grieving process started than….. I have no regrets. Jace lived life to the fullest and never complained, “why me?” We went on trips, we cuddled in bed, we skipped school for McDonalds :-), we went to the park, we took long drives and played “pretend teenager”, we swam at the pool (and I even got my hair wet), we ate doughnuts all the time and Diet Mt.Dew for breakfast, we went to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night, we parassailed over the ocean, we let Jace drive the car in the school parking lot :-), the list goes on and on….. but most of all, we said, “I love you” and cuddled more times in a day than I can count. In February, I started a journal and wrote all the cute things Jace said or did in a day. I treasure that journal now. It has things written in it that I would have forgotten. On Aug. 17th, I had written, “I don’t know what is going on, but Jace wants to cuddle and keeps telling us how much he loves us ALL the time. It is so cool. I love that boy!” Two days later and he was gone. Did he know??

There is a void in our house that is hard to fill. Jace required a lot of attention and we often gave him the nickname, “Mr. High Maintenance.” (especially as a screaming baby!) We just miss him and it’s hard to believe that he’s gone. He was sent here for a purpose and boy, did he do his job. He made me a better mommy. He made me not take one moment for granted. His faith was strong and he trusted God in all times. I remember this summer when we had taken Jenna and her friends to the water park in Waterloo. We got stuck in a locker area during a bad storm. At one point, the lightening struck close. Jace grabbed the girls and I and made us get in a circle. He started praying for our safety. I remember at first being a little embarrassed and than in awe of his faith. He didn’t care who was watching – he was going to pray right there. I learned a lot from my child and my prayer is that his story lives on forever and ever.

For the last 5 years, I was “Jace’s mom” and spent my days dealing with his illness. It was a full time job preparing medicine, scheduling appointments, going to scans, researching treatments and doctors, spending days and nights in the hospital, blood draws, countless hours in the car, worrying over results, and on and on and on. We formed a tight bond. A part of me is missing now and I will forever deal with it. He will always be a part of me and our family.

Because I was so focused on Jace, there is a special girl that was left out sometimes. Jenna is truly the strength of our family. Jace loved her so much and she loved him back. They had a strong bond and she helped him more than anyone will ever realize. On the night he passed away, we knew he was failing fast and that our time was limited. However, we told him that Jenna was on her way and he held on for her. She was able to tell him goodbye, love on him, and sing to him his favorite songs. After that….he was gone. It’s something she will have with her forever. She has had to deal with grown up issues that will forever change who she is. (And by the way, she's convinced that’s she’s going to be a pediatric oncology nurse. She’ll be a great one!)

Thanks for reading my ramblings and for praying for us. His memories are everywhere and I find that it’s the “little things” that are hard to deal with: The Scooby Doo fruit snacks in the cupboard, the favorite shirt, the shoes that sit in our bedroom, the Spongebob lunchbox that he proudly picked out for this school year, the corn dogs in the freezer, the toothbrush (even though he hated brushing his teeth)…. The list goes on and on.

I wish there was a camera in Heaven, so I could see him and just make sure that he’s doing o.k. Travis pictures him at band practice in Heaven playing the drums. I picture him playing with the kids (especially Brant) swinging from the monkey bars. He always wanted to be able to do that! I know that some questions will never be answered until I come face to face with our Creator. I can’t wait for that meeting…. My chubby cheek boy will be there ready to give me one of his bear hugs and smooshy kisses! I miss those…

Jacer, we love you and we miss you so much. Keep giving us signs and watch over our family. Love ya buddy, mommy xoxoxoxo






****Slideshow is still on the journal history ****

Monday, September 1, 2008 9:28 AM CDT

UPDATE:

Tara and I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by the cemetery to visit Jace and write in the notebook. We can't tell you how comforting it is to know that people haven't forgotten about our little guy.

We've put some new pictures on the "View Photos" page. The first two are of the beautiful monuments to Jace that were made by Bonnie De Jong and her outstanding staff at De Jong Manufacturing here in New Sharon. It is very comforting to visit Jace's grave and have these beautiful tributes to his life there.

The last photo is kind of hard for us to fathom. It is Jace doing what he did best...laying on the couch playing his Nintendo DS, but it was taken one week before he passed. He looks so perfect and full of life; it makes it hard to believe that he's actually gone.

We're still struggling greatly with the void left in our home. Jenna is staying very busy with school activities and I will be going back to work tomorrow. I'm very concerned about Tara being here by herself all day. Please pray for her that she would be strengthened and find some sort of peace.

Thank you ALL for your continued support and love. We love our community!

God's peace to you this week,
Travis

______________________________________________________________


Good evening, everyone...

It's hard to believe that it was one week ago tonight that our little boy went home. The week has gone by quickly thanks to our wonderful friends who continue to call and visit. We have made many trips to the cemetery and have noticed that others have done so as well. It is a GREAT comfort to us to know that we aren't the only one's who visit our son's grave. Our sincere thanks to those of you who take time out of your day to stop by to keep Jace company.

We were at the cemetery twice today and were hoping for a sign of Jace's presence with us. We weren't so lucky today and Tara wondered if Jace was "busy." I suggested that today may have been Orientation day for Jace (and any other new arrivals) and that might have been the reason for the lack of any signs. It gave us a nice little laugh.

Tara and I spent part of the day going through memorial cards and gifts. We were amazed at the number of cards and the generosity of our New Sharon family and our family outside our community. We are excited to begin the process of planning the playground area in memory of Jace and have been thinking about an annual event in Jace's memory that might be held at the pool each year.

The silence in our home is almost unbearable at times. One of Jace's many nicknames was Loudmouth Louie and those of you who hung around him much know exactly why we called him that! ;-) He was Tara's "talk buddy" and she is having a hard time adjusting to the silence (Jenna and I aren't exactly known for our constant talking around here!) Please pray for strength for our family, especially Tara, as we try to come to grips with our loss. We miss him so much...

Thank you for checking in,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Sunday, August 24, 2008 9:18 PM CDT

******
Here is the slideshow that was shared at Jace's funeral. Thanks for sharing his life with us....


" >


Good evening, everyone...

Tara and I would like to offer our deepest and most sincere thanks to EVERYONE who came to share our sorrow on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The overwhelming amount of people that came through the doors of the Rock Center was almost too much to comprehend but was quite a tribute to our son.

We would also like to thank one of my closest friends and trusted colleagues, Brent Ouellette, from Ankeny Funeral Home for his outstanding, personal service to our family and for making Jace look so nice. Also, our thanks to the funeral home staff and to the "special" staff members who assisted with the service. Everything was perfect!

Having been a funeral director for the past 15 years, I've been to A LOT of special funerals but I think this one might have been the most appropriate service I've ever witnessed. Jace would've LOVED the praise band and the slide show... (although he might've been a little annoyed that he couldn't understand the lyrics to Ave Maria! ;-)

At the risk of leaving someone out, Tara and I would also like to thank all the musicians of the praise band and the P.R.O.S. "choir" (you all sounded great!), our clergymen for their words of comfort and heartfelt tributes to Jace, Bruce Peiffer and Marlene Smith for the most beautiful rendition of the Ave Maria I've ever heard, our friend Renee McCulley for the powerpoint slideshow, the New Sharon U.M.W. for a wonderful meal, the Rock Center for hosting the service, Bonnie De Jong and the entire staff at De Jong Manufacturing for the BEAUTIFUL family cross and Superhero monuments to place at his grave site, the Watts Vault Co. for their generosity and kindness as we laid our son to rest, everyone who sent floral tributes or contributed to Jace's memorial fund, and to our friends who came over to the house to visit or help out (sorry about messing things up again at 2 AM on Thursday! ;-)

God granted me the strength to speak at the funeral and I had a couple of people tell me that it wasn't too bad...one even thought I should share it with everyone here on Caringbridge, so, for what it's worth, here is the eulogy entitled "A Flair For The Dramatic" I wrote for my son:

Before I begin, I feel compelled to share something about Jace with all of you that you may not know. We all have our private little “indulgences,” if you will, and even though Jace was a pretty strong Christian, I’ve never seen a kid as fascinated with the use of mild profanity than he was! I’m just going to assume that it was a by-product of spending so much time with his Mother. Now you couldn’t use any of the “Big Daddy” words around Jace as that would bring a swift rebuke from him; but the occasional use of words synonymous with say...donkeys, or a place of eternal torment or structures used to hold back rivers would most generally elicit the famous “thigh slap” that Jace did when he thought something was REALLY funny.

I also wanted to take a moment to clear up what’s most likely a topic of conversation for any of you who’ve read the folders. Am I the only one who’s ever heard of a MOTTIGATED PALLBEARER??? Here’s the story: Jac Munson has been one of Jace’s best buddies for a long time. And like Jace, Jac has what I would call a unique, even quirky, personality. While visiting Jace in the hospital last year, Jac & Ralphi returned from the cafeteria with their lunch. I asked Jac what he had and he said, “I got ham and cheese on a mottigated roll” and he said it like he was telling me it was wheat or rye or some other type of bread that anyone should know. To the best of my knowledge, "mottigated" is not an official part of the English language but it is now part of our vocabulary...hence, Jac’s title of "Mottigated Pallbearer" for today’s ceremony.

What a 9 & 1/2 years it’s been, though. Years full of love, joy, pain, suffering…and drama. Jace’s dramatic departure from this world this past Tuesday somehow reminded me of his dramatic entrance into this world on that wintery February day in 1999. I’m going to be a bit graphic here just to illustrate a point (and my apologies to Dr. Laura Ferguson if she’s here today!) but when Jace came into this world, the first thing I noticed was the blood that sprayed out on to Dr. Laura’s glasses...almost like a blast of confetti! What an entrance! From his first minute on this planet, Jace had a flair for the dramatic. Sometimes he tediously planned it out, step by step, word by word...without deviation (right, Jenna?) And sometimes it happened on it’s own due to some extenuating circumstance that, in his mind, should never have happened (such as laughing at "inappropriate times"...right, Jenna?) and would usually end with him screaming into a pillow.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Jace called me at my office to tell me of the big plans that were in the works at home. I was to let him know when I got back to town (but I knew that, like his mother, he’d call me several times during my commute anyway so he’d know just how much time he had.) As I walked up the stairs, he had me wait until everything was just right. When he finally let me in, I saw the culmination of all his work: a birthday party...but for no one and no reason in particular! Signs taped to the wall, singing in the air, a special meal, and a cheesecake that he had made all by himself (which was actually very good!) Looking back now, Tara and I realize how poignant that moment was. Perhaps it was a party to celebrate the coming birth of his new body...one he now occupies that is free of tumors, that can run just like the other kids, and one that does not condemn him to a life of trials, challenges and pain.

As parents, we all have regrets...those little things we wish we would or wouldn’t have done. I have a nice list of them, too. But my biggest regret is that I didn’t get him his drum set earlier in his life. I’ll never forget the day we got them for him. We had just found out the crushing news that his tumor was growing and there were new spots on his spine so of course we went to drown our sorrows at Toys ‘R Us in Rochester. I told Jace "anything in the store, Bud, just name it." It didn’t take him long to spot the drums! Two days later, Tara called me at my office and said, "Listen." I hear the opening drum beat from the Hannah Montana theme song played in perfect rhythm and perfect tempo. My first question to Tara was, "did Bruce come over and teach him that?" She said, "No, he just did it on his own." I was absolutely amazed and so proud of him but my heart just sank as I realized that this talent had gone untapped until now...when I felt like we were entering the last leg of the race. What a showman, though...a definite flair for the dramatic. He followed up this opening act with a wonderful and unexpected performance for his Lord on a very special Easter Sunday. During Saturday’s rehearsal, our normal drummer was unable to be there so Tara said to Jace, “Hey buddy, you wanna come up and play?” Duh. Did you really need to ask, Mom? I wasn’t sure how this would go but thought, let’s give it a try. We broke into “Hallelujah, Jesus Is Alive” and the kid didn’t miss a beat! I was dumbfounded. I was also now aware how difficult it is to play the bass guitar when you’re trying to keep from crying like a baby! What a dramatic day. It got even better on the morning of our Lord’s resurrection. For our last song, Jace came around behind the piano (unnoticed by most of the congregation) and took his seat behind the drums. We started into the song, and once we finally all got together, it was pure worship. The first time I got to play in praise band with my son was Easter Sunday...what a fantastic day! The best part was all the people who told me that they didn’t realize it was Jace that was playing until about halfway through the song. What a flair for the dramatic!

Where Jace always impressed me the most, though, was his faith. He would occasionally express it in words but it was his actions that spoke louder than anything. Many of you know that whenever the praise band would play, Jace would be groovin’ in his pew, either doing the appropriate choreography and many times making up his own. At first I thought he was trying to draw attention to himself (he liked attention, right Jenna?) But it soon became apparent that he was “in the zone” to coin a sports phrase. His utter disregard for what anyone else thought of him always amazed and inspired me. He was simply worshiping our Lord the only way he knew how. Sacred scripture is not without its dancers. I thought it somewhat ironic that Ecclesiastes 3:4 combines these aspects of life: “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” And, perhaps even more ironically, the final Psalm (150), entitled “Hallelujah” reads: “Give praise with tambourines and dance, praise him with flutes and strings. Give praise with crashing cymbals, praise him with sounding cymbals.” (Crashing cymbals…does that sound familiar? ;-) Jace’s final Psalm was filled with dancing and singing even just last Friday night. He put on a Wiggles show for us complete with the outfit he wears today, singing, dancing and of course, the appropriate choreography! He was in his element...spotlights on, music playing and a flair for the dramatic.

Jace left us quickly on Tuesday. So quickly that the void left in our home and in our hearts seems impossible to fill. Even with faith comes questions and doubt. In her grief, Tara’s concern was that our little boy had made it to heaven safely and that he wasn’t alone. All day Wednesday and into Thursday we prayed for a sign. As she was going through the pictures you’ve seen here today, she came across one of a sign that had been made by some friends and hung on our door, awaiting our return from Rochester. It simply said, “Welcome Home, Jace.”


Thank you for checking in,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Thursday, August 21, 2008 12:13 PM CDT

Good morning, everyone...

Just a note of thanks to everyone who continues to stop by, send food and other items, call and pray for us. We don't know how we would cope with this without all of your support.

Something interesting happened this morning. Tara has been hoping for a sign that Jace arrived safely in the Kingdom of God. While going through pictures this morning, we came across one of a sign made by some friends that hung on our door when we got back from Mayo last year. It simply said: "Welcome Home, Jace."

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

If you need information on the funeral service, you can click the "Journal History" link above and see it there or, you can go to www.mem.com (Ankeny Funeral Home's tribute site), enter Jace's name and see the obituary, a photo album and the guestbook there.

Lastly, Tara and I have decided to use Jace's memorial contributions to creating a playground area at the Prairie Knolls swimming pool. This was Jace's favorite summer hangout and right now, they don't have anything like that for the kids to enjoy. We think Jace would approve! ;-)

Since we would like to give back to the kids and the community in memory of Jace, Tara and I would respectfully ask that you consider a memorial donation rather than a floral tribute.

Thank you all so much!
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:41 AM CDT

Good morning, everyone...

Tara, Jenna and I are absolutely overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and concern being shown to us today. The void left in our hearts is indescribable and almost doesn't seem real. It's as if we expect him to come trudging up the stairs any minute to plop down on the couch, crack open a Diet Mountain Dew and watch The Wiggles. Things happened so quickly yesterday that it's hard to comprehend that he's gone but in a sense it was also a blessing in that his suffering was minimal.

We are planning his service today and the information is listed below. Tara and I would like to thank all of you who have called, emailed or stopped by; and for those of you who continue to pray for strength. We couldn't do this without you.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 23rd at the Rock Center in New Sharon (across the street from the Assembly of God). Interment will follow at Friends Cemetery in New Sharon.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 PM Friday evening, August 22nd, also at the Rock Center here in New Sharon. In lieu of flowers, the Jace L. Carrico Memorial Fund has been established which will go towards a permanent memorial site within the community that will benefit children for years to come.

Arrangements are being taken care of through Ankeny Funeral Home. They can be reached at (515) 964-4674. They also have a memorial website on which you can view service information, a photo gallery or sign an online guestbook at:

www.mem.com

Just put his last name in the search box along the left side.

Thank you all so much!
Travis

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 7:53 PM CDT

On Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 7:30 PM, our Jace went to his eternal rest with his Savior Jesus.

We love you Jace and will see you again some day.

Tara and I would like to thank everyone for your prayers and love.

Travis

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 3:44 PM CDT

Good afternoon, everyone...

Jace has taken a turn for the worse this morning. He has lost feeling/control below his chest and can't walk or move his arms. The tumor has apparently compressed the spinal cord enough to start causing problems.

Instead of going to Iowa City for our radiation treatments, we came up to Des Moines where they started him on a steroid to control the swelling in his spinal cord and are planning a treatment of emergency radiation tomorrow morning. Jace will be having a CT scan later this afternoon in preparation for that procedure.

Jace can't speak right now and we're not sure if it's the tumor or the sedative. We would appreciate your prayers for comfort and relief for Jace and for strength for all of us to deal with the situation.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 7:07 AM CDT

Good morning, everyone...

Jace has not had a good weekend. We have gotten his pain somewhat under control, meaning it has not been as bad as it was last Friday morning. However, except for a couple of trips to the couch, he has not been out of bed since then. He has eaten very little and I think he's getting dehydrated as he has trouble urinating. The morphine may have been harder on his body than we thought. This morning when Tara tried to take him to the bathroom, he was unable to walk. We of course don't know why this is but your prayers would be very much appreciated.

We will be leaving for Iowa City at around 9 AM this morning to begin radiation. I'm going to guess that he's not going to handle a 1 hour car ride very well. If this is the case, Tara will most likely stay with him in Iowa City over the next few weeks.

Thank you all for your prayers that Jace would be strengthened and restored as much as possible to endure the coming weeks of treatments.

God's peace to you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Friday, August 15th, 2008 4:30 PM

UPDATE:

After a long night and early morning of intense back and neck pain, we headed to Des Moines today. Our doctors felt that most of the pain is caused from all the time he spent yesterday lying flat on his back during his three scans. Three doses of morphine today got Jacer feeling much better though, just in time for his blood transfusion! ;-) As of 4:30 PM, we're still waiting up in the Pediatric ICU for his blood to arrive so it will be a while before we get out of here.

Ironically enough, Jace was elated to get back into a hospital bed. His first remark was "this is the life!" When I left the room, he was playing the Wii and perusing the room service menu for supper tonight. Tara and I are just glad to see him feeling better.

As always, thanks for your prayers.
Travis
ICXC NIKA



UPDATE: Thursday, August 14th, 2008 9:00 PM

After a LONG day in Iowa City, we are home this evening. Jace had two MRI's and a CT scan in preparation for the upcoming radiation treatments which are scheduled to start on Tuesday the 19th. He is having some severe neck pain this evening and Tara & I are fairly certain it's more than just a musculo-skeletal problem now. Your prayers for his comfort would be most appreciated as we look forward to Tuesday and trying to reduce the growth in his spine and hopefully alleviate his pain.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers today!

Travis
ICXC NIKA


Tuesday, August 12, 2008 3:39 PM CDT

Well, it looks like the updating is up to me. Travis' humor will have to come later.

I'm sure you know by now that we headed to Colorado. It's a trip that we have always wanted to do as a family and decided it was a good time to head West. Here are a few of our highlights from the week:


Enjoying priceless family time in the car together (30 hours total). Jace doesn't sleep and doesn't stop talking - just like mom. Travis and Jenna could drive across the U.S. without speaking. Drives Jace and I crazy!! I'm sure Travis and Jenna could say the same thing :-)



Seeing the beauty of the mountains at Rocky Mountain National Park and enduring a 20 minute hail storm on the drive up the mountain!! Look at the clouds in the background...




Picking the perfect spot to have a picnic - only to be interrupted by Miss Elk. "Kids run to the car, please!"




Sharing great memories on a boat ride in Dillon. (Jace must have said something pretty funny!)
Don't tell Jenna I put this picture on....she is going into 7th grade :-) It's just so cute!


We had a great time together. After Dillon, we drove back to Omaha for the night and enjoyed the S.A.C. Museum and the Omaha zoo. It made the trip complete. Later, I'll post some more pictures on the photo album.

Jace is still doing well. Jenna is at Sibling Camp, so he has kept me busy at home. Yesterday, we had a picnic and than planned a birthday party. We made decorations (even had balloons) and a cheesecake with candles. We're not sure who's birthday it was yesterday, but we had fun putting together a party for someone. So, if it was your birthday....Happy Birthday!

Jace will have another MRI on Thursday at the University of Iowa. We will also meet with the radiologist and hopefully set-up radiation soon. We have been speaking with various doctors and we ask that you pray for our direction. I could go into more details, but today we are focusing on the great memories of our trip! As always, your prayers are still needed...

Thanks for your continued prayers and support!
The Carrico's

Friday, August 1, 2008 3:04 PM CDT

Saturday, August 9th
We are home...more to come on that later from Travis. It was what we needed at this time - to just get away. Next week, we meet with the radiologist, have another MRI, and meet with an oncologist that will explain a new treatment option that is possible for us.

Today, a group of parents from the Des Moines area (Club HOPE) are having a Alex's Lemonade Stand in the Des Moines and Altoona areas. I know it's a little far for us....but you can help by giving a donation to help find a cure. You can make a difference...

www.firstgiving.com/alsfdesmoines

****




Good afternoon, everyone...

Tuesday's MRI of Jace's cervical vertebrae that we had done in conjunction with his neck pain has revealed very distinct progression of the tumor in his spinal cord. This further growth has caused his cord to noticeably expand in a couple of different places. This is obviously not good.

We weren't planning on hearing any news of the tumor as we told our Dr. that we just wanted to know about the stability of his vertebrae but, nonetheless, we were informed of the new growth which has obviously put a big damper on things around here.

Jace is still the same kid he was before we found out about this and continues to do well. We are looking into some radiation treatments to reduce the short-term tumor growth but our Mayo oncologist reiterated that it would not be effective long-term.

We're going to try and take one more family trip with Jace before school starts and before any complications or symptoms set in. Your prayers for strength (his AND ours ;-) would be most appreciated.

Thank you all so much!
Travis
ICXC NIKA



Sunday, August 3rd
We're doing o.k. and just enjoying each moment together. I've included a slide show, so you can see how great Jace is doing. A little tired...but still feeling great. Please keep the prayers coming! We're out of here tomorrow....see you on Saturday night!

Monday, July 28, 2008 3:20 PM CDT

Thank you for all of your prayers. The last couple of days have been great for Jace and he's back to his old self. We only give him the muscle relaxers at night and try to stay ahead of the pain with Tylenol. He is a different kid this week - I'm convinced it's because of your prayers!

We had a fun weekend in Illinois. Saturday night, Grandpa had a group of musicians come over and they played most of the night. Jace got to sit in on "Born to Be Wild." He loved it! The above picture is during the song.

Some of you have asked when Jace will have his next MRI. (Tomorrow will only be a small section of the spine.) Our Doctor asked us if we wanted the complete MRI done tomorrow and we chose not to. He told us that regardless of the results the chemo plan would stay the same. Jace's bone marrow is his biggest obstacle right now because it limits the type of chemo he can handle. We still are searching and praying for the right answer. Right now,what we are doing is working and looking at Jace shows me that God is taking care of him. He is doing well - against all the odds. I don't need an MRI right now to show me that.
However, when the time is right, we will be having additional radiation to the brain and spine. A complete MRI will be very important when that time comes.

Thanks for stopping by and checking on Jace. We appreciate your prayers!

In Christ,
Travis, Tara, Jenna and Jace


Please continue to pray for all of the cancer kids. They need your prayers each and every day!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 9:55 PM CDT

***Friday, July 25th ***

Please say a little prayer for Jace. The pain in his neck has been pretty intense lately. The muscle relaxers help, but also make him tired and a little loopy :-) Wednesday night, he was just sick of it and said, "I hate this - I don't want it to hurt. Stupid tumor." It broke my heart. We are suppose to go to Illinois today to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's 40th anniversary. We've told him he can stay home, but he wants to go so bad and party with everyone. Being around everyone might be the best medicine yet. So...we will go!

A day at the clinic is always eye - opening. A cure needs to be found! I think many of you would be shocked to know how many kids are dealing with this dreaded disease. Young babies to teenagers....it's just not right.

Here's the latest news from CureSearch (www.curesearch.com):

July 17, 2008 (Bethesda, MD) – CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation salutes the United States Senate for its passage of the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, which promises to significantly increase federal investment into childhood cancer research.

The bill authorizes $30 million annually over five years, providing funding for collaborative pediatric cancer clinical trials research, to create a population-based national childhood cancer database, and to further improve public awareness and communication regarding available treatment and research for children with cancer and their families.

It's a move in the right direction - Praise God! However, I read on Regan's page (thanks for the info, Lisa) that last year $551.1 million was spent on breast cancer research and awareness.

We owe these children more, don't we?

************



Good evening, everyone...

Today we took Jace to see Dr. Al Zein in hopes of determining the cause of his acute neck pain. He's been having sharp pain right in the area where the new tumor growth is occurring in his spine but we had been told that the tumor shouldn't be causing him pain but would manifest itself neurologically in the form of decreased use of his hands.

Today Dr. Al Zein seemed very confident that the pain is musculo-skeletal in nature and is most likely a post-operative condition stemming from his initial surgery in December of 2003. This was obviously very good news to us!

When they removed the original tumor, they went through the back of his neck just below his skull. They had to sever/remove muscle and a portion of his skull to get to the tumor. Now, as he continues to grow, it seems the muscles are having some trouble keeping his head stable and an x-ray today showed that his top two vertebrae (C1 and C2) are abnormally close together, possibly trying to fuse. We are having an MRI of his cervical vertebrae next Tuesday to determine if the bones are stable or not. If they are not, he will need some sort of surgery to correct the situation. If they are stable, we will basically keep him on a pain reliever/muscle relaxant to ease his pain.

While his pain can get quite intense at times, we are still thankful today that it doesn't seem to be the tumor that's causing it. We were also pleased to hear Dr. Al Zein say that he felt Jace's disease was in a stable condition. He's very pleased with how well Jace is doing. We are going to start the third cycle of VP-16 and continue it through to the end, regardless of his blood counts as it's very crucial to keep the chemo in his system at this time. We would appreciate your prayers for strong platelet and white blood cell counts over the next three weeks as we go after these tumors!

Thank you all for checking in and for your prayers and concern for Jace!

God's peace to you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

PS: NEW PICS ARE UP ON THE PHOTO ALBUM PAGE!

Saturday, July 12, 2008 8:05 AM CDT

If you would like to see the "shout out" to our family during the Cubs game, it is below. Thank you KB for doing this for our family.








Good Morning...
We had a great time in Chicago. Counts on Monday were low, so Jace had to have a blood transfusion before we left. We stayed one night and spent the morning at Navy Pier. It was a fun family time! Our seats were great and the atmosphere at Wrigley is awesome!! Jace received a ball from the Reds dugout and a special ball from the Cubs.
Here are a few pictures...

Also, don't forget the upcoming blood drive! We hope to see ALL of you there! (sorry about the quality; it didn't scan well.)



I'm not sure what the next plan will be this summer. Keep checking back and have a great summer!!

Love,
The Carrico's

Monday, July 7, 2008 10:54 AM CDT

It’s time for another update…. Travis is normally the ‘updater’ in the family, but he has been busy this summer teaching and taking classes. So, it’s up to me.

We had a fun 4th of July with the Arnold’s in Osky. The kids went swimming, fishing, 4-wheeling, and enjoyed shooting off their own fireworks. It was a fun night. Here is a picture of the kids with Callie and Ethan. We met the Arnold's when the girls were 'in our bellies' - they've been great friends ever since.




The day after I posted our last journal Jace’s platelets took a plunge and dropped to 23,000. So, he is taking a break from the chemo. Hopefully, today’s counts come back up to the 50,000 mark. Overall, he is still feeling good and really loves summer. He enjoys the couch and t.v. Although, we have made it to the New Sharon pool a few times.

Tomorrow, we are leaving for the Cubs game!!! (Thank you Kathy and Randy!) Jace is so excited. We will be sitting over by the visitor’s dugout, so if you are watching the game – look for us! Thank you to everyone that helped us find tickets. We actually had tickets to the White Sox/Cubs game the week after we posted, but had to decline because of scheduling conflicts. God’s people are so good.

Thanks for checking in. It’s time for Baxter’s last shot, so Jace and I are heading to the vet in Osky. Grandma and Grandpa get to take care of him the next couple of days. I think they’d rather take the kids than the dog – the kids don’t pee on the floor anymore. :~) Baxter is so excited!!




Thanks for checking on our little guy!

The Carrico's

Ending with a crazy picture from our day....

Sunday, June 22, 2008 8:13 PM CDT

So, what has been happening at the Carrico’s – here’s a recap:

A Morning on the Farm:

Last Monday, the Griffin’s invited us out to feed the calf and ride horses at their farm. The kids had a great time and Jenna is convinced she wants to live in the country some day. She loved riding the horses; Jace, however, thought it was a little painful (use your imagination) He told me that “he’s a city boy.” They all had a great time jumping on the trampoline and playing with the new kitty. The highlight for me was letting the calf suck on my fingers. We couldn’t convince Jace to try that. Thank you Griffin’s for a great morning!!! If anyone has any horses out there, give Jenna a call. She loved it.

Wal-Mart at 1:30 A.M.:

One night at dinner we were talking about Wal-Mart staying open all night and Jace just couldn’t believe it. From that moment on, he wanted to go to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night. Every time he would ask I would come up with some excuse. Really, who wants to get up and go to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night?? However, when you are faced with ‘living in the moment’ – you make it work. Friday night, I woke him up and we headed to Wal-Mart. We looked at the toys and the video games and took in all the excitement that happens in the middle of the night. O.K., there was no excitement, but I didn’t have to wait in line to be checked out! After Wal-Mart, we drove thru McDonald’s and got a Happy Meal. Jace was back to sleep by 3:30 and his wish was granted. I taped the whole thing – it was priceless to see his face when I woke him up that morning.

Jenna’s 12!

Jenna celebrated her birthday on Thursday at GEMS camp in Pella. She is finally as old as all of her friends – those darn summer birthdays! She is a sweetie and so mature for her age. We are lucky to have such a great girl. She celebrated with a sleepover last Friday night and supper yesterday at Hickory Park with Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Troy. For her birthday, she wanted books on the Holocaust. I know it’s not the most uplifting gift, but she is fascinated by the history. It all started with reading “The Diary of Anne Frank”….

Jumping Platelets:

At last weeks blood draw, Jace’s platelet count doubled, so we began chemo again. I’m not sure why the sudden rise, but we will take it. We are still doing acupuncture and herbs. He still feels great….a blessing each day!

Cubbies, Water, and the Zoo:

After school, I asked the kids what they wanted to do. Although, we have already had our ‘trip of a lifetime’ we still want to do everything we can while Jace is feeling good. Both of our kids love water parks, so we plan on taking a trip to one soon. Jace just wants it to have a wave pool. The Omaha Zoo is next on our list; however we will have to find a cool day to tackle that one. The last trip he wants to take is at the top of his list and we hope to make it work. He has always loved the Chicago Cubs and wants to see them play. We are going to work on that one for him. Anyone have any Cub connections???

Insurance Companies – AUGHGHGHGH!!

I don’t have to go into details – enough said! Dealing with this is the LAST thing that I want to be doing right now. Frustrating …. Prayers would be appreciated 


I know I went on and on. Thank you for stopping by and for thinking of our little guy. He is so happy right now and just enjoys each day. It’s hard to be sad when he has so much joy!

Keep enjoying summer,
Tara

Friday, June 13, 2008 1:58 PM CDT

Hi Everyone....

I can't believe that it is already the 13th of June. Summer goes so fast.

Jace continues to enjoy each day to the fullest. He had started his 3rd round of chemo a couple of weeks ago, but had to quit taking it because of low counts. We are hopeful that we can get his platelets up and start fighting these tumors soon. His energy level is pretty low most days, however he doesn't let it stop him from enjoying each moment.

Tonight, is the beginning of a busy weekend in New Sharon. It's Spring Festival Time!! Travis has organized a big concert in the park tonight - it's the only way that we know how to thank everyone for their support during this time. I will be singing a few oldies (including Jace's favorite song right now, "I'll Fly Away") The music runs from 7-9 and Travis has put together a great group of talented musicians - including Jace on the drums! We hope to see all of you there!

The whole weekend will be a lot of fun. Parades, carnival rides, food stands ~ what more can you ask for!

Also, mark your calendars for July 16th. The Southeast Blood Center will be having a blood drive in honor of Jace. We would love to have record numbers come out and support this day. We are forever thankful for those that give blood. Like Jace said in church once when someone was talking about the upcoming blood drive, "it's only a little poke. Come on!"

Thanks for your prayers. It's day by day....we are thankful to have your support.

God Bless, Tara

Sunday, June 1, 2008 9:15 PM CDT

** New Photos added **

After visiting with Dr. John Buatti, a pediatric radiation oncologist at the University of Iowa, this past Thursday, we have decided to hold off on any radiation treatments at this point. Jace is still asymptomatic and Dr. Buatti felt that administering radiation to his spine right now would diminish the amount of radiation that would be available to us in the future, if he starts to show symptoms of progression.

So, for right now, we're going to let Jace continue to be a regular kid who enjoys going to the pool and not going to school for the next three months!

Thanks for checking in...
Travis

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 11:19 PM CDT

I know, I know, I haven't updated the site for one month. I freely admit that I am a terrible person. I'm very sorry for procrastinating but I've been on break from teaching most of the month and my list of Fun Things To Do Around The House grows exponentially each day. It's gotten to the point where it's taking more energy to ignore the list than to complete it! To her credit, Tara has been constantly reminding me (that sounds better than "nagging" doesn't it?) to update the site as people are calling and/or asking if something is wrong with Jace.

FOR THE RECORD, Jace is still doing quite well and continues to surprise us all with his asymptomatic condition. Tomorrow (5/29) we are meeting with a radiation oncologist in Iowa City to discuss the possibility of "zapping" (to use Carrico terminology) the spots on his spine. I will certainly update you about that meeting as soon as we get back. He started his third round of chemo this week and is handling it well so far. His platelet count is still strong (don’t knock Chinese herbal remedies till you try them!) and his energy level is good.

I think I'll hit a few current highlights from Casa de Carrico before I cover the Disney trip. As you can tell from the picture above, we have a new carpet destroyer...I mean dog in the family. No family is complete without a Shih Tzu (it's OK...go ahead and say it out loud!) I've got to admit, I like the little rat, but he's really getting under my skin lately. When I was house-breaking Chipper (our Golden Retriever), I implemented the "Sound Thrashing" technique whenever he decided to fertilize the carpet; and it worked well. However, I've been told (and am starting to believe) that these little dogs aren't quite as receptive to that sort of training. Tara thinks that after the first time I grabbed him and rubbed his nose in "it," that he developed a dislike towards me and now takes great joy in relieving himself in the house, directly in front of me (which happened this morning.) Oh but it gets better!

Here's the highlight of the week. I'm on an important phone call this past Tuesday when all of the sudden I notice Baxter beginning to heave like some pasty-faced kid getting hit by a flu bug. Sure enough, out it comes; a wonderful mixture of Shih Tzu Chow and stomach acid. I'm beginning to see red at this point. Then, as many dogs will do after they've yacked all over creation, he began to ingest his work. Now I'm feeling the veins in my neck starting to dilate. I reach under the table and grab him by what I think was the skin around his ribs and he of course lets out a high-pitched yelp that was reportedly heard in Sioux City. It was at this point that I smashed my head on the edge of the table as I pulled him out. Webster's defines Apoplectic as "of a kind to cause or apparently cause stroke [an apoplectic rage]; also, greatly excited or angered [was apoplectic over the news]" I can't think of a better word to describe my feelings at that particular time. Well, to top it all off...guess who had a front row seat for Shih Tzu Theater??? Jace. Yes, Mr. Emotional witnessed the entire sordid scene and immediately freaked out. Oh well...I'm sure when he's grown, his therapist will help him sort it all out.

Now onto the cruise. As you can tell by the slideshow, we all had a WONDERFUL time! How can you not have a great time on a Disney cruise in the Caribbean??? Probably my favorite part was our day at Maho Beach on St. Maarten. It’s situated at the front end of the airport runway where the planes come in to land. These jumbo jets aren’t more than 100 feet above us on the beach when they land. Absolutely amazing! Also…Jace and I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the three young ladies from the Czech Republic at the beach that day who decided to sunbathe “European” style. I won’t go into details, but suffice it to say that they would’ve have been immediately dismissed from our little New Sharon Country Club pool had they tried that here!

St. Maarten and St. Thomas were not as beautiful as I had pictured them but Disney’s private island in the Bahamas was one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been. It had everything: white sand, palm trees, crystal clear water (I didn’t see the girls from the Czech Republic, however.)

The ship had about anything you could ask for. We could order peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from room service or walk up to Deck 10 and get some burgers or pizza at 11 PM. There were Broadway-style shows every night after supper which were absolutely fantastic. Amazing sets, singers and actors…one would almost feel like you were in a theater in New York City rather than on a boat in the middle of the ocean!

There is so much I could share with you about the trip but I don’t think I’ve got enough room here; plus it’s 12:30 AM and I’m starting to fall asleep at the computer. It was the trip of a lifetime…one that none of us will ever forget. We have some great memories with Jace to cherish but, God willing, maybe we’ll get the chance to take another similar trip somewhere down the road.

Thank you all for your prayers and concern for Jace. He is doing so well…and it’s all Jesus!

God’s peace to you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Monday, April 28, 2008 11:22 AM CDT

*** Well, on a positive note - before you read ahead....Travis just got off the phone with Dr. Wetmore and she doesn't believe that the pain is tumor related. Jace's tumor is located inside the spine and we should see neurological signs instead of pain. However, when he points to the pain it is in the exact location of his tumor. I'm not sure what's going on. We will just focus on the positive news and pray for no pain.

Good Morning,

Travis is busy with finals week, so I will take some time to update our faithful followers on Jace and the Carrico family.

On Friday, we met with our oncologist in Des Moines. We haven't been to the Dr. in Des Moines since the beginning of January and Dr. AlZein was pleasantly surprised at Jace’s condition. After he examined him, he looked at us and said, “I’m amazed. The kid and the MRI just don’t hook up.” We were happy to hear this bit of news and continue to counts our good days as blessings. However, since Saturday Jace has been complaining about his back and neck hurting. At this time, the pain seems to be controlled by a dose of Tylenol.

Today is just one of those days. Actually, the day started Friday night when we found the water in our basement. Friday night, Travis and I looked at each other and said, “What else??” You either laugh or cry! Friday, I laughed - today I want to cry. :-)

We are talking to our doctors today about getting Jace some spine radiation as soon as possible. At this time, we just need to lean on God - we know that we can’t do this on our own. You will never know how much we appreciate your prayers. I have a felt that peace that can only be given through God and it’s because of your prayers.

Please continue to pray for Jace as we see our first signs of tumor progression. We knew it was ahead of us - it’s just hard to see it happening. Our little guy needs your prayers.

God Bless, Tara

** The slideshow is still on the history. I've also added a few trip pictures on the photo album page.

Sunday, April 20, 2008 3:31 PM CDT

Here are a few pictures from our amazing week away. It was hard to choose since I took 500 pictures!!

Enjoy.....here's the first slide show:

And just one more....

I know Travis will fill you in on all the details. Best of all, we relaxed and Jace felt great!!!

Love, Tara

Sunday, April 6, 2008 9:35 AM CDT

Good Morning.....

In one week, we will be enjoying the sunshine and playing in the pool on the Disney Magic Cruise ship!!! It’s hard to believe that the trip is almost here.
Of course, the greatest blessing in all of this is that Jace is still feeling great. He has been more tired the last couple of weeks, but with a low hemoglobin that is to be expected. Once a week, we take him to acupuncture in Des Moines and we have also started him on a Chinese treatment of herbs. They have been proven to stimulate platelet production. Last week, he jumped up 15,000 on his own. So........we will see. Travis told them if they can get him past 50,000 we will be impressed. He hasn’t went over 50,000 since September.
However,on Wednesday his counts will bump up because he is going to get a transfusion of red blood cells and platelets just to be on the safe side and to give him more energy for our trip.

We have a busy week ahead of us. I’m hopeful that Travis will give you a detailed post before we leave. If not, please pray for safe travel and for our bodies to be able to rest and relax. The stress that the last month (who am I kidding....the last 4 ½ years :-) has been hard, but God continues to give us a peace and strength just when we need it. We are blessed to have such a caring community that have helped us along the way. Thank you for checking in on our little guy and for your prayers and support.


In Christ, Tara

Sunday, March 23, 2008 12:40 AM CDT

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Just a quick post this glorious Easter morning to share a special moment with all of you. Jace made his public debut behind a drum kit this morning at church. I can't tell you what an overwhelming feeling of pride and joy being on the same stage with my son playing music to glorify God! Tara is playing the keyboard, I'm playing bass guitar and we're doing a song called "Jesus Is Alive" by Ron Kenoly. It was hard for Tara & I to concentrate on the music with our little guy playing drums for the first time...it was a neat family experience to have us all three together (please, no Partridge Family jokes! ;-)

Not to be left out, Jenna did some singing earlier in the service but since Mom is already the piano player of the family, she'll have to wait a bit before she gets a shot at the praise band (or at least practice a little more! ;-)

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus!

God's peace to you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

PS: We had a little trouble getting together at the beginning of the song but once we did, the whole congregation jumped right in!

Friday, March 21, 2008 8:45 PM CDT

Happy Easter!!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Jace is doing great. We are blessed each day that he feels good.

We are in our house and loving every minute of it. As you can see from the home picture, I let Jace help a little bit in Jenna's room. He had talked about painting all day. Of course, he was bored after two minutes and left.

On the day of the move, Jace got a surprise in his room. Two of our special movers decided to give Jace a secret door in his room. The door leads to a storage area under the stairs. He was so excited! Thanks Al and Kenny!! It was a great surprise. He loves to go in there and play his nintendo.

Our Disney trip is 3 weeks from today. We got our passports in the mail today. Now that the move is complete it is time to get excited for the Eastern Carribean!

We've posted new pictures on the photo album.

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Easter!!

The Carrico's

Monday, March 10, 2008 8:54 AM CDT

Good Morning Everyone....

Thanks for stopping by Jace's site. Jace is doing really well with this new chemo. We were told that it would be hard on his stomach but he hasn't had any real problems. We have blood counts done later today so we will see how they are holding up. We are hopeful that our alternative treatments are helping.

Boxes, boxes and more boxes!!! We are moving this weekend and our house is crazy. We have a very busy week ahead of us, so we are trying to get everything packed up early in the week.

Tonight, there is a special concert planned. The GOVAP Children's Chorus will be performing at the high school at 7:00 P.M. This is a selected choir which includes one of my jr. high choir members, Wesley Beyer. Thanks Wesley for thinking of our family - there will be a free will donation for Jace's fund. Our small town is the best!

I hope to see you there tonight! Jace loves music - this is perfect for him.

Thanks also for your prayers and support. We will probably take a break from updating until the computer is unpacked next week. :-)

Hugs, Tara

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 5:58 AM CST

**New photos added**

Good morning, everyone...

Just a quick update this morning to get you up to speed. Jace started his oral chemo the night before last and handled it very well. To get the proper dosage, he's taking his pill every other night so he'll have another tonight. We'll do this for 21 days and see how he handles it. If he's OK, we'll give him a week off and start again.

Hopefully, his blood counts don't dive too much by the end of this first round as we'll be pretty close to our trip and we don't want anything to dampen his (or our) spirits during that time.

I'll add more very soon. Thanks for checking in on Jace!

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Sunday, February 24, 2008 6:13 PM CST

Good evening, everyone...

Jace is hanging in there tonight despite the looming onset of what seems to be a head cold. Jenna's friend Sydney stopped by and Jace is playing with them which is helping the Sunday night blahs!

Things are moving quickly for the Carrico family right now. We will be moving (again!) in about three weeks. We have bought a house here in New Sharon and are excited to have a place we can call our own. It was very important to us to have a home of our own in which to spend the coming months which will be bringing trials of many kinds. We are very grateful to the current owners for their kindness in working with us to make this move happen quickly so we can spend as much quality time as possible with Jace in our new home.

Also on the horizon is a Disney cruise! After the news from out last trip to Rochester, we knew we wanted to plan a big trip with Jace before things progressed. We had considered a resort of some kind where we could just relax on a beach and enjoy the ocean. Then Jace saw the video for the Disney Cruise at the travel agent's office. The rest, as they say, was history! We will now be taking our dream vacation aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship from April 12 through the 19th.

Right now, we are still not sure which direction we want to take regarding treatment options. We are torn between trying some more low-dose chemotherapy (which he may not be able to handle) or some alternative medicine/treatments. We would greatly appreciate your prayers for guidance as we try to decide what is best for Jace at this point in his life.

Thank you for checking in on Jacer.

Have a great week,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Monday, February 18, 2008 9:52 PM CST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JACER MAN!!!

Nine years ago on February 19th, 1999 in Grinnell, IA, the world welcomed a screaming Jace Lee Carrico into existence. To say that Jace has sure made things interesting over the past nine years would be the understatement of the century. He has made us laugh, cry, pull our hair out and Lord knows how many times we had to walk away and "count to ten" thanks to our little guy!

It's kind of hard to believe that almost half of his life has been spent battling a brain tumor. I'm sure that by now, Jace feels like it's just part of a normal life. He has handled all the adversity better than I ever would've imagined and continues to view our most recent news with a "whatever...I'm gonna keep being me" attitude.

This past Saturday, our family was privileged to take part in a birthday party for a very special young lady here in New Sharon who wanted to do something nice for Jace. We can't begin to thank Airianne enough for her kind heart and selfless gesture of kindness to us. There was a HUGE turnout at the party for Airianne and Jace. I heard several estimates at over 400. There is a nice picture of Airianne and Jace (in his Zoot Suit Tux) at the top of the page. Thank you Bridal Dreams for the tux donation. You made his night!

A very special thanks to Dave & Diana Bair and the entire Bair Family of Beyond Elegance for all the beautiful decorations and to the Oskaloosa Hy-Vee for all the food donations. Thank you to Barry And Blair DeJong and the Malcom and Leighton Lockers for taking care of the meat. Thank you also to all the New Sharon, Pella and Oskaloosa businesses for their participation and most of all to everyone who took time to attend for their wonderful generosity to Jace, the Blank Child Life Dept. and to our family. You will never know how deeply you have touched our lives. This is a preliminary thank-you and I know I've probably overlooked more than one person but we'll be sure and acknowledge more of you as we get a better view of the "big picture!" The sheer magnitude and scope of the event was truly something to behold. Thank you all again!!!

Jace is obviously very excited for his birthday. We've spent much of the evening decorating the walls in anticipation of the Big Day. We'll be sure and post some pictures of the festivities as soon as possible. I know Jace will enjoy reading all the birthday wishes in the Guestbook so be sure and sign if you get the chance.

Thanks again for checking in on our little guy.

Sincerely,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

NEW PICS ARE UP!
*** Drum Video is still available - it's just on the journal history***

Thursday, February 14, 2008 8:38 PM CST

Good evening, everyone...

Things are well here at the Carrico household. Jace put on a great magic show tonight and continues to fill the house with the soothing sound of his new drums (see above!) After our crappy day on Tuesday, we headed to Toys 'R Us to drown our sorrows. While scoping out the selection, Jace stumbled upon the aforementioned drumkit in the back aisle and it took about a half a second for him to decide that that's what he wanted. How could I say no? The coolest part is that after he heard the Hannah Montana theme song on TV the next morning, he jumped onto his drum throne and proceeded to play the opening drum beat just like it sounds on TV! I was truly amazed!

Tara & I can't begin to thank everyone enough for your emails, phone calls, guestbook entries and all your acts of kindness, love and support. We can't imagine going through this without all of you.

Very sincerely,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 8:52 PM CST

Good evening, everyone...

We just got back from Rochester this evening with some very bad news. Jace's tumor has grown substantially in size and two new spots have shown up on his spine. As "normal" as Jace had been over the past several months, we were hoping for at least a stable situation but it was just not to be.

Our treatment options are very limited as his bone marrow just can't take much more chemotherapy. We are considering an oral treatment which might keep things manageable for awhile and are hopeful that we can radiate his spine to reduce or possibly remove the current spots.

At this point, Jace's quality of life will be our first and foremost concern. Putting him through a rigorous chemotherapy treatment and having him hospitalized for extended periods is not something to which we want to subject him.

Thank you all VERY MUCH for your prayers and concern for Jace. Knowing that everyone was wearing their "Jacerman" t-shirts today in support of our little guy made us feel closer to home!

I always had this day in the back of my mind but I guess you're really never ready to face news like this. On our way home, MercyMe's song "Jesus Bring The Rain" came on the radio. As hard as it was to listen to those lyrics which today were even more poignant, it was a gentle reminder that in all times, even in today's deep valley, Jesus must be given all praise and glory.

BRING THE RAIN

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You,
Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of
The clouds that may loom above
Because you are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me suffering your destiny
So tell me whats a little rain

Thank you very much for checking in on our little guy,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Wednesday, February 6, 2008 9:03 PM CST

Well, here we are at hour 13...all together in our little house with 8 inches of snow on the ground and nowhere to run! It's a good thing I'm a patient, loving, non-irritating type of person whom people really enjoy being around for 13 straight hours...right?

Jace has been handling the latest round of familial confinement rather well; only two breakdowns and one wall-shaking fall on his gluteus maximus when he got a little over-excited and slipped on the kitchen floor. We just found out that North Mahaska has a 2-hour delay for tomorrow and I'm sure the kids would've been happier had I not (in a fit of boredom) bellowed out that school was "cancelled" about an hour before the actual delay was announced (see "two breakdowns" above.) Yeah, that might've been a little mean but it was a slow night here at the Carrico's.

We had an interesting appointment with Dr. Al Zein last Friday. Jace's platelet count was at 53K...big surprise! He has been hovering in the low 50's for at least a couple of months now. As most of you know, we can't start the next round of Topotecan until he gets to 75K so we've been waiting patiently, enjoying the good times before the next storm hits.

Dr. Al Zein came right out and basically said he was stumped (and actually, I was just fine with that! ;-) Normally, when medullo reoccurs, it is very aggressive. Jace has been showing no signs or symptoms of tumor progression, his eyes looked normal, no headaches or vomiting (although he did have a spell where his vision was blurring a little bit two weeks ago, but we chalked it up to him being sick at the time and it hasn't happened since.) Dr. Al Zein said he wants to see the MRI next week and possibly revisit the biopsy before we decide on the next definite course of treatment. The current study Jace is on is a small, one page study from Toronto under which about 15 kids were treated (with success in two.) The thing he said that brought tears to my eyes is that maybe Jace is going to be "page 2."

Now Tara & I aren't going to get our hopes up about anything because that can REALLY backfire when your kid has cancer, but I can't help but wonder if we just truly might have a little miracle on our hands. Obviously, Jesus has had his healing hand in this from the beginning and has given us this precious quality time since the relapse and has given Jace a symptom-free life even with the tumor in his head. Maybe this is something bigger. Satan never wastes time and quickly steps to remind me that it probably isn't, but, just as the crippled beggar in Acts 3, I have to keep the faith. After healing the beggar in Jesus' name, St. Peter tells the crowd, "And by faith in his [Jesus'] name, this man, whom you see and know, his [Jesus'] name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you" Acts 3:16

Sacred Scripture is full of acts of great faith and healing, but as most of you know, it's easy to talk the talk; walking the walk is usually a little more difficult. But as each day goes by and Jace continues to thumb his nose at this tumor, the mustard seed grows.

We will be heading to Rochester this Sunday for scans on Monday & Tuesday and an appointment with Dr. Wetmore. As always, your fervent prayers for Jace are greatly valued and appreciated.

Thank you all for checking in and for your love and concern for our little guy.

God's peace to you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

NEW PICS ARE UP: They aren't actually "new," they were taken this past summer...right before Jace was diagnosed with the relapse (when all was well with the world ;-) With the winter storms and cold temps, I thought it would be nice to look back at some summer fun!

Friday, January 25, 2008 4:28 PM CST

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the delay in updating. The month of January has flown by and platelets are still at a stand still. We were hopeful that Jace would be able to get in a few chemo treatments before his MRI, but that wasn't meant to be. We continue to be blessed with him feeling good and just enjoying 2nd grade.

We did have a scare a couple of weeks ago when he began acting a little 'strange'. He had been very weak and complained of some dizziness. During the week, I was called to school to pick him up. Thankfully, when he got home he got sick - the stomach flu kindof sick. I said out loud, "Praise God!" He looked at me and said, "And why did you just say that!" After a few days, he was back to his old self - no more complaints and feeling great. Thank God for the flu! Funny how things change....I use to hate when the kids got the flu.

MRI is still set up February 11th and 12th - your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by and continue to pray for the kids that are battling this disease. - Love, Tara



Please read below for details on a benefit that will be held for Children's Cancer/Blank Child Life Department.
THANK YOU so much to everyone that is involved!!

Sweetheart Benefit Dinner
February 16th * 5pm-8pm *
City Park Building * New Sharon *

~Reservations appreciated but not required~

Please join us as a special boy and girl celebrate their birthdays this year with a common purpose!! Airianne Livezey will be celebrating her 16th birthday this year and for the past 3 years she has raised funds to help in the fight of childhood cancers. She would like to request no presents but will accept benefit donations on behalf of the Blank ChildLife Department in honor of Jace Carrico, who is celebrating his birthday also and is in the battle himself of childhood cancer. Airianne and Jace would love to be your servers for this special Valentine supper.Dinner reservations are not required but would be greatly appreciated. Times are 5-6pm 6-7pm or 7-8pm Reservations can be made by calling any of the New Sharon churches or contact Angela or Stacia at 641-660-7964
Gather up your children, family, friends,or sweetheart for a festive Valentine night out! Special music, delectable food, and Beyond Elegance, a nationwide formal rental company has donated their services for this meaningful event!!! Please don't miss being a part of something so worthy of a cause. Cancer among children is a substantial public concern. Each year in the United States approximately 12,400 children are diagnosed with this sometimes lifelong fight.

We Thank You in advance for helping to make a difference!!
Freewill donations accepted that evening


Menu: Tossed Salad
Homemade Rolls and Roasted Pork
Green Bean Almondine
Cheesy Potatoes
Cheesecake

Friday, January 4, 2008 2:17 PM CST

2007 is behind us....thank goodness!
What a year - I only hope that 'Everything is GREAT in 2008!!!

Jace had blood work done again today and he is stuck at 50,000 on his platelets. Chemo can't begin until his platelets reach 75,000. We pray that we see an increase in the weeks ahead. We are blessed that he is feeling so good and is enjoying each day to the fullest.

Our next Mayo trip is scheduled for February 11th and 12th. He will have an MRI Monday(11th) of his spine and Tuesday(12th) they will scan his head. I'm not sure why they couldn't do it all at once. He hasn't had any chemo since his last scan in October. I never imagined that 15 weeks later we would still be waiting for counts to come back up.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

In Christ,
Tara

Sunday, December 23, 2007 7:13 PM CST

Here is Jace's favorite Christmas song from SpongeBob. After two minutes, it plays the song backwards. (He doesn't love that part.) Four years ago, when we were in Rochester (surgery on Christmas Day, even) Jace wanted this video to play over and over. Everytime we hear this song we remember our time in the ICU over the holiday season.
Hope you enjoy....or maybe it will drive you nuts!!!
Either way, Merry Christmas!






*** New photos in photo album ***


Merry Christmas from the Carrico House!!!

We enjoyed Christmas yesterday with Travis’ parents in Illinois. The trip home took twice as long because of the roads. Of course, the headphones quit working within the first 10 minutes on the way home, so Travis and I had to listen to Looney Tunes the entire way home. It was a long.... ride home. Jace’s favorite present was “the fart machine” (picture in the photo album) It has 15 real sounds.....who made the recordings, anyway???? - that’s what I want to know :-) He is excited to take it to the hospital with him the next time he stays overnight. I’m not sure how much the nurses will love it.

Christmas break has arrived. Jace has already started asking, “what should I do now?” Tonight, I finished wrapping presents and Jace and I had a full blown ‘wrapping paper tube’ fight. No mercy.... we were laughing so hard. As I type this, I can hear the kids fighting upstairs. Oh, the sounds of children..... I’m so thankful.

No transfusion was needed last week, although he is very pale. It's pretty amazing how much energy he has with a hemoglobin so low. His doctor is always amazed how well he acts with such low counts. Another blessing.... We are going to wait until Wednesday to gets counts checked again. We just want to enjoy the holiday season right now.

Exciting news from our house.......On December 4th, Jace was awarded the rank of Honorary First Degree Black Belt by the Christian Black Belt Academy. It was an incredible honor for Jace and our entire family. I have posted a picture on the photo album. Thanks Mr. Gus for making this award possible. It was the first time that the Christian Black Belt Academy has ever given away this honor. He also received a special message from the founder in California and another message from his first Taekwando instructor Matt Miller in Colorado. Matt offered a prayer on the DVD for our family that brought tears to our eyes. It was very touching.

December is a month full of memories. December 17th was the 4 year anniversary of Jace’s original diagnosis. Of course, having another D-Day (diagnosis day) to add to our calendar makes this date a little less significant. The first time we heard, “your child has cancer” was devastating but the second time was incredibly heartbreaking. The first time you have no idea what is ahead of you - the second time you know all too well what lies ahead.


However.....to lighten the mood. We are blessed to be where we are now. We are thankful for all of our friends and family that have helped us along the way. We have met so many CB friends through this journey that have touched our hearts. Some are still with us and others are watching us from above - we have learned so much from all of you.



Merry Christmas to each of you and thank you for supporting our family.

Travis, Tara, Jenna and Jace

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:21 PM CST

Just a quick entry tonight to get you up to speed. We haven't updated in a couple weeks mainly because there hasn't been much to tell you...and really, that doesn't bother us at all! ;-)

Jace had blood counts done today. His platelet count is up to 53,000 which is great news! His white blood count is strong but his hemoglobin (which affects his energy/color) is low. We'll probably hear from the Clinic on Wednesday if a blood transfusion is needed.

The good news is the platelets, though. We're still waiting on him to get up to 75,000 before we can start chemotherapy again. At this rate, we might be able to start before the first of the year.

Thank you all for your continued support of Jace.

Merry Christmas,
Travis

Thursday, November 29, 2007 9:00 PM CST

** New pictures added **

Good Evening,

Thanks for stopping by Jace's page. We are still waiting to start the next round of chemo. Jace ended his last round on September 18th and we are still waiting for his counts to recover. I never thought that it would be this long, but Jace's body had a different plan. We are so thankful that he continues to do well. We talked to our doctor today and he is hopeful that we can start on Monday. Please keep that in your prayers.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a great time with family in Lynnville and Roseville, IL. It was our first holiday in 10 years that we were able to "get away" for the holidays. Travis' old boss always had a rule that no one could leave the funeral home during the holidays. It was strange to just get in the car and go, but I know that we can get used to it. :-)

There will be a benefit at the Lynnville-Sully High School this Saturday from 3-8 P.M. for a sweet little girl named Stella Turnbull that has Type 1 SMA. I hope many of you are able to attend and the weather cooperates.

I also ask for prayers for a caringbridge friend of ours from Des Moines. When Jace was first diagnosed, Hollister was a volunteer with the Child Life Department. Now, he needs our support and some faithful prayer warriors. (caringbridge.org/ia/hollister)

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Tara

Thursday, November 22, 2007 9:48 AM CST

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

From the Carrico Family to yours, we hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Even though Jace's tumor has come back, we consider ourselves very blessed this Thanksgiving. Jace continues to do well, even in the presence of the tumor, and remains asymptomatic to this point (which has the doctors slightly amazed!...Thank you, Jesus!) and is carrying on like a normal 8-year-old boy: annoying his sister to her wit's end, destroying his room on a regular basis, etc.

God has truly blessed our family and continues to bring us all closer to Him through this trial. I'm always reminded of the line from MercyMe's song "Bring The Rain" which says "...and I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain but if that's what it takes to praise you...Jesus bring the rain." To me, that song really symbolizes Jace's situation and how Jesus has given us the grace to endure it...all for His glory.

We are thankful that we're together as a family this day and we're thankful to be spending the day in Lynnville with Tara's family; and also thankful that, Lord willing, we will visit my half of the extended family in Illinois this weekend. We are extremely thankful for our friends and family of God here in New Sharon and for those of you all over the country who continue to remember Jace and our family in your prayers.

We are thankful for Jace's doctors, nurses, Child Life specialists and everyone that participates in his care. This is the greatest country in the world and I don't think we can truly comprehend how fortunate we are to have access to the type of health care technology that can restore Jace's health.

And lastly, we are thankful for the little things in our life that we often overlook: our nice little home, the falling snow outside, Christmas music on the radio, and for simply being alive and happy for just this day to serve the Lord.

"Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:5-7

God's peace to all of you on this Thanksgiving Day,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Tuesday, November 20, 2007 12:24 AM CST

Good afternoon, everyone!

Just a quick update today (as I think I'm supposed to be working!)

I received a call from Julie in the Child Life Department at Blank Children's Hospital here in Des Moines asking if we would like to bring Jace up tomorrow morning to be interviewed by KCCI Channel 8 about the Child Life Department. So, after his blood draw first thing in the morning, Jace & I will head to Des Moines for his big interview which will air during KCCI's 5 PM News tomorrow night. So, if you're in front of the TV Wednesday evening at 5 PM, turn on Channel 8 and look for our little guy!

Thanks for the call, Julie!!!

Also, we would really appreciate your continued prayers for Jace's blood counts. They're still stalling out and we can't begin any treatments until he gets moving. Pray for his little marrow to work overtime!

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for your prayers for Jace!

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Tuesday, November 6, 2007 6:13 PM CST

Well, as you can tell by the picture above, Jace had a great night with the Wiggles in Ames last Friday night. We had met them before in St. Paul, MN in 2005 and they were just as friendly and sincere this time as they were then. They put on a great show and we got a great picture of Jeff Wiggle coming into the crowd and stopping at our row! A HUGE "Thank-You" goes out to our very good friend, Sarah S. from Child Life (and her Dad!) for making this happen!

Jace is hanging in there. We'll have a blood draw on Thursday to see where his platelet count stands. We would appreciate your prayers for his bone marrow to get back to normal. We can't start his next phase of chemotherapy until his platelet count reaches a certain level...and we obviously would like to get back to the business of destroying this tumor as soon as possible!

Not much else to report...I, er, uh, I mean WE have pretty much decimated the Halloween candy stash from last Tuesday so we can finally return to the normal, balanced diet we all normally enjoy! ;-) ...at least until Thanksgiving gets here!

Be sure and check out the pictures from the Wiggles concert on the Photo Album page. And, as always, thanks for checking in on our little guy!

God's peace to you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Tuesday, November 6, 2007 5:37 PM CST

Well, as you can tell by the picture above, Jace had a great night with the Wiggles in Ames last Friday night. We had met them before in St. Paul, MN in 2005 and they were just as friendly and sincere this time as they were then. They put on a great show and we got a great picture of Jeff Wiggle coming into the crowd and stopping at our row!

Jace is hanging in there. We'll have a blood draw on Thursday to see where his platelet count stands. We would appreciate your prayers for his bone marrow to get back to normal. We can't start his next phase of chemotherapy until his platelet count reaches a certain level...and we obviously would like to get back to the business of destroying this tumor as soon as possible!

Not much else to report...I, er, uh, I mean WE have pretty much decimated the Halloween candy stash from last Tuesday so we can finally return to the normal, balanced diet we all normally enjoy! ;-) ...at least until Thanksgiving gets here!

Be sure and check out the pictures from the Wiggles concert on the Photo Album page. And, as always, thanks for checking in on our little guy!

God's peace to you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Friday, November 2, 2007 11:23 AM CDT

***New Pictures in the photo album***


No School Today - yeah!! I just wanted to let everyone know that Jace continues to do well. We just have to get those platelets to come up...instead of going down each week.

This will be quick because I just found out that Jace will need platelets this afternoon in Des Moines. After his transfusion, we will be going to Ames to meet The Wiggles. I keep thinking Jace will get tired of them, but he still likes them and is anxious to meet them. I can still remember him listening to their music during his radiation treatments in January 2004. He loves music and I'm happy for him; he's excited!

Halloween went well. Jenna spent the night with a group of friends and Jace walked with us and the Sherburne boys. Of course, they got a lot of candy.

Thanks for stopping by and your prayers. We have so much to be thankful for this time of year.

God Bless,
Tara

Monday, October 29, 2007 9:14 PM CDT

Here are a few pictures from the weekend and Kids Bop. Thanks for checking on us.
Love, Jenna and Jace

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 8:32 PM CDT

***Friday, October 26th, 2007***

Just wanted to let everyone know that Jace is still doing well. We had blood work done Wednesday and his platelets were down to 10,000. Today they were 9,000, so he is at Blank getting a transfusion. Please pray that his counts begin to recover; it has been almost 6 weeks since his last chemo. A lot of decisions will need to be made in the next few weeks if his counts continue to not recover on their own. Pray, pray :-)

Tomorrow, we are going to Brant's Great Pumpkin Race in Earlham. It will be a fun event - check out the information on Brant's webpage and head on over.

We were sad to lose another brain tumor friend to this disease. After Jace was diagnosed in June, we met the Lunski family at the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester. We spent a lot of time talking with them and discussing different treatment options. We also were lucky enough to stay at the same hotel with them just last week. We were able to talk again and had no idea that the Lord had a plan to take Brandon to His HOME just four short days later. Brandon who was 19 was a true inspiration. He fought a courageous fight. Please pray for strength for his parents, Charlene and Gary and his brother, Matthew.


A Cure needs to be found!!!

***


GREAT NEWS from Rochester: Jace's tumor is SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER IN SIZE!!!

Dr. Wetmore was very pleased with the scans today and feels that his tumor is around 40 percent smaller than it appeared on the June scan. To our untrained eyes, it looked A LOT SMALLER than last time!!!

The study Jace is currently on was used on a group of kids in Toronto with success in 3 of the 15 kids so we knew the odds were against us; but PRAISE BE TO GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, the drugs we used have been quite effective against the tumor so far!

His red blood counts and his platelets are way down so he'll be getting transfused tomorrow in Des Moines. As soon as he gets his counts back up, we'll resume the treatments.

A HUUUUGE "Thank you!" to all our friends (from near & far), and the community of New Sharon for your fervent prayers for Jace. With the odds the way they were, Tara & I believe those prayers played a huge part in this miracle of healing! A big thank-you to North Mahaska for your school-wide support of Jace today and also to everyone who wore your "Superhero" t-shirt today in support of our little guy!!! We can't thank you enough! May God bless you all for your efforts on Jace's behalf!

While we're not out of the woods yet, we feel very confident that we are on the right path with Jace. We appreciate all your prayers that these treatments continue to be effective.

Finally & most importantly, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, who we praise in good times & bad, for this act of healing which He has bestowed upon us!

Thank you all for checking in,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

PS: I should have pictures up in just a bit from the GREAT PUMPKIN DROP last week!

Sunday, October 14, 2007 7:17 PM CDT

Good evening, everyone...

Jace is doing well tonight. His only problem over the past couple weeks has been his platelet count. Dr. Al Zein thought his body might be destroying its own platelets so this past Thursday, he received an intravenous immunoglobulin infusion designed to bolster his immune system. Hopefully this will "trick" his body into allowing itself to produce platelets so we can get on with the next round of chemotherapy.

The infusion took about eight hours so we had some time to kill. Our good friend Sarah from Child Life decided we should conduct a science experiment to determine the effects of a four-story fall on an egg packed inside a pumpkin. We packed the egg in a urine sample cup filled with jello and placed that cup in a larger container of Jello which we then placed inside a pumpkin. We took the pumpkin to the 4th floor of the parking ramp. Once the "all clear" was given, Jace & Sarah jettisoned the pumpkin off the parking ramp and two seconds later, a monster explosion ensued! Unfortunately, the egg didn't make it but the total annihilation and huge debris field we found at ground zero ranks in the top ten of the coolest things I've ever seen! Thanks Sarah! You made our day go by VERY quickly. Who would've thought an immunoglobulin infusion could be so fun! A photographer from Blank's PR department was there to document the event so we'll have pictures as soon as we get them from him.

We will be leaving tomorrow afternoon for Rochester where Jace will have an MRI on Tuesday morning. We would (and do) appreciate all your prayers for Jace that the chemo we have given him so far has put a big dent in the tumor!

We've been told that Tuesday is Jace's Superhero T-shirt day. If you have one of his Superhero T-shirts, wear it proudly on Tuesday in support of our little guy! Thank you all for your concern amd prayers for Jace and thanks for checking in!

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Wednesday, October 3, 2007 2:36 PM CDT

Thank you for still checking in on us! Where did September go???

Jace finished his chemo on the 18th and has still not been able to start the next round. His counts have taken a dip and are having a hard time recovering.

Yesterday, we drove to Des Moines to meet with our Doctor and get platelets. He was down to 10,000 on Monday. It was our first infusion in the new clinic. Luxury...everyone has their own room, playstation, and a T.V. This is a drastic change from the first time we went through treatment and spent hours in the infusion room. Three years ago, all the patients were in one long room - no privacy, two T.V.'s and no playstation. Great change - Jace had a hard time leaving yesterday. He was having too much fun!

Jace's appointment went well. In fact, they are anxious to see his MRI results. Jace is just doing so well and has shown no signs of tumor progression. Praise God!! Because of this, our doctor is going to wait until after the MRI to start a new chemo. The MRI will be October 16th. We will also meet Dr. Wetmore that afternoon.

Jace's hearing aids are great. He is adjusting to wearing them all day. As soon as he gets home, they are in their case. The kids in his class have been great.

Jace also had a fun event during Homecoming last week. The 8th Grade students at North Mahaska dressed up for 'game night' in Jace's SuperHero shirts. They also had a banner that said, "Team Jace - Class of 2012." It was so touching. Jace ran around the gym with them; tears, tears, and more tears. It seems that I have a special bond with a number of kids in that class and it was so thoughtful of them to all participate. We were touched and the banner has a special place in our house. The 8th graders also got 2nd place that night right behind the seniors. I believe Team Jace had some special strength with them - especially during tug-a-war!
I will try to get a picture loaded soon from that night.

Thank you for your prayers and support. Please pray for our strength as we approach the 16th.

Love, Tara

Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God." Mark 11:22

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 9:09 PM CDT

I Am Trusting You, O Lord, Saying, "You Are My God!" My Future Is In Your Hands. ~ Psalm 31:14-15




Good Evening,

Never hit the tab button when you are journaling - I just lost my entire entry and I was at the end. This will be much shorter. Grrr... :-) New photos added, too.

Well, Jace has finished this cycle of chemo; 42 days down. Jace and I celebrated tonight with some cheeseburger chowder from Smokey Row -his choice. He will get one week off and than we will start another cycle. Of course, this will depend on his platelet count. Last week, they took a huge drop so we will see at his next appointment if he is ready.

On Friday, we will pick up his hearing aids. He is excited and nervous. He seems to think that the kids in his class will make 'comments' about them. I told him that we will talk to the students and let them know why he needs them. Hopefully, it will go o.k. the first couple of days.

The MRI has been scheduled for October 16th in Mayo. This is pending insurance approval, so we will have to wait until we get the final o.k. We are praying for a stable scan or best of all, Clear. God is Good and we believe that He can heal Jace.

My devotional today was on Biblical Hope. I'd like to share a little bit with you....

"Biblical Hope is much more than wishful thinking. Hebrews 11:1 says that "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (NIV) There is nothing uncertain about biblical hope. It speaks of something that is sure but not yet a reality that we can see. Biblical hope is certain but not yet realized. We haven't experiend it yet, but there is no question that it will happen. Hope is like a memory of the future - a God-secured, God-infused, God-glorifying future."


Believing,
Tara

Friday, September 7, 2007 9:30 AM CDT

Adjusting...that is the word that describes our life right now. We are adjusting to a new job, different house, new schedules, school, and the reality that Jace is “in the fight” again. It seems very surreal going through this again. Jace is doing so well and he feels pretty good - how can it be? As much as we would like to forget about it, it’s always there. Day to day activities occur and than......it hits you like a brick. Because of your prayers and a loving God, we are surviving and enjoying each day.

Travis’ new job is going well and we are enjoying the ‘freedom’ of his new schedule. It still seems strange to just leave - we don’t have to find someone to cover, transfer the phones...etc It has been a nice change for our family. I still struggle as I drive by the funeral home and see the “old house.” So many memories there.

Another change.....Chipper isn’t part of our family anymore. After our crazy summer, poor Chip was confused. We decided it would be best if he went with a different family that could give him the attention and farm life that he deserved. He had always spent some time in the house (especially in the winter) and that wouldn’t be possible where we live now. So, Chipper is in good hands with Kenny. He’s loving his new life and still enjoys his truck rides - except this time he rides inside. He’s moving up in the world. The kids handled it well and we have promised them that we will get another dog when we have our own place. I think I took it the hardest. Jace said, “Geez, mom - you didn’t even like that dog.” I know - just more change.


School is going well for both kids. Jenna loves it and is becoming fairly busy with her own schedule. Jace is doing well, also. He thinks it is a “really, long day.” Travis and I realized that most of his summer was spent in the hospital/appointments or laying on the couch. Going from 8-3:30 has been an adjustment for him. For the most part, he is doing well. The cooler weather will help him at school, too. The classrooms have been really warm the last couple of weeks. He adores his teacher, Mrs. Goemaat and his aid, Mrs. Whitis - we are thankful to have such caring ladies taking care of him.

We were able to spend last weekend with Travis’ parents in Illinois. It was nice to get away and spend time with family. We also picked up Travis’ 6 month old nephew, Cameron and brought him to Illinois with us. Cameron’s parents were busy moving during labor day, so we were all on baby duty. Jenna loved taking care of him. When we arrived at Grandma’s house, we were thankful to hear that the crib was in OUR room. Crying at 3:30 A.M. brought back a lot of memories. The next night he slept with Grandma...... :-)

On to medical news.... Jace continues to take his chemo pills every night. He has not been sick and his blood counts have remained good. He was suppose to have an MRI on September 11th, but we are going to wait until October. Our doctors would like to have him get through this cycle of chemo before they scan him again. The doctor at Blank has told us that he feels we need to do Topetecan again at half the dose. (This is the chemo that put him in the hospital.) They are thinking about doing this again at the end of October. We start our new insurance this month; we have been told that Mayo is “not in the network.” So, we are starting the fight with the insurance company. We are asking to have scans and to meet with our oncologist there every three months. Lots of paperwork is ahead of us... Prayers appreciated for approval.

More medical news.... Jace will be the proud owner of two bright blue hearing aids very soon.
We had noticed a drastic change in his hearing over the summer. The AEA noticed it at the end of the school year and it has seemed to get worse. It could be caused by many things: radiation, chemo, possibly the tumor - we really don’t know. Thank you to all of you that have contributed to his fund by purchasing shirts, wristbands, or a card. Because of you, he is able to get these hearing aids. Of course, insurance doesn’t cover them. Yeah, I know....crazy!



September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Please take the time and watch the Children's Cancer Video. The facts are there and it’s heartbreaking. When I hear that there are 30,000-40,000 children being treated for cancer in the US and the Government recently cut the budget for Childhood Cancer Research - something needs to be done.


Sorry, it was a long one today. Cheap therapy... :-)
Enjoy the weather and the weekend. We have plans to go to the Renaissance Festival in the morning. It should be a great time.

Love,
Tara, Travis, Jenna and Jace

Friday, August 24, 2007 7:46 PM CDT

NEW PICS ARE UP!


Good evening, everyone.

The nice picture above was taken on the shores of Lake Okoboji. We had a great time up there last week. We did a day at the amusement park, took a nice scenic boat cruise and just enjoyed "hanging out" at the pool. Tara's folks joined us for a couple days...other than getting a bit bruised up on the roller coaster, I think they enjoyed their stay. Thank you very much John & Julie! We had a great week!

Things have been pretty normal around here lately. Jace & Jenna started school yesterday. Jace is in 2nd grade and Jenna is in 6th grade. It's interesting to see how they were so excited on Wednesday night to start school and now, a mere two days later, are SO thankful that the weekend is finally here! Must've been a rough two days ;-)

Jace continues to take his Temodar (chemo pill) and doesn't seem to be suffering any side effects at all. We have an appointment on Monday with Dr. Al Zein for a blood draw. I'm anticipating his counts will be low but, other than that, he acts like a regular kid for the most part.

Thank you for checking in,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Sunday, August 12, 2007 10:03 PM CDT

NEW PICTURES ARE UP!!!

Good evening everyone...

Jace has had a great week! As you can see from the picture above, we did the State Fair this past Thursday. I can't tell you how much fun it was to walk around with thousands of other people in 95 degree heat (and 95 percent humidity) paying six bucks for a corndog and $4.50 for a lemonade! Summer in Iowa!!! ;-) Thanks to Jason & Tammy for letting us hang in their camper (and eat their brownies ;-) for a couple hours!

Jace started his Temodar (pill-form chemotherapy) on Wednesday night and has been tolerating it just fine so far. Because of the dosage, he has to take 6 pills at a time. He says a little prayer before each one and...bottoms up! He continues to have a great attitude throughout this entire process. God has truly touched him.

We are excited to be heading to Lake Okoboji for a few days this week. Some good friends of ours have graciously offered us their house at the lake this week so we're going to take them up on it! None of us have ever been there before so, needless to say, we're all looking forward to this week very much! We'll have plenty of pictures to share and tales to tell when we get back.

Thank you all so much for your continuing acts of kindness, concern and love for Jace and our whole family. We appreciate them all very much!!!

God's peace to all of you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA
"He must increase; I must decrease."
John 3:30

Monday, July 30, 2007 9:58 AM CDT

****New Photos added **** The above picture is Jace with his Superhero Bear that he received from the Casey's employees. Thanks Pat for putting it together!


**Update: Thursday, August 2nd, 2007**
We are enjoying another week away from chemo. Jace's platelets needed to reach 100,000 and he was only at 37,000. So, we wait until next Tuesday and check him again. The next chemo will be an oral treatment for 42 consecutive days. We will keep you posted!
If any of you are interested, my friend Jennifer is putting together a scrapbook for Jace to show him all the people who have been praying for him. Information is in the guestbook - Our prayer is that you will all be reading this scrapbook at his high school graduation. Always praying for a cure for ALL childhood cancers.





Good Morning...

I apologize that it has taken us so long to update. We have enjoyed being home and getting settled in our place. Friday, we tackled the garage and yesterday we worked on the boxes of clothes that needed a place to go. It feels good to get these things accomplished!


Jace is feeling great and gaining strength each day. In fact, last night he wanted to stay overnight with his good buddy, Jac. When we stopped by to drop off his things he was having a great time and was anxious to sleep in the tent - which was in living room. :-)

On Thursday, he went to the clinic and had his counts checked. He was up to 350 which is good news. We have been giving him a shot at home to boost his white blood count. We will drive to Des Moines again tomorrow and if his counts are good enough he will start a new chemo pill. We have decided to not give him Topetecan; it was to hard on his body - especially after just one dose.

Thanks for checking in and supporting our family. Your prayers carry us through each day. It is hard to believe that August is "right around the corner." This summer has been a blur with Jace's reoccurance and our move.
We went over to the funeral home on Thursday to pick up a couple of last items. It was good closure for Jace and I since we were not a part of the move. It wasn't easy to leave and there were a lot of tears - we had a lot of good memories there over the last 10 years.

Time to move on... Travis will be starting his teaching job at DMACC and I will be getting ready for the school year. I will be going part-time this year, so that I can take care of Jace and his appointments.

In Christ,

Tara

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 4:00 PM CDT

UPDATE: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 4:00 PM CDT

WE ARE HOME!!! As you can see from the picture above, Jacer headed straight for his Super Mario Inner Sanctum to make up for lost time on the Playstation! Dr. Al-Zein was hesitant to release Jace as his white counts were still low, but he took into consideration how active and lively Jace was and said "I can't keep him here!" They gave Tara the choice of releasing them to the Ronald McDonald House in DSM or home...DUH!!!

The most important thing we were told is...HAND WASHING!!! We have to be very careful of germs with his counts so low. We will be going back to the clinic in DSM on Thursday for a blood count and probably a transfusion.

Anyway, we'll enjoy the time here at home and hopefully find time for a little family trip somewhere before summer ends.

Thank you for all your prayers for Jace and for your support and genuine concern for him. We are very thankful to have New Sharon as our extended family!

Travis
ICXC NIKA


Tuesday, July 24, 2007 9:04 AM CDT

Good morning, everyone...

We are still staying at the Hotel Blank but Dr. Al-Zein thinks Jace might be able to go home on Wednesday.

His spirits are still OK. Since I'm done at the funeral home, I'm able to stay with him & Tara all day and night (although I'm not too sure how excited Tara is about that!) His white blood count dipped a little bit yesterday but not enough to alarm anyone. He did receive a platelet transfusion yesterday as well.

Nolan Mothershead stopped by on Sunday and brought with him Walter the Farting Dog! This is a little stuffed animal that, when squeezed, gets great laughs from Jace and many surprised looks from nurses and people walking by the room! ;-) Thanks, Nolan! It was the perfect gift for an 8-year-old boy!!!

I just got off the phone with Tara this morning. Jace's neutrophil count (part of his white blood cells) has gone from 10 to 20; so that's very good! He sounds pretty good this morning so hopefully he won't mind one more night.

Thanks for checking in. Hopefully, next time we update, we'll all be home.

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Sunday, July 22, 2007 10:53 AM CDT

Good Morning,

Jace is still in the hospital. He is doing well and continues to feel better. The only problem is that his blood counts are not recovering. Travis talked to the oncologist at Mayo this morning and they would like his ANC to be at 200 before he is released. He is only at 60, however yesterday he was at 10. At least, we are moving in the right direction.

We are thankful that we are back at Blank with some of the best nurses and child life workers around. They have been so good to Jace during this long stay. They are great!

On Friday, Alec F. spent the day with us. Jace had been wanting to come home and it was nice to have someone there to help entertain him for the day. Alec and Jace went on a nerf gun hunt (thank you, Hamilton's). He even snuck up behind his favorite resident and shot him in the bottom. (Ealier in the week, he shot our new pastor in the bottom. Watch out if you come to visit!)
Later that afternoon, the child life gals took Alec and Jace to the top of the parking ramp and they threw Barbie dolls off the top of the building. No one was hurt - including the Barbie's. Sorry girls, it's a boy thing. :-)

At the end of the day, the boys and I went up to the helicopter pad and toured Lifeflight. Thank you Pilot Dave!! By 9:00 P.M. Jace and I were ready for some sleep.

Every morning, he asked if he can go home. He's a trooper. His emotions are up and down a lot. Alec said it best after one of Jace's breakdowns - "Wow, what a rollercoaster!" We realized yesterday that he has only been home for two days since July 3rd. Of course, moving to a different place makes that a little rough, too. It helps that Dad is here now and will be with us the remainder of the stay.

Thanks for your prayers,
Tara

Friday, July 20, 2007 0:35 AM CDT

Good evening, everyone...

A brief update tonight. I just got back from the hospital and and running on fumes! ;-)

Jace was not doing well tonight. He is quite constipated and was having stomach cramps last night and today. He is on a couple of meds to try and alleviate that so hopefully, relief is near.

He is also quite homesick. He started crying big crocodile tears tonight while telling me he wanted to "get outta here and go home!" That's hard to hear! I think Tara echoes his sentiments strongly! ;-)

If he can show some "progress" and get his neutrophil count above zero, I think they'll let him go. If it's zero tomorrow, I think they'll keep him...which won't go over well!

We would appreciate your prayers for Jace's neutrophil count to get moving so we can get him home.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Thursday, July 19, 2007 12:24 AM CDT

Good Afternoon,

Jace and I are still here with no plans of leaving today. Jace's white count is still at zero, and Mayo doesn't want him to leave until those counts come up. He is now receiving platelets. So far this week he has received platelets three times and red blood cells twice. This chemo has really been hard on his bone marrow. We are praying it is working just as hard on his tumor.

The rash is gone and right now he is just dealing with some tummy issues. I won't go into detail, but it has to do with too much morphine and not being able to "go." He is pretty miserable from this and they have started some different medicines. One more thing for the little trooper...

I'm hopeful that tomorrow we will be home, but that is all up to Jace's blood work.
We ask for prayers as his body recovers from this chemotherapy.

Love, Tara



P.S. I've heard that the PROS group designed some really cool bracelets. I will post a picture of them soon. There is information about them in the guestbook. I believe they are blue (Jace's favorite color) and say, "JaceStrong - Stay Strong" "I Will Heal You."
(I hope that is right!) Thank you Alec, Lyndsay and the rest of the PROS group!!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 0:14 AM CDT

PICTURES OF JACE'S ROOM ARE FINALLY UP!

Not much to report tonight. Jace is getting better...a little at a time. His rash is still pretty bad and it's starting to creep down his legs now. His mouth sores are still present and make it difficult for him to eat. Tara told me that as he was playing his Nintendo DS tonight, she told him that whenever Mario "died," he had to take a bite of Jello. Well, Mr. Sly figured out quite quickly that if he turned the volume down on his little game, good ol' Mommy wouldn't be able to tell when Mario bought the farm each time! A for ingenuity, Little Buddy!!!

His white blood count rose from 0 to .01 which is really nothing but a small fluctuation that could be back down tomorrow. Tara did say that his shot went better tonight after she suggested that they put an ice pack over the injection site right after the shot. Whatever works!

Thank you all for checking in and praying for Jace.

Sincerely,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

"They (Paul & Barnabas) strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, 'It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.'" Acts 14:22

Sunday, July 15, 2007 4:53 PM CDT

Good afternoon,

Jace is hanging in there but he's still not in very good shape. His mouth sores are still making it difficult for him to swallow and talk. He is still on a small dose of morphine for his discomfort so he does a lot of sleeping.

His platelets and red blood cells continued to decline, so today he received a transfusion of blood and platelets. We started the GCSF shots last night for his white blood cell count (which is at ZERO). Dr. Al-Zein was surprised that there was no effect today from that shot...his neutrophil count is still at zero. His rash continues to get worse and it is doing so in his groin area. The Dr. is pretty certain that the rash is a reaction from the Topotecan.

Jace did manage a little humor last night (before we put the cream on his leg in preparation for his shot ;-). Since he can't swallow he uses a plastic suction hose to suck the saliva out of his mouth and he was waving it around rather menacingly at the nurses and doctors...he looked like Harry Potter with a wand. He also stuck the suction tube to the side of his mouth and started to jerk his head back and forth...if you ever want to see a nurse freak out...DO THIS! He got a kick out of her understandably excited reaction!

So it was nice to see a little glimpse of the ol' Jacer for a few minutes. Dr. Al-Zein thinks he'll be feeling better by Wednesday.

I'm heading back up to the hospital to give Tara the night off. Thanks for checking in.

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Saturday, July 14, 2007 10:05 AM CDT

Good Morning,

We had a blast from the past last night as we had to make a late night trip to Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. Jace's rash has spread and his mouth sores are preventing him from swallowing. On top of this, he is dehydrated and he is running a borderline fever.

Twice this morning, Jace woke up gasping for breath...which was quite unsettling to Jace and his parents to say the least! His inability to swallow causes a buildup in his throat which makes it difficult for him to breathe at times. We've also started Jace on antibiotics and antihistamines for his rash. They'll be starting a new oral rinse for his mouth sores soon as well.

There is a possibility that he'll need a blood transfusion today or tomorrow as his counts (white blood cells: ZERO, platelets & hemoglobin) are all bottoming out. We were quite surprised that the chemo is affecting him this hard this quickly.

Thanks for your prayers for our little guy!

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 7:47 PM CDT

Good Evening,

We arrived home late last night. Thank you again to everyone that helped us move. It was great to walk into our house and everything was in it's place.

Jace's room was a hit and we will post pictures as soon as Travis puts together the computer desk. (It's in about 50 pieces; I hope he reads the instructions.)

Jace is feeling pretty rough today. Last night, he had a slight fever. We were told today that if the fever comes back we need to get him to the hospital to be evaluated. He has developed a few mouth sores and overall feels bad. He has given us a few smiles, but we miss his non-stop talking and laughter.

Travis will update soon. Keep our little guy in your prayers. Just last week, he was laughing and playing at the park and today he doesn't want to leave the couch.

Thanks,
Tara

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:44 AM CDT

Good morning, everyone...

Just a quick note to tell you that Jace is starting his fifth treatment right now and is doing fine. He hasn't had any nausea or vomiting but he's been depressed and lethargic. I think it's his port access, a small rash from the adhesive tape and being away from home that have taken a toll rather than the chemo, though. I spoke with Dr. Wetmore this morning and she said it'll be a while before his blood counts/hemoglobin start to come down and the chemo affects him in that way.

If we get done early enough today, we might head out and be home tonight; otherwise, we'll wait until morning to come home.

As I understand, Jace's room looks like something out of a magazine (thanks to Tammy, Stacia, Marla & Co.) so he's quite excited to get home and see it! It sounds like Chipper has made some new friends and had a breakfast date with the neighbors...he may not want us to come back! ;-)

Thanks for your prayers and for checking in on Jace!

God's peace to you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Sunday, July 8, 2007 2:41 PM CDT

Good afternoon, everyone...

We have started Jace's third chemotherapy treatment this afternoon. He is currently laying in bed in the Pediatric Infusion Therapy Center here at St. Mary's Hospital playing his Nintendo DS with Jenna.

We started to see a few subtle effects of his treatments last night as he looked a little listless and "burnt out" while just sitting on the bed. But, so far, he hasn't had any nausea, stomach pains or vomiting.

Not starting treatment until 2 PM today afforded Jenna & me the opportunity to attend Holy Mass at the beautiful St. John the Evangelist parish in downtown Rochester this morning. I've also given Tara the afternoon off so she's out running a few errands right now. I told her to take her time and not to feel like she had to get right back here to the hospital.

Not much to report today...other than hanging out at the hospital, but we always appreciate your posts, emails & phone calls. If everything continues to go well, we should be home by Wednesday.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Friday, July 6, 2007 7:08 PM CDT

Here we go again....Jace is receiving his chemo as I type. It brought back a lot of emotions to see the nurse hooking up his port and starting the drugs. Yuck!

Anyway, Jace is a trooper and he is doing well after his port placement. Jace and I arrived at the hospital at 7:30 this morning - just like we were suppose to. Sadly, he didn't go in for his procedure until 2:00 this afternoon. It was a long wait; I still am not sure what took so long.
Because of the late start, we are stuck here over night. Both of us were not prepared to stay. We thought we were going to be able to enjoy the night at the Ronald McDonald House.

Travis has told me the move is almost complete. I called him this evening and he was moving Chipper's home. Poor Chipper has been so confused. He just keeps going from house to house wondering where we are at. Poor dog :-)


A HUGE Thank you goes out to all the people that helped Travis move. From friends to family - we can't thank you enough. My friends were kind enough to unpack,clean the old house, and decorate our new place for us. Someone even cleaned my tub....you will be blessed for that one :-) The kindness that people have shown is simply amazing. We are overwhelmed!!!

Travis and Jenna (with grandma and grandpa) will be coming up to see us tomorrow. Jace is so excited to see dad; I'm not as entertaining, I guess!

We will be home on either Tuesday night or Wednesday. I am so excited to see our place and Jace is excited to see his room. I think Tammy and Stacia have been busy on a "surprise room" for Jacer. Thank you, ladies!

Again, Thank you to everyone that helped. Words are just not enough...

Love, Tara


Jace funny: Because of all the hydration Jace is receiving, I have nicknamed him "The Wizard." He is unable to get out of bed, so I was attempting to help him "go" with the urinal. My positioning was wrong the first time and I had a flashback to 1999 when he was a baby. I will just say....he got me good :-) Of course, he was laughing!

Wednesday, July 4, 2007 8:03 AM CDT

Good morning, everyone...

I got back from Rochester late last night. Tara & Jace are staying at the Ronald McDonald House. After our consult with Dr. Wetmore, we have decided to implement a treatment of Topotecan and Temozolomide. The Topotecan will be given every three weeks, four hours a day over a five day period. The Temozolomide is an oral chemotherapy agent and will be given in pill form.

We weren't able to get Jace in for port placement until Friday. So, Tara & Jacer will be enjoying the 4th tonight in Rochester and I'll be enjoying it here...MOVING! ;-) So, we'll have his port placed on Friday morning and begin the chemotherapy right away on Friday with this first treatment concluding on Tuesday. Jenna & I will probably head back up this weekend once things are somewhat settled at our new location.

None of the Dr.'s I spoke with in Chicago, Iowa City, or Memphis could really agree on the best course of treatment... basically because there isn't one. With a recurrent Medullobastoma, treatments are usually "hit & miss" and there is no set protocol that has shown consistent results. We are very comfortable with Dr. Wetmore's expertise, skill and her high level of compassion for Jace and feel like this is the best place for him to be. His next MRI is scheduled for September 11th. If we don't see any response (or we see tumor progression), we'll obviously be changing our treatment regiment immediately.

We will have all of his chemotherapy infusions done in Rochester but, during the two-week periods at home, we'll have his blood draws done in Oskaloosa.

Thank you all so much for your prayers for Jace and for discernment as to treatment. Tara & I feel confident about our decision and, perhaps as a sign of things to come, at Jace's blood draw yesterday, the nurses found his vein right away (NEVER happens! ;-) and slid the needle in without Jace feeling a thing! (NEVER, EVER happens!!! ;-)

Thank you for checking in & God's peace to you,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Sunday, July 1, 2007 11:56 PM CDT

We would like to extend a HUGE HEARTFELT THANKS to our wonderful community of New Sharon!!!

We were very privileged to be a part of the program tonight and even more privileged to have Jace's benefit be included with the evening's celebration.

Special thanks to the New Sharon Assembly of God for hosting the event; Stacia for all her efforts; Alec Fuller for putting the wristbands together; Phil & LaVerne DeBoef for their friendship and musical talents; and to all of you who were there tonight, who came up to visit with us, cry with us, laugh with us, and support our little guy.

Thank you to everyone who bought t-shirts & wristbands to support Jace; to everyone who drove a lengthy distance to be with us (especially both of our old college "roomies" who were there tonight! ;-)

Thanks to all those who couldn't be there tonight but who were with us in spirit; to all our fellow musicians, all the decorators, those who made dinner, those who served dinner, and those who stayed to clean up!

This truly is a wonderful country in which we live and we have much for which to be thankful!

Words cannot express how much we appreciate all of your kindness, generosity, prayers, love and concern for our little guy! THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NEW SHARON!!!

We will be going to Rochester on Tuesday to select a treatment option and will have a port put in on Thursday.

To God be the Glory!
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 12:14 AM CDT

Good afternoon, everyone...

Again, my apologies for not updating as often as I should. We have been enjoying a little hiatus as we try to discern the best course of treatment for Jace. He is the same little kid he was before June 12th so things have seemed eerily normal the past week. So normal, in fact, that we often find ourselves forgetting about what lies ahead and how serious this situation truly is.

We have spoken with Dr.'s in Iowa City and Chicago this past week and neither were very optimistic about Jace's situation. At this point, we are leaning heavily towards St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis. Our Mayo oncologist, Dr. Cynthia Wetmore, has been very supportive of this decision. She has a St. Jude background and speaks VERY highly of her colleagues there. She is absolutely the best and has had Jace's best interests in mind from day one.

We are waiting to hear back from the Dr.s at St. Jude to determine when we can get started.

On a positive note, the New Sharon Assembly of God is presenting a patriotic program entitled "Wake Up America" which will be held at the Rock Center in New Sharon this Sunday evening, July 1st at 6:00 PM. A meal will be served at 4:30 PM. Tara & I were asked to contribute our musical efforts to this program several months ago and now we have been told that they will be holding a benefit for Jace that evening to be tied in with the meal & program. We can't thank the wonderful people of New Sharon & surrounding communities enough for their continuing support of Jace and our family! We are truly at a loss for words at this outpouring of love and support! The only thing I can say is God is good all the time and all the time, God is good!

THANK YOU NEW SHARON!!!

In the midst of all this, I will be starting a new job in August and we will be moving next week! We will continue to live here in New Sharon (we will now be "North-siders" ;-) and I will have our new contact info up as soon as it's final.

We continue to be encouraged by your phone calls, visits, emails and posts. Thank you all for your prayers for our little guy.

Thank you all so much,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Wednesday, June 20, 2007 1:20 AM CDT

Sorry I haven't posted anything new for a few days. Jace has been hanging around the house, going to Bible school, being a regular kid and, with as well as he's doing, it's easy to forget what happened last week...then it will hit us again during a routine time of day. Round 2.

I've exchanged several emails with Dr. Wetmore and she feels that a once every 3-week chemotherapy regimen of Topotecan is the best way to proceed right now. She's also checking into the possibility of a gamma-knife treatment or conformal radiation which is what he had the first time around.

We're still waiting for the final pathology reports from the biopsy before we start any treatments.

Thanks for checking in and I'm sorry we don't know much right now. Thanks for all your prayers for our little guy!

Travis
ICXC NIKA

Friday, June 15, 2007 2:07 PM CDT

Update: Monday, June 18, 2007
We are home and Jace is doing well. I've added new photos to the photo album. Happy 11th Birthday tomorrow to Jenna!!!



Jace is in Room #3-546 of the Mary Brigh Building here at St. Mary's and is doing quite well. They have just given him some morphine for his pain and he's drifting back off to sleep.

Unfortunately, Dr. Raffel has confirmed that this is indeed a recurrence of Medulloblastoma. I was holding out hope that it might be something different, but it was not to be.

We will be discussing treatment options with Dr. Wetmore in the near future.

My cell phone is dead but we can't really have them on in the PICU area. If you want to get a hold of us, our room phone is (507) 287-4307. The Dr. has told us that if Jace continues to come out of anasthesia as he has, we should be leaving tomorrow.

We can't tell you how much we appreciate your prayers, posts and phone calls. Knowing we have such a support system back home is very comforting. And SPECIAL THANKS to Marvin Knoot for his unexpected visit today. It was very reassuring and comforting to see a familiar face during this stressful day. Thanks Marvin...your visit was appreciated more than we can ever say!

My Catholic faith has been invaluable throughout this week and I continue to give thanks to God and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for these trials we must endure. Although they are difficult to handle, we are brought closer to our Lord through them. Many have gone before us down this road, and, unfortunately, many will follow. As St. Paul writes in 1st Colossians 1:24 - "I find joy in the sufferings I endure for you. In my own flesh I fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His body, the Church." I know Jace will not find any joy in the suffering that lies ahead of him, but I have faith that a perfect reward awaits him.

Jace is a little more knowledgeable this time around and has told me that he does not want another tumor or another port. He is a trooper though and has handled everything that has happened to him this week with a peace and calmness that only our Lord can provide.

Thank you again for all of your support through prayer, posting to Jace's website, phone calls and text messages. We are here alone in this little hospital room but we can feel the support of many.

All praise and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ,
Travis
ICXC NIKA

Friday, June 15, 2007 12:17 PM CDT

UPDATE: Friday, June 15, 2007 12:17 PM

Jace went in for his biopsy at 7:00 AM this morning. We have just received word that he is in recovery and he seems to be doing fine at this point.

I'll post more when we know.

Thanks for your prayers today!
Travis
ICXC NIKA


UPDATE: Thursday, June 14, 2007 10:23 PM

We are to report to St. Mary's Hospital at 6:30 AM on Friday morning for Jace's biopsy.

All of your prayers, posts & phone calls are GREATLY appreciated!

Also...Tara's phone is operational now.

Peace be with you all,
Travis
ICXC NIKA



Wednesday, June 13, 2007 7:09 AM CDT

Good morning,

This is the entry I hoped I would never have to type. We are still at the Mayo Clinic as the doctors have told us that the "spot" we had seen last time has grown and is definitely new tumor growth. Jace will be undergoing a spinal tap this morning to see if it's in his spinal fluid. If his fluid is clear, we may have a biopsy done. We don't know anything else right now other than he needs your prayers now more than ever.

I'll add more when we know.

Travis

UPDATE: Wednesday, June 13th, 2:00 PM

We have spoken with Dr. Wetmore and Jace's spinal tap came back clear. While this is good news, it only means that the tumor has not gone into his spine. There is still the tumor in his head we have to deal with.

Since Jace has been doing so well and since this is atypical tumor behavior with regard to a medulloblastoma recurrence, we are going to have a biopsy performed on Friday. Tara & I have decided that we want to be absolutely certain what this is before we start introducing any chemotherapy into his little body.

Dr. Raffel will insert a needle/probe into Jace's brain and obtain a sample of the tumor so we'll know exactly what it is and how to treat it. This will be a 4-5 hour procedure and there is a risk of bleeding if they hit a blood vessel. That would be very bad as it would require additional extensive surgery to repair any vessel damage.

Prayers to guide the surgeon's hands and to guide the probe would be greatly appreciated. They will need to keep Jace overnight at St. Mary's after the procedure and, if he's doing well on Saturday, we should be able to come home at that time. We've been told that the results won't be available until late next week.

Jace is doing very well. We have explained the biopsy to him and he seems to be comfortable with it...as comfortable as an 8-year-old can be with the thought of a large needle being inserted into his brain, I suppose.

Tara & I appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, posts and phone calls during this difficult time.

We continue to praise God and give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of these trials...for it is through Him that all things are possible.

The peace of Christ be with you,
Travis

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 12:15 AM CDT

Hi Everyone,
Jenna is raising money for The Heart Connection. She's doing a great job!
Please check her progress.

What is The Heart Connection?
The Heart Connection Children's Cancer Programs is a not-for-profit organization which enhances the quality of life for children with cancer by providing programs for recreation, education, and family support.

Jace continues to do well. We sent a picture of him riding his bike to his Doctor at Mayo. She wrote, "this picture tells me more than any scan can show." We have another MRI scheduled for June 12th.

Thanks for your ongoing support and prayers,
Tara

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 12:15 AM CDT

Hi Everyone,
Jenna is raising money for The Heart Connection. She's doing a great job!
Please check her progress.

What is The Heart Connection?
The Heart Connection Children's Cancer Programs is a not-for-profit organization which enhances the quality of life for children with cancer by providing programs for recreation, education, and family support.

Jace continues to do well. We sent a picture of him riding his bike to his Doctor at Mayo. She wrote, "this picture tells me more than any scan can show." We have another MRI scheduled for June 12th.

Thanks for your ongoing support and prayers,
Tara

Sunday, April 15, 2007 7:27 PM CDT

Jace has finally passed Biking 101. Today was the day and we are so proud of him. The last time he rode a bike without training wheels and with confidence was the Summer of 2003 before his brain tumor.

What a good day for him (and us)!

Thanks for checking on us.
The Carrico's

Monday, March 26, 2007 9:34 PM CDT

We're back from Rochester tonight. Jace was examined by Dr. Garrity, a neuro-ophthamologist to determine if the "spot" was affecting his vision in any way.

After putting Jace through the ringer, Dr. Garrity determined that Jace's vision is normal.

This was obviously very welcome news. We still don't know what the spot is but we do know it isn't putting any pressure on his optic nerves. That can only be a good thing.

We haven't had a chance to visit with Dr. Wetmore (our oncologist) but during our last visit, she felt that if this test showed no signs of affected vision, the best plan of action would be to wait for the next MRI in three months to see what the spot looks like.

So, for right now, no news is good news!

God is good all the time and all the time, God is good!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: Tara put some new pictures on the Photo Album page and on the front page. The two dashing gentlemen seated with Jace in the above picture are the Mayo Brothers, William and Charles who founded the Mayo Clinic in the late 19th century with their father, William Worrall Mayo. The nun pictured on the Photo Album page is Mother Mary Alfred Moes who was instrumental in establishing the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester and in founding St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

Monday, March 26, 2007 9:34 PM CDT

We're back from Rochester tonight. Jace was examined by Dr. Garrity, a neuro-ophthamologist to determine if the "spot" was affecting his vision in any way.

After putting Jace through the ringer, Dr. Garrity determined that Jace's vision is normal.

This was obviously very welcome news. We still don't know what the spot is but we do know it isn't putting any pressure on his optic nerves. That can only be a good thing.

We haven't had a chance to visit with Dr. Wetmore (our oncologist) but during our last visit, she felt that if this test showed no signs of affected vision, the best plan of action would be to wait for the next MRI in three months to see what the spot looks like.

So, for right now, no news is good news!

God is good all the time and all the time, God is good!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: Tara put some new pictures on the Photo Album page and on the front page. The two dashing gentlemen seated with Jace in the above picture are the Mayo Brothers, William and Charles who founded the Mayo Clinic in the late 19th century with their father, William Worrall Mayo. The nun pictured on the Photo Album page is Mother Mary Alfred Moes who was instrumental in establishing the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester and in founding St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007 9:34 PM CDT

We just arrived home from Rochester tonight. The spot that showed up last time showed up again this time, only with more enhancement. This is obviously not a good thing.

However, the "spot" is located right in the optic chiasm which is where the optic nerves are located. A tumor/growth at this location should be affecting Jace's vision. It is not. Jace's vision seems to be fine and Dr. Wetmore's exam of the back of his eye supported this.

Also, the spot has been there for at least a year...albeit in various forms but roughly the same size. A tumor would normally grow much more quickly than this over the span of a year. Other factors which come into play are the angle of his head during the scan (which is never exactly the same) and the fact that the location of the spot is nowhere near the original tumor site.

A biopsy was discussed but, due to the location of the spot, it would be a very serious surgery to undertake. It would require the removal of a good portion of Jace's skull and the surgeon would have to essentially separate Jace's brain along the midline to gain access to the spot.

Before we go down that road, Dr. Wetmore suggested we have a neuro-opthamologist examine Jace to determine if there is any change in his vision that might be caused by this spot. If there is, then a biopsy will probably be ordered. If there is no discernable effect from the spot on Jace's vision, we will probably wait another three months to see what happens.

The biggest variable in all this is Jace's current physical and mental condition. He is doing better now than at any point since this began. He is running strong, doing well in school, vision is good, reflexes are good...etc. Dr. Wetmore felt that, at this point, a biopsy might do just as much harm as good as there is the distinct possibility that the procedure would adversely affect his vision.

Bottom line: we have another "hurry up and wait" scenario. We will be going back to Rochester in a couple weeks for the neuro-opthamology exam and proceed from there.

I can't help but think that my faith is being tested right now. Tara & I can do nothing but continue to have faith that our Lord Jesus is working things out in accordance with the will of our Heavenly Father. We will continue to pray for Jace's complete healing and continue to remember the simple phrase, "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it."

Thank you all for your prayers and concern for our little guy.

God's peace to you,
Travis

Sunday, March 11, 2007 5:41 PM CDT

What a beautiful day!!

We ask for your prayers as we approach another MRI. We will be leaving tomorrow for Jace's appointments in Rochester.
The MRI is scheduled for Tuesday morning. We should get the results at our afternoon appointment with Dr. Wetmore. We will keep you posted.

Jace is doing well. The last week he was very tired and even came home from school and took a nap a couple of times. The sunshine has been a great dose of medicine for him (and all of us).

Thanks again for your support and for your prayers,

The Carrico's

Monday, February 26, 2007 11:12 PM CST

Good evening, everyone...

I was checking Jace's page tonight and realized it's been awhile since we updated. I wanted to share a story about Jace that happened a couple of weeks ago. Let me preface it first. Throughout Jace's illness, treatments & subsequent healing, I have always felt very strongly that he has been destined to do great things to advance the Kingdom of God. I see it in his talents, his unique personality and his witness of the healing touch of Christ.

A couple of weeks ago I was reading a Scripture passage to Jenna & Jace from John 6 about Jesus' "flesh being real food and His blood real drink." Afterwards, I thought it might be a good idea to back up and explain the Last Supper to them. After reading to them from Luke 14, they of course asked me what "Passover" was. So, I took them back to Exodus 12 and read to them about the first Passover.

Incidentally, a note to parents: I don't suggest reading a bible story about the Lord coming down at midnight to kill every firstborn child in Egypt to small children right before bedtime. It tends to freak them out.

Anyway...Jace is quite fascinated by this story of the Passover. He asks me if it would be OK if he shared it with his class. I said to him, "I think that'd be great buddy!" My thoughts immediately went to his destiny to do great things for the Lord. I actually found myself welling up with tears at Jace's eagerness to go and share the Word of God with his friends and classmates. Conversely, I think part of my tears were those of disappointment and shame at my own failure to share God's Word with him & Jenna more often. They had soaked it up like sponges and were asking question after question. "Why wasn't I doing this more often?" was all I could think.

I told Tara of Jace's desire. Both of us wondered how the whole "separation of Church & state" thing would play out in this age of political correctness. But, we also had a feeling that Jace's teacher, Mrs. Gruber (a wonderful teacher and good Christian woman) would make sure that he got an opportunity somehow to do this. (By the way, Mrs. Gruber, I never thanked you for that...it meant a great deal to me!)

Jace came home a day or two later and told me that he had shared the story of the Passover with his classmates. I was very proud of him and it just reaffirmed my belief that this little boy will do great things for our Lord Jesus Christ.

He also really challenged me to be more assertive in sharing my faith with others. It was amazing to me that it seemed so natural to Jace that, after hearing this great Bible story, he should go out and share it with everyone he knew. It was also amazing to see how thirsty my children were for knowledge and truth and really drove home the responsibility that we have as parents to share that with them.

Mark 10:14-16 "When Jesus saw this, he became indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.' Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them."

My intent is not to brag about Jace and his "accomplishment." Jace owes everything he is and does to our Lord Jesus...as do all of us. But I think God is working through Jace to speak to us and I wanted to share this story with you because of it's message to us "adults" to accept the kingdom of God as a child.

Peace,
Travis

Tuesday, January 2, 2007 10:58 AM CST

Happy New Year!!

Christmas 2006 is behind us now. We had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. As you notice from the above picture, Jace was dressed pretty fancy for Christmas this year. Jace wanted a tux for Christmas and thanks to Ebay and Aunt Angie his wish was granted. I'm not sure where he's going to wear it. Although, it was perfect for the Christmas Eve service at church. Jenna had a great Christmas, too. Santa brought her contacts, so she is getting used to seeing the world through her "new" eyes.

Jace returns to Mayo the second week of March for another MRI. We will keep our online prayer warriors posted. Thanks for checking in on our family.


We hope that all of you have a Healthy and Happy 2007!

Travis, Tara, Jenna, and Jace

Sunday, December 10, 2006 9:29 PM CST

Merry Christmas to all of you!

May God bless you and keep you safe as we enter a new year. In a week, it will be three year's since we began this journey. Thank you for helping us along the way and praying for our son. We are blessed to have you as part of our lives.

In Christ,

Travis, Tara, Jenna and Jace

Tuesday, November 21, 2006 10:41 PM CST

Good evening, everyone.

We decided to come home tonight after a LONG day in Rochester. We are happy to report that everything seems to be fairly stable. There was, however, another one of those "spots" though that created a rather emotional environment in the Dr'.s office this afternoon.

There was a "spot" near Jace's pituitary center (behind the top of your nose between your eyes) that the radiologist thought was a possible recurrence. However, when Dr. Wetmore did a side-by-side comparison of the current scan and last August's scan, there was no discernable difference and the spot on today's scan even looked a bit smaller than it did in August.

Apparently, the radiologist who read today's scan is not a neuro-radiologist and doesn't have the amount of experience reading brain scans that the usual neuro-radiologist does. The normal guy didn't say anything about this spot when it showed up in August.

Bottom line, Dr. Wetmore is not concerned with this spot right now. Jace has shown no symptoms that would normally manifest with tumor growth in this area. She also pointed out that a Medulloblastoma almost always recurs in the original tumor bed or in the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid. She has never seen a medullo recur in this area.

I'm not a "numbers guy" and don't put any stock in them, but Dr. Wetmore also stated that approximately 80f all Medulloblastoma recurrences happen within two years of the end of treatments. We just passed that landmark in October so, if one were to be a "numbers" guy, one might be encouraged by that little bit of information.

The day started off REALLY BAD. We showed up at 6:45 AM for Jace's bloodwork and nobody could find a vein on that kid. They looked, poked and dug around in his arms (AT FIVE DIFFERENT SITES!!!) with the needle for about an hour before Tara & I told them, "enough!" We went ahead and took him to the MRI room and started the scans that didn't require any contrast. We then had a pediatric nurse come down and try to find evidence of a vascular system in Jace ;-) The nurse had an IV started in Jace's foot before he even knew what happened.

With all that going on, we were late for our endocrinology appointment. The Dr. graciously saw us during her lunch hour but we waited about 45 minutes in a cramped exam room trying not to kill each other!

But, with the (relatively) clean bill of health we received today, the end justifies the means, I suppose.

Tara & I can't thank you all enough for your prayers, calls and concern for Jacer.

All praises be to our Lord Jesus Christ for the healing work he has continued in Jace.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Tuesday, November 14, 2006 8:55 PM CST

NEW PHOTOS ARE UP!

It's been awhile since our last update so I thought I'd jump on and type something.

Jace's next scans will be on Tuesday, November 21st in Rochester. He will be having a full spinal/cranial MRI and will try it without sedation again. He did so well last time, we're hoping for another good session...it'll just be quite a bit longer.

Since life is pretty ho-hum right now (just how we like it ;-), I thought I'd tell you a funny story that happened just last night. Jace & Mom were practicing flash cards for Math class. Tara would hold up the card and Jace would shout out the answer as quickly as possible. Of course, good ol' Dad's just minding his own business, pretending to be asleep in the recliner when he gets drawn into this game...so, here we go.

I let Jacer win the first few rounds to get his confidence going a bit and then, against all better judgment, I decided to mess with Jacer just for the fun of it. Now, my kids are OBSESSED with staying up late and would probably report us to the Dept. of Human Services for "early-to-bed" abuse if they knew the phone number...is 8:30 or 9:00 really that early???

Anyway, since things had been pretty status quo up to that point, I told Jacer (in the most grandiose tone I could muster), "Jacer, if you beat me on this next flash card, YOU CAN STAY UP AS LATE AS YOU WANT TO TONIGHT!!!" All of the sudden, Jace starts puffing up with excitement and acts like a Price Is Right contestant who just heard "COME ON DOWN!!!" I could see Tara's eyes rolling and could hear her say, "Oh god, this oughtta be good."

Well, I had no intention of letting lil' Einstein win this game and staying up with him until midnight watching "That's So Raven." I figured I could beat him pretty easily so you can imagine my surprise when "2+0" pops up on the card. The easiness of the problem surprised me so much that the little shtinker actually almost beat me. But I literally shouted out "two!!!" a half-second before he did. What followed was not pretty.

COMPLETE AND UTTER MELTDOWN.

When he realized that he had lost and any chance of a late-nighter had just evaporated, he started bawling like a kid who's dog just got creamed by an SUV. He cried like I haven't seem him cry in a LONG time. He was utterly inconsolable. "What kind of parent am I?" was the only thing I could think (as I tried to stifle my laughter.) I apologized profusely but all he could say between sobs was "It's not fair!!!" I told him that I shouldn't have done that and that it was a mean little trick for me to play and promised him he could stay up "late" tonight since school's out early tomorrow. That seemed to work for a little bit.

But even this morning, the residual effects were still noticeable. He wanted a rematch tonight and, after two cards, he was about ready to lose it again; so I just had to walk away. Crisis averted.

As a parent, I can't help but wonder what long-term effects last night will have on Jacer. How might this adversely affect his potential legacy as North Mahaska's Flash-Card Champion? If he does fail in that arena, I can look back on this fateful night and know that I have only myself to blame. Yes, I AM a bad parent! (But you've gotta admit, it was pretty funny!)

Back to serious matters...

Tara & I would very much appreciate all your prayers for Jace's continued healing and restoration as we prepare for this stressful time. Jace is doing well in school and in general, but, as all of you parents with kids like Jace can attest, the "what-ifs" come at you pretty hard and heavy during these times and it's difficult to remain upbeat with scans looming in the distance.

But I continue to give all praise, thanks and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ for his healing work in my son. He has truly blessed our family and all the glory goes to Him.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:31 PM CDT

Thanks for stopping by Jace's site. Life is boring here - Praise God!

We are thankful to hear that Jace is doing WONDERFUL in school this year. He seems more confident, stronger, and "right on course" with the other kids. He is also back to his "naughty self." Tonight, he had to go to bed early with no T.V. (Drama, Drama, and more Drama- I hope to see him on the big screen someday.)

I did get some new pictures in the photo album, so take a look. The weather was beautiful today; does winter have to come??? :-)

We will be heading to Rochester the middle of November. We will keep you updated as the time gets closer. Thanks for your prayers of healing; God is good!



The Carrico's

Thursday, August 31, 2006 8:33 PM CDT

As you can see by our picture, Jace has started another school year. Every year we make a sign for the kids to hold as we take their first day of school picture. Travis made Jace's - the saying on it is pretty cute, don't you think? :-)
The kids are enjoying school and mom is getting used to working full time. Jenna loves 5th grade and has had homework every night. Jace is doing well in 1st grade. I'm not sure if he loves school, but he tells people he loves his teachers. So, it's worth getting up in the morning :-)

August was a busy month for us. Most of the month was spent getting ready for school and enjoying some last days at the pool.
Jenna enjoyed a week at Sibling camp in Boone. She had a great time and is always exciting to go back. It's something that she looks forward to each year.
The kids and I spent a day at the State Fair. We had a great time until noon - that is when the rest of the 100,000 people decided to join us. It was so busy. Jace found a new love - State Fair corn dogs! I'm not going again without dad's help - yikes!!

Jace's health is going well. We try not to worry about the "spot" scan and enjoy each day. I have figured out that worrying will do no good - it's out of my hands.
We just continue to pray for God's healing.

Thanks for stopping by Jace's page.

Tara

Tuesday, August 8, 2006 10:07 PM CDT

Good evening, everyone.

We just returned from Rochester tonight.

We were glad to find out that there is no new tumor growth. However, there is a spot that has shown up. Our Doctor tells us it is most likely scar tissue or possibly a cyst. On the films, it doesn't have the normal cluster-like appearance that a tumor normally would and it isn't near the original tumor bed which supports her thinking as well.

Dr. Wetmore isn't concerned about it at this point (which did make us feel a little better). We will be going back in November for his next scan and, if it has changed at all by then, we will have it biopsied and proceed from there.

Tests for leukemia came back negative today, also.

So, for the most part, we got good news, but it is tempered with a little bit of anxiety over this stupid little "spot."

We were very proud of Jace for getting through his scans without any sedation whatsoever. It's so nice to get up on the table, get scanned, and jump off and head to the Canadian Honker for breakfast...good job, Jacer!

Thanks for checking in & God's peace to you,
Travis

Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006 9:30 AM CDT

THANK GOD FOR OPRAH WINFREY!

I knew that title might catch your eye; especially coming from me, Travis, rather than my lovely wife, who has actually considered having a small shrine built in our house in Oprah's honor (hasn't happened yet, though ;-)

I have a simple reason for my praises to the almighty "O" however. You see, without Oprah, the 20 hour one-way trip to North Carolina (and back) might have been a little more difficult...dare I say unbearable, without her divine intervention!

First of all, let me say that I don't recommend driving in a car with your family for any extended period, let alone 21 hours. But, if you find yourself in this situation, men, please be sure to purchase (for your wife) Oprah's 25th Anniversary DVD Collection (available at your local Wal-Mart for a mere $39.95). For this paltry investment, your wife will reap about 20 hours of vintage Oprah footage, interviews, advice on how to alter her husband's lifestyle, and other priceless information she didn't know she needed. The other ancillary benefit is that your wife will have a pair of headphones on and be fully engrossed in everything Oprah for the better part of 20 hours.

Now I know I'm making it sound all one-sided here...many of you are thinking that I don't want to talk to my wife on a long trip. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Without her conversation, I would have been able to enjoy many naps as I drove through the night ;-) But keeping us all alive aside, my wife did enjoy the benefits of Oprah as well and said that it made the trip go by unbelievably fast. You see, men, it's a "Win-Win" situation.

There is a saying, though, that says, "No good deed goes unpunished."

One problem that can invariably arise from your wife watching 20 hours of Oprah is a discussion of these crucial issues. Whether it be Tom Cruise's divorce from Nicole Kidman; Beyonce's story of success and heartbreak after the breakup of Destiny's Child; or issues that hit closer to the heart, like Hugh Grant's prostitute problems or Oprah's fluctuating weight and subsequent "Stedman" issues. Men, you are likely to find yourselves up to your insensitive ears in conversation related to these issues. A small price to pay for your wife's traveling contentment, though...yes?

The bottom line is that I had a wonderful time with my family during vacation this summer...and would've with or without Oprah. Jace is doing well and it is nice to see him becoming stronger and more active and we have our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ to thank for that.

Jace is having his next MRI on Tuesday, August 8th in Rochester. We would appreciate your prayers for continued healing for him.

Thanks for checking in and, for all you men who are taking your families on long trips in the near future, my Oprah DVD Collection/Travel Survival Kit is now available to rent.

Travis

PS: The new photo above is Jace and a new friend at the North Carolina Aquarium. Looks like something out of the movie "Alien"...you sci-fi buffs will know what I mean ;-)

There are also some new pics up on the Photo Album page.

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:15 AM CDT

*** Please look at the new photos to see if Jace received his yellow belt***


Thanks for checking in on Jace and our family. I apologize how long it has been since our last update.

Since our last update, the kids have been busy with many summer activities. We spent most of June watching ball games and enjoying time at home. Jenna’s team won the minor girl’s championship game which was pretty exciting. The kids spent a few days in Illinois with Travis’ parents and enjoyed a weekend camping with my brother and his wife. It seems that the days fly by. The majority of our summer days are spent at the New Sharon Pool, which is a lot of fun for the kids (and me).

