Beautiful Fall Days in Arkansas

Today was a beautiful day in Arkansas!  It appears that fall has arrived and the weather has cooled down to such a comfortable temperature. This is truly my favorite time of year!  I'm SO thankful to God for the beauty of this season and that He has blessed us day by day.

It really has been more than a month since I've written. I apologize for such a big gap between posts. I didn't really intend to go that long, but time just seems to go so quickly. I can't believe the month of September is almost done!  Let me go back to August to catch up.

Monday, August 19th,    Blood lab showed low counts and calcium up to 13 (10 is normal).  I received IV fluids and steroids for the calcium problem.  Tuesday...received another blood transfusion, 2 units. Wednesday, my counts were all better, so I was able to receive the new chemo, Gemzar.  (Just a side note, when I get low doses of steroids it is sort of a blessing. I get a boost of energy and in my appetite.)  I was told that this chemo had mild side effects, for the most part.  Maybe some nausea and fatigue, but no loss of hair.  (Amazingly, I have not lost my hair once on any of the different chemos I've received since this began in April 2012.  Our daughter Betsy prayed specifically that I wouldn't lose my hair, and I thank God for this answered prayer!)

So... I went home that Wednesday hoping the side effects were going to be lighter, like they told me.  I did well Wednesday and most of Thursday. Even went to lunch with some dear friends who came to visit from Tennessee.  But Thursday night some of the side effects showed up, mostly nausea and some pain issues.  We got on top of it by Friday, and by Saturday morning I was feeling fairly normal again (well, the "new" normal.)

That same weekend, when I started feeling better, I talked with my parents and my sister Diane, who all live in Franklin, Tennessee. They had been wanting to come visit me, but were waiting for the right week. Diane would be the designated driver and they would just take the trip slowly and carefully.  I was thrilled with the idea since I had not seen my parents since the first week of January.  The chemo is an "every two weeks" treatment, so I basically had a full week off until the next treatment.  We discussed the trip...and they decided to come! What a blessing!

They came on Monday, August 26th, and left Saturday morning. the 31st.  We had a wonderful time, really just hanging out. It was wonderful just to spend time together, talking, sharing, and praying with each other.  All three of them were a beautiful dose of "good medicine" for me.  We were also blessed with a visit from our dear friends Dr. Zik and Ory from the country of Nigeria. We also had prayer time with them that was very encouraging.  I was SO thankful that the week that my parents came here I was feeling strong and well.  It really worked out to be perfectly timed.

The week of  September 2- 9...  On Wednesday my blood counts were good, so I was able to get the second chemo treatment, which was great.  I did fine on Wednesday, which happened to be a special day... our precious Betsy's birthday.  I felt well all evening and I was grateful to get to celebrate.  But, just like the first treatment, I started feeling symptoms Thursday evening...nausea, pain, fever, etc.  I felt better on Friday, but the fever continued on and off over the weekend.  I noticed that I had some redness and swelling across my stomach, very red.  Didn't know what that was about, so Monday morning I called my doctor and the nurse said to come into Little Rock so they could see it.

Tom and I hurried there Monday afternoon.  The diagnosis was cellulitis, a skin infection on my tummy, totally unrelated to chemo or cancer, just an... infection!  SO...Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I went to LR to get antibiotics by IV.  The infection did improve enough that they said I could finish the antibiotic at home with a pill.  I went to LR AGAIN  Thursday morning to get another blood transfusion. (My counts were low again, so I got the blood to strengthen my body so that, hopefully, I can get the third treatment this coming Wednesday.) When Friday arrived,  I was so happy to stay home and rest!

Monday Sept. 16th I went to LR in order for my doctor to check the skin infection.  It was better!  Yay God!!!  The whole remainder of that week was appointment free!  SO glad.  That weekend our family, including Jesse who drove over from Nashville, and Jamie who came from Jonesboro, and his girlfriend Natalie...we ALL gathered at Kevin's family lake house, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.  We had a wonderful weekend!!! Beautiful weather, incredible views of the lake, family talk time, great food (thanks Betsy) and plenty of joy.  God blessed us with a great, great time.

Which brings me up to this past week.  I went into Little Rock on Wednesday and received another treatment.  Wednesday also happened to be our sweet Jamie's birthday!  (We had celebrated it Saturday night when we were up at the lake.)  Today is Thursday and so far I'm feeling fine, which is a huge blessing. (Hooray!)  History so far has been that I start to feel bad Thursday night, but hoping and praying that this round will look different.

And THAT'S the update!!!  Lots of procedures, treatments, etc. but also lots of joyful events along the way.

All throughout the past few weeks God has sent His encouragement to me in so many ways.  Delicious meals that were (and continue to be) brought to our home 2 days a week from dear church families,  my parents and sister's visit,  phone calls, text messages and prayers, Facebook messages, an evening with our church small group friends, nice family-gathering Sunday lunches, Betsy's incredible muscadine sorbet (made with fruit juice only),  visits from long distance friends from Nigeria, Florida, Tennessee and Michigan,  flower arrangements, a ticket to a play, a journal book, and SO MUCH MORE I truly cannot name them all. That's just been in the last couple months!  We especially are grateful for your prayers!  Thank you that you continued to pray even when I stopped writing and you weren't sure what was going on.  Thank you for that faithfulness.  God has sent His manna, His spiritual food down to bless and encourage our family...and He uses your hands and hearts to do that.
We're so grateful.

I hope to write in my blog more often, although I won't make any promises.  It will be by God's grace and help.  I can trust Him with anything that is in my life.  One day at a time is our motto.  Really, it is more like one moment at a time.  God is completely faithful to walk with us every moment that we live.  What a wonderful God!

Oh God,
This past month has been hard.  Blood transfusions, chemo treatments, side effects.  But along the way, you have shown us Your loving Presence in many ways, ways that have made the journey lighter. Thank You...for  friends that came long distances to say hello and to hug us and pray with us.  Thank You for the visit from my family, such a joy to see them and laugh with them again.  Thank you for our weekend vacation, making sweet memories with our family.  Thank You God for bringing light into darkness.  I trust and love You always.
Please give me strength for the days ahead.  Please encourage and strengthen Tom and the children and our families as they also face difficult days.  We need You and believe that You will come in all circumstances.  Thank You for never leaving us!
Your daughter,
Lisa