This is my thankful page. I invite you to post anything you feel thankful for any time you stop by or feel the need to come to a place to say how you feel.

If you don’t see any comments below, please click the “Discussion” link above.

Well, here it is Sunday morning, and I’ve been up for a couple hours now, but that would be because I slept nearly all day yesterday and still went to bed early last night. I don’t know what made me so tired, because I really did have a good week.

I went to my primary DR on Thursday, and he injected my right knee with cortizone & zylicaine. I didn’t feel too much difference on Friday, but Saturday and this morning, I can tell a lot of difference. It really feels good to not have so much pain. He says he thinks it’s more of a bursitis instead of so much from the arthritis that is causing the pain. He gave me a list of exercises, so while the pain med is working (supposed to be 1-2 months) we’ll see if I can get it into better shape.

Other than that, I’ve not been feeling too badly. I take my pain meds regularly and they keep the rest of my feeling pretty good. My mouth still has a little tenderness to it, mostly only irritated by slightly spicy things, but not bad even then. My sugar is getting under control much better, too.

Marcus got the ceilings painted yesterday. One gallon “just barely” covered it! In case you missed it in my previous messages, we have been tremendously blessed by our church and another organization, along with several members who did the actual work. We received a new furnace, a new roof over two rooms that had been leaking like a sieve, and a new ceiling. We went Friday and picked out the paint, and he started on Friday around the light fixtures so he could get them put up, then finished the rest of the two rooms Saturday. There’s a small couple spots that could have used a little more coverage, but hey! after what the ceiling has looked like for several years now, I’m not going to be fussy!!! I think it looks just wonderful, and can’t believe I’m looking forward to winter so that I can know what it’s like to be in a warm home again! The openness of the roof and ceiling in here really let out a lot of heat, as well as the furnace being so old.

God is so good to us, I can’t believe the number of things He has caused to happen around us, and the people He has sent into our lives. He has orchestrated so many things to happen at the right times and to think that we are just two little people in the whole world and He does this everyday in the life of every human across the globe. What a thought to realize how small and yet how important we each are to Him.

I’m starting a new page on my site, that I invite you to share with me, each time you come to visit. It will be much like the Guestbook, but this will be a Thankfulness page. I’m going to try to write in it as often as I can, and encourage you to stop by and just write things that you are thankful for also. Maybe just a major thing or two in your life, maybe you will write all the little things too. Use it as much or as little as you like. I might not have it up until later today or maybe even not till tomorrow, but be sure to stop by and list things you are thankful for in your life. I know I’ll be glad to read them, and hope each of us can inspire the other to find hope and healing in the things of our lives that are special even tho they may be ordinary, to be without them would be so much more than we realize until we think about them.

May you each have a wonderful day, and prepare to meet the oncoming week with an attitude that says “I’m happy to be alive, and I’m not afraid to show it!” Be well, and happy. Keep your chin up, and a smile on your face and in your heart. God will take care of the rest of the things, you just take care of enjoying the life He has given you.

Blessings, Sherry

Just an added update. Went to church with our son & DiL to be present for our grandson’s dedication. Didn’t understand more than a dozen words that were said, and those only because they were said directly to us by someone that spoke English! Our DiL comes from Honduras, and her father is here for a couple weeks and he is a Pastor, so they decided to let him lead the dedication.

While I didn’t understand much of anything that was said, I could tell how sincere he was and how pleased he was to be able to be the Pastor for the event. I know it made his daughter very proud! The baby wasn’t bad, but they all cry when they are held out there in the open air for the dedication. I then got to hold him during the rest of the service, and that little guy just thought I was funnier than all get out! He laughed and smiled and cooed at me constantly! I was so amazed to see a 6 wk old smile so much! Then Marcus held him after I got tired and rocked him. He truly loved it. He didn’t want his bottle, he just wanted to relax in Grandpa’s arms and be held. Since we couldn’t understand any of the service, the other grandparents let us entertain ourselves with Joseph while they listened! hahahaha

Hi Everybody!

Well, I haven’t written since I was in to see the DR this week, so I need to get you all  caught up on what the future may hold for me.

