Chicken Soup Weather

It is a blustery, rainy day in BC. It's a good day to stay indoors and eat chicken soup. That's what Sandra has requested to eat. Audrey is a Sandra's place making soup as I write this.

Sandra's return home has been delayed for today. She needs to get her strength up more before she can go home. We're hoping and praying for tomorrow.

--written by Ardie

The Price of Toast

Today was a day of encouragement and good news. Sandra was able to get both her test and procedure done. The test results were very positive and she was told she might get to come home tomorrow! After the procedure this afternoon, Sandra was able to be back on solid foods again for the first time since coming to the hospital on Saturday.

The first thing Sandra wanted was a piece of toast (white bread--her taste buds are very fussy these days) with butter. It wasn't meal time so I offered to get her some toast from the hospital cafeteria. We joked that it may cost $7.50 for a piece of toast there. I didn't care. I was just happy she was asking for food. Anyone want to guess how much it cost for 2 pieces of toast?

--Written by Ardie

Rough stuff

This has been a rough weekend for Sandra. This morning it seemed like she had taken a turn for the worse. After a procedure late this morning, she made a big turn around and was even singing "Happy Birthday" to her niece as we had an impromptu birthday party this afternoon in the hospital room. After her difficulty breathing earlier today, it was beautiful to hear Sandra sing again!

She will be in the hospital at least 2 days yet for more tests and at least 1 more procedure. We are limiting visitors as she tires easily.

We as a family covet your prayers on Sandra's behalf. Thanks!

--posted by Ardie

Bus Ride

This is Ardie, updating the blog for Sandra. The past 2 weeks have been busy ones for Sandra with medical appointments or procedures almost every day.

Yesterday's chemo treatment was one of the roughest Sandra has had in the past year. Things didn't improve overnight so this morning Sandra was taken by bus (those of you who watch Blue Bloods know what a bus is!) to the hospital. She will probably be in for several days. She is not up to visitors right now.

Please continue to pray for her and the medical staff caring for her.

Sent from my iPad

It Went Well

Today's nephrostomy tube procedure went very well and though I'm having difficulty keeping my eyes open and focused, there were no complications at all. I have two brand new tubes! It's becoming routine because they have to be changed every 6 weeks at this point. Tomorrow I have no appointments! How wonderful is that?!
Falling asleep again.... Good night!

Love, Sandra

Did You Know....?

Did you know that...
*yesterday we celebrated my dad's 85th birthday?
*I had to go for x-rays today to try to get at the root of my pain?
*I went with my sister uptown to run some errands and bought a pair of cosy flannel
sheets?
*my staff is putting on a celebration of music evening for me on Sunday, Nov.4 at 7:00
p.m. in New Life church right here in Abbotsford and YOU ARE INVITED?
*I am humbled and honored and thankful to have such an evening and I'd love for you to
be there so we can celebrate God's faithfulness over the years?
*when I type this out so nicely on my blog it always comes out differently when I
publish it? Oh well,...
Thank you all for your loving support, fervent prayers, and words of encouragement. We'll just keep on praying?

In Him,
Sandra

An Update and Hot Apple Cider

It's autumn and my new favourite drink is hot apple cider. I'm sipping that right now as I write this blog. Let me briefly update you:
Thursday - I went for a CT scan at 2:30 p.m. and then had to return to emerg. to get the results. The doctor said it didn't look like the cancer has progressed and he couldn't spot any signs of infection in my abdomen. My white blood count was very good and I knew I'd be able to have chemo the next day. All good news! I was encouraged by that report and thankful for God'scare gracious answers to our prayers.
Friday - My onc. called me in the morning to say I could have chemo that afternoon and that's what I did. Last night I was reacting to the chemo quite a bit - my temp. spiked and I got very congested but all was well again when I went to bed.
Saturday - Today was a relaxing day. I had a fair amount of pain so I've taken extra meds. to keep that under control. I feel like there is a pharmacy in my bedroom! My, oh my!
Sabbath blessings to you all! Keep on looking up. He's got the whole world in His hands! Pretty amazing, eh?

Lovingly,
Sandra

Droopy Eyelids

This will be short because my eyelids are rather droopy but I had to connect with you. I saw my oncologist for my regular appointment this morning AND....
1) my tumour marker went from 950 to 930!!!!!! Praise the Lord! The chemo IS working.
2) I need an abdominal CT scan tomorrow because I am in quite a bit of pain. We
increased the pain meds. dosage.
3) chemo may be postponed this Friday depending on the results of the CT scan
4) I've been throwing up more again so back to those anti-nausea drugs
5) I have to stop for today! Good-night, dear friends and family.

