Rejoicing!!!
Hey friends! It is with great joy (& complete shock!!) that I am writing this post! My Mom's cancer is GONE!!! My mind is just spinning, so I hope this all comes out coherently :) My Mom just called to let me know that the CT Scan came back clear. The doctor found nothing on the scan! Her cancer cell count is down from over 900 after surgery in April to 15. She asked the doctor what a normal woman who doesn't have ovarian cancer would test as & he said between zero & 30, so she is in the "no cancer" zone. We are all just in tears of great joy. We cried together on the phone just praising our Jehovah Raphah--our God who heals. I absolutely know that this is a direct result of your prayers. So thank you so deeply for carrying my family to our Father. May He receive glory from this!
The next step is to remove her port through a minor surgery on October 8th. Once it is removed the doctor will send a scope down through her system to do a double check to make sure he doesn't find anything. If he does, he will open her up at the time & remove any remnants of the tumor. So we are not completely out of the clear yet, but everything looks amazing. Please join us in praying for clear results during this next test. The doctor said that many patients in her position will continue for several years/the rest of their lives to continue undergoing chemo every six months or so to keep their systems clear. My parents have yet to decide about this, but there is time for such decisions to be made.
What joy we have today! "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits--who forgives your sins and heals your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things......." (Psalm 103:1-5) Thank you for walking through all of this with me. I will update everyone after her surgery on the 8th. I hope that you can find joy in knowing that God used you greatly in my life during these last few months. God bless you all!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
I'm at a Place Called Vertigo
Hey friends. No I'm not obsessed with U2. Ok, well, maybe I am, but that's not what this post is about. I'm actually really at a place called vertigo. For those of you that may not know, I have been very sick during the last 2 months & have been undergoing all kinds of medical tests. I have been to the doctor more during the last 2 months than in the last 5 years combined. I'm having major major stomach problems (cramping, nausea, soreness & tenderness in my lower abdomen, etc...). So far I've had tons of bloodwork, an ultrasound & a stool sample test. Everything has come back normal, but I'm still having a lot of pain. I'm still waiting on my most recent round of bloodwork, so we'll see what that says. So I've been referrred to a GI doctor & I'm hoping to get in soon. On top of all that over the last 2 weeks I've become extremely dizzy and everything is spinning. I'm having severe fatigue & I just all around don't feel good. So....I went back to the doctor on Thursday & was diagnosed with vertigo. She removed (sorry this is gross) a HUGE clump of wax that was pushing against my inner ear & told me to take a few days to see if it helped things. It did--temporarily & now I'm feeling bad again. So now they're trying to figure out if my 2 problems are linked or are 2 separate things. So far, here are some possible diagnosis:
1. thyroid problems
2. all of this is stress
3. crohn's or ulcerative colitis
4. IBS
5. problems with my sinuses & inner ear
6. major anemia
7. possible problems in my reproductive organs
So now I've been told to go see the GI doctor & an OB/Gyn to get more tests run. I'm just ready to feel better. I'm so tired & dizzy/nauseous, crampy all the time lately. All that feels good is lying on the couch, but as you can imagine, that doesn't really work with a toddler. So please pray for me as it seems that I still have a lot more testing to undergo. I'm going to see a chiropractor tomorrow (free of charge--as a gift!!) b/c on top of all this other stuff, my back is completely out of whack & is hurting worse than it's hurt in about 4 years. SO......fun stuff. I'm pretty sure the back is all from stress--I carry my stress in my shoulders, neck & upper back.
Sorry this is all such bad news--I feel like Debby Downer lately. The overwhelming majority of stuff in our lives right now is pretty heavy & difficult. I'm really longer for better days. My entire family is just worn. Please continue to pray for all of us.
On the adoption front....you guessed it.....more not so great news. We found out that several things we've completed for our dossier were incorrect & have to be redone, so we're looking at more money & more time. I've been so frustrated with this lately. I am honestly wondering if we will ever meet our daughter. I know that's stupid, but I feel like we just can't get it together. I'm so depressed everytime I see that ticker at the top on my blog saying how long we've been waiting for Bella. I don't want to take it down b/c it's keeping me working, but I can't believe it's been almost 8 months!! We need some serious miracles right now--money, things to push through & get completed, open doors. I just wish that this one thing could come together & work out for us....I really need that right now.
Oh, and did I mention that Matt will be out of town all week?
