Just thought I should post this as Diane has had our cousin Mari on her prayer list, she passed away today. She's had cancer for about a year. She has a husband, three kids who are 10, 12 & 13. Pray for that family.

Tribute to Diane Unrau

Diane was born on June 27, 1967 in the MacGregor hospital to Herman and Frances Dyck. She started her life near Gladstone. From there she moved to Austin and then to MacGregor. Two weeks after moving to MacGregor, she got married to William Unrau. God blessed their marriage with three children, Brenten, Jodiene, and Janae. In recent years Diane and William took Savanah Waldner in as their own daughter. Here are some memories Diane’s sisters would like to share with you.

Diane started school in Gladstone, but before she went to school, Mom wanted her to learn how to speak Low German, to which Diane answered “I don’t need to, because you can already understand me”.

She must have learned Low German because whenever she didn’t want Brenten and Jodiene to know what she was talking about when she was on the phone, she would speak in Low German. Although they would say, “Mom I can understand your German because it is mostly English”.

Later in life she learned more Low German because when she worked on family history books, she worked with people who couldn’t speak English very well, so she spoke to them in Low German. She spent a lot of time working on family history and really enjoyed it.

Diane loved all kinds of animals, except snakes and spiders. In the early years, Mom would go to the garden to pick cucumbers and would run back to the house and tell Brenda and Diane to go to the garden to kill a snake. Mom doesn’t like snakes either. They each took a hoe to the garden and they would scream as soon as they saw the snake and then they would start swinging their hoe at the snake. After they had killed the snake, they would bury it and have a funeral for it and cover the grave with dandelions. The next day to make sure the snake was still dead, they would dig it up, but they could never find them again. Later in life there was a time when she was at the cabin and went to use the outhouse. She didn’t realize that it was already occupied by a snake. When she opened the door everyone in the campground instantly heard about it.

When the family lived in Austin, Dad had a lot of moles in the alfalfa field. He paid the girls .25 per mole that they trapped. Diane and Brenda would take their little red wagon to the field with their traps. Diane did all the work, Brenda was just there for moral support.

Diane also loved milking cows. She was Mom’s right hand man when Dad was sick or when he went hunting. Diane especially loved calving season. She loved seeing the new baby calves and taking care of them.

Diane always loved cooking and baking. During one of her first attempts as a child, she made a pot of tomato soup and used way too much baking soda. The soup bubbled out of the pot and all down the side of the stove.

Diane also tried grossing her sisters out by eating food and then showing her sisters what it looked like after she had chewed it for a while. Diane found chocolate worked the best because it looked more disgusting than other foods.

Diane learned to cook at a young age. When Mom and Dad went to communion, she and her sisters invented the omelet before they were popular. Here’s the recipe. Crack a couple of eggs into a bowl, add a package of Lipton’s Chicken Noodle soup, crush some soda crackers into the mix, add some seasoning salt, and whatever else smelled like it would taste good. Stir, dump in hot frying pan, hope for the best, but, usually feed it to the dog, whose name was Lucky, go figure.

From those early child hood experiences, she became an amazing chef. For anyone that had the privilege to eat at her table you know this to be true.

Diane was very talented artistically. She took a course from Aunt Bernice in Grandma and Grandpa Friesen’s basement on how to decorate cakes. She worked at Food Town decorating cakes for a couple of years. After she quit, she continued decorating cakes for family and friends for special occasions.

Diane was also very good at drawing. She drew a lot of cartoon characters, scenery, and animals. Her talent for drawing started at a young age when Diane and Brenda were supposed to be in bed, but they would draw on each other’s backs and try to guess what the other person was drawing. Diane also loved to do crafts and used her talents for DVBS and choir.

Diane’s artistic talents did not include sewing. Once she was trying to sew a doll outfit and she accidentally put the needle right through her finger. Mom had to push her finger down to get the needle out. This instance scared her for life. Ever since, she hated sewing.

Diane loved gardening. She would always plant more than they needed so they could share with friends and family. She liked to start her plants from seed and to get her garden off to an early start, William made her a mini green house. Diane called it her “grow op”. The garden was always Diane’s, no one else could touch it.

Diane did not like the sight of blood. Once she cut her foot on a register and she turned ghostly white. Her sisters weren’t sure how she could ever have children, but she did. When Brenten was young, he cut his finger, but Diane couldn’t put the bandage on his finger, so she sent him over to Grandma Unrau’s house when they lived on the farm together so that she could bandage it.

She conquered this fear of blood and in the last year Diane started giving herself needles as part of her treatment. She actually preferred doing it herself over someone else doing it.

Diane’s all time favorite activity was fishing. Her love of fishing started at a young age. It all started because Dad needed a fishing partner and Diane was always available. Fishing came naturally for Diane. She could fish day and night. Even when she had scary experiences on the boat, like the time when the boat motor died out in the middle of Cross Lake. Of course the wind picked up and created some huge white caps. Dad figured, Diane would never get in a boat again, but we know that didn’t happen. Another time Diane got a barbed hook embedded in her leg and she had to go to the Gladstone hospital to get it removed. Even this experience did not deter her from her love of fishing. If us guys tried to sneak out of the cabin at 5:00 am to go fishing, Diane always went along. When Diane caught a fish, almost everyone on the lake knew about it. She had a hard time keeping it a secret. “Oh-oh Gotta him”

As much as Diane loved fishing, she was terrified of water. She didn’t even like to go swimming or tubing. But three years ago Pete and Verna joined the family at the lake and after a lot of persuasion, Verna was able to convince Diane to go tubing with her. They screamed the entire time.

Diane accepted Christ into her life at the age of 12 and was baptized in 1985 in the MacGregor Bergthaler Church. Once Diane found out that she had cancer she became more vocal in her faith. She started a blog where she posted what she was going through and became a real inspiration to all those that read it. We figure at least 130 people regularly read her blog and were influenced by her, but likely many hundreds more. In her entries she would talk about what she was going through and even though she would have a tough day, she was always more concerned for others and included prayer requests for them. She had a real concern for people who were struggling both physically and spiritually. Her concern included a dream of hers where cancer patients and their family’s could be cared for in a loving, Christian, home-like, environment where they could be supported through their physical struggles and encouraged with an eternal hope. Diane felt for those people she met through her struggle with cancer who felt they had no hope like she did. She wanted us to come up with a name for her home. We think “Diane’s House of Hope” is a great name. A highlight for Diane this past year was modeling in the Cancer Care fashion show. She really enjoyed getting her hair and makeup done. The pictures you see here today are from that fashion show. She was beaming and her joy bubbled over onto everyone in attendance.

Here is something Diane put on her blog on September 1, 2009.
In Happy moments - Praise God
In Difficult moments - Seek God
In Quiet moments - Worship God
In Painful moments - Trust God
In Every Moment - Thank God

Here are some of Diane’s favorite scripture verses which she drew her strength from and posted on her blog:

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me Strength” Phil 4:13

“And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” Deuteronomy 31:8

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentation 3:22-23

It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:32

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Diane's funeral is Sunday August 22, 2:30 at the Sommerfeld Church in MacGregor, MB

Well this might be the last post for me as Diane went to her new home in Heaven this evening. Myrna and I were singing and didn't realize that she had peacefully passed away. She had a really rough week and now she's in a better place. Thanks for all your prayers, for touching her life, I know she's touched yours. Keep the family in your prayers.

