Good morning... We are in Little Rock.

Frank is in his PET scan for a few hours. We aren't allowed to be together while he waits because he's glowing in the dark apparently.
So, I'm in the library on the computer.

Hopefully Frank will do the next entry. I'm trying to encourage him. We come back to see doctor on Thursday.

Love to all... peg

Happy Saturday to you! It is so nice outide ~ I love fall weather!

We are having a low key weekend. Chandler and Zach are on a senior high retreat with the church. Chase is hanging out with the old folks. What a thrill for an 11 year old!

Everybody is doing well. Other than some fatique, Frank is doing very well. His is very glad to not be in the clinic every week. We return to Little Rock after Thanksgiving for another check up.

We receive email from the Myeloma foundation and UAMS from time to time. I read this article today and wanted to put the link on here.

I am so very thankful for God's wisdom in the area of medicine. I believe it all originates from Him. He is the author of all wisdom, and the giver of every good and perfect gift... and of course... our Healer.

This article is very encouraging. Click here to read the UAMS article.

Have a blessed weekend! The Carlton gang!

Wow, I can't believe it's been since August since we updated. Remember, when there's no news, that's GOOD news.

Frank is doing well. He gave him self a must needed break from the chemo. Sometimes you just have to do what's right for you, you know what I mean? Dr. B is wonderful, but I think he'd have Frank taking something everyday ~ including holidays. Respectfully, of course, Frank told him he would take a few months off... and he did.

He's completed 2 (of 6) rounds. He hasn't been sick, but just some normal side effects that Frank takes in stride and keeps on keeping on. He's working hard at Elliott Data Systems, traveling more than ever, training a new sales guy, and having fun. Our chuch is having their annual Men's BBQ cooking contest. He is very excited about that and plans on having his cooking team with him on Friday. Like father, like son. And of course, Halloween is around the corner. I have no idea what he'll be this year, but if I know him like I think I do, he's already been trying to think of something.

Everybody else is doing good too. Chandler's enjoying school and is proud of her straight A's. Her notes look like she typed them... those are not my genes! She's still playing piano.
Zach is loving high school. He's also doing very well. The classes are more challenging and he loves being out of middle school..... did anybody like middle school? Do I see a hand raised? He's still playing competitive soccer, which keeps us busy. We were happy to be in Ft Smith, AR for his last tournament and got to visit some of Frank's family.
Chase had made the transition to middle school (poor guy). He is going to be in the school play ~ Cheaper by the Dozen ~ in Nov. He's practicing every day. He loves being back at ECS and is enjoying everyone he comes in contact with! Chase is very social... which makes the academic process a little more challenging! I might have to take him to a doctor, he has something that looks a lot like a phone growing out of his ear. Any thoughts? All in all they are all having a great year so far. We love seeing them grow into young adults and can't to see what God has in store for each one of them.

I'm settling down into a somewhat normal routine again after a very busy September. I spent most of the month being trained in Limited Obstectrical Ultrasound. I'll be using these new skills at Life Choices where I will work every Friday. It's a pregnancy center/adoption agency that Frank and I had been involved with many years ago. We used to be a cradle care family for them until Frank got MM in 2002. It's a wonderful ministry that we love and I'm happy to be able to use my nursing skills there. I'll also continue my job in the kitchen at Hope. I feel blessed to be serve along side the people there.

We stand in amazement and wonder at what God has done in our lives, and how far He has brought us. We are so very thankful for the healing he as granted to Frank. The 5 year mark is fast upon us. That is huge for us. With the average survival rate still reported as 3-5 years, we feel overwhelmed with how good Frank is doing after 5 years. It is humbling and leaves me at times speechless.... but not tearless.....and not without deep gratitude to the Greatest Physician... our Lord.

Thank you all for praying ~ still ~ and being so faithful for 5 years... and walking this jouney with us.

In His grace, Peg

Happy Birthday to Zach and Frank!!

To my September boys:

Happy Birthday!

Frank: 9-11 Zach 9-19

We love you ~ oh so much!

Well, It's the last weekend before school starts! Sunday's early to bed time. I am so sad... really! I would like a few more weeks.

Frank started his chemo "lite", as he calls it, on Thursday. Usually he doens't look forward to the steriods they give him. But this time, he welcomed it. They gave him a boost of energy that he was long missing, and he has felt some relief from the shingles.
Other that the hiccups that he always gets when he's on Dex, he's doing really good.