Ok, I think that's it. I'm sorry to complain & to be so down. The pain & stress of everything difficult in my life just gets to me some days. Today is one of those days. On a happier note--2 beautiful pictures. The first of my Mom & Ava & the second--a new picture of Ava. Enjoy :)
Hey friends. No I'm not obsessed with U2. Ok, well, maybe I am, but that's not what this post is about. I'm actually really at a place called vertigo. For those of you that may not know, I have been very sick during the last 2 months & have been undergoing all kinds of medical tests. I have been to the doctor more during the last 2 months than in the last 5 years combined. I'm having major major stomach problems (cramping, nausea, soreness & tenderness in my lower abdomen, etc...). So far I've had tons of bloodwork, an ultrasound & a stool sample test. Everything has come back normal, but I'm still having a lot of pain. I'm still waiting on my most recent round of bloodwork, so we'll see what that says. So I've been referrred to a GI doctor & I'm hoping to get in soon. On top of all that over the last 2 weeks I've become extremely dizzy and everything is spinning. I'm having severe fatigue & I just all around don't feel good. So....I went back to the doctor on Thursday & was diagnosed with vertigo. She removed (sorry this is gross) a HUGE clump of wax that was pushing against my inner ear & told me to take a few days to see if it helped things. It did--temporarily & now I'm feeling bad again. So now they're trying to figure out if my 2 problems are linked or are 2 separate things. So far, here are some possible diagnosis:
1. thyroid problems
2. all of this is stress
3. crohn's or ulcerative colitis
4. IBS
5. problems with my sinuses & inner ear
6. major anemia
7. possible problems in my reproductive organs
So now I've been told to go see the GI doctor & an OB/Gyn to get more tests run. I'm just ready to feel better. I'm so tired & dizzy/nauseous, crampy all the time lately. All that feels good is lying on the couch, but as you can imagine, that doesn't really work with a toddler. So please pray for me as it seems that I still have a lot more testing to undergo. I'm going to see a chiropractor tomorrow (free of charge--as a gift!!) b/c on top of all this other stuff, my back is completely out of whack & is hurting worse than it's hurt in about 4 years. SO......fun stuff. I'm pretty sure the back is all from stress--I carry my stress in my shoulders, neck & upper back.
Sorry this is all such bad news--I feel like Debby Downer lately. The overwhelming majority of stuff in our lives right now is pretty heavy & difficult. I'm really longer for better days. My entire family is just worn. Please continue to pray for all of us.
On the adoption front....you guessed it.....more not so great news. We found out that several things we've completed for our dossier were incorrect & have to be redone, so we're looking at more money & more time. I've been so frustrated with this lately. I am honestly wondering if we will ever meet our daughter. I know that's stupid, but I feel like we just can't get it together. I'm so depressed everytime I see that ticker at the top on my blog saying how long we've been waiting for Bella. I don't want to take it down b/c it's keeping me working, but I can't believe it's been almost 8 months!! We need some serious miracles right now--money, things to push through & get completed, open doors. I just wish that this one thing could come together & work out for us....I really need that right now.
Oh, and did I mention that Matt will be out of town all week?
Ok, I think that's it. I'm sorry to complain & to be so down. The pain & stress of everything difficult in my life just gets to me some days. Today is one of those days. On a happier note--2 beautiful pictures. The first of my Mom & Ava & the second--a new picture of Ava. Enjoy :)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Prayer Day for my Mom
Hey everyone! As most of you know, my sweet Mama has been battling very severe ovarian cancer (after her second battle against breast cancer this winter). She just finished her final chemo treatment a couple of weeks ago. This Friday she will be going in for her post-chemo CT Scan to see how her body has responded to the chemo. It's a really big, scary day for my family as we will be finding out if the chemo has been effective. It will take a week to get the results back, so it's going to be an excruciating week. A bunch of my Mom's friends are going to be gathering together at 7:00pm this Thursday the 20th for a time of prayer for my Mom before she goes in for her tests. I thought it would be such an awesome blessing to ask everyone I know to also be praying at 7:00 for my Mom. I know that God can work miracles, and we are asking Him to do just that. Below are some prayer requests that I recently emailed to a lot of my friends, but I also wanted to post them here for people whose emails I don't have. Would you be willing to commit to praying for my Mom this Thursday at 7:00pm? Here are some specific ways to pray:
1. First & foremost, pray for complete healing of her body--NO MORE CANCER!!
2. Pray for comfort in her body as she is in incredible pain & discomfort. It sounds like everything hurts, from her head to her stomach, to the tips of her fingers and toes. She is completely miserable. Pray for an alleving of pain this week.
3. Pray that the CT scan is completely thorough and complete the first time around
4. Pray for her emotions--she is feeling very down these days.
5. Pray for my family--for my Dad & Emily as they are in FL with her, and for us as we are away. I am not doing very well with things lately. I've pretty much been a big ball of tears this past week. If you have never watched someone you love more than yourself suffer immensely, I don't know how to describe it except to say that it is far worse than anything I've ever dealt with in my life. We need so much peace right now. Peace that can only come from our Heavenly Father. Pray that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:7
6. Pray for an outpouring of love for my Mom from her friends on Thursday night. She just needs some good hugs & encouragement--something to whisper to her heart to keep fighting.
7. Finally, join us in praying for a miracle. I have never felt God asking me for more faith than right now. I am praying the prayer that Hezakiah prayed in Isaiah 38. He fell ill & God told him that he was going to die. So, he prayed that God would spare his life so that He could bring more glory to God. This is what I'm praying for my Mom. I'm praying that God would spare her more years so that she can spend the rest of her days praising and bringing more glory to God. "For the grave cannot praise You, death cannot sing Your praise.....the living, the living--they praise You; as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about Your faithfulness. The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord." (Isaiah 37:18-19). Until God confirms that healing this side of heaven is God's plan for my Mom right now, I'm going to pray for a miracle--for complete healing. Please join us in praying huge and mighty prayers for my Mom b/c He is a huge and mighty God. I am trusting in His goodness and I know that His plans for healing for my Mom--either here on earth, or her ultimate healing in heaven--are beautiful & perfect.