Update: since the last blog Diane has been drinking a little bit and also tasting a bit of food. All of us sisters were together last weekend with her. Dwayne and i took Brenda back to Estevan on Sunday. Every monday, wednesday and friday morning she gets a sponge bath from a nurse that comes in, actually we call it a bird bath because that's what Diane would call it. Myrna and I miss her calling us on the phone or we would like to call her especially when it comes to making something to eat. She's an awesome cook and always knew how to make anything or would be willing to try something new. We would be exchanging quite a few recipes. Thanks for all your prayers and i'll try to keep you posted.

Just came from Diane's and really i don't know what to say. She's in bed all the time now. She's not eating only getting her mouth moistened every once in a while. We don't know how long it will be but pray for the family, they really need your prayers at this time. It hurts me to see her like this but i know soon she'll be in a better place.

Diane has been home since last friday from the hospital. She had a rough couple of days and then she seemed to be doing a little better. We stopped by yesterday on our way home from the lake and she was pretty good. Today I was there all day and it was really hard. Diane slept until lunch which was good but the whole day she seemed really mixed up. She wasn't drinking much and she had a rough day. Diane has a hospital bed at home now but she's unable to walk so there's alot of lifting to do. Pray for a better day tomorrow. Also pray for strength for William and the kids.

Was at the hospital today with Diane and at around 11:00 Dr. Parker got her admitted. She finished the one bag of blood and everything went well. They put her on IV too. She got her second bag of blood around 2ish and i left at 2:30 and everything seemed fine again. Parker said they should do a chest xray tomorrow. So it looks like she'll be in a couple of days hopefully getting much needed rest. She hasn't been getting much sleep and i think neither has William. He is an amazing nurse!!! Diane couldn't have a better hubby. Thanks for all your prayers.

Diane is having a blood transfusion tomorrow morning at 9:00.

Went to Diane's to build a deck onto their trailer, well I didn't but my hubby, William, my dad, William's dad and Brenten did. Now Diane can go outside and hopefully when she's out there she won't need oxygen. She fell a week ago so now needs a little more care. She went to their cabin last sunday and even managed to get on the boat and fish a little. This next Wednesday she'll be getting a blood transfusion again. Dr. Parker doesn't know if they'll be able to give her many more as she seems to get a fever with getting the blood. So you can all pray that the blood transfusion will go smoothly, her body won't have a reaction to the blood, no fever and that she'll have more energy after, also that
she'll still be able to have more if needed. William has holidays this next week so I'm sure they'll both be getting some much needed rest. Thanks again for all who have prayed and have made a difference in her life. Thanks also for all the wonderful meals that have been made and brought, God Bless you all.

i had a dream

i woke up with such a powerful dream, i can' remember when i've ever had such a powerful message come across . I woke up to see a home being built this is not just any ordinary home. It is a home sprecifically right here where families who are not sure how to deal with emotions, anxzieties and many different feelings that go through cancer wether we are christian or not,( the fear, the anger, how can we cope?? is there any hope etc etc? and to help families see, there is hope in God and eternal life, any family willing to com and are willing to work together as a team of christian counselors. i've love to share our family experiences that we have gone through our journey and hope that we also as a family will be able to touch and help other families affected by cancer. would like give them counselling together with their families, to give them courage, a hope of eternal life.`as we search through the bible in a bible type sharing yet open concept way,
i would also like to incorporate a program to help children at their level, by explaining to them about cancer . Anyway, this is only a part of my dream, as i saw thiis home being built, it was quickly done, and we were having families coming up a walk into our home joining us for a bible study and do you know what I was there inviting in the guests into our home. for what i'd assume our first Cancer Help Lodge (no name so looking for one, am willing for some great names. I also did noot addthat threre are three small cabin/homes where families stay a week or so as needed to receive the care psiritual care the needdd to understand, we have a God of Hope, Strength,Cherity
sorry for all the smelling mistakes, this took me 3 days i thinnk to write up, but the dream is still clear as day, my mind only works in a few min at a time which makes it very difficult to try to wriite, hence the lack of of drawn out of it. This dream will hopefully be in my memorial if God calls me home and i hope someone out there has the dream to go through helping so many people who need to know in a christian way we have hope, we have a God, we have an alternitive to just dying we have Christ. thakn diane

Praise God

i will be receiving two pints of blood tomooro morning, what an answer to prayer, as sonn as i get there so prob. around 8 9 am.

Best Birthday

Tuesday, June 29, 2010
best birthday

I have to first start off with how wonderful my birthday was, with our campground owners, Larry & Heather, together with lunch with my folks, then my sis and family came out for afternoon, of fun filled afternoon of grandpa fishing and then my sis who'd been up at their cabin came up for supper and cake . I spent my day resting on air mattress and with lots of pillows pilled high but it was fabulous just being together. it was maybe the most tiredess birthday, but who really cares, sometimes birthdays like that is just what one needed.
I Also had a best birthday addedd to my already best birthday of all i will say i had the biggest surprise for my Birthday, it was a present i was longing for, well, hubby was getting me ready for bed and lo and behold in sneaks my Birthday present, oh, how can you not cry, in the happiest way, our adopted daughter walked in the door, oh, you just can't imagine what a delight, i had missed her for so long, and there she was, just what the doctor ordered i say. Just a complete blessing the Lord i knew i needed. God Just Blessed us All so much that day, the only Birthday we did miss was my older sis, but when we have wonderful tech. we don't miss each other so much.
This is a pic from a couple years ago, as she's enjoying the water sports with our family. i have writ my self up so tired already i have to stop as i know help will be needed up the stairs.

