Great verse...

On the little flippy calendar by Max Lucado located by my sink...

The Lord is fair in everything he does, and full of kindness. He is close to all who call on him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who reverence and trust him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. He protects all those who love him. Psalm 145:17-20 TBL

There's a Shrew in the House and It's Not Me

Ha ha ha! I crack myself up.

I went to the hospital today to get my Herceptin and it turned out taking a lot longer than I planned. I had to have an ultrasound because I had some weird swelling in my face and neck area last week. They want to make sure that there isn't a blood clot near my port. I will maybe find out tomorrow if there was anything there. I was there from 11 -3. So much for getting a break from the place. :)

I came home and started painting these beautiful beds my husband made for Kylie and Macy. They have been sleeping on their mattresses on the floor since we moved into this house. I guess this is a pic of the headboards but aren't they cute?

Anyway, slowly getting to the point here. I hear this, "MOM, MOM, MOM," and up the stairs come two screeching seven year olds. "MOM, THERE'S A MOUSE IN THE BASEMENT! HE'S RUNNING BETWEEN THE BOOKS!" After the panic die down, I find out from Macy that he came down the stairs and then ran across the floor through the school room and the books stacked there. I'm thinking this is great. I HATE mice. Dan is due home in a few minutes and after I call him to tell him how much I HATE mice I tell the kids to go back downstairs. I assure them that a mouse isn't going to do bodily harm to them or kill them.

The girls are back down in Shelby's room when I hear this, "MOM, COME DOWN HERE QUICK!" I'm painting and really reluctant to put my brush down and hop up to run down there. I tried sending Levi down who is now not wanting to go where the mouse abides even though he had been trash talking the girls a few minutes earlier because they were afraid of the basement because of said mouse.

I head down the stairs and find one child in the middle of the bed sobbing and carrying on. Dear lord, is there an ax murderer down here along with the tiny mouse? The other is standing in the middle of the floor and ready to give an account as an eye witness might at a crime scene. "The mouse came into my room and around my guitar and then he turned around and ran back out!"

I guess it's mouse hunting time. I have to tell you I had tore apart a closet in the basement looking for my dear children's AWANA badges that I haven't sewn on yet. No big deal right except that they got them last year. Bad mother award for me. :) Anyway, there was stuff everywhere that this little fella could have been hiding behind. I kicked a few boxes...nothing. The dog comes in and lays down in the middle of the uproar. Maybe he will be some help if we find the mouse. I walk across the room and Shelby says that he just poked his head out from under the door that goes into the storage room. So much for the dog's help. He just laid there and eyed the rodent as it made it's appearance. We have him cornered! We stuff a blanket under the door so he can't escape and wait for Dan's arrival.

Dan arrives and amid the hysteria he ascertains that the mouse is in the storage room and we need him to kill it! He opens the door to set a mouse trap and the little thing runs right up to him trying to escape his prison. That's when Dan discovers that it's a shrew and not a mouse. He must have come in through the garage door and gone down the stairs to the basement. Well, finding out that the rodent is a shrew changed all the kids opinions. "Don't kill it Daddy, just put it in something and take it outside," they say. Dan is rolling his eyes and wondering how he came to be in the middle of all of this. When did his children become card carryin' PETA children?

He sends someone to get a bucket and they come back downstairs with some of my Tupperware.??. The shrew has disappeared by this time and Dan is losing patience. He sets a trap and sits by the door hoping to nab the little guy as he runs up to the trap. Well, I have to say that the poor little shrew met his Maker today. He ran right up to the peanut butter and into the trap before Dan could put the Tupperware over him. Anyway, that's Dan's story and he's sticking to it. A few tears are shed and I hear Shelby telling her daddy, "It's OK daddy, I know you tried your best". The truth may never be known.

Aaah, I love my ordinary life and moments like these!

Missing Eyebrows and Such

I'm missing a few hairs in my eyebrows and some of my eyelashes have fallen out. What in the world??? :) I guess since the hair on the top of my head is starting to grow back, my eyebrows and eyelashes decide to have a go at it! Go figure! None of it really matters because it will all fall out again with the next round of chemo. Bald is beautiful...right?

