Family time

We had a nice quiet thanksgiving. The boys learned how to make all the traditional recipes that they have grown up with - so now I told them that they were ready to take over the celebration. I say that "tongue in cheek" as I really, really missed being able to cook and get everything ready. It was kind of hard to let go of all my holiday preparations. But the food tasted good and we had great family times together. I sat at the kitchen table when I could and helped direct the food prep.
I have had alot of pain this weekend since going off of the morphine patch. I have a few more days of winding down off the other pain medications and hope that when I am off everything, that the pain will be at a managible level. Anxious to hear about the results of the culture and what my future course of meds will be. My blood sugar levels are a little elevated as I had a little of the thanksgiving treats - but they are still below the # my doctor gave me, so I should be fine. I am enjoying time visiting with John and the boys, watching movies and just talking. I can't think about putting up any Christmas decorations right now - so I will just wait and see how I feel in another week or so.

Back to work

First day back to work since 11/3 and it was my 4 hour day (thank goodness!) It was full of challenges (computer not working right, not being able to find things I needed, more pain that I expected) but the Lord is so good to me - placing me in a very caring and supportive environment. Monie stepped in and got my computer working and helped me get organized to get the deposit done - everyone was so patient. When John came to pick me up I was exhausted and in pain, but I made a start at 'real life' again. The boys are going to be here for Thanksgiving because of snow storm predicted and my sister is sick with pneumonia. I'm sure my mom is disappointed - I know the boys are, but we walk by faith not by sight. My oldest son went out today and bought all the food for our thanksgiving (with his own money) and he and my middle son have volunteered to do all the cooking if I would supervise. So we will patch together a little celebration. We have so much to be thankful for this year. And although we do not know what the future holds, we know our God holds the future.

Not quite up to speed

Saw the lung specialist yesterday and found out more about histoplasmosis. I was so excited that this wans't cancer in my lung, that I didn't really do much thinking about it still being something that needed treating. Anyhow, yesterday I found out that the complete culturing of the sample would take 6 - 8 weeks. Right now the surgeon thinks it is histoplasmosis but the lung doc said we really need to wait to get the full report before we can decide how to treat it. If it is "histo" the treatment is really long and hard on the liver. If they can't identify it then they will need to move in a particular way... which may involve trying to see if it has infected other organs. Meanwhile he wants me to recover from the surgery for about 4 more weeks before we start anything else. During this time he wants me to concentrate on the Diabetes.

Today I met with the nurse at the Diabetes Center and learned how to take my blood sugar levels. Right now she wants me to check it twice a day. My ankles, feet and legs are still swollen even with the diuretics - so it may be my sugar levels causing it. Well, all this new stuff to learn about should keep my brain sharp!!!

Back to Blogging

Successful surgery... not cancer but a fungus called histoplasmosis. I see the doctor tomorrow for my post-op and have my list of questions ready for him. I will let you know what I find out. So far the pain has been more than I expected but the doctor has me on a pain patch, prescription pain meds and OTC pain relievers for in between. I am able to get about an hour to an hour and a half of sleep at a time. Then I get up and do my breathing exercises, my walking, my arm exercises, and lay back down again. I made dinner for the first time tonight (just chili - but it's progress). Pray for Andrew this week - it's finals week for him.

God's wonderful children

Well it's the night before my surgery and I am so at peace. It has been a hectic day - getting everything ready at work for me to possibly be gone 3 weeks...but so good to know things are in order. I have received so many emails, cards and phone calls from dear friends and family assuring me of their prayers! Even friends of my son - people I haven't even met, but we share a bond in Christ! How marvelous God's grace is to surround me with the prayers of His children.
And He has provided so wonderfully for me. Once they remove the tumor, lymph node and part of the lung - there will be a pathologist there to immediately determine if it is cancer. If it is then they will be able to remove the lower lobe and possibly the whole lung if needed without a second operation. I am also going to be in a research study. They are trying to find a marker in the blood for lung cancer (like the PSA test for prostate cancer). If it isn't cancer, they will follow me for 2 years, if it is for 5 years. It would be so wonderful if they were able to identify this so that one day they could catch lung cancer even sooner.

Here is the verse that I am clinging to: “But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Please pray with me that I will keep shining God's light and power so that everyone I come in contact with at the hospital will see Christ in me.

Doctors okay surgery

Friday's surgery is a go. My chest xray showed some pneumonia but the surgeon said he is not worried about it. My white count is down from 15.8 to 13.6 and they put me on antibiotics. I am relieved as I just want to get it over at this point. I think I have the house pretty well straightened up, organized everyone's schedules, lined up a list of friends for John to call if he needs meals or help with anything. My suitcase is packed and the laundry is done. My friend who had the same surgery took me out to lunch today and gave me the "lowdown" on what it will really be like. The more information I have, the better I feel about it. I got the plants pulled up in the garden over the weekend, but did not get the beds "bedded down" for the winter. I hope we'll have some Indian Summer later this month and I can finish up outside. I don't know if I will have computer access at the hospital so this may be my last blog for awhile. Most of you that read this will get an email from John with the results of the surgery. Take care of each other!

Remember God's Timing is Perfect

The last 24 hours have been very interesting. Yesterday I had an urgent call from my doctor that my white blood cell count was elevated and I needed to go to the lab and have more blood drawn. I am so glad we switched doctors and now the doctor and the lab is just down the road! So I raced up there and got the test. This morning they called and said it wasn't as high but still elevated enough that he was concerned about me having surgery Friday - but if I would get a chest x-ray and it was clear and I would start an anti-biotic he would okay the surgery. So off I went again to the lab and then to the drugstore. I haven't heard the outcome yet. In the midst of all this I keep thinking about the song the group I sing with just sang at church..."Wait on the Lord". One of the lines says "His ways are perfect, His timing is sure". I so much want to be in control. First I wanted the surgery to be later in the month - then when the doctor insisted on this Friday and I am facing the possibility of it being postponed I am irritated! So I have been singing the song to myself all day and reminding myself that God's timing throughout my whole life HAS been perfect - so why should it be any different now? So as I wait, I am thankful that God not only has everything having to do with the surgery in control - He already knows the outcome! Praise His Holy Name!