Jace is doing great and has had a wonderful summer. He tested for his yellow belt in taekwondo and he should know Thursday night if he receives it. Jace’s health is also doing well. He seems stronger and is full of energy again. His weight issue became a bit of a concern in June. He had gained 12 lbs in a month. We called Mayo in the middle of June about this and they decided to set-up a blood draw. We found out that his thyroid levels were low again. So, his doctor decided to increase his thyroid medicine and decrease the steroid that he takes. He is feeling much better now and isn’t out of control like he was.

We will be leaving on Friday for a vacation to Emerald Isle in North Carolina. We planned this trip back in December and now it is finally here! We will be staying on the beach and really have no other plans - just hang out and relax. I’m anxious to see how much fun we have in the 20 hour car ride together. Thank goodness for DVD players :-)

When we get back from North Carolina we will be heading back to Mayo on August 8th. Jace is scheduled for an MRI, blood work, and a couple different appointments. His appointments are scheduled for one day. However, the first one is at 6:30 A.M. So, we will have to drive up the day before.

Thanks for checking in on us. Thanks in advance for all of your prayers as we approach another MRI. It is your prayers that give us strength each day.

We will let you know as soon as we have results.

Enjoy your summer and stay cool,

Tara and family

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:15 AM CDT

Thanks for checking in on Jace and our family. I apologize how long it has been since our last update.

Since our last update, the kids have been busy with many summer activities. We spent most of June watching ball games and enjoying time at home. Jenna’s team won the minor girl’s championship game which was pretty exciting. The kids spent a few days in Illinois with Travis’ parents and enjoyed a weekend camping with my brother and his wife. It seems that the days fly by. The majority of our summer days are spent at the New Sharon Pool, which is a lot of fun for the kids (and me).

Jace is doing great and has had a wonderful summer. He tested for his yellow belt in taekwondo and he should know Thursday night if he receives it. Jace’s health is also doing well. He seems stronger and is full of energy again. His weight issue became a bit of a concern in June. He had gained 12 lbs in a month. We called Mayo in the middle of June about this and they decided to set-up a blood draw. We found out that his thyroid levels were low again. So, his doctor decided to increase his thyroid medicine and decrease the steroid that he takes. He is feeling much better now and isn’t out of control like he was.

We will be leaving on Friday for a vacation to Emerald Isle in North Carolina. We planned this trip back in December and now it is finally here! We will be staying on the beach and really have no other plans - just hang out and relax. I’m anxious to see how much fun we have in the 20 hour car ride together. Thank goodness for DVD players :-)

When we get back from North Carolina we will be heading back to Mayo on August 8th. Jace is scheduled for an MRI, blood work, and a couple different appointments. His appointments are scheduled for one day. However, the first one is at 6:30 A.M. So, we will have to drive up the day before.

Thanks for checking in on us. Thanks in advance for all of your prayers as we approach another MRI. It is your prayers that give us strength each day.

We will let you know as soon as we have results.

Enjoy your summer and stay cool,

Tara and family

Sunday, June 11, 2006 2:08 PM CDT

**** Update - Sunday, June 25th ****
Please keep Hollister in your prayers. He is an inspiration to all that follow his page.

Jace is doing well. Last week we called Mayo and talked with one of his doctors. She felt that he should have bloodwork done in Osky to see what was going on with his weight gain. It turns out that his thyroid level is much lower than it use to be, so we increased his thyroid medication and decreased his steroid. He seems to be feeling better.




Where did May go??? The last month has been very busy with the end of school and the beginning of ball season and summer activities. Jace has been getting along well and is enjoying summer. He has started a new hobby - eating... and eating... and more eating! I am not sure if this is a side effect of his new medicine or just a growing boy that is getting stronger. He has gained 35 lbs. from his lowest point during chemo.

The kids enjoyed their last month of school. Jenna will be moving on to 5th grade and Jace will be repeating 1st grade again. He is excited to have Mrs. Gruber (and Mrs. Wiley) again next year. He was a little upset in the beginning, but he realizes that this extra year of 1st grade will help him. He is also excited to spend another year with Beuford the Bear.

On June 3rd, we were able to participate in Relay for Life. We put together a team called, "Jacer's Racers." It was a nice (and very hot) day together with friends and family. The survivor walk was again very emotional. Jace and Nolan walked hand in hand the entire lap. Jace thinks a lot of Nolan and Nolan is great with him. They have both come a long way!! (I'm hopeful that I can get a slideshow on here from our Relay for Life Day!)

June is quickly passing by and we are very thankful that Jace is doing so well. It seems that when people see him they comment on how he looks and acts like "old Jace."
I am thankful each day for his chubby cheeks and that ornery personality. Thanks for checking in. We will be heading back up to Mayo in July.

Blessings to each of you,
Tara

New Pictures added in the photo album

Monday, May 8, 2006 4:52 PM CDT

Hi! This is Jace. I have been feeling great and enjoying the sunny weather. I like to play outside and bother my mom when she's "messing in the yard" - she doesn't mind, though. I had my testing in taekwando last week. I find out on Thursday if I get my new belt. I hope I do. The board was hard to break and I have a scrape on my arm from trying once and not breaking it.
I have added another pill to my day. I have to take it 3 times a day. Boy, my mom has a hard time remembering the pill at lunch. The school nurse does a great job. I wonder if she could help mom out this summer?

I will have a team at Relay for Life this year. We will be called, "Jacer's Racers." Relay for Life will be held on June 3rd in Oskaloosa. It starts at eleven in the morning at gets over at eleven at night. It will be a fun day. My daddy has a band that will be playing around 4:30. I hope to see you all there - come walk a couple of laps with me.

If you would like to help my team, please feel free to donate. My sissy has already raised $247. She wants a cure to be found for ALL cancers.

I will write more later. My mom and I are going to go for a walk. We have a piano tuner at our house right now. Have you ever heard a piano being tuned??? Kinda makes your head spin - especially a piano that hasn't been tuned since 1984! Can you believe that - and my mom is even a music teacher! :-)


Love,
Jace (and family)


My address:
Jace Carrico
P.O. Box 85
New Sharon, IA 50207

Saturday, April 22, 2006 11:00 AM CDT

Sorry for the delay in posting a thorough update. Firstly, let me say how much we appreciate your prayers for Jace and your posts in the guestbook. I know we don't update as much as we used to but we continue to draw much strength and encouragement from those of you who express your love and concern for Jace.

I don't know what it is about large medical institutions and their rather sadistic habit of scheduling appointments before most roosters are deciding to wake up. Our first appointments each day went 6:30 AM, 6:45 AM, and 7:00 AM.

Anyway, we headed to our 6:30 AM blood draw on Monday morning -(incidentally, the closest shuttle time from our hotel was 6:05 AM.) only to be told that it was something that could be done during his MRI which wasn't until 8 AM.

So, with 90 minutes to burn, we headed for St. Mary's Chapel. I know I've told you how much I love this place, but you just can't appreciate the beauty of this house of God unless you are there. We had a very nice time of prayer and meditation before we went for the MRI.

Since they would be doing a full spinal/cranial scan, we were told that they would use a general anesthic to avoid any movement on Jace's part. What they didn't tell us is that they would have to put a tube down Jace's throat after they put him under (in retrospect, I guess it was better that we weren't aware of it ;-) This did give Jacer quite a sore throat that lasted into Tuesday.

Tara & I have found that the time leading up to the MRI's has become a little more bearable each time. However, the day of the scan and the subsequent waiting hasn't changed much from the very first scan. The doubts creep in, the "what-if's" pop into your head.

Monday afternoon was our audiology appointment. As this was our first follow-up in Mayo, we were meeting all these people for the first time and our audiologist was a treat. He made no attempt to hide the fact that an audiology exam ranks right up there with Insurance Seminars on the list of boring activities. He had a great alternative to raising your hand when you hear the beep, though. Using a little plastic shovel and a bucket full of plastic frogs, Jace would hit the shovel and flip the frogs into the air when he heard the tones. He enjoyed it very much and left quite a mess for the audiologist to pick up. His findings did match up with our last exam which showed a marked hearing loss in his left ear. Our oncologist feels at this point, though, that it is not something we need to be overly concerned about. Jace doesn't exhibit any noticeable signs of not being able to hear (except when he receives his orders to do his chores ;-)

Tuesday morning was our endocrinology appointment. We had our first check of his A.M. Cortisol which is simply a morning check of the steroid hormone which controls his energy levels, glucose activity, etc. It was very low compared to the normal level of a 7 y/o boy. Rather than base her plan of action on one test, though, our endocrinologist has ordered another blood draw (which we'll have done Monday in Oskaloosa) to check his level again. If it's still low, we'll probably start Jace on a hydrocortisone supplement to increase his cortisol which will hopefully raise his energy levels. We did find out that his growth hormone levels are markedly low, too. We won't pursue a course of treatment for this condition until we make our next follow-up visit to Mayo this July.

Tuesday afternoon was our appointment with our oncologist, Dr. Wetmore. After a day and a half of telling ourselves, "No news is good news," we were finally at the moment we would find out. Dr. Wetmore walked in and exclaimed how good Jace looked and how glad she was to see him. She sat down and asked if we had any questions or concerns, and, just as I was preparing the mother of all "Mr. Obvious" jokes, she said, "Oh my gosh! His scans look good. Everything's fine!" With the relief of the news came the laughter at her oversight. She had seen nothing out of the ordinary on his MRI and just put it at the back of her mind. No big deal...especially considering the results! Dr. Wetmore talked with Jace, put him through a few exams and visited with us about his other "shortcomings" that I mentioned earlier. Her biggest concern right now is Jace's low hemoglobin levels/iron deficiency. She rattled off several sources of iron that we can use in addition to the standard multi-vitamin. Overall she is very pleased with Jace and his progress and says he looks great. We can't say enough kind words about Dr. Wetmore. She is a very knowledgable, fantastic Doctor and we feel privileged to have Jace under her care.

Tuesday night was the celebratory meal at Outback Steakhouse. Of course we were merely following the orders of Dr. Wetmore who emphasized steak as a major source of iron for Jace ;-) Unfortunately, we decided to dine there on "Goofy Waiter Night." The service was terrible and, although my steak was done to mouth-watering perfection, Tara's steak (which she was going to share with Jacer) was done to "Antique Baseball Glove" perfection. One of my favorite old adages is "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" and Tara was our squeaky wheel that night. So I'd like to thank Outback for the two free steaks...one of which tasted great!

Wednesday was the big finale. The 4-hour neuro-psych evaluation to study Jace's learning habits and other behavioral traits. We would be checking out of the Ronald McDonald House that afternoon so I volunteered to go clean our room and Tara volunteered to stay behind and sit in the waiting room while they had Jace on the "couch." In retrospect, this turned out to be the best decision I made the entire time we were in Rochester. As I was cleaning the toilet, Tara was busy answering an 800-question form about Jace and his life history. Sorry, hon! We should have the results of this evaluation in a couple of weeks.

Again, thank you all for your continued prayers for Jace. We see God's hand at work in him each day. Jace will be testing for his yellow belt this week at Tae Kwon Do. He'll have to learn his whole form, recite his memory verses and break a board. He's come a long way!

Thank you all very much!
Travis

PS: NEW PICTURES ARE UP!

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 5:08 PM CDT

A quick note to let you know we just got back from Rochester and are pleased to report that Jace's MRI looks good.

I'll post more later as we just walked in the door.

Thanks for all your prayers & support,
Travis

Friday, April 14, 2006 3:36 PM CDT

Hello everybody!

I had to include a picture of the boy's (Jace and Chipper) and their new haircuts. We hadn't cut the back of Jace's hair for quite awhile. We were hoping that it would possibly grow back, but no luck. He will just always have the "perfect" bowl cut :-)

There is not much to update right now; we continue to enjoy each day and keep busy with everyday activities. We will be leaving Sunday morning for Mayo; Jace's MRI is scheduled for 8:00 Monday morning. This MRI will include brain and spine; Jace has chosen to "go to sleep" during his MRI. We also have appointments scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Please keep Jace and our family in your prayers. Jenna (and Chipper) will be staying at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Lynnville. We let her decide if she wanted to stay in Lynnville or go to Rochester with us.
She is looking forward to going to their house and relaxing.

I've posted some new pictures. I have included a picture of Jace after he broke his board at Tae-kwan-do. He was pretty excited - well, as excited as Jace can get! :-)

Thank you in advance for your prayers. We will let you know as soon as we find out the results.

Believing,

Travis, Tara, Jenna, and Jace

Thursday, March 23, 2006 12:59 PM CST

Our apologies for the lack of updates over the last month. I've added a couple of new pictures on the Photo Album page so be sure & check those out.

Jace has started Tae Kwon Do classes in Oskaloosa. He seems to be enjoying them very much. We can see his strength returning at each lesson. He has to do pushups, situps, drop/rolls and jumping jacks during warmups. He is working on his "form" right now and has learned seven of the 14 steps needed to earn his yellow belt (I think ;-) He will also have to memorize a bible verse to earn his belt. His current memory verse is from Colossians 3:20 - "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." For some reason, he is having a little trouble with this one.

Jenna is busy with piano and saxophone lessons. It isn't too difficult to imagine what our house sounds like every day after school. We've got Bruce Lee in one room trying to break the door down and Charlie Parker honking away on at "Lightly Row" on her sax upstairs. I'm sure someday we'll look back on these days with fond feelings...someday ;-)

It is nice, though, to see our kids taking interest in different things. They are both musically inclined and that will be something they will enjoy their entire lives.

We are preparing for Jace's upcoming MRI and a myriad of other tests which will happen on April 17-19th in Rochester. Jace has been doing very well but the closer we get to these scans, the more "what-if's" creep into our minds. We would appreciate your prayers as that time fast approaches.

Below, I've added a link to the page of a young man from my hometown of Roseville, IL who is fighting a recurrence of leukemia. They are on a tough road right now and could use your prayers.

I should have some pix of Jace breaking boards for our next update so stay tuned.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Wednesday, February 22, 2006 2:35 PM CST

We survived the birthday weekend. On Saturday, we headed to Ankeny and spent some time at Creative Treasures. Creative Treasures is a place where you can go and paint pottery or bead bracelets. We chose the pottery; the kids had a great time. Jace painted a dinosaur and the girls decided to design a tile. It was nice to do something a little different and I’m sure the rest of the family was happy to not spend the afternoon shopping. After our pottery experience, we decided to head for the hotel. Of course, as soon as we entered the room, everyone was looking for their swimsuits. Unfortunately, everyone else at the hotel had the same idea. The kids had a great time swimming - especially in the outside part. I have some great video of the girls taunting each other to jump out of the pool and touch the fence (which was by all the snow.) I think the high on Saturday was 6 degrees which made swimming into the outside part a lot of fun. Not my kind of fun - but 10 year old girl fun. We finished the weekend with some girl shopping time, church, and lunch at Stella’s Diner. Jace had the famous “shake poured on his head.” (Pictures are in the photo album) It was nice to have a night away and have so much fun together.

Jace continues to do well. He is going to physical therapy at Blank twice a month and we are trying to do therapy exercises every night. After testing him at therapy, we were told he has zero range of motion in his ankles. We are beginning exercises to work on this area. If therapy doesn’t work, we will fit him for braces that he will wear only at night. I am anxious to see the difference; he seems to always drag his feet when he walks. We now have an answer to the problem. Yeah!! At the beginning of March, he will also begin tae-kwan-do which should be great for his balance problems. Tae-kwan-do was a recommendation from his doctor which he is very thrilled about.

We went to an opthamologist in Des Moines who told us that physically Jace’s eyes looked fine. I notice that he still closes one eye at times. Jace tells me that they still bother him; he just is getting use to it. When we head back to Mayo, we have an appointment with a neuro-opthamologist. Maybe another answer will be granted....

Jace’s next appointment has been set with Dr. Wetmore for April 18th. They will be sending us the rest of the schedule soon. I am assuming the MRI will be on the 17th; we will have to wait and see. Dr. Wetmore did call us a couple of weeks ago and informed us that she had looked at Jace’s MRI herself and everything looked great. It was nice to hear her opinion.

Thanks for checking on our 7 year old little guy. We pray that his 7th year of life is full of great reports and he is able to enjoy normal little boy life.

Tara

**new photo's added**

Saturday, February 18, 2006 7:21 AM CST

Happy 7th Birthday, Jace!!!

Tomorrow is Jace's actual birthday, but last night we had a mini-celebration with family. Today we are going to a hotel in Des Moines for an overnight stay. Both kids are anxious to go swimming. Jenna convinced Jace that she should bring along a friend, so that dad can give Jace his full attention in the pool. Good thinking, Jenna ;-)

Two years ago, Jace spent his birthday in the hospital. He was so sick at that time; it is truly a blessing to be where we are now. We treasure each birthday; a true gift from God.

We will post birthday pictures when we get home. I think I hear little feet coming down the stairs.

Tara

Wednesday, February 1, 2006 1:58 PM CST

We got back from Rochester at 10 PM last night. It was a good visit and Dr. Wetmore thought that Jace looked very good.

We got in at 3:30 for our 2:45 PM appointment. Dr. Wetmore was VERY kind to Jace and her first & foremost concern was his self-esteem. She had some great advice for Jacer and told him that even though kids may make fun of him because he can't run like they do, he has a much bigger heart than they do and he has done something they've never done: he's beat this tumor. It was a very powerful moment for us.

The HUGE downside of the day came when she told us that none of Jace's records or scans made it to her office. We were stunned. So, other than some standard exam procedures and Q&A, it was basically a social call. But we did, nonetheless, leave there feeling very comfortable and reassured by our choice to have her take over. She is an outstanding Dr. and a very sincere person.

Earlier today, however, we found out that the scans had indeed made it up to Rochester but didn't get into the right hands. Dr. Wetmore will review his MRI reports and give us her opinions. Regarding Jace's recent eye problems, upon her basic exam of his eyes, she didn't see anything that really alarmed her but did want us to see an opthamologist right away for a more thorough exam.

She scheduled Jace's next MRI which will be a cranial & spinal; a neuro-psych evalution, an endocrinology exam, audiology exam and an appointment to see Dr. Wetmore. This will all happen over a two day period in April.

We went up to the Pediatric ICU where Jace was. To see the room where we spent that first horrible night was quite emotional for me but it was almost a cathartic type of experience to be back on better terms. Then we headed to St. Mary's Chapel...absolutely gorgeous! We had a wonderful time of prayer and meditation. I tried to convince Tara to go back after our appointment for the 4:30 Daily Mass but the prospect of arriving home at midnight wasn't too appealing to any of us. Our April visit will be a 2-day affair so I should have time to enjoy Mass in that beatiful house of God.

Thank you all very much for your prayers and concern for Jace. We were very pleased with our visit to Mayo and feel that it was the best decision for Jace & us right now.

Travis

Sunday, January 29, 2006 4:44 PM CST

Good evening everyone,

January is quickly slipping away and February is right around the corner. February 19th brings Jace’s 7th birthday. He is very excited about his birthday this year and has decided that this year he will have a Simpson’s Cake.

Tomorrow, Jace and Dad will be making a trip to Blank Children's Hospital in DSM to meet with the Pediatric Physical Therapy department. We are anxious to see what they say and are hopeful that we can set up some future therapy appointments to help him. He still struggles with balance and he seems to use his left hand less and less.

On Tuesday, we will be driving to Mayo Clinic to meet with the oncologist we first met in Rochester and who referred us to Dr. Elliott. She will be taking over Jace’s care from this point on. She is a pediatric neuro-oncologist and specializes in Medulloblastoma tumors. Blank did a wonderful job with Jace’s care and we are forever grateful for the care that he received there. Jace’s oncologist at Blank has retired, so we felt that this was the right time to move on. It was a hard decision since we will have to make the 4-hour drive to Rochester every 3-4 months for MRI’s and appointments, but after much prayer we feel that this is the best decision for Jace and our family.

A couple of weeks ago we were able to take Jace to an eye doctor to see what was going on with his eyes. (Remember that he was complaining about his eyes and I was convinced that he just wanted new Spongebob glasses.) Jace has continued to struggle with some double vision problems since the beginning of the month. It only happens about 3-4 times per day, but he will stop and say, “my eyes are doing that again.” The eye doctor did an exam and reassured us that physically, everything looked normal. This past week, he has began shutting his left eye a little because he tells me he can see better this way. We are hoping that this appointment to Mayo will give us some much needed answers. Please add this to your prayers. We have also read the report from his last MRI (Dec.20th) and things look fine.

We were saddened to hear that Tyler (link above) passed away Saturday. Tyler and Jace always had a great time at physical therapy together. They both enjoyed laughing and giving the therapist a hard time :-) Tyler always had a smile when we saw him and he has such a loving and supportive family. Thanks, Tyler for being such an inspiration to all of us. You will be missed

Thanks for stopping by and praying for our family. I will post after our Mayo appointment.

Blessings,
Tara

Saturday, January 28, 2006 2:41 PM CST

Our prayers go out to Tyler's family. Tyler won his battle and now is in the arms of Jesus. Please pray and offer his family and friends your support. I will update more later.

Tara

Friday, January 6, 2006 3:49 PM CST

Welcome 2006! I apologize for the delay in updating; it seems like the days fly by and in this world - no news is good news. I’m sure my updates will not be as routine as they have been in the past. Jace is doing well now and it seems silly posting about our everyday life. Although, if Travis decides to mow the yard in his muscle shirt (previous journal entry), or if anything else exciting happens I will be right back on here. Caringbridge has become such a support for us, and I have learned a great deal following other children’s stories. When Jace became sick in 2003, I remember searching the web trying to find kids that were years out of treatment. Sadly, I found too many that had lost their battle. By keeping this page open, I hope to encourage those new parents who are searching like I was two years ago. I hope that Jace’s story can show them that you can get through this. Now, I know we have a long way to go, but at this moment I am so thankful for where we are at. 2005 was a hard year for many caringbridge children; I will never forget their stories and the inspiration that they gave me. I am forever changed because of them. Some have ‘won’ their battles and are enjoying Heaven and others are still fighting; I hope we can all follow their pages and offer them the support that they need.

Our family had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed time with our family. I made my first turkey; Travis even took pictures :-) The tree.....oh, the beautiful tree...well, it made it out the door. Travis has been so busy; I took a saw myself and hacked away. I’ve never had to prune a tree before taking it out of my house. It was one of the biggest messes I have ever experienced. I have pictures of that, too. Next year, we will carefully measure how tall it is.

Jace continues to do well. We are still waiting on the hearing aid appointment and getting the PT moved to Blank. He enjoyed Christmas break and had a hard time getting back in the swing of things at school. He told me yesterday that his eye was giving him trouble and that he needed to go to the eye doctor. He told me that they have the coolest Spongebob glasses ever. Later that night, we asked Jenna to talk with him about his eyes and see if they were really giving him trouble. She was our little spy. She reported back that he told her NOT to tell mom and dad but his eyes weren’t too bad ; he just wanted those glasses. Little Stinker :~ ) I have been working on ‘giving my worries’ over to God. Those that have gone through this, know the feeling when your child tells you that something is not right. Eyes feeling weird in Jace’s world is not a good thing. As soon as he told me yesterday, I could feel the anxiety. (I know some of you know that feeling) I prayed for God to help me and take care of this; I guess that will show me :-) Although, if he complains again we will be taking him in to get them checked.

O.K. this was going to be short. We will post again, but don’t worry if it’s not for awhile. If anything changes with Jace, we will let you know. You are our support!!

Thanks again and please check the photo album. I put on some pictures that we had taken this summer from Amy Doerring. They are precious.

God Bless you ALL!!

Travis, Tara, Jenna, and Jace

Tuesday, December 20, 2005 7:18 PM CST

Today, we received the best Christmas present ever - Jace’s clear MRI.

Our appointments in Des Moines went fairly well. We had some concerns over Jace’s energy level and some recent balance problems that we were able to talk over with the doctor. The nurse drew some extra blood to see if his thyroid medicine needs to be adjusted and we are also looking into physical therapy at Blank to help him gain more strength.

MRI went all right. Jace told me that he would rather have the sleepy medicine. He didn’t enjoy it and got a little upset during the process. As parents, it went really fast and it was nice to be able to leave right after the scans were done. It’s not a very warm and cozy environment.

The hearing test didn’t go as well. Jace has some measurable hearing loss that showed up in his left ear which could be causing some of the balance issues. After Christmas, we will discuss getting him a hearing aid. When they shared his hearing results with us, they told us that the results could mean a couple different things. (I guess normally both ears decline from chemo and Jace is only having problems in one ear. ) Let’s just say that we are very thankful that his MRI was fine. It made for a long afternoon of waiting; we got a call around 5:30 tonight. By 6:30, Jace was sound a sleep.

Thank you for your prayers and your support.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

The Carrico’s

Friday, December 16, 2005 9:05 AM CST

Good Morning,

I hope everyone is keeping warm. I am ready for some sunshine. I know Jace would be happy with warmer temperatures. He is always cold and spends most of his time trying to convince me why the school should not go outside for recess.

Jace’s MRI has been rescheduled for Tuesday December 20th. I’m praying for the best Christmas present ever. Next year, we will try to avoid a December MRI. It makes the month too stressful.


Two years ago on the 17th of December, our lives forever changed. I can still remember every detail of the day. (Travis gave a very vivid picture of the day also in his journal entry last year if you are new to our page.) It’s been a long road, but we are so blessed to see where Jace is now. I have included some pictures in the photo page of just how far God has brought Jace in the last two years. Thank you to each one of you. It is your prayers and kindness that has helped us through this journey.

Please pray for our little guy as we approach Tuesday morning. We will post results as soon as we know.

Please stop by Tyler's Page and offer him your prayers and support while he is at Duke. You can tell him Jace sent you :-)

Merry Christmas,

Tara

Thursday, December 8, 2005 12:31 AM CST

Just wanted to let you all know that we got as far as Newton and decided to postpone today's MRI due to the snowstorm. It may have been the four semi's and umpteen cars resting in the median and ditches that changed our minds. It actually worked out well as Tara's step-father was experiencing chest pains and was taken by ambulance to the Grinnell Hospital this morning. So, we stopped there on our way back. Tom is OK but will be kept overnight for observation.


So, with a snowday on my hands and little to do but go outside and shovel it, I thought I'd share the story of our Christmas tree. Enjoy.

Friday, 12/2 @ 3:30 PM - The kids tumble in from school, excited for the daily decompression ritual of cartoons, junk food and general laziness. I robustly suggest that we all go as a family to get our tree. I'm confident that Jace's sour mood and unwillingness to participate will pass quickly but offer the standard bribe, anyway. "Hey buddy, if you go with us, we can hit Happy Joes for pizza afterward!" He readily agrees to go. Surely the fact that he stayed up until 10 PM last night won't have any effect on our night of holiday fun.

3:45 - We leave the driveway.

3:46 PM - "When will we get to Happy Joes?"

3:47 PM - "AFTER we go get our tree, bud."

3:48 PM - "Oooooooh...why can't we go now?"

Now a father with any sort of keen insight into the impending situation would've turned the truck around at that point. But not ol' Clark Griswold. By cracky, we're coming home with a tree tonight if we have to grow it ourselves!

4:20 PM - The Carrico's enjoy a beautiful drive to the tree farm up a winding gravel road guarded on both sides by majestic, snow-covered evergreens. "Is this the way to Happy Joes?"

4:30 PM - As the final remnants of daylight begin to wane, I grab my saw and head out into the wilderness with Jenna. Jace has decided that he will remain in the truck with Tara. They'll be fine waiting in the truck, I think to myself. Surely this isn't a harbinger of an emotional breakdown yet to come.

Tara has requested a round, fat tree and so, completely confident in the fact that I will not find one suitable to her, we trod through the snow and hidden stumps to find this elusive beast.

4:45 PM - Jenna & I find several trees that might fit the bill, but not the "right" one yet. As I turn around to see how the other half of the family is doing in the truck, I am startled by the fact that I can no longer see the truck nor any other evidence of human activity. Surely it won't be that difficult to drag a tree that far through the snow and hidden stumps.

4:49 PM - Those who climb Mt. Everest struggle for hours & days through the snow and wind, enduring unimaginable mental & physical anguish to experience the sheer joy of reaching the summit. Now I know how they feel! As Jenna & I come over the final hill before we reach the fenceline (of the neighboring county, I think) we see it standing before us...as a King ready to receive his subjects: OUR TREE!

4:50 - As I stand in its regal presence, I think to myself, "Man, that's a tall tree." But our ceilings are at least 9 feet tall. Surely that tree isn't QUITE 9 feet tall.

4:55 - I cut through the trunk in a surprisingly short time and congratulate myself on being so manly. The manly feeling quickly fades as I grab the trunk and turn to gaze at the task ahead. Surely it's not THAT far back to the truck.

4:56 - I begin dragging my prize through the snow. Oh, I almost forget...AND THE HIDDEN STUMPS! I stop every few minutes to let the severe burning sensation in my quadriceps subside and then continue on. Surely after all this time, Tara will be heading this way to see if I need any help.

5:05 PM - In April of 1996, one of the worst storms in the history of Mt. Everest caused several climbers to lose their way back down the mountain. Those climbers already back at camp began banging on pots & pans in to help the lost climbers find their way back. I strain in the wind & fading daylight to hear just a sound.

5:06 PM - I can now hear the faint sound of human voices.

5:07 PM - BASE CAMP! I can now clearly see the barns, lights and even my truck. Surely Tara & Jace are getting along just fine inside the warm cab.

5:10 - I struggle to get the tree into the "shaker" as the tree farm staff try to mask their disbelief that I have dragged this behemoth all the way up to them in hopes of having it "shaken out."

5:12 - I ask them, "Can we get this tree baled before we put it in the truck?" Surely they will bale it and load it for me.

5:13 - "Uh, yeah...I think the baler is broken."

Rrright.

5:14 - The tree is thrown haphazardly into my truck. Surely Jace will want to come out and have his picture taken in front of the tree.

5:14 - The door opens and I hear what has been going on for the past 45 minutes. Jace is extremely unhappy, tired, grouchy and generally unpleasant to be around. Due to prolonged exposure to Jace, Tara has taken on these same traits herself.

5:15 - With the pain from writing the check for the tree nearly gone, I get in the truck and hear Jace & Tara in a heated exchange. The entire Christmas tree experience has not gone as planned and I am beginning to show signs of strain. I finally tell Jace that little boys who talk like that to their mothers don't get to go to Happy Joes.

5:16 to 6:00 PM - Jace cries inconsolably.

For the next 10 minutes, Jace tries unsuccessfully to apologize and rectify the situation. But the damage is done. The final straw occurs when I call 411 for the Pella Pizza Hut and order takeout. Jace loses it.

As Jace continues his implosion, we endure two agonizing stops at Hy-Vee and Wal-Mart. Now one would think that if a Pella-area tree farm sells 9-foot tall trees, that the Pella Wal-Mart would sell a tree stand to accomodate a 9-foot tall tree...yes? Well, they don't. Surely the stand I have from last year will be OK.

6:00 PM - We arrive home and, after consuming a really bad taco pizza, are ready to bring the tree in. Surely it'll fit through the door.

7:10 - My friend KB (whom I have bribed with the aforementioned taco pizza) and I approach the door with the tree and, ironically, both utter in disbelief the same expletive.

7:15 - An old adage I've found to be true is "if it won't fit, force it." So we start shoving the tree through the doorway like we're trying to load an unruly cow into a loading chute.

7:16 - The tree is in the house but a large percentage of its pine needles seems to be laying on the floor in the doorway. Oops. Surely those will vacuum right up.

7:20 - We prepare to hoist the tree up and into the five-buttress 10-foot tree holder (which we had driven to Oskaloosa and purchased). The stump goes right in but we notice a long stripe on the ceiling that has a color very similar to our tree. Ooops. Surely that will come right off with a wet rag and some elbow grease.

7:40 - The stupid tree is up and bolted down. Work now begins on the long trail of needles stretching from the door to the trees present position. Who would think a Shop-Vac would plug up with needles. Surely if I blow on the end of the hose, they'll come right out.

Tara spends the rest of the evening in requested solitude decorating the tree with the new ladder she got me for my birthday.

Today, I'm sure she would tell you that it was worth all the headache as it does look very nice. Although we have yet to formulate a plan to get it OUT of our house. I'm thinking of having a New Year's Day Chainsaw Party...anyone interested?

Merry Christmas,
Travis

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 7:11 PM CST

O.K. I’m sure everyone is waiting patiently for the story of the Carrico tree. However, Travis has been busy at work and hasn’t had time to update. I will have to leave you in suspense and have Travis update when he has time. It did make it in the house; that was our biggest challenge. We almost lost a door - but now that it’s up it’s beautiful. I'm not really sure how we're going to get it out :-)

December is a very busy month. Tomorrow night, I start concerts. I have one every Wednesday in December until Christmas. Now, if that doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit; I’m not sure what will :-) The kid’s also have their church Christmas program this Sunday.

Thursday is MRI day. Jace is also scheduled for a hearing test and has appointments with his endocrinologist and oncologist. They will be checking his thyroid and growth hormone levels.
Last time, we were able to get preliminary results that day. Travis went up to the clinic and asked if they had heard any results. Dr. Mitchell said “No not yet. Let’s pull up the scans on the computer and check them ourselves.” Travis said there was nothing worse than watching each slide go by.... and praying that nothing showed up. Jace’s MRI is scheduled for 10:45 A.M. Prayers would be appreciated. This will be his first time without being sedated. We will let you know results as soon as we know.

I’m going to leave you with a quote from Max Lucado’s book “Traveling Light.”

“Meet today’s problems with today’s strength! Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow’s strength yet. You simply have enough for today.”

So simple but true. I’m sure that anyone who has been faced with an illness or other tragedy knows that this is true. I pray for clear scans and know that God will be with us on Thursday. All the worrying in the world won’t help us out; we must rely on God.

Thank you in advance for your prayers,

The Carrico’s

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 7:11 PM CST

O.K. I’m sure everyone is waiting patiently for the story of the Carrico tree. However, Travis has been busy at work and hasn’t had time to update. I will have to leave you in suspense and have Travis update when he has time. It did make it in the house; that was our biggest challenge. We almost lost a door - but now that it’s up it’s beautiful. I'm not really sure how we're going to get it out :-)

December is a very busy month. Tomorrow night, I start concerts. I have one every Wednesday in December until Christmas. Now, if that doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit; I’m not sure what will :-) The kid’s also have their church Christmas program this Sunday.

Thursday is MRI day. Jace is also scheduled for a hearing test and has appointments with his endocrinologist and oncologist. They will be checking his thyroid and growth hormone levels.
Last time, we were able to get preliminary results that day. Travis went up to the clinic and asked if they had heard any results. Dr. Mitchell said “No not yet. Let’s pull up the scans on the computer and check them ourselves.” Travis said there was nothing worse than watching each slide go by.... and praying that nothing showed up. Jace’s MRI is scheduled for 10:45 A.M. Prayers would be appreciated. This will be his first time without being sedated. We will let you know results as soon as we know.

I’m going to leave you with a quote from Max Lucado’s book “Traveling Light.”

“Meet today’s problems with today’s strength! Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow’s strength yet. You simply have enough for today.”

So simple but true. I’m sure that anyone who has been faced with an illness or other tragedy knows that this is true. I pray for clear scans and know that God will be with us on Thursday. All the worrying in the world won’t help us out; we must rely on God.

Thank you in advance for your prayers,

The Carrico’s

Saturday, December 3, 2005 0:09 AM CST

Stay tuned... to hear about our adventure in searching for the best Christmas tree.
Best of all... how we got that tree in our house!!!

Take care and we will update soon.

The Carrico's

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 7:42 PM CST

Welcome winter weather! I’m not sure if I am ready for this or not. This morning it took an extra 15 minutes to get the kids off to school. We had to locate boots, snow pants, gloves, etc.
I prefer summertime when it’s about 85 degrees; Travis loves this weather. Opposites do attract :-)

Jace continues to do well and loves 1st grade with his teacher, Mrs. Gruber. We had conferences a couple of weeks ago and she told us that he is working very hard in class. The last couple of months we have noticed that he is doing much better on his school work and his reading improves daily. Tomorrow, his class will be performing a turkey play which he is VERY excited about. After the program, we are invited to eat a thanksgiving lunch at the school.

Thankfully, we have no news to report. Jace is battling a cold right now, which has him feeling a little down. He still struggles with some balance issues which only get worse with snow and ice. We now know how much the hospital’s intense physical therapy was really helping him. Now, if we could convince the insurance companies how much it was helping him :-)

The next few days will be busy with a trip to Cedar Falls to watch the North Mahaska Warhawks play in the State championship game, find a movie theater so Jenna can see the new Harry Potter Movie, and enjoy a night at Disney on Ice courtesy of The Heart Connection. (Unfortunately, dad won’t be joining us on any of these trips because of work obligations)

We continue to feel blessed this season. The approaching holidays remind us of where we were two years ago, and at the same time remind us of how thankful we are to be where we are now. We have scheduled Jace’s next MRI for December 8th. It will be a full day of appointments; Jace has decided that this time he wants to have the MRI without being sedated. Satan plays mind games and brings the worry, the fear, and the doubt into our minds; it’s our job with God’s assistance to just believe and have faith as we approach this day. God is in control at all times. A clear scan would be the best Christmas present that we could receive - no gift could ever have that much meaning.

Our prayers are with the Hamilton’s and we ask God to be with them during this holiday season and Brant's first heavenly birthday. We also ask that you would pray for Tyler and for all the caringbridge kids battling this disease - may they forever be in remission.

Blessings,
Tara



New photos added

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 7:42 PM CST

Welcome winter weather I’m not sure if I am ready for this or not. This morning it took an extra 15 minutes to get the kids off to school. We had to locate boots, snow pants, gloves, etc.
I prefer summertime when it’s about 85 degrees; Travis loves this weather. Opposites do attract :-)

Jace continues to do well and loves 1st grade with his teacher, Mrs. Gruber. We had conferences a couple of weeks ago and she told us that he is working very hard in class. The last couple of months we have noticed that he is doing much better on his school work and his reading improves daily. Tomorrow, his class will be performing a turkey play which he is VERY excited about. After the program, we are invited to eat a thanksgiving lunch at the school.

Thankfully, we have no news to report. Jace is battling a cold right now, which has him feeling a little down. He still struggles with some balance issues which only get worse with snow and ice. We now know how much the hospital’s intense physical therapy was really helping him. Now, if we could convince the insurance companies how much it was helping him :-)

The next few days will be busy with a trip to Cedar Falls to watch the North Mahaska Warhawks play in the State championship game, find a movie theater so Jenna can see the new Harry Potter Movie, and enjoy a night at Disney on Ice courtesy of The Heart Connection. (Unfortunately, dad won’t be joining us on any of these trips because of work obligations)

We continue to feel blessed this season. The approaching holidays remind us of where we were two years ago, and at the same time remind us of how thankful we are to be where we are now. We have scheduled Jace’s next MRI for December 8th. It will be a full day of appointments; Jace has decided that this time he wants to have the MRI without being sedated. Satan plays mind games and brings the worry, the fear, and the doubt into our minds; it’s our job with God’s assistance to just believe and have faith as we approach this day. God is in control at all times. A clear scan would be the best Christmas present for our entire family.

Our prayers are with the Hamilton’s and we ask God to be with them during this holiday season and Brant’s upcoming birthday. We also ask that you would pray for Tyler and for all the caringbridge kids battling this disease - may they forever be in remission.

Blessings,
Tara

Thursday, November 3, 2005 10:17 PM CST

Good evening, everyone...

Just a note to let you know that some new pics are up on the photo album page.

We did "trick-or-treat" night on Halloween night earlier this week. Jace went as Count Dracula and Jenna went as a pajama-ed teenybopper with a face pack. The best part is that the kids forgot about the candy they scored so Dad gets to indulge for the next couple of weeks.

Today, Jace helped me with the leaves by driving the John Deere mower around the yard. He then drove it all the way uptown to gas it up. He was really diggin' that!

The picture above was taken earlier this week as we were raking up some leaves. My favorite part of the pic is the thin little sunbeam shining down on him...not sure what it means but it's kind of neat.

Just for fun, I included a picture of our cat, Sherpa. Tara decided it was bath time last week...and fun ensued. If you think I'm kidding, just look at the picture.

Our prayers continue to go out for the Hamilton's as they prepare for a time of great transition. We attended Brant's funeral in Earlham on Wednesday and it was one of the most beautiful services of which I have ever been a part.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Sunday, October 30, 2005 1:31 PM CST

We are very saddened today to hear of Brant Hamilton's passing last night. Brant fought such a courageous battle and fought longer and harder than any of us could've ever imagined. He is truly an inspiration and we will never forget him.

Please visit his site (listed above) to leave words of comfort and prayers of peace for Craig & Julie and his entire family. They are wonderful people.

Brant's Obituary


Travis

Sunday, October 16, 2005 9:56 PM CDT

Life at the Carrico house is going well; we are all a little sad that the weekend is over already. They go by way too fast! Travis' birthday was a hit! It included a cake (made by the kids) and a new ladder waiting for him in the garage. What an exciting 35th birthday :-)

I've posted some new pictures from our "enjoying nature" day. We spent some time down by the river. (not in our van; sorry SNL humor) It was so beautiful that I insisted that we take some pictures. Jace was not very thrilled with my picture taking request. I ended up bribing him with a Casey's toy. I guess one thing that I have learned through Jace's illness is; you NEVER have enough pictures. It's pretty amazing how many pictures I have taken in the last two years; Some day I might have to scrapbook them.

Jace continues to do well in school. He still complains that the school day is WAY TOO LONG :-) If we can get him to bed early, we can usually avoid the morning break-down. His academics are coming along and we have added both Physical and Occupational therapy to his IEP. Jace tells us that his favorite class is P.E. which was a big shock to me. His teacher does a great job adapting P.E. to make it enjoyable for him. Socializing is still a struggle, but I know that will improve. I have to remember that he spent part of preschool and most of kindergarten away from kids his own age. It also doesn't help that he is a little bossy at times; I don't know where the kid would get that.....

Thanks for checking in on our little guy. Pray for Brant's family and check his webpage to see God truly "at work." Brant's story continues to amaze me each day.

Have a great week!
Tara

Sunday, October 16, 2005 9:56 PM CDT

Life at the Carrico house is going well; we are all a little sad that the weekend is over already. They go by too fast! Travis' birthday included a cake (made by the kids) and a new ladder waiting for him in the garage Saturday morning. What an exciting 35th birthday :-)

I've posted some new pictures from our "enjoying nature" day. We spent some time down by the river. (not in our van; sorry SNL humor) It was so beautiful that I insisted that we take some pictures. Jace was not very thrilled with picture taking. I guess one thing that I have learned through Jace's illness is; you NEVER have enough pictures. It's pretty amazing how many pictures I have taken in the last two years; Some day I might have to scrapbook them.

Jace continues to do well in school. He still complains that the school day is WAY TOO LONG :-) If we can get him to bed early, we can usually avoid the morning break-down. His academics are coming along and we have added both Physical and Occupational therapy to his IEP. Jace tells us that his favorite class is P.E. which was a big shock to me. His teacher does a great job adapting P.E. to make it enjoyable for him. Socializing is still a struggle, but I know that will improve. We have to remember that he spent part of preschool and most of kindergarten away from kids his own age. It doesn't help that he is a little bossy at times; I think more at home than at school (I hope :-)

Thanks for checking on our little guy. Pray for Brant's family and check his webpage to see God truly "at work."

Have a great week!
Tara

Friday, October 14, 2005 10:25 AM CDT

Happy Birthday Daddy!!! You are the BEST!

Thank you daddy for....

~providing for your family

~always taking time to 'hang out with us.' Daddy never says "Just a minute; I'm busy"

~tucking us in and saying prayers with us EVERY night - especially for Jace's complete healing.

~always letting us have friends over to play

~always saying "yes" when mom says "no" :-)

~helping me with my homework - Jenna

~coming up with all kinds of different nicknames for us; Franklin, heeberhobber, paquita..to name a few

~loving and hugging us ALL the time

~watching Spongebob with me everyday at 4:00.(and never forgetting :-) - Jace

~introducing us to all the classic movies like Austin Powers, Dumb and Dumber, Billy Madison...the list goes on and on :-)

~always making us laugh with your goofy sayings.

~helping us when we can't figure out the next level on the playstation games :-)

~helping our family through the last two years

~being a caring person with the families you take care of

~showing us an appreciation for ALL types of music

~being a man of God and living your faith out every day

~just being ------ the BEST DAD ever!

Thank you Travis for being a loving husband and for carrying our family through Jace's illness. You are one in a million; love you forever!
Enjoy your special day!!! Big 35!!

Please continue to keep Brant(link above) in your prayers. Please take time to offer them support and pray for their strength as they face each day. Brant and his family have been an inspiration to all of us through this difficult time in their lives. We will forever be changed by Brant's story and his loving family.

Take the time to give your kids (and spouse) an extra tight hug today!!

Blessings,
Tara

Monday, October 3, 2005 8:13 PM CDT

Good evening, everyone...

Not much to report today. We did, however, spend this past Saturday roaming around Central Iowa. We attended a surprise retirement party for Dr. Elliott (Jace's oncologist) at a tree farm in Cumming on Saturday morning. From there we headed over to Earlham to pay a visit to Brant Hamilton and his family (good luck on that hole to China, Bradley!) and then did some school clothes shopping in Des Moines (can't beat fun at the ol' mall :-(

Today, Tara & I met with occupational and physical therapists from the AEA and were pleased to hear that they will be adding occupational therapy to his schedule. Having to put him through all that for a couple of hours after school (like last year) really zapped him of energy. Being able to do it while in school will be a big help.

My next project will be to find some sort of a protective gear for Jace to wear with his Sunday best. Yesterday was the first Sunday in quite a while that Jace didn't play the tambourine in our church praise band and it didn't go unnoticed! So if you have any ideas for tambourine protection, send 'em my way! It's nice to see Jace up front using his talents for the Lord.

The significance of today almost got away from us tonight. But, as Tara was preparing supper, she reminded us all that one year ago today, October 3rd of 2004, was the day of Jace's final chemotherapy treatment. I don't know which year went faster...from diagnosis to end of treatment or from the end of treatments to today.

One of the doctors I spoke with on Saturday said that with brain tumors, 10 years without a recurrence is the generally-accepted time frame to be considered risk-free. So we have a LONG way to go. But we appreciate all of your continued prayers for Jace as we strive for that goal.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Friday, September 23, 2005 1:13 PM CDT

Good afternoon, everyone...

There's not much to report from the Carrico's right now. We continue to think about and pray for Brant and his family. Please stop by their site (listed above) if you haven't done so recently and offer a post of encouragement. I think I speak for most of the Caringbridge families when I say that we take great comfort and solace from the posts (even if they are very brief.)

Jace continues to do well in school. His pal, Jesse Vavra helps in his classroom and told me that when she tries to talk to him during class, he quickly "shhh's" her and says..."Jesse, no talking during class!" According to Jesse, he catches up on all his visiting during lunchtime. He is very serious about his schoolwork, and although he is a little behind where he should be, we're hopeful his diligence and hard work will pay off.

The picture you see above is from a backyard football game last Sunday. Jace would catch a pass and run with the rest of us in hot pursuit. Right before we would tackle him, he would spike the ball (no matter where he was on our "field") in celebration of his touchdown. Quite a tactic for winning and avoiding getting creamed, huh?

We were visited by Grandma & Grandpa Carrico from Illinois last Sunday & the kids will be heading to Lynnville tonight for an overnighter with Grandma & Grandpa Everist. If they stay true to character, they will arise before the rooster crows tomorrow morning (on their own, of course) and get Grandpa Tom up to make pancakes. What is it about kids that allows them to wake up in great spirits on Saturday mornings, at least an hour before they normally get up on school days? We seem to learn the value of "sleeping in" too late in life, don't you think?

We will be visiting JessVav in the hospital tonight as she recovers from appendix surgery. I think Jace will like finally being the one visiting someone in the hospital rather than being visit-ED.

Thanks for checking in on Jace. We appreciate your prayers for continued healing and strength for him. Be sure to keep all the Caringbridge kids in your prayers, especially prayers for a miracle for Brant.

Travis

Thursday, September 15, 2005 10:56 AM CDT

The Carrico house is doing well.....

Our focus today is for God's strength to be with Brant and his family. Sadly, Brant is at the end of his journey on this side of Heaven and the pain and heartache that go along with this are unimaginable for those that love and care for him. Please take time today to pray for their strength and for God to bless them with many more special moments with their son. If you have time, please leave them a guestbook entry. I remember when Jace was in the hospital; reading those guestbook entries gave me so much comfort.
We have all learned so much from this family and their journey. May God wrap his arms around them and give them comfort to get through each day.


"You are God's fingerprint in the lives of others. He has touched others through you and they will never be the same." ~ Cathy Varvaris

God's Blessings,
Tara

Friday, September 9, 2005 11:13 AM CDT

It's time for a quick weekly update.


Our quiet labor day weekend ended up being full of all kinds of activities. On Sunday, we spent the afternoon boating with the Hibler's at Lake Rathbun. We had a great time and the kids had tons of fun. Jace and Jenna especially enjoyed tubing. I couldn't move for the next two days, so I'm not sure how much I enjoyed tubing :-) We also spent some quality time at the New Sharon pool since it closes on Labor Day each year. A sad moment for all New Sharon kids (and their parents)

We were also fortunate to have Grandpa Beuford (picture above) visit our house this past weekend. Grandpa Beuford has been going to Mrs. Gruber's 1st grade students homes for many years (more than 20). Each night a different child gets to bring him and his backpack home. I'm not sure how long he has been around, but I do know that you can't go anywhere in town without someone knowing Beuford. He spent the majority of the weekend right by Jace's side. Jace told me that he was his "responsibility." We were going to take him boating, but I was afraid he would fly out of the boat - especially with Tony driving :-)

Tonight, we start football season! Go Warharwks and Hawkeyes!!!

Thanks for checking on our little guy. Praise God that he is doing so well. Please continue to pray for our buddy, Brant (link above) and his entire family.

"Nothing under God's control is ever out of control"
~Charles Swindoll

Blessings,
Tara

P.S. Boating pic's on the photo page.

Thursday, September 1, 2005 9:32 PM CDT

Good Evening...

I wanted to give a quick update before the start of the weekend. Jace continues to do well and had a great full week at school. He is enjoying his teachers and all the fun that goes along with 1st grade. We are amazed at his strength through these long hot days. Another answered prayer...

Jenna and Jace are excited for an extra long weekend. I have a wedding to sing at on Saturday - after that our weekend is free. The weather looks great, so I am hopeful that we can do something fun with the kids.

Thank you to everyone that attended our last Praise in the Park. We had a large crowd and Alexis was able to attend. She is the little girl in Jace's class that had a tumor removed on August 15th. I spoke with her mother and I am happy to report that the surgeon feels that he removed all the tumor. They also have found out that it is benign and she will not need further treatment. Great news for their family!


After reading Brant's Page this evening, I ask that you say an extra prayer for him and his family. He (and his family) need our prayers during this time. May God's strength and comfort help them each day and may God protect Brant and keep him painfree.



Tara

Friday, August 26, 2005 4:17 PM CDT

Good afternoon, everyone...

Not much happening at the Carrico's right now. Jace & Jenna started school on Wednesday of this week. They both seem to be enjoying it very much. Be sure and check back in a few weeks to see if Jace still feels the same way!

Jace's homeroom has a turtle, guinea pig and a teddy bear that goes home with a different student each night. So there's plenty to keep his interest.

With his full days this week, he hasn't lasted much longer than 7:30 PM before it's bedtime. I hate putting him to bed when it's still light out but he'd never make it through the next day if I didn't.

We got our pictures back from Amy Doerring so we're now faced with the ominous task of sorting through all of them. They turned out very nice! Check back soon as I hope to get one or two on the website (with Amy's permission ;-)

One last note: if you're anywhere near New Sharon this Sunday night, be sure and come to the City Park for the final Praise In The Park concert series at 6 PM. There will be hot food and drinks provided and we'll be taking an offering for Alexis Long...the little girl from New Sharon who is recovering from brain tumor surgery. There will be three bands (including yours truly) for your listening pleasure and plenty of food. Best of all...it's free!!! Come on out, we'd love to see you there!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: Be sure and check out the new pictures on the Photo Album page.

PSS: Jessie Ryan, shouldn't you be spending more time studying and less time surfing the 'net to see if I've updated!!! ;-)

Saturday, August 13, 2005 8:43 PM CDT

UPDATE: Thursday Aug 18th 11:30 AM

Just spoke with Dr. Mitchell and he says everything looks good.

Thank you all very much for all of your prayers for our son!

Very sincerely,
Travis



Good evening, everyone!

We have just arrived home from a GREAT trip to St. Paul to see the Wiggles! As you can tell from the picture above, Jace finally got to meet his heroes. More about that in a bit.

We left Des Moines at 6 PM on Wednesday night and enjoyed a delicious supper at Be-Bop's in Ames. We drove for a couple hours and decided to spend the night at Owatonna Grand Hotel in Owatonna, MN. We headed out the next morning and spent the day exploring the Mall of America in Minneapolis.

Thursday night was spent at the Best Western Kelly Inn in St. Paul which was supposed to be within walking distance from the Excel Energy Center where the show would be held. Newsflash for the staff at Best Western: nine blocks in downtown St. Paul is NOT walking distance. So, we checked out the next morning and hit the Holiday Inn which is right across the street from the show.

We enjoyed a nice outdoor lunch at a cafe downtown before heading to meet the Wiggles at 1:30 PM. Jace showed some incredible patience as he sat outside the gates and listened to their soundcheck before they let us in. Finally, we were led down several hallways to one of the locker rooms and were told to wait. I don't know who was more nervous...Jace or me! All of a sudden everyone was buzzing and in walked the Wiggles!!! Jace had a look of wonderous awe on his face that I'll never forget. We had the opportunity to visit with them briefly and tell them about Jace's illness. I was amazed at how sincere they all were about Jace and his illness. Murray (red shirt) asked Tara if he had anymore hospital stays coming up and several of them asked if he was doing well. To put it plainly, just a GREAT bunch of guys! We were heading back to the main gate when Tara told me she wished we had taken a picture of the Wiggles with just Jace. So, at the risk of being a real nuisance, I went back in and made my request. The guys said, "Sure, no problem at all, mate!" I was absolutely stunned by their willingness to take extra time for Jace and just how sincerely nice they all were. I learned recently that they have passed the rock group AC/DC as the biggest act to ever come out of Australia, but you never would have known it that day. It was truly a wonderful experience for Jace and for our family.

After the meet and greet, we had some time to waste, so Tara & I left the kids with our friend Jessie Vavra (JessVav) and went out for awhile. At the top of a hill behind our hotel was an enormous church that had piqued my interest all day. Turns out it was the Cathedral of St. Paul and it was the most beautiful church I have ever seen. It was very reminiscent of the St. Mary's Chapel at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester only much larger and much more ornate. I'll be posting some pictures of it soon. Tara & I had a very intense, emotional time of prayer for Jace (and our other Caringbridge friends) at the altar of Mary & the Baby Jesus. A powerful experience, needless to say.

Finally, the time had come for the show. We had seats at the center of the stage, five rows back. The Wiggles came out to a roaring crowd and, about a minute in to their opening number, Greg (in the yellow shirt & Jace's favorite Wiggle) spotted him in the crowd and gave him a wink and a wave. We were both floating on cloud nine! I couldn't believe he had remembered Jace and had acknowledged him during the show. Several others in our section turned to look at Jace and smiled in appreciation of the moment, too. At two other times during the show, Jace waved at Greg and got a wave in return. Amazing! The show was everything we expected: all their classics that Jace loves plus some new songs that he enjoys. It was over in an hour and a half (just long enough as Jace was running out of gas!).

We headed back to the hotel and partied the rest of the night away, listening to Jace relive the most wonderful day of his life.

This morning, we headed for home. I wanted the kids to see the cathedral before we left town, though. Even though they weren't quite as awestruck as I was, they did appreciate the beauty and splendor of this house of God. We all took time to pray and Jace lit a candle and said a prayer for his buddy, Brant.

We are so thankful to God (and to our friend(s) who made this all possible) for what turned out to be the trip of a lifetime. I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. I look at them now and still can't believe that it all happened.

Jace will have a spinal/cranial MRI on Tuesday. Tara had some comforting words for me yesterday as we drove up to the cathedral. She said that she has been able to accept the fact that all the worrying in the world will not change the outcome of Tuesday's scans. By the strength and grace of God, we will deal with the results, whatever they may be, just as we have in the past. As a parent, it's still very difficult to put aside the worry and the "what-if's," but my wife's words have given me a greater perspective to face whatever lies ahead of us on Tuesday.

Thanks be to God.

Travis

Tuesday, August 9, 2005 11:55 PM CDT

NEW FAIR PICS ARE UP IN THE PHOTO GALLERY!!

Just a brief update as the Carrico's head into the home stretch of summer vacation.

We'll be heading out on the last foray of the summer on Wednesday afternoon, as we have been lucky enough to score tickets to see The Wiggles' in St. Paul, MN this Friday night. Thanks to a generous friend of a friend of a friend, Jace, Tara & I will be "hot-potatoing" with the boys from Down Under five rows from the stage!

Now for the REALLY good part. We just found out today that Jace will get to MEET THE WIGGLES that afternoon before the show!!! He's already practicing his "G'day mate's" and his dance moves. The lady at the Wiggles' promotion office was VERY nice and even remembered our name from April '04 when we were scheduled to see/meet the Wiggles in San Diego for Jace's Make-A-Wish trip. As you may recall, the trip was canceled due to Jace's hospitilization. Now we're able to make another of Jace's wishes come true.

I think it's hard for his little mind to comprehend actually talking to & seeing his heroes but he is very excited nonetheless.

Although reality tends to rear its ugly head every now and then with an MRI lurking right around the corner, this looks to be the crown jewel of the summer. We will obviously be posting pictures as soon as we return. We are most thankful for these blessings that God has bestowed upon us this summer.

We continue to pray for a clear scan on the 16th, increased strength and agility for Jace, and, as always, for our other Caringbridge friends; Brant, Tyler, Nolan and little Alexis from here in New Sharon who has had a recurrence.

Thank you all for checking in on Jace and for sharing his big news with him today!
Travis

PS: Thanks, Sarah!

PSS: The pic at the top of the page is from March '05...just in case you thought Jacer was looking a little rugged ;-) It's the only pic I have that really reflects his Wigglemania!

Tuesday, August 2, 2005 7:43 AM CDT

I ask for your prayers and support for a special family. Brant Hamilton received the news that his cancer has spread throughout his spine and brain. Craig and Julie are now going down a path that no parent should ever have to go through - entering hospice for their child. Please offer you words of comfort to their family and pray that God would continue to give Brant pain free days.

This weekend I found out that a little girl from New Sharon, Alexis Long has had a brain tumor return. I'm not sure on details but know that she is 7 and will also be in Jace's class. She is scheduled for surgery on August 15th in Iowa City. Pretty amazing that Jace has a class of 50 students and two have had a brain tumor. What is going on??
Also, special prayers to Tyler DeHeer who had to have surgery yesterday to remove his port because of a complication.

Jace continues to do well and we pray everyday that he continues to win in this battle. Thankfully, he has been feeling pretty well and enjoying his summer days. In three short weeks, he will be back to school :-(

Next week, we are going to try to get away for a couple days; one last trip before school starts. Jenna will also be heading to sib camp in Boone for a week. She loves this camp and is very excited to attend.

Please, pray for our friends and give your kids an extra hug tonight :-)

Tara

P.S. If you would like a sneak peak at one of our family pictures, you will see a picture that explains our whole year.
Right after our picture you will see two adorable boys - the Hamilton boys. :-)
Please visit Amy Doerring's site to check out the photographs.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005 10:54 AM CDT

My new picture is me and the chicken I dressed up at the fair. I dressed him like a bumblebee and named him "Bee-Bee." The dumb thing wouldn't keep his hat with antenna on, though :-) Thanks for praying for me.
Love ~ Jace




Good morning, everyone...

Jace is having a great summer! Here are some recent highlights:

1. He has boogied down at a couple of weddings - a far cry from last year's lap-sitting demonstrations at the receptions we attended.

2. He/we had a nice evening with Brant Hamilton and his family in Grinnell. Great pizza, a nice park and some great ice cream...(Craig, if you're reading this, tell Bradley we've started looking at some "larger" recreational vehicles in which to travel ;-)

3. He has finished physical/occupational therapy for the summer. He'll start back up this fall.

4. He spent a day at the Southern Iowa Fair with JessVav this week. He got to go on stage at a kid's show and play air guitar, won an alien and got to wash chickens. I don't know how one does that but I think he was in charge of putting their little shower caps on.

