Good News

I'm still learning the hoops of it all, but I played around on my blog and was able to change it from Thanksgiving to Christmas all by my self! :) I don't know a whole lot about that kind of stuff and when I did it, I was pretty excited to not just pick out the background ,but to have changed all the settings by myself.  I even added snow falling but with it having so much white in it it really only showed on our picture and was hard to notice, so I deleted it.  Boy was I scared, because I didn't know if it would erase the work I had just done.  All was well though.;)

I pray that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.  I started off by making chocolate gravy and biscuits for breakfast.  It's a southern style breakfast. YUM! Afterwards, we went to Peoria and had a nice and relaxing time. The kids enjoyed playing outside for a bit also. On the way home, we stopped a few places to look at Christmas lights. Thank you, Lord, for your many many blessings!

I had another iron infusion on Friday.  I still walk away with a fullness in my heart, saying thank you, Lord!!  I go back to my regular schedule of Thursdays this week.  They are starting to help according to my blood work. I was expecting to have a bit more energy by now and not nap 2 times a day. No worries-I'm not out raking the leaves, fixing a 5 course dinner, & fall cleaning my house.  I am grateful that I am able to snuggle with my kiddos, make them a hot cocoa to drink, and throw pizza and fruit cocktail together:).  I am glad for the little and big things I can do.  My main thing is to take things in strides. :)

We have been enjoying the Christmas decor and lights all aglow.  We have enjoyed the lights being off in the evening and relaxing with the Christmas lights glowing in the living room and dinning room.  To complete the picture, we're enjoying listening to instrumental and Christmas music playing in the background.   I kept things pretty simple this year so that when we leave for Cleveland in January things will be all fresh and ready when we get back home.  Kelsey was a huge help in getting things out and helping decorate.:)  So thankful for the our wonderful children.  I am so proud of all 3 of them for the help they have been!!

Not sure how accurate this is, but it shows that my blog has been viewed in Russia, United Kingdom, Germany and a few other spots on occasion.  If you are reading from out of the United States, it would be wonderful to hear from you!:)  Sometimes I have heard others have issues with leaving comments, so if you'd like to email me it's on the right hand side under 'about me'.  For that matter, even if you're in the United States, I love hearing from you, too!  Thank you for those who do comment and email.  It is a blessing and encouragement.:)

May each of you have a wonderful week!:)

Love-Jamie

Blessings

I feel so blessed!  God has blessed me beyond measure!!  I have so much to be thankful for.  No matter my health may not be the best, but it could be much worse.  I have the world's greatest greatest husband, 3 wonderful healthy beautiful children, and family and friends that have blessed my life. Most of all, I am thankful to the Lord for His love, grace, mercy,  faithfulness, strength, and hope.  That He has made a difference in my life.  He is my everything and I'm so grateful for HIM!

Wishing each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!  Praying that you each have a blessed day!  Don't forget to take the time to thank the Lord for His blessings.  Someone eat some mashed taters for me.  I don't think I better the chance. ;)  

We are going to Peoria to be with Shane's side tomorrow.  Normally, we are in Texas during this time to be with my in-laws for Thanksgiving. They made the long trip to see us to give me a break with all that has gone on with me.  Thankful that they are here.  :)  

I have an infusion of iron again Friday at 8:30 in the morning. My counts went down some, but they said not to expect it to go up with the first infusion or so.  My white count is down, so I have to be very careful in crowds.  With it being low, I can catch a bug easier so in crowds and stores it's safer for me to wear a mask they said so I don't pick up anything.  Also good hand washing -which I try to always do with my hickman line.  I want to keep as healthy as I can.  No more sickies:)

I wanted to share the lyrics to the song Blessings by Laura Story...

                                   We pray for blessings. We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart That this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Thank you Lord for the prayers you have answered and for what your going to do.  You are my All and I continue to lean on You.  Thank you all for you prayers for my family and me.  Good is so good and I am blessed beyond measure!  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Love-Jamie

Appointments and Iron Infusion

Good evening, on this fall chilly night.  I pray this finds you nice and cozy warm.  I am sitting in front of a heat register typing up this post on my computer with a warm blanket.:)

I had two doctor appointments yesterday.  They both went well.  All is looking well with the sites.  That is a good thing.:)  I have till next week with the antibiotic and then I am done with taking it.  In 5 weeks I get the stitches out of the new line, too.  Not too much to report on it.  The infectious disease doctor did say that all is fine and no need to come back.  I pray I never have to see him again.  Don't get me wrong-he is a very good doctor, but I just don't want another infection.:)

I had my iron infusion today.  It's a reddish brown color.  They gave me a test dose and I itched a little bit, watched for any hives and never saw a one.  When the nurse came to start the treatment, she asked about any reactions since I had not said anything.  I told her and she looked to make sure all was well then checked to make sure with the doctor it was alright.  I got it and had no reaction.  They even kept me a bit longer to make sure there would be no reaction.  All was good and I came home and slept the afternoon away.  Woke up with some issues so I called and they told me it could be a reaction to the treatment and to take Benadryl.  Well I'm now tired on top of tired :).

