This journey of mine has taken yet another turn.  One more complication that has me back in my chair.  We took a midnight ride to the emergency room because I had extreme back pain that started for no apparent reason.  The doctor did some tests to eliminate a kidney infection, since I had a urinary tract infection last week. He examined me and gave me a shot for pain and sent me home…I was loopy after that.  He feels that it is a strain of my lower back, so I am flat on my back until Monday.  I have some really strong medicine and muscle relaxers so I am out of it. 

Going between my bed and chair is something I had hoped never to do again.  I am frustrated and a little mad.  I don’t need this.  I am on the downhill slide and I don’t want it to be delayed or worse yet start over with some other sort of surgery needed.  I am hoping that it is a simple strain and will go away with time and powerful medicine.  For those of you that have been praying for me…please continue.

I wrote this last weekend but I am posting it now because tomorrw is Thanksgiving...Have a wonderful holiday everyone and remember to be thankful for life!

This year Thanksgiving is more than a day of the year to me.  It has become more than that…like a way of life.  Sitting here at mom’s house among family, (We celebrate the weekend before Thanksgiving.) I am more grateful for the little things.  I know that trauma causes us to look at things more seriously and this year is no exception.  Today has been about more than a meal for me.  The food is great…even on a chemo stomach…that tells you how good it is.  In addition, family time is definitely something I appreciate more since my illness.  But there are other things smaller things, like football games, checker games, mountain walks, washing dishes as a group, roasting marshmallows and playing games that make life full.  Living fully is something I have determined to do. 

Giving thanks has become a lifestyle lately.  Not only am I grateful to be alive and heading toward good health, I thank God for each day I am given.  I praise him for the miracle of early detection that will allow me to be here next Thanksgiving. I am grateful for dear friends who pray.  I thank God my family is near and supportive, I know so many that are not.  I worship him for my job, my car, my home…my husband and kids, and my intimate relationship with Him.  I love my kids and who they are becoming…and being able to watch that occur in front of my eyes. I am grateful to him for a husband that has cared for me for better and for worse.  It is the result of cancer to look at life differently and to live life differently…to see with more eternal eyes, to live with purpose…and to be thankful for the little things everyday.

Today is Hannah's birthday.  I decided last night I am feeling good enough to try to have a few of the kids from church over tonight...so we are having a party...feel free to come.  6:00 for cake and icecream...no presents needed.  I worked so hard yesterday cleaning some of the downstairs and it felt good to get some significant things done.  Now I have comitted myself to this party so I am going to be working again today to spiff things up.

Good news and bad news...first the bad...I have a urinary tract infection that is painful.  However, I have a wonderful doctor that called me in some powerful medicine that should take care of it.  The good news...it is supposed to snow.  I know it is only a flurry or two but I always love to watch it come down. It helps that I don't have to go anywhere for a few days.  I plan to enjoy my children and heal.

For the record...this is hard.  I don't like it.

     I am so pitiful.  I feel bad for one and one half days and I am ready to quit. I had my shot today and can feel the bone pain coming.  I can't wait for Saturday to get here because it is my family's Thanksgiving and because I know I will feel better by then.  The up side of this cancer journey is that I have sooooo much more compassion for those that are in constant pain.  I cannot comprehend how difficult it must be. When I hear news of a cancer diagnosis (which I do all the time now) I am aware of the miracle of early detection.  My cancer is low level therefore, survivable.  My treatments, bad as they are, could be far worse.  I could have to undergo them for longer.  I read one story of a lady that had treatments for four years...she survived.  I am grateful to God this Thanksgiving season because it could've been my last.  He is so full of grace...

I don't usually feel bad this soon.  The bone pain hasn't started but I feel yuck...headache and my stomach is churning.  I guess this is the cummulative effect they have been talking about.  I plan to take medicine and go to bed.  I will sleep in tomorrow and go get my white count shot.  Only two more times of this yuck...that makes it better.

I am two thirds of the way...the light at the end of the tunnel is growing bigger.  Today went very well...as well as chemotherapy can go.  My mom took me today and that was a wonderful change.  We had breakfast and were able to visit on the way down and back.  She sat with me some and went and got me lunch.  It was nice to have her there to support me.  Bill was glad for it too because tomorrow he has to play the piano for the head of music at North Georgia College so he needed to practice all day.  (He is tranfering from Truiett to NGA to study music education)  Then we went to his mom's for dinner.  What a blessing that is.  I have great support from my moms!

They got my port 1 time no problem! Hurray for small miracles.  I was groggy for a while as usual, so I napped to beautiful music that my friend Heather put on CD for me.  I have some noise canceling head phones so when I put them on and close my eyes I am transported to the throne of God in worship.  It was such a peaceful place to be.  So much so that I fell into a deep sleep for a couple of hours.  Calm in the midst of the storm...I just love it when God does that for me.

I saw the doctor and he said I can return to work in Jan. if all my tests look good.  He also added red count shots today.  I have to have one a week to help with my anemia.  So now I have a white shot and 3 red shots...all I need is blue to be very patriotic.  For all of you prayer warriors out there, please pray that my platlettes don't drop too low.  When that happens you have to have a platlette transfusion and it delays chemo for three weeks!  I don't want that to happen.  Mine are low but not too low at this point...if we lift them to heaven they will be high enough 🙂

I know that I talk about nature alot...mountains, leaves, oceans etc...  I just can't help it.  I am inspired by it. I truly believe that God is everywhere if we will just open our eyes and look around. 

This weekend we went to the Georgia Aquarium and I am again amazed by God's creation.  Thousands of fish...some crazy looking creatures were there.  Huge whale sharks that cannot swallow anything bigger than a quarter, little paranas that will eat a ton of meat in seconds.  God is soooooo creative.  I know that, but really...a fish that can change from male to female, a male seahorse that carries the babies, a jelly fish that glows in the dark???  What was God thinking?  How could he come up with this stuff? 

I guess he is the creator so that would make him the most creative artist.  Mind-blowing creative.  It says in the Bible that all creation testifies to his glory.  I would have to agree.  All creation worships him when congress will not.  All creation worships him when the president will not.  All creation worships him when the human world denies him.  All creation worships him when I will not.   He is so much bigger than the politics and world opinion and me.  He is bigger than a whale shark...bigger than an ocean of whale sharks!  Yet he knows each creature of the sea and each sparrow...each person...including me and you.  WOW!  That is hard to get my brain around.  He created this world for our pleasure and for his.  Open your eyes and you will see him all around you.

We won!  White County won their last game tonight.  That makes three for the year.  It was even exciting...final score 10 to 13.  The band sounded great too.  It was a fun season but I am glad it is over.  No more band practice...however, if anyone wants to buy some oranges we are selling! Tomorrow we have a soccer game, wrestling match and we are going to the Georgia Aquarium.  I am living it up before Monday...