5. Jace's friend Maddi extracted his fifth tooth.

6. Jace has been seeing a tutor a couple times a week.

7. We tried to re-learn Bike Riding 101. Jace's grade: F
There's still time to learn, though...once his abrasions heal.

Tara & Jenna went with Tara's folks and brother to upper Minnesota/Lake Superior this week and then planned to go into Canada. Their only problem: Canada wouldn't take them. Some nonsense about not being able to prove that Jenna was our daughter or something like that. They drove all the way up to Canada in two days and had to turn around. They did see some wonderful scenery, though, and got to talk to some really nice, cordial, compassionate Canadian people at the customs office...not!

Jace continues to gain strength and coordination. He ran down the stairs the other day (scared me to death) which he hasn't done in a couple of years. He woke up at 6:30 AM yesterday and spent most of the day/evening at the county fair (bathing chickens). He came home at 9:30 PM and was ready for bed but wasn't as exhausted as he would've been in months past. We appreciate your continued prayers for his strength and agility to return. I can see them working in him every day!

Jace will have an MRI on August 16th. This will be a cranial and spinal scan. We would appreciate your continued prayers for him (and us as the time approaches) for continued healing.

We would also appreciate your continued prayers of healing for our Caringbridge buddies; Brant, Tyler & Nolan. Also, special prayers of comfort for the Cory Oswalt Family from Colo. Cory passed away on Sunday.

Thanks for checking in on Jace. I'm sorry we don't update as often as we used to. Life is pretty mundane around here right now (save for the occasional ill-fated Canadian excursion)...but we just keep on keepin' on.

Travis

PS: I've put some new pics up on the photo album. They're also pretty mundane but at least they're new!

Monday, July 11, 2005 10:22 PM CDT

Jace Carrico Blood Drive Day
Wednesday July 13th 10:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
McVay Family Center, New Sharon
We NEED your blood! No appointment necessary.




The Carrico family just got home from a fun-filled night of picture taking :-) It is something I have wanted to do for a long time, but just kept putting it off. We were either too busy or I still hadn't lost that extra 15 lbs. Well, this summer I made a promise that we were going to get it done and we did it! Guess what, I still haven't lost the extra 15 lbs, but we will have some great memories. We went to Amy Doerring in Newton; she is so talented. She truly has a gift for photography.
We decided the Carrico family photograph wouldn't be complete without Chipper our golden retriever. Unfortunately, Chipper decided to check out the pond on the way to perfect picture spot and ended up with a right leg full of mud. Priceless :-)

Jace continues to feel well. Tomorrow morning he will be back to Physical and Occupationl therapy. It has been three weeks since his last therapy session - all because of insurance problems :~) He still gets tired fairly quick and he doesn't enjoy the heat that we have been experiencing. We spend a lot of time inside or at the pool. He is due for another MRI sometime soon; we will keep you posted when we find out a date.

Thanks for checking in on our little guy. I hope that all of you are having a great summer. Please keep all of our friends in your prayers.

God Bless,
Tara

Saturday, July 2, 2005 9:45 AM CDT

Our sincere apologies for not updating in two weeks. I hope you haven't given up on your check-ins!

It's been a hectic summer, obviously. Jace really enjoyed camp. He had a rough first night but settled in and had a good time. We thought he would bring back pictures from camp with the camera we'd left him. It seems as though he designated a "photo hour" and took the whole roll in a span of about 60 minutes. So, we have some nice shots of the side of one of his cabin mate's head, the floor, the pole on his bunkbead...you get the idea. Jace came back with some scrapes and bruises but said he enjoyed all the activities, especially arts and crafts and horseback riding. The funniest part of camp was the day he got home and we began unpacking. He had someone else's shirt, a nice pair of denim jean shorts courtesy of one of his cabin mates and to top it all off, when he got ready to jump in the shower, we noticed a strange name on his underwear...and it wasn't Calvin Klein! Oh well, if any of the families of the kids who were at camp with Jace are reading this and you want to know where that nice pair of Gap denim jean shorts went, our email is at the bottom of this page. As of today, he says he'll go back next year so I'll take that as a positive experience.

This past week was the annual family vacation. This year we headed to Branson and spent a week at a condo on Table Rock Lake. It was nice just to chill out and hit the pool every day. We also visited Silver Dollar City (see pics), saw a show called "Lost In The 50's" and did some boating. It's amazing to me that they will rent a $50,000 boat to a guy who's never driven a boat in his life. It was a lot of fun, though. We took turns tubing (I think Tara managed to find the boat's "hyper-drive" while I was on the tube ;-) and saw some very nice scenery. Jace & Jenna also got to pilot the boat (see pics and disregard picture of me without shirt on). Jace did some fishing off the dock and caught two sunfish and a bluegill. Tara & Jenna did some kayaking and the kids swam in the cove. I would recommend everything except the 8-hour drive. Be sure and check out the pictures from the trip on the photo album page.

Jace is doing well this summer. He is taking some tutoring classes at school (when his father gets him there on time) and doing some physical therapy. His trips to our pool here in New Sharon do a world of good, too. Even though last year seems forever ago, I have to continually remind myself that Jace is only 8 months removed from treatments and that he will be dealing with their after-effects for a long time. We always appreciate your prayers for continued healing and strength.

Keep all the Caringbridge kids in your prayers, as well.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Friday, June 17, 2005 3:29 PM CDT

NEW PICTURES ARE UP!!!

We have some from the day we brought Jace to camp and some from Spring Festival.

We should have quite a bit to update next week when we get Jace's full report on his week at camp.

I wonder if they talked him in to going zip-lining?

Tara & I will leave early Saturday morning to get him. Hopefully he'll feel like lunch at Hickory Park in Ames.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 9:31 AM CDT

Hello Everyone!

The Carrico house is very quite this week! We dropped off Jace at Oncology Camp in Boone Sunday afternoon. We checked in at 2:00 and headed to a carnival which the Heart Connection puts on for the kids. At the carnival, Jace and Jenna played many games and enjoyed the face painting clowns. Jace had his face painted like Spiderman before we left.(I wonder who got to wipe that off his face??!) At 4:00, we took him back to his cabin and said our quick goodbye. (I really tried to make it quick, so he wouldn't get sad.)


I am so proud of him; I really can't believe he has stayed this long. I'm sure he is having the time of his life. We got a card in the mail from him today. It was very cute :-) Saturday can't come quick enough; I am ready to have him back!! I do have to admit that this week has been great for Jenna. We have had something planned every day. The best part is at night when dad and her to get to cuddle on the couch watching "their" favorite shows. Jace "enjoys" (or demands) attention when he's home, so this has been a great week for Jenna. Jenna will also be celebrating her 9th birthday this Sunday. She has big plans to spend the week with grandma and grandpa in Illinois.


When we get home Saturday afternoon, we plan to participate in the Relay for Life events in Oskaloosa. I hope everyone can stop by Edmundson Park and enjoy the day's events. There will be many activities going on. The survivor events will begin at 6:00 P.M.


Well, I better go. Today, I will be using my Christmas present from the kids - a massage!!!

Blessings,
Tara

Monday, June 6, 2005 4:07 PM CDT

Summer is finally here! We survived the last couple weeks of school and are anxious to enjoy summer at home this year and NOT at the the hospital. I think last summer we spent more days at the Children's Hospital than we did at the Carrico house. As you can see from the picture above (and new pic's in photo album), Jace enjoyed the day at the pool. It was great to see him having such a great time. The pool has always been a fun place for us to hang out and last year he just didn't have the strength to go. Today, he was swimming like a little fish. Praise God!!

June will be a busy month for us. Next Sunday, Jace will be leaving for Oncology Camp in Boone. It will be six VERY LONG nights - for me at least. Any mom's that have helpful advice, I think I need it :-) Jace is very excited to go and loves to talk about it. I know he'll have a great time; it's just hard to see him leave for that long. The camp is sponsored by The Heart Connection. It's a great organization for cancer patients and their families.

In June, we also will be enjoying more games, Vacation Bible School, and a family vacation to Branson. I have been spending my nights surfing the web for the best deals. We plan on going the last week of June and spending one day at Silver Dollar City. I haven't been to Branson for a long time; there is so much to do. If anyone has been there and has any advice to share, please email and give us some info. It's getting pretty overwhelming looking at web page after web page. I'm sure most of the trip will be spent hanging out by the pool and relaxing :-)

Jace has been feeling fine - especially the last couple of days. The last couple weeks of school we tried to keep him at school as much as we could, so he could enjoy all of the activities. Between late night games, all day school, and therapy appointments we had a very tired little guy. He seems to be acting a lot better lately. Heat still bothers him; he seems to get overheated fairly quickly. It's been a long year but today at the pool - Jace just seemed like his old self. God has definitely been working in his life!

I know that many of our friends could use your prayers during this time. Please continue to check on them and offer your support. Also, please pray for the families that have lost a child to this disease. The last couple of months have been very hard for many families. I pray that God comforts them each day. I'm anxious to read an update on Benjamin's site - maybe a new baby will be here soon :-)

Have a great week. I better sign off and get Jenna ready for her ballgame. Travis just noticed the pictures on the photo album and told me that "paybacks are h***" I'm sure you will hear the screaming if Travis puts a picture of me in a swimming suit on this page. YIKES!!.
Please pray that Jace enjoys his week at camp and that I survive, too. I'm sure he will come back a "new" little boy - possibly a little bit more independent.

Blessings,
Tara

Monday, June 6, 2005 4:07 PM CDT

Summer is finally here! We survived the last couple weeks of school and are anxious to enjoy summer at home this year and NOT at the the hospital. I think last summer we spent more days at the Children's Hospital than we did at the Carrico house. As you can see from the picture above (and new pic's in photo album), Jace enjoyed the day at the pool. It was great to see him having such a great time. The pool has always been a fun place for us to hang out and last year he just didn't have the strength to go. Today, he was swimming like a little fish. Praise God!!

June will be a busy month for us. Next Sunday, Jace will be leaving for Oncology Camp in Boone. It will be six VERY LONG nights - for me at least. Any mom's that have helpful advice, I think I need it :-) Jace is very excited to go and loves to talk about it. I know he'll have a great time; it's just hard to see him leave for that long. The camp is sponsored by The Heart Connection. It's a great organization for cancer patients and their families.

In June, we also will be enjoying more games, Vacation Bible School, and a family vacation to Branson. I have been spending my nights surfing the web for the best deals. We plan on going the last week of June and spending one day at Silver Dollar City. I haven't been to Branson for a long time; there is so much to do. If anyone has been there and has any advice to share, please email and give us some info. It's getting pretty overwhelming looking at web page after web page. I'm sure most of the trip will be spent hanging out by the pool and relaxing :-)

Jace has been feeling fine - especially the last couple of days. The last couple weeks of school we tried to keep him at school as much as we could, so he could enjoy all of the activities. Between late night games, all day school, and therapy appointments we had a very tired little guy. He seems to be acting a lot better lately. Heat still bothers him; he seems to get overheated fairly quickly. It's been a long year but today at the pool - Jace just seemed like his old self. God has definitely been working in his life!

I know that many of our friends could use your prayers during this time. Please continue to check on them and offer your support. Also, please pray for the families that have lost a child to this disease. The last couple of months have been very hard for many families. I pray that God comforts them each day. I'm anxious to read an update on Benjamin's site - maybe a new baby will be here soon :-)

Have a great week. I better sign off and get Jenna ready for her ballgame. Travis just noticed the pictures on the photo album and told me that "paybacks are h***" I'm sure you will hear the screaming if Travis puts a picture of me in a swimming suit on this page. YIKES!!.
Please pray that Jace enjoys his week at camp and that I survive, too. I'm sure he will come back a "new" little boy - possibly a little bit more independent.

Blessings,
Tara

Friday, May 27, 2005 2:34 PM CDT

Field trip day for the Carrico kids!!

Today was the first morning that I saw Jace actually get out of bed without a big argument.
Jace has been feeling fine this last week and was even able to attend school a couple of full days. Wednesday he went the whole day and rode the bus home with sissy. I, of course, was a crying mess as he got off the school bus and walked across the yard. I kept reassuring him that they were happy tears :-) It feels good to see him experience a little normal life.
He has been playing outside more lately and has been pretty ornery again. Now, I know he's feeling better :-) I got after him earlier this week about something and he said, "I wish I was sick again. I never got in trouble." Oh, boy!! We had an interesting conversation after that one. Something like.....Never say, "I wish I was sick again."

I'm hopeful that Travis will have an amusing story to write about after enjoying the day with Jenna's 3rd grade class to the Science Center. He has been busy preparing for "Praise in the Park." It will begin at 6:00 P.M. Sunday evening; bring your lawn chairs and enjoy some great praise music.

Please take the time to stop by our buddy, Brant's page (link above) The news segment on him will melt your heart. What a courageous family! Special prayers to their family today as Brant has an MRI this afternoon.

Thanks for stopping by. Thankfully, no news is good news! Only 3 more days of school left.

God Bless,
Tara

P.S. The plumber just left and the Carrico's are proud owners of a new toilet upstairs. It's a great day at our house, now!! :-)
Happy Memorial Weekend!

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 2:55 PM CDT

Hello from the Carrico's!!

Thankfully, not much has changed since our last entry. Ballgames, end of the year field trips, and yardwork have kept us busy the last couple of weeks. Jenna plays ball twice a week and Jace has been enjoying practice. Jace's games will be starting at the beginning of June. June will be busy month full of ball games - summer fun!! Also in June, Jace will be attending Oncology Camp.

May is quickly passing and summer vacation will be here before we know it. I just finished up my Pop's Concert last night. Our theme was "Down on the Farm" and the kid's had a blast singing all of their favorite country songs. There were some great country outfits. Now I just have graduation and a trip to Adventureland with the Jr. High Choir. They will be performing - Lord, be with me :-) The end of the year also brings field trips for the kids. Jenna went fishing today and will be going to the Science Center on the 27th. Jace and his class will be enjoying a trip to the zoo in Des Moines.

Jace has been feeling great and continues to gain strength each day. Life almost feels normal. Of course, as normal as life seems, reality takes over and fear creeps in. I'm just thankful for today and that Jace is doing great. I have to remember one of my favorite sayings, "Don't let the worries of tomorrow ~ destroy the joys of today."

Thanks for checking in on our family. This weekend will be filled with graduation activities - 15 parties to attend. Hope everyone has a great weekend! Please continue to pray for our friends; they need your prayers and support at this time, also.

Tara

P.S. I hope everyone is enjoying the 'verse of the day' under Jace's Make a Wish Trip pictures.

Saturday, May 7, 2005 9:48 AM CDT

**** Tuesday, May 10th, 2005 ****

I just wanted to share our new school picture of Jace. His school picture in September showed a very sick little boy and this one shows how God has truly answered our prayers. Thanks for praying for our son and being a part of this journey.
Also, please take time to few the photo page. Jace had something very exciting happen the last couple of days. Let's just say the tooth fairy made an appearance Sunday and Monday night :-)
God Bless you all!
Tara



Good morning, everyone...

Not much happening today at the Carrico's. There was quite an air of anticipation in our home last night, however, as the buildup to the much-anticipated first new episodes of Spongebob Squarepants came to a head at 7:30 PM (8:30 PM EST). I have to say that the wait was more exciting than the actual shows (during which Dad fell asleep). They must have new writers or have just run out of ideas. I'm glad we have invested part of the kids' college funds on the DVD collection so we can enjoy the old episodes time & time & time & time again. And Mom thought it was a bad investment!

Jace has a good day on tap. He will be going four-wheelin' & going out to eat with JessVav & Nolan Mothershead later today. Is the phrase "Third Wheel" popping into anyone else's head right now?

Jace has enjoyed the past two days off from school as Kindergarten Roundup has been going on, or, as Jace probably likes to think of it..."lambs being led to the slaughter!" He gets a four-day weekend out of the deal, so he's livin' large right now.

Jace got a call from his Tee-Ball coach last week and is excited about starting the season. His first practice is this Monday. He is already asking me about the team name and the color of the uniforms. I think he's been around Mom too much as it looks like we have a Ty Pennington, Jr. on our hands. It's neat to see his TeeBall picture from last summer on the fridge. You can see his ID bracelets from the hospital in the picture (they let him out just for that game) and see how frail he is. He really has come a long way!

Jenna is two games into her season (with Dad at the helm - go Harden Tigers!!!) If you have a couple minutes to kill, you can visit her teams' website at The Official Website of the Harden Tigers.

Lastly, THERE ARE NEW PICTURES ON THE PHOTO ALBUM PAGE!!! I received a stern inquiry this morning as to when we would get some new pictures up...so here they are; complete with humorous captions!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Sunday, May 1, 2005 10:03 PM CDT

Sunday, May 1, 2005 9:18 PM CDT

Happy May Day, everyone.

I trust you all found a little May basket outside your front doors this morning.

We're back from an all-expenses paid weekend in Roseville, Illinois visiting my parents! We started the weekend off with a bang though as we were treated to a three-hour wait courtesy of the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. In retrospect, I think the problem was that, upon taking a closer look at the appointment sheet, all the times were listed in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. So, when we showed up at 10:45 AM CST to check in for our 11 AM appointment, they weren't expecting us until 11:00 AM PACIFIC time...which is actually 1:00 PM CENTRAL time...which meant that our wait would've been just as expected after leaving the hospital at 2:00 PM CST or, more specifically, Noon PST...wait a minute...

What it all boils down to is that the Dr. doesn't know anymore than we do...unless we opt for an MRA. This is an MRI that focuses on blood vessels. The Dr. thinks that there is a small chance that Jace may have some sort of blood vessel disease that can occur after radiation treatment. She said she "prefers the migraine possibility" but, due to it's short duration, doesn't have the classic signs of a migraine. However, everything is different in children so who knows.

In the end, we all decided that we should give Jace a baby aspirin each day to keep his blood thin and treat this as a migraine headache. If it happens again, we'll probably have the MRA and see if there's any vessel damage or disease. All of this transpired in just three hours!

We finally got to Roseville, IL at around 5:30 EST (2:30 PST). We had a nice weekend at my folks, saw my Grandmother and all my Dad's relatives, knocked a cake over onto the floor at Grandma's house, compared ugly foot genetics with my Aunt Donna (I won!), made it through half of the entire Hee-Haw library on DVD, stole some hostas from my uncle Ronnie, saw almost all the houses I used to live in, and played on the playground at my old elementary school. Yes, I left all that excitement behind for a life in Iowa.

And we were back in New Sharon on Sunday at 11:00 AM Pacific Standard Time (2:00 PM EST - unless you live on the eastern border of Indiana where it would've been 1 PM CST)...exactly 50 hours after the time we arrived in Iowa City (11:00 AM CST) except we were two hours early since we live in the western hemisphere and are too close to the International Date Line...did I mention that we didn't have a good day in Iowa City?

I think I should've typed all this up before I started binge-drinking the Robitussin tonight. Oh, I almost forgot...Jace, Jenna and I all have colds! Tara was surround by her loving family, hacking, sneezing, blowing, whining, complaining and open-mouth sleeping very loudly. It's great to get away, isn't it hun!

Lastly, I must take this opportunity to address some bad information I received two weeks ago. For the record, Jace WAS NOT roping goats at physical therapy...and NO GOATS WERE HARMED during the making of physical therapy that day. Unfortunately, after TANya's morning phone call about these goats that would be at therapy later that day and Tara's post-therapy report of Jace's lasso exercises, I came to the obvious conclusion that he had strung rope around the goat's necks and caused them a fair amount of discomfort. Hilarity ensues, right?

So, I would like to offer my apologies to any and all goat/hooved farm animal lovers who read these ridiculous journal entries that I type. I hope I didn't cause you any distress, discomfort or displeasure. It was just a case of pure ignorance...AGAIN.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 5:42 PM CDT

Good Afternoon!

We just arrived home from our appointment in Des Moines. Jace was a little anxious this morning since it would be the first time having blood work done without his port. A special thanks to Cathy for helping Jace through this. They had a special doll that had life-like "veins" that Jace got to practice on. After it was over, he told us "that wasn't too bad." Before Jace's hearing test at 1:00, we went up to the hospital to see our buddy, Nolan Mothershead. Nolan was in the hospital receiving chemo ~ only two more left :-)
The hearing test went well and thankfully, there was no change from last time.

On Friday after Jace's appointment in Iowa City, we will be driving to Illinois to visit Travis' family. The kids are anxious to see Grandma and Grandpa and we are all ready for a weekend away.

This past week two Caringbridge children that I follow have earned their angel wings. I can't imagine the pain that these families are going through, and I pray that God gives them the strength each day. Please continue to pray for all the CB kids - especially Logan and Mason's family.

Thanks for your continued prayers!
Love, Tara

Friday, April 22, 2005 10:04 AM CDT

****Tuesday, April 26th, 2005

We ask that you would pray for Mason Brown. He is a little boy from Grinnell that is nearing the end of his battle with this disease. Please pray for his parents, Shane and Amy and sister, Asia. What an inspiration this family has been to so many in their community.



Good Morning!

Jace is now officially "port-less" Surgery went well, and he is back at school enjoying another day. Of course, we arrived at oupatient surgery by 5:15 Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, surgery didn't start until 7:30 A.M. It was a morning full of waiting around. Jace is a trooper; he walked back with the nurse and waved goodbye to us. He was just excited that he had a strawberry mask to wear while he went to sleep :-)


Next week, we have two appointments. One will be in Des Moines for his thyroid and hearing test; the other will be in Iowa City to visit with a neurologist. I'm hopeful I can talk Jace into a little shopping :-)

Jace is now able to be a part of the family bike rides again. Before his tumor, he loved to ride bike and now because of balance issues he isn't able to ride without training wheels. I made one of my first ebay purchases (I could get addicted) and bought a "trailer bike." It hooks on to the back of my bike and we both peddle away. Last night, dad put it together and we gave it a try. We were both giggling the whole way. It will be a fun addition to our summer.


Thanks for checking in our little buddy! Please pray for our other buddies, too.

The Carrico's

P.S. I just developed four rolls of film; check back for new pic's.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 10:42 PM CDT

Sorry we haven't updated in a while. Softball practice, work, roping goats at physical therapy...you know, the same ol' same ol'!

Anyway, we will be leaving at 4 AM on Wednesday...wait, did I just type that? Let's try again.

Anyway, we will be leaving at 4 AM on Wednesday...yep, I did type that...to have Jace in DSM for a 5:30 surgery check-in. He's getting his port taken out and he is pretty excited about it. We know it's just a "routine" surgery but we would appreciate your prayers for everything to be just that...routine.

Whatever happened to the good ol' days when outpatient surgeries were scheduled for 2 in the afternoon? Sure, Jace wouldn't be able to eat for like, 14 hours or something, but I'm sure he would find it an even trade-off for his Dad not having to crawl out of bed at 3:30 AM. It's just the kind of kid he is.

In case any of you were wondering about my goat remark earlier, yes Jace actually roped some goats at his physical therapy this week. For those of you engaged in physical therapy OUTSIDE of the state of Iowa, research has shown that goat-roping has proven more effective for getting kids back on track than antiquated methods such as water aerobics and computer-aided balance exercises. Yes, Jace tries to walk with multi-colored pieces of elastic pulling against him, but when the PT people (Bob & TAN-ya) start busting out the goats, look out! Seriously though, Jace enjoyed working with the goats very much...(and is looking forward to next week's exercises involving greased pigs and an ostrich.) Thanks Bob & Tanya!

If you're looking for something fun to do on the next windy day...go fly a kite! It's easy to forget how fun this simple pleasure can be. Jace & I went out and flew his new Wiggles kite on Monday. It was spinning and darting around like a multi-colored barn swallow. After watching it spiral violently about seven times and then come within inches of giving Chipper a Wiggle-ectomy, Jace said..."This is the greatest day of my life!" Oh, the simple pleasures!

I'd better shut it down tonight as 3:30 will come rather quickly, I fear. Did I mention that I have to get up at 3:30 AM tomorrow? Anyway, we appreciate your prayers for Jace and for all the CB kids.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: Happy Birthday, MOM!

Tuesday, April 12, 2005 1:56 PM CDT

Good afternoon, everyone.

I made two mistakes last week on the day after his MRI. #1 - I sent him to school...and #2 - I let him wear his cowboy boots. The combination of some residual wobbliness from the previous days' sedation and the narrow boots with the heel caused him to trip over his desk, fall and hit his head. (For further reading, try..."Bad Parenting - Coping With A Dumb Dad").

Jace is doing well this week in spite of his Dad, though. He was excited today as he received a Major League Baseball catalog in the mail. He really got pumped up for Tee-Ball and also for a Chicago Cubs bedset he saw in it. Where did I go wrong!? He was so excited that he grabbed a baseball to sleep with as he went down for his nap.

We're finally starting to see Jace gaining some strength! This weekend, he climbed up the side of the deck (it may have been the Spiderman mask and gloves, though) and he has started to climb stairs without putting both feet on the same step. While these aren't groundbreaking achievements, they are some welcome evidence that his strength is starting to return.

Jace is scheduled to have his port removed on April 20th. Marilyn (his nurse) had once told us that if he made it through his entire treatment without needing his port changed, it would be a miracle. I guess we know what to chalk this up to then!

He will also see Dr. Cook (our endocrinologist) on the 27th and have an audiogram later that day. There was some deterioration in his hearing after the last test, so pray for stable results this time. The kid has some serious natural musical ability and I'd hate for him to suffer any major hearing loss. But, if that's the worse thing that comes out of all this, I can certainly live with that.

Dr. Elliott has also suggested that we see a neurologist to start Jace on some medication to prevent any future migraine episodes like we had last week.

Jace continues to have intermittent pain in his chest. We think it may be from the fall he took off the monkey bars a couple of weeks ago. It only seems to be when he exerts himself but we're having it checked this Friday with the family doc.

Well, I have to go try and wake up Jacer for physical therapy today. The people at the hospital always know when I'm in charge of getting him there because we're about 10 minutes late. I'm sure they don't mind at all ;-)


Thank you for your continued prayers for Jace and our other Caringbridge friends.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: NEW PICTURES HAVE BEEN POSTED!

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 7:08 PM CDT

Thursday, April 7 2005 9:00 P.M.

Our sympathy goes out to Benjamin Jones' family. This morning, Benjamin went to be with Jesus. Please be in prayer for his family during this time. Benjamin's story was an inspiration to many and will live in our hearts forever. Heaven gained a special little guy!





We found out today that there is no new tumor growth present. There is some fluid in his subdural space (between his brain & skull) near his shunt but the doctors are not concerned about it at this point. They are fairly certain that last night's seizure was the result of a severe migraine headache...which are not uncommon in kids who have had brain tumors.

For those of you who may not have heard, Jace had a brief period of seizure-type activity last night. He had been experiencing a sharp pain in his forehead for about a half-hour. Then, at around 8:45 PM, he fell into a sluggish stupor then began yelling, "Mom, my arm, my arm!" He had lost feeling and movement of his left arm. So we headed back to Des Moines and spent the night at Blank Children's Hospital.

A VERY SPECIAL THANK-YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO SEE US TODAY! The entire North Mahaska Jazz Band stopped in this morning after a stellar performance at the state jazz championships last night (Great job, Band!) along with Bruce Peiffer, Dan & Laurie Carmichael (thanks for your awesome prayers and songs of healing, Danno!), Sandy Ryan, and Dan & Theresa Augustine. Also with us today was our pastor, Rev. Kevin Glesener, Renee McCulley, Mary Jo Hibler (of "Mary Jo Monday" fame), Cara Ferguson, Lynnae Van Genderen and Sarah Susanin. Thank you all very much for taking time out of your day to come and support us! We appreciated it more than you'll ever know.

We have taken today's good news with a grain of salt, however. Two doors down from us at the hospital today, Logan Nunez is fighting a recurrence and having a tough go of it.

Tara & I are constantly reminded of how fragile life is, how easily things could have gone differently for us today, and how uncertain the future is. Please continue to remember our Caringbridge friends like Brant Hamilton, Tyler DeHeer, Nolan Mothershead, Mason Brown, Logan Nunez and each day in your prayers. Jace would not be where he is today without the faithful prayers and love from all of you, whether you live here in our wonderful community, in a surrounding town, state or even country! We cannot thank you all enough for your prayers and posts today. Please keep them coming!

Thank you very much,
Travis & Family

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 9:25 PM CDT

Jace had some sort of seizure activity tonight. He had some pain in his forehead and his left arm went numb for a brief time.

We are taking him to Des Moines tonight and will have an MRI in the morning.

Please pray for our little guy.

Travis

Monday, March 28, 2005 6:34 PM CST

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. Thank you to everyone that came to the Good Friday musical, "Alpha and Omega." It was an incredible night; we had 520 people attend. Pretty good for small town New Sharon :-)

What a beautiful day!!! Jace had an appointment in Des Moines with Dr. Elliott. He thought that he looked great and had made some improvements since his last appointment. Jace's MRI is scheduled for April 11th at 10:45 a.m. We will also be scheduling an appointment in April to have his port removed. Jace is not very excited about that appointment. He would rather keep his port and avoid being poked in the arm. On the 11th, we will also be having another hearing test. The last test in December showed a decline in his hearing, so they would like to test him again.

Thanks for the checking in on us. It's exciting to know that Jace is getting stronger each day and making small improvements.
"Back to Normal" ~ not yet. But for now, life is good!!!
Enjoy the sunny weather!

The Carrico's


Please continue to pray for Benjamin and his family. Please pray that he would remain pain free and that God would give his family the strength to get through each day. Thanks ~

Monday, March 21, 2005 12:04 AM CST

Update: Friday, March 25th, 2005

Please say a special prayer for our friend Benjamin who is battling through the last stages of this disease. Please stop by and give them your support and prayers.



Travis and I would like to invite you to the community musical, "Alpha and Omega" which will be held on Good Friday at 7:00 P.M. It will be held at the Rock Center which is across from the Assembly of God in New Sharon. The production, which includes 80 people from our community, will be a moving experience. Email if you have any questions or would like directions.


We have so much to be thankful for this Easter season. Jace is doing well and continues to gain strength each day. Although this isn't the journey that we would have chosen, we have seen many blessings along the way. May you all be blessed this Easter season.


I found this poem and thought it would be a good time to share it with you. Please keep Jace's friends in your prayers; there are many going through hard times right now.


My Purpose

There isn't an explanation as to why I became sick.

All I know is God has a plan for each of us and for each plan there
is a purpose. Some of us know what our purpose in life is and others
will never find it. Then there are those like me who accomplish it
without ever realizing it.

My journey with cancer will not and has not been without purpose.
It is through my illness that I have helped doctors understand this
disease a little more so they may find a cure.

It is through my illness that I have opened the eyes to those around
me to see how precious life really is. Something we all to often take
for granted.

It is though my illness that some of those around me have realized
that life is too short to be afraid of our feelings. My cancer has
been beaten back by the power of love. It is the most powerful of
emotions, one not to be afraid of, but to be embraced. To be loved
by someone unconditionally and completely is to reach into your soul
and feel warmth.

It is through my illness that I have shown there is no guarantee for
the future--only dreams for it. Whether the future is just another
day or another 75 years, we should all dream big and live fully
everyday.

It is through my illness that I have seen the strong cry, only to
find more strength.

It is through my illness that some of us who haven't talked to God
in a while have once again begun to pray.

It is through my illness that I have joined the hands of those
familiar to those of strangers, to form one long chain.

I have already accomplished so much in such a short amount of time
and each day I continue to touch the hearts of many.

That is my purpose.

Thursday, March 17, 2005 6:46 PM CST

Update: Saturday, March 19th

Warhawks are State Champs, Blake was co-captain of the All Tournament Team, and Jace's neck pain is gone!!!
It's a good day in New Sharon :-)




We have taken a lot of trips to Des Moines this week, but thankfully not for medical reasons :-) Our boy's basketball team has been playing at Vets, and tomorrow night they will be playing for the State Championship game. What a year for New Sharon ~ the softball, football, volleyball, basketball and jazz band have all made State appearances this year. It's great to live in such a great school district. The above picture is Jace with his buddy, Blake. Blake has had some great games this week.

Jace has been struggling with some neck pain the last couple of days. We've been treating it with Tylenol which seems to help for a little while. It's on the side where his shunt tubing runs down, so we plan on calling Dr. Elliott in the morning. I'm praying that there is nothing wrong with his shunt and that it is simply scar tissue.

Thanks for the prayers; please keep the other Caringbridge kids in your prayers.

Tara

Monday, March 14, 2005 12:30 AM CST

Good morning, everyone!

The longer we take between updates, the more normal things seem to get around here. However, there is an ugly MRI lurking next month and even with all the faithful support from our family and friends, it is still impossible not to worry ourselves sick in the weeks preceding that day. Please remember Jace (and all the other CB kids) in your daily prayers and continue to offer prayers of healing for him.

For those of you who missed last night's Rock Center Service, you missed what was arguably the hottest, most intense set of Christian R&B music heard in these parts in a LONG TIME! Tara & I were privileged to be a part of a Praise & Worship band with a 9-piece horn section and several singers who just tore the place up! Special thanks to Dan The Man Carmichael for making it all happen.

Jace continues to have his physical and occupational therapy twice a week. We haven't seen any noticeable signs of improvement, but then we live with him so it's difficult to see if he's making progress. It definitely wears him out. I've never seen a kid that detests going to bed as much as he does. Nor have I ever seen a kid that detests getting out of that same bed 10-12 hours later as much as he does (I come in a close second ;-)

We had a wonderful, emotional experience on Friday night at the pep rally for our HS basketball team (state tournament this week!). Jace and two other gentlemen from the HS went out on the floor and held up signs, leading the crowd in a cheer. The deafening cheers he received as he ran out onto the floor brought many tears to his parents' eyes. This is truly a great community! We hope to have pictures of that night up very soon.

Lastly, for variety's sake, I've compiled a list of weird and/or interesting things that happened this past week...in random order:

1.) While getting dressed for a funeral Thursday morning, I inadvertantly grabbed the can of Lotrimin (for athlete's foot) rather than the clearly marked can of "Anti Static Spray" (Jenna found that acronym quite humorous!) and sprayed it under my suit pants. No more athlete's shin!!

2.) I found out that our neighbor can indeed hear my musical cohorts and I jamming to "Carry On My Wayward Son" from his house at midnight.

3.) During Tara's stunning rendition of a piano piece from the upcoming community Easter musical, which she was recording with Jenna's boombox sitting on the floor, these things happened within the span of two minutes and were caught on tape: Jace asked for help in the bathroom, the dog licked the microphone on the boombox and, with a mere two measures to go until the end, the cat sneezed into the mic. I am not making that up.

4.) My wife woke me up at 6 AM on Saturday morning to tell me she was going to Wal-Mart. After two and a half hours of intermittent, unfulfilling sleep, I gave up the quest to return to my peaceful slumber and arose to find Tara and Jace buried under the blankets of his bed, sleeping like hibernating bears. I guess Wal-Mart was closed.

5.) Jace got stuck in the bathroom at KFC while I was ordering supper Thursday night after therapy. I was consequently awarded the coveted "Bad Parent Discount" by the Shift Manager.

6.) Against Tara's protests, I delivered the kids to school Friday morning in the shiny black station wagon, aka "the Funeral Car." Thankfully for them, my bad parenting reared its ugly head again and, by pulling up to the now empty school parking lot at 8:28 AM, we avoided any ridicule the children may have had to endure by being seen in said funeral car.

The list goes on and on my friends, but it is now 1:42 AM and it seems like a good time to stop typing. Thanks for checking in on Jace and we hope you have a nice week.

Travis

Sunday, March 6, 2005 8:12 PM CST

Hi Everyone,

I know it's been a while since we last updated. Thankfully, life at the Carrico house has been fairly uneventful. Travis is still wearing his breathe-rite strip, and I'm still enjoying reality T.V. :-)

Jace has been busy attending physical and occupational therapy twice a week. His therapy time last two hours, so it takes up a good part of his afternoon. On therapy days, we pick him up at school after lunch and sneak home for a quick nap. He still gets very tired throughout the day and therapy really wears him out. However, he loves his time there.

Today was such a beautiful day. We spent most of the afternoon playing on Oskaloosa Elementary's playgrounds. It was great to see Jenna and Jace having so much fun together. It's amazing how things can change in a year. Last year, Jace never wanted to be outside. He was just too tired and sick. Today as I watched him running around; I couldn't help but think how truly blessed we are to be at this point. After playing at the playground, we decided to go to Earl May to see the new bunnies and the bird. (See, how exciting our life is???) Jace looked at Travis and said, "I had a good day today, Dad. Does it remind you of before I got sick?" At those moments, you just want to smile and cry at the same time.

Thanks for checking in on our little guy. We will keep you updated on the date of his next MRI. It's coming up...boy, I can feel anxiety just typing that. Yuck! There is a little boy from Grinnell that I would like to have you keep in your prayers. Please help Mason's family pray for the miracle they need. Tyler, Benjamin, and Brant (links above) need your prayers also as they face some new struggles and continue on with their journey. A journey that no family should have to endure. Please stop by and offer them your support.

Blessings to each of you,
Tara

*** New picture's added of park day :-)

Monday, February 21, 2005 1:02 PM CST

Hello everyone...

In lieu of the first entry I typed this morning which was humorous, informative, clever, entertaining, and quite lengthy...I am now submitting this abbreviated, concise entry, typing with clenched teeth! Stupid "Refresh" key!!!

We had a great time this weekend in Des Moines. Unfortunately so did the other 500 people who thought it would be a good idea to stay at the Stoney Creek Inn on Saturday night. We had a lot of fun, though and were glad to have Grandpa Tom and Grandma Sandy, Uncle Troy, and Uncle Todd & Aunt Angie in attendance. We enjoyed some Pappajohn's Pizza and Spongebob birthday cake. Jace got several presents including the new Wiggles DVD, a spiderman action figure, a viewfinder and a set of cap guns.

We had a nice night of swimming in the indoor/outdoor pool and watched some TV while relaxing in the hotel room. It was nice just to get away for a night!

Be sure and check out the new pictures I posted from this weekend. I'm glad a picture tells a thousand words because that's about what I had typed before my stupidity got in the way.

Lastly, thanks to everyone for the birthday cards and birthday posts to the site. It still means so much to us to be able to see who's thinking of Jace and checking in on the site. Pray for all the Caringbridge kids!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Thursday, February 17, 2005 6:09 PM CST

GUESS WHO HAS A BIRTHDAY THIS SATURDAY???!!!

Yep, our little buddy turns 6 years old on Saturday. As you may recall, last year's birthday was spent in the hospital while we were starting Jace on his IV feeding program. He had dwindled to a measley 35 pounds from 52 at the time of his diagnosis.

So to make this year's birthday special, we're going to have our family join us at the Stoney Creek Inn in Des Moines for a night of partying and swimming.

On Friday, Jace has an appt. in DSM with a pediatric ophthalmologist and then his physical & occupational therapy in Oskaloosa that afternoon.

He has been doing very well in school now that we're back to half-days. Jace was excited to make it to Tammy's (his babysitter) two times this week. With his illness last year and then starting school, Tara & I had forgotten how nice it is to dump Jace off and let someone else try to "meet his demands." I heard through the grapevine, though, that Tammy actually kind of enjoyed having Jace back. Jace had a great time, too.

If you get a chance, post a birthday greeting for Jacer or even send him a card if you have 39 cents burning a hole in your pocket! This is a special birthday and we want to remember it for years to come.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: NEW PIX HAVE BEEN POSTED!!!

PSS: We are still waiting on results for the winner of the Pancake Dinner. We have received conflicting reports: one stating that a group of waitresses from Hooter's was checking Jace's site that night...the other stating that Oprah had learned about Jace from a friend of ours at one of her shows and had checked the site at the same time. We hope to resolve this quickly ;-)

Thursday, February 17, 2005 6:09 PM CST

GUESS WHO HAS A BIRTHDAY THIS SATURDAY???!!!

Yep, our little buddy turns 6 years old on Saturday. As you may recall, last year's birthday was spent in the hospital while we were starting Jace on his IV feeding program. He had dwindled to a measley 35 pounds from 52 at the time of his diagnosis.

So to make this year's birthday special, we're going to have our family join us at the Stoney Creek Inn in Des Moines for a night of partying and swimming.

On Friday, Jace has an appt. in DSM with a pediatric ophthalmologist and then his physical & occupational therapy in Oskaloosa that afternoon.

He has been doing very well in school now that we're back to half-days. Jace was excited to make it to Tammy's (his babysitter) two times this week. With his illness last year and then starting school, Tara & I had forgotten how nice it is to dump Jace off and let someone else try to "meet his demands." I heard through the grapevine, though, that Tammy actually kind of enjoyed having Jace back. Jace had a great time, too.

If you get a chance, post a birthday greeting for Jacer or even send him a card if you have 39 cents burning a hole in your pocket! This is a special birthday and we want to remember it for years to come.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: NEW PIX HAVE BEEN POSTED!!!

PSS: We are still waiting on results for the winner of the Pancake Dinner. We have received conflicting reports: one stating that a group of waitresses from Hooter's was checking Jace's site that night...the other stating that Oprah had learned about Jace from a friend of ours at one of her shows and had checked the site at the same time. We hope to resolve this quickly ;-)

Monday, February 7, 2005 2:07 PM CST

After weeks of avoiding Tara's constant verbal barrage of "when are you going to update?"...I have finally relented. I keep telling my wife that there is nothing to report (all the while emphasizing how thankful we are to be able to say that!) I tell her that no one is interested in hearing about the exercise in banality that is the Carrico's life right now. But she persists. So, for the record, here is a day from last week...recorded for posterity's sake and for the betterment of humankind:

Monday 7:30 AM - Set off small, child-safe explosive charges under Jace & Jenna's bed. This proves ineffective in removing them from the bed so we offer a monetary reward instead. Kids are out of bed within seconds.

7:45 AM - Tara and Jenna continue the eternal mother/daughter struggle of "you're wearing that?!!" and "are you going out with a wet head!!!???" Jace & Dad grimace and shake heads over their cherry Pop-Tarts and thank God that they are not females.

8:30 AM - Kids are finally off to school leaving Tara (who is off on Mondays) and Travis (who has no "clients" to take care of) to enjoy a(nother) peaceful, irritation-free day together.

3:30 PM - Kids return home and drop shoes, bags, papers, coats, etc. in the middle of the major thoroughfare through the house. Yelling ensues. Children remove items from said high-traffic area and place them all in a slightly-less-traveled area of the kitchen. Snacks are prepared by the children atop a pile of unimportant-looking papers on the kitchen table.

4:00 PM - After children have retired to living-room to begin their nightly 6-hours of TV-watching, Dad begins clean-up efforts in kitchen tsunami zone. He notices pile of unimportant-looking papers under puddles of soda, frozen lemonade, Funyuns and white-powdered donuts. Dad is surprised at how he can still read the numbers "1099" and "W-2" under cola stains. He is proud of himself for salvaging the entire year's tax documents that Mom has spent the past two days compiling. He reassures himself that she won't notice said cola-stains but places them at the bottom of the pile as a precautionary measure.

7:00 PM - After completion of quick & easy pancake supper (Tara has opted for the "just-add-water" pancake mix rather than the more complex and time-consuming "just add milk, eggs & water" brand mix), the eternal struggle for the remote control begins. Dad & Jace are adamant about being able to watch Spongebob Squarepants. This episode, they contend, is one they have seen less than 15 times and, therefore, is considered "new" and must be viewed. Mom has several reality shows on the docket and Jenna avoids the confrontation altogether by retiring to her room with her Harry Potter novel. It is decided that Jace & Dad will watch Spongebob in Dad's room if Jace will agree to putting on his pajamas and going to sleep after both episodes. Jace defiantly agrees and the men go upstairs.

7:01 PM - Tara begins watching four reality shows simultaneously thanks to the miracle of the Flashback button (God help us if we ever get picture-in-picture).

7:30 PM - Travis comes back downstairs and immediately begins to assert his views that these reality shows are fixed, scripted and the cause of the general decline in society. Tara immediately becomes irritated and prepares counter-arguments to defend "Wifeswap", "Trading Spaces", "Trading Spouses", "American Idol" & "The Amazing Race."

7:31 PM - Tara wonders aloud if she is a "Desperate Housewife."

7:32 PM - Travis offers to cut hedge and mow the yard this summer in a wife-beater t-shirt and tight shorts...just like that yard guy on "Desperate Housewives."

7:33 PM - After Tara's mocking laughter fades, Travis reminds her how lucky she is to have him and that, even though he isn't as "chiseled" as he was in college, he would still be a "fine catch" even today!

7:34 PM - Travis goes to kitchen and searches for remaining white-powdered donuts.

10:00 PM - Tara drifts off to sleep with visions of Ty Pennington and Simon Cowell in her head.

1:00 AM - Upon completion of late-night channel surfing and marathon Playstation tennis match, Travis lets Chipper out for a final trip to the neighbor's yard, secures the house, says prayers over the kids (while wiring next-day's explosive charges) and puts on his Breath-Rite Nasal Strip. Goes to bed in anticipation of starting it all over again in six hours.

Well Tara, I hope you're happy! Now everybody knows what a day in the life of the Carrico's is like!

On a more serious note, we would like to thank those at Jace's school for going above and beyond the call and helping him out recently. A nice slanted desktop was custom-made for him so he could see his work better. We have moved him back to half-days as he has been having some problems concentrating and getting his work done. His teacher has noticed a marked improvement since going to half-days and he has a much better attitude about school. We start physical therapy tomorrow and will hopefully see some improvement with his balance and coordination in the weeks to come.

Also, as I was typing this, we went over 100,000 hits on this site. Tara & I can't thank you all enough for your continued love and support and for checking in on Jace as often as you do.

PS: To commemorate the 100,000th visitor, he/she will be treated to an all-expenses-paid Pancake Dinner and evening with the Carrico Family...as described on Caringbridge.ORG! - (Thanks Pick!)

Congratulations!!!

Monday, January 31, 2005 9:40 AM CST

It's amazing that January is over and February is here. I hope February brings warmer temperatures and sunshine. Travis loves this cold stuff, but I am ready for summer.

Jace had his appointment on Friday afternoon. We saw an orthopedic doctor from the Mercy Clinic. She had Jace do a variety of balance tests and than checked his strength and reflexs. We were amazed when she told us that his strength was actually very good. His problem is with coordination. She explained it as the brain isn't always giving a clear message to the legs on what to do next. He is actually having a delayed reaction. For instance, when he's going to trip over something. He does correct himself, just too late. This is probably due to a combination of all the treatments he has had and the location of his original tumor. She is setting up physical therapy and occupational therapy. The occupational therapy will be working on his fine motor skills and his eyes, which have a hard time focusing for longer period of times. I believe she was going to set this up in Oskaloosa and get Jace started in the next week or so.

I know many of you have prayed for Jace's balance problems. In the last week, we have a noticed a major improvement in this area. This morning he told Travis and I to watch him go down the stairs to our garage. He went down without holding on to anything, which is a big step for him. He was so proud of himself. I, on the other hand, was holding my breath the whole time. We have also started taking him to a chiropractor to work on his legs. I'm not completely sold on the idea, but he is getting better.

As far as school, Jace has been going full days and doing fairly well. He gets very frustrated with the school work and thinks it's too hard. The orthopedic doctor said this could also be because of his focus problems - looking down at his papers for long periods of time. We will have to work with the school and figure out how to make this easier for him.

Home life is pretty normal - and normal feels good. Jace spends most of his time playing. He has quite an imagination. Jenna has been busy also and loves school. She is playing basketball and also will be starting Science Club tomorrow. She's pretty excited to do all the fun experiments. I hope she doesn't blow anything up!

Thanks for checking in on our family. Please pray for continued healing and strength in Jace. Also, continue to pray for Brant who has started treatment, Nolan who will be having scans in the next couple of weeks, and Tyler who will be flying to Duke for his next round of chemo. Of course, there are many more kids that need your prayers, also.

I found this verse last week when I started looking into the future and thinking about the "what if's" None of us have control of our lives and being a parent of a cancer patient you realize that more than ever. Each day is a gift that you have to enjoy. I hope this verse helps someone...

Mark 5:36 Don't be Afraid - Just Believe.

Monday, January 24, 2005 8:41 AM CST

Please pray for our friend, Brant and his family. Ask God to wrap His arms around them and comfort them during this trying time. On Friday, they were told that Brant's disease has progressed. Of course, this is not the news that any of us had wanted to hear. I know God can bring miracles every day. We need to pray for a miracle for these children. It is so unfair that any parent has to go through what the Hamilton's and the Jones' are facing right now. Please stop by and offer them your support; you will never know how much a simple guestbook entry can help them face the day.


Jace has been feeling well and continues to get stronger. His legs start out strong and grow weak throughout the day. It does seem that the limp he was experiencing is getting better each day. The key is to get him to bed early; it's amazing how good his day can be when he gets a full 12 or 13 hours of sleep. Travis made a phone call last week and his physical therapy evaluation will be moved up to this Friday afternoon. Thank you for those that prayed for that. We are anxious to get him started. At this time, we are not sure where he will be going for therapy.

Friday night, we went out to the basketball game. It wasn't a very exciting game, but at least we won. Jace doesn't always enjoy sitting and watching, but he does enjoy running around with his buddy, Maddie. It was nice to get out of the house for the night. Jenna has started basketball, so she had practice on Friday night from 7:30 - 8:30. They practice in the elementary gym, which is connected to the high school. (Now, you know we have a small school) So, when they finish practice they just walk right down to the game. I can't wait to see their first scrimmage.


Jace had his first official date Saturday night. There is a bit of an age difference, but we trust him. He went out to eat and later enjoyed the SpongeBob movie with Kim. He was so cute getting ready; he told his dad that he might need some of his cologne. Of course, we had given him some money to pay for things. When he got home, I asked him if he had used all of his money. He looked at me and said, "I forgot about it." Sorry Kim. I think his dad has used that line before, too. He had a great time. We had planned on taking Jenna out to eat since we never get any alone time with her. She had other plans and decided she would rather go to the movie with her friend. Of course, Travis than decided he might just stay home. Guess where I ended up - Wal-Mart :-) The simple pleasures of life.

We will keep you posted on Jace's appointment. Please continue to keep all of these kid's in your prayers and above all - pray for a cure!

Tara

P.S. New picture's added

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 7:32 PM CST

Hi Everyone!

I can't believe it's been a week since I've last updated. We were able to go back to school on Thursday which was nice for all of us. Mom was going crazy and the kids were VERY bored. Why do we have all of these toys???

Jace has been having some trouble with his legs lately. He fell a couple of times at school last week and since than has walked with a limp. Yesterday, we took him to Des Moines to meet with his doctor. He felt it was time to start Jace on physical therapy. Jace's legs just don't have the strength to keep up with the rest of his body. As you can imagine, our mind goes in all kinds of directions when Jace has trouble with balance. After we found out that he had trouble again today at school, Travis made another call to our doctor. He reassured us that during his neurological testing yesterday; he was stronger than ever before. He just simply needs therapy to work on his coordination. He said that they have seen this pattern before in other brain tumor patients.

As far as emotionally, Jace is doing awesome. He is acting like the "old Jacer" and is really having fun. Dr. Elliott said it the best at his appointment yesterday. He told me that he is doing great and looks like he has "life" again :-)

Please keep Jace in your prayers as we go through this 'bump' in the road. (and just when I think things are getting easy.) We couldn't get an appointment for his physical therapy evaluation until February 14th. Hopefully, they can move us up on the schedule. On a positive note, we were able to take care of Jace's thyroid appointment yesterday instead of driving back to Des Moines on Friday. We don't know the results from his thyroid blood work yet, but Dr. Cook felt that he was doing fine.

We have a special prayer request for Brant and his family this Friday. As many of you know, he will be having his MRI to determine if his tumors have stabilized with this chemo drug. I know God can work miracles and he is watching over Brant and all of the Caringbridge kids. Thanks for your prayers each and every day.

Tara

Tuesday, January 11, 2005 3:53 PM CST

Another snow (or ice) day!!! I use to love snow days and than one year I figured out that you have to make them up. I don't work on Mondays and Fridays, so I have had a very long break. (For those of you not from here, we have only had school on Monday and Friday.) I am ready to get back to work.

I just wanted to post a new picture of Jace and show off his new hair. He has spent most of his day playing playstation and dragging old toys out of his toy box. Occasionally, we open up the box from Rochester and play with something new. He had received so many neat toys while in the hospital last year; it has been nice to enjoy them throughout the year.


Yesterday, he went to school but did not have a good day. I believe they told me he fell asleep at school around 10:30 and slept a little past noon. I guess he had partied too much the night before at his celebration. He still gets so worn out and struggles if he doesn't get enough sleep. For example, he slept almost 14 hours last night. Now, that's a good night sleep! I'm hopeful that the further out we are from chemo, the better his body will feel.

Thanks again for such a wonderful night Sunday. It was nice to be able to show the community how thankful we are for them. Also, thanks to everyone that reads Jace's site. We are blessed to have so many of you thinking and praying for our son.



Tara

Monday, January 10, 2005 8:41 AM CST

Just wanted to say "Thank You!" to everyone who came to Jace's service of celebration last night. We had a wonderful time and we hope you all enjoyed the music, powerpoint and speaking.

Special thanks to Paul & Suzette Ver Steegh, Dan Carmichael, Richard, RevKev, Phil DeBoef, Cally Lewis, the gals in the kitchen and everybody who helped put the service together, participated and made it happen! We had a great night!

We are so proud to call New Sharon our home and we feel privileged to have all of you as our community family. Jace has come a long way in just a year and we hope for continued successes. Tara and I would like to thank you all in advance for your continued prayers of healing for Jace and all the Caringbridge kids. This community is a powerful weapon in the fight against these diseases and we're glad we have you all on OUR side!

Thank you all very much!
Travis & Tara

Wednesday, January 5, 2005 1:15 PM CST

Just a quick entry today as I'm spending most of my time trying to keep the snow from piling up!

We would like to cordially invite all of you to a community celebration for Jace at the Rock Center (next to the New Sharon Assembly of God Church) this Sunday, Jan. 9th at 6:00 PM. There will live music, a few different speakers (including me...but come anyway ;-) and a powerpoint slideshow. If you're able, bring some finger foods to share. It should be a very fun night so we'd love to see you all there!

Get out and enjoy this snow and ice...it'll be summer before you know it!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: Be sure and check out the new pictures from today's snowday!

Monday, January 3, 2005 12:43 AM CST

UPDATE: New pics are up from Christmas Day!


Happy New Year!


I have to say that it feels good to have 2004 behind us. We are hopeful that 2005 will be a new beginning for our family and that we can just enjoy the simple things of life.

Our family had a wonderful Christmas this year. We were able to stay at home and just enjoy the day. I believe Jenna's quote was, "this is the BEST Christmas ever." We were glad that it could be so memorable for the kids. On Christmas Eve, Jace was constantly checking the computer to see where Santa was located. Jace and Jenna decided to leave Santa a ham and cheese sandwich this year, since he gets a lot of cookies. Of course, Santa always makes a mess getting into our house and leaves a fun note for the kids. I can tell Jenna's getting older, because she wondered why the "snow" that Santa had tracked all over the house hadn't melted by Christmas night. Ooops...

Jace is stilling doing well, and continues to get stronger each day. He is growing a new head of hair which he is very proud of. It seems to be dark brown like it was before. The very back of his head (by his scar) is still bald, so he has a perfect bowl cut :-) We just don't show him that part.

I do have to share a cute story. This past weekend, I was cuddling with Jace on the couch and told him that I was sorry that he had to go through so much this past year and that I pray he will never be sick again. He looked at me and said, "Sometimes you just have to go deep inside yourself and fight, Mom." My heart melted. I was in disbelief that this 5 year old came up with such a comment. I hugged him tight and didn't want to let go. He than looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, "I heard Spongebob say that to Patrick once."
See, Spongebob Squarepants isn't that bad?!?!?

Blessings to all of you,
Tara

Saturday, December 25, 2004 11:57 AM CST

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying your Christmas day. It was exciting to see Jace walking down the stairs this morning and unwrapping presents. Of course, our thoughts couldn't help but go back to Christmas a year ago. We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for.

We will post pictures later today. Jace and Jenna both got presents that will allow them to cruise the streets of New Sharon :-) Watch out!

Love,
Tara

Sunday, December 19, 2004 4:37 PM CST

Good evening, everyone.

Thank you to everyone for your nice comments regarding my last post and for letting me indulge myself with it this Christmas. I believe that getting it off my chest really helped me feel better on Friday.

Jace has been taking his thyroid medication very well each morning! We've been pleasantly surprised as taking a pill everyday has not been something the Carrico's have been good at in the past...(how do you think Jenna showed up in '96?)

Jace enjoyed his church & school Christmas programs during the past week. Last Sunday's Christmas pageant was sort of a milestone for us as during last year's, we really noticed that something wasn't right with Jace. It was nice to see him up there smiling after a tough year.

Be sure and check out the new pictures on the Photo Album page. These were taken at the Fire In The Sky Festival of Lights parade in Des Moines a couple of weeks ago.

As Christmas approaches, please be sure and keep the Caringbridge kids in your prayers. Specifically Brant Hamilton and Benjamin Jones. With things slowly returning to some semblance of normalcy here, we continue to remind ourselves how it felt when everyone around us continued on with their lives while we dealt with our situation every minute of every day. Keep these two little boys in your prayers and we pray that they have a very special Christmas.

Thank you,
Travis

Friday, December 17, 2004 7:00 AM CST

UPDATE: I know many of you have been asking how Brant is doing. He had surgery on Wednesday and they were able to remove a large portion of the tumor. The best news is that Brant shows no adverse side effects from surgery. Today, he will be having an MRI of the brain; please focus your prayers on clear scans. Our heart aches for their family as they begin this road again. I pray that God directs Craig and Julie as they make a decision on Brant's future treatments. Please stop by and offer your support and prayers in their guestbook. I remember sitting in Jace's hospital room in Rochester and feeling so alone, but opening Jace's guestbook on Caringbridge and crying as I felt the support of so many around the country.

God Bless,
Tara




Friday, December 10, 2004 8:25 AM CST

It’s hard to believe that one year ago, our lives were turned upside down in that dark hospital room in Des Moines. As we approach December 17th, I hope you will indulge me as I’m feeling compelled to exorcize some demons, if you will, and relive that fateful day and the days that followed. I've also put some pictures from that time that will be forever burned into my memory on the photo album page.

On Tuesday night the 16th, I was driving around snowy Newton, looking at a black Chevy Tahoe, waiting for band practice to begin. We had taken Jace in for blood work a week or so before that night (which came back negative) so, at that moment, I was more concerned with the SUV I was looking at than with Jace. Band practice went late and I got home at about 12:30 AM on Wednesday. I hadn’t been in bed for more than an hour when Jace woke up and proceeded to vomit three times over the course of the next hour or two. Even then, Tara & I were thinking it was nothing more than the flu. The next morning, Tara took him to our family doctor in Grinnell. I was working when I received the first punch that sent chills down my spine; Tara was on the other end, sobbing, telling me we had to get Jace to a neurologist in DSM right away.

We spent the next hour in the Jeep, telling ourselves that it would be a minor problem and that there was nothing to be frightened about. Then came the look we’ll never forget. As we checked on Jace in the backseat his head tipped back and his eyes rolled back into his head; I think I knew in my heart right then that something serious was happening. It’s funny how we never thought for a moment that the clinic we were entering would be our home away from home for the next year. Dr. Narawong began to check Jace over and even asked us again, with seeming incredulity, “So, you brought him here because he can’t ride his bike?” We shook our heads with an equally incredulous “yes.” As she looked at Jace and tried to get him to keep his head still while she examined his eyes, I just sat there with a growing gloom, but fighting it with as much stubborn denial as I could muster. Then, the second punch...”I do see signs of pressure.”

I walked out of that little exam room, stifling tears and looking at these other sick kids thinking, “there’s no way my kid is going to become one of these kids.” Tara has told me that even after that first exam, she had no idea what the problem might be. As I look back though, I knew at that point what was happening and was trying, subconsciously, to prepare myself. We walked over to the hospital and they took Jace into a little room while I began signing papers. I finally walked into the room where he was just as they began the third try to start an IV. He was madder than HELL! I screamed in my head, “This can’t be happening...for God’s sake yesterday he was playing computer games with me at home and now I’ve signed papers consenting for an MRI, hospital admission, blood draws and God knows what else! God, tell me this isn’t happening!”

We eventually got him wheeled down to the MRI room and placed on the table. I’ll never forget the helpless feeling I had looking at his limp little body laying on that big table with the huge equipment looming over him like he was a lab rat getting ready for some evil experiment. I held his hand as he began to doze off and that big machine, the harbinger of doom if you will, which had been whirring like an airplane on a tarmac, began to fire up. They put Tara and me in a small little waiting area and we both sat there in utter disbelief wondering what they would find. Our pastor, Reverend Kevin showed up about that time and sat with us for a while. The gnawing, nauseous feeling and the achy malaise I felt all over my body were absolutely unbearable. Sitting in a little bluish-gray interrogation room staring at hospital scrubs and a bathroom made it worse.

