Room Number for Hans

Lara called me and wanted to give out Hans' room number for me to put here. He's in Room 901. Please feel free to send Hans an e-gram by going to the Texas Children's Hospital webpage (under Parent Resource Center, send Patient Greeting), as it's sure to give him encouragement!

Lara said they got in their room about 4'ish today and should start to get going on the chemo very very shortly. She said he's doing good.

Let's pray Hans bounces back better than ever through this one. This amazing little guy has done it in previous rounds!

Bless each and every one of you each day of the New Year,
Carmen

Round Four Starts Thursday

So, Hans is getting admitted into the hospital for Round Four of Chemo tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 28th (provided his counts are high enough, but I think they will be with the energy he has had lately). This round of Chemo should last about three days. From what I understand, the effects of the chemo start to become cumulative and he may recover a little more slowly, or get hit a little harder this time. The idea is that Hans' counts will come back up and his surgery date is tentatively set for 1/17/06. A good day for your prayers, rosaries and well wishes!
I should mention that we had the good fortunate of staying home for a nice, quiet, mellow Christmas. It felt like a tremendous blessing to be able to stay away from the hospital throughout the entire holiday! I want to thank all our friends and family for their truly generous and thoughtful gifts this Christmas. We all enjoyed it. We even purchased a Cruiser, our "guest bike" for the visitor in the house. At our last check up Hans was cleared to ride in the bike seat again, so we're excited to get back out there!
I'll call Carmen and ask her to update the blog once we get a room tomorrow, so you'll all know how to find us!
Lara

CT Results look great!

The CT results came back in yesterday. They look great with over 50% shrinkage of his tumor! Also, previous spots on the liver look much better and have almost vanished. So, the plan is to go ahead and give him Round IV of Chemo starting December 28th and then give him several days to recover and do the surgery to remove what's left of the tumor in probably early mid January. It's very nice that we will all be able to be home and have a relatively normal Christmas! My mom is coming in today and will be here through the first, and then our friends Megan and Phil from California are able to come in for a few weeks in January. It'll be nice to have them here while Hans is in the hospital for surgery and recovery!

CT Scan Today

Hans goes in for his CT Scan today. We are pretty optimistic about this just because to the naked eye it looks like his tumor has already shrank quite a bit. After today, they will be able to see how much shrinkage has occurred and determine when and if they can go in and do the surgery. Of course we are praying for the best possible news!

Elle and Aunt Holly

Dancing The Bear

We got one shot of Hans doing his dance move at the hospital. He calls this The Bear. I think he was inspired from the closing credits of 'Over the Hedge'. The great thing about The Bear is that he'll do it for anyone - all you have to do is ask, music or no music. It's fun that he's feeling well enough to be more of himself at the hospital.

Hungry Hans

Hans received a gift of a gingerbread house during his last admission. He immediately said "I want to eat it" and took a huge bite out of it. He later explained to aunt Holly, "I was really hungry". Speaking of hungry - he has had quite an appetite here at home. He has eaten four PB&J's today and the other night he ate two entire BBQ chicken breasts! I have also been making him scrambled eggs about three times a day.

Hans with the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Ballerinas

Grandpa Dean's Goodbye Hug

We just dropped Grandpa Dean off at the airport. We had a great visit and Dean dodged one heck of a storm up in Washington this weekend! Hans enjoyed his Granpda Time.

The Three Weberling Guys

Hans and Elle, clowning around

Hans and Grandpa Oscar, after "Solidarity" Haircut

Grandpa Oscar and Hans, Baking Finnish Coffee Bread

Aunt Holly, Elle and Hans

Hans and Grandma Kathy

Christmas Card Photo, 2006

Round Three Complete!

Hello!
We made it home today from a very successful Round Three of Chemo on "Nine West Tower" - our floor and building at Texas Children's Hospital. Hans handled this round very well. He ate the entire time and even picked up some new dance moves right there in his hospital bed. He's working on a move called the bear where he shakes his two hands out front like paws. It's pretty cute. We were just pleased that he didn't let the chemo get him down. The highlights of this round were visits from three ballerinas from the Houston Ballet Nutcracker, various visits and toys from Santa, two groups of Christmas Carollers, one of which was the real live FBI. They gave Hans and Grandpa Dean matching black FBI hats. Grandpa Dean got in yesterday and is here through Saturday. He and Kevin are hoping to get a round of golf in during our current 70 degree weather (sorry Holly! - it was in the 30's here for all but her first day).

Elle went back up to Seattle with Aunt Holly for a whirlwind tour with family and friends and a gig as a Flower Girl for my cousin Linnea's wedding. Next, she's flying as an unaccompanied minor to Phoenix to spend time with Kev's uncle Mark, Aunt Debi and their two girls, Jessa and Kalene, before returning to us in time for Christmas. Elle is having quite a time already. Our friend Shelley took her the play High School Musical with her first ever friend, Greta, and Cousins Colleen and Erin took her to the Aquarium yesterday and it's to the zoo tomorrow. Luckily she had some down time with my grandpa today, baking cookies and reading. Aunt Holly and Uncle Michael got her a cell phone for her solo flight! We miss her, but we've instructed everyone not to spoil her.

