update on mom

Dearest friends and family,

We are sad to say we didn't get good news with the latest MRI. The doctors called dad and let him know that there is now a third tumor. The tumor is already 8 cm. which is large in brain tumor terms. The second tumor actually was going away....but it seems that the chemo is not working for the new tumor. We all knew this would happen. This is the worst type of brain cancer in the last stage...she's done so well to fight it to the end! There is no more chemo or surgery options. Dr.'s say it will be weeks to month(s). Hospice care is now coming in from McAlester and helping out and grandma continues to help daily! We are all still in a state of shock and disbelief, we are all kinds of emotions. Thank you all for your continued love and support. People have poured out prayers and much love towards our family. Mom has touched so many lives and will continue too for many, many years.

Here is an amazing prayer I got from someone special and thought I'd share it. Please continue to pray for mom! We love you all and thank you again, The Forrester's/Kasbaum's/Mottern's

Father God; thank you so much for the strength you are giving Doreen and her family. We know you are the source of strength in these times and praise you. May your mighty arms reach down in such a way that they can FEEL them holding them up as their legs grow weak. Send a team of your most gentle angels to carry your...and our...loved one home where we will join her very, very soon. In the perfect name of Jesus, AMEN!

pictures from: Easter 2010, Stigler Egg Hunt at the Vo-tech, guys fishing over Easter weekend, Claire at Seasame Street Live!, GiGi and Gramps w/ Lyla.

MRI Monday March 29

Hi everyone,

Please pray for mom's upcoming MRI. It is scheduled on March 29th around 1:00 p.m.

We have enjoyed visiting mom and others have as well. Thank you all for the sweet cards, calls, visits and prayers. Mom doesn't say much anymore but she smiles and speaks many words through her sweet eyes. She has lost feeling/movement in her right side, but that left side is very strong and she can still squeeze a hand :) Dad and GiGi (grandma) have been amazing and so strong during this time. Daily, they are devoted and care for mom. Our families strong christian faith is what continues to keep us moving forward. We also love and appreciate, Anna, our helper that comes out to be with mom and take care of the house on Tuesday's.

We have had enjoyable weekends with her....we make a lot of yummy meals and Claire and Lyla love seeing their Mimi and Poppy. We usually get to see all the aunts and uncles and great grandparents too! Since I've (Brooke) have been on maternity leave w/ Lyla...Claire and I and little Lyla get to come down more often during the week or for an earlier weekend. It's been wonderful to be here with mom and dad. She'll still give us a laugh or two every now and then :)

Claire loves fishing and riding the four wheeler w/ Poppy! This weekend she enjoyed making "arts and crafts" with some of mom's old school items. So cute...she made mom a card and beaded things for her.

Mom has had lots of visits....especially from her school buddies. Thanks girls for making her Tuesday's special!

Continue your thoughts and prayers for mom....we are thankful for friends and family like you all. Everyone has been so supportive and kind throughout this trial. We love you all! The Forrester Family/Kasbaum/Mottern's

update-march 8

Hi everyone!

Mom had chemo again today and met w/ her chemo dr. here in Tulsa. It went well and dad said that they plan to do an MRI in approx. 3 weeks. Hopefully we'll know more about the 2nd tumor then. Continue to pray for her to be healed and regain strength. She's not able to move that right side at all, but has high spirits! Thank you all for your continued love and support for our mom and our family. Love, The Forrester's, Kasbaum's & Mottern's

more pics

Lyla Reese was born on New Year's Eve 2009! Mom got to come up to be with us too to welcome her second granddaughter into the world....Lyla weighed 7.1 and was 19.5 in. long. It was a wonderful day/night to celebrate a new life and looking forward to a new year ahead full of healing, strength, peace and miracles!

Visiting Mimi & Poppy-2 weeks old.....

Lyla-7 weeks old

February weekend update!

