CT Scan - waiting results

The Neulasta shot seemed to help A LOT!! My white blood cell count last Monday was very high, praise the Lord. Good thing I was scheduled to be at the doctor's Monday because indeed I was not feeling well -- sore throat, tired, nausea and dizziness. I think it was just sinus drainage, but nevertheless I did have a fever of 100.2. That doesn't sound too alarming but apparently when going through chemo treatments you are advised to call the doctor asap if you have a fever of 100.4 or higher  Because my white blood cell count was/is high my body was/is in a much better position to fight whatever it is that I have. So I have been on antibiotics this past week. I think I spent 3 full days in bed sleeping this past week and then sleeping all night too. Is it possible to sleep too much??

It's very difficult to lay around on the couch and watch Tim do all the "simple" things I normally do -- cook, clean, keep David occupied, etc. It's hard to just be a spectator of Daddy and David's playtime. The tears seem to flow more easily and often these days without cause or reason. Maybe it's because I can't get up and do what I want to do when I want to do it. Maybe because I can't play my family role like I used to. David's laughter, actions and words certainly add sunshine to gloomy moments. Tim finds energy to continually give more than 100% these days while I can hardly give 5%. "For better or worse". I am glad that Tim takes those words very seriously. It's interesting that David has adopted my words, "I just feel like crying" when he can't express what he wants when on the verge of crying.

Lately David helps Mommy and Daddy with words like "Alfred" or "Larry Boy" (Veggie Tales Characters) by asking us, "can you say, 'al' ?" and then he smiles and waits for us to repeat the syllable after him. Then he says, "can you say, 'fred' ?" Once we say the whole word he says, "Alfred. Good job!"  I feel so behind with teaching him because he is apparently ready for more than what I can give him right now!! He is the boy wonder!! (at least to me:-)

One last note...I had my CT scan Friday. (that was my 3rd) I hope to hear something from the doctor the beginning of the week. However my appointment with my oncologist is not until Friday the 23rd so I may have to wait ALL week to find out the results. The scan will let them know if surgery is the next step or another round of chemo.

Our 5 year anniversary is March 24th!!

Reminder to everyone....PRAYER VIGIL March 23 & 24. So please put us (and others in our church suffering from illnesses) on your calendar for prayer!!

Recovering and seeking answers

Last Monday I had the Neulasta shot which is to help boost my white blood cell count. I will have a blood test tomorrow to see what the outcome is:-).

I have been so tired since Chemo #3 (Feb 2). Actually I was tired the week before treatment. Not sure if it was me trying to fight a cold since Tim and David have been fighting and experiencing colds or if that last chemo totally wiped me out, or a combo of both. It would be nice to have answers.

Speaking of answers we have been watching DVDs, reading books, listening to herbalists, etc trying to get a better understanding on nutrition and and relationship it has to fighting cancer. It's so very frustrating because each channel we go through we find convincing "evidence" on this or that remedy or cancer diet. We need God's wisdom desperately. With all these human attempts to provide convincing information, we find contradictions! How can one truly know what is best for the body other than the Maker??  So we are seeking God for His guidance. I would love to NOT be limited in my diet, but at the same time, I learn toward wanting to do what is best for my body and the possibly reversing the effects of cancer. God guide us and give us wisdom PLEASE!!!


A CT scan is scheduled for Friday March 16, 9am. God, here is an opportunity to be Glorified among readers of this site, our local & worldwide church body, the medical professionals on this case, and us the afflicted. We know your ways are higher than ours and we trust that whatever the outcome of the scan that you have our best interest at heart! Help us to accept Your Will in our lives and to praise You in all circumstances!!

I have some awesome pictures to share while Nana Nellie was here. We were so blessed to have her here! Here energy level was greater than David's and I was able to sleep a lot. Thank you so much Nana!

David and Nana working on a new puzzle book

Celebrating Tim's Birthday at PF Chiang's

Hard to hold still for pictures!!

Nana and her Christian Soldier sporting his Helmet of Salvation,
Sword of Truth and Shield of Faith!

Happy early Birthday! - Enjoy the cash register!

See you soon Nana. We miss you too much!!!!

Thank you again to and for our local church family, and 100s of friends and family around the globe praying for us, bringing us meals, carting me and David to and from appointments and activities, caring for me, Tim, and David. We are so very loved and blessed.

