More Medical Update

Medically speaking

No new cancer was detected in the lumbar spine! yea

I am not having seizures.

I had another blood transfusion yesterday for my counts to go back up.

My weakness in my right arm and unsteadiness on my feet have suddenly come back.

Thank you again to all the kind medical people helping me out.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

Medically Speaking

Good Things

Bad Things

quick update

I am sick....but on medicine now.

based 0n the gazillion tests i had today, the doctors believe I have slight case of pnumonia. I'll try to update more later.

Saturday morning

Hi friends and family!

Feeling good this morning. I usually feel pretty good in the morning. Aren't Saturday's great!

Cameron had a program at school yesterday. All of us went. He was NOT happy that we made him dress up....he still does not like "button shirts" but oh well...

Ella was really good when we were there. Our babysitter and friend Sara was there as well, and I am very grateful for that.

Max is so funny. He's downstairs right now, saying over and over and over and over again, as Cameron plays a video game. "Let's go Go Cameron yeah yeah!" "Let's Go Cameron yeah yeah!" His teacher said he's been talking a lot more lately. So that's really good.

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Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with His stripes we are healed.

Even more good news

I had my Lumbar Puncture yesterday, and I'm happy to report that it showed no cancer in the spine area where they took out the fluid. That's great news! I'll try to post more later when I have more time.

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This weekend

People have been calling me worried because I had not updated my blog. I thought I had posted on Saturday....I was a day off. I'll just list a bunch of information here. Won't be too cohesive.

Happy Presidents Day! and Happy Valentines Day !

My kids have had a four day weekend. Time to get back to school! Although it is nice to just lie around the house in the morning sometimes (not that my kids sleep in past 6 or 7 am,) but at least there's no rush out that door.

This cancer can be pretty funny sometimes. So many times it's mind over matter. Most of the time, if I'm in pain, I can just wait a little while and it goes away. It's only when I'm trying to sleep that it bothers me most.

Melvin and I took the kids to Underwater World at the Mall of America. It was very crowded this weekend. But the kids had a lot of fun. We brought our godson Carlos as well. It was good to see him again. Melvin also played Monopoly with Cameron and Max. It was fun to see Max getting into it.

1 Kings 8:56
Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

Different Thoughts

One of the issues of my cancer continues to be the time/scheduling. Really, I felt like I wrote and published my blog yesterday......obviously not!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I visited my oncologist and, he said my blood counts looked good. Yeah!!!! They want to start to taper my steroids, which sounds good to me. He said I could be more tired when they start the taper. Maybe that will allow me to sleep through the night without other medication.

Things went very well with Max's preschool trip to the Children's Theatre in Minneapolis. It was fun and the kids had a blast. I'm really happy that I got to go and felt great during the entire performance. It's a wonderful place to go if you're ever interested.

I did try to walk/ run last night. I didn't get very far though. Just felt it was getting late and I needed some rest. Sometimes running clears my mind...other times not so much.

Dear friends, don't be surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don't feel as though something strange is happening to you, but be happy as you share Christ's sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory. (I Peter 4:12-13)

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Let not your heart be troubled. You are entrusting God, now trust in Me. (John 14: 1).

I will never fail you nor forsake you. (Heb. 13:5)

Praise God Lord Jesus. I just praise you!!!!!

So much to say.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are awesome and I couldn't ask for a better dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I must write....yesterday was not a very good day. Starting out with me basically not sleeping yet again...which I do believe can make one a bit emotional.

The toilet overflowed with water everywhere. Cameron apparently felt that if he kept flushing...the water would eventually go down...even though it was pouring all over the floor. Why he didn't just stop and tell me, I have no idea. But it was one huge wet mess! I think we used at least half the towels in our house! He was very helpful cleaning up.

However, I thought a pipe was leaking and called all over the place trying to take care of it myself so that Melvin didn't have to worry about it. I finally had someone come who at first also thought I had a leak, but then let me know that that yeah, it was the toilet. I am so grateful that this man came. (From Swenson Construction if you're looking for a really good guy. So no leaks. Thanks to all my neighbors and friends who were trying to help me find a plumber in the morning. I'm glad it was a false alarm.

Medically speaking to be honest, things feel like they have been flip flopping. I haven't had any tests in a while. So I'm not going to write much until I get more information. Some days are great, some are not. This cancer is crazy! But the more positive I remain, and the more I stick to my normal routine, the better things are.