Seems the medication for the metastisized cancer on my bones, has typically been given  for life. But, it’s typically been given to patients whose “life” was termed in set  number of years or months. Whereas, we aren’t attaching that to me, nor others in the  same situation, so now, they are trying to decide “How long DO we give this to these  patients?” I know the one medication is to be taken from 5-10 yrs. But, the one that  actually has radiation in it, and the one that goes with it, for the bones, has been  showing some really great signs of attacking the cancer itself, so they feel that while  it not only decreases my risks for fractures in those affected bones, it also increases  my chances of not having the cancer make a comeback. And anyone who has had cancer, knows  that there is always the possibility for that to happen.

This just seems to be one of those little silver linings that seem to make that dark  cloud that is always present in the future days and years of a cancer survivor seem just  a little lighter. I thouhgt that was some pretty good news to hear, after hearing I may  be taking this IV med for YEARS!!!! Something similar to the line of “a little bit of  sugar makes the medicine go down!”

Anyway, I was a bit concerned when I had the radiation that the DR didn’t have them  mark/map me out to radiate the spots on my pelvis. He (the Radiation DR) said that the  other meds would take care of those, but I was still a little uneasy. Then last week when  I saw the Medical Oncologist, he said the same thing that the spots were actually small,  and that the IV meds that I’m taking will take care of them, and if not, then later we  will decide if we have to do more radiation, but for now, let’s see if this works. So,  that was good enough for me to have both of them agreeing that it’s ok to take a “wait  and see” approach to some of it.

And I must say that if this is all the more side effects I’m going to have from the  larger doses of radiation as opposed to the several milder ones, I’m glad I got the  larger. I’m a bit tired, but not nearly as bad as chemo was. My skin is a bit dry, but  again, not any worse than it was with chemo. Some of the continued sore mouth could be  from the radiation, since I’m 5 wks out from my last chemo, I’m thinking the radiation  has to be causing it now. But, even if it is, again, it is STILL not as bad as the chemo,  so, basically, if one can get thru chemo, radiation is a piece of cake? Maybe, we will  see, since the say that some side effects and reactions do not happen until weeks out. I  will just continue to pray that the Lord has decided that I did such a good job of  withstanding chemo so well, that I deserve a break

I do have to start taking some pretty high dosages of calcium & Vitamin D, well, I guess  it’s not that high for the calcium (400mg), but 400 I.U. of D is kind of high for most  people. Just more pills for me to take. I feel like a I ought to rattle when I walk!

Wow! I just looked at my calendar to see what’s up this week, and except for a phone call  to my regular DR tomorrow to get some prescriptions straightened out with the insurance  company, and a cancer support meeting on Tuesday late after noon, I don’t have ANYTHING  else on my calendar except working on finishing up my cookbook! Halleleujah! I’m going to  make my deadline for sure! I’ve been focusing on being done by this next weekend, and it  looks like I’m going to be able to make it. That’s a real bonus to my spirits for sure. I  might even have trouble going to sleep in a while I’m so excited!

But, I need to go pretty soon, as it is after 11 and I’ve been finding that if I go to  bed before midnight, I can get up earlier (instead of sleeping 15 hours). Either that, or  I’m finally getting used to this new medicine and it’s working more correctly. It’s one  of those that definitely causes you to sleep, but not so much after your body gets used  to it. It replaces my sleeping pill completely, and is supposed to help me decrease my  anxiety and depression medications, which will be nice too. I’m all in favor of cutting  back the number of pills I take Besides if it helps to stablize my moods as it is  implicated to do, that’s a plus. I’ve been having more anxiety attacks since the  diagnosis of cancer, which is I’m sure not out of the ordinary, but that doesn’t mean I  have to like it, nor live with it

I’m working hard at getting my pains meds on a real steady schedule too. I’ve got a timer  program on my computer, and since I’m near either my desktop or laptop most of the time,  I’ve got it set, and then instead of turning it off, I just tell it to remind me again in  two hours. So, far today and yesterday I’ve done real good, and my back, pelvis,  shoulder, and knees, have been doing pretty good. We will see how well I can stick to it  all week! hahaha Don’t ask me what I’m going to do on days that I’m not just sitting  around all day, because I don’t have an answer yet!