It broke my heart to see the chairs quickly fill up for patients to have chemo therapy while I got my infusion.  I had a surprise and got to see a friend walk in to have her therapy done and had another friend of mine with her.  All I can do is pray that God would touch them.  It was nice to sit with a familiar face, but heartbreaking to know she too has her own battles.

I am so blessed to be able to take my need of healing before my heavenly Father.  What a privilege it is to lay my needs at His feet and know that He is more than enough.  That He will come through in His time and during the wait he gives the the strength and patience to endure.  Not all know of that hope.  I pray that as I go through this that God uses me as a vessel to help reach out to others and that my light shines for Him.  Through all of this I want to give Him all the glory and praise.  For He is forever faithful and my hope is in Him.  Lord, let my faith never fail me.  I lay down tonight feeling a lot more blessed after being in a room with about 10 cancer patients.  God, thank you for my health!  No, it may not be the best, but it could be so much worse.

Thank you once again for the prayers and encouragement.

 Love-Jamie

Busy week ahead:)

Today I had a Doctor's Appointment with a Hematologist.  With me being anemic and needing the 3 units of blood, it is good to look into things to make sure all is well.  He is wanting to have me get some blood work done tomorrow.  On Thursday, I am going to have an infusion of iron.  We are going to try a couple of them considering my iron had bottomed down to 3%, if I understood him correctly.  By having the infusion it is in comparison to 3 units of blood so by the time I am done with all 3 units it would be like me  having 12 units of blood.  We are praying that will be all that it is and no further testing will be needed.  It turned out to be a good appointment.  I still have 2 more appointments this week also.  One with the with my surgeon to have a stitch removed and one for the infectious disease specialist for a follow-up.

God is so good to me.  Walking into a cancer center makes you so appreciative of what you have.  The blessings of good health even in bad health.  It made me walk away thankful of the little and big things I can still do.  It is very much the little and simple things in life you are grateful for.  You never know how appreciative you are for those things until you do not have them any more.  Things could be worse off than they are for me and I thank the Lord for His hand upon my life.  For keeping me time and time again, for His faithfulness to me.  for loving me and giving me hope!

Thank you again for all your love, Prayers, and support!

Love-Jamie

Home :)

We are finally home!  :)  It felt so good to hug my kiddos and it is wonderful to be home and in my bed.  The nurse came out tonight to change the dressings and all looked good.  Thank you, Lord!!  Just some bruising and a bit of swelling and lots of pain- all to be expected.  So glad everything is going well.  I will make sure to stay on top of my pain meds.  It does make a difference.

Also, today is a very special day.  16 years ago today, I married my best friend!  Hard to believe that it has been 16 years!  I am so thankful God has blessed me with the world's best husband.  Sorry ladies-it's true;)  He has been with me thru some hard times and a lot of men would not have been able to stick it out like he has.  I am beyond blessed!!!  He has had to be husband, daddy, nurse, best friend, and do a lot of my role for me as far as being a cook, house keeper, laundry washer, get kids up and ready for school, and the list goes on. Not once have I heard my sweet husband complain.  I am BLESSED!!!

We had a wonderful day together reminiscing about our wedding day.  We listened to some love songs and some smooth jazz music while traveling home.  So neat going back and saying, "remember this and that?":)

God has blessed our marriage and I am so thankful that He is first and foremost in our lives.  A lot of people our age get out of marriage before 10 years has even hit.  I am so thankful to the Lord that we have 16 wonderful years that have brought us even closer together to each other.  I love you, babe, more and more with each passing day!  Happy 16th, anniversary!!

Half Way Home

We left Cleveland mid-morning to start back home.  We had already made reservations and knew we were only going half way today though.  That was long enough for me.  I am having quite a bit of pain, even with meds to help.  Every bump on the road, I think I felt. :(  Shane was so careful and even would warn me that one was coming.  It's not like he couldn't have kept going lane to lane bouncing back and forth-even if there was a car next to to us. :) Just teasing ;)

We stopped in Sturgis, Michigan for the night so I could rest.  We were able to check in early, so Shane took some work down to the lobby and let me rest in the room for a while because last night was very rough.  As soon as I would lay back, I have a lot more pain and some pressure where they worked.  So I was grateful to be able to rest some.  He turned Pandora on to help with the noise of the housekeepers that were still trying to finish up some rooms.  I had drifted off and on several times and got into a really good sleep and housekeeping came in and scared me to death.  Thankfully I was able to get back to sleep  and got some much needed rest.