Happy Birthday

well, tomoro is one of those most blessed days as well, not too many girls get to ever celebrate proudly all these birthday years with my mom. as one of those days that will be a very emotional day, you see tomorro is also my mom's birthday. This could be the last day my mom and i ever celebrate our birthday together here on Earth or Lord Willing he will he will send a miracle and cure and my mom & I can celebrate our share a few more birthdays. My sis Shirl's B day is proudly celebrated the day after, sometime's we've hit weekends to celebrate esp. once married but in each of our birthday celebrations, they have always been very special ones.
I guess there has been a lot happening in our family's lives, since i think its been May i've been in and out of hosp. or emerg, i don't remember to be honust much of it at all. Wonderful nurses, like Beth, Marigold, a very warm loving nurse, i again have April a few more times, Jenn and just to many i can't thank or even remember names enough of, simply fabulous
I go into emerg every couple days now to get my "new" purse", selection isn't the greatest fashion, but we take what we get, and then they change the dressings on my bandages. On June 20th while we were about to get ready to take "dad" out for supper, i noticed my lines were all plugged, i could still breath so off we went without clamping, by the time we'd got there there'd been enough pressure released that the only needed to change the purse, these are scarry times, for family, but thankfully we do not have had to make any faster trips in than usual to get us there on time., On the 22st. we had doc apt in emerg with my doc parker, as he walked around the corner he asked me if i needed something, i said yes, they did a blood check right away for blood counts too low, and next lunch nurse called and said after chat with Dr. Harding wpg. doc i would receive two pints of blood, this is an answer to prayer but for me takes a long time to show, well, anyway we went down to tele health where 15 or so min dr. harding shows up for conference. This conference was a complete duplicate of the one we'd had a couple of weeks ago, at least that's what i remember. you go down this long grey hall and then there's a yellow box then you turn the corner, well ok, same as last time, yep, well, there's nothing we can do for you, oh, ok, a doc's job like that must be incredible that the doc who thrives all his life to cure via. chemo. we sit sort of in shock, not really knowing what to think. then we get escourted to room, i was not impressed we got put with the same lady as with tele health, and she's tapping her pencil, then i finally say to will lets go, as we go down narrow tunel back to emerg for blood transfus. i feel myself coming on with a anxiety attack and ask hubby for a bit of meds, wouldn't you know it she's right behind us, not being of any comfort of anthing to us the whole time, to be honust i was not impressed with her actions during the whole time
As we started to go through our transfusions, machines went off in every direction, i had an axiety attack again, so they were going to quit the transfusion, so i talked to the nurse and told her of our situation of mtg. with doc. so she told doc, i'm thankfully he said yep we'll go with it, we'll just put on extra machines to make sure everything still is running smooth, we were so thankfull, although nurse said she'd have never done it, anyway, we finished up our blood transfusion around 10:40 i think. There are a lot of things that go through one's mind, and i know i wasn't drugged up, but the next day we as a family decided i had given my life over to the Lord and from now on,our family would also leave what plans he has for only us is we would follow at all times, and what he wanted for me is what we would do, so that means we will NOT go running on doing research. God is the only one we want in change of. Its amazing how quickly people somehow tend to find out and come over to want to sell, tell their story of what reserach they have done for their family. We choose only God to lead our lives.
This morn we were back at the "purse" salon with same selection of "purses" by the way, this purse drains the fluid from out of my lungs and will be back tues. for another purse change in emerg. I am so over tired by now, so i must close off, my writings will be very slim, i have not done email of facebook much so please excuse me while we as a family find importances slightly changing via computer.
Please continue to Pray we as a family would love to ask for a miracle that he would heal the lung cancer growth which has now gone into the linings of the lungs that's why liquids are formed and must be drained via. a tube. Thanks so much, we feel your love, your prayers, just don't ever give up, God is the most Almighty doc there ever will be. thanks so much from Will, Diane, Brenten, Jodiene & Janae

June 23

next apt to see dr. Harding is in P la P, jUNE 23, @ 1:45

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US AS WE WAIT FOR THE NEXT ETC.

night

Prayer: for Will's cousin's little girl she's had occasional spells since about Christmas where she'll 'space out' and you have to almost yell or try somehow to get her out of it, and seems to happen when she's over-tired. She hasn't had any again for a while, but her mom is taking Jennifer in to Children's Hospital for an EEG today. i believe she's just over 2
Thanks for the prayers,
Praise God cousin Mari is home, slowly regaining strength, continue to pray for her and the family.
remember to pray for Serena
pray for Jim as they decided they would have to remove after all, pray also for his daughter as she's a trouper through MS
We want to continue to keep Matt, in our prayers
surround Blaine & Tamaea & family, in the prayers they need from us.
Cousin David J as he recoveres from surgery.
sorry but my trying to type is almost asleep,

Was at my sister - what a fighter!!! She's exhausted and she's not doing a whole lot but lying in bed, being wheeled to the table to eat and sometimes she'll maybe sit up for a while to visit. Her feet are swollen and Dr. Parker says its because her losing protein due to the draining of the lung. She says it makes it very hard to walk. Her body is going to take a while to build up, it seems quite slow. She thinks her blood levels for everything are lower than when she was in the hospital. So she'll see the Dr next week Tuesday and he'll see how everythings going. She still has fuild draining from her lung. A reminder to visitors - the Portage Nurses want us to all make sure we're considerate- no perfumes, hairsprays, aftershave, colognes anything with an odor. Also please call first before going to see her. As of right now her family does not need any more sweets, she said they're probably good for a week. They do love desserts but right now they've got enough for a while. I brought her a lasagna and garlic bread today. My mom and Jo were making perogies to freeze and they were making rollkucken for supper. Thanks to everyone for being a part of her life - keep praying - she's not giving up and we as a family aren't either.

Home june, 10

yeppers, i am finally back, you will probably have to excuse many many spelling mistakes,i am using the lap top which i hadn't wanted to use but i guess you take what ya gets for now, I have so many stories and tidbits i have jammed my little head with so either i'll be babbling on and on, or giving shorter reports, don't you love how short and sweet my non babbling sis couled keep thing
First of all a lot of praise has come about since i was in hosp. My cousin Eva's son David who had Elphonse disease had surgery and is doing very well. Praise God that his tumor could shrink to remove his tumor between his eyes.
Praise God cousin Mari is home her cancer blood counts are zero, what a Praise God item, her husband brought her home this week, this still means she's on a long way to recovery but the cancer count is ZERO
I had many praises in my rooms as well this last week, i had a roommate who when she came in didn't want to live, we came in on same day and she noticed how my friends and family came around and prayed for me, and how Janae would pray with us and ask God to heal Mommy of her cancer and and she would then sing to me. quite often after people or my family left she'd try to cry quietly and i took time to pray for what ever she was feeling that she could have that peace as well. Sunday morning we had a time to talk about God and she asked How can you be so positive in what your going through, so i had a chance to explain a bit before her family came, i'm hoping that the words she heard from visitors etc. will continue to bless her.
We'll go back to the day i came to that room, and we had young intern nurses who waited on us hand & foot, i met Durothee who was going home for the weekend to see her parents and when we got to talking i told her about my sis being missionaries up there years ago, and that got onto talking what church etc. and it was just so neat, how she had asked her family who she's staying with during the final weeks of training would pray for her, well, lets just say she made my day, and i made hers, when she didn't have anything to do and for some reason thurs was a very slow day she'd come in and sit at the edge of my bed, we'd talk and we'd hold hands, i didn't ask her if she was taken, but yipes, i have enough knowlege to contact her again she prob. 22 ish (lol)hi! Durothee!!
Because of an accident i was woken up to movin' back downsairs, into a room, then i heard she was just coming in from a smoke, so i told the nurses who did a very quick change about into a private room it took me a bit to get used to as it felt like a dungeon, one nurse named Marigold loved to come into my room, she had so much compassion, she also took time to sit and chat and i appreciated her so much.
My sis Shril spoiled me on mon. and Brenda & Carl came out on monday, so Bren took time to spoil,me by doing the good o"l bird bath, and tues. we had a sisters day, which i asked if Carl could pray and pour oil, so all my sis' were there, my hubby & Carl, it was a very emotional time, well if you know us girls ..... Just to feel the peace surrouding our room, and yes even in all our tears, to feel that God is and always in control. One of my fav cards received is "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and a suncatcher that reads Hope, Hope lets the sunshine in. Thank you to all those who came to visit. i was blessed with many visitors, sorry to those who get to make it in due to sis day etc. your intentions are appreciated as well. well i will need to take another rest before i get wheeled up for supper, there will need to be lists put up again, as my counts are low, and wpg and home doc's main concerns are for me and my family, we are number one at this timeit is very very important rules are followedby your friends and your family much more than before. It is a very cruital time that you help out by helping my family help to fight for me as well. With God's Grace, my lung first of all needs to drain, and drain to zero, nothing left coming out, second step then is to put a mix in and can only be done on a DRY lung then off oxygen then procede on to chemo. i will need to continue to rest of my prayer & praises, just continue thanks, diane

Diane's sister Brenda went home today. I think Diane was blessed to have her. Diane didn't get much rest today but will be going home later tonight. She can't do anymore at home than she did in the hospital which really is only walk to the bathroom. She's hoping to work on getting more of her strength back, it will be slow. She'll still be on oxygen and still have the drain tube in. When people go to visit her at home if they would call first and limit their time to 5-10 min. Also if you could refrain from putting any perfumes, hair sprays, after shaves etc anything that has an odor when you see her as it makes it very hard for her to breath. Thank you for everyone that has prayed and touched her life.