The first thing Hans did after getting home was bike to the park with Grandpa Dean. So, he is in great spirits! His blood counts should still get very low over this weekend though, so we should limit his exposure through Monday. The news is that Monday is the day for his next CT scan. They are going to take a look at the shrinkage to see about surgery. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!
With love, Lara

Hans's new room number

Hi everyone,
I just received a call from Lara and she said they are in room 925 at Texas Children's this time for those of you who want to go to the TCH webpage and type a message to be delivered to his room. Lara said that Hans is in good spirits and has actually gained 1 kg (2.2 pounds) since his last round of chemo. (I guess that may have something to do with the numerous trips to McDonald's for McNuggets.) For whatever reason it is great that Hans is gaining weight and doing well. Thank you all for your continued prayers.
Ginger

Wednesday, December 6th

Hi Everyone,
Hans has had a great time at home this week. He has been sending us all on multiple trips to McDonald's. I used to really try to limit how much McDonald's we got, but on Monday I actually went there TWICE for chicken McNuggets for Hans! He has also been really going through the Cool Ranch Dorito's, Red Berry Capri Suns and Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal. This is about all he will eat right now. The Doctors told us to expect as much, and that his preferences should change weekly.

I just found out from our friend, Scott Miller, that when you go to Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center to give in Hans' name you need to know his DOB (7/15/03) and his hospital (Texas Children's Hospital). The blood bank donations don't have to be a specific type, they only help to replenish the supply, and they do take down the cost our insurance pays for the blood by quite a bit. If I understand correctly we are charged $100 instead of $800 or so for each blood product we use. Hans has been going through 3 or 4 each hospital stay. So, thank you very much if you are able to donate in Hans' name. Thier Woodlands address is: 3091 College Park Drive, Ste. 130 (936) 321-8440.

I also felt like pasting in this amazing list of sponsors for the Run For Hans. Thanks so much to everyone who helped out with that incredible event.
Chick-fil-A-Kendrick, Dean (cow), Jessica and staff
Brooklyn Bagel
Panera Bread
Shipley's
It's A Grind Coffee
Beverage Shoppe
MW Cleaners-
Papa John's
Ricco's
Subway
Copy Central
Kinko's
Honey B Ham
Alamo Joe's
Skeeter's
Beck's Prime
Fuddrucker's
Brother's Pizza
Starbuck's
Nick and Willie's
Marta's
Bahama Blue
Kid to Kid
Double Dave's
Mi Luna
Fast Frame
JW Tumbles
China Springs
The Tropics of the Woodlands
Sakekawa
Cartoon Cuts
Learning Express
Elizabeth's
Shoeballou
Berryhill
Jamba Juice
Interiors with Panache
Swoozies
Bella Rinova
Chuy's
Robyn Petty/Texas Road House
Danny's Trix and Kix
Fast Signs -THEY WERE WONDERFUL-Lisa and Chris Farr
The Villager-Erin Myers
The Houston Chronicle-Roberta McInnis
The Conroe Courier-Jim Fredrichs/Mike Jones
The Chronicle On-line-Laura Isensee
John Walk-Houston Running Blog
Market Street-Online Newsletter
Luke's Locker-Mike Lucas and Susie Schreiber
First Choice Emergency
St Anne's Society
Little Saints Staff
Woodlands Fit
Area Running Clubs
The Woodlands Running Club-Scott Campbell
7 Hill Running Club-Ken Johnson
TNT-Team in Training-Bill Dwyer
Luke's Locker Runners-Susie Schreiber
Sts Simon and Jude
Chase Bank
Playtime for Kids

Thanks again to everyone!

Hans will go back in tomorrow for five days of Chemo. After that, he'll have a CT Scan to see if the tumor is small enough to remove. If so, his surgery may be scheduled before Christmas!

We'll keep you posted.

Lara

Saturday

So - we did make it home yesterday! As always, Hans is doing great here. He is eating a lot and moving around great. We hope to have six nights at home before round three, on Thursday December 7th. Thanks for all the prayers.
Lara

Stem Cell Collection

Hi everyone.
We have good news. They were able to collect enough stem cells yesterday. In fact, yesterday went so well that we have twice as many stem cells as needed. The order was written for 4 million. We collected 1.9 on Wednesday and went back on Thursday and were able to get an additional 6 million stem cells! It just makes me feel good that there is room for some unforeseen error. I'm looking at this as a little miracle of medical science that they are able to harvest so many of his own stem cells for his later transplant. From what I understand, a transplant with your own cells is much safer since the risk of a host/donor reaction isn't present.

It was also fortunate that Kevin's aunt Holly was here to help with Elle this week. We certainly hadn't planned on being admitted all week. We actually had thought the stem cell collection would be done on an outpatient basis. But with his initial fever and then his low counts, they just wanted to keep a close eye on him.

Now we just need to make sure Hans' counts all look good before we are sent home probably today.

Again, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. The week of R and R at home is just what we will need before we come back in for more chemo next week.

Lara