Alright, now that I have that off my chest we can move on to more important things.

We had a super time at the water park this past weekend. It was so nice to get out of the house and let the kids run wild. We had a excellent meal at Famous Dave's and then spend Friday evening and Saturday til about one in the water park. We came home with four very tired but happy kids.

No pics of me because I really do look like a cue ball! :)

My surgery has been changed to Wednesday, March 23rd. I went in last week for my pre-op physical. I will go over tomorrow for my iv bag of Herceptin. I thought I was done for now but I was wrong. I will be on Herceptin for a few years after I am finished with the rest of my treatment. I am completely finished with Taxol which has been causing the neuropathy (numb hands and feet). Please pray for healing of my feet and hands.

I did meet with my oncologist and was able to finally chat with him about my PET scan. As stated before, my scan was good news. I don't think the PET scan can proclaim one's cancer is gone or not. It showed no cancer but cancer has to be at least 1 centimeter before the scan can pick it up. That means over a billion cancer cells have to be lumped together to be seen.

So, my cancer could be gone (I believe it is). Or, there could be some still left that doesn't show up on the scan because it's smaller now.

Jesus sometimes healed people instantaneously of their diseases and then other times he had them go through all the motions to be healed. I will continue through the prescribed treatment because that is what I feel I should do.

I am feeling very well this week. I can tell it's been 10 days since my last chemo. I have more energy and I feel more like my old self! It's so nice. I have a few weeks before my surgery. I plan on using each day wisely!

I leave you with the words to a song that my friend ,Sara, and I are practicing to sing at church soon. I love what it says.

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Morning by morning I wake up to find

The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine

Season by season I watch Him, amazed

In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways

All I have need of, His hand will provide

He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain

He did not recycle to bring me gain

I can’t remember one single regret

In serving God only, and trusting His hand

All I have need of, His hand will provide

He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song

The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long

God has been faithful, He will be again

His loving compassion, it knows no end

All I have need of, His hand will provide

He’s always been faithful,

He’s always been faithful

He’s always been faithful to me.

He's Always Been Faithful - Sara Groves

chemo 11 and 12 done!

My last chemo with Taxol and Herceptin was given to me this past Friday. I am so thankful to have this leg of the journey finished!

My surgery has been scheduled for Friday, March 25. I have a few weeks to rest up and regain strength. I am so looking forward to this time off.

We were given passes to a local water park, a stay at the water park hotel and a gift certificate to a restaurant that is close to the hotel by our incredible church family. I think that is what is on tap for this coming weekend. We'll take the kids and just relax and play for a night.

Jill, Mikayla and Zane (Dan's sister, niece and nephew) came up for a visit last weekend. It was so nice to have them here. We really didn't do anything but we did watch some movies and play a few games. Our little ones get to bug the heck out of their cousins and because of some icy roads down in Iowa, they got to camp out here an extra day. It was a fun time.

My sister-in-law, Jill, played this song for my by Rascal Flatts. She made me cry. :) Anyway, click here to watch a video of them singing it live. It made me think again, about all our dear friends and family and how you all have lifted us up during this tough time in our lives. What would we do without you? Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can't even begin to tell you how much we love all of you. You all are so appreciated!



Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today. Hebrews 3:13



Two are better than one, because they are a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10



There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

PET Scan Good News

On Thursday, I went in to have a PET scan. They shot some radioactive sugar into my veins and then I had to sit for an hour. Apparently, during this time they don't want you doing anything like talking on your telephone or reading. You just hang out in a recliner and wait. After the waiting time is up, your body is scanned inside of a big machine similar to a CAT or MRI machine. That took about 20 - 25 minutes and wasn't too bad but I had to keep my arms over my head and not move during that time. Sounds easy til your muscles start twitching and falling asleep! The whole process took about an hour and a half.

I went in on Friday for chemo and a doctor's appointment. My oncologist didn't have my results back from the PET scan yet so we talked about other things. I was back in the main room, hooked up to my companion the IV pole when my doctor came in with my results. He handed me two pieces of paper with my PET results on them. I can't remember exactly what he said but his gist was that the cancer that was on the other images from the MRI and CT scans is no longer there. My lymph nodes and breast look normal. There is no metastasized cancer anywhere. He told me this and then he walked away. Wow! Seriously, what does this mean?

