Saturday, September 26, 2009
Hair today, gone tomorrow!
My hair is starting to fall out in buckets. I'm letting you know this way because some of you won't see me for a while, and it might be a surprise otherwise. I'm 25 pounds thinner (not thin - thinner) and soon to be bald, but don't be alarmed. It's still me. I've been telling Justin they will have to fatten me up with the pigs in the spring. That will be a nice problem!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Today
Last night I was experiencing quite a lot of abdominal pain and back pain in the night - could be because of having done too much yesterday. I went to the doctor and he sent me to the hospital lab in Maple Creek to have some testing done. Don't know the results, but he prescribed a different painkiller, for which I am eternally grateful.
One blessing in all this for me, is that now people are more likely to believe me when I tell them that I know God is good, that He cares for us personally and that He brings good out of everything. I always want people to believe me when I tell them that, and yet, if everything goes well for you all the time, it doesn't seem as though people are so likely to believe you. It makes sense that our faith has to be tested by suffering.
I don't believe that God always heals us when we have enough faith. I believe that these times are opportunities for us to choose Him and thank Him, even if we are not getting our "druthers."
Sometimes God heals people best by taking them home to Heaven.
Having said that, though, I believe that Love is requiring me to pray earnestly for my healing for the sake of Peter and the boys. I actually think I will come through this - I have good reason for hope, mostly because of all the prayers. I'm sure my wonderful doctors have been answer to somebody's prayers for me, and the success of my surgery and all the other signs of God's love.
I hope I don't sound too much like Pollyanna - I certainly wasn't sounding like Pollyanna in the night. (ask my husband) However, these blessings are good solid blessings.
One blessing in all this for me, is that now people are more likely to believe me when I tell them that I know God is good, that He cares for us personally and that He brings good out of everything. I always want people to believe me when I tell them that, and yet, if everything goes well for you all the time, it doesn't seem as though people are so likely to believe you. It makes sense that our faith has to be tested by suffering.
I don't believe that God always heals us when we have enough faith. I believe that these times are opportunities for us to choose Him and thank Him, even if we are not getting our "druthers."
Sometimes God heals people best by taking them home to Heaven.
Having said that, though, I believe that Love is requiring me to pray earnestly for my healing for the sake of Peter and the boys. I actually think I will come through this - I have good reason for hope, mostly because of all the prayers. I'm sure my wonderful doctors have been answer to somebody's prayers for me, and the success of my surgery and all the other signs of God's love.
I hope I don't sound too much like Pollyanna - I certainly wasn't sounding like Pollyanna in the night. (ask my husband) However, these blessings are good solid blessings.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Early Thanksgiving!
Today, at about 11:45, my friend Jane, who knows we eat our big meal at noon, showed up with a complete turkey dinner. I mean complete - with potatoes, carrots, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, cake, cookies, jello, plus some already cleaned and shucked vegetables from her garden. It was absolutely amazing. I just stood and said, "Wow. WOW. . . WOW!"
It seemed so funny on a Saturday at noon to be sitting down to a turkey dinner. Funny, but very good. Mark came in for dinner, and I ran a plate out to Peter in the combine.
A number of years ago, I remember hearing a talk about serving with the Midas touch. That means not just serving, but really making an effort to make your service shine.
It is bringing home to me again how God blesses us abundantly. I keep getting convicted about how thoughtless I've been in the past, how I don't deserve any of this, but God does it not because we deserve it. He blesses us because He loves us. There is absolutely no other explanation. At first, a few weeks ago, I kept thinking, "Now what can I do to pay this person back, or that person," but I've gotten to the point where I've completely given up. There isn't anything I can possibly do to pay anyone back - it's WAY beyond me. All I can do is be grateful, like a little child, and maybe pray for everyone.
It seemed so funny on a Saturday at noon to be sitting down to a turkey dinner. Funny, but very good. Mark came in for dinner, and I ran a plate out to Peter in the combine.
A number of years ago, I remember hearing a talk about serving with the Midas touch. That means not just serving, but really making an effort to make your service shine.
It is bringing home to me again how God blesses us abundantly. I keep getting convicted about how thoughtless I've been in the past, how I don't deserve any of this, but God does it not because we deserve it. He blesses us because He loves us. There is absolutely no other explanation. At first, a few weeks ago, I kept thinking, "Now what can I do to pay this person back, or that person," but I've gotten to the point where I've completely given up. There isn't anything I can possibly do to pay anyone back - it's WAY beyond me. All I can do is be grateful, like a little child, and maybe pray for everyone.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Better Today!
I'm still vaguely achey, but I feel much better today. The boys and I got up and went to Mass this morning and it was great to see all the daily Mass crew.
We even stopped in at Elena's for coffee afterwards. Ordinary things are very precious. I'm enjoying seeing all my nieces and nephews again and to be home with my boys is an incredible blessing.