Prayer and Fasting - Please join us

Thanks to

Sheryl Reeves Henson for pulling this together! 3:10pm Mar 4 48 Hour Prayer and Fasting Vigil March 23 & 24th (Friday and Saturday) Calvary Chapel Salt Lake City will open its doors from 3-7 if you want to come pray with others in THE FAMILY CHAPEL. This will be a 2 day time of intercessory prayer and fasting on behalf of the church body that has been struck with an illness. It is an all day fast, however the church will only be facilitating open prayer those nights from 3-7 pm.  There will be a sign-up sheet at the information counter for individuals to sign-up to pray and fast on their own. This is also for anyone who is sick that would like prayer for themselves, family, or friends. We will be supplying candles to light as a part of this prayer vigil, and anyone can come and pray with a facilitator regarding prayer requests. Also there will be a prayer and fasting vigil box out in the foyer so that people can submit their prayer requests so facilitators can be praying over the body of Christ. Again,there will also be a sign-up sheet at the information counter for prayer and fasting so people can sign-up every hour for both Friday and Saturday. Anyone interested in acting as a facilitator must be cleared by Kim Giebler. Please call the church at 801-264-9999

Chemo #3 -- Approved

So I got the go ahead to have treatment #3 last Friday even though my neutraphil count had not changed. I was disappointed to see they had not changed. BUT the good news -- my CA125 count (the ovarian cancer indicator) had decreased in half, so now it is around 500 (it still needs to be between 0-35).
I have been unusually tired this past week. Three out of 5 days I slept more during the day than David!! I am still very tired these days, but again I am grateful that we have someone to help so I can take those naps and David is safe and happy.

David has a bad cold and Tim is getting a sore throat so we need prayer that I will not  get sick. So far God has kept me from getting a cold. God has been so good to us. Again, people stepping up to help with David, people providing meals, get-well cards every day, prayers! I pray that others in my situation are getting the love and support we have.

I will return to the doctor Monday to get a neulasta (?) shot which is to help boost production of white blood cells through the bone marrow. They say the side effects are minimal -- my bones will hurt, especially the longer bones. So they have recommended that I take Claritin.  I will have another CT scan in 2 weeks.

We are so grateful to have Nanna helping us, what a blessing!!  We have only a few days left before she heads back home.

Teary-eyed and grateful

Thank you Lord for friends and family. I am always encouraged. What do people do without You Lord, without Your family? I am forever grateful that you continually give me joy and a peace beyond comprehension. I feel like the "luckiest" girl alive. We are so blessed to have Nanna visiting us, loving us, and caring for us! YOU are a Good God; there is NONE like you! How could anyone turn away from your unfailing love?

Teary- eyed and tired today. My mood was perfectly matched up to today's gloomy weather. Thankfully I had the privilege of napping. I am so very thankful that days like this are rare indeed. I do hope and pray that this tiredness will pass and that my red and white blood cells will be unusually high on Friday so I can continue treatment. I have been trying acupuncture and a special concoction of Chinese herbs to support my body through chemo treatment. I pray that my blood test will show that it is effective! Your will be done LORD.

Bless the other families at Calvary who are going through trying times of illness, cancer, unemployment, addictions, broken marriages, etc.

Just an FYI - movies that will rock your nutritional thinking ...If you have seen either or both and have comments, please share!!

God bless you

"Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead"
"Forks Over Knives"

Disappointment

Have you ever met anyone who was disappointed to NOT have a chemo treatment? I must be one of the weirdest people on earth!! The doctors decided it was best for me not to have treatment today because my neutrophil - a type of white blood cell that fights infection-- is too low. They thought it best to let my body continue to do its thing and build more of these white blood cells. Apparently this is a job of the bone marrow so there is nothing we can do to help the body make these. So chemo# 3 is delayed until next Friday, March 3.

God made such an amazing body. It's all so interesting. Because I feel so very good, I never imagine that my blood cells could be in such "low" shape. No diet, or amount of exercise or special pill can help this. Well, there is a drug called nuplasto (sp?) that can help boost the production of neutrophils but my number is .5 too high to get the treatment. I guess this is a good thing. God has a plan for this to all work out. I will just have to get over the disappointment and continue enjoying life!!!

I need to remind myself of the great things about the delay -- Tim got to return to work for the day instead of use his personal time (which he will need to use during my hospital time), David's caretaker for the day wasn't feeling the best so she got to go home and get some needed rest, our dear friend is flying in from Seymour and I  will be in better shape to visit!! Also Tim's birthday is Sunday so I will be enjoying a birthday meal and cake with the family instead of wrestling with nausea!! Happy Birthday my darling husband!

Comfort in The Word and friends who follow God's leading

This scripture came from a friend out of the blue the morning I was going to get my 2nd CT Scan. It was exactly what I needed to hear as I went out the door to my appointment because I WAS feeling "nervous" about the findings. That afternoon my GYN who had ordered the CA125 and 2nd CT scan called to tell me the news that I had cancer and I needed to see a GYN oncologist tomorrow. I am so grateful for friends who are prompted by the Lord and then follow the Lord's leading. Thanks Heather!!!  

January 5, 2012

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS

Do not be afraid!  I am at work in your life to bring you to your appointed destiny.  Even when you get off track, you can trust Me to bring you back.  Set your heart to pursue Me, and set your will to never deliberately go back to the world.  You did not choose Me; I chose you to establish My kingdom where you are on the earth.  Establish My kingdom in your heart, in your relationships, where you live, where you work and where you worship.  That is My will and purpose for you, says the Lord. 

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.