I talked with Rev. Kevin while Tara was in the restroom. I told him that I felt like someone in London during the German V2 rocket attacks...”You know what’s coming and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.” We finally got Jace back up to the hospital room (Room 413) and he just sat there, watching cartoons, oblivious to the vicious storm on the horizon. Tara & I sat on the couch, waiting for the news that I already knew in my heart. I kept telling myself, “maybe there isn’t anything there and if there is, maybe it’s small.” At about 4 PM, Tara caught a glimpse of Dr. Narawong’s face in the slim, vertical window on our door. My heart sank as she crept in...her body language wreaking of terrible news. She stood there for what seemed an eternity, looking at us with all the sincere sympathy she could muster, and her hand on Tara’s shoulder. I finally broke the silence and said, “just tell us.” Then, the knockout punch...“There is a tumor and it is very large.”

My heart exploded in a shower of torment that I tried to hide from the child in the bed next to me. “This happens to other people, not to us!”, I screamed in my head. The next hour is buried somewhere deep in my subconscious. Now came the phone calls to family and friends, each one as piercing and difficult as the one before. “They found a tumor in Jace’s brain.” Every time I spoke the words into the phone, my stomach literally cramped up and I couldn’t believe I was delivering this news to everyone.

We were told that there was a wait to see if our insurance company would allow us to go to Rochester or to Iowa City. We eventually found out that a helicopter was on its way from Rochester. “Thank you, God.” My first thought was that this is more serious than they’re letting on. I suppose it was a weather issue, although the thought of my son in a helicopter during what had become a full-blown winter storm was less than reassuring. We spent the next three hours with our parents, talking on the phone out in the hallway and kneeling at Jace’s bed. He sat there and colored, watched Spongebob and was actually acting like a regular kid. “He’s just a little boy!” A little boy that would have to understand us when we told him that there was an “ow-ie” in his head and he was going to get to take a helicopter ride (like Grandpa did one time) to a hospital far away where they would take it out. “Oh, OK,” he said like we’d just told him he had a cold. Whoever said ignorance is bliss sure knew what the hell they were talking about. I desperately wanted it to be Tuesday again.

We sat there in the room until 7:30 PM, when a faint sound grew in the distance. Louder, closer...the helicopter. Tara and I looked into each other’s eyes and didn’t have to say a word. Utter despair was on her face and I’m sure she saw it on mine. “They’re going to take our little boy, now” I kneeled at his bed and, without a care for who heard, I wept and cried aloud...”Please God, don’t take my little boy!”- over and over, as if He didn’t hear me the first time. Within minutes of hearing the helicopter, a crew of six or eight flight nurses came in wearing their royal blue jumpsuits with scissors in the pockets pushing a large gurney. They put Jace in a large, thick cocoon-looking thing and prepared to take him upstairs. “They’re going to take my son, now.”

Tara & I made our way out to the nearly-empty parking ramp and were frantically searching for our car when we heard the helicopter take off. This was the absolute lowest, sickest feeling of despair I have ever encountered. In a cold parking garage, on a snowy night, having just found out your son has a brain tumor and with no idea if he will live or die, hearing him leave on a helicopter...helpless.

We drove out of Des Moines in a blizzard and headed up I-35. Between phone calls, I looked up into the ominous black night and thought of my son...up in the cold winter sky, alone with people he’s never met on his way to a place he’s never been. One phone call I’ll never forget was from one of my best friends, Chuck Baird, who, 24 hours earlier, had been jamming on his guitar with me at band practice. I had struggled to leave him a message earlier and he returned my call now, obviously knowing that something was very wrong. I told him about Jace and he wept openly for him and for us. I was stunned by his emotion and thankful for such a friend. We pressed on as the storm became more intense. The snow became hypnotic as it blew straight into our headlights. At about 10 PM, we called St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester to see if Jace had arrived. They told us he got in about a half-hour ago and was sleeping comfortably. “My son is in Rochester.”

Around 11 PM, I was physically and emotionally exhausted and Tara was kind enough to drive. My parents had been following me and I found myself wondering what they must be wondering. Even though they were behind us, we felt absolutely alone on the face of the earth during that five-hour drive. As we rolled into a sleeping Rochester, we took the off-ramp to St. Mary’s and turned the corner to see a huge brick leviathan hulking against the black sky. “My son’s in there somewhere.”

We frantically searched our way through the catacombs of the underground parking ramps and made our way up to the main entrance. I felt utterly helpless as I asked the lone sentinel at the information booth about Jace Carrico. “Room Mb-352. He’s in the Mary Brigh Building.” As we walked through the double doors to the pediatric ICU, he was the first room on the left. There was my little boy, asleep in his bed, having drifted off wondering when Mom & Dad would be there. I looked around and the gravity of the situation hit me like a Mack truck...”I was with my son at the Mayo Clinic pediatric intensive care unit.” At 1:30 AM, I laid down on the floor and tried to sleep, sucking back tears and fighting off their frequent surprise attacks.

After the longest night of my life had ended, the morning sun brought Thursday and a meeting with Dr. Corey Raffel, Mayo’s only pediatric neurosurgeon. The only things I can remember him saying are, 1.) “You should plan on spending the next year taking care of this,” 2.) “Statistics don’t mean anything, every child is different,” and 3.) “If I don’t go on this trip, my wife will probably divorce me.” I was immediately thankful that we had caught him before he left the next day as we were told he is one of the best in the country.

Jace was to have another MRI that morning and then surgery possibly later that day. As it turned out, they decided that since he had been sedated for the MRI, they would just wheel him in and begin surgery. I was a little upset at the hastiness of their decision but relieved that they were going to get that damn tumor out of his head. We spent the next five hours in the waiting area (a grim scene I would see endured by many other families over the next 10 days) with our families. The phone would ring about every hour from the OR with an update on Jace’s progress. They finally called at about 5:00 PM to say they’d begun closing. For a moment I was ecstatic...things had gone much quicker than expected. But, then it occurred to me that they may have finished early because there was part of the tumor they couldn’t reach...an assumption which turned out to be correct. Within a couple of hours, Dr. Raffel strode confidently but with noticeable fatigue down the hall. He told us he was confident he had removed 90f the tumor. Maybe more but not less. I think he could tell that we were disappointed with this assessment but I’m sure he also understood that any parent who doesn’t hear “100is disappointed. I thanked him profusely for his work on my son and told him to enjoy his trip...he had obviously earned it.

At about 7 PM, Jace was finally upstairs. I recall hearing a familiar cry down the hallway and began preparing myself for the unknown. What would he look like? Would he be able to talk? Would all his hair be gone? I was amazed when we walked in and saw him with all his hair and a single bandage on the back of his head over the incision. The drain tube coming out of his head was a little disturbing but he looked much better than I thought he would.

What astounded me beyond belief was that the man I was just speaking to had, just a few hours before, had his hands inside my son’s head. That my son could speak to me and resume most normal bodily functions two hours after someone had cut his head open and put their hands in his brain was incomprehensible to me. Jace spent the next day or two crying and being very uncomfortable due to the steroids and catheterization. Just when he began to calm down, the doctors decided he needed a shunt. As Christmas morning came, instead of running downstairs to see what Santa had left, we ran Jace down to have a CT scan and then into the OR for another brain surgery. As well as he had done after his first surgery, he did not do well after this one. The after-effects of the second surgery combined with the steroids and the strong yearning to go home made for a long four days. We spent an emotional last night in Rochester watching a videotape of our church's Christmas eve service and a video tour of New Sharon. It had seemed like months since we had left on that fateful Wednesday morning. We would return home the next day to a community that, even on a cold December night, had never felt so warm and full of love and compassion. I have never felt so truly thankful to be home as I did that day. One random act of kindness I will never forget and one that I'm reminded of each time I watch cartoons with Jace this Christmas season happened the night we returned. I had made a phone call or two to find some Spongebob videos for Jace to watch. Within two hours of my calls, Jason LaRue showed up at our door (after a trip to the video store) with six Spongebob videos and DVD's. Amazing.

As we enter this Christmas season, I find my memory being jarred back to those 12 days in Rochester. It's usually a song, a Christmas cartoon that is back on TV or just the season itself. We have been and continue to be overwhelmed by everyone's sincere love and concern for our son. My purpose in reliving last December with all of you is to help us all remember that our lives can be changed forever in one day, hour, minute or second. With Christmas approaching, remember that it's not about how many gifts you can give your child or days full of shopping and other holiday activities, it's about being together as a family and genuinely cherishing your time together. Yes, we were in Rochester last Christmas but we were together and we felt the love of an entire community with us for those 12 days. Please remember that this Christmas and cherish this time with your families.

To everyone who has touched our lives over the past year, we hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
Travis, Tara, Jenna & Jace

Wednesday, December 8, 2004 8:49 AM CST

Good morning, everyone!

Just a quick update this morning as I'm heading out the door for a service.

I just got off the phone with Dr. Elliott and he tells me that all preliminary reports from the MRI are good. Previous areas of enhancement have further diminished and he has no concerns at this point. Praise God!

We are waiting on Dr. Koch's evaluation of the MRI. Dr. Koch is a trusted colleague of Dr. Elliott's who reads these scans for him and in whom he places much confidence. So, when we hear from her, I suppose that will be the final opinion.

Jace does need to begin a thyroid replacement treatment which is very common in kids who have undergone brain irradiation. Apparently it's just one small pill per day. Surely Jace won't have ANY problem with that, right?

Thanks for checking in and for all of your prayers!
Travis

Monday, December 6, 2004 5:50 PM CST

UPDATE:

Good evening, everyone. We just got home after a long, emotional day at the hospital. We've done it several times this year, but it never gets easier seeing your child on that MRI table getting put under. I don't think the time of year helped either as it really brought back memories of the first time we were in there and the terrible news that followed.

Anyway, Jace did very well and even provided some pretty humorous moments. About a minute after they began injecting the anasthetic into his port, Jace grunted out a very relaxed "ohhh yeeaaaah!" It really helped to break up the tension. The MRI started at about 11 AM and was completed by 1:30 PM. He slept for another two hours after they brought him into the recovery area and actually woke up in a pretty good mood.

Since he had to be sedated today, he hadn't eaten since 10 PM last night so on our way home, he pounded down a Burger King Kid's Meal and a vanilla shake...complete with a new Spongebob watch! He's still pretty groggy and tipsy from being under and, as I'm typing this, he fell off the chair (and darn near into the Christmas tree!) while trying to adjust himself.

It's probably going to be a couple of days until we know any results as Dr. Elliott likes to have a trusted colleague of his read the MRI before he tells us anything. I guess I'd rather wait a little longer and have an accurate reading.

Tara & I appreciate all your prayers, posts and phone calls today. It was very comforting to know that all of you were a part of our day even though you weren't right there with us.

Thank you all very much!
Travis


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2004, 11:59 PM

We had a great time at the Festival of Lights parade and Fire In The Sky. We'll hopefully have some pics up in a few days.

Jace has his MRI on Monday 12/6 at 10:45 AM. We would appreciate all of your prayers that God would continue to heal his little body and that his scans would be clear.

A special "Thank you" to our wonderful church family for coming up front to pray over Jace this morning. We can't tell you how much it means to us to have your love and support. We are truly blessed. Also, thanks to Rev Kev and Pastor Phil for coming over and praying over Jace. Keep that "annoying" oil coming, Phil!

I don't know if it's because we've stopped the chemo or if it's this time of year (anniversary of diagnosis), but, for me, this MRI has been the most difficult to deal with yet. Please pray for Jace and our family as we head into this week.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Friday, December 3, 2004 10:39 AM CST

Good morning everyone.

Just wanted to let you know that Jace & Jenna will be participating in this year's Fire In The Sky Festival of Lights Parade in downtown Des Moines on Saturday Dec. 4th. They have been invited to ride on the Make-A-Wish float and are both very excited...especially after watching the Thanksgiving Day parades on TV. The festivities begin at 4 PM, the parade at 6 PM, the tree-lighting at 6:45 PM and the fireworks finale at 7:15 PM. Here is an excerpt from the Know Downtown Webpage.

"The evening begins with a host of holiday activities: decorate cookies, have your picture taken with Santa, roast a marshmallow or two, stroll the vendor offerings for trinkets or tasty treats, and spend time in one of Court Avenue’s pubs or excellent eateries.

Next is the Parade of Lights packed with marching bands, fabulous floats, lively dancers, costumed characters, and wonderful music. Then it’s on to the light the Heart Connection Holiday Tree at Nollen Plaza. This year’s tree stands at forty feet and is decked with thousands of glittering lights, making it a glorious sight.

The grand finale is Fire in the Sky, the largest fireworks display in the state, timed to joyous holiday music. Colors erupt against the night sky over the Des Moines River, creating memories that will warm the hearts of youngsters and young lovers long after the season."

Hope to see you there!
Travis

Please keep Jace in your prayers for this Monday's MRI. Thank you!

Wednesday, December 1, 2004 7:27 PM CST

Good evening, everyone.

At 4:30 PM tonight, KJJY was at $35,000 for the Compassion Fund. I was blown away. Thank you to all of you who pledged to help the families that really need it this year.

Tonight was a first for the Carrico's (at least in many years). Instead of dragging the artificial tree down from the attic, we drove to the Scotch Pine tree farm south of Oskaloosa and hacked down our own. Let me tell you, it was a scene right out of a Dicken's vignette!

There are a couple of pictures of the excursion in the photo album. Be sure and check them out.

Jace has been doing pretty well in school. Although the full days (every day) have been getting to him. Last night, he went to sleep at 7 PM and was not happy this morning when I tried to rouse him at 7:45 AM. The night before, he got 12 hours as well and was still a bearcat in the morning. So, he took the morning off today.

Please continue to pray for Jace as we approach our next MRI. Tara & I would appreciate your prayers for strength and peace as Monday approaches.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 9:41 AM CST

Good morning, everyone.

Not much to report today. Just wanted to ask any of you who are able to listen to 92.5 KJJY today and tomorrow while the Compassion Fund telethon is going on. This is a local fund used for families with children who have very serious illnesses that desperately need financial assistance while their kids are receiving treatment. Jace & I recorded a couple of spots a couple of months ago that will air during the telethon.

If you would like to make a pledge, call the radio station at 515.276.6669 and they will walk you through it. The telethon is on the air from 6 AM to 6 PM today and tomorrow (Wednesday 12/1). Thanks for your help...it's a GREAT CAUSE!

Also, we would appreciate your prayers for continued healing and strength for Mom & Dad as we prepare for Jace's next MRI on Monday, December 6th. They will check his brain and spinal column.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Sunday, November 28, 2004 4:30 PM CST

UPDATE: New pics are up in the Photo Album. On Saturday night (11/27), Jace got to sing with a local band that is quickly gaining some notoriety. It's a group of college-age buddy's of the family called Every Other Thursday. He sang three songs with them and had a great time. He's really a natural at music and takes it very seriously. We hope he has a long musical life ahead of him!


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2004 8:30 AM
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

At this time last year, we were preparing for the standard turkey & trimmings and giving thanks for family, friends and the other standard items for which we're all thankful. Little did we know that three weeks from that day, we would be giving thanks that our son was alive and had made it through a helicopter flight in a blizzard and two brain surgeries.

My how things can change.

As we look back on this year, we are truly thankful that there are caring, skilled physicians, nurses, child life specialists, and supporting staff that have been put in our path to take care of our son. We are thankful for endless days and nights of safe travel to Des Moines. We are thankful for this absolutely amazing community in which we live that has been nothing less than a close-knit extended family to us. We are thankful for Rev. Kevin & our church family (& Pastor Phil and his "annoying" oil.) We are thankful that Jace has responded so well to his myriad of treatments and their harsh effects on the human body. We are thankful for the new friends we have met and who have helped us in our journey. We are thankful for each & every person who asks about Jace when we are out and about. People have asked me if it becomes exasperating or "old" having to tell the same story ten times a day to different people. I can assure you that when 5, 10, 15 or even 20 people a day are genuinely concerned about my son, it NEVER gets old!

We are thankful for a wonderful trip we were allowed to take that was hopefully a culmination of all the trials and tribulations this year brought.

Tara & I would like to wish everyone a special Happy Thanksgiving this year and to thank you all for everything you have done for our family. We are truly thankful.

Travis

Friday, November 19, 2004 11:07 PM CST

You've just gone to bed and I kneel at your side
the oriental music floats in your room like smoke from a fire

Your little hand intertwines with mine and you smile, feeling absolute contentment...
I offer my prayers of healing, flooded with my tears of doubt...I cry like you once did, before you grew up so fast...

Your pure joy at losing your first tooth today, you grin as you wait for the little visitor to check under your pillow tonight...maybe a stick of gum, you say?

I feel guilty as I weep for you, knowing how far you've come...knowing that others haven't the hope you do, now.

But God, my little boy has only been here five years,
and I beg you for one hundred more..."heal him forever" I pray as I try to keep him from hearing my heavy breaths of anguish.

He smiles his now toothless grin as I caress his head,
I try to send my love through the scar I can feel, thinking it will help just a little more.

I love you Jace and would die for you now, so you could be free of this evil forever...

Offer your prayers for him and all these children who are afflicted...they need you right now.

Dad


P.S. Please say a special prayer for our friend Benjamin. He and his family need all of our prayers and support at this time. Please pray for their strength as they face each day.

Thursday, November 11, 2004 7:48 AM CST

THE MAW PICS ARE UP AND READY!!!
Just click the pic to go to the site. When you get there, click "Slideshow" from the list of options on the right. Be sure and click "Play" when the slideshow window opens. Enjoy!



OK, here goes...to the best of my account, this is how it happened:

DAY ONE (11/1/04)
After a night of blissful slumber at the DSM Holiday Inn, we all awoke refreshed and ready to go at 5:15 AM (just like at home ;-) We headed over to the airport and ran into a huge line at the security check-in. It was amazing to me how many people are up at that hour and how many of those people ended up at the DSM Airport that morning. Anyway, I was the only one of the family who didn't make it through the metal detector so I was accosted and given a thorough frisking while my family watched helplessly. I assumed that a slender blonde in a flight attendant uniform would be searching me, but, unfortunately, it was a rotund, rather unpleasant man named Hal who seemed a little too eager to do his job;-( It turns out that the pack of Bubble Yum I had stashed in my pocket was setting the alarm off, so they decided I wasn't a terrorist and let me on the plane. We left on a little regional jet (Tara's white-knuckled death grip is probably still imprinted in the seat) and enjoyed a short flight to Memphis where we boarded a much larger plane to Orlando.

Once in Orlando, we skipped through the airport and picked up our rental car (made very easy by the MAW people) and headed to the hotel. We stayed at the Marriott Residence in at Seaworld which was a beautiful, palm tree-lined hotel just minutes from Seaworld and Discovery Cove. We checked in at about 3 PM and by 6 PM Tara was asleep, not to be seen again until 7 AM the next morning.

DAY TWO: Tuesday 11/2
Today we hit Animal Kingdom, which is part of the entire Disney complex. We started out with a fantastic safari in an open air truck. It looked just like the savannah of Africa with giraffes standing right in our roadway, elephants, zebras and many other animals native to that land. Jace had to face his fear of large, costumed characters right away, but surprised us by being very brave. By the end of the day, we had pictures of him with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore, just to name a few. We saw several shows here, too. The Fesitval of the Lion King musical was absolutely amazing. Jace & Jenna got to go out onto the floor and dance with the cast during the "Rhythm of Nature" finale. We also saw "Tarzan Rocks" which had a great live rock band and inline skaters flying all over the place. The Bug's Life 3-D show was actually kind of scary...don't ask Jace about that one! The Kali River Rapids ride was fun...basically going through an Asian rainforest on one of those big round water rides. Tara and Jenna rode the Primeval Whirl and had to go again because the door was stuck and wouldn't open. I rode it once and felt nauseous afterwards, I had to laugh when Tara got a double dose! The day ended with Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade...a parade of many Disney characters and great music. I think we have a picture of the Tree of Life in our collection. It was the centerpiece of the park. A 14-story, 50-foot wide tree with over 300 animal carvings. Quite impressive!

DAY THREE: Wednesday 11/3
This morning, we headed to Seaworld to see the Shamu show. Jenna was bound and determined to sit in the "Splash Zone" but was overruled by Mom. I didn't realize that "Shamu" is actually the family name for the 8-10 whales that live there. They all have different names but go by "Shamu" when they're out performing. It's amazing the speed and agility these whales have and the seemingly human-like relationships they have with the trainers. We got to go behind the scenes and meet the whales, feed them and touch them. It's awe-inspiring to be right next to a 6000 pound whale. The largest of the family, Tilikum, is a 22.5 foot, 12,000 pound whale that they bring out at the end to splash the crowd. Very funny! Poor Jenna ran down to the front section, but never did get wet. After the show, we decided to visit a beach and give the kids a chance to see the ocean. We were told the two-hour drive to the west coast would be worth the trip (we were only 45 minutes from the east coast). So we drove over to Clearwater Beach (just past Tampa) and had a great afternoon in the 75 degree waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There was record heat that week and it was 88 degrees the day we were at the beach. It was absolutely beautiful. After several summers of lounging at the Prairie Knolls pool, one doesn't expect the unpleasant taste of a mouthful of salt water, but you get used to it. The beach was a beautiful, soft white sand and very clean. The sunset over the ocean made the entire trip! God's presence was forcefully felt at that time and it served as an awesome reminder of how far Jace had come since last December. It was truly an emotional, overpowering moment.

DAY FOUR: Thursday 11/4
The highlight of the trip! Our day at Discovery Cove to interact with the dolpins. Discovery Cove is a beautiful place with several lagoons, beaches and lush vegetation. We were given our wetsuits and snorkeling gear when we arrived. I looked so good in a wetsuit, I'm thinking of getting one to wear to the Prairie Knolls pool next summer - insert "Big Guy in a Wetsuit" joke here! Anyway, the kids really took to the snorkeling in the freshwater lagoon/river and enjoyed it very much until we hit the larger, saltwater lagoon complete with tropical fish and LARGE spotted stingrays. We had to take a crying Jenna back to shore for some emotional therapy. She finally faced her fears in the ray pool where they were all just swimming around and looking ugly. You could pet them and keep a close eye on them here and she got comfortable enough to go on a long snorkel with Mom (and later with me). Stingrays are large swimming flaps of cartilage with mean looking eyes/noses and slimy skin. Beautiful creatures, yet ugly and frightening at the same time. We had a wonderful lunch and then it was time for our dolphin encounter. Unfortunately, Jace wasn't the required age (6-years-old) to interact with the dolphins so he and Mom sat up on the rocks behind the lagoon while Jenna and I met the dolphins. I have to admit I was feeling a little bitter at this point as this had been Jace's wish all along and he was now merely a spectator. Thankfully God intervened, and after one of the trainers mentioned how sad it was to see him up there, I asked if there was ANY way to get him in the water. She pulled a string or two and the next thing I knew, he was coming down into the lagoon! Seeing him in the water with the dolphin, touching, kissing, and splashing with it about brought tears to my eyes. Then, I swam with Jace out to the middle of the lagoon and met the dolphin out there. They showed Jace where to hang on and the dolphin gently pulled him through the water towards the shore. I'll admit I was crying like a baby behind my sunglasses. To see his wish come to fruition after everything he has been through this year was a moment I will never forget. He was hanging on for dear life and for a second I thought that he would be scared of falling away from the dolphin and into the lagoon, but then I saw his face just above the waterline and he was grinning from ear to ear! I have never felt so genuinely happy for one person in my life. At that moment, I forgot about the reason we were able to take the trip and all the "what-if's" that constantly cloud my mind and just enjoyed a moment of pure joy with my son. It was truly a gift from God.

We were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the park, also. We got to meet some other dolphins and take a trip through the aviary where Jenna and Jace hand-fed some exotic birds. I would highly recommend a trip to Discovery Cove to anyone. A first class operation!

DAY FIVE: Friday 11/5
Today was our full day at Seaworld. We were part of a tour that got "Front of the Line" access to all the shows, rides and animal interactions. We started the day off by meeting a penguin. Apparently, you're not supposed to stand either in front of or behind a penguin. The front part was easy enough to figure out...they have large beaks. But what I didn't know until then is that penguins have the ability to "shoot their poop" at any would-be predators or pain-in-the-neck Seaworld visitors. Fortunately, I didn't find this out the hard way, we were warned. We then hit the Shamu show again, but this time we were sitting right next to one of the cameras that put the show up on the huge screen TV behind the show tank. They saw our Make-A-Wish shirts and put the kids up on the big screen during the pre-show activities. After the show, we were treated to lunch at the "Dine With Shamu" area. You have your meal right next to a tank where the whales are swimming. It was a unique experience. We headed over to the dolphin pool and fed them fish and also fed the stingrays. Now, feeding a dolphin is easy enough...throw the fish - catch the fish. BUT, feeding a stingray takes a little bit of courage (or stupidity). Rays are bottom-feeders and their mouths are on the underside of their bodies. In order to get them the raw shrimp they so enjoy, you have to put it between your fingers, kind of like a cigar, and then put your hand on the bottom of the tank with the shrimp sticking up. The rays then swim over your hand and suck the shrimp out of your fingers. The first couple times, I couldn't help but jerk my hand out of the water. It was the creepiest thing I've ever done. After a few tries (and after the little kids stopped laughing at me), it became a little easier. The larger rays swam halfway up my arm to try and get their treat...that was a little unnerving! We also got to feed sea lions, my personal favorite. They just sit there and bark until you throw the fish at them. Pure comedy! We hit Journey To Atlantis, a water ride which the kids found a little frightening and I found to be quite wet. My shoes still smell from being walked in soaking wet half the day! Jenna, Mom and I also rode the Kraken, a 15-story floorless roller coaster that turns you upside down seven times. It was a great ride...so much so that Jenna had to go a second time. Very exhilarating! We ended the day at the Clyde & Seamore show. Clyde & Seamore are couple of sea lions who perform on a pirate ship. The best part of the show was a hilarious pirate/mime who made fun of anyone and everyone who walked into the show. Laughter at other's expense...it doesn't get any better than that!

That night we were bound and determined to find somewhere besides McDonald's in which to dine. We ended up at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, a dinner theater/horse show. It was very entertaining and came complete with a fantastic meal which you ate without the benefit of silverware. A cornish hen, bbq'd pork, corn on the cob was a nice change of pace from a quarter pounder.

DAY SIX: Saturday 11/6
It was off to the airport this morning. We headed home in a 757 to Minneapolis and from there, took an old DC-9 to DSM. We were treated to cockpit visits on the way down and back. On the way their, we saw the cockpit of an Airbus A-320. This is a state-of-the-art aircraft with computer screens and a console that looks like something out of Star Trek. Conversely, our cockpit visit on the way home was of the DC-9 built in 1972! The interior was pretty beat up and there was insulation coming out of the side walls and window bars. Let's just say I was glad we didn't see it BEFORE we took off. Oh well, we're home safe but I can honestly say that this is the first vacation/trip I've been on where I wasn't excited to get home. It went by so quickly that it didn't even seem like we had left.

We can't say enough "Thank-you's" to the Make-A-Wish" foundation for their amazing generosity and a wonderful trip. It was the experience of a lifetime for Jace and for us and we will never forget it. Thank you to all of you out there who are constantly checking Jace's site and who have shared this journey with us. We wish you all could've gone with us because we never could've gotten through this without all your love and support.

Thank you very much,
The Carrico's

Wednesday, November 10, 2004 6:36 AM CST

**** I've added new pictures to the photo album - Make A Wish Pictures to come soon..............



Details about our trip are still coming, but my husband just hasn't had the time to do it. He said he wanted to :-)
Today we get are pictures back, so I'm sure we'll have pictures up in no time. It was a great time for our family, and Jace amazed us with his strength.

Yesterday, Jace has an appointment in Des Moines with Dr. Elliot. Jace's blood work looked pretty good. His hemoglobin (red blood cells) was down some, but they decided to not give him a transfusion. We are going to see if they come up on their own since his body is getting stronger every day. Dr. Elliot said he looked great and told us, we are officially done with treatments. The next step will be a blood check next week and a full day of tests at the end of November. At that time, we will have a follow-up MRI.

Thanks for all of your prayers. We have been blessed to have all of you. Please continue to pray for all the families that need your prayers for strength each and every day. Please add Tyler DeHeer from Oskaloosa to your prayer list. He will be starting chemo tomorrow at Duke University for his tumor. His webpage can be seen at Tyler DeHeer.
Also, please continue to pray for strength and peace for Rob, Amy and Cole Poe as they face each day.

Enjoy the busy week! Volleyball at State tomorrow and Football at State on Friday. What a GREAT Warhawk week!!!

God Bless,
Tara

P.S. Please check back for Make a Wish photos!

Saturday, November 6, 2004 8:46 PM CST

HEY EVERYBODY...WE'RE BACK!!!

We just rolled into New Sharon at 8:00 PM tonight and are trying to decide if we should unpack tonight or tomorrow. I'm voting for tomorrow (I have to work all day ;-) but it's still "too close to call."

Anyway, we had an absolutely AMAZING trip and will be getting photos developed and scanned so we can get them online for all of you to see. The biggest news of the week is that JACE ACTUALLY GOT TO SWIM WITH A DOLPHIN!!!

We had been told that because he was not yet 6 years old, he wouldn't be able to be in the water to interact with them...BUT, thanks to some wonderful people at Discovery Cove, he was able to get in the water and have an amazing interaction with the dolphins.

We'll try to post a detailed description of the week within the next couple of days.

Thanks for checking in and a HUGE THANK YOU TO MAKE-A-WISH for making this trip, and Jace's wish possible!

Travis

Friday, October 29, 2004 9:44 AM CDT

Good Morning Everyone!

We are all getting anxious for our upcoming trip. We will be taking Jace to Grinnell tomorrow morning to see if his blood work is continuing to progress. We know that daily he is getting stronger and we are thankful that he was able to go back to Kindergarten this week. Mornings are still a struggle for Jace; he loves to sleep in. Yesterday morning, he came downstairs and asked me if he would still have school. I told him, "yes, why?" He said, "Don't you see it raining? Why would they have school when it rains?"
Can you tell we need to get back on a "normal" schedule? He's searching for ways to stay home :-)

We are hopeful that we will be able to post from Florida, but we can't promise that we will. I think we will be too busy. Some of you have asked what we are going to do in Florida. Here's a look at our week:

Monday, November 1st: Our flight will leave at 7:15 A.M. (yes, that's right!!) and we will arrive in Florida at 1:00 P.M.

Tuesday, November 2nd: Enjoy the day at Animal Kingdom.

Wednesday, November 3rd: "Behind the scenes with Shamu" Later that day, we will head to "Universal Studios"

Thursday, November 4th: Spend the day at "Discovery Cove." Jenna and Daddy will get to swim with the dolphins. We will also enjoy snorkeling and hanging out at the pool.

Friday, November 5th: Enjoy a day of activities at "Sea World."

Saturday, November 6th: Pack up and head back to Iowa.

Thanks for sharing this journey with our family. It's been full of ups and downs and I know that many of you have prayed our family through each and every step of the way. A Special Thanks to Make a Wish; they are awesome!

Love, Tara

Wednesday, October 27, 2004 11:04 AM CDT

Just a quick update for everyone. Jace had blood work done in Grinnell this morning and things are on the way up!!!
We called Des Moines and talked with our nurse, Marilyn and she told us to pack our bags. So.... here we come Florida!

On a side note, Jace has been feeling much better. He went to school today and has been running around the house playing.

Thanks for your prayers; God is watching out for us.

In Him,
Tara

Monday, October 25, 2004 11:51 AM CDT

Thanks for checking in on Jace. We went to Grinnell today for another blood draw. I was praying hard for an increase, but counts had again dropped. Although they dropped, they didn't drop enough for a transfusion. We thought that Dr. Elliott might want to start Nuepogen shots again, but he told us to wait and get blood work done again on Thursday. Now, we are getting a little stressed about the trip. If things don't look better on Thursday, I'm not sure if Dr. Elliott (or us) will want Jace to fly down to Florida for his trip. Jace will be heartbroken. I'm just praying for a "white blood cell and platelet making" week.

On an exciting note, Carol and Art from Make a Wish came yesterday and gave us our trip information. It looks like so much fun! I'm thinking positive; we will be on a plane a week from today, right??

Keep the prayers coming. Jace is really having a hard time bouncing back after this last round. I just need to remember that if the chemo attacks his blood counts this much; those cancer cells don't have a chance :-)

Tara

Friday, October 22, 2004 4:56 PM CDT

Hello!

First, the exciting news: Shots are over!!! (no, we didn't break the record :-)

At the beginning of the week, Jace needed another transfusion of blood and platelets. Thankfully, on Wednesday his blood work was looking better and Dr. Elliot told us to discontinue his nightly shot. Jace was also able to attend school on Thursday. We were shocked to realize that he hadn't been to school since his last chemo was over. He had a great time but was ready for a long nap by 1:00 P.M.

Today, we made a trip to Grinnell for more blood work and found out that Jace's counts had dropped again. We will recheck on Monday and see if a transfusion is needed ~ Darn chemo!!

Well, the official paper chain says.... only 9 more days until Orlando! We are all getting very excited. We are just praying for an increase in counts and renewed strength each and every day.

Thanks for checking in on our family. Please stop by the guestbook and let us know that you were here.

Thanks for the prayers ~ Tara

Monday, October 18, 2004 7:04 PM CDT

Just a quick update to let you know that Jace continues to do well. After a blood count in Des Moines this morning, they decided to give him a transfusion of platelets. His white blood count has not made it to 1 yet, but he is working his way up. We will go to the clinic again on Wednesday to have counts checked. I'm pretty sure he will have a blood transfusion that day. We will have to see if I'm right. He has been very tired these last few days and today his hemoglobin was low.

On an exciting note, Jace may win the "Blank Children's Hospital Consecutive GCSF Shot Award." Jace's nurse (who has been there for 26 years) told us that the record for consecutive GCSF shots is 18 days in a row. Well, tonight we will be giving #16. Travis thinks we should get a plaque or something on the wall if we beat the old record ;-)

Because this chemo has been so hard on Jace, he has not been able to be at school most of October. If his counts look good on Wednesday, we are going to try and send him for half a day. It could be a rough few days getting him back in the swing of things. :-) He has enjoyed being in "isolation."

Please pray for his body as it begins to heal. He is so anxious for our trip in 12 days, and we are all praying that he will have some extra energy at that time. He deserves to have a great time; he's been through so much.
Today, his doctor told him that he was sorry, but he would have to continue his shots for a few more days.
Jace said, "that's o.k. It's fine with me."
What a brave little buddy!

Tara

Saturday, October 16, 2004 2:24 PM CDT

**The picture at the top of the page was taken the day we left the hospital. This board is located between the clinic and the hospital. Every visit, Jace would stop here and add his own birthday ~ February 19th.


Hi everyone!

There is not much to report at our house - except low counts. We just got home from having a blood draw done in Grinnell. Jace's white blood count is up to a whopping .6 ~ not very impressive yet. However, it is finally moving in the right direction. His platelets were down again to 11,000. The cut-off for a transfusion is 10,000, so I'm sure Monday morning we will be on our way to Des Moines.

We are hopeful that on Monday they will tell us that we can stop his GCSF shots. Jace's protocol states that he should be given GCSF shots (neupogen) for 10 days after chemo. We are on Day 14 now. Because he struggles with his white blood count, we always have to extend his number of shots. I'm sure sometime next week we will officially be done!! Yea - especially from Jace!

We are excited to share with you that our Make a Wish trip is planned for November 1st. Only 15 more days!!! Jace and I made a paper chain yesterday to count down the days. I kept thinking that November 1st was so far away; what a surprise. We got our flight schedule also this week. We will be leaving Des Moines Monday morning at 7:15 A.M and arriving back in Des Moines Saturday evening. We are all getting very excited!

Thanks for all of your love and support and for checking in on our family.

Tara

Monday, October 11, 2004 2:29 PM CDT

Update: Monday 7:45 P.M.
Another Marathon day - we just got home! Jace had to have blood and platelets. He ended his day by having a reaction to the platelets and developed hives. Instead of breaking out on his back and tummy, he developed goose egg bumps on his head. It was the craziest thing I've ever seen. By the time, we figured out what was going on he had a rash all over his body. After he was checked over by a doctor, he received the right medication and immediately started to feel better. Never a dull moment :-)
Please be in prayer for his low (or no) counts. Fever - stay away!!!!




Sorry about the delay in posting a new update. Last week was as hectic as they come, though. It was homecoming week so Tara pretty much lived at the school and Jace was the Future King so he was involved as well. We've added some new pictures from the week's festivities so check out the Photo Album if you get a chance.

This past Friday night, Jace was excited to go to the big football game but his platelets hit 9000 (not good) so he and I ended up at Grinnell Hospital getting a bag of platelets. Unbelievably, today his platelet count was 6000, his hemoglobin was 6 and his white count was 0.1 so...it's off to DSM again. I'm not sure exactly what he's getting today (other than platelets) but he'll be up there most of the day, I'm sure.

He did have a good weekend, though. He spent yesterday afternoon riding horses at Grant & Jayne Ferguson's farm. Jenna also got to ride in the combine so she was excited about that. Jace got to boogie down at a wedding reception on Saturday night (or, as he says, "gettin' jiggy with it") so he had an eventful weekend.

I'll report more later.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Monday, October 4, 2004 7:51 PM CDT

WE ARE HOME!

It's hard to believe that we've come to the end of this part of our lives. It seems like just a few weeks ago that we were starting to count down the days until his daily treatments would be behind us. I can't tell you how fast this year has gone. I only hope it has gone as fast for Jace as he has borne the brunt of everything.

I can distinctly remember being in the middle of this maelstrom thinking "I can't wait until that final treatment is done...I'm gonna jump for joy!" Well, to be quite honest, I'm finding it very difficult to find any overwhelming joy and elation whatsoever. Relief is probably the most intense feeling I have as we no longer face the weekly trips to DSM and/or Grinnell, the hospital stays, the nightly injections, the blood counts and transfusions, etc. I would almost compare this bittersweet aura to a first pregnancy: months of preparation, inconveniences, hard work and then, once it happens, you find yourselves sitting their not knowing what to do with this new little baby! The sense of unknown is almost overpowering (to me, at least) and I find myself letting the "what-if's" creep in as well.

I guess I'm hoping that the incredible amount of love, prayers and support we received from our family, friends and community will carry us through the coming months (and years) just as they have been a vital part of the past year.

I've told several people that I believe in my heart that Jace will lead an abundant, fulfilling life but my head seems to get in the way. He has done so well throughout everything he's had to endure that I can't help but think he'll overcome this awful tumor completely and permanently.

Now that I've thoroughly depressed all of you, I would like to say that as we move on with life, we couldn't have EVER made it this far without all of your love, PRAYERS, friendship, food, visits and your genuine caring and concern. I think I have a deeper understanding of someone like Lou Gehrig, the famous baseball player stricken with an incurable degenerative disease, who called himself the "luckiest man on the face of the earth" as he addressed a stadium full of his fans. I think I speak for Tara when I say we are one of the luckiest families on the face of the earth. Even with all the adversity this year has presented, we are truly blessed. Thank you all very much!

Be sure and check out the pics in the Photo Album page. We had a special visitor (Jace was asleep, though) and a slumber party and there are pics of some very special people who took wonderful care of our little boy! We will never forget you.

We also owe a HUGE debt of gratitude and thanks to everyone at the Clinic. Dr. Stephen Elliott, who has lovingly cared for our son, and his entire staff: Marilyn (there are none better!), Natalie, Jody, April, Barb, Angie, Jennifer (I apologize if we've left anyone out). And also everyone in the Child Life Department, specifically Sarah Susanin. All of your smiling faces made our days at the clinic & hospital much easier to bear. Your work is truly an asset to Blank Children's Hospital! Sarah, you are, without a doubt, one of the most wonderful, kind, generous, unique and fun people I/we have ever met. We are better people for having known you and your family. Thank you for everything.

Sincerely,
Travis

Friday, October 1, 2004 10:33 AM CDT

Hello from Des Moines!!

I finally got a chance to come down to the hospital library and post a new entry. Jace is doing well on Day 2 of his LAST treatment. Last night, he struggled with an upset stomach, but never got sick. Thank goodness! At yesterday's appointment, Dr. Elliot decided to up his dose to 75 percent again. Travis and I were hoping that they would do this since it will be his last one. Now, we just have to keep him out of the hospital next week. Pray, pray, pray. Jace has been chosen as "Future King" for Homecoming next week; we are hopeful that he will be able to participate.

We had some special visitors yesterday: Nolan and his parents! For those of you that have prayed for Nolan during his recent surgery - thank you. He looks great and the best news of all, his bone scan came back CLEAR!! What great news for this family. He will be coming back to Blank on Thursday for more chemo. What a great family.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes. Jace's recovery this year is the best present that I could receive. To know how far he has come since December, makes this weekend such a blessing.

I'm sure many of you are thinking to yourselves, "He's done with treatment ~ now what?" Well, we continually pray for Jace and Thank God in advance for clear MRI's and the ability to start a "new" normal life. After this month, our appointments at the clinic will be monthly and MRI's will be every 3 months. Everyone at this hospital has become a second family to us, and this weekend has been full of many emotions. Last night, JoEllen, came in to our room to tell us "goodbye." She was Jace's nurse on December 17th, when we found out such devastating news. She helped prepare him for his flight to Mayo and helped Travis and I each step of the way. All of the nurses, doctors, residents, and medical students at Blank have a special place in our hearts. They have been with us through the ups and the downs. It makes us smile to know that as Jace walks through the halls, they all know his name and give him a high five. They know he can beat this ~ they've seen it before. We've been blessed to know such great people and we will forever be grateful for their love and support to our family.

Blessings ~
Tara

Tuesday, September 28, 2004 11:17 AM CDT

Just a quick update to let you know that Jace is doing fine. Thursday will be an exciting day for our family - Jace's LAST chemo treatment. He will be admitted on Thursday (if counts are good) and stay until Sunday. We will post more in the next few days. As you can imagine, there are a lot of different emotions that come to the surface when your child will be receiving his LAST treatment. Unbelievable!

Today, our dear friend, Doloris Poe will be having surgery to remove a tumor on her pancreas. Dee-Dee (what we call her) babysat our children up until last year. She has a special place in our hearts and became a grandma figure to the many kids that she watched. She also survived Jace as a baby which was not always an easy task. :-) Please pray that her surgery is a success and that God protects her and her family.

Thanks for checking on our family. We will update before we leave for chemo this week. Please continue to pray for our little guy ~ he's a fighter!

Tara

Friday, September 17, 2004 8:48 AM CDT

**Tuesday, September 21, 2004**

Jace is doing well and enjoying each day at school. We had blood work done on Saturday in Grinnell and everything looked fine. Thankfully, we were able to discontinue shots.

Benjamin (link above) had some AWESOME news yesterday. I know many of you have followed his story and spent time praying for his family. Be sure to check out his site today and praise God for His blessings!!!

Also, Nolan (link above) is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning at the Mayo Clinic. Please take time to pray for him and his family.

God is working in many lives ~ keep praying!

Take Care, Tara






Yesterday was a big day for Jacer!

The day started bright and early at 6:15 AM. Dad was up and at'em, having to rouse all the other sleepy-heads who didn't want to get up...well, it may have been the other way around but at that hour, who can remember;-) Jace & I headed up to DSM at 7 AM for a much-needed transfusion. While we waited for his blood to be cross-matched, we went down to the Stoddard building (radiation) to visit Grandpa Tom and Grandma Sandy who where there for treatments. Jace saw one of his favorite nurses, Julie, there and got invited to stay overnight with Grandma & Grandpa. We headed back up to the clinic at 10 and waited for our blood to arrive. It was decided during this time that we would go to the Zoo after we were done since Mom & Jenna had GEMS that night so Jace invited Sarah (from Child Life) to go with us. Jace slept most of the afternoon. He woke up at 2:30, ate an entire Snickers bar and washed it down with half a bottle of Mountain Dew. This, combined with a new bag of blood, had him "buzzing" to go to the zoo. So, at 3 PM, we headed out with Sarah.

First stop - the Wakonda Club to say hi to Bunny (resident tennis guru) and see the clay tennis courts. Let's just say that after visiting their club, I have some really great "ideas" for Prairie Knolls CC here in New Sharon. Then it was off to the zoo. It was "Survivor" night so the place was buzzing. We went around and saw the animals, rode the train and fed the huge goldfish (my personal favorite). As we headed out, Channel 8 was doing a live broadcast and, with some help from Sarah and her many connections, Jace & I ended up on the 5:00 O'Clock news. Jace also won a "Survivor" board game (thanks, Steve!)...he was glad he didn't have to eat a cow tongue to win like the other guy!

We left the zoo at 6 PM and headed back to the Wakonda Club to meet Sarah's family. Her son Sam and Jace hit it off very well. They went out and played some tennis on the clay courts and then started in on the popcorn. Finally, at about 7:15 PM, we decided to head for home. We rolled in at about 9 PM and, by the time we got his emla cream on, gave him his shot of neupogen and got the dog calmed down (he had only been on his tie for about 12 hours ;-), it was 10 PM and well-past bedtime. Jenna had been to GEMS, her girls group here in town, until 9 PM so she was equally as wiped out.

Needless to say, I needed small explosives to get them both out of bed this morning! Jace is doing very well and eating very well. Dr. Elliott says he is very pleased with his progress.

A special thanks to Sarah, Andy & Sam Susanin, Bunny, and Steve Berry for making yesterday another special day for Jace! Also, thanks to Barb & Jennifer in the dayroom for taking good care of Little Buddy yesterday. He's feeling great!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Wednesday, September 15, 2004 8:22 PM CDT

Hi everyone! Just a quick update to let you know that Jace is doing fine. He has been able to go to school until lunchtime each day this week. Today, we went to Grinnell to have his blood counts checked and everything was low. In fact, his hemoglobin was 5.4 and his white blood count was 1.4. Tomorrow he will be going in for a blood transfusion and platelets. He had been doing so well; I thought for sure that his counts would be higher. Oh, the ups and downs of chemo. :-)
I'll post more when I have more time. Thanks for your prayers and support.

Tara

Wednesday, September 8, 2004 8:23 PM CDT

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 13th, 2004 9:00 AM

NEW PICTURES ARE UP!!! Check out the action from our last Saturday at the hospital. We can't thank Three Carpenter, Bunny and everyone from Wakonda enough for all their efforts to make that day one we'll never forget! Thank you guys!!!

The new pic at the top of this page is Jace and a friendly state trooper. In lieu of a speeding ticket, Jace opted for a driving lesson from one of Iowa's finest. He was a a great sport!



Well, the days have flown by since Jace got home from the hospital and I'm sure the suspense is driving you crazy. :~)

On Saturday afternoon, Jace had the priveledge of "rippin' through the hospital" with a golf cart. Sarah, from Child Life, had a friend at the Wakonda Country Club that she asked if getting a golf cart to the hospital would be possible. Of course, they said they would love to help her out. At 2:30 Saturday, a truck pulled up to the front entrance with a golf cart and a "Gator" (tractor). Jace gave all of us a ride around the parking lot driving the golf cart and the Gator. Of course, the parking lot wasn't good enough. Travis and Three Carpenter, the manager of Wakonda, thought it would be neat to actually ride the golf cart in the hospital. So, Jace did - right down the middle of the Atrium and out the front door of Blank Children's Hospital. I think the boys were more excited that they had actually pulled that one off. Jace was than taken to an empty parking lot where he was given a surprise tennis lesson from the Tennis Pro at Wakonda. Jace loves to hit balls at the tennis court, so he was especially excited about this. After his lesson, he was given two tennis rackets. One for now and one for when he is older. Jace ended his day by giving a State Trooper (who was parked out front of the hospital) a quick ride around the lot. It was such a fun time for all of us and Jace had a BIG grin the whole afternoon. Thank you to the special staff at Wakonda; It was a wonderful time for our family. We will post pictures as soon as we get them.

Jace is doing great. We have noticed a big difference in him this time, so I'm hopeful that reducing his chemo will be the answer. He will be going to the clinic tomorrow for a dose of Vincristine and blood work - that will be the real answer.

School is going well for him. We have decided to only have him go half days at this time. A full day was much too hard for him. We pick him up after lunch and he takes a nap for the remainder of the afternoon. It makes for a much better atmosphere at the Carrico house. :~)

I love to see all the gold ribbons around town. Thank you for your support. Have a great week and enjoy the beautiful weather! Give your kids an extra hug tonight!!!

Take care,
Tara

Friday, September 3, 2004 5:53 PM CDT

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!!

***Monday September 6, 2004***

Jace is home from the hospital and is doing fairly well. He will be going to school tomorrow; however, I'm not sure if he'll make it the whole day. GCSF shots are going well; he still thinks daddy does the best job. Sounds great to me! We will post soon about Jace's fun adventure at the hospital.
Take Care ~ Tara

*** Friday, Sept. 3rd ***

Jace's class is pictured above with their yellow bracelets. They made these bracelets in class yesterday for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Each bracelet also has a smiling face on it to remind them of Jace's smile. :-) Thanks to Mrs. Anderson for giving the kids in her class this opportunity. It is so important to us. Also, a special thank you to Jane Tjarks for all of her gold ribbons and supplies. You are awesome!

Jace's chemo is going fairly well. He is physically feeling fine, but emotionally very grouchy! Last night, he was up every half hour trying to use the bathroom. Because of his chemo, they need to keep him "going." They finally gave him a diuretic which got things moving along. Dr. Elliott decided to reduce Jace's chemo by 25 percent. He is now only getting 50 percent of the recommended dose for his protocol. Of course, we wish that he was getting the full dose but we also need to consider Jace's health. After every chemo, his blood counts (bone marrow) take a huge dive down and stay at those levels for weeks. He had an extra two weeks from chemo this time and his white blood count only rose to 1.5 and that's after taking 15 GCSF shots. I know that God has a plan for Jace, and we pray that 50 percent is just as effective. It's out of our hands - God will take of him.

On a lighter note, Jace was very excited when The Tjarks' brought up his homework. The school had also taken pictures of the kids making their bracelets and he enjoyed showing them to the nurses.

Keep posted for new pictures! At 2:30 tomorrow, Jace will be making history at Blank. It's top secret, but when asked what he would like to do from Sarah (child life gal). He only said, "rip around on a golf cart." Stay tuned..........
and keep the prayers coming!

Love, Tara

Monday, August 30, 2004 6:51 PM CDT

Hi Everyone,

It seems like the days are going faster all the time. Jace felt great all weekend. Last night, we enjoyed having supper at the Dave and Lisa Jansen's. We hadn't been to their house for over a year and it was nice to be with friends. Our kids especially love going to their house because they live on a farm. Caleb and Holden have a 4-wheeler, which my kids enjoyed driving around the "path." Jenna and Jace decided that they are going to ask Santa for a 4-wheeler at Christmas. Uh-oh ;-)

Since I last updated, Jace has been busy at school and mom is learning to adjust. His teacher is Mrs. Anderson who is making kindergarten very enjoyable for him. She has made Jace's transition to school very easy for all of us.

During the school day, Jace is allowed to rest if he needs to. He has rested everyday after lunch, which has really helped him. A couple of the days, he actually napped for quite a while. I do have to add that after school he is emotionally and physically exhausted. After school, he heads straight to the couch and stays there the rest of the night. Not a bad idea :-)

Today was a special day for all of us. Sarah and Julie from Blank Children's Hospital came down to New Sharon and spoke with the Kindergarten classes and Jenna's 3rd grade class. It very educational for all of, and I know that it made Jace feel more at ease. I was very impressed with the 3rd graders questions; they were very inquisitive. Sarah and Julie also stayed for lunch - corn dogs. ;-) They are both from Des Moines, and they really enjoyed our little town and school. They couldn't believe that you just walk down the hall and you enter the high school. Sarah also had to go into our small town grocery store and buy something. She loved it! Thank you Sarah and Julie!

Today after school, we took Jace to Grinnell to have more blood work done. His counts looked pretty good and his next chemo will stay on schedule.

We got some disappointing news today from Make a Wish. Jace needs to be 6 in order to swim with the dolphins, so we need to make some different plans. One option would be to wait until February when he turns 6, however we have postponed a couple of times and he (and his sister) are anxious to go. We have told them it will be our celebration that Jace has accomplished his chemo treatments. Jace said tonight that he would be o.k. if he could just touch the dolphins from outside of the water. He also wants to snorkle. I think he saw it on the Discovery Cove website. We will see what happens. No matter what we do it will be a treat for our family and an experience that we will cherish forever.


Please continue to pray for Jace as he begins his 5th round of chemo on Thursday morning. Travis will be staying with Jace a little more this time, since I have school and marching band Friday night. Also, please pray for Nolan (link at top of the page) he will be leaving for Rochester in the morning and having surgery on September 3rd. I'm sure that their family is going through many emotions and we will pray for their peace and strength.
Don't hesitate to leave an entry in Nolan's guestbook. Just knowing that others are thinking and praying for you can help you get through another day.

Take Care and God Bless,
Tara

Wednesday, August 25, 2004 8:07 PM CDT

Good Evening,

On Monday afternoon, we decided to take Jace in for blood counts at Grinnell. He just didn't seem like he was feeling very well and seemed pretty tired most of the weekend. After the results came back we knew why; his hemoglobin was down to 6, so a blood transfusion was ordered for the next day. Grandma and Grandpa took him to Des Moines on Tuesday for his transfusion. Jace's nurse thought that his eyes looked swollen again. He has lost his Long, Black,Beautiful eyelashes ;-( so, I think it makes his eyes look a lot different anyway. We will watch him closely.

Today was the first day of school for both Jenna and Jace. I thought that I was prepared for the emotions, but I have to say it was very hard to let Jace go. I think it's a control issue for me :-) When he's home with me, I can watch over him at all times. Feel his head for fever, check on how he's feeling, and spend lots of time snuggling. I'm sure a little time away from mom will help him, too.

Back in December, we had no idea what the future held for our little guy. Kindergarten seemed so far away. At that time, he couldn't walk, he couldn't feed himself, and really was a very sick boy. It truly amazes me how far he has come. He has fought so hard and daily he keeps a positive outlook. He is the one who gives me strength each and every day. I hope he can share his strength with the people that he will be around at school. As exciting as school was for Jace today, my heart was sad because I know there are so many Caringbridge kids out there that are either too sick to go to school or have lost their battle with this ugly disease. It makes me look at the "first day of school" in a whole new light. Can you tell I had an emotional day? :-)

Although it was emotional for me, Jace did have a great day and even took a nap in the "resting room" that the school has made for him. Jenna, also loved 3rd grade and is anxious to learn all kinds of new things.

We do have some exciting news at the Carrico house............ we are officially planning our Make a Wish trip!! Jace loves animals and he has decided that he would like to "swim with dolphins." I will give you details when we get them. I can't imagine his (and Jenna's) face when they get to be so close to the dolphins. Last night, at supper I told the kids that we had some exciting news to share with them. Of course, it was the plans for the trip. However, Jace yells from the the living room, "Mom are you going to tell us you're having a baby."
Little stinker :-)

Have a great week,
Tara

Sunday, August 22, 2004 9:01 PM CDT

Good evening, everyone.

Thought we'd get you up to speed with all the weekend's activities.

Friday night we attended the Bikers For Kids with Cancer Rally at the Brooklyn Speedway. Jeff Arment of Lynnville had Jace's name pasted all over his car (check out the pics above and in the Photo Album). Jeff came out and absolutely left everyone in his dust! Having never been to an event like that, I have to say that we were all very impressed with the entire race and especially Jeff. He stopped in front of the bleachers after his hot laps and had us all come down on the track for a brief presentation. It was a very emotional time for all of us! We can't thank the Arment's enough for their caring & support for Jace. It was truly a great night!

After the race, we took a worn out Jace to Grandma & Grandpa's in Lynnville for an overnight stay. He was very excited to show them and Uncle Troy his new spy kids set and to make pancakes with Grandpa the next morning. The Arment's are next-door neighbors to Grandma & Grandpa and on Saturday morning, Jeff brought over a LARGE tropy (see the photo album) which read "To OUR Champion, Jace Carrico." It was a very fitting and wonderful gesture to top off a great event. THANKS AGAIN JEFF & LISA!!!!!!

At 8 AM on Saturday, Tara and I anxiously headed for Boone to get our little camper. We had received a couple of letters from her so we knew she was having fun but we were still excited to get her home. We rolled into camp at about 10 AM to find Jenna seated on a small mountain of bags & suitcases looking for Mom & Dad. As we walked up the hill to her cabin, she spotted us and came sprinting faster than I've ever seen her run before. After a long embrace, Jenna introduced us to her new friends (Tori & Asia - see the photo album) and gave us the grand tour. She told us of the "No Talent Show", the dance on the final night (thankfully she didn't have any boys on her dance card ;-) and an emotional time of sharing by several of the campers (including her) of what their siblings were going or had gone through. Our timid little Jenna also surprised us by going "Ziplining" which is basically a ski lift without the lift! She was strapped into a harness and sent careening down a cable. I hope it wasn't as dangerous as it sounded ;-)

We topped off the day by having lunch at Hickory Park in Ames on the way home. If you've never been there, I would HIGHLY recommend it!

Anyway, we thankfully have a couple of days left until school starts (Wednesday) to settle down and get back into the routine (if you can call it that). Both kids are excited to start school but we would especially appreciate your prayers for Jace who will have many more obstacles to face in addition to the monkey bars at recess.

Thanks for checking in,
The Carrico's

Thursday, August 19, 2004 12:05 AM CDT

Hi Everyone,

No news is good news in Caringbridge land :-) On Sunday, Jace and I drove Jenna to camp in Boone. I'm sure she is having a wonderful time. As we drove up the driveway, she screamed when she saw the pool that had two waterslides. The whole camp was beautiful. She was very excited. I even had to ask her for a hug and kiss goodbye - she was on her way to her cabin.

Jace is patiently waiting for school to start. We have to go over "how many sleeps" almost daily. On Tuesday, we met with Mrs. Anderson (his teacher) and Mrs. Oswald (counselor). I know that he is in good hands and it helps that I am right down the hallway in case he needs me.

We did get some good news this week. Jace's chemo is going to be delayed until September 2nd. This will allow him to start the school year like everyone else. We don't even have an appointment until that day. I feel like we're on vacation.

Friday night we will be going over to Brooklyn for "Bikers for Kids with cancer." Jeff Arment from Lynnville will be racing in the I.K.F. Regional Cart Race. He has decided to race in honor of Jace. We are looking forward to enjoying some of the activities and of course, watching the race. Thank you Arments! There will be activities going on throughout the weekend including helicopter rides, sky diving exhibitions, and much more. All proceeds will go to "Locks of Love" and "The Heart Connection." Jenna's camp this week is sponsored by "The Heart Connection."

Also, Friday night Mason Brown will be having a benefit in Grinnell. Please check his website for time and location. Mason's family is going through so much right now, and could use our prayers and support.

Saturday, we will be on our way to Boone to pick up Jenna. Thanks for your continued support and love. Have a great weekend.

Tara

Friday, August 13, 2004 6:16 PM CDT

Hello everyone,

Jace and I just got home from Des Moines; what a beautiful day! He had blood work done this morning, and we finished our day with a little shopping for school supplies. Jace's counts are on the rise - a very slow rise, but they are going in the right direction. We will have to continue his GCSF shots for two more days. His white blood count was still pretty low. After the nurse told Jace that he would have to continue his shots he said, "No problem." What a boy! We will go to Des Moines again next week for another check.At that time, we will also plan his next chemo cycle. We are going to try to schedule it around the first couple days of school. The first day of school is very important for him (and me) and thankfully, the nurses and doctors recognize that.


Today, Jace had a great time school shopping and thankfully, we finally found a backpack that would work - Spongebob. It was fun to see him get so excited about picking out school supplies. However, when it comes to Mom looking at clothes for herself; he is suddenly bored. :-)

Jenna will be leaving on Sunday afternoon for camp in Boone. The Heart Connection in Des Moines sponsors a camp for siblings of Oncology patients. She is very excited and has told us that she will be fine. She will be spending six nights at camp - we don't pick her up until Saturday. Yikes!! Jenna is so laid back that it doesn't bother her one bit. Today, Grandma Carrico and her made an outfit to wear to the "Barnyard Bash Dance" Friday night. It will be a costume party, and she will be a little cow girl. I'm sending a camera with her, so we'll see how many pictures she takes. If you would like her address, just let me know. She would love to get mail.

Enjoy your weekend and God Bless,
Tara

P.S. I have posted some new pic's of Jace and his dirtbike night. Travis' friend, Brent invited the guys over to watch the motorcycles in Otley. Jace was able to enjoy a little ride himself. He thought it was "awesome" and "cool" and asked me if he could get one ~ pretty please :-)

Tuesday, August 10, 2004 10:02 AM CDT

Jace will be coming home early this afternoon. By Monday, he could open both of his eyes and this morning they are much better. They still think it was viral, but amazingly the antibiotics cleared it up pretty quick. He is still struggling with low counts. His white blood count is still at 0 and his hemoglobin (red blood cells) have dropped down to 8. We will continue his shots (for white blood cells) throughout this week. Yesterday, he received a transfusion of platelets. So, on his lab work today they had jumped to 100,000.