Us sisters were all together today with Diane. Washed her up in the morning, massaged her feet and she actually had a nap until the nurse came in. Her and William had a teleconference with Dr. Harding from Winnipeg and he said that the cancer has gone into the lining of the lung and that's why there's fluid. He said he won't be able to do anything until the fluid has cleared up. We all prayed for Diane after lunch and annointed her with oil. Her heart rate is up quite a bit too. Oh, and she finally had a good sleep last night. She hasn't been sleeping well. She's limited the time people come in to see her to 5-10 min. Thanks for all your prayers.

Brenda was with Diane today most of the day. I took my daughter to soccer and just stopped in, Diane didn't even open her eyes, she was exhausted. She got moved to a private room last night. Tomorrow us sisters want to be together with her.

Went to be with my sis today. She's been feverish lately. On saturday the tube got plugged and the junk went back into her lungs. She did see Dr. Parker today after lunch and I didn't get to talk to her about what he said as the nurses were trying to find a vein that would behave. They were trying to change her IV needle. Our sister Brenda from SK is out and hoping to spend some time with her the next couple of days. I'll keep you all posted in the next couple of days on what's new.

Diane's back in the hospital and might be for a while. She had back pain and trouble breathing. They took another 3L of fluid from her lung and then put a permanent tube in to drain the fluid. Her apt. to see her Dr. tomorrow is cancelled. The Dr. isn't sure where the fluid is coming from. Keep her in your prayers.

back home

i am officially back home, was home just in time for lunch, nothing beats homemade food, food in hosp. was ok. at times, but really hard to eat when an older person is huckin it out of his mouth as he's eating caughing the whole time eating, and oh the sounds, just weren't perdy and wouldn't you know it right across from me, just not perdy to here nor, i didn't look, but hubby informed me unfortunately, nurses couldn't go into his room without a pair of gloves, it was the most disturbing, unclean room in the whole hosp. ok. enough gross stuff.
I had a wonderful older lady as my "patient"/ roommate its amazing how one can make a difference, i closed her curtains at night a couple times, when nurses forgot, when she called out for hubby, i let her know he'd gone home etc. or if she'd call out "Mary" who actually was her sister in Calgary, i'd ask her if she needed a nurse and usually it was yes, and asked her if she had her buzzer close by or if i should ring mine. so i enjoyed her company, even though with a stroke she spoke very slowly but hey so did i, so we made for a wondreful pair. she had many ails and suffered from arthritis, diabetes, heart surgery yrs. ago now a stroke. Her husband came lovingly at least three times a day to check in on her. When i talked about God, her husband just would change the subject so i left it, so not sure where they are at with God in their lives.
By the time yesterday rolled around and my smeller was picking up "strange" smells, and nope not me, i knew it was time to head out, i just don't understand someone's who's got nothing but bones left and decides to smoke their life away, so sad, i could smell it like she did it in her room, which i know she didn't but some smells just get picked upso easily.
So anyway right after a short little rest, my oxygen rescue team was here to set me up, so now i can "run" lol!! not really, we're keeping it to an older person pace all over the house with my oxygen hose, i have now also a couple of tanks for when i need to go out for doc apts, church etc. so i hopefully won't get so tired. Last night i wasn't as happy with my nurse as she said i didn't need oxygen, my level was 88 -90 but she kept making me take a deep breathe until it was up to 95 where doc said no lower, or up the oxygen, i don't think she got that part, as this morn same thing, she'd knocking on the machine, not working she tells me, in my head i'm thinking, yeppers, sure, i know all about it. she unplugs it and same thing, then makes me take big breaths in again till levels are up to 95 then writes 95. hm..... I did have absolutely wonderful nurses, esp. one names Beth, i gave her such a hard time, in a good way, we laughed lots and it was good for both us us, as well there's lots of older fold in that ward. sunday was a rough day as far as breathing, Beth figured i'd ran too many marithons down the isles, well... she asked me to walk a few to see if i could do them, i don't know how many hubby & I did, but we did them no prob. she figured i was running them, well she's used to snail speed older folks so i guess i was going just a tad faster lol!! but suffered for it yesterday and since i didn't get no oxygen for night (remember mine was up at 95!!) so no marithons were run this morn either, i took a shower and got dressed it took me 1 1/2 hrs. i just had a hard time, needing to take breaks every min. so when i got back, i had a new day shift so i put on oxygen back on and that felt so much better.
sorry i tend to jump around as i remember things, on friday my doc removed 2.7 litres of fluid out of my left lung, so can you just imagine almost a milk just extra of stuff no wonder i couldn't breath or do anything, sat they only took out 150 ml they didn't want to go to low as one's kidney's are right below so they wanted to make sure not to hit them, well it made a big diff anyway so what more can you ask for, i just got a call from my surgeon in wpg. to come in thurs to see him, he will have more knowlege on what to do about the fluid etc. so off to wpg. i go then, i think i also have blood work that day in am. better double check.
well for now i'd better call it good and have a another rest, yeppers i'm just gettin' old. but that garden is calling my name to come look and see if anythings popping out of the ground, but i will try and be patient.
The oriole's are here helping the humming birds so will have to fill up that feeder once again.

this is my garden crew took all of them to put in a garden i've done myself hm... i really don't know how i could do all that in one day, but they did a great job,

Went to see Diane after church and she's back on oxygen. She's feeling really tired. The Dr. hasn't told her when she can go home or the results from the xray.

Diane did get more fluid removed last night and this morning she's supposed to have an xray.

Update you all on Diane - she's doing quite well. She had the oxygen removed around 12:00 today and did some hall walking to prove she didn't need the oxygen. She said after taking out the fluid she felt hungry again and she also had a much better sleep last night. Dr. Parker is on ER until 4 and she's hoping that she'll get more fluid removed after that. She's thinking that she'll maybe come home tomorrow. Forgot to mention that the fluid they took out was all in her lung. Thanks for all your prayers.

