Strength?

Since I first started this blog page a few weeks ago I have met some amazing people. Some of which I probably wouldn't have come to know otherwise.

One of these people is Krissy. She is definitely the FireCracker. But in her latest post she refers to me as being stronger than strong. I have pondered this since reading it yesterday.

Am I really as strong as I should be? Am I as strong as I could be? I would like to think so. In reality the truth is No, I am not strong.

But (thank God for the Buts) with God and his amazing love for me I have the strength to deal with whatever is thrown my way. It is God that continues to hear my prayers for peace, strength and one more day. He continues to carry me through my heartache. He continues to bless me and my family each and everyday. He continues to give me that extra push to get out of bed when all I want to do is hide under the covers. He continues to be the calm during the storm. He continues to be my strength because I am so very weak and weary.

I have more than had my moments where at times I find myself angry at God. He can fix this. Why doesn't he? Because he's God and he doesn't have to. And that's Ok with me. He has never left me I have been one to turn on him during these trying times. But he remains ever present by my side. And for this I am once again Thankful.

Krissy thank you so very much for the wonderful compliment and for making me realize that I am a little stronger than I thought I was. I am truly humbled.

What a day

So my plan was to get off work and come home and have a nice relaxing evening. But an hour into it I realized this was not going to happen.

Apparently last night Jacob Aaron hurt his arm during the baseball game. (they won 8 to 6) After the game was over he mentioned having some numbness in his fingers but he's tough and kind of played it off as no big deal. Well today at school he went to the nurse not once but twice. He didn't even bother to mention this to us before Richard took him to practice tonight. While at the ballpark he did however mention his arm pain to his coach but continued to practice anyway. However when he got home he was singing a different tune. Richard and I both looked at it. Elbow is bruised and swollen so we made the decision for me to take him on to the ER. Richard couldn't go with us due to him being on the Chemo and his immune system being low. Can't take any chances. Since this is his dominant hand (he's a lefty) and the same one he broke while jumping on the bed at the age of 4 better go get it checked just to make sure. Well 3 hours later we are home and I am proud to say it's not broken. They thought at first he may have a fracture but it turned out to just be some thickening of the growth plate. He has however overextended his elbow, The doc wrapped it in a bandage just for some added support and cushioning. We have to ice it down 4 times for 20 minutes within the next 24 hours. No throwing for 2 weeks (this just about killed him) and only light activity. If it doesn't improve within this time we have to go see the Orthopedic doc. So the relaxing night I had hoped for has once again taken a back seat. Oh well there is always tomorrow.

But before I close this blog let me do what I originally intended to do. Post some pics of the new Pulmonary Unit at our hospital. The other unit was in an older part of the hospital and wasn't very desirable. But the unit has been moved to a newer part and it has been completely renovated. now maybe it will be more comfortable for Richard and the other Cystic Fibrosis patients that have to stay at least 14 days at a time.

This is the new SPACIOUS rooms. And new thicker mattresses.






The new Nurses station is awesome.





The new comfy chairs for visitors.



And the place where the new flat screen tv's are going as well as DVD players in every room. Yay the boys are so excited about the DVD players.






There is a desk that is in every patients room.





Next there is the intermediate care unit. All the rooms have glass fronts so the nurses can keep an eye on them.





And then last but not least is the beautiful hallway. It looks like hardwood, feels like hardwood. Is it hardwood floors? Nope it's vinyl. And it is gorgeous.






Well I did what I set out to do and that was give you guys a preview of the unit. The pics don't really do it justice but it is beautiful and we are so excited about the change.

So...

I haven't blogged in a few days due to the fact that Richard hasn't felt the best.

Today is the last day on his first week of Chemo. Then he gets a week off before he starts again. He has been having a lot of trouble breathing as well as some left lobe pain. He thinks that the pain he's experiencing is just from a mucus plug. Also he has been experiencing some difficulty keeping his body temperature regulated. One minute he is burning up and then the next he is freezing. He is so tired and has very little energy to do to much of anything. He still seems to have a pretty good appetite though. Which I'm thankful for. He is trying very hard to keep his weight up by drinking high calorie scandi shakes. So far this seems to be working.

You can just look at him and tell he doesn't feel good. I hate this. But only 5 more weeks. If he can just tolerate it for 5 more weeks. I know that it's not guaranteed that this Chemo is even going to work. But we pray it will.

