Mercy

Bob is doing well.  He takes the chemo and carries on in a really positive way.  We found out this weekend--when he forgot to take the dex----that it works better taking it before bed!!!!One of those hit yourself on the forehead days.  This way he got to sleep most of Fri. night and then by Sat. night---he could get most of that night cutting the zzzzzzz.  Bob will try that again this coming weekend and see how it works out again.  The INR is still a bit of a problem.  To thin a blood right now and the bruises are showing on his hands and arms.  Guess I will need to be more careful where I hit him!!!  Now that was a poor attempt at humor.


This Sunday, in church, my Bob was really choked up and very teary.  Our son Michael was sitting right next to him--singing and Mike's wife Cori was next--singing and worshiping.  This is a huge answer to prayer and for this day we will rejoice and be glad.  We continue to ask God to carry on the work that He has begun in Mike and Cori until the day of completion.  


 Our Pastor preached on the Good Samaritan this Sunday.  He used this story that Jesus had told in a new way (to us ).  That when we see a need we are to meet it-now  and not qualify what we should do, not waiting to discuss it over and over, not fogging the situation up.  The concept is simple--if you want to honor God--do it,  Jesus did not get caught in the whole who is my neighbor thing.   In vs.37 the expert says that the one who had mercy on the samaritan was the neighbor and Jesus says go and do the same.  I suppose that each of us look at this sermon in the lens of where our life is at that particular time.  For me and for Bob we put all those young couples who organized the party for Tim and Barbie into the group of those who choose to act on a need, honor God and supply love and mercy to another.  Those who attended and donated are also part of that group.  Our kids are not destitute, but they are in need of love in tangible ways, friends who are not afraid to come along side of them to be an encouragement, to be that friend who will help carry the load and make it lighter.  This past weekend was a huge emotional boost to Tim and Barbie and their kids.  When the end of the tunnel comes they will have something very special to plan, look forward to and enjoy as a family.  That has thrilled our hearts as parents and has encouraged us in so many ways.


We had both of our kids together this weekend and are so grateful for that time together.  It does indeed give us full hearts and teary eyes.

Forward Ho

Not sure if it is just me or is everyone feeling a little uptight today.  I wonder if we are all waiting for this HUGE spring storm that is being forecast for over the Easter weekend. 


 I had an awesome time at school this week celebrating the Easter story with our preschoolers.  It was so special that they seemed to truly understand that Easter is more than chocolate bunnies.  We have an amazing God who truly is alive, He didn't stay dead..  That is a huge truth to be able to grab hold of especially if you are 4 or 5 years old.


We are truly thankful  to our Lord today as Bob has spent the day doing all the medical things that keep us keep on keeping on.  At 7:00 am he was at Tom Baker receiving the aredia by intravenous.  After lunch he was  at the lab for the INR blood sample.  Then back across the city to Tom Baker Cancer Centre to meet with Dr. Bahlis.   Whooohooo no Dr. Bahlis--Bob met with the resident doctor---always a good sign.
All continues to be well for Bob.  It was decided that the next PET scan will now be put back 4 months--good sign.


For those who get the numbers:  HGB--146,  Platelets--113, Kappa/Lambda Free Ratio--1.08, Monoclonal#1--1.8, INR----1.3.


Once again we are so thankful that the myeloma is staying contained and responding to the chemo.  God is good.


We are also so thankful for the overwhelming love that is being shown to Tim and Barbie and their family through the social.  They truly need the love and encouragement from people who care for them.  We trust that very soon this last long, hard season will be over for them.  We continue to pray that God will be their source of guidance and love and grace as they travel this very tough road as a family each and every day.

Contact

Yee Haw.......Dr. G. just contacted Bob at work and Bob's INR is back to normal......thankyou God.  I guess that means that Bob can play contact sports again...........hmmmm, can't wait till he gets home.  I am also thinking that it is now back to regular doses of cumadin (warfarin) only cumadin is the nice, doctorly way to say it!!!!!
This thought just past through my head ----why didn't the doc call me with the info???  I wonder if it is because I gave him Barbie's cell number rather than Bob's last week?????? Our daughter then tells Dr. G.  "mom is loosing it"  Sheesh both numbers are one after the other in the B section.  I mean................really.
Everything is now set for Wed. and Bob's day at the Tom Baker Cancer Center.

Dr. G.

Dr. G., our family doctor, called this morning right at 8:00am.  A real surprise having the doctor call--not one of the nurses or receptionists.  I would like to think that I could claim that phone call as akin to a housecall from times gone by.  


Bob had his INR blood test done yesterday.  He had an appointment but still waited an hour and a half for his appointment to be honored.   Never mind, won't go there again!!!!  The INR level is 7.4.  Dr. G. is concerned and asking what could have happened to cause this spike.  Well,! a light bulb went on....click.......I bravely ventured-- well, when Bob had the flu, after a couple of days...gulp... he took Imodium----at my suggestion.....
Yes, Dr. G. responds that could do it!!!!  "Until we get this stabilized, Bob really needs to have the INR test done each day." "I know that it is not easy, but it needs to be done!!!!"   Dr. G. takes Bob's cell number and will speak with him directly. Soooooo  Over the next couple of days Bob will be lining up at the lab between 6:30am and opening time at  7:00 am  in order get one of those very low numbers in order to wait, not so long, for the blood test.


 Bottom line-----All drugs have side effects, choose diarrhea over Imodium---at least for Bob.


We love our family doctor---Dr. G.--he is Barbie and Tim's family physician as well--and looks after all of us so well. 
 Thank you heavenly Father for Dr. G.