Love,
Sandra

Bits and Pieces

OK - just had to wait for things to settle down before I updated my blog. Yesterday and today I've had more nausea and pain so I've had to be a little bit more patient with myself and take more medication again. Breakfast did not stay down this morning and that took me totally by surprise. Tonight I was running a bit of a fever, feeling nauseous, and in a fair bit of pain. I can't really understand that because I'm so far removed from my last chemo - almost two weeks and usually I feel better by now, not worse. Tomorrow I visit my oncologist so we shall see what she has to say about all of this.
I did enjoy the bits of sunshine we got today, however, by going out for a very tiny walk to my mailbox. And I have a vase of lovely sweet peas in my house (thanks, A). They smell so wonderful!
"Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His." Thank you, Lord, for holding me in the palm of Your hand as one of Your children. Truly a gift of grace!

One of His,
Sandra

Counting My Blessings

Oh dear, time is just running away on me and I'm not getting to my blog as regularly, am I? I think it's because I've been having some good days with some wonderful events. Let me share with you.
Thursday: My sister and I took the back roads to White Rock beach. We took along my wheel chair, which my parents got for me quite recently, and we walked/wheeled the board walk, enjoying the fresh, sea air. We packed a picnic lunch and though it was a bit cool we ate our snacks at a picnic table. It was a great day!
Friday: We ran some errands up town and even enjoyed the gentle rain drizzle that watered the parched, dry earth.
Saturday: A wonderful morning with a dear friend, just chatting and visiting, and doing some knitting, too. In the evening I went to a concert with a little 7 year old boy playing a Mozart concerto. Incredible! Unbelievable! What talent! Phenomenal!
Sunday: A quiet, stay-at-home day with dear friends coming by throughout the day. More pain in the last two days so extra pain medication, too, but at least I can still stay ahead of it.
"Count your blessings, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done!"

Amazed by His loving care,
Sandra

No Worries - All is Well!

This time no news is good news. Sorry, friends and family, for the delay. I guess I got busy in the weekend festivities and neglected to let you know that I am doing well, very well, actually. I praise God for refreshing both my body and spirit in His kind and loving mercy. I don't think I have felt this good all summer. I'm eating better, doing more, singing and playing piano, knitting, and going out with my sister. Today we picked up some fresh produce and had a most delicious supper. We also picked up apples and are trying out apple butter in the crockpot. I wonder how that will taste! It is truly a time of thanksgiving and I feel like things have stabilized in my body a bit. Not throwing up at all with this last round of chemo is a huge and wondrous thing! Thank you so much for your continued prayers and encouraging words. Please pray that the tumour marker will have stabilized, or gone down. I will get those results next week Wednesday and that will determine what we do next. Day by happy day, step by joyful step, I carry on, leaning on God's everlasting arms.

Love in Him,
Sandra

Cycle 4 Completed

Yesterday's chemo went very smoothly and I was so happy that I could even have it. God answered prayers and my blood was in the "normal" range. I am thrilled that my body can fight the chemo and fight it well.
Today has been a very sleepy day. This morning I went grocery shopping with my sister and I think I pretty much slept most of the afternoon away. My niece from Alberta arrived in the early afternoon. She's staying here for the Thanksgiving weekend.
Thank you for visiting me at my blog. Sabbath blessings to you as you worship God with His people tomorrow. May you be strengthened and nourished in your faith.

In Him,
Sandra

Thursday Thoughts

Guess what? Yesterday and today I had a strawberry milkshake, made in my home, with protein powder added. And it was delicious! I have a new favourite food! Hope it lasts for awhile!
This morning I went to see my own doctor and he prescribed one more medication to my anti-nausea protocol to see if we can't stop the vomiting. Tomorrow I will begin with the new drug before my chemo, and then I hope and pray that this round of chemo will be even better and I can keep the food down.
My parents are staying with me right now and I am enjoying that very much. Mom keeps up with all the cooking and cleaning, and Dad planted some winter pansies in my garden. Now we are just relaxing - Mom and I on our Ipads and Dad reading a book. Thank you, Mom and Dad!
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (Ps.107:1)

Thankfully,
Sandra

October Already!

Monday, and it's October already! Yesterday turned out to be a not-so-nice day, to put it mildly. I felt very nauseous and by the afternoon I was throwing up again. I wish we could get that under control. I've been on the anti-nausea drugs but stepped them up a little and took them throughout the night. Today was better again but I was very tired and weak. Please pray that the week will go well, especially that my blood will go up high enough that I can have another treatment again on Friday.
Have a wonderful week and enjoy each new day. What a gift from God!

Love, Sandra