My friend, Deana Reynold's

I believe in the power of prayer and that is why I am e-mailing you this request. I know that because of the prayers of so many that almost 2 years ago God healed my son Noah. The doctors gave him a slim chance at a normal life. Praise God that on Thursday he will turn 2 and he is developmentally on target. I know that God healed him. Because of my faith, I am asking you to join us in praying for my friend Deana Reynold's. Deana is a fellow adoptive Mom that was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma back in the fall. She just completed her second round of chemo and doctor's have reccomended hospice. She has two precious adopted sons, Zane (4) and Zack (2). Her husband Jack has been by her side the entire time. They had to hire a live in nanny to care for the boys. Please read the update below from Jack and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for this precious family! I know that God is able to heal her, my prayer now is that He will. Thank you for praying.

Blessings, Alisha

Dearest friends,
Deana and I met with her doctor today and received some disturbing news. Apparently Deana's cancer is not responding at all to the chemotherapy treatment she's been receiving these last several weeks. It has started to appear on the right side of her face causing a numbing sensation that Deana describes as 5 novacaine shots after a dentist visit.Deana has tried two different chemotherapy protocols and is now going to start a third (possibly final) no later than Monday. We will know in as little as two weeks if it is successful.To our shock and utter dismay, the doctor is not optimistic about this round of chemotherapy, but given the odds are greater than zero, we charge forward. We will not give in.Tomorrow, Deana's oncologist and I will each be contacting medical oncologists at M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, TX. Apparently their lymphoma treatment is the most progressive and if there are applicable clinical trials with experimental drugs -- should it come to that -- that hospital will be leading those efforts.Deana wanted me to let everyone know that while we are hopeful, and are trying to remain positive, that the doctor did tell us that given the aggressive nature of Deana's cancer, we are dealing with just a matter of weeks for Deana if not addressed. He has encouraged us to contact Hospice.I apologize for the impersonal nature of this update, but wanted to make sure to keep you all informed.Please keep Deana and our boys Zane and Zachary in your prayers. It means so much to us. We need them now more than ever.On a much happier note, when asked last week by his teacher how Zane's parents met (apparently a Valentine's Day exercise at school), he responded:They ate chocolate donuts, brown donuts and chocolate donuts and just fellin love.Priceless. This hangs on our refrigerator now.Please, please take the extra moment to hug your spouse and kids today and often.Either I or Deana will post an update just as soon as we know more.God bless you all,Jack

So I started a blog . . . .

I must admit I have been feeling a little bit left out. Almost everyone I know has a blog. I love to check them and see all of the great pictures, but yet I never started one for us. In fact I have discovered that Christmas letters are going the way of typewriters as everyone is already informed on what has happened in 2008 because they just read their blogs. So in an attempt not to be left our I started one for our family.

Don't ask about the title. I was getting frustrated and tried about 20 different titles which were all already taken. So I thought okay, "4 kids and counting." Now if we count Pedro then we ould have 5 but that is to much thinking for one day. And the title was avaliable so I gladly clicked accept!

There is not much news on the homefront. It is cold here in Waxahachie today. We had about 10 minutes of beautiful snowfall and a 2 hour delay to school. Tonight is supposed to be the high school band concert. Much to Tommy's dismay as he is very anxious to watch the Biggest Loser finale.

I hope that this "blog post" finds you well!