Plan of Attack!!!!

Well, the plan has been laid out. It involves a little more aggressive chemo than we first thought. But my awesome medical team knows what they're doing. I will hopefully begin my regimine in about 2 weeks or less. I hope to have my IV port "installed" this Friday & chemo will begin the following week or the next.

Please keep us all in your prayers but especially me. I'm scared & nervous; at least until I get this first treatment under my belt. My amazing doctor, Dr Levi Downs said I'm healing magnificently & doing great. He is talkingnof a CURE not just treatment. I'm very fortunate to have him running the show.

But even more than Dr Downs, I have THE GREAT PHYSICIAN in my corner; directing this whole show. He is the one in control. Pray that I will remember I am NEVER alone & He is always with me; even in the dark places!!

Thanks for checking in. I'd love to hear from all of you out there!! Stay close!! Much love to you all!!!

Wow!!!! What a week!!!!!

Thank you all, first of all, for all your prayers & warm thoughts of & for me & my family since my last post!!! It's been a whirlwind already & I really haven't felt like doing much of anything but existing till the last day or so. So....thank you so much!!!

I was at the Dr's office today to have the staples removed from my incision. This was a worrisome experience for me. I've never had staples or even stitches that had to be removed. It turned out to be no big deal. A couple little stings but all went great! Thanks Nurse Glenda!!! I also ran into one of my roommates that I had in the hospital! I didn't recognize her coz she was the first of four that I had & I was pretty out of it during her time with me. But Ed recognized her. Great to see you Terri!!!

I'm feeling great today! My family has been AMAZING!!! Not one wish has gone unmet. They are always there when I need them or I need anything. I could have never have healed like I have without them. THANK YOU!!!! My friends are rallying like I never dreamed. They've been very respectful of my needing time to get my head wrapped around what's been happening to me. I know I have friends ALL OVER THE WORLD praying for me & my family. Who can say that?!

I do have to also give a shout out to Shavlik! They sent a beautiful orchid to cheer me & have been unrelenting in their good wishes & prayers for our family. They've been so supportive of our move back from Amsterdam & of giving Ed then time he needs to care for me. how many employers would do that?! So to all my "extended family" there; a HUGE thank you!!

I also got my hair cut yesterday!!! Jessica actually came to my house to cut my hair for me! I've never heard of such a thing!! She works at Lavish Salon here in Champlin & has become a dear friend. I'll post pictures soon!!!

Keep checking out my blog. I hope to keep it more up to date. Keep the prayers coming. This battle has just begun. This troll is in for the fight of his life!!!!!

What a day !!!!!

Well, I decided to stay here in the hospital one more day. Mostly, I need to get my confidence back up to feel I can go home & keep the momentum going. Of course, I'll have mt amazing family surrounding me every day. But I need self confidence. I am a strong & faithful woman but I need that "self-confidence" that God will see me thru this horrible catastrophe. It has shaken the very foundation of my world & I am glad in a way it has. It's awakened me out of the peaceful slumber that had become my life. I was at the point where I knew God was with me & always would be but I don't think I appreciated Him like I do today!!! He has become my friend, protector, best friend, confidant & sustainer. MY WHOLE WORLD!!

This Jesus I speak of doesn't judge you where you are...He loves you where you are....wherever that is!!!!! Its his "SPECIALITY"!!!

Thanks foe taking this journey with me!! I need all the co-travelers I can get!!! Love you all!!!!

RED LETTER DAY,

The battle begins today!!! I am scheduled for surgery at 2:30 today. This is an answer to prayer for us. I will undergo 6 chemotherapy sessions 1 month apart. This is the best solution for me.

I ask that you keep me but most of all my family in your prayers in the coming weeks as they all care for me & cater to my every whim. They've been awesome already & I have no doubt this will continue.

I'll update here as I'm able. My daughter also has a blog also. It is www.havenofcolor.blogspot.com. She's a very creative writer & I know you'll enjoy it!!!

Thanks for all your care & concern. Keep the prayers coming!!!!!

It's Sunday!

I'm excited to go to church this morning! I've missed my church family so much. They are a huge source of strength & care deeply about me. It will be a great day. Also I get to go have a pedicure today with my daughter today!!! I Cannot go to the doctor this week looking like a cave woman!

We got a call from the specialist at the U & he's making time to see us tomorrow instead of waiting till Wednesday!! I'm scared but want to get the ball rolling. I'm so uncomfortable so I'm hoping this will be remedied tomorrow.

I spent Saturday evening with a couple sweet girlfriends watching a movie. It was wonderful. One brought me a loaf of her homemade banana bread! The other friend brought Panera chicken wild rice soup! I have such amazing friends. You really find out who they are in times of need. I love you girls!

We also celebrated our oldest grandsons "friend" party yesterday. Tubing, pizza, hot doughnuts, and family. It was glorious. So as you can see, big day for me! I was exhausted yesterday!! But it was an awesome day!!!!