Diane's sis here: Saw her at the hospital today. She's finding it easier to breath with oxygen. They drained 3 L of fluid from her and will do more tomorrow. She's hoping to go home after that.

call # 1 no more waiting for # 2 "new"

off to hosp. P la P for now anyway, stay overnight they'll keep me comfy and filled with oxygen then tomorro surgery, maybe P la P depends things may change or be in HSC, i'll be in for a couple days i'm told. thanks for praying, will post when i get home, no access to computer or internet there. d

so i got the call from my Dr. Harding at Cancer care HSC and he is sending me back to my surgeon doc Tan in wpg., so now i'm waiting for a call from him to get an apt. to come in to remove fluid, ( not sure if around lung is what i'm thinking as my body is so full it hurts) from there we'll see what next step will be. I told Dr. i needed an apt. A.S.A.P. i'm sure he'll be pushing for it, he's good at getting things going.
So thankfull the two docs on emerg in P la P didn't do anything as with their thinking who knows what could have happend. They do their best, but are just not specialized in cancer no doubt, and a CT scan will show much better the true pic.
So much to be thankfull for, now to get in and then back on the road to recovery. So please continue to pray. thanks

pray also for my cousin Mari, she is starting to make a bit of recovery with her tumor now not growing and in the process of shrinking, pray it will continue to shrink and she can come home soon to be with her family.
i'll just add onto this email if i hear today yet of surgeon apt. so you may need to re read at least a bit. thanks, diane

I just couldn't resist putting in this cartoon of Maxine i'd received quite a while ago it makes me chuckle, yet can be so true.

CT scan

hi! i'm back from wpg. oh, what a long day, well while your in wpg one tends to make a day of it so my Mom had an apt. then i have my CT which we were an hr. early for and got on right away !! yahoo!! then my sis had doc apt. of course her doc was late (at HSC) so all in a day, but for me that was just so hard, and yes we did get back the wheel chair, as someone would have had to carry me, and well i'm not a feather so it'd be plop, oops, gotcha, ah.... plop, ooops lol!!. Oh i hope and pray that the docs will go over scan and call tomorro, this breathing thing is just not working too well, you'd think half a lung, half the air, right.... dead wrong, more like less than an 1/8 what fall breathing was like, i think this is worse, just pray, pray and continue to pray.
I thought of Matt as we were in HSC wondered if his family were there eating while i had a bowl of soup after CT but didn't think i wanted to go ask everyone and knew i wouldn't be allowed up to see him, but our thoughts and prayers went up your way. Continue to pray for Matt as hopefully tomoorro the bone marrow transplant can be performed successfully.
My cousin Lil B. emailed me her Grandma Klassen passed away this morning, pray for the Klassen family (Marge W, Susan B, Jake & families)
My sis emailed me today, she did leave me chuckling even though she was serious, but i hope she doesn't mind i share a piece, she emailed me about anointing a person with oil which it speaks about in the bible, "Get hubby to anoint you with oil and get Janae to pray for you - if you let Janae annoint you with oil, you may have the whole container, unless that is what God says to do" another quote "Pray in faith and don't doubt, just listen to God and see what he says and wait. God didn't heal everyone on the porch at Bethsaida - God healed a man who didn't even know who Jesus was. When some had no faith, Jesus used his own. When someone came to Jesus, He never said, "I'm tired or too busy...maybe another day if you catch me in time." God says we need to ask and keep knocking. God has a purpose and a plan - All things are possible with God..." i thank her so much for writing this to me, as yes one does have days of doubt, especially when days like this week when things have been tough, extremely tough, its like when is God going to help me and when i'm waiting trying to be patient but at times that's pretty difficult, we tend to want our healing and our prayers answered right away, when things get extremely difficult it sure is hard to just lay them at his feet when we want to be still in charge, because i want to live and its just taking way to long to get better.
" Psalms 103:1,2, 5 " Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, Oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits... who satisfied your desires wtih good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Any verse with eagles are fav's of mine too. I don't know if i should say this but i decided if i am to die i want a bald eagle engraved on metal of a bald eagle, with a verse that says " On the wings of an Eagle's i will fly " anyway, sorry,no more sad stuff today

here's the pic of the double geranium from Linda that just started blooming, absolutely gorgeous.

update

well news one doesn't want to hear, but at least we now know, the reason i'd been feeling so winded and blah. well my left lung is totally collapsed so my right lung is trying its hardest to make up, and i find myself breathing with my stomache so hense the feeling of yuck, so zip, toatally zip is on the agenda until it is fixed.
I called this morn to check if my doc was in and yeppers, so took no chance, we went in, hubby explained situation to nurse and we were in, doc checked out my lungs, sent me for blood work then x-rays, and the girl doing the x-rays read it right away and gave Dr. Parker a call immediately, so we were schuffled off to emerg. where my doc made arrangement with doc on duty to do a more complete check, so anyway, ultra sound was the way, and there was no fluid left in my left lung so anyway, since i am off to wpg. tomorro for CT scan they pushed it onto wpg. docs so i gave my nurses in wpg. a heads up and we'll stop by and probably get to see my wpg. doc after the CT, hope they do something soon, as yipes, one needs to breath. Of course when i come home i find a message my June 2nd. apt was cancelled and June 9th. was put in place, so i called the nurse to say NO GO, i'm not waiting two more weeks to try and breath. so hopefully a verdict can be made tomorro.
Please continue to pray for us, one just doesn't realize how important two lungs really are until one is not working, i think i'll need my wheel chair back, will have to phone and see if its still avail. thanks, diane
p.s. sorry no pic today, i'm bushed and will have me a rest before little girl comes home from school

