Thankful...

For all the birthday greetings - thank you for thinking of me! 
For your ongoing prayers 
That I was strong enough to go to a conference with Todd before thanksgiving and visit with some friends
     Went to several receptions and stood for hours talking to people --
     2 months ago, I could barely stand 15 minutes!
For organic turkey and a fairly "normal" thanksgiving dinner 
     (really missed the mashed potatos and the pumpkin pie needs working on!)
That tho I am having side effects from the low dose chemo, my gut is ok
For the challenges of side effects - they make me appreciate what I can do!
That this year will be better than last year --
That my weight is holding
For rain! Love the rain! It was wonderful!
For cool temperatures - winter in SoCal!
For the anticipation of family coming
For a fireplace when the heat goes out 
For a quick and easy fix to the heat problem and the technician to do it!
For a good book to lose myself in
For the administrators at my doctors offices helping me to sort out insurance snafus
For the customer service reps at my insurance company helping me with willing attitudes, 
    and advocating for me, above and beyond what they had to do
For the quiet peace of Advent
For the energy to do some organizing
For my oncologist agreeing to a PET scan in December!
  Praying the scan shows the cancer dwindling down!

Many people wrote much about being thankful over the weekend-- 
The one that jumped out at me the most was something to the effect of -- 
What if God took away the things that you forgot to thank Him for?  
Waking up? Seeing? Breathing? Joints that work? Your close relationships? Your special gifts that make you? Balance to not fall over or run into things and be able to carry things? Coordination to be able to open a bottle, clasp a necklace or bracelet - to walk and drive? A soft pillow in a warm house? Clean water? A friend to play a game with or call? The comfort of a favorite bible verse or hymn?  The sweet smell of the air after rain? The peace of rain on the roof? The beauty of a blossom? The comfort of a sheltering hug?

From Col 2:6-8 So then....continue to live your lives in him.....overflowing with thankfulness.

Thankfulness leads you into "praying without ceasing" and into praising him - the sure antidote to sadness/depression/fear.  Hopefully you can carry the thankful spirit into this crazy hectic Advent/Christmas season.  It will help you to keep the main thing, the main thing! It will also help you to not become overwhelmed.  (I'm preaching myself a sermon here too! I know this is easier said than done - but the effort takes you in a better direction!)

Thanks for checkin' in - Thankful for each of you!  

Decisions, Decisions

After much prayerful thought, we decided to not to the kidney test (cystogram) 

Stent removed Monday

We also decided to wait and see what the scan shows before doing anything about my hernia.

Starting to get side effects from the low dose chemo :( tingly clumsy hands - foggy thinking - tired

Energy is ok but sporadic

Weight holding

Self discipline is marginal regarding doing the protocols

Added in my second supplement from Oasis of Hope yesterday - definitely does not agree with me! 

Blessings -

Oncologist ordered second round of low dose chemo so insurance buys! (bought first round from Oasis of Hope)

Airline refunded ticket from flight home this Summer

Got a credit from the insurance company for my chiropractor visits - 

Able to get out more (hard to not over do it) but it keeps me from being depressed

Many people praying for me - thank you so much!

Encouraging cards - notes

Beautiful weather

Fun theater date with Todd to see a dance troupe

Finding new foods I can eat that do not require hours of chopping etc.

A new year 

I have not written much because we are in a kind of plateau stage.  Nothing is really happening - 

trying to get some domestic things done - not very successfully

trying to keep up with protocols - not very well

trying not to be crabby about my food

trying not to dwell on the Christmas cookies and yummy food we usually have that I should not have

     It's all very trying - hahaha

It's just a continuing, waiting time - waiting til my scan to see what is happening inside. 

We are praying that the low dose chemo is killing all the cancer cells, and that it will not have the effect of making the cancer stem cells more aggressive.  

The base drug in the low dose chemo I am on has been shown to do in the past.  

(What I am on now, xeloda, has 5Fu as the base drug   

which is the basis of what I was on in 2011, Folfox and 

the basis of the full strength chemo my oncologist wants to put me on now, Folfiri)

This has helped a lot! Hope it blesses you!

https://youtu.be/f8TkUMJtK5k

A friend gave me a beautiful quote from Corrie Ten Boom - 

"When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus."

I am so thankful for this...

Thankful for you and all the prayers you send up for me

Thankful for God's comforting word

Thankful for the many blessings showered on us

Up and down

Not much new to report-

Had one doc apt that went well - My eyes have not changed --LOL!  

     Gotta be thankful about all the little things! 

Dentist said my change in diet caused a change in my mouth - more plaque :( 

     Will get cleaned more often but insurance will not participate :(

     Thankful I have insurance that covers any of it though! 

Began my new antibiotic, and as before, feeling pretty crumby

     This is more like flue than sinus --  body aches, hot/cold and tired

     Should be done with this soon I hope
Had gastric upheaval with the switch to the new antibiotic -[now settled down -relatively]

Tolerating full strength chemo and the synergistic supplement fairly well

    This is the first protocol from Oasis of Hope I have been able to add back in!
Weight holding - Energy up and down

Thankful I felt good last weekend when lots was going on and that it's quiet this weekend

Sometimes there is just not a lot to report.  It was a quiet week.  We enjoyed the World Series and the celebrations!! Great fun!  I kinda figure that if the miracle of the Cubs winning the World Series can happen, why could I not be healed?  What's one more miracle for an all powerful God?  I am certainly praying so anyway!  

Along that same vein, I have been fighting fear that I'm not doing more of the protocols that Oasis of Hope laid out.  Though I tell myself/God that I trust Him -- I have to re-say it often!!! even when I don't feel it!  Multiple times a day!  It is so hard to trust and not know!

A great joy this upcoming week - our grand daughter turns 2 years old -- not sure where 2 years went! Thankful for this lively, fun little whirlwind of activity!  She is a distraction and also great medicine!  

After last week's post, I continue to be made aware of so many who have it so much worse than I do....Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to pray for me when there are so many others that need it also!!  I am honored!  Each time I hear that someone is praying for me - it makes me cry....Thank you!!

Ps 56 has some nuggets that resonate with me and maybe will bless you as well--
In God, whose word I praise, 
In God I trust; I shall not be afraid (even if I have to say it over & over to feel brave) 
What can man do to me?.....   (actually, it's not man so much as my body failing me)
You have kept count of my tossings; (so many of them - and God counted them? Wow!)
put my tears in your bottle -  (can't grasp the idea of God storing my tears up)
are they not in your book?
......This I know, that God is for me.  (Yes He is - even if I do not see it!)
In God whose word I praise, 
the Lord, whose word I praise 
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.....
     (Can't help but notice the refrain of praise!  Gotta do that more!)

Thankful for 
Cubs win!
Good doctors
Cooler weather
Our little Sweet Pea's birthday
Many God conversations
Safe travel for loved ones
Knowing that this feeling yucky will end
Energy to walk a little bit
Protection from the devil's attacks
Seeing how the power of prayer really is so powerful
All of you - Thanks for checking in!