Hello to everyone from the Forrester/Kasbaum/& most recently Mottern families! :) We are posting some pics from the wedding, of Lyla's birth, and just some fun photos of our families! Brooke, Breck, Claire, Lyla, Hillary, Ryan and all the dogs came to MiMi and Poppy's this weekend! We have had a wonderful time together!! :)

*Mom has been doing pretty good lately.. as some of you know she had to go to St. John Hospital in Tulsa a few weeks ago for a seizure that she had. They decided to switch her seizure medication and increase the dosage. They didn't do an MRI while we were there because they didn't want to put her through all the testing so she will still get an MRI in the weeks to come. We'll definitely let you all know when that will be! Please continue to pray for her strength! She continues to be very weak on her right side and unable to use it very often. So please lift her up EVERYDAY as we know you all do! :) We are so very blessed with amazing family, friends, and a supportive community! You have no idea what each and every one of you mean to us! God is AWESOME and will continue to take care of mom and heal her! She is in HIS hands!

*Today - Sunday Feb. 28 - Nana Banana, Carl, Gramps (Virgil), GiGi, Uncle Roy, Aunt Ellen, Cousin Jenny and her family, Cousin Bekkie and her family are all coming to Stigler to see mom! It will be a fun filled day! We love spending time with our loved ones! It'll bring a smile to mom's face! :) We put makeup on mom and got her all dolled up for her company! :) yipppeee!

We love you all! God bless you always! The Forrester's/Kasbaum's/& Mottern's! :)

**all wedding photos taken by Andrea Murphy! She is fabulous! http://www.amurphyphoto.com/

MRI update-improvement!!!

Hi all!

Better news!! We found out from Dr. Woosley (mom's neuro here in Tulsa) that he thought the 2nd tumor had become "less bright" and had shrunk just a little bit, praise the Lord!! We are still waiting to hear from her chemo doctor, Dr. Trotman, tomorrow (Wed the 9th) to see what to do next. Also, we are waiting on the doctors at MD Anderson to let us know their opinion....

Thanks for all the love & prayers! Love, the Forrester's

Holiday Time!

Hi everyone!

Happy Holidays!

11/21 & 11/22--Birthday weekend! Dad, Mom & Hillary's birthdays are all on the 21st and 22nd. It's so neat that they all "share" them together! We had a good time...we had a great family dinner themed "italian night". We made lasagna, grandma brought over spaghetti & meatballs and uncle donnie/aunt ramona brought salad & bread. we also had a birthday cake & ice cream! We enjoyed having visitors over...thank you Brother John and Addie, Jackie B., Phyllis & Lana running over for lunch during the week....mom, dad and hill all opened presents that evening.

Thanksgiving day....we had a huge feast at GiGi and Gramps house with uncle Donnie, aunt Ramona, Ross, Hannah, Hillary, Ryan, Breck, Claire & I, Les & Janice. It was wonderful and abundant in every area from full tummies to great new memories made. Mom is so weak that it's hard for her to get out, so we made plates and sent them back home for her and dad to eat. After lunch and visiting we went back to enjoy the rest of our Thanksgiving Day with mom and dad. Hillary and I put up the Christmas tree, decorated it, and displayed her "Santa" collection while mom and Claire took a nap. Dad, Ryan and Breck put up the lights on the fence in the front of their house. Everything looks so festive and ready for Christmas! After we decorated, mom was up from her nap and we brought her in so she could see the decorated tree and outside lights from their window...she smiled, so we know she loves it! :)

12/6/09---Christmas with Nana!
We had a great day in Stigler today. Nana banana and gpa Carl came over to have lunch with us and to celebrate Christmas with the family. We had Charlie's Chicken, hot cider like mom always made and then opened a few gifts. Mom was more alert today...I think she stayed awake a little longer to enjoy the family and Claire opening a few presents. She still took her afternoon nap. Then we all said our goodbyes and had to head home...we miss her and dad every time we walk out that door and have to drive away!

We hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe holiday season! We are continuously blessed daily by all the love, notes, calls, support & prayers that are lifted every moment!

Pray for mom tomorrow...12/7, she has her MRI appt. Thanks, love, and blessings to you and your family!
Love, The Forrester's

update

Mom & Dad on Hillary's rehearsal day!

Hi all!

Update on mom....