at the Lake

lots of debating on writing a blog today, many times i x'd it then went to restart, so hey now i'm back on, seem to do that everyonce in a while it seems. Yesterday morning i went once again to wpg. for a lympatic massage, good thing i had my chauffer drive me, as these days, i'm just so tired, don't look forward to her starting a new job on tues, but yet happy for her. But anyway, we'll manage, there's always the folks who "surprise" here we are, what ya got to do today, that'll i'm sure pop in often, take care of any little or big need around here that i haven't gotten to.
Then shortly afternoon we packed up and headed off to the cabin for a quick get away with little girl, she once again made 3 new friends as soon as she got off the boat in the evening, she's always looking for someone to play with. Love that there are little girls close to her age for her to hang out with.
It is just so incredibly amazing how the fresh outside air, boat ride can just give one strength and oxygen that one's body is so looking for. It was such an absolutely beautiful evening, very calm, warm, sunny, who could ask for anything more, we did try our hand at fishing, i always gotta chuckle at little girl, she's fishing away and ooooh, oooh, i think i have one, na i think he got away, next thing ya know repeat, repeat, she did have her leech eaten off so hey, she must've had something. Did see a family on shore catch a beautiful walleye of 23" which is a must release, which they did, they did send it our way, well they tried, but i didn't care i didn't catch anything, it was just so relaxing to be out, on such a beautiful evening, just to get rejuvinated was wonderful. During the night i all of a sudden heard some rain drops, now if you know me, i find them very soothing, and they lul me to sleep. (Not the big drops with light flashes or booming, not so much my kind of thing) Now somtimes i actually wonder if i were born on a boat, na, i actually think i was, probably with a fishing rod in my hand too lol!! on a day with a gentle breeze with a gentle rain falling. Ah, my mother tells me, nope, oh well, i could just live on the water in a boat and get lulled to sleep by the gentle laps of water, ah... dreams.
Well this morning we were woken to a mix of sprinkling and rain, so we decided to bring in the boat, call it a day, well that called me for a day as well, how does one get tired, crawling into the truck while hubby drives boat onto trailer and then drive out when hooked up?? hm... i did have an idea that hit, but na, just would never do it, love my hubby way too much, but i had to laugh anyway at such a silly idea, what if i'd give er and hubby would go ker plunk into the water lol!! oh, ok, now that's not so funny, it only sounded funny temperarily lol!! Sometimes one's gotta get some type of laughter going, even if its that dry Friesen humor lol!! just to try and keep one's head about themselves, as things are going pretty tough, tough on the breathing end, tough on doing anything for that matter, so trying to stay positive is getting actually mighty difficult, my life is like a roller coaster by the minute, not by the day, one second tears next thing laughter,( ah you men who are reading will say, yep, that's women for ya, can't figure em' out lol!!) and we go on and on with this wonderful routine. trying to keep focus on the Lord and what he can do, not what i can't do.
I have been neglecting updating my prayer list this week with the busyness of everything but i hope you will continue to pray for those who truely need us. Please email me updates as i just can't get to calling everyone, it takes so much energy out of me now already talking so much on the phone.
* Blaine & Tamara: they are also getting baptised tomorro, Lord willing with his health, if not they will perform baptism at his house.
* for all the Young and Young at heart getting baptised tomorro in our church
* for Darlene's Mom - uterin cancer
* Donna's Dad - Lung cancer
* My cousin Dwayne & April - as she continues treatments for breast cancer
* our local restraunt owners the Haw family - Mr. Haw has lung cancer
* Ron & Joanne F - pray for good results as they return from US from taking a new treatment for liver cancer
* Cousin Mari & Agabus - Mari in US undergoing treatments for her liver cancer
* my cousin's friends who are struggling with their marriage
* Dave & Tina F - Dave suffering from Leukemia
* Matt - in wpg. waiting for his bone marrow transplant hopefully this week
* Janice as she still mourns the loss of Tom
* Bev C who is dealing with MS & her dad Jim as he heals from a cut thumb
* continue to pray for Sharon I who as far as i know is still waiting for either a donor liver transplant or loss of fluid to be able to have her son give her part of his.
* My neice Karla who to leave on her missions trip with a group from Miller to Germany, i haven't heard anything so assuming all went well.
* My neice Jennifer as she waits for results from her EEG and CT scan on her brain
* My cousin's son David J who is undergoing treatments for alphonse disease
* Serena C- her parents could bring her home once again, pray for them and Serena as giving a little girl a needle once a day is a diffucult task for child as well as parents
* Don B as he heals from a fractured shoulder

this pic is taken of a cabin up at Lake of the Prairies, one weekend, my sis & hubby & hubby & i did a double date up there quite a few years ago, ah, one day i'd love to own a cabin like that, just plain, basic, but so cute, ah just like me lol!! ha! ha!! anyway, cabin is for rent and its called "Hank's Hide A Way."
Anyway, happenings this week: monday i will be supervisor to my crew who will with smiling faces put in my muchly reduced garden, hey its only 14 long rows instead of 22, really i did downsize. not sure everything will fit but we'll just make room. maybe a bit bigger lol!!
wednesday: head off to wpg. for my muchly awaited CT scan, now if i could only get results right away, that would be great, but na, no such luck, gotta wait till June 2. I don't have my calendar infront of me as what else is on the agenda next week, but i know i take Janae is to see Dr. Thess June 1, blood work June 3, think there's a massage in there somewhere, and if i need to go for another treatment for lymphoma i will need to book that in, so yep, for some reason life of busyness continues.
Hope you all had a safe, wonderful long weekend, diane
"For the battle is not yours, but God's" 2 Chronicles 20:15

why worry??

When one goes through one round of chemo even if the side effects haven't been as bad as everyone else's, going through another round of chemo just bring too many chills into my body, and so many days i tell Hubby i don't want to take chemo again. chemo is something i really dread taking again, but many people go through it so many times, one lady i talked to is on her fourth round, another one has been going for 7 years. I need to try and focus more on day to day, as this long term taking chemo is just taking a lot out of me. I ask myself why am i worrying about it, you may be perfectly fine, but there's always those doubts and fears that want to creep in and take away what comfort and trust God wants to put into my heart. " Let him TRUST in the name of the Lord and RELY upon God. Isaiah 50:10 i was also looking for another verse but only part of it would come to me and i couldn't remember where it was found so i'll have to wrack my brain some more. Anyway as i was reading my devotions this morning the author spoke of her trial with cancer and "as i struggled with feelings of fear and dread- fear of the unknown and dread of no longer being in control. Then i laughed at myself. I was never in control to begin with; i just thought i was". This was a reminder i needed today, God is in control of our lives, let Him have his way, trust in Him. Disappointment and fear may rob us of our peace during our illness. A setback in our treatment interferes with our plans. We may feel helpless and frustrated and weep before the Lord. But, we are still His children. We can lean on Him and trust Him to direct our steps.
I had never imagined how much work a garden was up till this year, so anyone who gardens wether big or small, many hats goes off to all of you. Big girl & I went out and picked off the rhubarb that needed attention, and of course dessert for supper, and then we continued to put my sticks in to mark the rows where i'd be planting my seeds, well that simple task is not so simple, i didn't realize how little umph i had, but we did make it, and then to top it off, we moved my containers which were sitting just outside the garden into the garden so the boy could mow the grass. That did me in for the day, and supper consisted of cracklings and buns, no one complained though, Big girl made a delicious rhubarb crisp, desserts always make up those not so special suppers. today's agenda we'll stick to a more simplified indoor laundry, and i'll call that pretty much a day.
Oh i'd forgot to mention the farm is officially done seeding, corn, spuds, wheat, oats and canola, yahoo!! so one of the farm worker couples put on a Thank the Lord for a wonderful, safe, Spring seed and an we BBQ'd and had a wonderful relaxing time visiting with all the rest of the farm crew. It's wonderful that everyone of the workers at the farm, loves the Lord and are Christians, it is such a warm, suportive family, even us gals all love to get together and chat up a storm (a gentle one that is lol!!) You can't ask for anything better when it comes to a work place. Also when i hit a low this week, i could count on Colleen to comfort and be there for me, thanks, Colleen.