I called my care coordinator to just run some questions by her. Obviously, the news I got on Friday is GOOD NEWS! Does it change the care I will receive? I don't think so. I am pretty sure that they will continue to recommend the rest of the treatment plan. From their standpoint, I am responding to chemo in a textbook fashion.

Want to know what I think? I serve an awesome God and I am in His hands. He works through doctors and medicines. He is also a God of awesome miracles! I believe that I'm right where He wants me. I am so thankful that I can leave my care and plans in His hands and that His plan is just right for me.

So, rejoice with me that my scan was awesome! I am praising God for His goodness! Pray for me over these next few weeks as I finish up my first round with chemo. The accumulation of chemo has made my days harder. My feet feel more and more like blocks of wood that I'm walking around on. My fingernails are aching now. I'm praying they don't fall off completely. My taste buds are shot and everything tastes so strange. My fatigue is frustrating and oppressive. But, I can do all things with Christ who gives me strength. I am learning so much through this about myself and my God. That is the point, isn't it?

Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage. Ezra 7:28

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29

I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess. Martin Luther

Check on Chemo #9

I'm up and around today and it feels good. The past two days make me appreciate the days that I feel "normal" or close to it. Tuesday is one of those days that can go either way.

My last fever was on Wednesday last week so when I went to chemo, everything was a go. I have a PET scan scheduled this Thursday and then chemo on Friday. I'm not sure when I will get the results from the PET but I will share them here as soon as I do. I see my doctor on Friday while getting chemo so maybe he will have the info then.

It's a pretty chilly day here today so the kids have been inside all day. We completed our school this morning. I was standing by the kitchen sink when I saw a wolf running down the road. I called the kids and they came up to the window and we were able to watch him until he ran out of sight. I didn't think quick enough to grab the camera."They" say we don't have them around here but someone's dog was taken off their porch/yard a year or two ago by a wolf. We know they are around. Shelby turned to me and said, "Mom, I love living in the woods"!

Not a lot happening here. Wish I had something really exciting to write about. :) Maybe next time.


Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

Can't think of a title, title

Just a quick update.

My sister and her husband were here last weekend. They came on Thursday and left Monday afternoon. We had so much fun but I didn't take any pictures. Seriously, what is wrong with me? The boys went ice fishing and caught......... NOTHING. Well, that little, tiny fish only a little bigger than the bait fish doesn't count. Carleen went to chemo with me on Friday. They cooked a seriously good Italian spread for us. They sugared our kids up and then they left.

Monday, I developed a fever and felt quite cruddy all day. After my family left, I called my doctor and told them I was running a fever. They told me to come to the ER right away. Dan came home from work and and ran me over to the hospital. They did blood work, a chest x-ray, and gave me iv antibiotics. All that to rule out other things I guess. I do think that I have a nasty sinus infection so maybe that is it. I was sent home with more antibiotics.

I continue to run a fever but only at night and some mornings. Not sure what my body is trying to oust but I will go to chemo tomorrow and see what they have to say. I am praying that they don't delay my chemo. I guess we will see tomorrow. Tomorrow will be my 9th chemo! Three left on this round!

I began my leave from work this week. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to sleep through the night in my bed. We know that God will provide for us during this time and what a relief it is to put it in His hands and leave it there.

Lastly, I read this from one of my books the other day and thought it was so profound and just what I needed for that day.

From Jesus Calling Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young

Follow me one step at a time. That is all I require of you. In fact, that is the only way to move through this space/time world. You see huge mountains looming, and you start wondering how you're going to scale those heights. Meanwhile, because you're not looking where you are going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now. As I help you get back on your feet, you tell Me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead. But you don't know what will happen today, much less tomorrow. Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away for those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountains than visible from this distance. If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb. I will even give My angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways.
Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying My Presence. Walk by faith, not by sight, trusting Me to open up the way before you.

Psalm 18:29, Psalm 91:11, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Amen. Just what I needed to hear!