We will keep him home and away from people this week. Hopefully he will be able to discontinue GCSF shots by the end of the week. He is anxious to go school shopping. Of course, I have a girl that could care less about shopping and clothes and a boy that likes both. :-)

Please continue to pray for all the families out there that are battling each and every day. If you follow their website, drop them a line and let them know that you're praying for them.

A special Thank you to all of Jace's followers ~ your prayers have helped us in so many way.

Love, Tara

Saturday, August 7, 2004 6:07 PM CDT

Just a quick update to let everyone know that Jace is in the hospital.

At 5:00 this morning, he spiked a fever and we were on our way. His ANC is 0, so he was immediately put on antibiotics. Jace's eyes are still extremely sore and swollen. The last time he opened them was Thursday morning, so we are all anxious for his eyes to feel better and to see his big brown eyes. They are still confident that it is a viral infection, so basically there is nothing to do but "wait it out." If he is still the same tomorrow, we might insist that something be done. It is so frustrating for him and painful. We are thankful that Tylenol with codeine helps with the pain.

He will remain in the hospital for the next few days, so please continue to pray for his eye infection and his body as it begins to make some much needed white blood cells.

Thanks for your prayers,
Tara

Thursday, August 5, 2004 9:05 PM CDT

Today was a LONG day!

We left for Des Moines at 7:00 AM today and rolled in at 8:30 PM after some bad developments over the past couple of days. On Monday, Jace began showing some redness in his left eye. It has since evolved into a full-blown and a quite painful viral conjunctivitis in both eyes. Since it's a virus, they really can't give him anything for it (other than Tylenol w/codeine for the pain) and his eyelids are very swollen now so he can't see. His eyes are very sensitive to light and to touch so it's going to be a long night and next few days. And to top it all off, it's EXTREMELY contagious so I look for one of us to end up with it before too long. Needless to say, we could use all of your prayers for Jace right now as he is going to be VERY uncomfortable until this passes (we were told a week or two by his eye doc).

Jace has also had some blood in his urine over the past two days but this has almost completely subsided today and was probably more of an irritation at the end of his urinary tract rather than chemo-related.

His blood counts are where we expected them to be right now...ZERO! His white blood count is there and his platelets are almost there (5K) so he got four units of platelets and a whole unit of blood today on top of being hydrated the entire time to combat the blood in his urine. I think we'll have to head to Grinnell tomorrow to get another blood draw.

One last funny little anecdote from all the madness today...Jace is down to his last two needles that we use to access his ports. These are the "old" needles that have since been replaced with a "Safety Needle" that he DOES NOT LIKE AT ALL! Well, clever ol' Mom & Dad thought they'd try to put one over on Little Buddy since he was basically blind and attempt one of the new needles. Marilyn had it about 1 millimeter (I'm not kidding) into his port before he went into "MAD AS HELL" mode and screamed "IS THAT A SAFETY NEEDLE!!!????" Marilyn quickly removed it and used the last of the old needles. She just sat there, shaking her head in disbelief and said, "You're quite a deal, kid."

Again, Jace could certainly use all of your fervent prayers to get rid of this nasty little bug in his eyes.

Thank you all very much,
Travis

Sunday, August 1, 2004 8:50 PM CDT

**Monday, August 2,2004**

Jace's quick appointment today lasted until mid-afternoon. Because his hemoglobin was low,he needed a blood transfusion. The chemo has started it's work; his counts are on their way down. His white blood count was already down to .2, so we will watch him closely this week and keep him away from sickness. With his platelets at 34,000, I'm sure he will be receiving another transfusion on Thursday when we have our appointment in Des Moines.

Tara


Hi everyone,

Jace has had a good weekend and even spent some time outside riding his bike. He has been pretty tired; although, I'm not sure if that is because of low counts or not getting to bed at a decent hour. We will be going to Des Moines tomorrow to receive a dose of Vincristine (chemo) and have his counts checked. In the past, Jace's counts have been below 1 on Day 7, but tomorrow could be different. We will see.

Jace is also back on his nightly shots. When we first began GCSF shots back in January, Jace would cry and we would actually have to hold him down to give them to him. Now he gets everything ready and tells us when it is time - not one tear. What a trooper! He has grown up so much. I was looking at his preschool picture tonight and was amazed how much he has changed. Of course, his appearance is much different, but emotionally, he is a different little guy. I sometimes yearn for that innocent little boy that use to worry about simple things. Last night, he fell and said, "I didn't bleed too much; I have platelets." How many 5 year olds know that word :~)

August 1st can only mean one thing: "Back to School." We have a mix of emotions at our house about school starting. Of course, Jace is VERY excited to start Kindergarten. (Unfortunately, he is scheduled for chemo that week) Jenna, on the other hand, is anxious to get back to her friends, but enjoys all of her summer activities. Myself -well, I could use another month :-) Summer has made our lives so much easier. During the month of July, Jace averaged 3-4 full days per week in Des Moines. I'm hopeful that will not be the case in the next couple of months, but if it is we know that we will work through it.
I'm pretty sure Travis is thankful that school will be starting soon. Since his office is part of our house, there is always someone by daddy's side. :-)

We have a special birthday at our house today. Happy 1st Birthday Chipper! Back in October, Travis and the kids went to look at some puppies in Ottumwa. Two hours later, they brought home a golden retriever. Since I'm not a dog-person, Chipper and I have had some moments, but we are getting better. ;~) Chipper has been a source of comfort for both of our kids during Jace's illness - especially Jenna. How can I not be thankful for that? I do have to share a memorable quote that Jace said to me while we were playing with Chipper once - "Mom, can you just pretend that you like him?"
Happy Birthday, Chipper - smell and all :-)

We will hope for an uneventful week ahead. No fever and good counts!

God Bless,
Tara

Thursday, July 29, 2004 9:33 AM CDT

First of all...........

MRI looked GREAT!!!! Praise God!!!

Sorry it took us so long to post. Dr. Elliott has a couple of doctors review scans, so the waiting time can get a little lengthy. However, on Tuesday evening, the nurse printed out the radiologist report for me. So, I had the good news, before Dr. Elliott gave us the good news. :-)

On Monday, Jace was a trooper for his MRI. He told the lady to just give him the "sleepy medicine", so he could go to sleep and get it over with. The MRI lasted an hour and he slept for quite awhile in the recovery room. After a clinic appointment, Jace was finally admitted to his hospital room at five. By 5:30, he was playing ball in the hallway. It was a long day for both of us.

Jace's fourth round of chemo has been fairly uneventful. He has had no nausea and has felt fairly good. We were fortunate to have Nolan Mothershead in the room next to us. Jace said that he was "cool" and he might want to move into his room. Jace was always asking me if I thought Nolan would want to play in the hall. Unfortuanely, by day two Nolan was not feeling well at all, so I kept Jace away :-) Nolan did come out in the hall for a game of blackjack. There is nothing like hearing your five year old say, "Hit me."

This week has been an emotional rollercoaster. I was able to spend quite a bit of time talking to Nolan's mom, Barb. Days in a hospital can be very long and exhausting and it was nice to have an adult conversation with someone; especially a mom that knows exactly what I'm going through. Thanks, Barb! I'm thankful that we have met their family. Nolan and Jace have a friendship and a connection that will last a lifetime. Although, one is 5 and the other is 15 - they have bonded through this illness. They are both an example of strength, courage, and perseverance. They will forever be different individuals because of this battle. They are fighters, and they WILL WIN over this disease. I can see it in both of their personalities; they won't give up.

Thank you for ALL of your prayers this week. The peace that I felt had to be from God, and I know that when we can't pray anymore there are many of you that are still praying for our family.

Thank you so much!

Tara

P.S. Do you know who Jace is with at the top of the page? It's Mario Lopez from Pet Star or maybe you know him better as Slater from "Saved By the Bell." :-) He's so cute!

We also have some new pictures in the photo album of our trip to Kansas City.

Sunday, July 25, 2004 9:57 PM CDT

Good Evening,

Jace has had a great week and has really enjoyed himself. He has been busy playing, swimming, and eating bag after bag of barbecue chips. :-) Last Tuesday, we had an appointment at the clinic. Jace's counts looked great and we got the o.k. to go on a little trip. We decided to go to Kansas City and spend a couple of days at the Great Wolf Lodge. The hotel has an arcade, a lot of good eating places, and many activities for kids. The best feature is the indoor waterpark with three different slides. We all had a wonderful time; it was nice to enjoy a little "normal" life. The kids also loved going to Cabela's which is right next to the hotel. Thankfully, it was sunny and warm. Perfect vacation weather.

Tomorrow, Jace has a MRI scheduled at 1:00 P.M. After his MRI, he will be brought up to the hospital to begin round 4 of his chemo schedule. He should be home by Thursday evening.

As you can imagine, our house is full of many emotions this weekend. Please pray for Jace's MRI results and for his little body as we begin another chemo cycle. I know God is in control and He will be our strength as we prepare for tomorrow.

Blessings,
Tara

Saturday, July 17, 2004 6:17 PM CDT

Hi Everyone!

Jace had an appointment yesterday in Des Moines and received another blood and platelet transfusion. I believe that would be 4 blood transfusions and 3 platelet transfusions this chemo cycle, but who's counting? :-)

The highlight of his visit yesterday was meeting the people from Animal Planet. They brought along some interesting animals. Jace has a great time and especially loved the beaver and the snake. Jenna came to Des Moines with us and spent the afternoon with Sarah, one of the child life gals.

We did get some good news; Jace can discontinue his shots - yeah! He was so happy and I'm sure his legs are happy, too. They have a lot of bruises and can get pretty achy.

We arrived home at 6:30 last night and Jace had his swim trunks on by 6:35. He finally got the o.k. to go to the pool, and he was not wasting any time. He had a great time; it was neat to see him back swimming again.

This upcoming week is usually are good week. It's the week right before our next chemo cycle and his counts should be going up instead of down. We might even try to slip away for a couple of nights. We have to check with his doctor on Monday.

Have a great weekend and thanks again for your support. We are truly blessed to know so many kind people that check in on Jace and pray daily for him. He's a trooper and I know that the strength that he is showing is through the power of prayer.

Love, Tara

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 8:14 AM CDT

Good Morning,

Yesterday, Jace had an appointment in Des Moines to have his blood counts checked and also a quick checkup from his Doctor. Travis decided to take him up since it was suppose to be short trip. Well, Travis and Jace arrived home last night at 7:00 P.M. - not exactly what they had planned.

Jace's counts have dipped down again. His white blood count remains at .3, but his hemoglobin was down to six. So, another blood transfusion. It took three hours to find the right type of blood, and than he had to sit through the transfusion. I believe that Jace and daddy slept through most of the transfusion.

Jace has also been having trouble with a sore tongue (I know, sounds weird), so we thought that he had developed some mouth sores. After Dr. Elliott checked his mouth, he discovered that Jace has a small tear under his tongue. When his counts begin to rise, it should heal fairly quickly. (never a dull moment :-)


We will again have to keep a close eye on him this week because of his low counts. He will be checked again on Wednesday and Friday. Also, we will need to continue his GCSF shots this week to help his white blood count along.

This journey has so many ups and downs. However, thankfully Jace has remained home with no fever and has even asked to go on bike rides and play baseball. Actually, when he wants to play baseball - he just wants to bat. Over and over and over....... Praise God that he has the energy to enjoy those fun summer things.

Thanks for the prayers. We will continue to pray that Jace's bone marrow will begin to recover from his last chemo and that his blood counts will begin to rise.

Love,
Tara

Saturday, July 10, 2004 4:12 PM CDT

Just a quick update to let you know that Jace is still at home. Yeah! We went to Grinnell this morning to have his counts rechecked. It seems that his white blood count is slowly rising at .3, which is very encouraging news. His hemoglobin is still low, but a little better than Thursday. Dr. Mitchell was the oncologist on call this weekend. He told us to keep a watchful eye on him and head to Des Moines if we notice that he is not feeling well.

Jace has been begging us to go to the pool, so we were hopeful that he might be able to swim this weekend. However, Dr. Mitchell told us that a public pool is way too risky for Jace right now. Those of you that know Jace - know that he LOVES the pool. He use to be quite a little fish, and he misses the daily pool trips that have always been a part of our summers. Mom does, too ;-) Jenna came to the rescue again, and told him that they could just play in the hose outside. He seemed satisfied with that - What a nice sister!

I also got a call from Austin Osmond who was in charge of the blood drive on Wednesday. The official count from the blood bank is 142 pints of blood! A little better than we originally thought. We also set a new record with 56 (!!!) new donors at this blood drive! Way to go New Sharon!

We will head to Des Moines again on Monday for an appointment and blood work. Thanks for checking in and keeping our family in your prayers.

Love,
Tara

Thursday, July 8, 2004 6:41 PM CDT

A HUGE Thank You to everyone that came to the blood drive yesterday. When we first began preparing for the blood drive, our goal was 90 units of blood. Drum roll, please.............134 units!!! 176 people registered at the front table, so our numbers were very good. The nurses were shocked that a small community could have such a big drive. They just don't know New Sharon ;-) A special thank you to the 42 people that attempted to give; I know how frustrating it can be to be turned away for some reason.

Speaking of blood......Jace received some again today. He also received 2 bags of platelets. Another long day.
Here's the counts: (they are not very exciting ;-)

Hemoglobin: 5.9 (norm 12 - 15)
Platelets: 6000 (norm 150,000- 450,000)
White Blood Cells : 0 (norm 4.5 - 13.5)

So, we are to keep a watchful eye on him. He will have his counts checked again on Saturday and meet with the Dr. Elliott on Monday. We are hopeful that his nightly GCSF shots will begin to produce some much needed white blood cells. AUGH!! I just want to stay out of the hospital.

We had the pleasure of meeting Nolan Mothershead who is from Oskaloosa and going through treatment for osteogenic sarcoma, a type of bone cancer. They are at Blank this week going through chemotherapy. They are a such a nice family and you can tell that Nolan will do just fine he's a tough guy. It was nice to meet them; I just wish it wasn't under these circumstances. Nolan has a website that is listed at the top of our page; feel free to visit his site and give him some encouraging words. I know that the next few days will be tough for him (and his family.)

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,
Tara

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 8:22 PM CDT

Good Evening,

I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend. We spend most of the weekend around the house, which was relaxing. Jace was very tired, so he wanted to be close to the couch.

Tomorrow is Jace Carrico Blood Drive Day and ironically, Jace spent his day receiving a blood transfusion. We had a clinic appointment this morning, which went fairly well. I forgot to bring along the needles that he likes, so he had to use the new safety ones that the hospital has. He was so mad at me - Needles are a big deal!
However, we survived and Jace's nurse, Marilyn talked him through it.

Jace's counts were pretty low this morning. His hemoglobin was the lowest I have seen it - 5.4 (normal range is 12-15) I knew that he had to be low, because he has been so tired. His platelets were also down to 20,000 (normal 150,00 - 450,000) and his white blood count was .3
So, everything is way down, but to be expected after chemo. This has been Jace's pattern. During his transfusion today, his temp went up a little, but than came back down. Maybe it was my intense praying?!? We have to go back to Des Moines again on Thursday to have his counts checked and see where he's at. I'm sure he will receive platelets, also.

Travis met me in Des Moines after Jace's transfusions and headed to the ball park for a guy's night out. The child life department gave us 8 tickets to the I Cubs game, and Travis had no problem finding a group to go with him. However, I did have Travis take a thermometer with him :-)

Just a reminder the blood drive is tomorrow from 10:30 -7:30. We have 162 people signed up as of tonight. I'm sure we will have walk-in's,also. We have put together a slide show that will show a little glimpse into Jace's hospital life. I hope everyone enjoy's that. It was fun (and emotional) to put together. If you are still interested, stop into the McVay Center at anytime.


Thanks for your support and love. Our prayers are focused on the upcoming days and how Jace's body will react to low counts. With God - "All Things Are Possible."

Love, Tara


P.S. Happy Sweet 16, Mindy Ratcliff!!!

Thursday, July 1, 2004 8:43 AM CDT

Good Morning,

What beautiful weather we're having! Jace said he was excited that it was finally summer. In Jace's world, summer doesn't start until it's Hot!

Jace was admitted to Blank on Monday morning to begin his 3rd round of chemo. He should be home by noon today. He got along great and didn't have any nausea. He was very tired and wanted to spend most of his days in bed, sleeping, or playing playstation. He's such a trooper! I convinced him a couple times to go for a walk outside with me. They have a nice park in the middle of the hospital that we like to walk in.

Please pray for Jace's body as we approach this upcoming week. With the first two rounds of chemo, Jace developed neutropenia (a lack of white blood cells) and was put back in the hospital for a week. We are hopeful that we will be home next week and able to enjoy the hot July weather. :-)

Jenna had a great time at camp. The camp she went to was in Indianola and was called, "Explorer Camp." It only lasted three days, so it was a great beginner camp. She especially enjoyed horseback riding, mudsliding, and Bible Study. She will be spending a week in August at "Sibling Camp." I know that this will be a great experience for her. I have heard many great things about this camp.

Thanks for all of your prayers this week. We felt each and every one of them. Please email or call me if you are still wanting to give blood. We still have places available and would love to have as many people as possible. It is truly amazing the amount of people that have already signed up.

Have a fun and safe 4th! We will be staying around home this weekend, which will be relaxing for us.

Thanks again for all of your support!!

Blessings,
Tara

Sunday, June 27, 2004 8:49 PM CDT

Good Evening,

We have had a great week at the Carrico house. Jace and Jenna enjoyed a week of Bible School and Jace played in two teeball games. This week, he seemed to playing more and sleeping less.

Our weekend was fun and packed with all kinds of activities. Friday night, we headed to Des Moines and enjoyed the Iowa Cubs. Musco had graciously allowed our family and friends to be a guest in their skybox. When we arrived, we were escorted down to the field so Jace could meet the players. Jace was able to go into the dugout, shake some hands, and get his ball signed. After getting some autographs, he made his way out to the pitcher's mound and was one of the lucky people to throw the first pitch. He said that was his "favorite" part of the night. It was a great night and best of all, the Cubs won at the very end. The night was complete with an awesome firework display. All in all, it was a very memorable night. Thank you so much, Musco!!

We spent most of Saturday at the Relay for Life event in Oskaloosa. Jace and Jenna had a great time playing games, decorating cookies, and holding a snake! They had games for the kids and a "Snake Presentation." My kids loved that part! (yuck) Jace was part of the Survivor picture and also participated in the Survivor lap. He, of course, was the only child. I thought that it would bother him, but he didn't say one thing. I was so proud of him. He never complains about being sick; he is such a brave boy. Sadly, it has become "normal" for him, but thankfully his spirits are positive most of the time. Keep in mind, he still can be a naughty 5 year old boy :-)
We were honored that Jace had many luminaries with his name on them. Thank you to everyone that donated in his honor. He had two special luminaries from "The Lemonade Stand Crew." Thanks to everyone that bought lemonade from Jenna and her friends last week. The girls were very creative. When the lemonade was gone, they sold apple juice. When business was slow, they went door to door. (Mom had to have a talk with them about that plan.)

Today after church, Jace was invited to go fishing with Tony and A.J. Hibler. He has wanted to go fishing for a long time; so he was very excited when they asked him to go. He ended up catching quite a few fish and somehow spent most of the afternoon playing at their house :-)

Tomorrow, Jenna will be heading to church camp in Indianola. At the same time, Jace will be heading to Des Moines for an appointment. If he makes counts, he will be admitted for his 3rd round of chemo. We are at the half-way mark - Praise God! Because of our plans, I had to spend most of Sunday packing bags for the week.

Thank you to all of you that have signed up for the blood drive. Please email me if you would still like to participate. You will be blessed!

Please pray for our little guy this week as he goes through another round of chemo and Jenna as she enjoys a few days at camp.

If you have a moment, there is a family from Grinnell that could use our prayers right now. The little boy's name is Mason. His website is www.caringbridge.org/asia/masondbrown. They could use your prayers as they make some very big decisions in the next couple of days. Please stop by and let this family know that they are in your thoughts. Also, please continue to lift up Benjamin and his family.

Blessings,
Tara

Monday, June 21, 2004 2:35 PM CDT

Thank you to everyone that sent a message to Jenna; she really enjoyed reading them. She loved having her own webpage and especially loved reading what daddy wrote about her. On her special day, we went to the movie, "Garfield", the wooden park in Pella, Smokey Row, and an ice cream stop at Vic's. She was able to bring along her friend Jordan who also was able to spend the night. Jenna was especially excited to get the Harry Potter Playstation game. Time flies; I can't believe she is already 8!

Jace is doing really well - actually GREAT! He seems to have more energy and "looks" better every day. We talked him into trying bible school this morning. He has become a little "home" boy and sometimes struggles with getting out and doing things. He told dad that he wanted him to take him and when he felt comfortable - dad could leave. When I picked Him and Jenna up at noon, he sang me the songs and talked non-stop about everything they had done. I think that means he like it :-)

Marilyn, Jace's nurse, called this afternoon and told us that his blood counts looked great. She also informed us that Dr. Elliott had said to stop his antibiotic immediately. Yeah!! Since he has not had another fever, they are hopeful that the "bug" is gone. However, Marilyn said that if his fever returns - his port will need to be removed and he will receive a new one. She said that this is fairly common. I just don't want him to be put "under" again. It is so hard to watch him be put under for these procedures. He also is smart enough that he knows what "sleepy medicine" is all about.

Jace is napping now, but as soon as he wakes up we can remove his needles. Jace does NOT like the tape coming off his skin or the needles coming out. Don't get me wrong; he wants them gone, but the combination of tape, skin, and needles - bring anger (usually directed at mom :-)

The most important part of this entry................

Jace Carrico Blood Drive Day
Wednesday, July 7th 10:30 A.M. - 7:30 P.M.
McVay Family Center 100 West Market St.

If you have not been contacted by someone and are willing to give up one hour of your day to change someone else's life - than PLEASE email me or call Austin Osmond at 637-2366 to set up an appointment. Walk- ins will also be accepted. Bring a friend and your ID! It is so important, and I guarantee that you will be blessed for doing this. Jace has received numereous blood tranfusions and platelets over the last six months. Because someone stepped up and gave blood, my son is able to play baseball, ride his bike, and be a "normal" little boy. It makes a HUGE difference in many people's lives. I'm hopeful that other communities will take part, also. Please, help me spread the word. New Donors are also needed. (Sometimes, they take quite a bit of persuasion :-)


If you email me, please send me:

Name
Address
Phone number
Time that works best for you


Thanks for all you do for our family! Praise God for all that He has done!

Tara

Friday, June 18, 2004 10:21 AM CDT

Good morning, everyone...

For a change of pace, we thought we'd dedicate Jace's webpage to someone who has been "overshadowed" during the past six months. Someone who has helped each day in our fight and given selflessly, asking nothing in return...our Little Buddy's Big Sis, JENNA!

It wasn't just all these wonderful qualities that made us decide to give the page to Jenna for a few days, but another reason is that tomorrow - Saturday, June 19th is Sissy's Birthday!!! So, we thought what better way to recognize all her efforts and love than to give her the webpage for the weekend!

Jenna Marie Carrico became the third member of the Carrico family at 4:07 PM on Wednesday, June 19th, 1996 in Marshalltown, IA. Ironically enough, that morning, as my uncomfortable wife timed her contractions, I was putting my tie on and preparing for a LARGE funeral that morning...seemingly oblivious to the oncoming labor Tara was beginning. A few contractions later (and a few expletives as I recall ;-), I was convinced enough to call my colleagues and tell them to go ahead without me.

Along the way, Jenna has become well-known for the rather large catalogue of nicknames bestowed upon her by her father. As they'll probably be of no interest to you, I'll list them anyway ;-) - the very first & cutest name was "Punky" which was actually given by Mom. It went downhill from there! Here are a few of the "unique" ones: Paquita, Boogaloo, Grizlin and Heebler. Minnie Lou is the current moniker of choice. She really doesn't seem to mind!

Other than being a prodigious puker, Jenna was darn near the perfect baby and toddler. She slept all night, sat in her chair and watched Barney, sat quietly on our laps while we read to her and she would spend hours sitting in her room looking at her books...which she still does today!

Not much has changed over the years. She has been and is still as laid back as they come. She really doesn't get worked up about anything which is why she has been able to deal so well with everything that has happened and is happening now. For instance, Jace has gotten into the habit of sleeping with her in her queen-size bed. A lot of big sisters might get quite tired of little brother hogging their bed each night, but not Jenna. Each night he crawls in and Jenna just slides over as if she knows that this is just one small but important thing she can do to help her little brother through this difficult time.

Jenna has grown up quickly in many regards throughout all of this, as has her little brother. And since all of you parents know how quickly time goes by (as it has for us!), I thought I'd put a few pictures up showing Jenna several years ago when things didn't seem so complicated!

Thanks for stopping by to check in. If you get a moment, sign the guestbook and wish our little Jenna a Happy Birthday!

Thanks,
Travis

Wednesday, June 16, 2004 9:48 AM CDT

Welcome Home Jace!!!

We arrived home yesterday afternoon, and Jace found his spot on the couch. Jace normally has a great time at the hospital - thanks to such a great nurses and child life workers, but this time was different. He spent the majority of his stay asking "when he could go home?" and "why, he always has to be there?" We tried our best to make it enjoyable for him and get him out of there as soon as possible.

Jace's eye is doing much better The redness is gone and the swelling looks better each day. Although his eye was the most painful part of his stay; it was not the reason we were in the hospital. The main concern was his fevers and blood counts. His counts are on their way up. Yesterday, he baffled the doctors with a platelet count going from 23,000 to 263,000. His ANC also jumped from 150 to 560. Jace's blood cultures did indicate that he has an infection which they believe is located in his port. They trained me yesterday how to give him the IV antibiotic,Fortaz at home. He receives 3 doses a day and they are 8 hours apart. We will continue this for 9 more days and pray that this infection will be gone. The home health care nurse was late yesterday, so his morning dose wasn't until 10:00. That put his last dose at 2:00 A.M. I will be working on adjusting the times :-) I think 7,3 and 11 sound much better.

Jace will have another game this evening. (please, don't rain.) He loves playing ball and is very serious about it. I can't wait until the day that he can play ball at "full strength." Watching him run to 1st base is such a struggle for him. The chemo he receives zaps his strength and his nightly shot makes his leg muscles ache and work overtime. Sometimes, I become jealous of the other kids. It is so easy for them to run around the bases and swing that bat, but for Jace is takes every ounce of energy. I know jealousy is wrong; I'm working on that. At least, I have honesty down. :-)

Thanks for your prayers, again. I know that Jace and our whole family are getting through this because of your support and prayers. This experience is such an emotional "ride" Some days are great; some not so great. It's your prayers that help us get through the "not so great days." Thank you. Please, enjoy your summer and cherish each and every moment. Anne Jones (Benjamin's mom) and her family are truly "cherishing" each and every moment they have with their little boy. By reading Anne's journal entries (his site at the top of the page) you will gain a new perspective on this crazy world. To have a talk with your seven year old about when you will see him again in heaven, like this family has had to - makes me angry and happy at the same time. It is so unfair what is happening to this family, but yet they are handling this with the upmost strength and courage. You will be blessed by reading her journal entries and you might look at your day a little differently.

Blessings,
Tara


P.S. Thank you Shelly for the gift. We spent time setting up the army men and bowling them over. ;-)

Friday, June 11, 2004 11:49 PM CDT

UPDATE: Sunday June 13th 7:00 P.M.

Jace still remains in Des Moines and continues to do well. However, after an pediatric ophthalmologist came to check on him yesterday she determined that he does have a scratch on his cornea. Very Painful and more eye drops! Tylenol 3 seemed to help with the discomfort, and today it was already looking better. Also, we found out today that they do believe that his port (the device under his skin where he receives all chemo and meds) is infected. The second blood culture came back postive this morning. They will be dicussing this with Dr. Elliott in the morning. He was fishing today. ;-) The other doctor thought that he would need be on an IV antibiotic for 2 weeks.

A special thanks to our visitors the past two days. It helps break up the day and always brings a smile to Jace's face.

Thanks for your prayers.
Tara





UPDATE: Saturday June 12th 9:15 AM

Jace had a long night! His eye got worse through the night and kept him up from 3:30 to 5:30 AM. During that time, they took him to the treatment room and put a green dye in his eye to check for any scratches - thankfully none showed up. It was determined that the infection in his eye is viral in nature so, other than some saline drops to make him more comfortable, all we can do is wait it out.

His counts are still marginal and they're not sure if he's gaining or not...so more waiting, I guess. Of the two blood cultures they took, one came back positive and one negative which leads the Doc's to believe that the positive is contamination and nothing to be too worried about.

If you happen to be in DSM, be sure and swing by Room 310 at Blank...Tara & Jace would love to see you!


Good evening everyone...

We had quite an afternoon/evening today! We were able to get a pass for Jace to come back and participate in the Spring Festival Tee-Ball "Under The Lights" tonight. We were relieved that he was doing well enough today to come back because he had been looking forward to this all week!

So, after a harrowing white-knuckle, death-defying trip back from DSM (just ask Tara ;-), he grabbed his new bat and batting gloves (which he had been telling everyone about) and headed for the field. We showed up at 5:45 for his 6 PM game. Special thanks to our coaches, everyone on the other tee-ball teams and those who reworked the team picture schedule for helping us out tonight and making it possible for Jace to still get his picture taken.

He had a couple of nice hits tonight but his eye got to bothering him a bit out in the field. He was very excited to see Chipper show up in the 2nd inning, though...talk about a surge of adrenaline!

We took him home after the game, gave him a thorough cleaning and sent him and Mom back to the Hotel Blank in DSM for the night. As of this afternoon, nothing had shown up in the blood culture and he hadn't had a fever since this morning. So, hopes are that he might be out in the next day or two. But with an ANC of 50, we can't be too sure of anything.

Thanks for checking in...more as it develops!

Travis

Thursday, June 10, 2004 3:43 PM CDT

Jace woke up this morning with a bad cough, so we decided to take him up to Des Moines to have his cough checked out and blood work done. His counts were lower than Tuesday and his platelets were down to 17,000 (normal 150,000 -450,000) We came back after lunch and he received a transfusion of platelets. During lunch, Travis noticed that one of his eyes was getting red and swollen. After we got back to the clinic, Dr. Elliott told Travis that it looked like pink eye. An hour later, during his transfusion he spiked a fever. At that time, Dr. Elliott admitted to the hospital to begin antibiotics.

So, no ball game or t-ball pictures :(
Unless, we can talk them into a pass out of the hospital for a few hours.

Please continue to pray for our strength as we approach a LONG weekend. Also, pray for Jace's spirits. I know we will not have a happy boy when he finds out that he will have to miss the events planned for this weekend.

We will try to post from the hospital.

Tara

Tuesday, June 8, 2004 4:26 PM CDT

Good (and HOT) afternoon,

Jace and Jenna, both had appointments in Des Moines today. I can't believe it actually worked out that both of them were on the same day. Jace had to meet with his oncologist and have his blood work done. He also received a dose of Vincristine (chemo drug) His platelets and hemoglobin were low, but will not require a transfusion right now. However, his white blood count (and ANC) were very low. White Blood count was .7 ; normal range is 4.5 - 13.5.
His doctor believes that he will be a patient in the hospital in the next couple of days. So, we will be on the look out for fevers. The first sign of one; we will be heading to Des Moines. Maybe God has other plans for us this week and those counts will begin to rise on their own ;-) That would be great! Jace really wants to play this Friday at teeball under the lights. Pray, pray, pray!

Jenna had a dentist appointment and everything looked great. Gosh, a dentist appointment feels like a "walk in the park" after all of our other appointments. They could have told me she needed braces and I'd say, "Fine - she's healthy with crooked teeth - no problem." I just wouldn't want to pay for them ;-)


Mark your calendars for July 7th - "Jace Carrico Blood Drive Day." We would like to have as many people as we can donate. E-mail me, if you have any questions. Also, I am selling luminaries in Jace's honor for "Relay for Life." If you are interested, they are $7.00.

Thanks for your prayers and support. We will pray that our week goes fast and fever-less!

Tara

Saturday, June 5, 2004 11:09 PM CDT

Well, we're halfway through the weekend and no signs of any "bugs" hanging out in Jacer's blood. He's feeling good and having a good weekend with his first tee-ball game today and taking in a movie tonight with his buddy KB.

He wasn't too thrilled about Dad & Sissy going to see the new Harry Potter flick tonight...he's not into scary movies AT ALL and doesn't think anyone else should be, either!

Be sure and check out the photo album for pics of today's Tee-Ball action. Jace had a couple of good hits and made a play in the field. The most memorable quote of the morning came as he was heading into the dugout after having been out in the field for the 2nd time:

"Dad, I could sure use a cold drink and a fan..."

Yep, that's my boy...tough as nails!!!

Thanks for checking in and for all your continued prayers,
Travis

Thursday, June 3, 2004 9:43 PM CDT

Update: Friday, June 4, 2004 8:30 A.M.

Dr. Elliott just called us and told us that Jace's blood culture from the other night has started growing. At this time, they will determine what the bacteria is and we will go from there. On a postive note, he said that we could leave him at home, but keep a very close eye on him. Any signs of fever, we will have to head back to the hospital. Please continue to pray for his body; he is so excited to be home and we would all be disappointed to head back to Des Moines.

Thanks for your prayers, Tara






Thursday Evening:

Just a quick update to let you know that Jace is coming home tonight. He finished Mesna (a recovery drug for his kidneys) a little bit ago, and Travis asked if he could just bring him home tonight. They called our doctor, and he felt comfortable with letting us leave since Jace was doing so well. Travis thought they would probably be leaving by 10:30 P.M. (Travis is the night owl; I would have taken the early morning time.) I talked to Jace on the phone and he was excited to come home, but was also worried about getting both of his needles taken out. I guess he had already talked to his nurse about how she was going to do it - and how he wanted it done. ;-)

Jace's blood counts had dropped this morning, but nothing out of the ordinary. His hemoglobin was down quite a bit, so they gave him another blood tranfusion this afternoon. Hopefully, that will give him some extra energy for the weekend. He is planning on playing in his first teeball game Saturday morning. Dr. Elliott told him that he wanted him to enjoy weekend and teeball would be just fine.

Thanks again for everyone that prayed for Jace this week. Each of one your prayers are blessing to our family. They help us get through each and every day. Some days we need them more than others - and those are the days that I can really feel your prayers working for all of us. Have a great weekend and we'll be praying for an "uneventful" week ahead.

In Him,
Tara

Wednesday, June 2, 2004 5:50 PM CDT

Jace had a great day today. He is feeling fine and they are 99ure that his blood culture will be negative. He hasn't had a fever since last night,so that is great news. He spent most of his day playing playstation. It was great to have some visitors today. Jenna will be coming up tomorrow with grandma and grandpa, so that will bring a smile to Jace's face. Travis will also be coming up to stay with Jace tomorrow, so he is anxious for tomorrow to be here.

Special thanks to the Arnold's for taking Jenna the last two nights. She had so much fun and was excited to tell me that Callie has "Little House on the Prairie" DVD's. I think that might be on her birthday list now.

Jace finished up his chemo around 4:00 this afternoon. So far so good. He will receive another dose tomorrow. I know that Dr. Elliott's concern (and ours) will be next few days - especially next week. That is when his blood levels will bottom out. We're just hoping that they don't get to where they were a month ago and he has to be admitted again. They are talking about adding another shot that will help him produce red blood cells. At this time, the shot(GCSF) he takes helps him produce white blood cells. Please continue to pray for his body as the chemo begins working.

In Prayer,
Tara

Wednesday, June 2, 2004 11:45 AM CDT

Hello from Des Moines,

Jace was admitted to the hospital yesterday and began his chemo around noon. He got along fine Tuesday, and spent most of the afternoon sleeping.

However, last night around midnight he spiked a fever. They watched him for an hour and it continued to rise, so they called in the Resident. After she examined him, she decided to call Dr. Elliott. They decided to access his other port and draw a blood culture from both to make sure he does not have another infection. Jace has a double port on the left side of his chest that is accessed for all medication and blood work. At 3:00 A.M., the nurse came in to take off his original dressings (not good) and put Emla (numbing cream) on the second port site. At this point, he is mad and knows what will be happening next. A poke ;(

Of course, they use a different needle here in the hospital to access him,so that adds some more excitement to our night. His nurse came back at 4:30 to access him and draw blood cultures. I don't know what happened, but it was the first time that Jace really felt the "poke" - perhaps the Emla was on the wrong spot. I finally got him calmed down by 5:30 A.M. What a long night!

So, please pray that these cultures come back negative and that the fever was just a reaction to the chemo he received yesterday.

This morning has been a much better day!! Jace was able to go to the playroom, if he wore a mask. I thought it would bother him, but he thought he looked like a doctor. He's been happy, smiling, and dancing to his Wiggles CD.

A Happy Ending :-))


Thanks for your prayers - Tara

P.S. Guess what he's doing??? Sleeping ;-)

Sunday, May 30, 2004 11:09 AM CDT

Happy Memorial Weekend,

As you can see, Jace has reached another milestone - preschool graduation. He was so excited and had a big smile on his face the entire night. It was a moment that we will cherish for a long time. I know that I write this many times, but it is truly amazing how far God has brought him. On December 17th, we would have never imagined that we would be sitting at the school watching him at his preschool graduation in May.

Last night, we had our monthly praise and worship service. It was an awesome evening filled with music, sharing and prayers. It was a small crowd, but it was a very powerful service. (Thank you Cally for the prayer time;-) I hope that many of you that have prayed so hard for Jace and the other children will be able to experience this service in the months ahead.

Jace will be going to the hospital on Tuesday for Round 2 of his chemo. When we told him that we would be going to the hospital for another week, he just said, "o.k." He did remember that with a week in the hospital; he would also receive daily GCSF shots. He's such a brave boy, and God is walking by him each step of the way.

Jenna has not been feeling well since last night, so today we will enjoy some time around the house. I hope that you enjoy your extended weekend, and please say a little prayer for Jace Tuesday morning as he begins his chemo treatments.

God Bless,
Tara, Travis, Jenna and Jace






The Strength of an Egg
By Juliet Freitag

Parents of children with cancer, or really any serious condition, are often referred to or viewed as having strength "like a rock." Albeit flattering, it isn't quite true.

It is more like the strength of an egg. An egg, you ask? Yes! If you'll think about it, you'll see my point. An egg has a polished, smooth outer appearance, with no cracks or weak spots visible. It seems almost inconceivable that the inside might not be so smooth or solid.

Most children, at some point are shown the famous egg trick. An egg set at just the right angle can withstand enormous amounts of pressure and cannot be cracked or broken. Yet the same egg, tapped gently at an ever slightly different angle, will break. The contents, once so neatly concealed, will come spilling out. The no longer perfect shell will be crushed. It looks so fragile that it seems inconceivable that it ever held any strength.

A rock, on the other hand, is solid all the way through. To break it is almost impossible. If you succeed, you will find that there is nothing inside but more rock.

It takes a lot more than pure hardness to hold the hand of hope. Parents of children with cancer are not solid all the way through. We hurt, we fear, we cry, we hope. It takes a very careful balancing act to keep the shell from being shattered. "Balancing an egg" while running a household, going for doctors' visits and hospital stays, keeping the family together, and holding on to the constantly unraveling ties of your sanity can be very tricky indeed! Occasionally, the angle will be off and the shell will break, shattering hope and all the neatly secured appearances of a truly fragile existence.

Unlike Humpty Dumpty, though, parents of kids with cancer will pick themselves up and put themselves back together again. OVER and OVER again...........

Thursday, May 27, 2004 10:41 AM CDT

Good morning everyone...

We got our counts back yesterday...VERY STRONG! His platelet counts are way up and his ANC is strong too. We'll be going up to DSM next Tuesday for another draw and, if everything continues like it is now, we'll be in for the week for his second round of maintenance chemotherapy.

The pool opened in New Sharon this week and the Carrico children have been having a blast. Jace loves the pool and are "goal" has always been to get better, so we can "go to the pool this summer." Praise God - we made it!

It was one of those events that made me look back to our time in Rochester when we didn't know if he would ever get back to this point again. Having learned to take each day as it comes and enjoy these moments while they're here made it a special day for me as well as the kids.

We got Jace's Tee-ball schedule today, too. Two more games each week! Thankfully, Jenna only has two games a week so I don't see too many scheduling problems there ;-)

Thank you all for your continuing prayers and support for Jace.

Travis

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 7:41 AM CDT

Good morning, everyone...

Not much to report today. Jace is excited this morning as he is getting ready for his end-of-the-year preschool party! It's hard to believe we'll be turning him loose on the public school system in 3 short months ;-)

I'm sure his joy will turn sour quite quickly when he remembers that he agreed to go to Grinnell for a blood draw after his party today. Hopefully counts won't be TOO low as we've got the big graduation day on Thursday night!

Jenna is excited this morning...Last Day of School!!! The pool opens in a few days too, so Jace & Jenna are counting the number of "sleeps" until that big day.

If counts are up, I think we may be headed back to the hospital to start the 2nd chemo treatment...probably next week.

Jace is doing well, though. He tires out pretty quickly which makes me think that his counts are low but his spirits are good and he acts pretty normal most of the time (if you consider reciting dialogue from the "Austin Powers" movies all day normal ;-)

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Sunday, May 23, 2004 3:55 PM CDT

It's been a pretty quiet weekend at the Carrico household. We will be taking Jace to Grinnell on Tuesday for his weekly blood draw but we're hoping to avoid chemo (one way or another) this week as Jace will be putting on the ol' cap and gown for his preschool graduation on Friday!

Today he is enjoying a playday with his buddy Dawson. They have the living room floor littered with tractors, matchbox cars, basketball games and are now engaged in a heated battle of "Let's Go Fishing."

We have tee-ball practices again this week and I think we may have found Jace's niche. He isn't the greatest at just playing catch right now, but he wanted to pitch to me yesterday and, much to my surprise, he kept throwing strike after strike to me! I think he may be the next Greg Maddux!

We had a nice family night in Pella last night. Pizza at George's and then we took in the 9:10 showing of Shrek 2. I would recommend it to people of all ages...very funny!

We rolled in at about 11:30 PM (courtesy a 2 1/2 hour nap that afternoon!) and hit the sack, only to be roused at 1 AM by the storm system heading into town. I think the worst just missed us and everyone was back asleep by 1:30 AM.

Thanks for checking in today. Jace is doing well as we fight this nasty tumor day by day. Please remember to visit our friend Benjamin's site (listed above) and offer your love and support to him and his family who are going through very difficult times right now.

Sincerely,
Travis

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 2:20 PM CDT

Good afternoon,

Jace is doing much better, and was able to go to preschool today. It was his first time this month, and he was so excited to go. He was the scheduled "leader" for today; a proud moment for a 5 year old.

Yesterday, Jace went to Grinnell to have his blood counts checked. Marilyn, our nurse from Blank called and told us that his white blood count was at 2.4. We were also happy to hear that his ANC was above 1000. Last week, he was 0. So, his body is quickly recovering and healing from his last treatment of chemo. His platelets are still low, but a transfusion is not needed right now. The exciting news happened when Marilyn told us that he would only have to take one more shot. I don't know who was more excited - Jace or us. All night, he kept saying, "Let's just get this over with."

As of Monday, Jace is an official T-Ball player. Monday morning he woke up at 6:30 and asked me when practice would start. His practice wasn't until 6:00 that night, so you can imagine how slow his day went ;-) The picture above is from a "practice session" with dad. Travis tried to get some pictures from Monday's practice, but our digital camera was not working. Hopefully, we will be able to share some pictures at a later date.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and concerns. We could never get through this without the support and love from so many of you.

Love, Tara

P.S. I have added some new pictures to the photo album. Hope you enjoy them :-)

Sunday, May 16, 2004 5:00 PM CDT

Jace is finally home!!!

He arrived at the Carrico house around 3:00 and we were all happy to have him home with us. This morning he had to have another transfusion of platelets, so hopefully that will stay with him for awhile. Jace's white blood counts are still low, but are rising a little each day. He will have blood drawn on Tuesday to see how he is progressing.

Unfortunately, Dr. Elliott told us this morning that he must continue his shots until his white blood cells start producing. I felt so bad for him. Every night, he would erase a number on his "Stupid Shot" calendar countdown. He was suppose to be done yesterday, so hopefully only a few more days.

Thanks for all of your prayers and concern this last week. Special thank you for those of you that were able to stop by and visit. It helped pass the time, and was also nice to enjoy some adult conversation.

God Bless,
Tara

Saturday, May 15, 2004 9:23 AM CDT

Good morning everyone...

Just a quick update to let you know that Jace will be spending ANOTHER night in the hospital tonight. His counts are moving a little bit, but not enough to risk letting him come home. If he were to get another fever after coming home, we'd have to bring him back to DSM and be right back at square one. So, Dr. Elliott has been gracious enough to give Jace a 5-hour pass so we can all go down to Ottumwa today for a family function. I'll be taking him back to DSM tonight and staying with him so Tara can get a decent night's sleep ;-)

His white count is still pretty low so I can't say with any certainty when he'll be out. His first Tee Ball practice is Monday so it would be great to have him home by then!

Just another reminder that he is in Room 351 at Blank Children's Hospital in DSM. Our room phone number is 515.241.7751 if you'd like to stop by or call.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Friday, May 14, 2004 6:14 PM CDT

Just an update to let you know that Jace is still a patient at the hospital. Yesterday, he received another blood transfusion and was feeling much better last night. This morning, Jace broke away from zero. His counts raised to a whopping 40. Thankfully, we are able to see his body beginning to recover from last week's chemo. If his counts look better tomorrow, he will probably be released from the hospital. We are all looking forward to that - especially Jace.

Today, Jace and Sarah (the child life worker- that he wants to live next to ;-) went on a marshmallow shooting spree. They covered most of the hospital and even made a trip into the administrator's office. Many people became victim to Jace today. He, especially loved it when they would fall on the ground after being shot. He loved it when one of the doctors fought back with a syringe of water. That gave him some new ideas! Watch out tonight nurses ;-)

I'm so thankful that he was some fun memories to take away from this whole experience. Everyone that works at Blank has been outstanding. I'm thankful that he is in such caring hands.

Daddy and Jenna are holding up things at home. Jenna has another game tonight. Go Rockers!! She also talked Daddy into having Sydney spend the night. ;-) I'm sure that didn't take much.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Love, Tara

Thursday, May 13, 2004 11:27 AM CDT

Just to let you know...

Jace remains in the hospital and will probably stay until they see a rise in his counts. He was still at 0 this morning and his hemoglobin (red blood cells) dropped, also. He will be getting a blood transfusion this afternoon. On a postive note, his platelets are o.k.

Dr. Elliott has told us that with a count of 0 he needs to be kept on IV antibiotics in the hospital. He said that more than likely if we would take him home; his fevers would return.

Please pray for a rise in counts, so we can get our little buddy back home. A special thanks to Jace and Jenna's grandparents and all of there help this week.
Hopefully, Jace's spirit's will rise today when he gets to hang out with Jenna.

God Bless and again, thanks for all of your prayers,
Tara

Wednesday, May 12, 2004 10:55 AM CDT

Hello - from Des Moines,

Jace was able to come up to the playroom this morning, since no one else was here. He is busy playing a playstation game and I decided to play on the computer. It's just nice to be out of that room!!

Jace is doing well today. His fever has not returned and he has been out of his bed more today. He continues to shoot everyone that enters his room. I think he has hit every nurse, doctor, and resident. They, of course, have fun right along with him.

He will be staying in the hospital until Thursday or Friday. His counts are completely wiped out. His white blood count is 0. Yes, zero. We are hopeful that his nightly shots will start producing some much needed white blood cells. He received platelets last night and will receive more today. They are having a hard time finding his type. ( Hint: Do you know there is a blood drive at the high school today?)
We have found out how important it is to give blood - there are many people that need YOUR blood daily. I am not a big fan of needles, but after seeing my 5 year old endure countless injections - I have a hard time convincing myself that it will be "that bad."

Thanks for all of your prayers. We are truly blessed to know so many caring people. Enjoy your day!

Love, Tara

Tuesday, May 11, 2004 12:41 AM CDT

Just a quick note to let you know that Jace has been admitted to the hospital again. Tara took him up to Des Moines last night with a fever of 102.

His counts are VERY low right now and we're waiting on another blood culture to see if he has a bacterial infection again.

Your prayers would be much appreciated!

More to come later,
Travis

PS: Special thanks to Caleb and Kathy Fox for the late night Marshmallow Gun delivery last night. Jace is apparently wreaking havoc on the 3rd floor with his good aim!

Monday, May 10, 2004 12:25 AM CDT

I hope you all had a great Mother's Day! I ended up running a few errands and planting more flowers. Our Mother's Day plans were changed, since Travis was busy at work. As a family, we have learned to adapt to changing plans. Since Travis is a funeral director, his schedule can change hourly. These families need him so much during that time, and I know that our plans can be put on hold until a later date. However, Jace and Jenna did give me a foot massager ;-) Jace convinced Travis that I really did need one! Jace and I had seen it on a commercial and from that moment - he was set on his idea. I will have the "calmest toes" in New Sharon.

Since I had to work today, Jace and his dad made the trip to Des Moines alone. Jace was given a dose of Vincristine (chemo drug) and had his blood work done. His hemoglobin was down to 6.6, so he will be getting a blood transfusion this afternoon. His nightly shots are going o.k. He has a countdown calendar and I give him a little toy after every shot. He still gets pretty upset before each one. I don't blame him. Last night, Travis gave it to him since it was Mother's Day. What a nice guy ;-)

On Saturday, we were saying our nightly prayers, and I had prayed for Benjamin and his reoccurance. After we were done, Jace asked if his tumor would come back. I regained my composure and told him that we will keep praying that it is gone forever. He said, "I don't think it will, because I take my medicine really good." I wish it was that easy ;-)

Please continue to pray for Benjamin (www.caringbridge.org/oh/benjaminj) and his family. Pray for their strength daily and for God to comfort them through this. We have some awesome prayer warriors behind us. Thank you for taking the time to give these different families your support and most of all, thank you for praying for our little boy's complete healing each and every day.

Tara

Sunday, May 9, 2004 7:59 PM CDT

We are all very stunned and saddened tonight after learning about our friend Benjamin and his reoccurence. Benjamin and his family are from Ohio and have been very helpful to us as he had the same diagnosis as Jace.

Please visit Benjamin's site

(www.caringbridge.org/oh/benjaminj)

and send your love and support to him and his family as they prepare to go down that road once again.

Thank you for checking in...
Travis

Thursday, May 6, 2004 11:23 AM CDT

Hey everybody...we're home!!!

I won't steal too much of the limelight as Tara spent the majority of the time (2 days & nights) with Jacer but let's just say ONE of us (who was there the entire time ;-) is VERY GLAD to be home!!!

It didn't take long for little buddy to fall back into routine...we rolled in at 11:29 AM today and at 11:30 AM he was plopped on the couch watching the Wiggles.

Jace is doing fine after his first round of maintenance chemotherapy. He had a six-hour dose on Monday and subsequent hour doses on Tuesday and Wednesday. The part that requires all the hospital time is the constant hydration and rescue drugs. These drugs prevent his bladder from being damaged as the chemicals are passed through his body. They can really do some damage if he's not kept hydrated and medicated. But no signs of wear after this first round. Hopefully, with the megace still going strong, we won't have to worry about the weight loss and fatigue like last time. Only time will tell, though.

By the way, your prayers for Jace would be appreciated over the next ten days. With the chemo comes the daily GCSF shots...yeah!!! Hopefully he will get used to them as they will be more frequent and for longer durations this time. I don't think a quarter will cover these, either!

Thank you all for the posts during the past four days. It is always VERY NICE to be able to read them as we sit in the hospital room with nothing to do but eat ;-)

Lastly, be sure and visit Joshua Larson's site today (bottom of the page) and congratulate him on his return home. His lengthy hospital stay made ours look like an afternoon away from home! We are very glad he is home and he is doing very well after his stem cell transplant.

Thanks for checking in...
Travis

Wednesday, May 5, 2004 9:14 AM CDT

Just to let you all know - Jace is doing well in Des Moines. He has had no problems and continues to amaze us how 'strong' he truly is. On Monday night, he was up every hour going to the bathroom and last night, he stretched it to 2 hours. We were all glad for that ;-)

We were thankful that we had grandparents that could spend some time with him yesterday, since mom and dad had work to attend to. Last night, we brought Jenna up to see him which he always enjoys. Jace had a very emotional time letting daddy go home last night; So, he was very excited to be able to spend the day and night with him today. They are planning on going outside in the courtyard and enjoying the nice weather. It so nice that they allow him to go outside. He is 'connected' to chemo or hydration for the entire 4 days, so when he goes outside we just has to take his IV pole with him.

Jenna and I have a concert today; so off to school I go.

Thanks again for the prayers and especially for taking the time to post. Hospital days are long and it's always encouraging to read that people are praying you through.
By the way, Joshua Larson will be coming home from the hospital today after 3 1/2 weeks. His stem cell transplant went well and his counts are on their way up. Thanks for praying for him during this time, also.

Love, Tara

Monday, May 3, 2004 8:44 PM CDT

Good Evening from Des Moines,

Jace is just finishing up his first day of maintenance chemo with no problems. He started his day with fluids and is now finishing his six hour drip of chemo. We have spent most of our day coloring, playing and watching TV. Jace was excited tonight to see one of his favorite nurses, Jamie. He just gave her one of his coloring masterpieces that she immediately put on her locker. They have become pretty good buddies.

Our evening went fairly fast since we had a visitor. Jace Denison, who plays for Drake and is a former Tri-County student, came by and gave Jace a signed football from the Drake Football Team. Very cool!! Jace was excited when Jace D. told him that they had the same name. He kept telling me, "Can you believe there's a big Jace and a little Jace?" Thanks for the football and for helping pass some time.

Travis headed home this afternoon to see Jenna's first game of the season. Travis said it was pretty eventful ;-) (They are 7 and 8 year olds) Jenna even made her pitching debut; mom was a little sad to not be there, but she will have another game next Monday.

Travis will be heading up here tomorrow, so that I can have my dress rehearsal for Wednesday's concert. The rest of the week is still up in the air. It doesn't look like Jace will be getting out of here until late Thursday. So, I guess when they tell you a 3 day chemo stay; we will always plan on four days. He is given chemo throughout the day that is always followed by hydration. It is a very strict schedule that they follow, so as much as I want to tell them that we have plans that we want to get home for - we are stuck. Tomorrow, Jace will start chemo that is very hard on his kidneys, so they will keep a close eye on that situation, also. Please keep this in your prayers.

Thanks for the prayers that you are giving to our family each and every day.

God Bless, Tara

Monday, May 3, 2004 7:25 AM CDT

Good morning everyone...

Well, Jace's counts are good this morning. His platelets are 152,000 and his neutrophils are at 1000. Soooo, we're on our way to DSM this morning to start his maintenance chemotherapy.

Needless to say, things are in a bit of a panic around here as Tara has a BIG concert coming up this week! As of now, there is no "business" for me to attend to so I'm free to stay with him for the next three days.

I ask for your prayers for Jace's little body as they start him on this medicine again and also for strength for Tara this week.

We'll keep you updated from the hospital.

Thanks for checking in...
Travis

Sunday, May 2, 2004 8:09 PM CDT

Just a quick update for everyone. This morning, Jace went up to Grinnell to get his blood work done. Everything went fine, and they will call us with the results tomorrow morning. We have a busy week with the start of ballgames, a spring concert, and Jace's kindergarten round-up. So, if Jace is admitted tomorrow - mom will panic, but survive.

Our transition went well last week. It was great to see the kids at school and Jace was excited to get back to his babysitter's. In fact, last week felt so "normal" that I found myself asking "Is this still real?" - and of course wishing the answer was "no."

Thanks to all of you who continue to lift up Jace in prayer. Although, he is done with surgery and chemo/radiation everyday; he is still in the grips of this disease. Someone explained to me that fighting cancer is like a terrorist holding a gun to your head. Not a wonderful visual for me, but it has truth. Jace is doing well; but the fear of the "terrorist" is always around. I'm thankful that we have an awesome God that gives us the strength to get through each and every day. Many days I ask and receive his comfort during those trying times when that fear envelopes me. I know in my heart that God is walking (and running) with Jace every day to escape that "terrorist"; God is in control.
We are so blessed to have so many family and friends to share this journey. Thanks for all you do.

God Bless, Tara

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 7:00 AM CDT

Good Morning,

Jace had a great appointment yesterday in Des Moines. Praise God ......... his counts are on their way up! They are not where they need to be to start our next phase, but at least they are headed in the right direction. We will be going to Grinnell ER on Sunday to have his blood drawn and than his lab work will be faxed to Des Moines. If his counts are up to where they need to be, he will be admitted Monday for chemo. So, we wait again.

I am making a big step tomorrow - going back to work. I'm excited to see all the kids and return to some sort of "normal life." However, I'm a little apprehensive just knowing how quickly our lives can change. We never know from week to week if Jace will be in the hospital or if we'll be on our way home. I just hope I'm making the right decision. I'm thankful that I work with a group of people that have been supportive and very flexible.


Thanks for all of your prayers. Please pray that Jace continues to do well and his counts continue to rise. Please also pray for our transition in the next couple days. Because I'm headed back to school, Jace's daily routine will also be changing. I know that God will walk by us each step of the way.

God Bless,
Tara

Friday, April 23, 2004 8:03 PM CDT

Update: Saturday Afternoon

Jace was able to come home today. His counts are still low, but fevers are gone. His next appointment will be on Tuesday; I'm hopeful that his counts will begin to rise on their own. We will be staying close to home the next couple of days and watching him closely.
Thanks again for praying our family through this stressful time.
God Bless!


Good Evening,

Jace is still a patient at Blank Children's Hospital, but we are hopeful that he can go home tomorrow. Thankfully, his fevers have stopped. The last fever he had was Wednesday at midnight. If he makes it through this evening, he should be sent home. His ANC was at 232 this morning, which is up from the previous days. The doctor would like for him to be above 500, so we will see what his morning counts bring. Please continue your prayers for him. It would be great to see his counts increase instead of decrease. I know for me, it would be. ;-)

Jace spends most of his day coloring. I told him that Dr. Raffle must have put a "coloring chip" in him during his surgery. Before his tumor, he hated to color and my brother had given him the nickname, "Best Little Scribbler in New Sharon." Now, he's really good and is way past crayons - he would rather have colored pencils. ;-)
Today, the child life workers brought down a new box of colored pencils for him. Jace couldn't believe there were 50 pencils in this new box. Cheap mom had only bought the 8 colored set.

Well, I'm heading to bed. (I know it's only 8:30) Travis is spending the night at the hospital with Jace, and I will sleeping in my own bed. After 3 nights of a cot,endless hours of cartoons, and being up every 2-3 hours - I am excited! Hopefully, we will have Jacer home tomorrow. I know that he is anxious to be home. Today, he kept asking when he would get out of there.

Thanks for your prayers and support. Special thanks to Stacia and Renee (and Mark) for helping us in many ways this week. Just to know that Jenna was in such great hands is a blessing.

God Bless,
Tara

Thursday, April 22, 2004 12:21 AM CDT

Just a quick update for all of you that are thinking and praying for Jace. Since yesterday, he has experienced a couple more fevers. His last fever was at midnight last night. This morning, they determined that Jace does have a bacterial infection. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they took blood cultures from him and began observing them every hour. They like to observe these cultures for at least 3 days. During this time, they are watching the culture to see if anything is "growing" (bacteria is present). Well, things started growing. Not exactly the answer I wanted to hear, but at least we know why he keeps getting fevers. Today, they will be determing what type of antibiotic is sensitive to Jace's type of bacteria. At 11:00 today, he was given a new antibiotic that runs over an hour. Our nurse, in the clinic, has told us that the type of bacteria Jace has is fairly common. Hopefully, we will be sent home tomorrow or Saturday with new medicine to fight this off.
Praise God for medical science. I have a new appreciation for everyone involved in the medical field. It's amazing all they can do.


Jace finally has the o.k. to go the playroom. He remains postive, but sitting in the same room is beginning to wear on him. He's pretty excited to get out of his room for awhile today. Jace was very excited to see Jenna and daddy last night. He had asked for "daddy" all day, so we were ALL glad to see them walk through the door. I was able to get out for awhile and go for a walk, also.

We are still watching cartoons, but Jace promises me that I can watch "Oprah" today. (No groans, please)

Thanks for everyone's prayers. Please continue to pray for Jace's body to recover VERY low counts and that God will work his healing power on Jace's infection.


One Day (and sometimes long ones) at a Time ;-)

Tara and Jace


P.S. Thanks to Milan D.J. for the cool picture and to Shari for allowing us to use her laptop.

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 9:41 AM CDT

Good Morning from Des Moines,

I now have a computer (Thanks Sandy Conover) and feel connected to the outside world. Yesterday, we spent the entire day watching "Spongebob." I didn't even realize that the weather was bad until they moved us out into the hallway. Jace kept saying, "What's a tornado?" The warning was over in 20 minutes and we were all allowed to move back into our rooms. At least, it added a little excitement to our day.