(mom sitting by the first fire in their new outdoor fireplace)

Mom continues to take her chemo treatments via IV every two weeks. They last about 2-2 1/2 hours at St. John's. Dad brings her up and sits right with her. They have a nice comfortable room for them though. It's very cozy...recliners, food/beverages, TV, blankets, magazines, books, soft lights, etc. They will do another MRI probably late Nov./early Dec. we should know more then about this 2nd tumor. Pray that it's GONE or hasn't grown!!!!

(Claire playing at Mimi and Poppy's...dentist playdough)

Grandma (GiGi) comes daily except Tuesday's and the weekends to help with mom. Thank you grandma for all you do for mom and dad. Mom is very weak and struggles with communication still. She likes to watch her shows such as the Price is Right, a soap opera and Dancing with the Stars! :) She rests a lot but enjoys her visits with people. Sorry to those that come by and she's sleeping....it's taken a lot out of her, thank you for understanding. Walking around is difficult for her, but she tries her best! We've gotten to take her out on the back patio to enjoy these past few days of beautiful weather. This weekend was fun for her to watch Claire ride her bike and the guys went fishing. We had a fun fish fry on Saturday! Thank you to uncle Donnie, Aunt Ramona, GiGi and Gramps for bringing the side dishes!

To the Stigler community, school, church, bank employees, friends/family, everyone that has prayed, brought food by, visited, called, sent cards, etc....our family is blessed because of YOU!

We love you all and thank you again for the support and prayers. love, the Forrester family!

Newest News...

Hi everyone,

Sorry it's been a while since we've posted.

Sat. Sept. 26th:
Well the weekend of Hillary's wedding went smooth and beautiful! Mom did really well that entire weekend. Of course the bride and the bride's mom stole the show! :) Beautiful weather, beautiful wedding, we were blessed by lots of friends and family there.

Since the MRI on the 21st, we have learned new news that mom's tumor/ "the spot" had grown to about the size of a walnut. This had happened quickly since her last MRI (approx. 8 wks ago). Mom and dad immediately got an appt. in Houston at MD. They flew down on Tuesday and her team of dr.'s there told them to hold off on surgery and to try a new type of chemo called Avastin. This newly approved from FDA drug will hopefully "starve" the tumor and discontinue growth and spreading. Even though it is newer to the market for brain cancer patients, the docs said that they have seen great results with it thus far. We can only hope and pray that this is what does it! She will come to Tulsa every 2 weeks for approx. 90 min. sessions. She'll take the Avastin drug via IV. Pray that she has strength to continue to be healed from the inside...out!

Thank you all for your continued love and support. Keep dad in your prayers as well, he's been so strong and positive through this. Mom is pretty weak right now, pray that she can stay vibrant and alert.

Thank you to Janice Hawkes for all the help and support you gave mom and dad down in Houston. They appreciated the "taxi" service and visiting with you!

This weekend Claire and I came down to Stigler and we're having birthday dinner at Uncle Donnie's and watching the OU game tonight. It'll be good to hang out and relax!

Love and prayers to all, The Forrester's

MRI update

Hi friends and family,

So sorry it's been forever since we've posted...there has been so much going on! Hillary & Ryan will be married this weekend, Claire turned 4 on Sept. 21st, I'm 6 months pregnant now with another sweet baby girl, mom and dad are doing good...having fun together and enjoying their new outdoor fireplace they had built. Dad made a fire tonight in it. We're excited for many fall weekends at the fireplace with smores! :)

please pray for mom....she had another MRI done yesterday, Sept. 21st and they are sharing the results tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. They want to meet with her, dad and the neurologist & oncologist to discuss different options. Pray that they have a clear vision for what to do next, if something more is needed....thank you all again for the love, support and prayers. we'll keep you posted on what they say.

-the Forrester's

Bday weekend!

Happy Birthday to Ross & Mari!

This weekend was filled with birthday's and enjoying family time together. Ross celebrated the big 2-1 today along with cousin Mari who turned 9! We had pizza and angel food cake at the Forrester's and Mari celebrated her big birthday by dancing at her recital. Happy birthday to you...we love you both and enjoyed seeing the family today!