These treatments will be 2 days a week for 2 weeks, 10 days off, then the same cycle repeats for 6 months. We'll return to Little Rock after 3 of them for another check up.

Things have been busy in our family. Besides our quick trip to Little Rock and getting ready for school, my grandmother had surgery today for a hip fracture.

I hope this finds you all well and happy. We love you all! Peg

Hello Everyone !

I thought I would weigh in with a few comments.

If you have been keeping up with the talk around the "water cooler" you know that this week has been pretty tense.

It all started with my developing a limp about three weeks ago.

Peggy had started getting suspicious that my problem wasn't a simple leg strain, so she called the Dr's in Little Rock to ask a few questions. Once she did that, well they freaked out, which in turn caused us to freak out, so we (Peggy and I) wound up in Little Rock all week.

They ran a bunch of tests on me and found out that MY CANCER IS NOT BACK!
Yea me! Yeah God!!

The best part is that even though we were scared, we did turn to the Lord in prayer. Some folks even text messaged prayers or called me up and prayed with me on the phone.

The whole week reminded me of the Mercy Me song, 'Bring the Rain'.
The song brings up the fact that it might take "storms" in life to bring us closer to God. Well, I wish I could tell you that I was 100% faithful and had no doubts, but I did have doubts.

I actually got real choked up one morning and prayed for just a sprinkle, I told God that I wasn't ready for the rain,.... not now....things have been just been so good lately.
Well, He delivered....it was, just a sprinkle.

Thank you for your thoughts, kind words, and especially for your prayers. God once again answered by "holding our hands" as we walked through a valley.

The only downer is that I DO have the "SHINGLES".

So please, no big hugs, no slaps on the booty, and no bumping me in the hallway to see if I'll fall over, cause I will.

I am hurting, but it hurts so good! Yes, I am so happy to have the shingles!

Frank

Praises Praises Praises!!!

We are so thankful for good news. Frank is still in remission!

Shingles is to blame for all the pain he has in his leg. Frank said he never thought he'd be happy to have the shingles, but he is!!

We were on our way to hospital this afternoon and stopped in a parking lot for a few minutes. We read the devotion for Aug 2 out of a new book I have.

Today's verse was "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth... I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34: 1,4

I love it when God does that! His words are always right on time. Thank you all so much for your love and tender care over us, and our kids. We are so very blessed.

We're going to bed ~ in our OWN bed ~ with a grateful and thankful heart..... love, peg

I took this picture a few weeks ago when I was going out to check the mail.... I still stare at it.....

The day's been pretty good.

Just the normal routine for us when we come. We could do it with our eyes closed... and sometimes do. I don't know what is about a waiting room that makes me sleepy. It's like there's laughing gas in the air vents or something. I've been yawning and drowsy all morning.

Frank had the bone scan first this morning. The tech said it didn't look like a compression fracture to her. Humm... not what we wanted to hear. So, we'll just filter that news like this..."she can't tell from that ~ lets see what the MRI shows".

He self medicated, as usual, for the bone marrow biopsy. New drugs this time. They didn't work as well. He said this one was much more painful for him than it had been in a long time. He's glad it's over. The tech was bragging on her bone sample. I was happy to hear that. Let's get some answers!

We're waiting on the MRI at 6. It's a full body, so it'll take several hours. He usually sleeps through them so that's good. Another waiting room... a nap for me too!

Frank and I are both glad we're here. It's always an adjustment, on many levels of emotions, to come back. Especially when it's an unscheduled visit like this one. But he is hurting quite a bit and he's limping. He woke up in the middle of the night needing medicine, which he's not eager to do usually. He knows we needs some answers and he's just wanting to feel good again.

Please pray these will tests will give us answers. Of course, our hearts desire is that he still be in remission. But as he and I prayed together this morning.... prepare our hearts for Your will, and give us the strength to live out in faith Your plan for us, in order to give You glory.

He's reading all this over my shoulder... (i can't get him to type) and sends his love to all..............

Hi everybody,

It's been 5 minutes since i wrote "hi everybody".

That sort of tells where this is headed. We're sorry we don't update more often. I guess when things are going well, we don't want to bore people.

We were in Greenville last weekend and one of the family's dear friends said "I check the website all the time and they're not anything new on it. Please let me know how you are doing". That made us feel good and guilty. I'm glad people are still checking on us. Because if you are, that means we are still on your prayer list. And that's a great thing... because we are asking for your prayers now.