All in all this weekend was not the best to be told. We did however manage to go to a Baseball game Saturday Night. It was to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. We had a lot of fun. It was a good Saturday night out with family and friends. The Birmingham Barons beat the Montgomery Biscuits 8 - 2. Speaking of Baseball Jacob's team won their game Friday night 16 - 1. The team was thrilled of course. He has another game tonight we'll see how they do.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support and prayers for our family. You have no idea how much it means to me, to us. I had no idea that my blog would be viewed as much as it has. Almost 500 hits in just a matter of a couple of weeks. But the more people that view it the more people are praying. And we need lots of prayers.

Friday!

So it is the last day of the work week. Yay! And I ws sitting here at my desk and reading through my previous posts. And you know they all seem to be a little depressing. I am so not a depressed person. So since it is after all Friday I thought I would post something funny to make me and maybe quite possibly you laugh. So here goes...

Ways to Maintain A Healthy Level of Insanity

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and Point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2.. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "bribery"

7.. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The Prophecy."

8 Don't use any punctuation

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go."

12. Sing Along At The Opera.

13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme?

14.. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play tropical Sounds All Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends "You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're Not In The Mood."

16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Bottom.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"

18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot, Yelling "Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

If you happen to try any of the above make sure you let me know how it turns out.

The end of day 3

Well it's the end of day 3 for Richard's chemo. Things have for the most part been fine. Although I think the hand and foot syndrome has started his knuckles and fingers are really red almost purplish like. And there is these little white specks everywhere. He said they tingle a little. Hmmmm... is this the start of side effects? Probably so the Doc said it would take a few days. I suppose 3 counts as a few.

Last night he was having some issues with his body temperature. First he was burning up so he turned on the AC then within like 2 minutes he was freezing, shivering and asking for a blanket. But he wasn't running any fever. We checked it only 98.9. So not to sure about that one. All in all so far it hasn't been very bad. Now if we can continue this for the next 5 weeks will be the thing. I am so hoping, praying, begging that with him doing one week on and one week off the drugs that it will help.

Tomorrow is Friday Whoo Hoo. I am so excited. This week has been really tiresome. I don't know why maybe just for the simple fact that I couldn't even begin to tell you when the last time I had a GOOD night's sleep was. If it wasn't for the sleeping medicine making me feel even more terrible I would take that. But no thanks I feel bad enough as it is. Yeah, yeah I know poor pitiful me. Ok so Not really.

And then there is something I have had on my mind for awhile. There is a certain person who shall remain anonymous that has been in a situation like mine. Just without the CF part and the type of cancer it is. I want really bad to talk to this person. But I don't know if I want answers to the questions I have. I have nothing but the up most respect and Godly love for this person but maybe some things are better left unsaid. But then again I feel like I need someone that just knows and totally understands my dilemma and where I'm coming from. I want someone to say it SUCKS! Someone to cry with me not for me. Am I making any sense here? I couldn't even hardly utter the words to ask for the phone number (how am I ever going to carry on a conversation with said person?) then of course I became an upset, crying person that couldn't even speak. I mean what is up with that? It's like my emotions are just absolutely uncontrollable. I know that whole thing about some days will be better than others. But come on I need a break... from myself. No maybe just a vacation. Oooooo the beach would be awesome. Maybe we'll see.

Maybe I just think too much. That is so possible. :-)

Photo Contest

So as I was browsing around blogs this morning I come across one that I found to be pretty interesting. It is http://www.arewethereyetmom.com/ and they are holding a photo contest. You should totally check it out. Well most people know that I have this picture of my two boys that I just love. So I thought why not?

So here is my interpretation on Brotherly Love!

Week 1 Day 1

Well day one is pratically over and no crazy stuff has happened he didn't turn bright purple or anything once he took the pills. haha. Richard feels pretty good for the most part all except for a little upset stomach.Now we know that this is just the first day and it will take a couple of days before the Chemo drugs get into his system. But so far so good. You have to stay optimistic. Right? Please keep praying for us cause every day he can withstand the Chemo that's another day he is adding to our time together.

The boys are doing good Jacob had a game last night. His team lost. :-( But it was a very good game. The pitcher on the other team could throw a ball so fast you wouldn't believe. It was unreal. Calob is doing good as well. He is still a little jokester.

And me well I take it as it comes. Some days are better than others for all of us. And I have to say today has been a very good day. :-P