In the middle of the night, Jace developed a fever of 104. He was given Tylenol and "sweat his fever right out." The poor boy's jammies were a mess. He is still on an antibiotic every 8 hours. Hopefully, that will take care of this. His counts today didn't look much better. His ANC (neutrophils) were at 113. Actually, during the first phase of treatment he was down to 600 and I thought that was awful. So, we need to pray that these numbers will rise soon. At 113, he will pick up ANYTHING that he is around. He is not allowed in the playroom upstairs because of his low counts, but I'm hopeful that we can set-up a playtime for just him and Jenna when she comes this afternoon.

His blood culture results have not come back yet. They will continue to monitor this for 3 days to see if any bacterial infection grows. (please keep this in your prayers, also.) After Jace's transfusions yesterday,his hemoglobin only came up to 8.9, so another blood transfusion might be in the works. Thankfully, his platelet number did rise.

Thanks for all of your prayers. I never thought that 8 weeks out of treatment we would be in the hospital again for this reason. Just last Thursday, I was sharing how much fun he was having playing baseball and now we're fighting 'something.' It's an emotional rollercoaster and has restored the motto: One Day at a Time. We will pray that God will continue to heal his body and give Jace a new strength so that we can begin our next six cycles of chemo.

Tara

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 12:50 PM CDT

Just a quick note to get everyone up to speed. Jace's counts were VERY LOW today. His neutrophil count was 130...to put that in perspective, he needs to be at 1500 to start treatments. He has been admitted today for a high temperature/possible infection and will be starting an antibiotic treatment right away to combat it. He will also be receiving a transfusion of blood and platelets today as well. There isn't a lot of concern about this, it is merely the treatments still taking a toll on his little body.

Jace's eye condition is apparently related more to after-effects of radiation rather than pinkeye.

We're not sure at this point how long he'll be in the hospital but for now, he and Tara are camped out in Room 304 at Blank's. I'm sure Tara would appreciate a call if you have a chance. Just something to give her a break from the non-stop fun & excitement of sitting in a hospital room all day watching SpongeBob ;-))

More to come...

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Monday, April 19, 2004 9:57 PM CDT

The Carrico house is full of ups and downs - at least this is a minor one (to us). Jace has developed pink eye in BOTH eyes. He had symptoms yesterday and this morning we took him in to the clinic. He started eye drops this morning which he can't stand. I think he takes his shot better than the eye drops. He's seems to be doing better this evening. He spent Sunday and most of today on the couch with both eyes shut. He looks like he's been in a knock-out fight. It's actually a pretty sad sight.

Today, Jace was suppose to be the leader and celebrate his February birthday at preschool. We had picked out Spongebob cupcakes for snack time, and he was also looking forward to sharing time. So, now we will try for Friday. Keep your fingers crossed. I think I get more upset than Jace when these things don't work out. Jace just shrugs his shoulders. He's becoming a tough guy.

Tomorrow, we will be going to Des Moines to have blood work checked. If we make counts, we stay at the hospital for the week. If not, we head home. Any bets??

I'll keep you posted!
God Bless, Tara

Friday, April 16, 2004 1:18 PM CDT

Jace has had a great few days! It's amazing how much better he feels after getting a transfusion. He's been outside a lot more and napping a lot less.

Wednesday, he took Travis and I out to the ball field to practice for t-ball. He ran the bases many times and always slid into home. Travis was impressed with how well he was hitting and fielding the ball. I was impressed with how far he has come in the past four months. It's funny how I used to take many (too many) things for granted. Just seeing him run around the bases at the ball park makes me thankful to God for bringing him through this.

Thursday, he spent the day at his babysitter, Tammy's. He was very excited to go and had a great time. I have decided to go back and teach for the last month of school. So, we are getting Jace back into our normal routine. Jace came home from Tammy's with another AWESOME craft. I have a whole box of things that he has made at her house. I think I'm being crafty when I let my kids glue macaroni on paper. ;-) We are so thankful that we have had two great people, Doloris and Tammy, take care of our kids. What an important job they have.

Today, Jace went on a field trip to his teacher's farm. They were scheduled to go last week, but Jace was in Des Moines getting platelets. Special thanks to his teachers, Lana and MaryBeth, for rescheduling so that Jace could be included. He was pretty impressed with all the animals and especially enjoyed feeding the lamb. After his field trip, he and Daddy went to the school and had lunch with Jenna. He even got to go to recess. Hopefully, Jace will not be in the hospital the week of kindergarten round-up. I think he would really enjoy being a part of that.

Please continue your prayers for Jace's counts and stop by Josh Larson's site. He is in the hospital right now going through a stem cell transplant. They could really use some "uplifting" guestbook entries. We can all enjoy this sunny weather, but Joshua and his family are in a hospital room right now. Be sure and stop by and give them some encouraging words.

Enjoy your weekend ~ Tara

P.S. Please, be sure and check out the new pictures.

P.S.S. In regards to Gail's guestbook entry regarding me as the "rollerblading queen." A special thanks to Gail for letting me borrow her rollerblades. I thought it sounded like a great time, so I went to Grinnell and gave it a try.
I HOPE and PRAY that no one witnessed this. My whole rollerblading adventure could be a journal entry in itself. I actually thought it would be easy, but after a few spills and flying down a hill at 90 mph - while screaming. I have a different outlook on it. :~)
By the way, Gail - where are the brakes??

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 6:47 PM CDT

We're home....... and unpacking!
Jace's counts were low again today. His platelets were at 24,000 and they need to be at 100,000 in order to begin chemo. Motherly instinct was also correct; his hemoglobin was down to 6.6. (The average is 12-15.) So, we spent the afternoon getting some new red blood cells. He got the whole pint today, because he was so anemic. We got to the clinic at 10 and left by 4:45 - what a long day! I have to admit that he was looking much better by 4:00. Rosy cheeks!

Keep praying that his body will begin to recover, so we can begin the next phase. Both nurses and doctors confirmed that he is just having a hard time recovering from his first set of treatments. They tell us that his body went through a lot having chemo and radiation every day for 30 days.
I'm just ready to get this started and over with!

So, we wait another week and see what his counts look like than. On a postive note, we told Jace yesterday that he was going to possibly have to go and stay at the hospital over night for 4 days. We held our breath expecting a "blow-up", but he said, "that's o.k. I can play playstation all day. Just bring something for the bed - It feels like a brick." So, maybe this will go easier than we expected.

Thanks for you prayers and for checking in on Jace.
Tara

P.S. Our new picture is of Jace and his friend, Melissa "chalkin' the walk's" at Sunday School. Jace and Melissa went to the same babysitter, Deloris. The last two years she had them, they were the only two she had. So, they all became very close.

Monday, April 12, 2004 9:00 PM CDT

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter. We enjoyed church and than had a quite afternoon at home. Jace is getting along fine. Lately, he has been struggling with neck pain, but nothing Tylenol won't cure. Dr. Elliott has told us that this is because of his shunt tubing, which runs behind his ear and down the side of his neck. The tube from his shunt lies on the main muscle leading up to his neck. Dr.Elliott feels that this will get better down the road. Jace says it feels like "he slept on it wrong." I think we've all had that feeling!

We have a small bag packed for tomorrow, but our nurse said she wouldn't count on Jace being admitted. I'm pretty sure his hemoglobin is down,too. He has been very tired this weekend and is looking pretty pale-faced to me. Since I'm with him daily, I'm usually the last person to notice this.

Please continue to pray that his body will be able to recover from his first treatment and build up "counts" on it's own. It's so frustrating to see his blood work drop down instead of rise up on it's own.
Of course, I would like to delay our next chemo cycle as long as possible, but on the other hand, I would like to get them started so that we can have this all behind us.

Thanks for your prayers and we will either keep you posted from Des Moines tomorrow night or from home.

Enjoy the sunshine and God Bless You All!!!!!
Tara

Thursday, April 8, 2004 9:01 AM CDT

Good Morning,

What beautiful weather we've had! On Tuesday afternoon, Jace and I spent some time playing and trail walking at Gray's Lake. It was a beautiful day and it helped pass the time - especially after we learned that we would have to stay in Des Moines that night. Travis was unable to join us at the last minute, so Grandma and Grandpa Everist brought Jenna and some clothes to our hotel room that evening. The kids enjoyed swimming and also had fun just hanging out in front of the T.V. in the hotel room.
(They get that from their dad. I'm the one that has an itinerary planned for our family vacations. ;~)

At 8:00 Wednesday morning, we had to be at the clinic for Jace's platelet's. Everything went fine. His counts will be checked again next Tuesday and if he 'make's counts' he will be admitted to the hospital. If he doesn't we will head home.
I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of packing and unpacking during this process. ;-)

By the way, Congratulations to the Warhawk Jazz Band on placing 2nd in the State. Jace and I went and heard them play on Tuesday afternoon. Excellent job!!
On Wednesday morning, the bus dropped off the students and chaperones at Blank Children's Hospital and they began their mission to find Jace and I. Unfortunately, by the time they got the clinic - we had just left. I would have love to seen the nurses faces when 30 high school kids stepped off the elevator. "Yikes.........what is going on! "
Sorry I missed you guys and hopefully, I will be back to school soon.

Enjoy your Easter and God Bless you all!

Tara


P.S. If you're a rock n' roller:
Travis' band, "Fat Bob" will be playing in Newton Friday night at the American Legion. Also, New Sharon's own, "EOT" will be the opening act.

Tuesday, April 6, 2004 2:46 PM CDT

Good afternoon, everyone...

More craziness! Jace's platelet count was down (again) to 9000 this morning in DSM. A platelet transfusion was scheduled for 1 PM today. But after trying to placing the order, Marilyn called back and said that there are no platelets available in the state of Iowa right now. So, Tara was told in no uncertain terms that she was not to be on the road driving Jace around for fear of an accident that may cause a loss of blood (that would be VERY bad for our Little Buddy!)

So, I booked a hotel room at the Adventureland Inn and will head up with Jenna when she is done with school today. There are three pools, a couple of waterslides and a big tipping water bucket (and a swim-up bar in one of the pools...if one were to be into that sort of thing ;-)

Anyway, the platelets we need are on a plane headed for Iowa and will be in for a transfusion at 8 AM Wednesday.

Dr. Elliott and Marilyn are still not concerned that this is anything more than the chemotherapy still working in his body which is making it difficult for him to produce platelets.

Thanks for all of your prayers and posts. They are a HUGE help!!!

Sincerely,
Travis

Monday, April 5, 2004 11:39 AM CDT

Update: Monday, April 5th, 3:30 P.M.

This life is a rollercoaster. We just got back from getting Jace's platelet's checked. He is down to 10,000 and needs to be at 100,000 in order to start his next chemo.

So, we will be going to see Dr. Elliott tomorrow morning to check his blood counts again and talk over a platelet transfusion. Marilyn, Jace's nurse, assured us that she has seen this many times. She's been doing this for 26 years, so I better believe her. I think she chuckles when the phone rings and knows it's probably the "crazy Carrico's" calling wondering what is going on with Jace today??? She told us that his body is just having a hard time recovering from the chemo, and he just needs more time. Of course, this means that his maintenance chemo schedule will be delayed more, but we can live with that.

What a day ........... but it's clear!

Thanks for all the prayers,
Tara





It's .....................CLEAR!!!!!

Praise God for answering prayers!
Jace's nurse called and told us the great news this morning. She said everything looked great! There still was a miniscule enhancement on the MRI, but the Dr. Koch felt that it was scar tissue from the radiation treatment.

Travis and I are so overjoyed!!

I will post later what we find out about his platelet count this afternoon. He will still be going through the rest of his protocal. This will consist of 6 cycles of inpatient chemo. If everything is a go today, he will be admitted to the hospital tomorrow for the first stay.
I just told Jace we need to go get some blood drawn and he's not very happy. So, I better go calm him down.


God bless! ;-)))))
Tara

Friday, April 2, 2004 4:00 PM CST

UPDATE: The picture above was taken during happier times this past summer during our vacation at the Wisconsin Dells. And FINALLY...be sure and check out the new pics from the now-infamous birthday party at Chuck E. Cheeses!


Good afternoon, everyone...

It would seem that we have good news regarding Jace's MRI. Unfortunately, we did not get the "All Clear" today that we were hoping for, though.

I spoke with Natalie, one of Dr. Elliott's nurses and she read directly from the report which stated that there was a "marked improvement from the post-operative MRI." In her own words, she thought it looked very good. There is a small area of tissue "enhancement" which they think is nothing more than scar tissue from the radiation treatment.

On Monday, Dr. Elliott will have another Dr. examine Jace's MRI...one whose opinion he trusts implicitly. So we should have a final opinion then. But for now, it would seem that we have reason to believe he is in much better shape than he was before treatments began.

Jace is scheduled to start his maintenance chemotherapy this coming Tuesday. However, his platelet count was 21,000 on Thursday. In order to begin treatments, his count needs to be at least 100,000. We will have another blood sample drawn on Monday to see how much ground he has made up...but I don't foresee him reaching the desired count. This means his first treatment will be delayed. While we're not excited to get back into the wonderful world of chemotherapy, the sooner we can begin this next phase of treatments, the sooner it will obviously be over.

We would really appreciate all your prayers for an increased platelet count and for the coveted "All Clear" on Monday.

Thank you all very much for your concern and your continued prayers!

Travis

Thursday, April 1, 2004 7:12 PM CST

Sorry for the delay in getting an update for you all.

First off, Tara & I would like to thank EVERYONE for all your thoughts and prayers today. There was something very reassuring about hearing Jace's name on KCWN this morning and knowing there were so many of you out there praying for him.

It was a very emotional time for us as we stepped into the MRI room for the first time since December 17th (the day we found out) and seeing our little guy back on that table brought back a lot of bad memories. But...he did very well during and after the procedure as he wasn't his usual grumpy self like he usually is after being sedated.

We are playing the "hurry up and wait" game tonight. Dr. Elliott will have a radiation neurologist read the MRI tomorrow and then call us with the results. So, hopefully my funeral will be interrupted by good news tomorrow morning!

Not much to report tonight other than our sincere thanks to all of you and especially to Rev. Kevin and Pastor Phil DeBoef for coming to pray over and anoint Jace this morning. We're sorry they had to see Jace's "dark side" this morning but we felt much better about everything after they had blessed Jace and our whole family with their prayers.

I'll post the results as soon as we know them. Keep on prayin' for our little buddy!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Tuesday, March 30, 2004 10:53 AM CST

The Carrico house is fairly uneventful today, which is nice.
Jace is doing great and is playing Spongebob as I type. Dad is at work, so Jace has the playstation all to himself.

On Monday's and Tuesday's Jace has to take Bactrim or in Jace's term "the gross pink stuff. That I hate." Today, I told him that I would give him a dollar for his quarter jar if he would just please take his medicine. He said, "I don't want a dollar. I just want the quarters." At least, he's cheap!

We have to be at the clinic Thursday morning at 8:15, so Jace's nurse, Marilyn can access his port. He is VERY picky about who is poking on him. I don't blame him. I think the longer the break we have - the more he resist them poking on him. We will than go downstairs to the MRI and he will be sedated. The MRI is set for 10:00 A.M. They have told us that we might not find out results until the next day. AUGHGH!
We will see what happens! ;-)))

Thanks for all of your prayers. I am feeling a peace as Thursday approaches, which I know is because so many of you are lifting our family up in prayer. Thank you again so much and keep 'em coming! ;-)

Here's a quick update on a couple of the kids you have been praying for.
Joshua had a good report yesterday. His MRI looked good and CT scan was clear. Today he will be going through a bone scan and numerous appointments in the next few days.
Jenny, who is from Deep River, will hopefully be released from the hospital today. The headaches she was experiencing have subsided, but they are still not sure why they were happening.
Please,also pray for Logan who will be having a follow-up MRI on Thursday and beginning chemo again on April 9th.

I get to go to the dentist this afternoon :( but you can Have a great day!

Love,
Tara

Sunday, March 28, 2004 4:13 AM CST

Good Morning to all,

First of all, thank you to everyone that attended our praise and worship service. I feel that for myself it was a time of emotional healing and a time to give everything over to God - everything. Singing is my way of giving back to God, and if one person can be blessed through the words of our songs than it's all worth it.

Jace is doing fine and continues to amaze us with his "big guy" appetite. Yesterday, Dad and Jace made a big trip to the new Super Walmart and spent a little bit of Jace's birthday money. Our family moved from the 1990's - Super Nintendo to the 2000's - Playstation. Jace was pretty excited to have his own Spongebob game. Now, we won't have to beg daily to go to the McGriff's and play their game. I have a little concern with our new purchase. I've heard that many parent's put a time restraint on playing time. I think my husband will need that more than the kids. Travis was playing his "new" baseball game after the kids went to bed last night. He told me that somehow that game just slipped into the cart. ;-) Jenna, who enjoys the simple things of life, was pleased that her brother had something else to play with. She enjoys SuperMario (bring back memories), so we moved the Nintendo back to her room.

Big week ahead of us - MRI is set for April 1st at 10:00 A.M. I hope these MRI's get easier.
(Maybe that's why I'm awake at this time!)

Last night, I shared at church that if four months ago someone would have handed me a script of what our family would be going through in the last few months; I would have told them that they were crazy. Lock me up, no way am I going through that. I'm sure that some of you have questioned yourself, "what if this happened to my child" - could I handle it? I know now that the only way that a person will get through something like this is with God's strength. You have to truly believe that God is in complete control and that he won't give you anything you can't handle. (I think I'm to my limit,God!) It was easy four months ago to say, "God is in control of our lives." Life was good - we had it all. I took for granted that I had two healthy kids. In fact, this was NOT in MY script. My script of life had us planning for our family vacation right now and worrying about the normal "petty" things of life.

I've learned a lot in the last few months, and mostly, that I have to rely on God daily. I know that as much as I want to control our lives right now - I have no control. None of us do. When people say, "Give it to God" - you really have to give it over to Him - whatever you're going through. Big or small - it's all the same in God's eyes.

I ask that you would say a prayer for all the caringbridge kids. Joshua will be going through many tests to prepare for his stem cell transplant this week. Pray for Logan, who is battling fatigue and who will also be having an MRI on Thursday afternoon. We,also have met a girl,Jenny from Deep River that has been admitted to Blank due to intense headaches. Pray for Jake, Benjamin, Brandt, Collin, and Breana, who are not going through treatment right now and are just enjoying "being kids." Praise God!! If I could include every caringbridge kids out there I would. Sadly, I've learned that there are way to many families dealing with this daily. I just read yesterday that 2000 kids a year are diagnosed with brain tumors alone. That doesn't include all the other types of cancer that kids are battling. Reality check, huh?
Lastly, I would ask that you would pray for the families and especially for the siblings who unfortunately, don't always get the attention they deserve during these times.
If you have a moment, let them know that you prayed for them by signing their guestbook. Believe me, it doesn't matter, if you don't know them personally. Just to know that someone is "praying you through" is all that matters.


Blessings,
Tara

Wednesday, March 24, 2004 6:48 AM CST

Thursday, March 25, 2004

We would like to invite you to our 1st Community Wide Saturday Night Service at the Methodist Church in New Sharon.
Travis and I will be leading the praise band with some high energy praise and worship music followed by a time of prayer and healing. The service is this Saturday, March 27th at 7:00 P.M.
Please come and join us regardless of which church you attend. You are sure to be blessed!!





Good Morning Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that Jace is doing great! Yesterday, we had two dr. appointments in Des Moines that went very well. His energy level is much better and he doesn't seem so emotional. (hopefully ;-)

At the beginning of the appointment, we had to see if all this eating had paid off. He jumped up on the scale and (drum roll, please) ...................he gained 3 pounds from last week. I am a true believer in the medicine, Megace. He seems to be hungry all the time and has even been trying different foods.

Both doctors were pleased with his progress. Balance has always been a concern with his doctors, since Jace's tumor was pressing on his cerebellum. His neurosurgeon in Rochester has said that he had "scraped" on it pretty hard to get rid of the tumor. (Isn't that a pleasing thought) Today, he danced around the room showing them that he was just fine. This is such a blessing considering that he couldn't walk by himself three short months ago. Praise God!!

MRI is set for next Thursday, April 1st and he will be admitted to Blank on April 7th for this next round of chemo. Please keep him in your prayers as we approach these two dates.

It's hard to think that we have to start over and put him through something else. The only good thing about chemo is that I know that it will destroy this nasty tumor, and I'm thankful we have medicine to help him. Break time has been great for Jace and he is really starting to act like the "old Jacer." He was sleeping with me the other night (i know, he should be in his own bed) and he looked so sweet and innocent. It just seems so unfair!
It breaks my heart to think that we will battle and battle this for such a long time. I keep thinking someone will say, "wake up, Tara. You've been having a really bad dream." Wishful thinking, huh??

We are going to enjoy the weather today. The dairy cream in New Sharon opened on Monday and Jace has been a loyal customer already. I have some cute pictures I will be posting in the next couple of days. I just have to figure out this camera!!! It's time to wake up the kids and begin another day. Life is definitely back to normal. Jenna will wake up and dawdle around the house with just enough time to dash out the door as the bus is coming up the road and Jace will walk down the stairs and plop down on the couch for another episode of SpongeBob.

Blessing to you,
Tara

Thursday, March 18, 2004 12:01 PM CST

Good afternoon everyone...

Medically speaking, March has been a slow month...which doesn't bother us a bit! Our biggest concern has been getting Jace to regain his appetite and start eating like a 5-year-old should. It would seem that prayers and persistence are starting to pay off...(with a little help from the Megace we pay him to take ;-)

Jace has been eating like a monster the past week. After the game on Monday, he pounded down two pieces of pizza and an entire milkshake at the 5 & Diner in DSM (perhaps he knew of the impending drive home and was preparing for a couple days of being stranded in a ditch without food!). Wednesday, he pigged out on junk food at the McGriff's all afternoon and then accompanied them to Oskaloosa where he ate an entire Maid-Rite (adult-sized!) and chased it with a small Blizzard from Dairy Queen...(why wasn't I invited on that trip?)

This morning he ate a whole bowl of Life cereal and drank the milk out of the bowl...I have honestly NEVER seen him drink the milk like he did today! He is now finishing off a piece of Casey's pizza from last night. So things are looking up in that department, needless to say!

One little bit of incentive that has worked for us is his Quarter Jar. He gets a quarter for eating, taking his medicines, etc. I think he finds his inspiration from one of his favorite cartoons, "Ed, Edd, & Eddy"...Ed is the conniving little entrepreneur who'll come up with any kind of scheme or plan just to make a quarter off his friends. Hey, as long as he's eating, we'll continue to pay him off anyway we can!

We received very nice news from Al Hodgeman that Musco Lighting is going to graciously provide the use of their private seating area/suite at Sec Taylor Stadium for an Iowa Cubs game this spring! As avid baseball nuts, Tara & Jenna are looking forward to this with great anticipation! (Jace & I are kind of excited, too ;-) Our very sincere thanks go to Al and everyone at Musco for giving Jace and our family the opportunity to do this.

I posted a new photo that was sent to me by Craig Deming...kind of a candid shot of Jace & me at the state tournament game this past Monday. I can't for the life of me figure out why we both have the same dumbfounded look on our faces...perhaps we were both awestruck by the hot chick that had just walked by us (which, judging from our faces was my lovely wife, Tara ;-)) If any of you have an idea, leave it on the guestbook! By the way, thanks Craig.

More pics to come from the now-legendary "Guys Night Out" with KB & AJ.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Monday, March 15, 2004 9:29 PM CST

Jace and I started our day at 8:30 this morning. After a long and slick drive to Des Moines, we arrived at the clinic. Jace started his morning with a hearing test, which he thinks is tons of fun. He even let mom go in the big booth with him. He did a great job and praise God there was no noticable difference from his initial test. His ears had been so badly burned during the radiation, I was actually VERY thankful to get such good results today.

After our hearing test was complete, we headed to Dr. Elliott's office. Blood work and a check-up were on the agenda for the day. All of Jace's counts were down from last week, but his activity and mood seemed better than his last appointment. They were pleased again with how well he was doing. The fatigue that he experiences is no surprise to the nurses and docters. Kids are resilient, but these treatments are still hard on their bodies.

B.T. (before tumor), Jace would throw a fit to take cold medicine. So, you can imagine he is not enjoying taking daily medicines. We thought it would be easier if we could switch his megace (appetite med) to pill form. I asked the docter if this would be possible, and he said, "Let's give it a shot." The nurse brought one in so Jace could practice. It seemed a little big to me, but I thought we'll give it a try. He popped it in his mouth and chewed it up!! Yuck! His face said it all - He decided that the "squirt medicine" was not that bad.

After our appointment, we headed to Vets to cheer on the Warhawks. They battled hard, but came up short. They had a great season and are always fun to watch. Jace was pretty excited to go and especially liked getting his face painted. Unfortunately, he fell asleep before half-time and didn't wake up until we were leaving the bleachers. After he woke up, he was pretty upset that he had missed the game. Poor guy!

The next part of our day had to be the worst - the ride home!!!! We decided to stop after the game for supper. Big, Big mistake. Thanks to Travis for getting us home safe. It was a stressful ride. ;-) Travis probably didn't enjoy the fact that I made "remarks" the WHOLE way home. Something like, "where's the road?", "slow down, you're driving too fast" or the classic sigh. I promise I will work on my backseat driving. ;-)
I hope you all had a safe trip home.

Thanks for the prayers and a special thank you to Cally for your prayer in church Sunday. It meant a lot to us. God Bless you all and enjoy the snow!

Tara

Friday, March 12, 2004 11:01 AM CST

I hope everyone is able to enjoy the sunshine today!
Jace still has a low grade fever, but is doing fine. Yesterday, he took a five hour nap and watched a lot of Spongebob. I think today he seems a little more peppy.

Jace was done with his last TPN feeding at 4 o'clock this morning. Yea!!! This morning we took his needle out of his port and now he is officially a "free" man.

Our nurse from the clinic called this morning to let us know that Jace will have an MRI done. After reviewing his chart, they have decided to do an MRI now instead of waiting until the very end of chemo which could be late next fall.

So, all you prayer warriors, mark you calendars.
MRI is set for APRIL 1st. We will pray for clear scans!

Also, please say a prayer for Jake Beresh, one of the many families who has offered us so much support and inspiration. He is having scans today!

Thank you for all of your support and have a great weekend.

Love, Tara

Thursday, March 11, 2004 2:29 PM CST

Jace is having another sleepy day. He has battled a fever most of the morning. I called his nurse in Des Moines, and she said to give him some Tylenol and watch him throughout the day. Right now, he is sleeping peacefully. Thankfully, his counts had looked great on Tuesday, so his nurse didn't forsee a problem.
Tonight will be Jace's last night on TPN. Every night we have been reducing the number of hours he receives. Tonight will be 6 hours. However,last night we had troubles with his pump, so I'm sure Jace didn't sleep well with mom and dad in his room trying to figure out his pump at 2:00 in the morning. We will all be glad when tonight is done! No more tubes.

When Jace woke up this morning, he was stumbling around a little. Immediately, I felt sick to my stomach! I started asking him "Do you feel o.k.?" "Does your head hurt" He stopped and said, "I feel o.k, I just can't walk good 'cause I'm sooo tired."
By 11:00 in the morning, I had made him walk across the room 10 times and had performed every neurological test I'd seen! He was getting a little agitated at mom, but I needed that for my peace of mind.

This morning I went to my Bible while I was waiting for the nurse to call back, and turned to a verse that my college friend, Cheryl had sent me. It's a verse that has helped me when the "fear" sets in.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Today, I also received a bracelet from our friend, Vickie. Even though I want to control each and every aspect of Jace's illness; I can't. The verse I turned to this morning again let me know that God is with us, and as I looked inside the bracelet that Vickie sent me it brought tears to my eyes.
It said, "One Day At A Time."

God bless you and pray for Jace's complete healing.

Love, Tara

Tuesday, March 9, 2004 8:18 PM CST

Hi Everyone,

I just got home from the concert at the school. All of the groups did a great job. I do have to admit it was strange to see my high school choir performing and watching from the audience. I think I actually miss them. ;-))

Jace's appointment went well today. As soon as we got in the elevator on the way to the clinic, he beame very quiet and clingy. One problem could be that every time we have been to the clinic they have had to access his port. He doesn't feel the needle going in his port, but when your five and a large needle is headed for your chest you tend to get nervous. I think I'd get "worked up", too.
Most of the kids at the clinic have a fun time. Everyone is very nice and Jace always leaves with some sort of toy. I'm sure over time he will get more comfortable.

After talking with Dr. Elliott about Jace's eating, we decided it was time to wean him off his TPN feedings. He really is eating much better and has more of a desire to eat now. We will start tonight and by Friday he should be finished. At that time, he will start a medication (oh yeah!) called, Megase which helps increase his appetite.

Jace is doing fine. Although, today he has been very tired. His nurse and docter were a little concerned about how "worn out" he acted. Since we have been home from Des Moines, he has had a low grade fever and has been content "just laying around." Hopefully, it's just a little bug that will be gone by morning. That's mom prayer!

Thanks for your prayers and your concern for Jace. Please remember the other caringbridge families that we have listed. All the families need your prayers, no matter if they are fighting the battle now or in remission. There is always a constant "fear" that each family has to deal with. The "fear" of what's happening now, or the "fear" of what could happen. Unfortunately, it's completly out of our hands and God is in control. At that point, it all comes down to our faith and our ability to give it over to God. Which I have to admit, I struggle with sometimes ;-)
A special prayer request for Joshua Larson, who will return to the hospital tomorrow to harvest more cells for his upcoming stem cell transplant. This family could really use all of you prayer warriors.

God Bless You and have a great week,

Tara

Monday, March 8, 2004 5:07 PM CST

Update: March 9th, 2004

Be sure to check the new poem in the guestbook. Great job, Margaret!
Best of luck to my high school choir members tonight. Stand tall, sing out, dress nice, and NO talking on stage. ;-) I miss you guys, but I know that you are in great hands. The "state-bound" jazz band will also be playing. I know we can pack a gym for basketball - let's show that same support for the choir and band. ;-)
Have a GREAT day!




Jace made a big step today .........preschool. He spent the morning telling me, "I don't think I'm ready" and "I'm too grumpy today. I better not go to preschool." We loaded him up at 9:00 and sent him on his way. Once he reached the door he was greeted by his class saying, "Jace is here, Jace is here!" It was great to see him back with his buddies. Although, it was a little emotional for mom and dad. When I picked him up he was smiling and asked me "Can I go tomorrow?" Thanks to Lana and MaryBeth for having such a great preschool.

After preschool, we had planned to have his friend Ethan over to play. Jace was not very good at playing, and just wanted to lay around. Preschool wiped him out! He fell asleep at 2:30 and is still sleeping.

Jace has been eating much better. Thanks for all the prayers! They are working. He spent a lot of time at the McGriff's this weekend. Their motto: "You Gotta Eat Big - To Get Big!"
(I think I've been listening to that too much!;-)
They have playstation with a Spongebob game and Jace loves it. They told him if he wanted to play he would have to eat. It worked. He had Stacia running to Casey's for brownie mix Sunday afternoon.

YEAH WARHAWKS!!!!! Saturday night, we went to the substate game in Indianola. When the other team would make a shot Jace would make a face at them. We might want to work with him on sportmanship! He is also the same kid that throws a fit when he doesn't win at board games. (Anger issues??) After we won the game, he had to find Blake. You would think he would want to go up and congratulate him for scoring so many points (Yeah buddy!) and making it to state. Not Jace, he wanted to find him and ask him if he come over tomorrow and play Spongebob!
Oh, to be five!

Anyway, Good Luck Warhawks! We'll be cheering you on.

We have an appointment tomorrow in Des Moines, so we'll keep you posted on what we find out.

Be sure to sign the guestbook; we would love to see who's "praying us through."

Tara

Friday, March 5, 2004 9:46 AM CST

Good morning, everyone...

Sorry for the mini-vacation we took from out posting duties. But, thankfully there hasn't been much to report. Jace is doing pretty well and eating slightly better than he was two weeks ago, but there's still a ways to go before we can get off the TPN.

Since Jenna went with her friends for an overnight pool party in Pella last night, (for some reason, Tara decided of her own free will to take six 2nd grade girls to a hotel and sleep in the same room with them!) Jace & I decided it was time for the boys to party in DSM! A.J. & KB picked us up at 5:30 and we headed for Chuck E. Cheese's. Jace immediately threw a fit when we drove up to the restaurant...Hooter's is right across the street and he wouldn't stop asking me if we could go there, instead! I stood my ground, though, and we pulled in to the Land of Screaming Kids and Mediocre Pizza. Greeting us at the door was Chuck E. Cheese himself (some guy in a large rat costume). Any of you who know about Jace's "idiosyncracies" can guess what happened next...HE FREAKED OUT!

Luckily the Chuck E. Cheese Emergency Response Team was right there with a crash cart and we had Jace stabilized in minutes flat. Needless to say, the remainder of the evening was spent with one eye on the games and the other in constant vigil for guys in rat costumes. All "Code Reds" aside, we had a pretty good night. Jace at a whole piece of sausage pizza and played several games.

As we got in the van and headed out of the parking lot, the van began to heave and grind...and this time it wasn't AJ's poor driving skills. The left rear tire was flatter than the pizza we had just inhaled. Jace immediately came to the conclusion that "that stinkin' rat did it!" but KB and I knew it was probably something (or someone) that AJ ran over during our harrowing trip to DSM. We made it as far as the Hooter's parking lot (what better place to change a tire - chicks dig men who can do things like that, right?). KB & I changed the tire (under AJ's tight supervision) and 30 minutes later, we were on the road.

As we puttered along I-235, I was naturally assuming our driver knew of the upcoming off-ramp onto I-80...I was wrong. One distracting airplane sighting later, we were careening past the ramp on our way to Ankeny! Well, what do you do when you're in Ankeny at 9 PM on a Thursday? You drive through Karl Chevrolet and drool over new SUV's!!! Then, you head to the Super-Wal Mart and buy the new "School of Rock" DVD and a Sponge Bob video for Jace to watch on the way home. So, it's 10 PM and we're on our way out of Ankeny. As we drive by the new Culver's in Altoona, someone shouts, "Hey, let's get some ice cream!...(it may have been me ;-) So, we cruise in, pick up four peanut butter cup Concrete's and hobble back on to I-80 with SpongeBob blaring from the speakers.

We rolled into New Sharon at 11 PM and I still needed to get his bag of TPN out of the fridge and let it warm up. Critical Care Systems suggests letting the bag sit out for at least an hour. Well, believe it or not, if you put the bag on a pizza pan and slide it into the oven at about 185 degrees for 10 minutes, you get the same effect.

So, Jace got hooked up for his nightly oil change and, after a night of partying, fell off to sleep...visions of giant rats in large tennis shoes dancing in his head, no doubt!


Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: Special thanks to KB & AJ for taking us to DSM! It was a night we'll remember for a long time. Thanks guys!

Tuesday, March 2, 2004 2:18 PM CST

Good afternoon, everyone...

We were at Dr. Elliott's office in DSM today for the first of our weekly checkups this month. Dr. Elliott was very pleased with how well Jace is doing. He passed all of his neurological exams except a convergence test which entails Jace following a light from a distance in towards his face (or, in Tara's lingo, he can't look crosseyed ;-) There wasn't much concern, however so I'm sure it will right itself over time. We will continue with the TPN feedings until we are able to tell the Dr. that Jace is "eating wonderfully." Speaking of eating, Jace really surprised us today. He ate a whole french toast stick from Casey's on the way up and ate a whole taco for lunch at Taco John's in DSM. As we sat there, we couldn't help but think of all the people who have been praying for Jace's appetite to return and how God was working in Jace right in front of our eyes today! We can't thank you all enough and "keep 'em coming!"

As we pulled in our driveway today, there was an old friend waiting for us. Jim Russell, a longtime friend of mine who works in funeral service had stopped by for a visit. We had a wonderful discussion which was comprised mostly of me recounting the past two months and several special experiences during that time that I have related to my work. Well, ol' Jim had one in store for me. He began to tell me of an experience he had in the hospital when his father had broken a hip. There was a young man who was wheeling his father back to the hospital room after surgery and Jim said to him, "I'm glad the good Lord has given us a nice man like you to look after my Dad." The orderly replied, "Do you have time for a cup of coffee?" So Jim and the young man headed to the cafeteria where the orderly asked him, "Can you repeat what you said to me a moment ago?" Jim obliged and the young man said, "I don't believe in God and was just wondering why you would say something like that. Have you ever seen God?" Jim replied, "Yes I have. I've seen him twice today as a matter of fact." The orderly was surprised and said, "Really?" Jim told him, "I saw him first in the surgeon who operated on my father and the second time was in you as you so carefully wheeled him back to his room."

As Jim told me this story, tears came to his eyes and about two seconds later mine were full as well. Even though I still struggle with everything that my son has had to endure, it is encouraging to know that God makes his presence known all around us...we just have to stop and notice.

Thanks to Jim Russell for stopping by today and sharing this journey with us. And thanks to all of you for checking in today and for your genuine concern and continuing prayers for our son, Jace. I hope God richly blesses all of you.

Travis

Sunday, February 29, 2004 6:43 PM CST

Jace celebrated his family birthday this afternoon. We had a great time and Jace was surprised with his very own recliner. He laid back in it with his legs up and said, "Look, I'm just like daddy." Exactly ;-)

The way that Jace received his recliner is quite a story in itself. Through this experience we have met so many people that would do anything to help.

After sitting in Peyton Burns' recliner, Jace knew that he had to have one for himself. Since his birthday was coming up, I thought it would be a great present. However, Hy Vee no longer had recliners in the Pella, Grinnell, or Osky stores. So, Stacia and Renee began the search! After a phone call to Aunt Angie (who works at the Pella HyVee), the "official hunt" for Jace's recliner began. A woman named June from the Pella store searched the computer and located a recliner in Iowa City. The Iowa City store then drove the recliner down to Pella so Jace could have it for his party today. (Thank you June for making sure it got to him!) In addition, when Aunt Angie went to pay for the recliner, Mark, the store manager insisted that it be a gift from the Pella Hy-Vee. I share this story because it again shows how considerate and giving people have been. There are truly some wonderful people out there.

Unfortunately, through this experience we have also had friends or acquaintances that have removed themselves from us. I'm not sure if it's the fear of "not knowing what to say," or just being "too busy." I know how life can get busy. I have to admit that it hurts to see this, but we have been so overwhelmed by our supportive community that it outweighs all the friendships that have not contacted us. I know that the support that New Sharon has given us will be in our hearts forever!!!


Jace received an envelope in the mail yesterday that had a group of birthday cards made especially for him by Mrs. Waters's 1st graders at Pekin Elementary School. They had no connection to Jace, but had heard his story and wanted to make his day brighter. (See, people are so sweet!)
There is nothing better than reading a stack of handwritten and colored cards from kids. Thank you 1st graders!!!

Here are a few examples :-)

Happy burthday! Will you Bee my frend.
I hope you gat a lot of preses.
I hope you feel beder.


We look forward to an uneventful week. We will only be going to Des Moines for blood work and a Dr. appointment. What a relief!!

I would like to share a verse that the Brewer family, from Illinois, shared with us.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

I pray that all of you may seek out God - no matter what YOU are going through.
Big or small - Let go and Let God.

Love,
Tara

Saturday, February 28, 2004 8:05 AM CST

Good Morning -

It sounds like it's going to be a beautiful day!! It will be nice to see some sunshine.

Jace continues to do well. He is still on TPN feedings and probably will be until the middle of March. Our goal right now is to get him to eat more solid foods. We have to be careful that he doesn't lose the "desire to eat." (I can't even imagine that!) In a day, he only puts a few bites of food into his mouth, most of his nutrition comes from his IV feeding which goes directly into his central line.
Please pray that we can work with him on this and that he will be open to "eating."

Hopefully, we will get Jace outside to play. Daddy and him might try to play some baseball. We have signed him up for t-ball this summer. I hope that he has the strength to play. Many of you know how much Travis loves baseball, and I hope for him, Jace is able to participate.

We have met another girl, Logan Nunez
that lives in Carlisle. She is in 3rd grade and was diagnosed on December 18th with a medulloblastoma. Please send Logan and her family your support. They have just set up a caringbridge page, and I know they, (especially Logan) would enjoy your posts and especially your prayers.


Have a great weekend and please continue to pray for all the children that we have met through our journey. They could all use your prayers:

Jace, Logan, Joshua, Benjamin, Jake, Alethea, Brandt,Abby, and many more that have additional links on the other caringbridge pages. The sad reality is that all of these children are battling - the "c" word (I guess, I'm in denial) and need your support. Please take a few moments and send a prayer for each of them and give your "healthy" child an extra hug today.

Love to you all,
Tara

Wednesday, February 25, 2004 7:40 PM CST

Thursday, February 26, 2004

Hi Everybody!! There is not much to report today, which is a GREAT feeling. Jace's highlight of the day was going to his babysitter, Tammy's, for a couple of hours. Mom and Dad had to take care of taxes (yuck!) and Jace said he wanted to stay at her house. I know he had fun with his old pals and told me that Gabby should have stayed and played instead of going to preschool. ;-)
We will have to get him over there again,soon.
It's these little steps that help us get back to "normal."



YEAH!!!!!!!! WE'RE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!


At 12:00 today, Jace had his last radiation treatment. We made it a "celebration day" and let Jenna play "hookie" (Sorry, Mr. Ray)

We presented some gifts to all the people that have played such an important role in the last 6 weeks. Thank you Kathy, Sarah, and Melanie for planning activites, talking to Jace about "what was going on", and for a Wiggly birthday party. Child life workers have such an important job and really help mom and dad feel at ease, too. Our nurses in the dayroom, Angie, Jody, and Jennifer are also a special group of gals. I know that over the last 6 weeks they have experienced every step of the way with us.

Jace got to choose where we would enjoy lunch this afternoon. I had put in several hints for "Outback Steakhouse", but in the end McDonald's playplace won. I kept asking him, "Are you sure that's where you wanna go??" At the beginning of radiation, we had told Jace that when we were done, he would be able to go to Toy R Us and him and Jenna could pick out ANYTHING they wanted. (We had a gift certificate, so we were pretty safe) They searched each and every aisle and an hour and a half later they had both made their minds up. Jace wanted the battery-powered Silverado truck (yikes!) and Jenna wanted a karoke machine. These were some pretty big ticket items, but they both didn't have a "normal" Christmas, so we thought - no problem.

As we walked down the music instrument aisle, Jace ran towards the guitar section. He picked up a fake electric guitar and said, "Forget the truck - I want this!" For those of you that don't know Jace, he has a LOVE for music. Jace knows every hard rock song out there (it's a mom's proud moment) and with Dad in the band, "Fat Bob" and his college buddies in their band, "EOT" he has spent many hours around "head banging music." Jenna than said, "I really don't want this Karoke machine either, but I do like these rocket balloons."

Two hours and $25 later, we headed home. So much for a big shopping spree - it's the simple things in life!


It has been an incredible journey. One that I would not want any other family to go through, but in the end it has made us a stronger family and has renewed our faith.
April 7th will be our next step. I use to look ahead at the next step and think, "Lord, there is NO way that I can get through this." Boy, has He proved to me that we can get through anything.

When we were in the hospital last week, we were three rooms down from Room 413. Room 413 will be in our minds forever. It was in that room that we found out that Jace had a large brain tumor. Life changed at that moment - and honestly, we didn't know if we would bring our son home. In our photo album, I have included a photo that we took before we headed home last week. It's a picture of Travis and Jace in front of Room 413 - Thumbs up with a big grin. That picture says it all: We have conquered that night and many more. Since then we have made it "home" and we have "little buddy" strong as ever!!


Love, Tara

Monday, February 23, 2004 9:39 PM CST

Good evening, everyone!

Sorry for the delay in putting a new journal entry online. We tried to lay low over the weekend but found it difficult to do as we were dealing with Jace's IV feedings most of the time. There is something quite unsettling about injecting syringe-fuls of fluid right into your child! Before and after each feeding, we have to flush his line with saline & heparin. Jace likes to push the syringe down so I've started calling him our little "Turd" since he likes to "flush" himself. We start his feeding right before bedtime and it goes through the night. His alarm went off at 2 AM during the first night (a nice way to wake up ;-) but he had just rolled over onto his feeding tube. It's a lot of work but it seems to be helping.

TOMORROW IS OUR LAST DAY OF CHEMO (FOR THIS ROUND)!!! We know there is still a long road ahead but it helps to find joy in these little milestones along the way. We have chemo and radiation tomorrow and then a short treatment of radiation on Wednesday and then we're done!!!
We'll start his maintenace chemotherapy 6 weeks from this Wednesday...we should find out on Tuesday if it will involve a hospital stay as we were originally told.

A special thanks to our visitors Dave & Lisa Jansen and family for bringing supper tonight. However, they overlooked a minor detail before bringing it down...it's "Mary Jo Monday!" Just kidding, Jansen's...we are very appreciative of your meal and Spongebob cookies and will enjoy them another night this week. Thanks also to Mary Jo for delivering her usual outstanding cuisine!

We would like to extend a very heartfelt thanks to everyone at the North Mahaska basketball game this past Friday. Your rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Little Buddy was very touching and emotional (for us, anyway ;-). Jace even cracked a smile which was a pleasant surprise! Kudos to Marvin Knoot...it was his idea!

Jace's blood counts were all above the minimums today so NO SHOTS!!! I know he'll be disappointed not to have one before bedtime, but I know he'll get over it.

It's hard to believe we've gotten this far. I know it would've been much more difficult without everyone's prayers and support. Thank you all very much! Your prayers of rest and renewed strength during this 6-week hiatus will be much-appreciated!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: I put some new pics in the photo album..."Birthday at Blank's" and be sure to check the Picture Page link below for several new birthday pics.

Monday, February 23, 2004 9:39 PM CST

Good evening, everyone!

Sorry for the delay in putting a new journal entry online. We tried to lay low over the weekend but found it difficult to do as we were dealing with Jace's IV feedings most of the time. There is something quite unsettling about injecting syringe-fuls of fluid right into your child! Before and after each feeding, we have to flush his line with saline & heparin. Jace likes to push the syringe down so I've started calling him our little "Turd" since he likes to "flush" himself. We start his feeding right before bedtime and it goes through the night. His alarm went off at 2 AM during the first night (a nice way to wake up ;-) but he had just rolled over onto his feeding tube. It's a lot of work but it seems to be helping.

TOMORROW IS OUR LAST DAY OF CHEMO (FOR THIS ROUND)!!! We know there is still a long road ahead but it helps to find joy in these little milestones along the way. We have chemo and radiation tomorrow and then a short treatment of radiation on Wednesday and then we're done!!!
We'll start his maintenace chemotherapy 6 weeks from this Wednesday. This will be a 3-day treatment every four weeks. We should find out on Tuesday if it will involve a hospital stay each time as we were originally told.

A special thanks to our visitors Dave & Lisa Jansen and family for bringing supper tonight. However, they overlooked a minor detail before bringing it down...it's "Mary Jo Monday!" Just kidding, Jansen's...we are very appreciative of your meal and Spongebob cookies and will enjoy them another night this week. Thanks also to Mary Jo for delivering her usual outstanding cuisine!

We would like to extend a very heartfelt thanks to everyone at the North Mahaska basketball game this past Friday. Your rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Little Buddy was very touching and emotional (for us, anyway ;-). Jace even cracked a smile which was a pleasant surprise! Kudos to Marvin Knoot...it was his idea!

Jace's blood counts were all above the minimums today so NO SHOTS!!! I know he'll be disappointed not to have one before bedtime, but I know he'll get over it.

It's hard to believe we've gotten this far. I know it would've been much more difficult without everyone's prayers and support. Thank you all very much! Your prayers of rest and renewed strength during this 6-week hiatus will be much-appreciated!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

PS: I put some new pics in the photo album..."Birthday at Blank's" and be sure to check the Picture Page link below for several new birthday pics.

Saturday, February 21, 2004 10:58 AM CST

Good Morning Everyone,

After being in the hospital for four nights sleeping on a cot, our beds felt so good!

We had told Jenna that we would be home by the time she got off the bus and we kept our word. We pulled in the driveway just as the bus dropped her off from school. Close call! After meeting with the home health care nurse for and hour and a half, we got the kids ready and headed to the game to watch Jenna dance. Grandpa Tom went along, also. I don't know what he enjoyed more the dance or all the popcorn. ;-) The girls did a great job and were very entertaining. I might add the Warhawk Boys did great, also. Jace loves to watch basketball and insisted that He take a few pictures of Blake playing. By the time the picture would flash Blake would be down the floor. We should have some great shots. (of the floor) ;-)

After the dance was over, I was surprised when the crowd sang a special "Happy Birthday" to Jace. What a moment and What a Community! Jace has come so far and to see him on daddy's shoulder as everyone sang to him was very special (and emotional). The community has played such a crucial part in Jace's recovery and has stood beside us each step of the way. Thank you all so much.

We got home late and still had to give Jace his GCSF shot and start his TPN (IV Nutrition) feedings. To say Travis and I were nervous is an understandment. As we started the pump, we sat staring at Jace like he was going to blow or something. At the moment, we were a mess, but now it's kinda funny! We made it through the night although I won't say it was restful. I was checking the IV all night. Hopefully, tonight we will be more at ease.

Thanks for the prayers - especially this week. Jace has come so far this week.

Have a great weekend - I plan on being in my jammies ALL weekend!

God Bless You All,
Tara

PS: Please be sure and click on the new link at the bottom of the page. It will take you to Jace's Quilt of Love Webpage. It is really neat!

Friday, February 20, 2004 1:50 AM CST

UPDATE February 20, 2004 11:30 A.M.

We just got the o.k. to come home. Yea!!! Jace had to have another transfusion this morning because his hemoglobin was low. Before he has each transfusion, he gets a dose of Tylenol and Benadryl to prevent an adverse reaction to the blood. I think the Benadryl wiped him out; he has been sleeping all morning. He should be going to radiation any time, but they are having trouble with one of their machines. The only day that would happen is the day the Carrico's want to get home!
After radiation, we will be trained on how to give Jace his TPN feedings at home and hopefully be on our way to New Sharon.
Have a great day!
Tara



Good morning, everyone...

Jace, Tara and I can't begin to thank you all enough for the wonderful birthday posts you gave as gifts for Jace. I don't know who benefitted more, him or us! The response was just overwhelming and, even with all things considered, made for one of the most memorable birthdays we've ever had.

Jace had a pretty good day today. He was grumpy for most of it with brief windows of happiness thrown in for good measure. I think hospital life had caught up with him by this morning and he just wasn't a very happy camper. The bright moments were when Sarah (from Child Life) brought in his Wiggles cake which was EXACTLY like the one he wanted! Sarah, I don't know how you did it, but THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! He was also in great spirits in the dayroom while we all danced to the Wiggles CD's. We cut his cake and blew out candles in the atrium of the clinic...Jace even downed a half a piece of cake which was a pleasant surprise. We then headed back up to our room for the first finger poke of the day to check his blood sugar. Needless to say, things went downhill from here. But the bright spots made up for the low ones and, overall, he had a good day.

He is on his fourth "bag of goodies" right now and it will run out at about 10 AM today. His blood sugar will be checked then and, barring any abnormalities, we will be given three bags to take home for the weekend. This could create some interesting poetic options for Margaret R. (get it?...3 bags full...?) - I'm sorry, it's 2 AM!

One of the best gifts arrived (upon Jace's special request/demand) at lunchtime on Thursday...Sissy! Grandpa Tom had to drag her, kicking & screaming, out of school to come up and spend the day with Little Buddy. After several days apart and a tearful goodbye earlier this evening, we are looking forward to a nice weekend with her.

Special thanks to our other birthday visitors today; Jessie Ryan and Someone (Stacia :-), Aunt Mona, Grandpa Terry, and the McCulley's (you owe me a fountain pop, Nae ;-) Thanks to Sarah and the girls in the dayroom for letting us come over and tear the joint up and thanks to everyone who took time out of their day to make Jace's birthday one to remember!

We hope to see you all at the NM game tonight. Go Warhawks and go Dance Team!!!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Thursday, February 19, 2004 8:30 AM CST

UPDATE AT 11:24 AM...
Tara started a book today given to her by Mary Jo called "Fresh Elastic for the Stretched Out Mom" and found a really neat quote that Mary Jo had highlighted that I would like to establish as the new theme to this page:

"GOD DIDN'T PROMISE WE'D BE LEADING AT THE HALF BUT ONLY THAT WE WOULD WIN THE GAME!"

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY LITTLE BUDDY!!!

We are gearing up for the big birthday celebration today. We would love to read as many birthday posts to Jace as possible. Any and all posts and emails would be much appreciated and enjoyed!

Jace woke up in a good mood today and has already celebrated his birthday by throwing his Spongebob doll out into the busy hallway this morning! I think we're going to have several birthday visitors and a party today with the gals from Child Life! So we'll keep you posted on his condition and the festivities as they progress. (As I type, one of the Dr.'s just said we might get out of here on Saturday :-( So Dr. Dad may have to schedule a "consult" today with someone ;-)

Thanks for checking in and don't forget to wish Jace a happy 5th birthday in his guestbook today!

Travis

UPDATE: 10:36 AM
After a consult with Dr. Elliott and considering Jace's low blood counts and continuing TPN feedings, we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that it will be in Jace's best interest if we don't take him on a trip that will leave him 3 hours from DSM. I don't know who's more disappointed, Jace or Dad! We feel bad that we have decided not to go after Earl R. was SO nice to put Jace's name in the drawing but his counts are still VERY low and all it would take would be a fever or anything like it and he would be in trouble. On the upside, it looks like we'll be able to come home on Friday afternoon! More to come...

Special Hug and Kiss to Jenna who is staying with the McCulley's this week. She is having a blast and we are thankful to have her in such "great" hands (Mark, we hope you got all that make-up off!). Thank you guys so much!!
Jenna get ready to dance - mommy and daddy will both be at the game to see you bust a move to "Funkytown." (I think Sydney and Jenna have practiced so much this week, Mark could do the dance, too :-)

Tuesday, February 17, 2004 5:19 PM CST

Good evening everyone...we're back online!

We are starting Evening Two here at Blank Children's Hospital in DSM after finishing Day 25. Jace has been on his TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition - the fancy term for IV nutrition) since yesterday afternoon. He will start a second "bag" tonight which will last another 24 hours. As we understand, he will then be given a 18-hour dose, then a 10-12 hour dose. What that means to us is that we will probably be up here until Friday. Yeah!

When you're in the hospital, it doesn't take long to feel completely detached from your home and community. So it is VERY nice to read all of your posts. A big thank-you to Rev Kev and Justin for coming to see us (& for lunch) today. It's always great to see people from home!

A special reminder that Thursday is Jace's 5th birthday!!! He has done pretty well in the gift department so if you would like to send him birthday posts, emails or cards, those would be great!!! We're a little disappointed that we'll bring in the Big #5 here at the hospital but if he gets better (and a little fatter ;-), that'll be the best gift he/we could receive.

A very special "Thank-You" has to go out to Earl Ratcliff. Earl put Jace's name in a drawing on the Van & Bonnie Show on WHO radio for tickets to the Minnesota Timberwolves/San Antonio Spurs basketball game this Sunday. GUESS WHO WON!!! Little Buddy & I will apparently have courtside seats for the game and get to meet some of the players afterwards. Pray that Jace can regain his strength and put on a few pounds before the weekend. Thanks Earl...what a great gift for our Little Buddy!

Jace is sleeping right now as he receives his blood transfusion. He is doing pretty well although he's still tired from a night of oft-interrupted sleep. The staff up here saw "Dr. Evil Daddy" at 7:30 this morning when they came charging in at full voice and wanting to do vitals. Jace was finally sleeping soundly and Daddy got a bit on the irritable side rather quickly ;-) Let the poor kid sleep!!!

He received his last dose of Vincristine (his weekly chemo) today! He will get his daily chemo and radiation 3 more days this week and 3 days next week and we're done!

We can check are yahoo email here at the hospital. It is trocar70@yahoo.com If you'd rather post, that's great too as we still receive great encouragment from them each day.

Thanks for checking in...
Travis

Monday, February 16, 2004 2:13 PM CST

Hey everyone...

Not much time to write today as I'm headed to DSM to be with Jace and Tara. Jace has lost more weight today (I don't know where he had it to lose it) and our Dr. said we could either give him a daily IV or insert a feeding tube. We opted for the IV. This means a 2-3 night stay at the hospital in DSM. We will be trained on how to administer the IV at home after that. As I understand, it can be done at night using his port while he sleeps. So it shouldn't be a very difficult situation...we hope. We're just glad that he'll be able to get some much-needed nutrition.

If I can get my hands on a laptop computer, I'll keep you posted from the hospital.

Thanks for your continuing prayers and support,
Travis

Sunday, February 15, 2004 4:03 PM CST

Good afternoon, everyone...

Jace had a long night last night. He didn't sleep very much at all as his ears were hurting him quite badly. His left ear has become very red and irritated from the radiation treatments and it gave him fits all night. We put some cream on it and that seemed to help a little bit...at least until he rolled his head on his pillow and rubbed it all off. He also has a very noticeable red patch on his throat area from the radiation as well & isn't feeling very comfortable at all. I guess what I'm trying to say is that his head kind of looks like a giant tomato right now ;-)

A huge thank-you to Mary Jo for coming through with animal crackers after church today. Jace had been craving them since yesterday and a long, sleepless night didn't make him forget, either! Well, wouldn't you know it, animal crackers are the one thing that Casey's doesn't sell so...who do you call in a jam? Mary Jo! Thanks a bunch!

Dad gave his first GCSF shot to Little Buddy last night! As one who gets EXTREMELY queasy when needles are combined with live bodies, (you'll only get that joke if you know what I do for a living :-) I wasn't sure if I had it in me. But, as Jace didn't want Grandma to do it and Mom was at home enjoying an evening to herself, we didn't have much of a choice. The results were pretty much the same, though...lots of screaming, crying and cursing! (Jace picks up all kinds of words from pre-school ;-) Just kidding, Lana!

Be sure and check out the NEW LINK at the bottom of this page. It will take you to another page with many pictures of Little Buddy and all his friends. Be sure and check out the new pics up on the Photo Gallery page, too.

23 days down, eight to go!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Friday, February 13, 2004 10:56 PM CST

Hi Everyone,

The last couple days have been a whirlwind. On Thursday, Jennifer and Ethan Arnold spent the day with us. Ethan is the same age as Jace and is a fun little guy. Jace was very excited to show them what his new daily routine looks like. It was also one of the first times that Jace has been around someone his own age. As I watched him, I could tell that his frustration level was rising as he tried to keep up with Ethan. Those are the times that break my heart. It's exciting to know that soon they will be running and chasing each other around the house when Jace feels better. We are so fortunate that we have that to hold on to. Six weeks ago, Jace couldn't walk without holding on to both of my hands. Those are the blessing that I have to look back at and cherish. He has come so far in so little time.

Today, Stacia and Maddi McGriff spent the day with us. Maddie, who acts like a "mother hen" to Jace, had quite an education. I thought we were going to lose her during the blood draws, but she recovered. Stacia and Maddi were also able to go into radiation and get a lesson on how everything works. Mommy can't handle to see that yet. I can't see my little guy on that table with his mask on - is is too upsetting. Jace handles it like a trooper and has told us many times "that he likes the radiation part." Needless to say, after Stacia saw how brave Jace was during radiation she informed him he WAS going to Chuckie Cheese's today. He didn't disagree, at all.

After radiation, Jace needed a blood transfusion so we headed back up to the clinic. Jace was introduced to a boy named, Josh, who would melt anyone's heart. He was around 12 and spent some time playing with Jace. He also talked to Jace about taking his medicine, which helped a great deal. Jace was like a sponge and absorbed everything that Josh did. He even took his medicine like a big boy. Later, we turned on "The Wiggles" and had a dance party with the nurses and Sarah, the fun and crazy child life worker. (It's kinda scarey, she acts a lot like mommy during choir practice at school.) Josh had some great moves and Jace had a smile on his face the whole time.
We hope to see more of Josh, soon.

Next, we headed to Chuckie Cheese's. Oh, boy. A Friday night at Chuckie Cheese's is quite an experience, but we survived. Jace could hardly keep his eyes open, but he had a ball.

Jace's cold is still with him. Today he wasn't able to talk much due to laryngitis. He did a lot of nodding and noise making. Jace's ANC was at 800, so we began shots tonight at home. They will continue throughout the weekend. He wasn't thrilled, but he said he likes mommy doing them. Isn't that great???

This aggresive round of treatment is nearing the end and the end comes with mixed emotions. Right now, I know that Jace is being treated everyday with medicine that will break down this nasty tumor that remains, but I also know that in seven days we will begin - "the waiting game." For some reason, this is the part that seems overwhelming right now.
Every night I pray that this treatment is working and that every trace of tumor will be removed. I can worry and worry, but in the end I must put my trust in God.
Please continue your prayers for Jace and all the other children we have been touched by.

God Bless,
Tara

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 8:35 PM CST

Good evening, everyone...