And by the way. Ella, I love you so very much. You're funny and smart and make me laugh all the time!

A complete stranger (a friend of a friend) came by and brought me chocolate today. How kind was that!

Psalm 69:32, “The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.’” (NLT)

We all should boast about our kids more

Just need to say some good things about my kids.

Cameron
My oldest is just a busy bee. He's interested in so many things. From finishing Diary of a Wimpy Kid Three, playing his video games, working on a school knitting project, playing with friends, etc. We had his conference with his teacher and he's doing very well. I'm very proud of him.

Max
My middle child had his Kindergarten screening this week. He officially can now enter Kindergarten in the fall. Woo hoo! As usual, Max is very helpful and loves his art. He would draw and color and cut all day if I let him. I have him enrolled in an art class so he'd have something just for him to do. Now I still need to figure out what to do with all those projects!

Ella
When she's not driving me up a wall half the time with her stubbornness, Ella is cracking me up. The other day she wanted to go to Max's art class. I told her that Max goes to art class, and she goes to dance class. She looked at me and adamantly yelled, "Dance class is BORING!" Such a silly girl. That little munchkin loves dance class. She's just growing and growing and it's fun to hear her mind working!

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You're turn. Brag on your kids here.

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For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Results

When I have chemo put in my spine for my lumbar puncture, the doctor also pulls out some spinal fluid to check for cancer cells. The pathologist said that the cells were atypical. Usually, this is a bad sign...meaning cancer cells. Except this time, she said that the cells seemed to have been degenerated. So it's like the cells were dying off. That is a very good thing. God is healing me. He is.

When I have my spinal done, I must say, the people throughout the entire experience are so incredibly kind...to everyone. From the doctor doing the procedure, to the tech helping, to the recovery room nurses. They really all are amazing. There is one older nurse named Tim who is so amazing with all the patients...just making them feel good...even when they end up urinating on themselves! He's just a very, very kind man! Although I wish I didn't have to see him every 2 weeks, I certainly don't mind.




I still need rest.

Matthew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (NIV).

Exodus 3 3:14 "The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" (NIV)

Doctors and rest.

Ella had her 3 year old check up today. She was my best kid at the doctor ever! She didn't cry or anything. She didn't need to have shots, but all my kids have cried when at the pediatrician. So I was quite proud of her and all that she could do. Sometimes I forget that she's three and all that 3 year olds should be able to do!

I have a huge prayer request for sleep. I guess it's the steroids not allowing me to rest, and nightime headaches. I'm up so many times at night, and it's affecting everything, as one can imagine. I'm still doing everything I would normally do. I'm just tired doing it. And my mind and memory start to get foggy.

I'll have to do a medical update tomorrow or later on tonight.

All went well.

I just need to say....God is good.

Today went very well. The kids were good. Even with my husband working all night, everything went very smoothly. The house isn't even in shambles...(um, except the basement). Thank you Lord for a wonderful day.

I was even able to run/walk for 3 miles on the treadmill this evening. Woo hoo!

Tomorrow I have chemo through the lumbar puncture. On my back all day again!


“Let the morning bring our children word of your unfailing love, for they have put their trust in You. Show them the way they should go, for to You they lift up their soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8)

Fun with the Family

Yesterday was a fun day for our family. The weather was unseasonably warm...even reaching almost 50! So it was perfect snowman/play outside weather. Even I joined in the fun...mostly taking pictures, keeping hoods on, replacing wet gloves, and making sure Melvin and Cameron's snowballs weren't hitting Ella or Max!

The day started out, however, with Cameron's last basketball practice of the season.

And then we hung out as a family outside. Later, Cameron FINALLY lost one of his front teeth...and this morning a 2nd one (he looks so funny!). I will be posting a picture later this week.

It was so warm out, that my husband even grilled steaks! Now how awesome is he!

Our evening had a bittersweet ending. It was my mom's last night here. She will be so missed and I can't thank her enough! But it's time for her to go back to my dad and get back to her normal life. We're trying out "normal" life here for now. It won't be easy, but it's something we need to do. My mom will be back in a heartbeat if we need her. But for now, I'm counting on God's healing powers to keep me going strong and to be able to be the mom and wife I want/need to be.

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Luke 17:11-19 (New International Version)
Ten Healed of Leprosy 11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a]met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."