BABY SISTERS ARE THE BEST! WE NEED TO LEARN TO LISTEN TO THEM MORE!!!!

I know that I have said many times what an awesome sister I have! She is the greatest....always there for me every minute of everyday! Sometimes, I guess because I am the oldest (and people often mistake me for her Mother), I can be a little stubborn! I have had a hard time with insomnia from the chemo and such. She has advised me to take Ambien quite frequently, but for some odd reason, I didn't think that I should. On Monday, we talked to the doctor, and he said it would be fine....so after finishing the course of steroids, I took it last night...and slept for eight hours.....haven't done that in a very long time! I am still very tired, weak and have that strange "out of body" feeling, but don't feel so sleep deprived!
Kimberly always has my best interest at heart....and I am going to try to be more open to her advice....I know that is one thing about me that drives her crazy! I could not ask for a better chemo buddy....she is there every step of the way! I know that I have a ways to go, but I am getting closer and closer to getting this latest struggle behind me! I will never, ever forget how much she has helped me get through this!!! Love you so much, Kimberly!

PRAISE THE LORD....GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!! ROUND #7 DOWN!!!!

Yesterday was such an awesome day. I went for my CT scan and then saw Dr. Sneed and had my chemo! After my chemo, I was able to see Dr. Sneed again and get the results of my CT...no cancer in the soft tissues and bone scan last week was clear!!!! Isn't God amazing, awesome....hearing our prayers and answering them???? Kimberly and I had told ourselves that if the CT still showed some cancer cells, it would be okay...we would just keep fighting and going on! I am very thankful that this wasn't the case. I will take a few more chemo treatments, since the cancer was so agressive and it is metastatic....then will have another PET scan and determine the long term plan......we aren't sure what that will be, but will probably be more long term chemo....whatever the plan is, I will follow it. I can't ask God, the Great Physician, to guide my docotor's in my care, and then not follow his advice....after all, it is working very well! I feel like I am floating on Cloud Nine.....and given another chance at life. I feel God has plans for me to help other people...and I am listening to those plans and for His will in my life....I want my walk with Him to be closer each day and follow His ways. I want to be a better wife, sister, aunt and friend to all the wonderful people in my life! I want to help others more, do more for others. I want to be kinder to strangers...like the angel that was kind to me after my bone scan! I want to smell the flowers, watch the birds....all the little things in life that God has given us to enjoy! I want to not worry about the things in life that don't matter or can't be changed! God has taken the cancer away again....and for a reason! Having cancer does indeed change your outlook on life and it truly does make you a stronger person! This second time around has been harder...perhaps, because I am ten years older and my body has reminders of the cancer past, but I am still so very grateful for this experience....I truly wouldn't have traded it....it has made me a stronger person....and this time, I got a new hip prior to the experience...everything happens for a reason! I have been reminded again how very, very blessed I am to have such an awesome and loving husband and sister and the multitude of caring and compassionate friends that have showered me with prayer, love and encouragement...."I get by with a little help from my friends"! All of you mean so much to me and I love you so very much! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! The fight is not completely over yet....but I can see the last round down the road!

HARD WEEK

Another hard week emotionally! Monday was the seventh anniversary of my Dad's death and yesterday was the fourth anniversary of Jennifer's death! It doesn't seem possible that it has been that long for both of them....and even more impossible that life has gone on, but it does! People tell me all the time that with time, it gets easier, but I haven't reached that time, I guess. I miss them both, as well as my Mom, everyday!

Craig, Julie and Marion sent me the most gorgeous flowers yesterday in memory of Jennifer. We met Kimberly and Missy last night for dinner and Missy gave me gorgeous flowers too. I am so very blessed to have such wonderful and thoughtful friends in my life! Their love, support and encouragement to me means so much..."I get by with a little help from my friends". I cherish all the memories that I have and am so grateful for the promise that I will see them again!

GOD IS SOOOO GOOD!!!!!

I have another flare up with my lymphedema. I have been on antibiotics for it since having my chemo last week. My arm is still huge and red, so I called the doctor yesterday. The nurse said that Dr. Sneed was in Russellville yesterday, but she talked to him and he wanted me to come into the office for lab and to see the doctor that is in practice with him. I went in for the appointment and my bone scan report had come in......my bone scan is CLEAR! What wonderful news! God is so good and so awesome and hears and answers prayers! I am so very grateful...so thankful for all my family and friends that have been such faithful prayer warriors for me. It means so much! I can't help but think of the young lady that I encountered after having the bone scan done last Thursday...turning around and telling me that God had told her to tell me that He was taking care of me!!!! How awesome is that....to hear a message from God from a complete stranger! There truly are angels among us....I happen to think this angel's name is Jennifer! I am so relieved to get these results....makes waiting for the CT and those results alot easier!

We met Kimberly after the doctor's visit and had a wonderful celebration dinner at Red Lobster! My sister is my rock and my pillow...she means the world to me! She is there for me every second of everyday....hope someday I will be able to show her how very much she means to me!