i just love the big white fluffy clouds and esp. against the beautiful evergreens, we have a beautiful yard that makes for many great pics

new treatment

Monday and yesterday i went to wpg. for lymph node drainage, it is a very soothing, gentle massage done to the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are what keeps our immune systems up to par, the fight off infections to the best of their abilities and sometimes when there's just too much your nodes tend to swell. I have learned a lot, but there are only 3 people in MB who do this one who's still not quite finished her training. This is something that are needed more of, one needs to have physiotherapy training or nurses training, or massage therapy training in order to take this course, it is a really rewarding field to be in, although Edith tells me its not always pretty, they work on a lot of burn victims, as well as NB babies who are deformed, it is absolutely amazing what one week of treatment can do for a person with severe burns. Doctors are slowly coming around to this idea as well as they see the results that patience are receiving. My doc had never heard of lymph node drainage so when i go back to see him i can show him the before and after, although right now we're still got a bit of work to do for the after part, she taught me how to drain my lymph nodes and taught Jodiene how to finish up where i can't reach. One thing i wish i would have known was when my arms and neck were so swollen in Aug. that i would have known about her, she says if they can catch someone the first time their body swells, they will never have the problem again, she says they wrap you, not quite sure what that means, but anyway, now if my arms swell up i can at least try and work out the bugs before it gets out of hand.
She said sometimes when people are coming down with a cold, their necks are sore, this quite often is a symptom that your lymph nodes are working really hard at fighting off infection, quite often it just can't keep up.
Another little tid bit i found out was, you know at big thanksgiving, christmas, or easter gatherings after the big turkey meal is done, some (well at least at my folks the guys all doze off for a while) turkey produces something that our body needs to make excuse my spelling but seratonan which helps you sleep, so does breads (but make sure not to put jams, peanut butter etc on) if you need help in sleeping at night sometimes just a half piece of toast very lightly buttered or dry will help your body produce what it needs to help you have a resfull sleep, and lo and behold pasta works the same way, although pasta not really recomended for night lunch lol!!
Anyway i will go back for another treatment on friday just to make sure my assistant and i have the massage technique down pat and that it is helping.
On today's agenda, i am hoping to accomplish picking my rhubarb which is much needed, just wondering does it work to put rhubarb through a juicer or do i need to make juice "the hard way" lol!! i'll give it a try. Second thing i hope to accomplish today is to put all my sticks in my garden where i want to put my rows, from there we will more than apt need to have a snooze.
I used to be such a good speller, but for some reason, as you probably have noticed a lot of words just aren't spelled right around here, i think at times little girl can out spell her mom already, i had to chuckle one day on are you smarter than a fifth grader they had a spelling word, i rambled off the spelling so proud of myself i think it was a second grade word, then came the "real" way to spell it oops, i'm not smarter than a fifth grader maybe not even second grader. oh well, little girl brings home a list of 10 words so we'll just learn to re spell. she's done extremeley well, i'm amazed at such big words for kids in grade 1.
Anyway, time to get little girl up for breakfast and for school, i don't have any up dates at this time, but i do have a praise item my friend D & S had a baby boy last week, am hoping to bring up some fresh baked buns hopefully next week one day and hold the little guy.
Continue to pray for me & our family, as the weeks progress one becomes quite anxious on what my future holds, and what the CT scan will read. One more week till CT scan, two weeks till i find out results. Waiting is not one of those look forward to times. thanks, diane

who can not love a beautiful sunset down at the lake, absolute beauty

date

Hun & I went on a date today after church, its been quite a while since we spent one on one time, usually our outings include little girl, so hubby made sure during the week that one of the big kids would be in charge of little girl, so big girl took on that responsibility and her & Jeff took little girl golfing, Jeff still had his first set of golf clubs so that's what little girl used. She's quite a determined golfer i hear, i'm sure the next time the boy or girl will mention golfing she'll be wanting to go again too. I would have loved to see her golf. This week she asked me where dad's golf clubs were and i told her i wasn't sure, so off to the shop she went and came back with a T and ball, so she put the t in the ground put the ball on top and kicked it and kept going till ball was at house. i wasn't too keen on her finding the golf clubs as that may mean something like baseball inside, golf towards windows?? we don't need that kind of help on the place, so hopefully she'll be satisfied with little clubs for now.
Anyway, hubby organized this during the week, like i said he has lots of time to think on the tractor, well wouldn't you know it, this morning i said to him, hun, i'm just so tired, after church we just need to go right home and i need to sleep, i'm so tired, so he had to tell me his idea, to which of course i'm not too tired with a date with my hun, but we went out for an extravagent lunch (wendy's ) lol!! actually its one of my fav places to eat, fairly quiet, reasonably priced, of course he needed to treat us to Dairy Queen ice cream, so i made sure lunch wasn't too big, then we went off to the cabin, had a snooze and walked down to the lake and watched our neighbor family on the jet ski, and their daughter try her hand at water skiing, she did an excellent job, for first time, took maybe 4 tries in freezing cold water to get up long enough to ski. They are a wonderful couple who are pastoring south, west of Brandon, we are so fortunate to have many Christian family up at the lake as neighbors, we are slowly getting to know them, for years we kept to ourselves, now we're getting out and meeting people and enjoying everyone's company. Then we went down to the river to see how the fishing was doing, well it sounded quite slow, as fishing season opened but the water has been running for about a month already so spawning must be pretty much over, so maybe we'll have to bring boat up when we go up next. Hubby has just got to get it spring and fishing ready yet. Oh, then we went out for supper, i wasn't too keen on these more extravagent restraunts as they are so noisy so we decided on Smitty's we had a nice quiet spot, food was ok, but i didn't have to cook for hey!! it was great. All this sitting there watching waterskiing, reminded me of when hubby & bro in law dwayne went waterskiing no wet suits, just swim trunks, may long and br... it was cold, i really don't know what we were thinking, then the boat which was new to us at the time, all of a sudden died leaving poor dwayne mid lake, oh brr... we laugh now at how silly we were, maybe we're just wimps now, as another time we went May long up to Duck mountains and tented again at freezing temps, with our little ones, ice had just gone down, no waterskiing that weekend but br.....
Anyway i head to wpg. tomorro for my lymph node drainage so we'll see how that goes, hopefully do a bit of shopping ahead of time and head home, my baby sis (good thing she'll read this after we get back lol) is coming along so if i get too tired she'll drive IF i let her.
anyway, pic is of the kids (neice, nephew & little girl) having a blast last summer at the lake, little girl is always in her glory at the lake with "new" friends or on the boat fishing or tubing.

Pray for neice Karla this week as she and a group from Miller are suposed to be going on a missions trip to Germany, but British air ways is talking about striking so pray that they don't so they can go spread the word to kids and families in Germany
continue to pray for my neice Jennifer as she waits for her results on May 31 for her CT scan and her EEG
well i'm off to la la land, will try and update more tomorro

updates from week

i just got updates from Sharon & Matt, Matt is now in wpg. being prepared for his bone marrow tansplant which they have booked for May 27th. from what i understand during these next few weeks they will be making his white blood count drop all the way down to zero so they can use his sister Karla's bone marrow and insert it into his and wait for it to grow in him, it is quite a process, but wonderful to know that we have doctors and nurses with such knowledge given by our lord to come up with help like this. Pray for his family as they wait, for safety as they travel and esp. for Matt as he will be in quarentine for quite some time.
I talked to Sharon today, they had just gotten back from London, ON, she is still waiting for a liver transplant, and met up with a couple surgeon's she hadn't met who needed to meet with her before the surgery. They came to the conclusion that the best way for her is to receive a cadaber liver donor (which is someone who's passed away that has donated their liver as a donor to someone who needs it) she is still on the list for a liver transplant by using her son Josh's liver, but at this time her body is so filled with fluid that they are not able to go that route unless she can lose more fluid. It is very difficult to do when she is on pills for taking away excess fluids but they seem to be building up faster than she can get rid of them at this time, she is starting an exercise program to hopefully help with that, but is so incredibly tired that getting out and exercising is very difficult when your body is filled with fluid. Pray for her & her family that there will be a donor liver for her very very shortly and or she can lose some of her excess fluid enough to get the liver transplant from Josh. These to are important things we as people need to remember to do, it is important to sign our donor card to help those who are in need,( don't worry you won't be needing it anyway) also important for those who can to give blood for those who need blood transfusions, sometimes we think there's nothing we can do physically for a person, but by doing small things like this helps many many people. Thank you to those who have helped.
Also remember Serena who has on her second round of chemo and as the family waits to hear the results from her x-rays.
Remember to keep my cousin Mari in your prayers as she leaves today for i believe its Spring Valley for treatments on her liver cancer.

any other updates just let me know



can't remember if i added this pic, pic of my garden for 2008, this year it'll definately be looking a lot more spacious, but still with lots of tomatoes, so everyone tells me, that's the most important, and easy fall toasted tomato sandwiches sounds great to me.