Frank hasn't been feeling himself for about a month now. Started out just fatigue, then it moved to back and leg pain, then a rash we thought was shingles (but it wasn't), but the leg pain didn't go away. He was checked for a blood clot and that was negative. So we called UAMS to talk to a nurse. The answer was "come now, asap".

So, we are headed to Little Rock for testing to begin on Tuesday. Frank has Bone Density test 8:30, labs, bone marrow biopsy 10:45, MRI 6:00. Pet scan on Wed, and Dr Barlogie appointment on Thursday.

We are trying not to worry until we have reason to. yeah right. Anybody that's had something on their mind knows that's better said than done. Mostly, Frank is annoyed, to quote him. He had a lot going on this week at work. And being sick isn't something you just pencil into your calendar.

We'll keep you updated as we know something. We are praying the cancer hasn't returned. If it's a back related issue, we're guessing a compression fracture. He had a vetebral-plasty for another compression several years ago and has done great. It can be serious but if they caught it early, it's a fixable problem.

Someone else we saw this summer asked us to update on the kids. They are all doing great.

Chase is starting 6th grade. He'll play football for the school. He wears his pads almost daily around the house. I'm going to need to redo my door frames ~ he doesn't know how wide he is. I can relate. It can be a problem!

Zach is starting 9th grade. The low man on the pole again. I think he's excited, but he's a guy and his vocabulary has been reduced to about 10 words in his "13th" year of living. He's still playing club soccer for Lobos.

Chandler is 10th grade this year. She's still playing piano and playing french horn for the concert band. She has a boyfriend, a fine young man. And, of course, she's driving us everywhere still. She even drove us to Greenville and back on the same day. I think I'm more ready for her to be driving than she is. I NEED her!!

Chandler and Zach are taking 3 of the same classes this year: biology, geometry and computer. They have computer together in same class. They are excited about that and think it'll be fun to have a class together. They have both done mission work this summer, and taken the church conference trip to Padre. It's been eventful for all of them.

Thank you for your continued support of our family and for lifting Frank up in prayer. We knew when this started, that is would be a marathon, not a sprint.

People would tell us all the time: "I pray for you everyday." Frank would say, "please don't do that". That got a look. He'd continue, "you'll get tired of praying for me if you do that. I need you for the long haul. Pick one day week ~ trash day ~ and pray for me then."

So... go take out the trash! !

Only by His grace, Peggy

Praise God for His faithfulness and answers to your prayers!

The news is all good from Little Rock. Peggy and I met with Dr. Barlogie yesterday and he said everything looks really good.

No protiens can be detected, they did not find any new active disease or lesions, and my bones are repairing themselves.

He presecribed 6 more cycles of chemo for preventative maintenance and I go back in 3 months for another review.

Peggy and I are so thankful for all the prayers and help during these times. Without your support, making these journies would be so difficult.

Love Frank

Happy Tuesday,

Things went well today. Frank had to be at radiology by 10. We've been thinking all this time they were going into the shoulder lesion they found when he relapsed in 2005. But, they didn't.

They said that all the other lesions he has have shown some changes. These are changes that show where his body is trying to repair itself. This takes years depending on how big the lesion is but it's still a good sign to see.

But the lesion they went into today was the largest one he's had from the beginning. It's in his right hip. They said it hasn't changed over the 4+ years. So, that's where they went in today.

We did feel good about it because he said it is not a "hot spot". So, although that makes us feel really confident.... why are they doing this? We don't know.

Frank said the experience was a new one for him and strange at best. He was on his back. The went in from the front so he got to watch the whole thing..... he'd tell it better than me so I'll skip all that.....

After we left there, we drove to Hot Springs for him do some work. While he was in his meeting, I got to browse the quaint little shops there. I had a neat experience while I was alone there.
There was a veteran on an old bike decorated with more flags than he had room for. He got off his bike to go into the coffee shop that I was sitting in front of. I struck up a conversation with him but, of course, quickly noticed that he didn't talk. He had one of those black boxes that you use to make your vocal cords vibrate so he can talk. To be honest.... this one of those guys that most people ~yes, I have been guilty of this ~ would avoid eye contact with. But he had smiled so genuinely at me, and we DID catch eyes. That made me really want to talk to him. We had a nice conversation about the obvious... places he's lived, how he got his bike (not a motorcycle, a 10 speed), and why I was in AR. He had cancer of the throat in 1995 and has been using the box since then. He said everyday that he wakes up and gets out of the bed is a great day. And we talked about the blessing of healing! Then he rode off on his only mode of transportion.