Afterwards, we went to an Amish community called Shipshiwana, IN and ate at a restaurant called the Blue Gate.  They serve sides of real mashed taters:)  YUM!   The town is getting ready for Christmas and they had the place all decorated and it was so pretty.  Even had soft instrumental Christmas music playing in the background.  So much to take in!  Also was neat when Shane picked me up at the door to hear the sound of the horses clomping.  I can't wait to go back when I'm feeling more up to it.  But it was a special treat:)  Thank you, honey!!!

Getting ready to turn in for the night.  Thank you once again for all your prayers, love, and support.  Most of all, I am thankful for God's faithfulness.  I am so blessed!

Love~Jamie

New line in :)

We had to be at Cleveland Clinic at at 10:15 this morning.  So in order to be there on time, we took the shuttle from the hotel at 9:15.  We got there, checked in where we thought we were to be, thinking we had some extra time, but we were checked at the wrong place.  By the time we arrived to check in at the right spot, it was already 10:00.  So much for kickin' back!

We were taken back about 10:30 for all the pre-op stuff and then sent back to the waiting area.  Around 11:15 or so, they took us to the pre-holding area and waited there for about 20 minutes, talked with a doctor, signed consents, and off I went.  They snuggled me with some warm blankets and began getting things ready.  I was awake in the room for a while after they began prepping and was conversing with them. Next thing I knew, I was back in my recovery cubby.  They got Shane and it seems things moved quickly from there.  The nurse did say that they had a difficult time getting me out and had to give a little more sedation, but other than that, all went ok.  I am extremely sore though.  They did give me some meds to help before leaving there to head back to the hotel.

I am back at the hotel and taking it easy now and thanking the Lord for bringing me through another surgery and keeping your hand on me.  I have so much to be thankful for!  Not just during the month of November, but with each breath I take and each day that He has blessed me with.  God is so good!

We are in hoping to get some rest in the morning and hopefully getting half way home tomorrow and do a bit more recouping and make it home on Thursday.

Thank you so much for  each of your prayers, love and support!!:)

Love~Jamie

We made it to Cleveland:)

We have arrived at the hotel!  Glad for a safe trip, along with a few naps .:)  It feels good though not to be riding in the vehicle and relaxing.  :)

We did make a stop at a candy factory in Merrillville, IN.  I can eat some gummy bears and that place makes awesome gummy bears!!  They have a package that is 12 flavors and oh so tasty. YUMM!  Of course, I sip some hot tea with to help them dissolve.  The place is really neat.  The name of the brand of gummy bears is Albanese.    

I am to check in tomorrow at 10 and then surgery for the line at 11.  Hopefully, I'll able to get some rest here at the hotel when we come back tomorrow night.  Just pray with me that all will go well.:)

So grateful once again that God knows my name and where I  am.:)

Love~Jamie

An update from HOME :)

Ahh.  It feels so good to be at home.:)  The kids and I have been able to have some snuggle time together.  They got out early Thursday from school and Friday had no school due to parent/teacher conferences.  It has been wonderful.:)  They have been a big help for me also.  It just doesn't take much out of me to wear out easily.

Matthew came home from school yesterday with an envelope for me to open.  Inside was a typed letter from the school saying they had taken up a collection for us and there was a check that was inside along with 2 gas cards!  God is so good and He knows just what we need.  What a blessing from the staff and students of the collection that they took up for us!  Wow-my heart is overflowing and so touched by this HUGE surprise!!  Thank you seems so small in light of what they have done!!  Not only that, but their teachers have been helping them with schoolwork to help lighten the load at home.  So blessed to be a part of a wonderful community with some awesome people who truly care!!  THANK YOU!!!!!

Everything is going pretty well.  I had labs today and also have some on Monday.  An In Home Care Nurse came to see me last evening and he changed the PICC line dressing.  All looks good with it, so it should be fine till Tuesday.  On Monday, once we leave take the kids to school, I have some lab work that needs to be done, then we will be on the road.  I am needing to be at Cleveland Monday and catch up on some rest in the hotel, then Tuesday I have surgery scheduled to have a new hickman line placed.  We'll take time for me rest and recover, then head back home to recoup some more.

They are wanting the line placed ASAP so they can get have me use the ethanol locks in the line again.  They are not compatible with the PICC line so we are not using them.  They are suppose to help with line infections so they want me to be back on them.  I still will finish my course of antibiotic till the 21st.  

So, I am asking once again that you would keep our family in your prayers as this will be hard to once again be away from each other.  It will be a short and quick trip.  Still feel like I'm trying to still get settled in at home from the hospital stay.

Thank you, once again, for all the prayers.  God is so good and He is still in control.  So glad to be in His Hands.:)

Love-Jamie