Friday, December 31, 2010

New news

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I went to get treatment yesterday with Michael and Gina. For those who don't know, Gina is my dear cousin who I grew up with. She was maid of honor in my wedding. She has a very kind heart, especially toward children and those with special needs. She loves Jesus with all her heart, soul, mind and strength. She is also one of the funniest people I know. She is very very dear to me.

Anyway, Michael and I spent the time on the way there explaining to Gina how we pray during treatment, speak to the chemo and take authority over all of it so that she could stand in agreement with us, and not think we were nuts. :) I just know that 9 months ago, I would not have understood where I was coming from in doing so, so I thought we owed her an explanation. We were just never accustomed to praying that way.

Anyway, I had an appointment with the nurse practitioner prior to treatment. She said that one of my liver enzymes (bilirubin) was slightly elevated. Dr. Ritch came in to talk to me about it, and decided to change up the plan. At this point, he doesn't know why the levels are elevated, but he doesn't want to give me any more of the current treatment until he knows if it's working or not. So I did not receive treatment yesterday. Monday, I have a CT scan scheduled at 8 a.m., and a follow up appointment with Dr. Ritch at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the scan. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). I won't lie and say I'm not frustrated, but I refuse to be fearful. To me, it doesn't even matter what the scan says. I keep standing on the Word of God, which says I am healed. Therefore, I am healed.

Some things to pray for:
Physical manifestation of healing, including:
-normal bilirubin levels
-no pain
-no tumors
-normal appetite
-no nausea

Thank you all!!!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Still here!

I'm still here!
(this is what Eva says)
]
\


\
(which is much of the reason I don't get on here to write often)

I also hosted 22 people for Thanksgiving on the Saturday, which kept me quite busy. I am so grateful that I felt incredibly well the week leading up to Thanksgiving. I was able to cook food (though I didn't make the turkey...Aunt Cheryl did that) and was able to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving Thursday at my in-laws, go Black Friday shopping with Matt, my cousins and brother followed by a Sprecher Brewery tour (as is tradition), and then have everyone over on Saturday. What a wonderful opportunity to host in our new house. Hosting is one of my greatest passions, and it was amazing to be able to do it!!

I did have a rougher week after that, with symptoms really trying to come against me. But I continue to stand my ground, knowing that my healing has been taken care of by our Lord. He gives me every bit of strength I need. When I find myself starting to worry about "How will I get through the next day?" I remember that it is not a day by day fight, but it is moment by moment, with God taking care of me through every bit of it (many times through putting other people in my life to help and sometimes by just giving me a boost of strength).

Last week, I got a call from Dena, my dietitian at Froedtert. She said she had entered me in an "inspiring families" photo contest with Proud to Introduce photography (proudtointroduce.com) in Wauwatosa, and *gasp* I'd won a full family photo session!!! Saturday Matt, Eva and I went to get our pictures taken and they were ready for us by Sunday night. What a huge blessing!!! Meeting the photographer, Allie, was amazing. She was so wonderful with us and with Eva. We got over 80 pictures and they are each so beautiful! Thank you thank you thank you Dena and Allie!!! It's just to crazy to think that I would by nominated and win something like this. I am still just overwhelmed. Here is one of the pictures that was taken.


I've started going to a charismatic Catholic prayer meeting; last week with my mother-in-law, and then last night with Matt and my friend Joanne. I really enjoy it, and plan to continue going. It is an amazing group of kind people whose lives have truly been touched by the Holy Spirit.

Well, it is time for us to go decorate our Christmas tree. If I don't get pictures up on here, I'll get them up on Facebook. I tend to be slightly better about updating Facebook than I am about this blog. SO, if we're not Facebook friends and you'd like to add me, feel free! As long as you don't look like a creeper, I'll add ya. :)

Enjoy this amazing Advent season as we look forward to celebrating the coming of our Lord to earth as a baby. Thank you God for sending Jesus to us in the most humble of ways. I pray that I can make this season very memorable and meaningful for our family.