But he told me I made his day and thanked me for talking to him... which, in turn, made my day.
We are in the hotel room for the night. I plan to watch Idol and vote from here. Frank has been in and out of naps...

We see the famous Dr. Barlogie tomorrow at 10:30. And we are very anxious to get home... love to all.

Well, things have gone well this morning.

The biopsy is over. Frank said the rest of the day has to go better now that it's over.

We had an MD watching the tech to learn. She's going to work in LA and the MD's there do their own bone marrow pulls. She watches 10, then does 10.

Good medical training! We were #6 to be watched. Frank and I giggled on the way out that we were going to count to people in the waiting room and then start warning people! "sir, I'd reschedule if I were you!" But we didn't.

He's in the PET scan waiting room. He's radioactive now, so I can't be with him. He'll be about 2 hours, so I came to the library to check email and talk to you guys... MRI tonight at 7 pm. Then we'll be ready for bed!

Psalm 62: 5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Thank you for praying for us. We feel it!!

Mother's Day

Well, Happy Mother's Day to all the momma's out there. I know it's great to get the homemade cards, extra hugs and kisses and special treats! For me... I had all that.... I just wish I was little enough to fit in my mom's lap without hurting her! I have tried several times these past years. She never complains about my weighing more than her and even though her legs are probably numb... she makes it work. Cause she's my mom!!

We are in Little Rock. We dropped the kids off at youth group and left from church. I think we got here in one hour!! He won't tell me how fast he was going. We were singing to the ipod and I was doing a puzzle. Next thing I know we were here. In record time. Anyway... he's asleep with the remote control in his hand.

The past month has been such a roller coaster for me. I was starting to feel anxious and nervous about coming back. I didn't really share it with Frank, but I did with some of my girlfriends. But as I prayed through it, I felt very strengthened by the Lord. I just felt like the message from God was that He was getting me ready for something and reminding me that He would be there. Just trust in Him and stay close! Well, I assumed that related to Frank's checkup and I started to worry again.... which made me pray even more.

God is so sweet to just meet us where we are. And prayer is so powerful. I know we all know that.... why it surprises us is a mystery. Different things have come up in the past few weeks. Normal life stuff... but all things that sent to my knees...you know... just throw you back for a bit... and now I feel such a peace about all that and the check up too. I know He is right here.
We had the sweetest day at church. We worked all week making food for the Mother's Day picnic lunches we sell for the youth. It is such a tiring week, but the timing was perfect. I was busy all week with little time to think about anything else. It is fun.... we sold the food this weekend.

Being with everyone there is so great. The love we feel and share with everyone there is so very special to us. We feel so blessed to have our Hope family.

The bone marrow biopsy is first thing tomorrow. He'll have ... um... pain meds for breakfast. They should kick in fast because he can't eat until after the PET scan.
Frank told people today he was planning on getting more "wholy" while he was here. Another bone marrow biopsy... and one from the shoulder this time too. He makes me laugh.

I'll be updating every day while we're here. Thank you for your prayers. We know they work!!
Love to all...... Peg

Hi everybody,
Well, Frank is pleased, and very relieved that the 6 rounds of chemo are OVER!!
Yeah!! And even more than that, God blessed him with no complications.
We are indeed thankful.

We will return to Little Rock on May 14th for testing. Dr. Barlogie has requested a fine needle biopsy of his shoulder lesion. That hasn't been done since Oct 05 when they found the "nasty" stuff, as Dr B called it. The other tests are the normal routine.... MRI, bone marrow biopsy, blood work, and PET scan.

Everything else is normal! Praise the Lord for normal! Soccer, tennis, guitar, piano, baseball, youth group and more.... and Chandler drives us everywhere we need to go!! She's a pro already ~ except that we haven't done the Interstate yet.... no hurry.

Love to you all, Peg

Hope everyone had a very blessed Easter holiday!

Happy Birthday to our dear Chandler!!! She's 15 today.... and going to take her driving permit test tomorrow. Yeah.

Frank started the 6th ~ and last ~ VTD treatment today. His platelets were above 100.

Chandler and I took lunch up to him yesterday and sat with him for a little while. It was a neat day, because we ran into people we knew... it was their first time there... they were nervous. I showed them around and took them back to see Frank in the chemo room. Frank talked with them more after we left and prayed with them. Visits like that remind us how blessed we are.

God was so sweet to give us the opportunity to meet a need for them and once again remind us that He will use this whole process for His glory. It wasn't "just another chemo treatment" ~ it was a divine appointment.