Thank you so much for praying--if you're up for joining us, would you mind commenting me to let me know (if you've already emailed me--don't worry about reposting :) I'm passing along all the names of people praying to my Mom so she can see the army of people that will be meeting her at the throne of grace!! Love you all :)
Hey everyone! As most of you know, my sweet Mama has been battling very severe ovarian cancer (after her second battle against breast cancer this winter). She just finished her final chemo treatment a couple of weeks ago. This Friday she will be going in for her post-chemo CT Scan to see how her body has responded to the chemo. It's a really big, scary day for my family as we will be finding out if the chemo has been effective. It will take a week to get the results back, so it's going to be an excruciating week. A bunch of my Mom's friends are going to be gathering together at 7:00pm this Thursday the 20th for a time of prayer for my Mom before she goes in for her tests. I thought it would be such an awesome blessing to ask everyone I know to also be praying at 7:00 for my Mom. I know that God can work miracles, and we are asking Him to do just that. Below are some prayer requests that I recently emailed to a lot of my friends, but I also wanted to post them here for people whose emails I don't have. Would you be willing to commit to praying for my Mom this Thursday at 7:00pm? Here are some specific ways to pray:
1. First & foremost, pray for complete healing of her body--NO MORE CANCER!!
2. Pray for comfort in her body as she is in incredible pain & discomfort. It sounds like everything hurts, from her head to her stomach, to the tips of her fingers and toes. She is completely miserable. Pray for an alleving of pain this week.
3. Pray that the CT scan is completely thorough and complete the first time around
4. Pray for her emotions--she is feeling very down these days.
5. Pray for my family--for my Dad & Emily as they are in FL with her, and for us as we are away. I am not doing very well with things lately. I've pretty much been a big ball of tears this past week. If you have never watched someone you love more than yourself suffer immensely, I don't know how to describe it except to say that it is far worse than anything I've ever dealt with in my life. We need so much peace right now. Peace that can only come from our Heavenly Father. Pray that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:7
6. Pray for an outpouring of love for my Mom from her friends on Thursday night. She just needs some good hugs & encouragement--something to whisper to her heart to keep fighting.
7. Finally, join us in praying for a miracle. I have never felt God asking me for more faith than right now. I am praying the prayer that Hezakiah prayed in Isaiah 38. He fell ill & God told him that he was going to die. So, he prayed that God would spare his life so that He could bring more glory to God. This is what I'm praying for my Mom. I'm praying that God would spare her more years so that she can spend the rest of her days praising and bringing more glory to God. "For the grave cannot praise You, death cannot sing Your praise.....the living, the living--they praise You; as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about Your faithfulness. The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord." (Isaiah 37:18-19). Until God confirms that healing this side of heaven is God's plan for my Mom right now, I'm going to pray for a miracle--for complete healing. Please join us in praying huge and mighty prayers for my Mom b/c He is a huge and mighty God. I am trusting in His goodness and I know that His plans for healing for my Mom--either here on earth, or her ultimate healing in heaven--are beautiful & perfect.
Thank you so much for praying--if you're up for joining us, would you mind commenting me to let me know (if you've already emailed me--don't worry about reposting :) I'm passing along all the names of people praying to my Mom so she can see the army of people that will be meeting her at the throne of grace!! Love you all :)
Monday, September 17, 2007
Hello
Hi blogging friends. Sorry it's been awhile since my last post. I've been walking through a lot of stuff lately that has just felt very personal to me, so I haven't been so excited to share these thoughts with the entire world. I've just been very emotional lately about my Mom, about our adoption, about some decisions Matt & I are trying to pray through. Just a lot right now that is consuming my time and my mind. Sometimes I feel guilty when I don't blog, and quite honestly, that's pretty stupid. That's the problem with a blog....you get so used to sharing everything with everyone & then you start walking things that don't need to be publicized, and what do you do? So, all that to say, I'll be back soon with updates and pictures and all those other sorts of things. Until then, can you pray for me? Just a lot on my emotional plate right now. Thanks friends :) Love you & we'll be chatting soon, I promise!
Hi blogging friends. Sorry it's been awhile since my last post. I've been walking through a lot of stuff lately that has just felt very personal to me, so I haven't been so excited to share these thoughts with the entire world. I've just been very emotional lately about my Mom, about our adoption, about some decisions Matt & I are trying to pray through. Just a lot right now that is consuming my time and my mind. Sometimes I feel guilty when I don't blog, and quite honestly, that's pretty stupid. That's the problem with a blog....you get so used to sharing everything with everyone & then you start walking things that don't need to be publicized, and what do you do? So, all that to say, I'll be back soon with updates and pictures and all those other sorts of things. Until then, can you pray for me? Just a lot on my emotional plate right now. Thanks friends :) Love you & we'll be chatting soon, I promise!
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