We did pack up some of mom's personal things from school and that was hard. Please pray that she'll have strength to get through the tougher moments, and look forward to bright and relaxing days ahead! Dad and Breck went to pick up more rocks for the future outdoor fireplace and then we enjoyed a southern dinner along with ooey gooey butter cake....if you've never had this...yum! I got the recipe from cooks.com (i did not use the one w/ nuts though). It's easy and ooey gooey!

Tomorrow plans are to work in the garden and pick more of those delicious tomatoes! Mom enjoys all the cards, calls and visits from everyone. Thank you again for the friendship, love and prayers.

Pics, Fun & Misc!

Mom relaxing on her bench purchased by the New Century Club of Stigler at Roye Park!

Last weekend Hillary and Ryan brought Ryan's parents, John and Ann down to Stigler to visit mom and dad. They drove to Tulsa from Palestine, TX to visit Hillary and Ryan and then they made their way to big Stig to visit as well. They all enjoyed lunch together and driving around to see the town of Stigler. Thanks for coming down to visit, I know mom and dad enjoyed it so much! Hillary and Ryan are getting wedding details finalized and they are very busy right now with upcoming showers and preparing for their marriage in September, please remember them in prayer too!

Claire and I drove down today (July 14th) to visit mom and dad. When we got here GiGi, mom and dad we eating lunch and GiGi was already busy cleaning and cooking. She's like a little merry maid...you can't stop her! Thank you GiGi for always being there and working so hard to help out at mom and dad's. Claire kept us entertained all afternoon with her funny comments and running around playing and changing into Cinderella, Ariel and Minnie Mouse costumes. We took mom for a spin around town to get out for a little while (while we were gone though, Kim K. and Kathy J. came by to visit)...sorry we missed you girls! Come back again, mom was sad she missed you!

GARDEN TIME! Poppy, Claire and I went to the garden to pick the BIGGEST tomatoes you've ever seen (see pics) and Uncle Donnie met us up there as well. Then Uncle Donnie & Aunt Ramona made a wonderful meal and brought it down. THANK YOU, it was so great!

TO THE NEW CENTURY CLUB OF STIGLER......THANK YOU!

After dinner we went to the splash pad to let Claire play and enjoy sitting on mom's new bench! It is a beautiful black granite bench that overlooks the playground. Thank you again New Century Club of Stigler for providing that wonderful seating in honor of mom! We hope it's enjoyed by many people for a long, long time! Also, thank you for the t-shirt orders you held, bench, and money to go into mom's fund. You all have been so generous and kind in ways we can't even imagine.

We hope your family had a wonderful 4th of July...sorry so belated! Here are a few pics of the 4th and of Claire at Branson and misc. pics. Enjoy!

Keep prayers lifted for mom and dad to have strength. She will go to her dr. again for another MRI on July 22nd. -Love and prayers to all, The Forresters!

Father's Day weekend!

PICTURES POSTED FINALLY! :)

Thursday, June 18th-Claire & I drove (along w/ bump and Cooper) down to Stigler to visit w/ mom and dad a few days longer. Breck stayed home due to work along with Hill and Ryan. They all came down Friday evening together. When Claire & I got there, we enjoyed visiting with MiMi and Poppy, playing, and eating Charlie's Chicken together. Claire especially loves the rolls with honey! Poppy even made a special trip to get Claire some more Play-Dough so she could make "ice cream" with her play-dough ice cream shop. We just hung out the rest of the evening, Claire dressed up like Cinderella and watched Poppy brush-hog while mom and I rocked on the back porch....very fun and relaxing! (pics to come soon--that brown stuff on her mouth is chocolate pudding....:))

Friday, June 19th-
MORNING: Claire, mom and I decided to take a little trip to Shady Point, OK to visit Nana banana (claire's great grandma) and Grandpa Carl. We arrived to them practically running out to the Tahoe to see us. Nana had lunch already made and ready to go! We had many laughs and giggles while eating our lunch together. Nana kept telling Claire over the phone many times about her strawberry patch....well we went for a little walk in the yard to find 1 ripe strawberry that Claire immediately devoured! She also is growing tomatoes, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries! It's so fun to see the excitement and watch them find berries to pick and eat! We named their scarecrow that they made....Carl Jr.! Claire enjoyed playing out in the "playhouse" which is a little storage building with toys, crayons/coloring books and books in it. All the great-grandkids love going out there to play! Grandpa Carl had to show off his new scooter and mom wanted to try it out too and go for a spin! We laughed so hard! It was such a fun visit. We enjoyed looking at pictures, watching Claire play, hearing stories and enjoying coffee cake that nana made...yum!!! (pics to come!) What a BERRY fun time we had!