House - messy
Yard - messy
Me :)
We even stopped in at Elena's for coffee afterwards. Ordinary things are very precious. I'm enjoying seeing all my nieces and nephews again and to be home with my boys is an incredible blessing.
House - messy
Yard - messy
Me :)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Ooooh, my aching everything!
The first five days or so after chemo is when a person experiences the side effects. I'm having aching bones and am spending most of my time lying on the sofa.
Fortunately, my friend Marilyn called this morning. She went through this last year and told me about a particular kind of pain medication I need to ask for next time I'm in the city, that will greatly alleviate this problem. In a day or two it should have completely passed anyway until next treatment.
There was a march on Sunday of Ovarian Cancer survivors Marilyn told me about.
It's still amazing to me how God has provided so many people to provide support just when I need it. Our house is a disaster, but boy do we have food to eat! I just have to get up to warm something up at regular meal times. The boys are doing all the dishes. Our local home care nurse is a good neighbour, who brought over some lasagne.
I'm hoping one day soon I can get up and help the boys with some school or something, but other than that, we're doing all right.
Fortunately, my friend Marilyn called this morning. She went through this last year and told me about a particular kind of pain medication I need to ask for next time I'm in the city, that will greatly alleviate this problem. In a day or two it should have completely passed anyway until next treatment.
There was a march on Sunday of Ovarian Cancer survivors Marilyn told me about.
It's still amazing to me how God has provided so many people to provide support just when I need it. Our house is a disaster, but boy do we have food to eat! I just have to get up to warm something up at regular meal times. The boys are doing all the dishes. Our local home care nurse is a good neighbour, who brought over some lasagne.
I'm hoping one day soon I can get up and help the boys with some school or something, but other than that, we're doing all right.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Every day in every way we are getting better!
I want to go on record as saying that I'm extremely grateful for all the support I've received while here in Saskatoon because of my Ovarian cancer.
My parents have fed me and looked after me, my friends and family have all been an incredible support for me, and I have felt the grace of the prayers that are being said nearly all over the world.
I had a very dramatic surgery, and I have to say I felt quite a lot of immediate relief from the discomfort I had been experiencing over the past several months. Lost 20-25 pounds in one afternoon! Today I started chemotherapy and I actually had quite a lovely day. Even though I was somewhat psyched up for it - knowing I'm doing everything I can do and using all available resources to fight the cancer - I was rather dreading today. Because of big black irrational fear, really. I have to tell you all that there really is nothing to dread. I lay in a comfy bed watching Flipper, Lassie and doing crossword puzzles and snoozing all day while they fed me my medication intravenously. I felt well and, besides somewhat sleepy, completely comfortable. The nurses were great - I enjoyed my own assigned nurse, who reminded Peter of Carol Burnette. The worst they want me to suffer is feeling somewhat run down - anything worse than that and they want it dealt with quickly so that I can eat healthily and be ready for my next treatments. Nearly every time I talk to anyone they say "Oh Ovarian Cancer - my mom had that 35 years ago, or my sister had that 10 years ago, and she's fine now." When my mother died of Ovarian cancer 45 years ago, they did not yet have chemotherapy, and in recent years they have really fine-tuned the chemotherapy treatments for every kind of cancer.
So you see, everyone, there's lots of reason for hope and gratitude. Nothing to fear except fear itself. God is in control.
Thank -you all and God bless you!
My parents have fed me and looked after me, my friends and family have all been an incredible support for me, and I have felt the grace of the prayers that are being said nearly all over the world.
I had a very dramatic surgery, and I have to say I felt quite a lot of immediate relief from the discomfort I had been experiencing over the past several months. Lost 20-25 pounds in one afternoon! Today I started chemotherapy and I actually had quite a lovely day. Even though I was somewhat psyched up for it - knowing I'm doing everything I can do and using all available resources to fight the cancer - I was rather dreading today. Because of big black irrational fear, really. I have to tell you all that there really is nothing to dread. I lay in a comfy bed watching Flipper, Lassie and doing crossword puzzles and snoozing all day while they fed me my medication intravenously. I felt well and, besides somewhat sleepy, completely comfortable. The nurses were great - I enjoyed my own assigned nurse, who reminded Peter of Carol Burnette. The worst they want me to suffer is feeling somewhat run down - anything worse than that and they want it dealt with quickly so that I can eat healthily and be ready for my next treatments. Nearly every time I talk to anyone they say "Oh Ovarian Cancer - my mom had that 35 years ago, or my sister had that 10 years ago, and she's fine now." When my mother died of Ovarian cancer 45 years ago, they did not yet have chemotherapy, and in recent years they have really fine-tuned the chemotherapy treatments for every kind of cancer.
So you see, everyone, there's lots of reason for hope and gratitude. Nothing to fear except fear itself. God is in control.
Thank -you all and God bless you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)