A Special Day For Me

So to really understand how special this day was, you have to realize that I have been in my house except for 

the hospital and doctors for 8 months!

It's been a long time!

So my bloodwork was good and I had my last planned chemo behind me and I felt good!

So our daughter, Mandy came and got me and took me to our other daughter, Maranda's house to celebrate her birthday late. It felt good to actually get dressed up and get out!

Now, keep in mind, this day wasn't all about me but it was all about me!!!

(Smile)

Mandy planned it all. She got Marandas gifts from us all and just made this day so special.

We did miss our other daughter, Shannon though.

She had to work.

So Mandy even planned our lunch and it was so good!

It was croissants with barbecue turkey, cheese, lettuce & tomatoes! And the best pasta salad ever! 

And  the best cookies ever!

Did I tell you how special this was?

She made it look so easy!

She brought it all prepared!

I am very proud of my children!!!

There's the birthday girl!!!

It really was about her special day!

But I have the blog!!

Right?

Doesn't that look delicious?

It was delish!

Of course, I am eating like a horse

because of steroids!

Hopefully, about through with that!

Happy Birthday Maranda on my special day!

I ate every bite plus!!!

Thank you to Mandy for planning this!

Mandy told us that we need to do this once a month.

She said, if this trial has taught us anything it would be 

to do more together because life is short!

Maranda has taught me this...

YOLO

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!

Boy isn't that the truth?

I am more than thankful!!

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Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good:

for his mercy endureth forever.

Psalm 107:1

Facebook Vs. Blogger

Just in case someone from face book is popping in.....I was hacked. So I had to delete my face book account.  I hope to be back soon.  Just trying to figure it all out.  In the meantime...….I made hot wings and spinach artichoke dip for our lunch/supper! I also did chocolate chip cookies for dessert!

So while there are crazies out there trying to get in to accounts, I had a good afternoon here at home.  Sweet Hunter worked most the day outside in this heat! We have a cow that is due anytime so we keep checking on it. It's hard to tell but its exciting! I hope it happens at night so it will be cooler.  

I haven't blogged in so long, I am having to relearn this.  My pictures from my phone will not download. It's just one thing after another. But I will figure it out.  I hope.  (smile) This is actually where I like to blog anyway.  Facebook was just quick and easy and you get a lot of followers pretty fast.  

You know. It's not about the numbers. It was about the young girls that were learning what I wish someone had taught me when I was young. It was a ministry. But I can do a womens ministry from here too. I used to.  I just can't figure out why there is so much hate in this world. Why can't everyone be happy?  But hackers don't have anything better to do no matter who they are.  I don't consider them enemies. But we still need to pray for them  Its really so sad.

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Pray for Them.

Do Good to them if they will let you.

Stay Humble.

Believe me, I was blind but now I see.

Thank you Lord.

My Story Called Life Update Part 2

 

This has been the hardest thing I have ever experienced personally in my life.
Chemo & Cancer
As hard as this has been, there is always somebody worse.
It's so sad.  I saw 2 this morning that were so sick. 

If you have your health, be thankful.  I was strong and healthy and worked so hard everyday and I still got "C!"I knew something was wrong.  I can't describe how I felt.  I guess it was my gut feeling. And I definitely believe in a gut feeling.  But here's the thing, getting a doctor to listen.

I have had to stay away from my grandbabies 

so I wouldn't get sick.

That was so hard.  I didn't go out to eat 

or to church or anywhere. I didn't drive.

I stayed at home. 

And as much as I love home, I needed to go somewhere.

Long story short when the worst happened,
 it got the doctors attention.
And then I was referred to an oncologist. 
I had never heard of one of those.  
But we liked him right off. 
He acted as though he cared.
And he does.
And not only that, once I was out of the hospital, 
I found out that one of my friends 
from Church was his head nurse. God thing? I think so.
She's been such a blessing to me. And a prayer warrior for me.

I would go to chemo & I thought to myself. I can do this. 
I will bring some handwork to do.  
I can do this.  
But then I realized quickly 
I couldn't use my hands and one of the drugs 
in the chemo caused a horrible cold sensitivity that caused me to not be able to eat or drink anything cold.
 It would make my mouth and tongue draw. 
It quickly took my hands. I had to wear gloves.
I had to stay very warm or it would cause my hands to draw.
This was horrible  I will admit it.
It has also caused neuropathy in my hands and feet to this day.
But I am praying it goes away. 
Help me pray.