Keep my family in your prayers, especially tomorrow. Pray we get good news, options & comfort. May God bless your Sunday!!!!

So happy it's Saturday!!!

So happy it's Saturday! Last Saturday was.......well, I don't even want to go there!

TODAY I'm home with my family & we're celebrating Owen's birthday again. Our family has a tradition of having 2 parties for the kids. They get one with the family & presents then they get a second one with their friends & presents!!! Pretty good gig, huh?! So today is Owen's party with friends, tubing, pizza & fun!!! Can't wait to all be together again!!!

We had our weekly sleepover last night with the 3 grandsons. So great to get back to that routine!! We watched "Secretariat" & had popcorn & pretzels. Awesome tradition we've been doing since Owen was a year or so. We all love it!!!

Some of you have been asking what "GIGATTAATTGIG" means. I borrowed it from a sweet friend of ours who had throat cancer. It means GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!! That is my mantra! Also, I sing the song "Be still & know that I am God" each morning. He is in control & will bring about a blessing in all this. This troll will not win!!!!!

Have an awesome Saturday, hug those you love & tell them what they mean to you!!!

GIGATTAATTGIG!!!!

Mornin' World!

Today is a good day!! I woke up feeling pretty good. Then like a bolt out of the blue, the DARK PLACE sneaked in! Where did that come from?! It camee, as scripture says about another subject, "like a thief in the night" robbing me of the tremendous joys in my life. I will not allow this! This is my life & God is in control of it. NOT THE DARK PLACE!!! I will not succumb to it. I opened my shade to see a beautiful world waiting for me out there. I woke to text messages from my precious grandson & my hubby! People love me & are thinking of me already this morning!!! This THING growing inside me, this troll or whatever you call it (that's my Charlie Sheen reference)will not define me or rule my life!

I have a massage today & am planning a pedicure (coz I can't reach my feet very well) & getting my hair done soon!! Precious hubby's ideas!!! People all over the world are praying for me & people of all different faiths & beliefs are praying for me. "if God is for me, who can be against me?!" a friend who is an ovarian cancer survivor shared her life verse with me; Phil. 4:6 "Be anxious in nothing." Pray for me that I take that on also. My mantra is "Be still & know that I am God." I sing it every morning before I start my day. I started singing it in the hospital in Amsterdam & haven't stopped.

He is my rock & my anchor! He s on MY side! Make today a great day! GIGATTAATTGIG!!!!!!

Ahhhh.....almost normal!

Today was a good day. I woke up way to early. I don't know if it's jet lag or my discomfort in sleeping or what's going on but......

It was a good day! I did some emails catch up. Finally unpacked my suitcases & got my clothes hung up. My oldest picked me up & we picked her little one up at preschool. He was surprised to see his Nanie waiting in the car & he had his beautiful smile for me. Then....here's the best part....we went to McDonald's for lunch!!!

I know, McDonalds isn't a grand place for lunch but after weeks away from my precious grandchildren this was an awesome place to be. AND my plain hamburger was delicious!!! I have a very refined palette so I know a good burger. To me... It was wonderful. Most of it was the company!

THEN........ I came home to my precious hubby & a box of Ballreich Potato Chips we had ordered from our hometown in Ohio! What a grand day!!!! Please, find your daily joy where ever you can!!!! GIGATTAATTGIG!!!!!!

Home!

There really is no place like it. It's so much better than "Cheers"! Everyone here knows my name but they know so much more. For example, it was my oldest grandson's 11th birthday. He wanted to have a fish fry. It's March in Minnesota!!! So his awesome Dad hooked up the deep fryer in the garage & we feasted on king crag legs, lobster tails, halibut & (here's how I know I'm home...) chicken!!! My family knows I don't like fish. I didn't have to say a word! There was a "Welcome Home" sign on the door & the warmest & best hugs I've EVER had waiting inside!!! That's home. My home. It smells like me, looks like me & is me. My amazing children had the house clean & smelling wonderful. They brought out all my spring decorations & had the Scentsys going. All my favorite foods waiting & especially COLD MILK!!!!

That's how I know I'm home. Everything & everyone I love is gathered together. God is good all the time & all the time, God is good!!! GIGATTAATTGIG!!!!!!!

Blessings on your day today! He's in the business & I for one, praise Him for it!!!

Different angle...

Hello friends & family!
I appreciate so much the thoughts & comments on my time here in Amsterdam. It has been an amazing 7 weeks or so. I've seen & done things I never thought I would. Well, I'm adding one more.

I've been hospitalized for the last 4 days thinking it was an intestinal issue. Not so lucky! I have been diagnosed with what the Dr seems to think is ovarian cancer & possibly latter stages. So far this has just hammered us between the eyes, in the gut, through the heart & cut our legs out from under us. We are headed home to MN tomorrow (Tuesday) to celebrate our oldest grandson's 11th birthday. Then to the U of M on Wednesday to begin the new leg of our adventure. So....stay tuned & stay in prayer for our precious family. We appreciate & love you all!