Well, I guess that pretty much brings you up to date again, and gives you the latest  news. So, until next time, please keep me in your prayers, and don’t forget to write me  once in a while just for conversations

God’s Blessings upon all of you and your families. May He guide and directs us all to do  and say things which will benefit His kingdom and show His light shining thru us.

Hugs to all,
Sherry

Seems every letter I write is telling about a test coming up, or the results of one, or how this treatment is affecting me, or this drug reactions. My pains and troubles consume all my writings (which they do consume most of my days, but…)

I wrote this on one of the boards last night, and I thought, “You know, it really was a good weekend all around!” I should share a bit more of it with more people. Maybe you like to just feel some enjoyment with me in looking back at how relaxed and enjoyable the weekend was. So, here is my weekend reminiscent.

It actually started on Friday, when we went to the next town south and picked up some books that I don’t know what I’m going to do with, they didn’t turn out to be what I had in mind at all, but I’ll figure something out. Then we garage saled on the way home! We made a great deal for Eric’s wife, Ana, who wants to get back into nail care, which she did in Honduras before she moved here. Several boxes of nail color and nail care, now she needs tools, and with being Latino, she should have a good shot at bringing in, just by word of mouth, some good business in the Latin community. I hope so, it would be good for her, new friends, occupied time, a break from the baby, all good things.

Saturday was pretty rough, my med made me sleep too long (sleeping problems, another story) , and I was sooo hurting when I got up, that it took me two hours to get the spasms out of my back and be able to move. By the time I could move around, the day was nearly gone! So much for Saturday! hahahah

Sunday, I had the most delightful day! After getting the kinks out of my back(didn’t take near as long as Saturday, I took 2 pain pills right off the bat!) I realized that my Marcus was home from church, and had put the two slabs of ribs in the electric roaster. And now, it was time to put them on the grill.

He grilled them for just long enough to get a good flavor to them, then put them back in the cooker because our daughter had called and said she & her crew were going to be late.

Today our son-in-law was coming, AND bringing his sister with them. So, we all gathered at Eric’s new home, with his mother-in-law here from Honduras to help with their new baby. So, I had both my kids that live here, and both my grandbabies. What more could a woman ask for!

I only was able to eat one piece of meat, but at least I could eat that much and my mouth wasn’t too bad. SiL complemented son’s MiL telling her that’s the best rice he’s had in 10 yrs. (She never uses a steamer or cooker, does it the old-fashioned way). Marcus’s ribs were excellent. I got to help feed my granddaughter some table food, and we discovered that she ADORES cantaloupe! hahahaha

Eric took more pics of the babies, then later at home I worked on an album for daughter for her upcoming birthday (a birth to 6 mo 5×7″ album from Walmart.) only a bit over $10 for nearly 70 pics! Gonna be cool!

Got an unexpected email from one of hubby’s sisters who has never written me before, and that made me puff up with delight! And a really great one from my brother’s wife. She loves me so much and so does he.

Then as I was just about to eat supper, while Marcus was watching his race, a couple that we are good friends with showed up at the door. Their visit alone was gift enough for us, but they had just gotten back into town, and stopped at Wally world down the road, and got me a lovely little bouquet of flowers and some Russell Stover’s Sugar Free Pecan Delights! How totally awesome is that!

I had so many smiles and happy moments over the weekend, I think I must have stolen someone else’s! Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on such a wonderful weekend, Cozi. Maybe in a few weeks, I can make it a fully completely wonderful day, by being able to go to church with him in the morning. At least they put the sermons online so I can listen to them and Marcus always brings me messages from friends.

This week’s messages were from our dentist, Craig Y. who as I told you the other day, squeezed me in for a full cleaning. Seems his hygienist and a couple of the other girls enjoyed my company so much that they commented to Craig. They were encouraged by my faith and my enjoyment of life through all of this and my ability to laugh in the face of it all.

I encourage all of you to look back on your day. What made you smile today? Did you have a special moment? Just a little one that made you feel good inside? Try to find one of those at the end of everyday, lots of them if you can! Remember, God is blessing us every single day. All we have to do is open our eyes to see them, catch them, enjoy them. God’s Blessings to each of you. Smile God and I both love you! Now, that’s something to smile about!

Sherry