What's up with the VPs

Hi everyone,

Brent had his Emory visit last Thursday and everything went well. He began his chemo again on Sunday. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. The chemo is getting stronger so the effects are getting worse.

The VP family had a normal weekend in spite of everything...watching the boys play football in the front yard, going to baseball games, and having dinner with family and friends.

Enjoy the pics! Expect miracles.

Meg

Update and prayer request

Hi everyone,

Sorry it has been awhile since I've posted. Missy wasn't sure if people were still reading the blog, but said since people have been asking her about it, we'll go ahead and continue to post updates! There's a lot of love out there for the Van Putten family! Thank you for the continued prayers and support.

Brent's last chemo round was rough. The dosage of the chemo had been increased and it wreaked havoc on his body. He felt like total crap, but hopefully that means it is doing what it is supposed to be doing. Missy is back to work full-time which has been an adjustment for the entire family. The boys are enjoying being back at school and back to playing baseball!

In a previous post, I mentioned that Missy & Brent met up with a high school friend of Brent's when they were in Houston for Brent's surgery. Her name is Mary Claire Blackshaw. She lives in Atlanta and her son has played baseball with Zack. Mary Claire is back in Houston at MD Anderson and is undergoing some pretty serious treatment today. Please take a moment to lift Mary Claire and her family up in prayer today and continue to pray for them in the coming days and weeks.

My 6 year old son is pulling on my pony tail right now and trying to ask me some "very important" questions. While I normally might nicely say "Mommy's busy right now", I seem to have constant reminders lately that we all need to appreciate the mundane every day stuff a little bit more. I'm going to sign off to see what the little man would like to do.

Thanks for keeping the Van Puttens and Mary Claire in your prayers. Expect miracles!

Meg

Good news!

Hi everyone,

Dr. Gilbert was pleased with Brent's MRI results. The chemo is doing what it is supposed to be doing! Brent & Missy will be traveling to Houston every 2 months for MRIs so they will be back in October. Brent will continue with his monthly chemo. He'll start againt this Sunday.

Brent & Mis were able to meet up with Hugh and Anna for dinner on Tuesday night. In Missy's words, "it was nice to be able to do something social when we are there for a change". I'm sure it helped take their minds off waiting for the results.

Thank you for your prayers. They are working!!!

Meg

Better late than never!

Hi all,

Sorry to keep you waiting for the VP update! I had talked with Missy last night and then remembered in the wee hours that I had forgotten to post. I planned to do it in the morning before I went to work and then forgot again. Ahhh...the effects of nutrisweet...or is it just age???

I'm happy to report the VPs had a pretty good week. Brent was feeling pretty well and the VPs continued to celebrate sweet Luke's birthday with family and friends. They even went to the Braves game on Thursday night.

Speaking of baseball...the boys had a lesson with Coach Hans over the weekend and then they all went to lunch. Coach Hans has the be the best coach ever! (I'm even saying this after he defriended me on FB! Hopefully it won't happen again. j/k Hans!). Fall Ball starts this week. Brent and the boys are excited to get back in the swing of things. (Good one Missy!).

The boys had their back to school orientation today and their first day of school is tomorrow. Good luck boys! Hope your first day back is GREAT!

Brent & Missy leave tomorrow to go to Houston for a follow up appointment and MRI. They will get the MRI results on Wednesday. Missy will call me after their appointment and I'll post an update then. Thank you Jon and Ginny for watching the boys and Brenda for watching the dogs while Brent & Missy are away. Missy & Brent are so sad not to be home when the boys will be getting home from school on their first day. They are hoping to get a chance to see Hugh and Anna ~ I know seeing them will cheer Mis & Brent up!

Brent will have his regular monthly appointment at Emory on Thursday.

Please keep the VPs in your prayers...specifically for a great first day of school for the boys, safe travels for Missy & Brent, and positive MRI results. Expect Miracles!

Meg

Update on the VPs

Hi all,

It was a busy week for the Van Puttens. They got Zack back from Florida in time to celebrate Luke's 7th birthday on Friday. Then they all went to the PGA Championship on Saturday. It was a fun day, but rather toasty. The pic is from the event - it's Zack and Luke with their cousin James in the middle.

Brent is feeling a little better which is good. The VPs are trying to enjoy the last few days of summer before the boys start back to school next week and Missy & Brent head to Houston for Brent's follow up appointment.

Hope you are enjoying your last few days of summer as well.

Meg

Update

Hi everyone,

As promised, here's the Sunday update!

Brent finished his chemo pills on Friday. Unfortunately, he experienced an increase in side effects due to the increase in his chemo dosage. Hopefully, he'll start feeling better soon and the chemo is doing what it is supposed to.

The boys have been enjoying themselves lately. In addition to some fun play dates in Atlanta, the boys have been spending some one on one time with Graddy (Bill) and Lynn in Florida. Luke was there last week (Saturday - Thursday) and this week is Zack's turn. They have had a great time there playing golf, swimming in the pool, and eating yummy gourmet meals (steak, salmon, and shrimp to name a few). Missy will head there on Wednesday to pick Zack up and get him back to Atlanta in time to celebrate Luke's 7th birthday on Friday. Happy birthday sweet Luke!

They are all looking forward to going to the PGA tournament on Saturday in Alpharetta (a gift from Graddy and Lynn).

Thank you for all the support for the VP family. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

Expect miracles!
Meg

August 3rd Update

Hi everyone,

I can't believe it is already August 3rd! Sorry I have not posted for awhile.

The VPs went to the beach last week with Brenda, Jon, Ginny, James, and Bailey and had a really nice time. They celebrated Brenda's birthday while they were there so it was great timing for a family beach trip.

It was back to reality this week. Brent started on his second round of chemo pills. The doctor upped the chemo dosage so please keep Brent in your prayers. Hopefully, the side effects don't increase as well.

Zach and Luke have been keeping busy with playdates, etc. Thanks to everyone who have had them over ~ it's been so helpful to Mis & Brent.

I'll plan on posting every Sunday evening moving forward unless there's something special I need to post sooner.

Thanks again for all the support you are providing to the VPs. They really appreciate everything especially the prayers and words of encouragement.

Meg