Monday, May 9, 2011... Diagnosis

Good morning! Here, drink another bottle of pure yuckiness so you can go have your colonoscopy!! Oh how I loathe those preps!

After my bout with severe anemia, my doctor wanted to get to the bottom of things. Afterall, there is no reason or any sign of me losing so much blood. He did not figure in finding anything, but he ordered a colonoscopy just to "say we did" and have it on file as a starting point.

So there we were, my husband and I, waiting patiently for my turn. Mind you, I am starving since this is Monday and I haven’t had anything but water since Saturday evening. After some delays, my name is called. I go in, have the procedure, and the next thing I know, I am coming out of my anesthesia, apparently a little too early…

I woke up and turned to see the doctor and my husband standing there. And I hear what I never expected, “I’m sorry sir, I believe your wife has cancer.” It became a whirlwind after that. I went from grogginess to hearing talks of surgery, getting in a wheel chair, wheeled outside to the corner crosswalk, across the street, and directly into a bed at Lodi Memorial. Laying in the bed, I remember looking at Frank and saying, “ I might have cancer?” So many questions filled our minds, but at the same time, we were filled with so much peace. He sat by my side and said, “Honey, its ok. God is in control and He is going to see us through. We trust him.”

A while later my mom and sister arrived with hugs, followed by my dad, my in-laws, and many friends. I had a CT scan to see if the diagnosis was cancer and if so, had it spread. It was late in the evening when the results came back that it was indeed colon cancer, but praise the Lord, it was contained! I remember looking around the room after the doctor left. There were at least 15 people gathered around Frank and I, sharing in that moment with us. There were tears, but the room wasn’t filled with panic and chaos, rather a gentle peace rested among us as different people began to pray.

From that point on, we knew that even though this was the beginning of a road we never expected, we had truly experienced Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

From the Beginning...Anemia

A few years ago, I began to not feel well. At first I had your basic chest colds and flues and tiredness. As time went on, I began to get sick more often, to the point that I was sick EVERY weekend. And that is not an exaggeration; I mean every. Of course we all related it to the seasons and to the fact that I was a preschool teacher and I picked up the germs of my kids. After a while, being sick and exhausted became "normal" for me, so it didn't really phase me that something terrible could be wrong. It was just how I lived. Looking back, I realize how sad it was that I went through each day in such a way. My husband and I didn't really go anywhere, or get involved in many activities, as I was too tired to do anything. It was the last few months of 2010 that my tiredness began effecting me in a greater way. Just the thought of getting up to change the laundry made me cry.

I went to the doctor to have blood work done and we found out that I was slightly anemic, so I began taking a small dose of iron. It didn't make much of a difference, and by late March, we knew it wasn't enough. I ended up in the ER at Lodi Memorial. After more blood tests, we found that my blood levels had dropped to a 7.8, half of the blood a person should have. By the end of the night, I was being transfused with two units of blood.

Needless to say, with a new blood level of 11, I felt so much better! I began taking 975 mg of iron every day and I felt like a new person!! I was finally on a new path and really "living" for the first time in years!!

God had answered our prayers and we were so excited to have a fresh start!

Recap!

Two years later... it's just one of those things. I didn't write for a lack of happenings, good grief no! Too much happening I suppose! But alas, it is time to begin again...
Over the past two years, let's see:



I graduated with 2 Associate degrees!



Our dog had 9 puppies!



I taught preschool at Blessed Beginnings!

We bought our first home!



And I found out I had CANCER!

Yep! I'd say its been an exciting few years!

Don't you just love it when...

Don't you just love it when you finish dinner and feel relaxed, only to look over and remember that now you have to clean everything up. So you start to do the dishes, scraping all the leftovers in a pile to be tossed. You reach in to get the garbage can to toss the mess only to realize the garbarge is overflowing and you have to empty it before throwing anything else away. Don't you love having to crawl under the sink to get the scraps that already fell out of the trash against the back wall, only to bump your head when climbing out, sweaty as can be. Don't you love when you leave your dish pile to take out the trash so that you can throw other stuff away, only to get mauled by your dog, almost knocking you over. You finally escape the dog to come back in the house, replace the garbage bag and dispose of the pile. Don't you just love when you wash your last dish, wipe the counter, hang up the towel, and realize how much you are dripping with sweat, only to turn around and find that you forgot about the dirty pots and pans and the stove. Don't you love starting over, cleaning the pots and pans, now realizing that you have to scrub the stovetop from its remains. Sweep the floor, straighten the chairs, and hang up the towel one more time... only to have the dog find her way in and leave mud and dog hair all over your clean space. Can I get some air please? And a sweat rag? Thanks.

Just a good day.

Yesterday I was blessed to take a 3 hour, relaxing walk with friends. One friend whom I've known for 12 years and another who I am getting to know and am excited to call "friend." We walked around one of my favorite neighborhoods in Stockton, basking in the cool breeze, admiring and dreaming about the beautiful homes, and enjoying each others company. How I have needed a day like this! A day to get out and let the breeze blow away the tired, yuckiness that has surrounded me for months... A day to laugh and be silly with friends who let you be yourself... A day to remember how good God is and His blessings in my life... yes, it was a good day and I am beyond thankful for my dear friends.

Thanks Sarahs!

Just wanna say...

That I am really happy. I have not been a very good cook for my husband for the past year and a half, but things are looking up! For the most part, we will have the typical story of, "Oh man, those first few years... I ate it all and had seconds cuz you were trying so hard." But I can honestly say that I think I have found my meat nitch. Not that it is perfect or even the greatest ever, but I can finally cook chicken, and even steak, and it is yummy! No longer do I regretfully serve dried out, rubbery meat to my husband when he comes home starving after a long days work. After much trial and error, I cannot use the oven, electric frying pan, or even the George Foreman. Nope, not even the Foreman! I can choose the charcoal bbq (which I am super good at) or the stove top. Ya, not super exciting cuz you all have already mastered cooking, but I am pretty thrilled.

Time

Time is flying by! I honestly cannot believe it is the middle of May. I feel like I was just at my wedding, like we just celebrated our one year anniversary, like I just started this semester yesterday... and here we are, married a year and a half, done with the semester next Thursday, and turning 30 in less than a month!!! Ya, maybe that is where this is coming from, turning 30, I dunno. Don't get me wrong, I am not one who is scared to turn the big 3-0 at all. I am very excited. I like getting older. I look back at when I was like 13 and remember how I used to know people who were in their 20's and 30's and I thought they were so old and so cool. Whatda ya know, I'm the cool one now! lol.

I got in touch with a friend from high school today. Actually, we've known each other since third grade, but became really good friends in high school. I haven't talked to her in a long time and while we were on the phone and thought about it, it has been at least 10 years , if not longer, since we've spoken! 10 years??? How does time go so fast! Why didn't we do the 'ol yearbook saying and "K.I.T"!! That used to drive me crazy when people I hardly knew would write that. C'mon, I'm not gonna keep in touch with you, I don't know you now, why would I know you in 12 years! Anyway, whatever.

Maybe I'm thinking about time because I am in school right now and it's bringing me back to high school days. 12 years ago? Sheesh. Why am I thinking about HS so much! Oh wait, I know... cuz I am reminded everyday at how annoying HS kids can be since I am the oldest in my classes and all the others are fresh out. Oh so irritating. Grow up, would ya! Stop throwing nasty spit wads, stop talking while the teacher is lecturing, and please stop being filthy rotten cheaters! ok, sorry. Had to vent.

Well, a bunch of randomness I guess, all to say that time is flying by.