We return to Little Rock in May for a full work up. We feel good about where Frank is and how he's doing. We are looking forward to great results.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us. God is so faithful! Peg

Over the past days several people have asked me why there have been so few updates. I must apologize for "holding back".

When things are going well, (which they are) there isn't a lot to say without repeating myself. You know - like today ...I woke up, brushed my teeth, ate a sausage egg & cheese McGriddle, and went to work in Nashville and did stuff like that.....boring.

I have been taking some rounds of Chemotherapy though, which can have some interesting side effects. It isn't about being sick, but I do get to feeling wierd sometimes....
Frank....:o)

Well, praise God for good news !

As Peg mentioned in the previous post, we anticipated getting good news and that's what we got. There were no Myeloma proteins found, no new lesions, and the lesions where the cancer had attacked the bone in the past were stable.

Dr Barlogie and his assistant Aimee were all smiles and said we would continue with the consolidation Chemo treatments as planned.

The only down side to the day was that I picked up the "bug" that Chandler has been fighting and I felt bad the whole day. I'll be over it soon enough.

Thank you all for your prayers....God is still saying yes!
Frank

Frank and I went to Little Rock yesterday for testing.

Things went very well. No PET scan this time, so it saved us some time too.

The bone marrow biopsy went well. Frank's meds kicked in and the procedure wasn't as painful. (At least that's what he said... it looks painful to me) They also made him sleep the whole way home... and the whole rest of the day.. and night!!

We return to Little Rock tomorrow to see the doctor and get the results. We feel really good about things and don't expect anything but a good clean report.

That would be a great Valentine Day present wouldn't it?

We'll be in touch to share what we know soon. Thank you for your continued prayers. May God richly bless each one of you.

Chandler's been home sick this week. Please pray for her quick recovery and that Frank (or the rest of us) won't get it.

Love, Peggy

Well, the news said this was suppose to be the most depressing day of the year.... That was our local newspaper. Today, my bible said "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it".

And rejoice we did. Frank got word that his lab reports (that he mails in to Little Rock) showed no trace of Myeloma in his blood.
That means the treatments are keeping him in remission. Everythings good!

We go to Little Rock for a full work up in Feb, but it's nice that we can go over there with such confidence in the results beforehand.

Frank finished the 4th and last treatment in the 3rd cycle of his VTD (Velcade, Thalidimide and Decadron for the medical minded). He's tolerated everything very well. His platelets started at 126, and are now 58.

But as long as he's not needing a transfusion, we won't complain.
Thank you for your continued prayers! They're working... Peg

My, my, my...how time flies when...well..things are going really well!

Sorry for the delay in posting information, and to be frank, Peggy as been holding back on making updates. She has been asking me to post some entries and I've been procrastinating.

When I got on here tonight it was confirmed; our last update was Dec 2006. I couldn't believe that it had been so long. Man that was all the way back in last year!

So here is the latest and greatest - I am happy to report that I am 1 treatment away from having completed my 3rd cycle of Velcade. (each cycle is 4 treatments)

Surprisingly I have had few side effects with these treatments - my energy level is really good, my blood values have stayed within reasonable limits, and mostly I haven't gotten sick from some nasty virus or bacteria.

In fact, I have started walking/jogging of late. I haven't consistently done that in years. Peggy and I think that with the last transplant they must of given me some "special reserve" stem cells that they had been holding out on me. Maybe these things get better with age, who knows, but I do feel extremely blessed no matter what happened.

I return to Little Rock in Feb. to go through an evaluation and then see Dr Barlogie. I plan on asking Dr B. if he snuck something in the transplant cells that he didn't tell me about. I'll let everyone know what CSI Frank-in-Little Rock turns up. Of course with my schedule I probably won't post the answer to the "special cells" question until March or April 08.

For me, 2007 has started out as a great challenge.

As long as I am feeling good I am going to make the best of things.

It also still astounds me at how many of people are still faithful in keeping us lifted up in prayer. I run into to you (people) almost every day and you tell me that you are still asking God for His mercy and blessings on our family.

Just so there is no doubt – God has answered and He as said yes, Frank can stay awhile longer!
And the beautiful thing about His answer to your prayers is the fact that I have such a renewed sense of purpose. I plan on making the most of His gift.

I was able to take the boys hunting with my family after Christmas. Our nephew Read shot a deer, and as long as we had the 4 wheeler......a good time was had by all!!

Blessings to you too - more later - Frank