Saturday, November 26, 2011

THANKSGIVING 2011!

Our Thanksgiving plans had to be changed this year. We had planned to have all the family over here for Thanksgiving, which is something we love to do! Hubby had to go back in the hospital on Tuesday due to a blood clot in his leg. Only being home from the hospital for a week, this was very unexpected. He started having foot numbness and pain in his leg over the weekend, but was too stubborn to go to the hospital, saying they wouldn't do anything over the weekend..UGH! After daily trips to the cath lab to try and dissolve the clot, they were finally successful in dissolving it and putting the stent in on Thanksgiving Day! We have so much to be thankful for. Kimberly came over and spent the day with me. I enjoy our time together so much. I could not ask for a better sister! We took him lunch to the hospital. He was still in ICU and I don't think he even remembered us coming.

My friend, Lisa, told me that we have used up our hospital trips and illnesses for the next 38 years! I told her that sounded pretty good to me. I am looking forward to a new year and a much healthier year! I certainly don't want to sleep for half the new year!

I am thanking everyone again for the prayers, love, encouragement and support you have given and continue to give us! God is good and He is good All the time!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!!!

One week ago today, Kimberly, Kaytlin and I went to Batesville to see our great niece, Abbi. We had looked forward to this visit for a long time. Pete and I met Kimberly for dinner in Bryant the night before. We got up early, picked up Kaytlin and were on our way. The scenery was beautiful on the drive up and it was so good to see Kaytlin and see what a beautiful and polite young lady she has become. Kaytlin is Jennifer's god daughter and she has always had a special place in my heart. I tried to call Pete several times that morning and couldn't get him to answer the phone....it is not unusual for him to be outside doing something and leave his phone in the house or in his truck...have fussed at him many times for doing this! He always thought that I just worried too much. This time when I couldn't get him to answer, I just knew in my gut that something was terribly wrong. He knew that we were on the road and I knew that he would call us or at least have his phone with him. We met Abbi and the other girls for lunch, did some shopping and went back to the ranch. I had still tried unsuccessfully to get Pete to answer his phone. I tried calling his brother, George, but couldn't get him. I called his sister, Barb, and she also tried to call George. George saw where I had been trying to call him and he called me. I told him that I was worried about Pete and asked him to come over and check on him...George was in Little Rock. When he got here, he found Pete lying in the floor and mumbling. He called 911 and they got him to the hospital. It was determined that he had had a heart attack. He had a stent put in on Tuesday and was able to come home from the hospital on Thursday. He is doing much better, but is really disturbed that he can't remember what happened. I am just so grateful that I followed my instinct and called George. It was a VERY long and stressful three hour drive to the hospital. Once again, Kimberly was there to my rescue and got me to the hospital! God is good and He is good ALL the time!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

TURNING THE BIG 6-0!!!

I can remember a time in my life (and it doesn't seem that long ago), when I thought people who were 60, were very OLD!!! Well, not anymore, for sure! Especially after being so ill and sleeping through half this year, 60 looks pretty darn good, and as THEY say...60 is the "new 40"! I sure hope that THEY are right LOL!

This wil certainly be a year that I will never forget, although I can't remember very much of my almost 4 month hospital stay. I do know how very grateful I am for my wonderful sister, family and friends for never giving up on me and keeping the prayers going and the wonderful care they gave me. I have my faith in God, the "Great Physician" for giving me this miraculous healing and more time here on earth. I pray to be a closer follower of Him and to let His love shine through me and for me to be a help to others.

My birthday week started on Saturday, the 22nd, with the Race For The Cure! I have always been overwhelmed by this event. Jennifer walked with me on the Race before she passed away. We were in the last ones that finished, but like she said, we finished. This year, we had a large group of friends and relatives on our "Fight Like Debbie" team and we raised over $1200. Thanks to Kimberly, we all wore beautiful butterfly wings in memory of Jennifer! It was so much fun and I was so happy to see Mica join us, after she said no so many times of being in a wheel chair on the bridges...what a wonderful testimony to support and friendship. Another wonderful surprise was seeing Shannon and her four beautiful children there with my name on their backs....made me cry. Jennifer would have been so happy and I am sure she was smiling from heaven! It was a wonderful day. I had to be pushed in the wheel chair for the race, but I got out of the chair and walked across the finish line with the help of Kimberly...what a great feeling to do that!

We left the Race and went back to Kimberly's to get ready to go to Stacie and Herman's wedding. It was such a beautiful wedding in every way. Stacie was the most beautiful bride ever and Herman was so handsome! I felt like I was at a fairy tale wedding. I wish them the best always!

Sunday, we went to church and then we were to meet Barb, my sister-in-law in Benton for lunch. When we got to the restuarant, she had arranged a surprise birthday party for me. I was sooooo surprised!

Monday night we celebrated my birthday with a dinner cruise on the Arkansas Queen! I had never done anything like that before...it was wonderful! There were 24 friends there helping me celebrate! Patti and Joanna got everyone up and dancing! I even did the shimmy in my wheel chair...just think what I could have done, had I had my walker with me! LOL! It was a night I will never forget!

We went back to Hot Springs after the cruise because Pete had a doctor's appointment the next morning and the children (our furry ones), would have been worried about us..LOL!

Wednesday we went back to Little Rock for one of my favorite birthday presents...I GOT MY TRACH OUT....YAY!!! I am so grateful to have this last tube out of this ole body!!

I went to church on Sunday, then we had a belated birthday lunch for Missy. It was so good spending time with her...she is so very sweet and I am blessed to have her as my friend! Yesterday, before heading back home, Kimberly and I met some friends..Linda, Renee, Mira, Laura, Andrea and Mark, for a wonderful lunch at MiMi's Cafe. It was so wonderful seeing them. I miss them so much. My heart wants to go back to work with them so badly, but I know that it is time to retire this ole body and do other things. ACH will always have a big piece of my heart!

I am looking forward to the 60's with a positive attitude and a desire to do more for others and help others. I want to make a difference in someone else who is battling cancer or other devastating illnesses.

I am going to enjoy being CANCER FREE! I am sure that God has plans for me and I will try to be still and listen! Dr. Sneed said that I am cancer free right now. He said that since my cancer was so aggressive, he can't say that it won't come back. He said if it does come back, we will fight it again....I am keeping my pink gloves on and will continue to "Fight Like A Girl"! God is good and He is good ALL the time! I am so grateful and blessed!




























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