PUNCHY

It is now Wed. again!!!   Bob is still not feeling as well as he should.  This flu has taken a lot out of him.  We are on track again with all the lab appointments that will lead up to seeing the oncologist next Wed.  Not sure why Bob only gets Wed. appointments.  Does Dr. Bahlis only work one day a week---like a pastor.hmmmm.
Sorry Dr. Bahlis I realize how many cancer patients that are in the clinic each week.  I know that you see lots of patients and thankfully are also so involved with myeloma research.  Sorry to Brad as well, I know pastors put in lots of hours.  I am just feeling a bit " punchy" today.  The sun is suppose to come out today--perhaps that will help.  It seems to have been dreary for a long time.  Er.... maybe since I got sick almost two weeks ago now.


The INR results from the lab test yesterday was sent to our Dr. by the afternoon.  Lab tests can make a person feel ...well, important when a doc is calling all the phone numbers available to find you.  The INR test couldn't be read!!!!  Bob's blood is supposedly so thin, it should be oozing through the pores.  This has to be a mistake as he isn't even having nose bleeds.  The doc faxed a prescription to the pharmacy for Vitamin K1 oral solution (phytonadione).  However this pharmacy and no other pharmacy anywhere near here is able to fill this.  The only pharmacy that did the "mixing" is somewhere over near the Chinook shopping centre.  Soooo Dr. Bob stopped taking the warfarin and passed on the Vit. K.  Now he is to have the INR test every day---easy for a doctor to say not so easy for a patient to accomplish.  An appointment is needed for lab work unless you want to sit in the lab for a LARGE number of hours for an opening.  My Bob is still working so this becomes more of a challenge as we have yet to see evening appointments, when you book.  The earliest he could get an appointment is on Thurs at 2:40---booked yesterday.  Can't make appointments for Sat and Sun so he will be at the clinic when it opens at 7:00am.  Makes me a bit punchy!!!  Makes me a  nervous!!! 


Bob is at work today so hopefully there won't be any contact sports or saw incidents!!!!!


Bob is looking a little frail so we are going to start working on that.  Email me occasionally to make sure that we are walking and exercising.  OK?  Need some accountability help here.


The sun is out!!! Enough grousing and I will continue on with spring cleaning.

Who Knows???

By this time today I was to be sitting on the deck of our friend"s house in the greater Vancouver area enjoying a cold refreshment and great conversation.  Instead here we are at home watching the snow melt.  The snow happened to fall this morning and we still do not have any sunshine.  My feelings are mixed. Sadness that we had to cancel our long awaited trip to visit friends and family and then an excitement to understand why we couldn't go.  This understanding may not come this side of heaven but it would be interesting to know why the Lord allowed the flu to fell Bob now.  He could have had the flu a few days ago or even after we arrived in BC but yesterday? late in the afternoon? once I was prepared..  Since this isn't the first time we have had to cancel travel plans..........it is rather puzzling.

The flu will do a number on Bob simply because of the disruption to his body from chemo drugs not staying with him.  The high blood sugar that comes with the Fri. drug could be tricky along with the flu.  In the interest of Bob's health and emotional  well being (like, the trots on a plane just can't happen).  Plus the well being of the passengers on the plane me included could be in question!!!!-- ---cancelling seemed the most prudent.  The car rental and drive across Vancouver wasn't going to be a fun adventure any longer.  I get it all, but still......why?

I suppose I always ask why.  Why do certain things happen, why a car accident, why a house fire, why cancer, why a war, why, why?  We really do know why though,--- because we do not live in a perfect world.  We live in a world full of people who break laws and put others at risk, a world full of chemicals and harmful substances that cause cancers, a world full of germs that cause the flu, a world full of mean people hungry for power and do not care who or how they hurt others.  We live in a world of selfish people who put themselves first before the feelings or care of others --maybe even before their own families.  We live in a fallen world.

That is all true but God is still God and I love Him. I know that He walks with me holding my hand through all of life's disappointments and joys as well.  I trust God daily to  have my best in His plan.  He teaches me each day  how to become more like His Son.  Life's hard stuff does that, teaching  me how to respond to God in both good and bad situations.  So, I know who knows.

   GOD KNOWS!!!! and I trust Him.

We must accept finite disappointment,but we must never lose infinite hope.

--Martin Luther King Jr.

Good Life

Here it is Saturday again!!! I know that Sat. comes around every week but it seems to be coming faster and faster.  My mom always said time goes faster when you are older hmmmmm I wonder why?


Well this is the second weekend of the lower dose of Dex (the ugly steroid) for Bob.  And it is looking gooood.  Bob is still up most of Fri night----drives me crazy---but what can I say--I love being driven crazy.  Bob is much calmer and happier and patient so it is all good so long as those ugly cancer cells are defeated.


The real truth came out when Bob said that the things at work didn't bother him so much any more--he could let it go and laugh again!!!!  Now that is the truth in the pudding (not sure what that really means).


I got sick this week--with an intestinal bug.  A real case of the ups and downs................Groooan.   Bad enough that I had to miss a day of school--but I am sure that everyone at school was pleased to have me stay at home.  Dr. Barbie thinks it was food poisoning.  Not sure, but it could have been.  Starting to feel much better and Bob is good so .....it is all good.


 We continue to serve and obey our Heavenly Father and pray for His Hand of love and care on us.  He is our Rock.

I wait quietly before God,

for my victory comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, 

my fortress where I will never be shaken.

Psalm 62;1,2