Have You Missed Me?

Sorry...........but it seems like the days have just slipped away, and I've been home for over two weeks already. It has been a glorious two weeks, in which I get stronger every day.

Now, for those that have nothing better to do, let me try to get you "caught up" on my life!

After being home for only two days, I ventured out on Sunday to church. I surprised a lot of people that day, including the pastors. In fact, they insisted on interviewing me during both services. It was great to let all of the people in my church family that had been praying for me finally know that I was truly healing and their prayers made a huge difference.

And this Sunday I got to help answer questions for folks that might be interested in sponsoring a child in Rwanda. I took some of the souvenirs I had brought back. They were a huge hit. Our church currently sponsors over 158 children in Rwanda. (I sponsor two of them). We sponsor more children than any other church in North America. But after you've been there, you just want to help more.

My friend Nancy was here last weekend. She arrived on Thursday with her horse. Friday she headed to Idaho for a two-day trail ride, returning late Sunday afternoon. She stayed until Tuesday and was a big help to me......doing things like vacuuming, baking banana bread and cleaning up some old moldy hay in the barn.

While Nancy was here, we went up to the farm and brought back my 20-year old mare, Millie. Millie was the last horse born on my place, but I've decided that's it's time to give her a new home. There's a 16-year old girl from church that wants a horse really bad, but has never been around them. I thought Millie might be perfect. These folks don't have money to "buy" a horse, so they're working it off in trade. So far they have cleaned stalls, recharged my dead pickup battery and today they washed the outside of my house. With winter coming on, I was wondering how I was going to get all of those end-of-season chores done. Good thing I didn't worry very long, because the Lord provided a way. By now I should have known that He would.

The next phase of my treatment is moving forward. This past Wednesday I had a consult appointment with a local oncologist. My first Chemo session is scheduled for Tuesday. But first, they're putting in a PORT (similar to a PICC line, but it resides underneath the skin and has to be installed by a physician instead of a nurse). That happens at 8:45am Monday morning....just over 12 hours from now. Of course there's no food or drink after midnight. But they want me to make sure and drink lots of fluids until then, as it will make the procedure go much easier. I'm for easier, so I'm chugging liquids.

I continue to feel great. All of the tape that was over my incision is gone. One more step in healing. Oh yes, before I forget......I've been able to start sleeping on my stomach again. Haven't been able to do that since June, when I got my first drain bag. Joy in the simple things.

Hopefully I won't have any side effects from the Chemo. But they gave me two different nausea meds to take if I should be affected by that. One of the meds has been around a long time and was fairly cheap. The other one would have cost me almost $40 per pill had I not had insurance.

I'll try to update after my first Chemo session. But it might be a day or two - just until I can be sure if I do (or do not) have side effects.

I have wonderful friends taking me to both my first Chemo session and for the PORT surgery. Thanks for all of your continued prayers and love.

Love to all in bloggerland.