Thank you God and to all my friends.....

WAITING FOR RESULTS!

I had my bone scan this morning....it took awhile because I had to wait for the injection and then when I came back an hour and half later, had to wait again! The scan is not bad at all...while the machine is going over me, I just visualize that it is vacuuming up all the cancer cells as it passes over my body! The hardest part is waiting for the results...but you just have to be patient...may not hear the results until the 26th on the next chemo day! I will have my CT on the 21st, so all results should be in before the next chemo!

When I was leaving the hospital after having the scan, a young lady maybe 32 years old (Jennifer's age, if she were still here), stopped and asked me how I was doing today. I told her that I was doing pretty good...probably didn't look very good hobbling down the hall on my cane! She said for me to have a nice day...I told her to have one also. A couple of minutes later, she turned around and said to me "I don't know why, but God just told me to tell you that He was going to take care of you." I thanked her again and told her that I knew that He was...that I know that He is in control! What a wonderful thing to hear from a stranger! I must have looked pretty worn out....had to walk a long way in the parking lot....sleepless, chemo weak and hobling with a cane! It is such a good feeling to know that God is always with me! I can't help but wonder if my precious Jennifer had something to do with my message from God! It sounds like something she would tell me! You just never know when you will hear a message from God!

The weather here is gorgeous and sunny today...but cool and very windy! Yesterday was very warm...I had the windows open in the house! Last night when I was in bed trying to go to sleep, the window was open above the bed. Every once in awhile, the wind would come in and blow the fuzz on my head and tickle....made me laugh!

I will wait for the results and post when I get them....I do think that my neuropathy is already improving....that is good news...I must have my hands working for my card making LOL!

ROUND #6 DOWN!

Finished Round #6 of chemo yesterday! Looks like this will be a busy week in my fight! I will have my Neulasta injection this afternoon....will have my bone scan on Thursday! I was started on Levaquin yesterday for an infection in my arm from a scratch..also on Neurotin for the neuropathy in my hands and feet. When I wake up, my feet feel like I have just worked a twelve hour shift. If this doesn't improve within the next week, I will have to change my chemo med...really don't want that to happen since my cancer markers are going down. I will have a CT scan on the 21st and then next chemo on the 26th! I will anxiously await the results of the scans to see where we are! Dr. Sneed thinks things are going well and is pleased my markers are going down with each treatment! Praise God! He is so good! Another night of insomnia due to the steroids, but had my last dose last night, so hopefully I will be able to sleep tonight...after watching American Idol, of course!

Ended my day with some bad news. Mark Reves, husband of my boss and good friend Edwina, apparently had a heart attack while at the gym last night. Had a stint put in, but it clotted...so had to have a second stint put in. From the last report, he is now stable. Prayers and love go out to this special family that I love! Praying that God will be with all of them and that Mark is now on his way to recovery!

EASTER 2010!!!

Christ the Lord is Risen! Aleuliah!!!! What an awesome church service it was! I am so very blessed to have Fellowship North as my church home....they are truly like my family....I leave there feeling so loved, blessed and happy! Probably the best thing about having cancer right now is that I am able to go to church every Sunday!

I have a new favorite song...."My Redeemer Lives"! Dena sang it this morning and it brought tears to my eyes...she always does that! I hope that when I get to Heaven I will be able to sing! It is the most beautiful song....I googled Lyrics for "My Redeemer Lives" and was able to see it on youtube. I am not very good at the computer and don't know how to put it on here or I would.

We left church and went to the cemetery. Jennifer's flowers had blown off that we put out last Sunday for her birthday....hopefully they are fixed now and will stay!

My dear sister, Kimberly, had gone to great lengths to prepare our traditional Eagle-Nelson favorite Easter meal complete with all of Jennifer's favorite dishes! She started getting sick this morning while we were at church...running fever and congested! Since I have another round of chemo tomorrow, I couldn't chance being around her and visiting. She sent the ham and all the terimmings home with us. We are both saddened that we didn't get to spend Easter together, but we are always together each day in spirit. I have had to cancel many ya ya days because I wasn't feeling well. We don't like this to happen, but sometimes things aren't in our control! We both know how much we love each other and that is what is important! She is my rock!

Mica was at church this morning..looking more beautiful each time I see her....another friend reunited after 20 years thanks to facebook!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter....and took a few moments to give thanks for the sacrifice that was given to us....HE LIVES!!! Thank you Jesus for this wonderful gift!

I LOVE FACEBOOK!!!!

Last year was our 40th class reunion...the class of 1969 North Little Rock High School! Thanks to Facebook and the hard work of my friend Shirley, so many of our classmates have reconnected and been able to chat and catch up on each other's lives! I have really enjoyed hearing from and talking to people from our high school days! Today I was able to have lunch with Joan, a classmate that I haven't seen in 40 years! She was in town visiting her sister and we got to meet and catch up! She lives in Mass., and I think she was very happy to be enjoying some good Arkansas sunshine! It was wonderful spending the short time we had together, hoping we will have more time on her next visit!