Needless to say, I was overwhelmed at the response to my last post. I hope it didn't sound too negative, that wasn't my intent. As I said earlier, Jace (nor his parents) would be in the good shape we are right now if it wasn't for the love and support you have all so selfessly shown us.

Day 21 was "Jace & Daddy Day." We gave Mom a well-deserved day off (to get the house cleaned up ;-) and headed up for treatments. Jace has been taking his GCSF injections for the last two days so we were hoping to get our counts back up today. We had to wait until after radiation for the lab reports but we (especially Jace!) were glad to hear that he just squeaked by and wouldn't need his shots to continue. His hematocrit was 30.1 which means nothing to most of you but...anything below 30 will require a transfusion. So, guess what Friday will probably bring! Hopefully, his white blood cell counts will remain as high as they were today and he won't need the injections for a while. Radiation was noticeably shorter today. Aside from the x-ray they needed to take, the more focused treatments don't take nearly as long. We are seeing much more redness and irritation on his face and scalp from the radiation treatments, though.

It was encouraging to see him eat a whole KFC chicken finger at lunch today. He actually told me he was hungry as we left the hospital! It's amazing how nice it can be to hear a simple phrase like that when he hasn't uttered it in weeks. His radiation nurses had his weight at 42 lbs. but their scale usually reads a bit higher than the one in Dr. Elliott's office. Either way, he is still extremely emaciated. We hope the new medication we started yesterday will bring a continued increase in his appetite as the week progresses.

Be sure & check out the new pictures I took at the hospital today. I hope the nurses aren't too mad at me for making them get in the pictures with Jace but he has become quite fond of them and they are VERY good at what they do. Thanks girls!

Thanks for checking in...21 down & 10 to go!

Travis

PS: Please notice our change of email address at the bottom of the page. We switched to a DSL connection (I had the "need for speed" and had to change providers. Sorry for the inconvenience.

PSS: Little Buddy's 5th birthday is next Thursday! Be sure & mark your calendars.

Monday, February 9, 2004 1:20 AM CST

Update: Feb. 9, 2004
Jace had a fine day today,but he is very tired and is battling a cold. We will know the result of his strep test tomorrow. He was disappointed to find out that we need to continue his shots for a few more days. Yuck! His ANC count was at 300 today, so we will watch the germs. It doesn't help that Jenna came home from school today with a tummy ache.
I need summer!
I have added a new picture; the chicken leg picture had to be changed. It was Monday night so we enjoyed "MaryJo's Monday Night Meals." (Thanks, MaryJo)
Have a good week and enjoy the sunshine.
Tara





Good evening everyone...

I thought I'd post a late-night journal in a slightly different fashion this time. Just some random thoughts about our journey that you may (or may not) find interesting. I think it can get a little redundant reading about Jace's daily treatments, blood counts and so forth, so here is something different.

As I prayed with Jace Friday night, we asked God for a restful night's sleep and for dreams of swimming at the Prairie Knolls pool (which has been our short term goal during this trial.) In one of those "God moments" the next morning, Jace woke up and said, "guess what, Dad...I had a dream of swimming last night!" I said, "Really!" He replied, "Yeah, I dreampt I was buying a hot dog at the pool." It could've been pure coincidence but I like to think of it as God letting us know that He is walking right along side of us down this road.

Before all this happened, I was at a point in my spiritual life where I was questioning if prayer was effective at all and if God was really who He is supposed to be. Biblically speaking, God knew us "before we were born" and I had come to the conclusion that, if that was the case, then He must know how things will turn out in the end. Therefore, what good does it do to pray if the "script" is already finished? This fatalistic viewpoint was wreaking havoc with my Christian walk, almost to the point of giving it all up. Then came December 17th, 2003...

It has been said that there are no atheists in foxholes. Well, I can tell you in no uncertain terms that I was in a deep one that night. My first reaction was "God, if you're trying to get my attention, put the tumor in my head!" I will never forget kneeling at my son's hospital bed in Des Moines, weeping, and pleading to God not to take my son from me.

It has also been said that to build up, one must break down first. As I look back, I think this is exactly what was happening. After we arrived in Rochester, the outpouring of love that was bestowed upon us slowly began to build my faith up again. Although I felt like the world's biggest hyppocrite, I continued to pray and ask all of you for prayers for my son. The more I felt them working, the more I asked. We are forever grateful for all the prayers which besieged heaven on Jace's behalf.

I was reading emails from that first week in our Yahoo account tonight and reliving the nights in Rochester, particulary Christmas Eve. That night, as I tried to avoid being totally overcome by the grief and sorrow which had been amplified on the holiday, I found myself hunched in the back pew of the most beautiful, reverent, pristine House of God in which I had ever worshipped. I have never felt so detached from the world yet so physically close to God as I did that night...save for the occasional beeper piercing the spiritual ambience which was a cold reminder of where I actually was. I listened to an angelic voice from the front of the church singing "O Holy Night" and grasped a small Cross, given to me by my cousin Kris, that had become a symbol of my constant silent prayers to God. Things seemed to turn around after that night. The rebuilding had begun.

Now, in February of 2004, Jace's progress and condition makes those days seem eons ago. Our current position lends so much creedence to the "One Day at a Time" mantra as, at that time, going through treatments seemed so far ahead of us and such a difficult trial that we could hardly bear to imagine it.

It's quite amazing how Jace can find little bright spots (like a dream about the pool) in the midst of all these treatments he endures each day. Each morning he gets up and offers little to no resistance to what must be done (other than the occasional morning "disposition" ;-) The innocence of youth is a very valuable asset in times like these. As a mother of a little guy fighting a similar battle so appropriately observed...these kids don't look at the whole box of cereal, they just try to find the toy hidden in the middle of it. It's a shame that we lose that attitude as we grow older.

While we're relieved that Jace has adjusted so well to this daily grind, we also find ourselves angry that his childhood has been permanently changed and a portion of it stolen by this tumor. When we stop for a moment and ponder the fact that Jace has accepted daily injections, blood counts, radiation, taking medications and even baldness as routine, it becomes even more difficult to prevent the bitterness from growing. It is also difficult to see other families continuing on with their lives (just as they should, though - the world doesn't revolve around our family.) It isn't so much a feeling of "how could they?" but to be quite honest, it's just jealousy and envy. Why has our life been disrupted? Why must Jace endure this? Will he/we ever be normal again? I ask myself that last question every time I look at his emaciated, fragile little 40-pound body and wonder what happened to my 52-pound little boy who, just a few short months ago was at the playground in the picture you see above! Believe me when I say that we wish we didn't have these feelings but it's absolutely impossible to prevent them from pervading our minds. We must always remember, too, that one cannot truly empathize with someone in a situation like this unless they have been there themselves.

Having said that, let me say also that we would not be where we are now without the unbelievable love and support from all of you who, while continuing on with your own lives, somehow find time to take part in ours. I truly wonder if I could give the same support to someone in my shoes without having been through it myself. I'd like to think I could. But that self-doubt brings an even deeper appreciation of the emails, posts, cards & letters, food and donations you have all so selflessly given. We can't thank you enough!

Thank you for indulging me today. I have a secret passion for writing and I just thought this would be a good forum to offer some thoughts and insight on how it has been dealing with this situation. Forgive me if it seemed a lengthy, random collection with no direction. It was "off-the-cuff," so to speak, but I hope you were able to take something from it.

Travis

Friday, February 6, 2004 2:00 PM CST

Good morning, everyone...

Jace finished up Day 18 today and all seems well. He had a transfusion yesterday and the accompanying shots...which in turn brought the accompanying fits of rage! Tara took him back up to Dr. Elliott's office so the nurses could give the shot and receive the brunt of the attacks...smart woman! He got through 'em, though. He's our tough little guy!

He has been pretty wiped out since the basketball game on Tuesday, though...so much so that the new blood didn't affect his energy level at all (like it did last time.) He was still listless last night and, according to Tara, went to sleep at 7:45 PM, slept all night and was up at 6:15 AM today. Now if we could just get him to do that when we have the hour drive. No wait, I guess we don't ever need him to get up that early!

Monday will bring his 19th radiation treatment which will be another milestone of sorts. During this first stage of radiation, he has been receiving treatments on his entire brain and spinal cord. After treatment #19, he will be receiving radiation only on the portion of his brain which was affected by the tumor. Our Dr. tells us that this won't be quite so hard on him.

A very sincere "Thank-you" to Matt & Stacia (Bair) Burns for letting Tara & Jace stay at their home in WDSM for the past two nights. It was a big help! Jace was a little wary of their large bird the first night but I think they were becoming friends by yesterday :-)

Other than scooping snow and waiting on Jenna (who is much better today and back in school), it has been a pretty uneventful week here at home. Tara on the other hand will be looking forward to restful, relaxing weekend (this is just a hunch, but she may want to get away from Jace for a bit...:-)

Thanks for checking in and have a good weekend.

Travis

***FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE***
Jace is starting to cough and complain of a sore throat tonight. These are the same symptoms Jenna had last week that eventually turned into strep throat. Needless to say, he does not need this right now, especially with lowered blood counts. We would like to ask for your prayers tonight that Jace's little body can fight off this little bug so he can have a restful weekend.

Thank you very much!

Tuesday, February 3, 2004 2:21 PM CST

Hey everybody...we're back home and we're halfway done!

It's amazing how nice it is to get back home even after a little 3-day stay in DSM! I'm glad we stayed, though. On our way back today we saw at least 10 cars in the ditch along I-80...must've been pretty nasty on Monday!

Jace just completed his 15th chemo treatment (out of 30) and tomorrow will put him over the halfway hump for radiation as well (16 of 31)! Be sure and congratulate him if you see him at the basketball game tonight...Go Warhawks!

Thank you for all your posts and emails. It's nice to come back and see that everyone is still thinking of Jace. Special thanks to Mary Jo for the cookies (those butterscotch/coconut/oatmeal cookies were outstanding!) and to Stacia for the pizza and Puppy Chow! I think my whole family went up a collective pants size ;-)

Jace & Jenna enjoyed a little mini-vacation of swimming and hotel TV-watching (I didn't mind, either) and Tara took an opportunity to hit a mall...(first "mall trip" since this all happened!). At times, it was hard to believe that we were in DSM for tumor treatments as Jace was splashing his sister in the face like a normal 4 y/o kid. His little body has become very frail, though and he slipped a couple times and did the "splits" once...but was OK. His appetite has returned after getting rid of the stomach bug and he wolfed down some spaghetti at Spaghetti Works last night.

The downside of our trip was Jenna's cold (which has turned out to be strep throat). It turned nastier this morning when she started vomiting. We're going to try and knock it out fast as Jace's ANC (actual neutrophil count...the little dudes in your body that fight off infection) is marginal but steady as of Monday. We want to get Jenna better just for her sake but little Buddy doesn't need any of that right now...especially after a week-long bout with the stomach flu.

I heard an encouraging remark from Dr. Rhoades (Jace's radiation oncologist) today. He said that after seeing the pre-operative MRI of Jace's brain, he couldn't believe how much of the tumor Dr. Raffel was able to resect and how little remained. He said "your surgeon must've been Superman or something." We definitely agree and it was very encouraging to hear his opinion of Dr. Raffel's work!

Tara & Jace may stay in DSM tomorrow night (Sheri - you might be getting a call ;-) but we always appreciate your emails, posts, phone calls and visits! It was great to see everyone in church Sunday and to have the band crankin' again (I hope you didn't hear too many wrong notes!)

Thanks again for all of your prayers...the Dr.'s are all very surprised and pleased at how well Jace continues to do during his treatments and I know it is because we have such a powerful group of friends and family praying for him daily.

We can't thank you enough!

Sincerely,
Travis

UPDATE at 11:15 PM on Tuesday:

2 additions tonight...

Number 1 - A sincere "Thank-you" to my classmates from the Roseville High School Class of '88 for their extremely generous gift to Jace! He is very excited to hit Toys'R'Us soon and put that gift card to good use! None of you will ever know how much we appreciate your support right now. Thank you very much!

Number 2 - Our hearts are heavy tonight for a little boy from DSM named Jordan Melvin who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He is in Iowa City now undergoing tests and will soon undergo surgery to have the tumor removed. It sounds very similar to Jace's. We ask for your prayers and support for Mark & Gina Melvin and their son Jordan as they head down the same road we are on right now.

Friday, January 30, 2004 2:48 PM CST

Good afternoon everyone,

Jace and I just got back from Day 13 in Des Moines. Treatments were quick today which was good for a Friday and Jace's stool test came back negative! So thankfully (I guess?) he just had a flu bug.

We spent last night at the Ronald McDonald House and both enjoyed the NASCAR room. It had two twin size race car beds and race car decorations. He was pretty excited when we opened the door. Our only problem was that we left our "B" at home. (Jace's blanket - that has became extremely important to him lately.) We made it through the night, but Mom had to sleep with him in place of "B."

Jace continues to do well but is experiencing a new side effect in the last day - hair loss. We knew it would be happening soon and many people have said that it won't be a big deal; but to see your son's hair falling out in chunks is very disheartening. We have told him it will grow back and Jace is actually taking it fairly well...so far! I guess it just reinforces the reality of what is going on and it's just plain difficult to accept.

Ready for a restful weekend,
The Carrico's




UPDATE February 1st

The whole family is heading to Des Moines soon, so we don't have to use a snow plow in the morning.

Jace continues to do well and even attended Sunday school and church this morning.
Jace still isn't thrilled about a bald head, but is a trooper through it. He even wore his first hat this morning. Jace was worried that he would get in trouble wearing it in church and sunday school. ;-) I tried to convince him that we needed to shave his head this weekend but he refused, so we have a mess. For those of you who have not been through this before, there is hair everywhere!!

Enjoy the snow and hopefully there will be a "snow day."
(I still love those!)

God Bless, Tara

Wednesday, January 28, 2004 6:51 PM CST

Good evening, everyone...

Not a whole lot to report tonight. Jace's blood counts were still above the minimums today so no problems there.

His diarrhea has continued today, although not as frequent. This morning at the hospital, Tara had to obtain a stool sample (we played Paper/Rock/Scissors...she "won!") We should know tomorrow if he is infected with a bacteria known as Clostridium Difficile. Patients on antibiotics are susceptible to this bacteria which causes diarrhea and abdominal cramps. It is treatable with medication but he obviously doesn't need any more of that right now!

He has slept through the night during the past two nights and has not had as many trips to the bathroom today. We are hopeful that it may be just a flu bug.

His appetite is not good right now but I can't really blame him for not wanting to eat when what he does eat gets "processed" right away! As long as we keep him hydrated, he should be OK.

If he seems to be past the worst of his stomach problems by morning, he and Mom may stay at the Ronald McDonald House tomorrow night. I'm not sure if he understands that they don't serve cheeseburgers there so he may be in for a surprise!

Thank you all again for your much-needed prayers & support! It seems more difficult to maintain a positive attitude as we get further into this and easier to become bitter & upset. In addition to your prayers of healing for Jace, we would really appreciate your prayers to keep the faith and for sincere hope during the coming months.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Wednesday, January 28, 2004 0:56 AM CST

Just a little late-night entry to keep you all up to speed...

Jace had a good day in DSM on Tuesday. He had his weekly dose of Vincristine in addition to his daily Carboplatin. No problems there or with his radiation treatment.

He is still fighting a nasty little stomach virus which is giving him some serious diarrhea. He did throw up a couple times on Tuesday night but we think it's related to the stomach bug and not his treatments. However, our Dr. has told us that chemotherapy can make kids susceptible to certain parasites that can cause symptoms like this so we have one other possiblity to worry about.

Due to his condition, he and Mom probably won't be staying overnight in DSM on Wednesday. Even with the diarrhea, he still sleeps like a log in his own bed every night and that does him a world of good.

I'll post more after Wednesday...10 treatments down and 21 to go!

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Monday, January 26, 2004 7:39 PM CST

Good evening everyone...

Not much to report today. Jace finished up treatment number 9 without any major complications. He is, however, fighting a little flu bug in his stomach which reared its ugly head right as we were taking our coats off in the waiting room this morning (yes, you know what I mean.) He's been burning a path from the couch to the bathroom all evening. Pray that it will pass quickly!

Jace's blood counts were marginal but still slightly above their respective minimums today so no transfusion or shots for the meantime. He is close to the cutoff so we do expect a transfusion to be needed soon. He is being a strong little fighter through all of this and all of your prayers are certainly a source of strength for him (and us!)

A special thanks to the Roseville High School Class of '88 (Travis' classmates) who sent a HUGE balloon bouquet complete with a bag of Cheetos (one of our little Buddy's personal fav's). It was a very nice surprise and we appreciated it very much! It's been great to hear from all of you!

Thanks for checking in tonight. Your support is invaluable to us! After tomorrow, we'll officially be one-third of the way to the end!

Thanks,
Travis

Sunday, January 25, 2004 1:01 PM CST

Good afternoon...

Not much to report today. Jace is doing well and just resting up before we start week 3. Special thanks to Rhonda Van Wyk for the Nintendo game system. Our kids have never fought so passionately over something...just kidding! They have gotten a ton of enjoyment out of it. Mom and Dad play it occasionally, too ;-)

We had a very emotional experience in church this morning. It was so nice to be back with our church family and feel all the love and concern firsthand. Seeing Jace up front during children's church elicited many feelings. First and foremost, it was nice to see him back with his little Sunday School buddies and acting like a normal 4-year-old. But it also brought back some bittersweet memories as last time we saw him up there was the Sunday before everything changed; he was not doing well that day. It was just over a month ago but it seems like years.

We would like to extend another sincere thank-you to everyone in our church for your prayers, concerns and generosity. We couldn't make it through this without you!

Thank you,
Travis

PS: New pics up today...check 'em out!

Friday, January 23, 2004 4:47 PM CST

Hey everyone...

Good news today! Jace's blood counts were all still above the minimum which means no transfusion today or SHOTS this weekend! I don't know who's more relieved, our Little Buddy or Tara...the "Florence Nightengale" of the family!
As you may recall, Jace needed a transfusion after two days of treatment last week but he made it all week this time. We hope he's building up some strength as time wears on.

Since Jenna went along this morning, they are celebrating by attending Dragon Tales Live tonight in DSM.

We've had one brief bout with vomiting and are starting to notice a few "Mini-Me" bald spots so there are some side effects beginning to manifest themselves. But after completing Day 8 (of 31), Jace is still doing very well.

Everybody left Dad at home to work tonight but I thought I'd let you all know how Jace's day went. More to come later tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Thursday, January 22, 2004 8:59 PM CST

Good Evening Everyone,

Jace and I spent last night in Des Moines with one of my college friends, Sheri. We spent some time in the afternoon and hit Toys R Us (one of my bribes). Jace picked out the Wiggles guy, Greg. He says the same 4 phrases over and over and over. We can't get enough of him :-)

Somehow, he talked Sheri into the Buzz Lightyear Spacestation. He has his father's amazing powers of persuasion. (Thanks Sheri)

Jace still continues to do well. Sometimes it's hard to believe that he is having chemotherapy and radiation every day as he runs around the house playing.
He is starting to feel more nauseous the more we get into this. As long as he takes his Zofran (which he doesn't enjoy), we're fine.
Tonight, Travis and I noticed Jace's first "bald patch." He's not excited about losing his hair, so we'll keep it a secret until he finds out. shhh!

Tomorrow we will have blood drawn to see where his counts are. Hopefully, a "shotless" weekend.

Thanks again for the prayers and keep them coming.

God Bless You All,

Tara

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 5:52 PM CST

Good evening, everyone.

An uneventful Day 5 in DSM. We'll take all of those we can get! Jace was examined by Dr. Elliott as he received his IV dose of chemotherapy and all seems quite well. Dr. Elliott is "very pleased and surprised" at how well Jace is handling his treatments. Other than a minor ache here and there and frequent, yet mild pain inside his mouth (which we treat with an oral medication), Jace has had no noticeable side effects from the therapy. We don't doubt for a moment that your continuing prayers are helping Jace immensely through this time and will carry him through the rest of his 31 treatments.

Our nurse, Marilyn, suspects that we may be able to make it through the week without a blood transfusion. Obviously this could change but his counts were very strong on Monday. Another draw tomorrow will give us a better idea. At this point, the only drawback to the transfusion is having to sit there for the 2 hours it takes to deliver the blood into him. The shots we have to give him afterwards are unpleasant but we do what we have to do.

Tara and Jace will go up tomorrow for Day 6 and stay overnight with a family friend. I think Jace is planning on doing a little shopping at the Disney store at the mall and seeing a movie. It'll be a good night for him.

Thanks for checking in,
Travis

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 7:10 AM CST

Good Morning Everyone,

Day 4 is done and we're moving on! Jace's blood counts were all high yesterday (they were actually higher than before we started treatments!), so the shots and transfusion were a success.

Today we ask that you help us pray for two families we have met throughout this journey. They both have been helpful to us during this time.

Brant Hamilton, who finished radiation treatment at the end of December, will be having an MRI this morning to make sure everything is still OK. He could use your prayers for a clean report and his parents could sure use some prayers for peace of mind.

And also Joshua Larson from Omaha who had a reoccurance at the beginning of this month is now in the hospital battling low blood counts, fever and an awful cold (RSV). Please pray each day for him as he begins his battle all over again.

We'll post after what will hopefully be an uneventful Day 5 on Tuesday.

Thanks,
Tara

Friday, January 16, 2004 6:30 PM CST

NEW PICTURES AND UPDATE!



Hi Everyone,

Today was a marathon day! We left at 9:00 A.M. and just got home at 6:00 P.M. We had planned on going out to the basketball game, but I am too tired. Jace said that he wasn't tired. After getting some new blood, that kid is FULL of energy!
Anyway, GO WARHAWKS!!!

We started the day with chemotherapy and at that time Jace's blood levels were also checked. Jace will have his blood drawn every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. At the end of chemo, Jace's nurse informed us that Jace's levels were low, and he would need a blood transfusion that afternoon.

After radiation and a McDonald's run (I have got to find some better lunch options :-), we went back up to the clinic and received our transfusion. It was a long process which took two and a half hours. I was worried that it would be a long afternoon for him, but the child life workers do a great job of entertaining. Jace spent his time painting, playing with play-do and watching some cool movies.

Today, we also found out that Jace will require a daily shot at home this weekend to stimulate the production of white blood cells. Mommy had to learn how to give the shot and even got to practice on the NURSE'S ARM with some saline.

I think I better stick with piano playing and singing :-)

Thanks for all of your prayers and support.

God Bless,
Tara



Sunday, January 18, 2004

The Carrico house had a fairly uneventful weekend and that's good! Jace has been saying that his mouth and throat hurt a little, so we keep "swishing" are medicine. He has also been been having some body aches tonight. The nurse had told us that would be fairly common with the "shot" he was given over the weekend. By the way, I did it!! I gave the shots. Jace and I both didn't like it, but it had to be done. God gives us strength in many ways.
Thanks for the continued prayers!
Tara

P.S. Thanks for my new "cool" hat, Stacia! Just like the big boys.

Thursday, January 15, 2004 10:15 PM CST

Hey everybody...

Not much to report today...which is a good thing! Jace had another uneventful trip to DSM today and received his therapy like it was nothing at all. I was unable to go with them as there was business to attend to here but Tara informed me that Jace's only problems were the initial sight of the needle before the nurse accessed his port and the removal of the needle afterwards. Apparently he felt some discomfort on Wednesday when they took the IV needle out so, consequently, they left it in today. He has had it in all evening with no problems. He will have it removed tomorrow as the weekend finally arrives! I'm sure weekends will take on a whole new significance during these treatments.

Sorry for the late post. I'll put more on tomorrow.

Thanks again for all your prayers. Little Buddy is doing very well so far!

Travis

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 4:35 PM CST

Hi everyone...

Jace absolutely blew us away today with how well he handled his chemotherapy & radiation therapy. He had a brief "freak-out" when he saw Marilyn (our nurse) take out the needle to put in his port, but, thanks to the topical numbing cream we applied before we left, he didn't feel a thing when she poked him. He actually started giggling when she drew his blood out of the port. He received his weekly dose of Vincristine, which took about 20 seconds and then received his Carboplatin which took about 15-20 minutes. We're trying not to get too encouraged by how easy and pain-free the chemo went today because we know there will be bad days, especially when some of the side effects begin to set in, but it was such a relief to watch him handle everything so calmly.

Jace's radiation therapists were also very complimentary of how he carried himself today. They said he didn't move an inch or make a sound the entire time. He came out with a very "matter-of-fact" attitude when it was over and said "see ya tomorrow" to all the nurses and receptionists.
We were absolutely amazed. What a kid!

We can't thank all of you enough for your prayers as we prepared for this day. We could see how effective they were as Jace handled everything as if it were part of his daily routine. God has been so good to us as we go through this and He continues to remind us that He is right there with us, every step of the way.

Thank you all very much!
Travis & family

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 7:40 AM CST

Just a brief entry for you all this morning...

We are getting ready to go up to DSM to begin treatments today. Amidst all the uncertainty, I am finding solace in the thought of finally getting something in his body to destroy what remains of that terrible tumor.

There is a noticeable apprehension in the air, however, (that we all feel) and we would sure appreciate your prayers this morning and for the mornings to come that Jace would find some sort of peace during these treatments and that his parents and sister will know that peace as well.

Your prayers for our little Buddy are very effective and we are thanking you in advance today for all your help!

I'll update tonight and let you know how he did.

Thank you very much,
Travis

Monday, January 12, 2004 11:06 PM CST

Good evening everyone...

First things first...special thanks to Tara for giving me a "day off" from my posting duties. She has been our "behind-the-scenes" SuperMom through this whole ordeal and I know she's been wanting an opportunity to share with all of you.

Jace and our family had a good day today. We visited with Dr. Rhoades, the radiation oncologist and began preparing for radiation therapy which will begin on Wednesday. According to the ladies who took Jace through the "simulator," he was one of their best patients! He layed very still as they made the necessary markings on him, formed his mask (to hold his head in position) and adjusted his other settings. We were told to bring a favorite CD for him to listen to during the actual treatments. These treatments will be approximately 2 minutes in duration to each of the three "fields" which need treating. We hope today was an indication of how well he'll do in the weeks to come.

Jace's chemotherapy will begin on Wednesday as well. He will receive daily doses of Carboplatin and a weekly dose of Vincristine. The Carboplatin is a "sensitizer" and effectively makes the tumor more susceptible to the radiation treatments. After each chemo treatment, we will have to wait 1 to 4 hours before his daily radiation treatment can be given. Jace will undergo this protocol for 30 days, not including weekends. His 6-month maintenance chemotherapy will begin 6 weeks after the completion of this protocol.

The Dr.'s tell us that the doses of chemo & radiation are relatively low and that the chance of nausea/vomiting should be minimal. There is a real risk, however, of low blood cell counts (red & white cells) which, in many cases, requires a blood transfusion.

It goes without saying that Jace can really use your prayers for strength and courage as Wednesday nears. Tara & I continue find ourselves waking up each morning with the strength to face what lies ahead that day. God has heard your prayers for Jace and for us and continues to give us what we need to take one day at a time and make it through this ordeal.

We received a brief report from Dr. Raffel (the neurosurgeon who resected Jace's tumor) tonight. We were very surprised and encouraged to read that he felt that there was less than 1.5 square centimeters of tumor left which suggested that Jace was "at least borderline, if not normal risk." We still feel that the high-risk treatment we have opted for is the right way to go but Dr. Raffel's assessment of Jace's post-operative condition made our day.

With Jace's treatments beginning this week, we are continually grateful and thankful for all of your prayers and support. As God continues to bless us in a myriad of ways, we grow more confident each day that He will rid Jace of this terrible affliction and give us our Little Buddy back when it's all over.

Sincerely,
Travis

Sunday, January 11, 2004 2:07 PM CST

Hi Everybody,

Everything at the Carrico house has been quiet this weekend which is something we have enjoyed!

Jace has been in a great mood the last couple of days and has been pain-free with the help of Tylenol. His eating habits have definitely picked up which has been nice to see. For lunch we enjoyed Zip'N breadsticks, twisted cheetos and chocolate ice cream. When you're with Uncle Troy, he will get you whatever you want. We will work on the balanced diet later!! It has been nice to see Jace eating as the last couple of months he has not been able to keep much down.

Tomorrow we will be heading to Des Moines again to meet with the radiologist. Jace told me today in the car that "he wasn't going with me!" I am getting pretty creative with my bribery skills,though.

Thanks again for all your support & prayers.

Love,
Tara (no, not Travis "Mr. Thesaurus" Carrico!)


P.S. I also added new pic's. Sorry about the dirty face :-)

Friday, January 9, 2004 10:08 PM CST

Good evening everyone...

Another visit to DSM today resulted in Jace's central line being put in. It is called a porti-cath and it sits just under his skin (in his upper left chest area) with a small tube running into the left subclavian vein (that runs below the collarbone.) This will be used to deliver the chemotherapy, take blood samples and any other venous-type work that needs to be done. The chemotherapy will be delivered with a needle but we have been told that we can apply a anesthetic cream over his cath site before we leave for DSM each morning. This should make the "poke" relatively pain-free for Jace (hopefully :-)

A spinal tap was also performed by Dr. Elliott today while Jace was in surgery. We are hopeful (and prayerful) that his CSF will still show no signs of any drop metastases from the original tumor.

Jace recovered quite quickly from his outpatient surgery today and we hope that this is an indication of how he will adjust to his chemoradiotherapy. He is doing fine tonight other than some general discomfort from the surgery itself. We will try to rest up this weekend and prepare for next week. Monday brings a visit to the radiation treatment room for consults and a tour. As we still understand, Thursday will be the first day of therapy for Jace.

We are trying to get Jace to eat as much as possible to "fatten him up" before his therapy begins. We have read that a loss of appetite is a common side effect and he can't afford to drop too many more pounds! He did eat an entire box of Fruit Loop cereal bars tonight...so that is encouraging.

Jenna came with us today and her presence seemed to be a great help to Jace. She will be with us on Monday as well when we see how the radiation treatments will be given.

Special thanks to Sandy Conover for being with us this morning before surgery. It was so nice to see a familiar face in the midst of all the activity up there. Jace remembered her from a visit last week and we were a little more assured when she was able to take him into the operating area. Thanks Sandy!

We would appreciate your prayers for Jace's quick recovery before next week. Tara & I appreciate all your prayers for us as well. Tomorrow always seems too difficult to deal with until it finally arrives and we seem to be given the strength to make it through. God works in interesting ways...

Travis

Thursday, January 8, 2004 4:10 PM CST

Hey everybody...

Thursday was an unpleasant day at best for little Buddy during our visit with Dr. Stephen Elliott in DSM. Hopefully not a sign of things to come. We basically reviewed the protocol for treatment which will begin next Thursday. Jace will receive chemotherapy and radiation each day for the next six weeks. Each day will be a long day for him with the driving and accompanying sickness thrown in, but we're hopeful that this aggressive treatment will give us the results we desire. After his six-week chemoradiotherapy, we will have a six-week hiatus and then begin "maintenance chemotherapy." This will be a 3-day, inpatient treatment which will occur every four weeks until we have completed six treatments.

Today, we had another dreaded blood draw which was NOT good for Jace's disposition. We also visited with Dr. Irish who will install a central line (porti-cath) tomorrow morning. Jace will also undergo a spinal tap (thankfully after he has been anesthetized) to test his CSF for any signs of the tumor cells. We could use some MAJOR prayers for Jace (and us) as we prepare for these procedures.

We have an appointment Monday morning to visit with Dr. Rhodes, a radiation oncologist, about Jace's radiation treatments. We will be shown the machines and possible given a mock run-through of the procedure so that the staff can program Jace's "settings" to be used when the actual treatment starts. Hopefully, this will be an uneventful day. We will be taking Jenna with us (possibly on Friday as well) which should help Jace's spirits.

Things are moving quite rapidly now. It is overwhelming to look ahead and try to imagine how he will do during this aggressive program. Please pray that God will give my family the strength to handle each day and the faith to know that tomorrow's strength will be there when we don't think we can continue.

We appreciate your prayers and support VERY MUCH!

The Carrico's

PS: Be sure and check out the new pics posted today!

Wednesday, January 7, 2004 9:52 AM

We are back...again!

After a relatively short day in Rochester, we arrived back in New Sharon at about 10 PM Tuesday night. A consultation with Dr. Cynthia Wetmore (a FANTASTIC pediatric oncologist) brought the very welcome news that Jace can receive his radiation treatments in Des Moines! We will be scheduling an appointment with Dr. Elliott tomorrow and begin treatments very soon. We appreciate the many prayers which were offered up on our behalf regarding this matter. God has smiled on us again and I think Jace will greatly benefit from being at home each night after his treatments.

Jace was also seen by Dr. Corey Raffel (the pediatric neurosurgeon who performed the tumor resection) and he was "pleasantly surprised" by the post-operative MRI. We were very glad to hear him say that he removed much more of the tumor than he orginally thought. There are still 2-3 "slivers" of tumor remaining in his brain, but, as Dr. Raffel stated, with a medulloblastoma, the primary goal is to remove as much as possible and treat the remaining portion(s), as it is a tumor sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy. He was also pleased with the healing of Jace's incisions and assured us that the problems he is having with balance and use of his left hand will correct themselves over time.

We decided to put Jace in a "high-risk" treatment program of radiation and chemotherapy. With the amount of tumor remaining, he is borderline (between high and low risk) and after being told that if the tumor returned following a low-risk treatment, it would be very difficult to cure, we felt strongly about treating it aggressively. Obviously there are more risks involved with this type of treatment (e.g., burns, sickness, hearing loss, general toxicity to the body) but to us, the reward outweighs these potential risks. We will meet with Dr. Stephen Elliott at Blank Children's Hospital in DSM at 9:30 Thursday morning and probably begin treatment next week.

We have seen all the wonderful posts from the past two days and would like to express our sincere appreciation for your concern and prayers. I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, but Jace could sure use your continuing prayers as he begins this treatment very soon. God has been so good to us during this trial and we know all of you have played a MAJOR role in that. Tara and I don't know how we can ever repay you all for your support other than to bring a healthy "Little Buddy" back to New Sharon when this is all over!

Very sincerely and with many thanks,
Travis

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Ephesians 6:18 NIV

PS: Our sincere thanks to Rev. Kevin, Pastor Justin and Rev. Finn for coming to pray over Jace on Monday. Also, we would like to thank our church (the New Sharon UMC) for the use of the new van...it made the ride much more comfortable!

Sunday, January 4, 2004 10:34 PM CST

My apologies for not updating this weekend. With family & friends over and planning for the coming week, time slipped away rather quickly.

There is very a somber atmosphere here tonight as we prepare for our trip to Rochester tomorrow. The week and a half at home went by quickly (as we knew it would) and the journey that begins tomorrow seems quite daunting. But, as those before us have gone through it and emerged as better people, so will our family. We are quite fortunate to have their experience and support to help us through this.

The McCulleys spent the afternoon and evening with us and their company provided a much-needed time of levity before tomorrow arrives. We can't thank them enough for putting up with us for the majority of the day. Many thanks also to Stacia McGriff who whipped up a batch of monkey bread at our behest tonight! God reveals himself to us through the simplest of acts and He was very close to us today!

Jace has done very well over the past four days. He has been in a good mood nearly all the time. Other than a few brief tirades brought on by lack of sleep or his disapproval of the day's menu, he has been very pleasant to be around. We are praying for the right words to tell him as we leave tomorrow. Our hearts break at the thought of letting him in on our "destination" as he believes everything is done and he will continue to stay at home and heal. As we understand right now, a blood test will be the first item of business on Tuesday and he will welcome that about as much as the sight of the Energizer Bunny (you have to be a member of the New Sharon United Methodist Church to appreciate that joke :-)

Please ask God to give Jace strength and courage to face the weeks of uncertainty and fear which lie ahead of him. Tara & I would appreciate your prayers for patience and peace of mind and also for God to comfort Jenna as we are away from her for several days.

We will meet with several Dr.'s on Tuesday & Wednesday and hope to find out if DSM or Iowa City have appropriate facilities to treat Jace's tumor with radiation. Tara and I want nothing short of the finest treatments available and have heard of other families receiving treatment nearby. We are optimistic that Dr. Raffel (Jace's neurosurgeon) may refer us down to DSM. We will do whatever is best for him though, and if that means staying in Rochester for 6 weeks, so be it.

As we prepare for the next stage of our lives, I am asking for your continued prayers, emails and posts to encourage us. We enjoy very much and draw great strength from hearing that you are keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. It is comforting to know we are not alone.

Thank you all very much,
Travis Carrico & Family

Thursday, January 1, 2004 10:26 AM CST

Happy New Year everyone!

Words cannot express how deeply my family & I were touched by the outpouring of love and support at Jace's benefit last night. As I walked into the McVay building, I could hardly comprehend the amount of people already there to help Jace. I know I've said it before but Tara and I couldn't feel more fortunate to live in the community of New Sharon and be surrounded by people who care about us and about each other. We wouldn't want to live anywhere else on earth! I wanted to thank all of you by name and I hope I'm not leaving anyone out (if I did, I'll get you in a future update ;-)

Stacia McGriff & Angie Livezey for organizing everything!
Dan & Teresa Augustine & Families for the "main course"
Mike & Tammy Bair
John Livezey
Mark & Angie Smith
Mark & Renee McCulley
Kevin McGriff
Tony & Mary Jo Hibler
Jason & Tammy LaRue - that really was Pepsi in my sack!
Kathy Fox
Jennifer Arnold
Charlie & Brenda Sparks
Kathy Veenstra
Margaret Ratcliff
Curtis Williams

I'm very sorry if I've missed anyone. We can't say enough "thank-you's" to all of you who were involved. It was a huge success!

Many thanks are also in order to our friends from the surrounding communities of Lynnville, Baxter, Oskaloosa, Barnes City, Pella, Searsboro, Thornburg, Sully, & Newton...I hope I haven't left any out! My family and I appreciate very much all of you taking time out of your New Year's Eve to drive down and be a part of Jace's life. Your kindness and incredible generosity will never be forgotten!

Jace may have shown us a sign of his fortitude yet to come by staying up past midnight to ring in the New Year. He was bound and determined to see the "ball" drop and I think he would've stayed up longer if Dad hadn't wanted to hit the sack! He made it through last evening and all night without a headache (those bedside prayers are quite effective) & woke up in a very good mood this morning. We have several visitors coming today so I hope his good mood lasts awhile :-)

One family celebrating a VERY happy new year last night was the Hamilton family of Earlham. They have been helping us through this time (their CaringBridge link is listed below) and their son, Brant, had his last radiation treatment yesterday! I got to talk to him briefly yesterday and he is doing very well. I know the Hamilton's would appreciate hearing from any of you wanting to wish Brant a great new year. Please be sure and visit the other links on this page as well. The Jones family from Ohio and the Beresh family from Omaha have also been very helpful to us. There are also links on their pages to kids who need your prayers and support right now just as much as Jace does.

Again, let me say how much Tara & I appreciate everyone coming to Jace's benefit last night. We have a long year ahead of us but it will be easier with all of you out there behind us!

Thank you very much!
Travis, Tara, Jace & Jenna Carrico

Wednesday, December 31, 2003 2:52 PM CST

Hey everyone,

Jace was having a very good day until a nasty headache reared its ugly head this afternoon. A good dose of Tylenol seems to have done the trick, though. We hope these headaches are merely side effects of coming off of some of his medications.

Jace has been good about receiving visitors the past two days so don't be hesitant about stopping by or calling. It's always nice to see and hear from our friends.

We have to return to Rochester this coming Monday so we're trying to enjoy our time here at home. It is hard not to concentrate on what lies ahead so we would really appreciate your prayers for strength and courage for Jace and peace of mind for his parents!

Special thanks to Stacia McGriff for organizing tonight's fundraiser for Jace. Many thanks to everyone who has helped her and contributed in any way. We are very fortunate to have friends like all of you! I'm going to make every effort to be there tonight...it will hinge upon Jace's condition and disposition. I don't think I could leave Tara alone with our grumpy little buddy :-)

Thank you all so much for your continued support and encouragement!

Travis

PS: There's a new pic...Jace will probably be quite upset with me when he finds out I put it on the Internet!

Tuesday, December 30, 2003, 9:50 AM

Good morning everyone!

Jace woke up with a monster headache this morning. Some bubble gum Tylenol seems to have knocked it out but headaches have taken on a whole new meaning after the past 10 days.

We would like to thank our friends who have brought meals already (they were fantastic) and those who are preparing them for the rest of the week. We are lucky to be surrounded by all of you. In the midst of all this chaos, I think God is smiling down on our little community which is a perfect example people helping others and spreading kindness and compassion. To me, this is what God is all about!

Lastly, we are checking into the possibility of have Jace's radiation treatments done in Des Moines. While we want nothing short of the best treatment available for him and would endure a 6 week stay in Rochester if needed, we feel that if the same treatment is available in DSM, being home every night would be a tremendous help to Jace and his outlook during this initial treatment period. We'll keep you posted.

Keep our little Buddy in your prayers!

With much love & gratitude,
The Carrico's

Saturday, December 27, 2003 7:55 PM CST

HEY EVERYBODY, WE'RE HOME!!!

The Dr's told us there was really no reason to keep Jace around another day if we didn't want to, so, we piled in the Jeep (after my folks arrived with the keys that Tara had sent back in her other coat!) and headed back to good ol' New Sharon.

We rolled in at about 6 PM and the first order of business was Christmas presents. The second order of business was a Casey's Pizza. Jace is very glad to be home, but he is still quite emotional! He gets very upset at the most trivial events and hasn't stopped crying since he finished his pizza. He will be weaned off his steroids and we hope that this will give him a more positive outlook.

Can't write much tonight, gotta get back to little buddy, but we will still update this site daily while we're here at home. We will be leaving for Rochester again on Jan. 5th to begin 6 weeks of radiation therapy so we're asking for your continued support and prayers as we recuperate here for a week and prepare for the long journey ahead.

Thanks for all the love & support,
Travis

Friday, December 26, 2003 10:26 PM CST

Here's a late-night post to get you all up to speed...

Jace had a pretty long day but has rallied tonight with a slightly improved disposition. His incision seems to be healing as he doesn't exhibit the severe pain with coughs and moving as he did yesterday and this morning. Thank you for your prayers of healing for him.

We are hopeful for a discharge this weekend. Saturday has been suggested but Sunday seems a little more realistic. We'll let you all know as soon as we're told anything.

A big thank-you to Kevin & Stacia McGriff for coming up and spending the day with us. It's always nice to see our New Sharon friends and brings home a little closer to Jace. Stacia brought a video she had made of friends, family, community and Christmas church services. We watched it with Jace tonight and it elicited a wide range of emotions...mostly tears. You know you miss your hometown when Tara starts crying at the sight of Casey's! I guess her Diet Coke fix must've come on pretty bad!!! Jace started crying when he saw Chipper (his Golden Retriever) and that was quite hard to see. But, overall, I think the video was a great remedy to our little buddy's homesickness. Many thanks to Stacia for all the work and miles she put in just to make Jace feel at home.

We're gonna call it a night here. Hopefully some good news tomorrow!

Good night, everyone. We couldn't make it through this without you!

Travis

Friday, December 26, 2003 9:46 AM CST

Finally a night of sleep thanks to our friends who make the sedative, Adovan. Jace is not doing well after his shunt surgery. He has quite a bit of pain from the incision in his abdomen; coughing and moving are very uncomfortable for him. The shunt looks fine and, although his ventricles were still looking a little large today, Dr. White says the shunt will help them decrease in size over the next few days.

Pray for quick healing of Jace's abdominal incision. I think once he is more comfortable, we may be coming home soon. He has said nothing but "when are we going home" and "I miss Chipper" (our dog) all morning and a parent can only take so much of that :-(

We were hurriedly moved out of ICU at about 7 O'clock this morning to accomodate a little person who needed the bed. I thought I'd forgot to pay this week's rent! Our new room number is 3-153 in the Francis Building. Our room phone number is (507) 287-4432. We should be here until we come home.

Thanks for your prayers and posts...they are a great help!

More later...it's bathtime for Jace (the first one since we've been here - even Jace could smell himself!)

Travis

Thursday, December 25, 2003 5:49 PM CST

Jace came through his shunt operation with no problems this afternoon. He is not feeling well tonight, though, as he has a new incision in his head and one in his abdomen. This combined with the general post-op malaise should make for an uncomfortable little buddy tonight. Pray that Jace can rest comfortably tonight!

According to Dr. Meyer, who performed the operation today, Jace might be moved to the General Pediatric Floor tomorrow, and, if everything goes well, he might be coming home on Sunday!!! This would give us a nice little week at home to recover before returning to Rochester on Jan. 6th to begin our radiation therapy.

Special thanks to the Jason & Tammy LaRue and family for stopping in today. They saw Jace right after the surgery but he was strong enough to give them a little smile and say Hi.

That's all for now. Be sure and check out the pics from Santa's visit this morning and thank you again for your continued posts. They really help us through the days up here!

Travis

Thursday, December 25, 2003 10:25 AM CST

Jace's MRI this morning showed that the ventricles in his brain are slightly larger than they were after his last MRI on Monday. This would indicate that the fluid is not moving out of his brain properly. He had noticeable leakage from his drain site as well which the Dr.'s think may have lead to some inaccurate readings. Even though his ICP (Intra-cranial pressure) was pretty stable yesterday and through the night, the Dr.'s feel that it is safer to put the shunt in and avoid any possible complications down the road. This is the safest way to go.

His surgery will be a little bit later this morning and we've been told that the procedure will be approximately a half hour in length. Pray for a problem-free surgery and a quick recovery.

Jace (and Jenna) had a visitor this morning...SANTA CLAUS!! Santa brought Jace a Deluxe Farmer's World Play Set and a hand-made wooden car. He brought Jenna a baby doll with a hand-made wooden rocking cradle. It was a nice little surprise! Look for some pictures to be posted here today.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and we can't thank you enough for your continued posts, prayers & support. It looks like we weren't the only night owls up last night!

Take care,
Travis

Wednesday, December 24, 2003 4:04 PM CST

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas Eve!

I know you're all getting ready for Christmas Eve festivities and we wish we were there in New Sharon getting ready with you. We will be with you in spirit tonight as you are in church.

As for today, I can feel your prayers working as Jace's CSF flow is still being monitored. He exhibited some signs of a buildup this morning but this afternoon, they abated. The Dr.s are going to give him another night with his drain clamped and see how he reacts. To celebrate (temporarily) we just brought him back a Cheeseburger Happy Meal...the best medicine in town! He was not allowed to eat today as the Dr.s were anticipating having to perform the shunt surgery, so the cheeseburger didn't last too long! In my heart, I can feel all your prayers working to thwart this minor setback. Please keep them coming tonight as we watch Jace try to circulate the fluid on his own. Your prayers are working! One last very encouraging sign tonight was Jace laughing and singing along with Barney tonight! It was really nice to see a glimpse of his old self.

Tomorrow morning, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus and the arrival of Santa Claus with a good ol' fashioned CT Scan! This will show us if his ventricles (the compartments in his brain which hold and circulate his CSF) are moving it out. If they are still larger than normal, he will have the shunt put in. If they are smaller than they appeared on his last CT scan, the drain will be removed and we will be moved to the General Pediatric Unit. He is at a crossroads right now and I can feel something bigger at work here.

We can't thank Craig Deming enough for his pictures of our hometown today! What an emotional time for us to see how things are going back there and just to see some familiar sights. Thanks Craig! It was a great Christmas present.

We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

The Carrico's

Tuesday, December 23, 2003 5:40 PM CST

VERY IMPORTANT PRAYER REQUEST!

We just had a visit from our Dr. and he will be raising the resistance of the drain in Jace's head tonight. The drain allows fluid to move from his brain to a bag outside his body. He is susceptible to infection as long as this drain is in place. Raising the resistance will show us if he is capable of moving his own CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) through his brain on his own or if needs a shunt placed in his head to do it for him. The drain will be completely closed tomorrow and this will be the final test to see if a shunt is needed. If he exhibits any nausea, vomiting, headaches or increased irritability (I don't know if we'd be able to discern in increase there!), chances are he is not moving his CSF on his own & will need an operation to install the shunt. The shunt will be a permanent part of his body and, while this will not prohibit him from leading a fairly normal life, it is obviously desirable that we avoid it if possible.

We are asking all of you who have been so faithful with your prayers over the last week to help us again with your fervent and repeated prayers that God will help Jace to circulate his own CSF. Please pray also for continued healing in his head. If he passes this test tonight and into tomorrow morning, the drain will be removed and he will be moved to the General Pediatric Care unit right away...(this is a very good thing!)

We are thanking you in advance tonight for your help and support. God has been working in Jace since this began and there is no reason to believe He will not do the same for us now.

Praying for God to help and heal our little buddy,
Travis & Tara

Tuesday, December 23, 2003 11:30 AM CST

Hi everybody!

Jace received a dose of medicine today that has helped his spirits more than any other he's had so far...Sissy!!! Jenna arrived at about 10 AM today with Grandma & Grandpa Everist. Jace's last two days have not been good as far as his mood is concerned but when Sis climbed in bed with him and began scratching his shoulder, he was as calm as a cat in a windowsill...(I think he actually may have been purring :-) One of their first activites was to jump into the Bingo game on hospital TV. Jenna won a prize on her first game and when she went to the game room to pick out her prize, Jace saw her on TV and started chuckling. Grandma Sandy won a little bit later so Jenna & I went down to the gameroom and picked a prize for Jace. We waved at him on the TV and he enjoyed that very much!

A welcome face returning to the unit is our nurse Marnie. She and Jace have a "special" relationship and it was nice to see her back at work & feeling better.

Jace's CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) is losing it's red color which is a very good sign. Thank you for all of your prayers concerning that...keep 'em coming because they are working! His eyes are also opening much wider today (more of that Jenna-therapy!)

The McCulley's left this morning after spending yesterday & last night with us. We can't even begin to thank them enough for their support and presence here during this difficult time. We are looking forward to seeing all of you who have told us you are coming! More good medicine for all of us here!

Special thanks to the Hamilton family of Earlham. I went to college with Craig & Julie and their son Brant is fighting a similar battle as Jace right now. Please visit their Caring Bridge site (listed below) and give them the same support as you have so graciously given to our family! We appreciate their prayers & thoughts and want them to know that they are in ours as well.

We are going to try and post some new pictures this afternoon so check back if you can.

Thank you for all your continued support...
Travis

Monday, December 22, 2003 5:36 PM CST

I'm sorry for the delay in updating you all. The MRI results didn't come until late this afternoon so we had to hurry up and wait...again!

Encouraging news today! The MRI performed today seems to show only trace elements of the tumor remaining. While we knew that at least 90% of the tumor had been removed, it seems that the power of prayer has taken more than the Dr. originally estimated. Dr. Khan, one of the oncologists here has told us that this is one of the most common tumors and one on which a wealth of research has been done. It is also very sensitive to radiation therapy. This is also very encouraging news! It is however, very possible that chemotherapy will be needed in conjunction with the radiation. We will come back to Rochester on Jan. 6th to visit with a pediatric oncologist and shortly thereafter, begin a 6-week treatment here in Rochester.

The cerebro-spinal fluid draining from Jace's head is still red which indicates that there is still blood present in his brain. This is normal and we simply have to wait for him to heal and for the swelling to go down in his head. Please pray that his fluid will clear up, that his brain continues to heal properly and that functions return to normal over the next week. If all this happens, we will be moved to the General Pediatric Care Unit.

Special thanks to Rev. Kevin, Dwight DeJong and Mark & Renee McCulley for coming to support us today. It would seem that the overwhelming power of prayer coming from all of you is working powerfully in Jace at this time. Our little buddy is very lucky to have the support of all you and, after a positive day like today, we can definitely see God working in Jace.

One final interesting message from God (or at least we think it is) came to us last night. As we checked into the Ronald McDonald House, we read through a journal in the room which has been written in by families who have stayed there before us. The second and final entry was signed by the parents of a child receiving treatment here at St. Mary's. Their names were Travis & Tara and it was dated 12/18/00...3 years ago to the day that we arrived here! Chalk it up to coincidence or consider it a message from God that He is with us through all this. Just thought you'd find that interesting.

Thanks for all your prayers. They are working so keep 'em coming!!!

Travis

Sunday, December 21, 2003 9:31 PM CST

One last update for tonight. Jace will go in for an MRI in the morning to find out how much of the tumor is left, how much the swelling has subsided and how things are healing in general inside his head.

An encouraging sight today was Jace's appetite returning with a vengeance! For lunch, he pounded down a hearty helping of Mac'n'cheese, french fries and a chicken finger. Shortly afterwards, he took matters into his own hands and inhaled 3 snickerdoodles with no help from us. After passing on the hospital hot dog for supper (wouldn't you?), he ate a whole bowl of Frosted Flakes...(if cereal for dinner doesn't make him feel like home, then I don't know what will!...sorry Tara ;-) A nightcap of snickerdoodles and Coke finished off the day.

My apologies to our friends expecting to hear from Jace tonight. Even though he's eating better, he is still quite growly and irritable from his medication. Hopefully this will subside within a couple of days and he can begin visiting with everyone who calls.

Thanks again for all your prayers, emails, phone calls and support. Be sure and sign the guestbook before you leave our site. We love hearing from you!

Sincerely,
Travis

Sunday, December 21, 2003 2:57 PM CST

Hello everyone! First and foremost, Tara & I can't thank all of you enough for your calls, emails, cards, gifts and posts to our website. It is so encouraging to read everything you send and to know that you are all thinking of our little guy. Words cannot express how much we appreciate and value the support of our family, friends and community!

Today was fairly uneventful. Jace did bust out a couple smiles today; once after opening his Wiggles Guitar and once after eating a cookie by himself. He is still grumpy for the most part and is still having difficulty keeping his eyes open and attentive. The nurses tell us that the steroid he takes to control swelling is very hard on him and slows his recovery just a bit.

Jace is scheduled for a CT scan on Monday and will probably have an MRI early next week to see how much of the tumor is left. The Dr. is confident about having removed 90% and said there is a chance the MRI will show he may have gotten slightly more. All of your fervent prayers would be greatly appreciated. Please pray that more than 90% of this tumor has been removed and that the subsequent treatments (chemo/radiation) will be very effective in removing it from his body!

Jace is just chilling in his bed as I type this but the coming week will hold many challenges for him. Please keep the emails, calls & posts to Jace's website coming!Your support is invaluable to Jace and to us and we are forever grateful to all of you for helping us through this time!

Sincerely,
Travis

Sunday, December 21, 2003 2:57 PM CST

Hello everyone! First and foremost, Tara & I can't thank all of you enough for your calls, emails, cards, gifts and posts to our website. It is so encouraging to read everything you send and to know that you are all thinking of our little guy. Words cannot express how much we appreciate and value the support of our family, friends and community!

Today was fairly uneventful. Jace did bust out a couple smiles today; once after opening his Wiggles Guitar and once after eating a cookie by himself. He is still grumpy for the most part and is still having difficulty keeping his eyes open and attentive. The nurses tell us that the steroid he takes to control swelling is very hard on him and slows his recovery just a bit.

Jace is scheduled for a CT scan on Monday and will probably have an MRI early next week to see how much of the tumor is left. The Dr. is confident about having removed 90% and said there is a chance the MRI will show he may have gotten slightly more. All of your fervent prayers would be greatly appreciated. Please pray that more than 90% of this tumor has been removed and that the subsequent treatments (chemo/radiation) will be very effective in removing it from his body!

Jace is just chilling in his bed as I type this but the coming week will hold many challenges for him. Please keep the emails, calls & posts to Jace's website coming!Your support is invaluable to Jace and to us and we are forever grateful to all of you for helping us through this time!

Sincerely,
Travis

Saturday, December 20, 2003 3:12 PM CST

For those of you who may not know how we arrived up here in Rochester and to clarify any misinformation going around, I thought I'd recap the events of the last few days.

WEDNESDAY 12/17/03
We took Jace to the Grinnell Clinic as he had been vomiting and having some noticeable balance problems during the previous two weeks. Following a brief exam, we were sent to Blank Children's Hospital in DSM. An MRI revealed a very large tumor in the back of his brain. I can't begin to describe the sick feeling and despair that accompanies news like that. That evening, Jace was taken by helicopter to St. Mary's Hospital (part of the Mayo Clinic) in Rochester, MN. Tara & I started the longest drive of our lives and followed him up in the car.

THURSDAY 12/18/03
We met with Dr. Raffel, Mayo's only pediatric neurologic surgeon. He informed us that the tumor was near the brain stem and nerves which controlled many of his involuntary muscle functions such as swallowing, breathing and vision. He told us that there was a chance the tumor might have invaded the fourth ventricle of the brain (see your biology book for more info!) and if it had, he would not be able to remove that part as manipulating either of these areas could cause Jace irreparable damage. Later that morning, Jace underwent an MRI on his spine to find out if any of the tumor had moved into the spinal column. We expected to see him afterwards, but, to our surprise, at 1:25 PM (right after the MRI), they started the operation. Phone updates from the OR each hour kept us abreast of their progress. At 5:05 PM, we received word that they had finished (initially we were told to expect the procedure to last approx. 6 hours). As we walked towards his room, we were expecting to see our little boy all wrapped in head bandages and unable to speak to us or see us. We were both surprised to see him lying in his bed with just a strip of his hair on the back of his head shaved off, a small bandage over his incision and talking to us. Dr. Raffel informed us that he had removed 90% of the tumor but was unable to remove the portions of it near the sensitive areas mentioned above. Although we were a little disheartened that all of the tumor had not come out, we tried to be thankful for 90%. His spinal MRI had come back negative by now so the news left room for hope. That night, as we stayed with Jace in his room, we began to see signs of our old little boy returning. Most notably, his temper. As the nurses (who are all very caring, dedicated professionals) poked and prodded Jace each hour, he would swat at them and tell them in no uncertain terms to stop messing with him. Two of the more memorable quotes of the night were, "Quit it! I stinkin' mean it!" and (regarding his catheter) "get this stinkin' out of me!" Another highlight of the evening was Jace's knockout attempt on his nurse, Natalie. I'm sure with time, his punches and swats will become more accurate! It was actually nice to hear & see him like this as he had been quite docile during the past couple of weeks as the tumor was spreading. The nurses' constant attention combined with his catheter made for quite a long night for him!

FRIDAY 12/19/03
Throughout the day, Jace was having trouble staying awake and focusing his eyes on us. Just to be certain, Dr. Raffel ordered a CT scan. The scan revealed a small blood clot in an area where the brain had decompressed from the skull and some blood around the brain, but nothing out of the ordinary. Jace was just recovering a little slower than expected. That night, the Dr. shared with us the pathology results of the tumor. It was a Medulloblastoma. This is one of the most common types of tumors found in this part of the brain in children of this age. This was some comforting news to us. Many people have asked us if the tumor is benign or malignant. As we understand from Dr. Raffel, a brain tumor really doesn't qualify as either. Brain tumors are specific to the brain/spinal region and will not metastasize to other parts of the body (which is what the term "malignant" refers to). Dr. Raffel referred to Jace's tumor as an "aggressive" tumor which will need further treatment, i.e., chemotherapy and/or radiation. He has told us in no uncertain terms to set aside the next year of our lives to treat this tumor.

SATURDAY 12/20/03
Jace is standing on his own a little better today and took a couple steps. Dr. Raffel has told us his balance will not return quickly but will get better over time. He is still having trouble focusing his eyes (especially his right eye) but the nurses say they have seen this before. He continues to trade punches with his nurse, Marnie, who is not afraid to give it right back. Marnie has worked here for "100 years" as she puts it and doesn't seem ready to take Jace's guff lying down. Although she refers to him as "Buster," it is quite evident that she is very fond of him! During a brief moment of remorse, Jace told Marnie he "wouldn't say mean things to you anymore." It remains to be seen if he will keep his word! Another nice bit of news is our room at the Ronald McDonald House just two blocks from the hospital. During our horrible evening at Blank's on Wednesday, the chaplain (who was very helpful and nice) put us on the waiting list at the RM House so we were able to get in sooner than expected. Tonight will be our first night there, although I'm trying to persuade Tara (who is trying to fight off a sinus cold) to stay there while I'm with Jace through the night. It will probably be easier to reach us here at the hospital but if you would like to talk to us at the RMH, the number is 507-252-2178. Also, for the record, Tara and I have been up here by ourselves for a couple of days so we always welcome phone calls. We can't use our cell phones in the ICU and we can't check our cell voice mail since we're out of our territory. Hearing from our friends and family members is never an inconvenience! Lastly, but most importantly, we cannot express enough our sincere gratitude and thanks to all of you who sent up gifts, cards and support today. We were so overwhelmed! It was a very emotional time for us as we read through your cards and letters of encouragement and support. It made us feel like we were home again. It is difficult to comprehend the compassion and support coming from our hometown and all over the state and country. We feel very fortunate and proud to live in New Sharon. Thank you all very much! It would be so much more difficult to go through this without you all. We will update this page as often as possible so check back when you can to see how Jace is doing. Thank you again for your prayers & support!

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