Weekends in the hospital are pretty quiet. The good part about that is you don’t have to wait for bathrooms or elevators. But it just feels kind of big and empty. Not a new feeling for us, just reality.
Josiah is very anxious to be home. Some of the meds he is on makes him anxious, fidgety, a little emotional, and very unclear thinking. In rare moments he can carry on a conversation, but mostly he listens. He has a very hard time focusing and making even simple decisions. He can rarely even focus enough to watch TV and he can’t read but I’ve been reading a lot of scripture to him and also your comments and that seems to calm him down. He does not like to be alone and often needs someone to hold his hand or rub his feet. The three things he was told to do are eat, drink tons of water, and walk. He doesn’t feel like doing any of these things but he forces himself to do them and I’m so proud of him for doing that. I am only writing all of this so you can understand a little more of what he’s going through and know more specifically what to pray for. Prayer requests would be that he would be able to sleep peacefully tonight, that our transition home would be smooth, that the little dry cough that he has developed would not turn into anything serious, and that this chemo would be kicking his cancer’s tushy! He is not wanting visitors at this time and I am honoring his request. That may change in the future, and if it does be aware that all visitors must be healthy and that means not even a sniffle 🙂 I don’t want to be rude but him getting sick would only set back his healing and that’s the last thing we want.
I’m not sure I will have the time to update every day when we get home, but I will try. He will probably get more tired as the week goes on with his blood counts probably hitting a low around next Thurs. The Lord is blessing us every day with strength and peace. He is our Burden Bearer.
PS Oh, and for all of you cancer buffs out there, here is the list of chemo’s he has been taking this week: Ifosfamide, Carboplatin, and Etoposide…plus the many drugs to combat the effects of these drugs 🙂
Beautiful Things 
I took Etoposide too and I also took my chemo for 5 days in a row and then had 3 weeks off. It usually took me a week to rebound once I was home and then I felt a lot better. Being home really made a difference for me. Praying for you guys!
Jessica and Josiah,
Sweet blessings of deep sleep, a clear head and sweet peace as you transition home. Home is a great place to heal, gain strength and relax. We are praying for you and our church is praying for you! Remember God is walking with you!
i love you josiah! can’t wait to have you and the fam home….it’s too quiet here! hugs and kisses to you and jess and link=)
Josiah,
I hope by the time this is read you are enjoying being home. As far as sleeping better, I could help putting you to sleep. It seems that when I facilitate meetings at work I put people to sleep and when I talk to my kids about helping out around the house they seem to get really tired and need to go to their rooms to sleep. Sorry I am not around to bore you:)
You and your family are always in my thoughts and prayers. The courage and steadfastness both you and Jessica demonstrates the use of God’s strength and love in your relationship and daily life.
Lilly just hopped on my lap while I was typing this message. I told Lilly I was writing Ava’s mommy and daddy a note. She wanted to talk to Ava, but settled for me asking you to say hello from Lilly. She still talks about Ava.
Josiah, I would like to share a few verses that have always provided comfort and encouragement in my life:
Philippians 4:4-13
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Josiah, I love you and your family. I pray you will always know and feel God’s loving hands surrounding your family.
Jessica, thank you again for providing the updates. I know you are focused on taking care of your family; to take time to update everyone is very thoughtful.
Please know that you and your family have people that love and care deeply,
Uncle Jonathan
Jess and Josiah,
Thank you Jess for the update. We don’t know you guys well, but we’ve met through Dallas & Ruth Bee…we go to their church and have gotten to know your family through Family camp and other events at IRBC.
We are praying for Josiah fervently. To see him struggle through these physical difficulties that go with Chemo treatments is moving. I can only imagine how frustrating this all must be for him…not being able to talk/read/even watch tv. We are praying for all that you mentioned. May God bless you and glorify himself through this all!
Josiah by the time you get this you will be all settled in at home and resting in familiar surroundings. Trusing that God gave you a save & smooth trip home. We of course missed having you and Jess present at the graduation events but thank you so much for letting us enjoy your sweet little Ava for the weekend. It was such a joy to get to see her first thing in the morning and watch her all through the day as she skips, hops, sings and talks about everything. She was so sad that Jude, Ian, Celia & Emma were not around to play with as she had been anticipating playing with them you could tell but she did so well keeping herself entertained. She got quite attached to Uncle Doug. Just watching her reminded us constantly of God’s remarkable healing abilities and His lovingkindness to those who trust Him. We are waiting expectantly for Him to do the same in your situation and pray with believing hearts. We know He will strengthen and guide you all on the path which lies ahead of you. Be strong & courageous, do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Sleep well sweet children. God bless.
Hi Josiah and Jess…
We have been out of town. Ken had meetings. So I have caught up this morning with your lives. We have been praying continually for you three in Iowa City and also for Ava here. I cannot experientially know what you are going through, but I thank you, Jess, for your journal and for your thoughts on how to pray for you all. We will continue to uphold you. I have told many of what the Lord is taking you through. There are so many prayers being said on your behalf around the world. Continuing to pray…
Hi Josiah & Jess:
I think I left my message in the wrong place, so I am going to try again.
I wanted to tell you what a special child you have in Ava. When I stayed all night at your mom’s, I was able to observe her behavior over a period of time. What a responsive and obedient daughter you have raised. She is an absolute delight to be around.
Thank you for that. Thank you for working hard and taking the time to train her in the ways of righteousness. It is a gift you give to everyone she meets.
I am so proud of you two!
sending love and prayers,
Momma Dee
Thanks for updating the site Jess, we love knowing how to specifically pray for you, Josiah, and the kids.
Here’s a verse that came up on our internet homepage (Biblegateway) yesterday and I thought of your guys:
“The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
We’re praising the Lord for your salvation and relationship with Him.
Love, Rob and Julie
Good afternoon Josiah and Jess,
May the Lord keep you safely gathered in His arms. Sweet blessings to you and your family. Dawn and Conner Janovec
Hi Josiah and Jess. I just returned from South Carolina and couldn’t make it into the house and on the computer fast enough to see how you are doing. The measure of faith God has entrusted you with is an incredible encouragement and testimony to all of us. I am so very sorry that you are the ones feeling the pain and spending the emotional mountains in ways that hurt you so much, but as a small silver lining – our own faith is strengthened and we are all encouraged to walk more steadfastly and faithfully ourselves and to worship the awesome mighty God who is the recipient of all the glory that will come from this. We are daily praying for you and trusting with you that God will deliver you from this furnace – just as He did the three Hebrew boys. Right now, we see Him walking in the fire with you. We love you and we will continue to pray daily! Pat LaMantia
Keeping you guys in my prayers. Love you!
I am a friend of Amy’s and my heart aches for you. I cannot pray enough, I pray that the strength of those who love you will be complete for you.
Hey Guys,
I woke up two hours early this morning wide awake. I couldn’t really figure out why until I got on facebook and saw Mary’s link to this blog. I am praying for you all. I am constantly reminded that we serve a God that is ALL powerful and ALL knowing, and He proves to me daily that He will provide everything that we need. I will be on my knees this morning and continually for as long as it takes!
Tony LaMantia