AFTERNOON: Claire & Mimi took cat naps all the way back to Stiger after a good visit w/ the great grandparents. Once we got home Claire was still asleep and mom and I wanted to drive around a bit. We went through the "old" neighborhood, Rollin' Hills Estates, where we grew up. It's changed so much, there are many more houses where Hillary and I used to play and run around with the neighbor kids. It was good to see the familiar houses and streets we ran around. Good memories. We drove by the lake in Stigler, not much going on there....a few swimmers and that was it. Pretty little lake though for a small town. We went back to their house and mom stayed there to rest while I took Claire to the Roye Park Splashpad. What a fun park/playground/splashpad for kids to play on! We also got to visit with GiGi, Gramps, (some of his family that were in for the weekend)....Les, Janice, A.J., Christi, Matt, Kyle, & Kerry. Claire enjoyed splashing in the water and playing. (pics to come!!)

EVENING: I went to the grocery store, got dinner ready, and we enjoyed Gumbo and cornbread together. Since reunion days were happening in Stigler this weekend, there are always lots of friends/families and alumns in town. Of course, there is the annual turtle race that the kids participate in....so we had to go out terrapin huntin'. We drove around backroads, by ponds, etc....not ONE turtle around...bummer. We hoped that we would find one on the way back home, no luck. Hill, Ryan and Breck came in later that night! Aunt Sissy had bought Claire a new Barbie DVD and Thumbelina DVD, sooooo we had to watch some of it....oh joy! :) Everyone was pretty tired so we headed to bed.

Saturday, June 20th-
Reunion Days of Stigler.....Hero Poppy!! The official turtle finder! What a great Poppy!! He got up around 6:30 a.m. or so because I heard him leave, and he drove 20 miles around.....finally he found a turtle....once he got close to home, he found ANOTHER one, and then he found one in the DRIVEWAY of his house! Can you believe that!?!? HA!! We were outside showing Claire when uncle Donnie came driving down to the house....we were watching her run around the turtles and then guess what...?!!?!?Uncle Donnie spotted ANOTHER TURTLE in dad's backyard crawling! That was the one we used because it was fast! I helped Claire paint her turtle aqua with black spots only to watch it crawl along the sides of the box to mess it all up. It looked like a splatter painted/camo turtle. We went to reunion days at 9:30 for the turtle race. Claire's got 4th or 5th, we're not really sure....anyway, it was fun to see everyone and race a turtle. Mom and dad liked watching and visiting with friends and then went back home. The rest of us stayed and walked around looking at booths and letting Claire jump in the bounce house. Thanks to all of you who talked with us and asked about mom. Keep prayers going! We headed back to have lunch and then went swimming over at the Lackey's. That evening we had hot dogs while we watched the movie, Hotel for Dogs...ironic huh!?
Sunday, June 21st-FATHER'S DAY!
Happy Father's Day to all the dad's! We had a wonderful day full of eating and visiting! Hillary and I detailed dad's truck for him while Breck and Ryan helped clean out the Tahoe for mom. Mom and dad enjoyed watching Claire and playing with her. Uncle Donnie brought Buddy the horse down for a visit. After we cleaned the vehicles, we started on lunch. We had a Mexican themed lunch along with homemade vanilla ice cream...yum! Dad and Breck opened cards/presents and we helped clean the house and do some laundry a little....gigi came over to visit for a little while then sadly, we all had to get ready to go back to Tulsa. :( We had such a great weekend enjoying the weather and family time! We hope you and your families were blessed as well.

Monday, June 22nd-Tulsa dr. appt.
Mom and dad had to come up for a chemo dr. appt. She is doing great...keep praying for her to be healed and for more strength, she is weak from the chemo. Thank you all for the prayers and support you give to all of us!

--The Forrester Family :)