Once I started chemo in November, 
I met many chemo nurses that I loved. I still do.
They all have different personalities and 
I learned their names one by one.
I've saw them get in a circle and 
pray for someone that is hurting. 
And I do know that prayer changes things.
I do realize that they have jobs and homes and kids and families, but I also see that they all seem to care.
And that's a blessing to me.
I've been with them for months.  
They work so hard that it actually amazes me.

There is also one sweet girl at the front desk that I love.

I don't even know her name.

But she is so compassionate with anyone that comes in.

She always tells me how much better I look which really makes me feel good.

I think these nurses are a gift from God.

Be blessed, Val

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13

Part Of My Story Called Life UPDATE

I haven't updated in over 2 years. Sorry.  Remember our Granddaughter? Well she's doing well and we are more than thankful.  Thank you for your prayers. 

But. January of 2018 I fell. We had ice. I was out watering and feeding all the chickens and breaking ice for the cows when my Great Pyranees, Lily jumped on me, just playing. But she was 100 lbs. and still thought she was a puppy.  When she jumped on me, it knocked me on the ground. She then proceeded to try to get in my lap and I couldn't get up. She was just so big and strong.  It was one of the few times I didn't carry my cell phone out.  I woke up the next day not feeling well at all but couldn't pin point it except my back.. My back was hurt so bad.  I suffered so. I also had a strange smell in my nose that wouldn't go away.  I went to dr. but they didn't do anything.  Crazy.

Fast forward to March. Started having rib pain. I still had the smell in my nose also. The rib pain was debilitating.  It was horrible. It kept me up all night.  I called the dr. and she sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound stat.  I was thankful for that. I just knew I had breast cancer.  We waited and waited in the waiting room and they came out and said everything was clear.  Thank the Lord.  I cried and praised HIM in the waiting room. I didn't care who was watching me.

Fast forward to April.  I couldn't hardly walk across a room  I had no strength at all. I tried to go feed my chickens and had to sit down on the ground.  All this time back pain was still there. The smell in my nose was still there.  Rib pain was gone.  But no strength.  I went back to my primary doctor and told her I had cancer or heart problems.  I explained no strength and she passed it off because of my back pain.  I insisted on some kind of test. She said all she could do is a cbc.  I told her to do it.  Then I got the call a couple of days later that I was anemic.  They explained I was bleeding somewhere and they would try to get me in with a gastro dr  They put me on iron 3 times a day. The first iron pill made a difference.  I asked them could it heal itself and they said yes.  So now I wait.  I wait on the call for the gastro dr. And I wait.. And I wait. And I wait.

Finally after several weeks I called my primary dr. back.  The nurse said she would try again. I said ok.  All this time thinking if I am bleeding somewhere internally, shouldn't that be stat? Evidently not  And I trusted them.  Long story short I kept calling.  I finally got an appt. in August 2018 with gastor dr. set up. I go after all those months of begging for a dr. to see me.  They set me up a colonoscopy November 16, 2018.  I asked shouldn't I be stat.  They said no.  So I waited again. And I wait. And I wait.  One day I got so sick at my stomach I called and begged them to see me or move the colonoscopy up. I screamed on the phone which is so not me..But I did.  Then they call me back 2-4 hours later. This was in October and on a Wednesday.  They told me to come to hospital for colonoscopy that Friday.  They sent all the prep stuff.  Yuck!  But I knew I had to do it. 

Fast forward to Friday.  After that I don't remember much.  But according to my family I was in the hospital 12 days and was diagnosed with colon cancer.  It was a big tumor.  Stage 3.  I had surgery and they say they have it all.. I also had surgery to get a port for chemo.. Again, I can't remember a it. 

I am doing well. I am in my last chemo right now or so they say.

The pet scan will tell the story per my surgeon and my oncologist.

But I have faith. And I am not alone.
There is much more to my story & I'll share more later but I need to share this part.

At the same time I was going through this my best friend, Vicki  was finding out she also had cancer.  Neither of us wanted to worry the other one. That's what best friends do. 

We can't help but ask why? Why are we sick? Why at the same time"

So many questions.

Remember everyone has a story.

Vicki and I are asking for your prayers.

We sure need them.  

Sorry this was so long and sorry I haven't been on in almost 2 years. Just a lot going on.

One of the desires of my heart is doing this blog for my children.  

Facebook is quick and easy but this blog is where it all started.

I promise it will all not be doom and gloom but I feel I need to update you, And we need your prayers.

#prayforvickiandval

#prayforeddieandrandy

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And this is our answer to Why?

Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trials which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you:

But rejoice. inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings: that , when HIS glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 4:12, 13

Be blessed, Val