Breathing Easier

Ahhh... Breathing easier again. Tomorrow I return to the hospital to have the nephrostomy tube changed. That will be happening every 6 weeks from now on. I begin and end the work week with hospital visits.
This morning I went to school to attend the grade 5 farewell chapel. It was good to be at school but I feel sad that I was not able to teach a music lesson to grades one, two, and three. That was the plan for this week but it was just not possible. Sometimes the twists and turns of this journey are hard to accept and I have to ask God to still my soul and rest in His abiding love.

Still, my soul, be still...
Sandra

Hospital Visit #?

When I got up this morning I realized that my breathing was very poor and shallow. Needless to say, I could not teach today. Instead I went to emergency to have my left lung drained. It was a very, very painful procedure today, unlike last time four months ago. The fluid drained too quickly and there was so much that it caused me great discomfort. A total of 1400 ml. of fluid was taken off the left lung so I can breathe better again but the lung is so very tender and sore. I'm trying to take some deep breaths to help the healing process. I am not alone tonight. My oncologist came by to see me in emerg.(she's so wonderful) and said I could not be alone tonight. Maybe tomorrow I will start my chemo. Please pray that I will sleep restfully and peacefully tonight and the left lung will heal quickly.

Assured in God's loving care,
Sandra

Catching Up...

Oh my, it's been a while since I blogged. I had a good day today and went to church this morning. This afternoon we got together as family to celebrate Father's Day. Tomorrow I'm going to school again to teach a few more classes. Last week I taught the grade five classes. I enjoy seeing all the students in music before summer vacation begins.
Tomorrow I will also start another round of chemo. I got a few extra days over the weekend to give my body more time to heal from the procedure I had done last week Monday. I've been feeling OK - better than last week anyways. My stomach has settled down and I enjoy eating again.
I hope you have a good week and maybe we'll see that yellow circle in the sky!

In His love,
Sandra

Rough Days

On Monday I had a big day. I was at the hospital most of the day. Things went pretty well and my left stent was removed without too much pain. Now my body is healing and so I have to put off starting the chemo until I am doing well. I check in with my oncologist again tomorrow. Yesterday and today I have been very tired and today my stomach was upset. Now things are settling down again so hopefully I can have a good sleep. My oncologist said to stop taking my bone medication because I'm experiencing side effects of the drug. So that drug is gone and now I will go onto an IV bone drug once a month at the chemo clinic. It's been a rather difficult past two days but tomorrow is a new day. Pray that things will go better and I'll have energy to do more.

In Christ alone,
Sandra

True Faith

"True faith is...a deep-rooted assurance created in me by the Holy Spirit through the gospel that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ, not only others, but I too, have had my sins forgiven, have been made forever right with God, and have been granted salvation." (Heidleberg Catechism #21). That statement just hit me this morning in church and gave me such comfort. "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine."
Tomorrow is a big appointment day. I think I'll be in the hospital most of the day. Lab work at 9:00 a.m., then a visit with my oncologist, and then a left stent removal procedure at 12:30 p.m. Please pray that all will go well and that removing the stent, which is not working anyways, will also free me from the kidney pain. With that pain gone I could possibly go off the morphine, which I would very much like to do.
God's blessings to you in this new week. May you experience the joy and assurance of salvation daily.

Love in Christ,
Sandra

Singing God's song

I was just getting ready for bed and realized I had not connected with you for awhile. So here goes....I am very tired tonight but it's a good, "healthy" tired. I taught three classes of grade four music today. It was exhilarating and absolutely satisfying. It just felt so good to be at school in my music teacher capacity. I will sleep well tonight - I'm pretty sure about that.
I'll just keep walking along, singing God's song because it's all good. God is here and He is good.

Singing His praises,
Sandra

Music Wonder

Yesterday evening I went to Vancouver to hear a concert by the Vancouver Symphony. A young man of only 17 years of age was the guest pianist for a beautiful piano concerto by R. Schumann. It was absolutely breath-taking! The concerto itself is amazing but this young man's playing was even more amazing. He has a career ahead of him as a concert pianist, that's for sure.
I played piano myself for a little while today but most of the day I relaxed in my chair and read a book, took a few naps, visited with a friend, and wrote this blog message. Did you have a good Sunday? I hope this week will be a good one for you, too.

Love, Sandra