Love

This morning i went for a much needed massage, now i'm bushed, but i'm sure my muscles will thank me soon, so much going on they just haven't had much time to relax lately, i really need to make myself rest, but its like how can i rest when there's so much to do, lawn needs mowing, and i can't even keep up to it, garden will need to go in soon, too tired to even think about how i'll manage that. And of course we decided to have garage sale at my folks this weekend so trying to look for things that we never use or just don't need, still bringing the man lunches and suppers on the field, although today i sent it with one of the trucks his lunch at least, that gives me a bit more time to acually accomplish a bit at home, so i baked and did a load of laundry after lunch.
I also managed to get an apt. with the lymph node drainage nurse so i'll head into the city mon. for that, she's booked me in all week if i need it, but we'll go one day at a time, if i only need one day that's great, if not i've got week booked off for more treatments.
yesterday when i went along with hubby i said we really need to downsize and move to a smaller place as i just can't keep up, well he wasn't too interested and well most places are bigger than ours around anyway, so its put more responsability on the kids at home, we don't charge rent so they can help out a bit more, i know they're tired when they come home from work too, but hopefully by next year i can be back on track, doing what i love, yep the thing is its really hard to give up mowing, give up doing things in the house and giving up on the garden end. I have decided to down size garden so a lot of the plants i started at going up for garage sale. I did have to chuckle at hubby as he was saying the kids will have to help out even more now over the summer, he then was telling me about an idea he had with setting the boy up on a date, with a girl who's he's Loved for many years, just not ready to ask her out, anyway i said wait, don't do anything drastic yet, remember we need him to do lots of things around home first before he runs off with a girl. I think he has way too much time thinkin' on that tractor, but it kinda reminded me of i think i was 12 or maybe 13 ish, when Will's sister who i had't met before but met at VBS came up to me on program evening and informed me her brother (pointed me out to him) and said "my brother's going to marry you" well, at that time its like you have got to be kidding, well, he did win my heart years later, and he is the Love of my life, so thankfull to have such a wonderful, loving, caring hubby. The unrau's do have a tendancy to pick someone and that's who they end of marrying, and yipes one of Will's cousins even asked the girl to marry him on the second date, she said yes, and not sure how many months later they were and still are married, so you can see why i wasn't quite too keen on helping the boy with a girl at this time, it could be a couple months and he'd be off married lol!! anyway...
There are so many people who need our prayers, i was over at my cousin Mari's last night and she'll be going to the US tomorro for a new treatment on her liver cancer, so pray for her, that they can find healing and a cure for her, for her family back home who will miss her once again for those weeks she'll be gone.
Pray for Blaine & Tamara, i talked to Tamera yesterday and Blaine didn't have his treatment as his pain was too intense and he couldn't lie still long enough to have the treatment (from what i understand for this new lazer radiation treatment laying perfectly still for up to half and hr. for the treatment, hard enough for someone without pain or discomfort, let alone someone with, she said the doc was sending Blaine now to the pain clinic so pray for the docs and for Blaine & Tamara that they can find something to help his cancer
i also talked to Darlene this morning her mom had half a treatment for her uterin cancer last week as she got an allergic reaction or reaction to the treatment, so doc's will have to figure out what the next step will be for her.
Pray for my cousin Murray & Paula & family as they are ready to go on their missions trip to PNG with NTM, but their visa's arent' ready yet. Pray for wisdom, patience.

continue to pray for those around you who need you
here's a really neat idea my neighbor shared many years ago which i will always remember, it just made me feel so good, and so loved to know that she cared enough to drive by and pray for me and my family. she said as she was driving by houses she would send up a prayer for them, even if she didn't know them, who knows what their needs are and we can help by praying for them.


pic i took up at the lake last summer, it was so neat with the lake and clouds, so look forward to a relaxing summer down at the lake once again at least when we can.

Be not anxious

I debated about adding something about the kids can cope weekend, but i think i will anyway, i enjoyed it very much as did Janae, but there was a piece of me that just felt like something or someone's missing, for me i would say, do a wonderful program like the equestrian program with either kids and or adults, but what's missing?? Christ was missing that whole weekend, i believe that a program like that with the hope in Christ is a far better hope to have, i think if kids were shown in the bible true hope and memorized a few verses how God gives us hope, that they could take home with them and remember every time they're going through a rough time, they have God to find hope in and trust in Him, and hope for eternal salvation, and hope in Him, that fills up that empty spot missing out of a program like that, i'm sure not everyone felt that way, as not everyone knows who or what they are missing in their lives. I have talked to so many people who either have gone through a difficult time in their life, a difficult health issue, a life and death situation, and each and every one of them searched. Doesn't matter wether your a christian or never heard of Christ, people and kids are searching, sometimes for what they do not know. For myself i found myself searching into my heart, asking and checking in to see what kind of person am i, am i the person that God will say child your a good and faithfull servant, i am sending you, i need to still work on that part of accepting him sending me and being his servant. I tended to be a person who'd shy back from a lot of things,lets just say everything, well hey!! i am an extremely shy person, but with having cancer, i am slowly coming up out of my shell, and hoping i can help and be an encouragement to others who are struggling. Talking about encouragement, yesterday i had my doc apt. and went to the store for my meds and bumped into Will's aunt & uncle, Aunt Agatha is this year 20 years cancer free, and as we chatted i was encouraged and uplifted by how much from now to 20 years ago when she had cancer we both had similar struggles and how they found encouragement and positiveness and the bubbliness to how they shared, lifted up my spirits once again. Thanks Aunt Agatha & uncle Pete.
These last couple weeks and well for another week, hubby will be busy on the field seeding, so i bring him out lunches and supper, right now he's on the up north fields and so it takes a good half hour (one way)to drive up there and do delivery service, and well since i'm up there i go along for the ride, well, its kinda quiet for him, but after i get there, hm... not so much, we seem to find all sorts to chat about, and sometimes its ok, gonna go home after this round, but as the round gets closer its na just one more, gotta finish a topic so this sometimes goes on for ..... anyway, i'm sure it breaks up his day, for me too, but i find myself, not accomplishing a thing at home, and yep, look where i'm on today lol!! so i may just need to make him a lunch to take along so things can get done here.
ok, so your wondering back and doc and ?? well we talked about the hyperbaric oxygen therapy and he wasn't really sure what to say, as there's not a whole lot of real solid evedence of its workings, but he will still keep it on the burner to do more research if i feel i want to go that route. I also asked him to look into the lazer knife, a lazer surgery done for patients who can't have regular surgeries due to whatever curcumstances so he'll check that out. I'm back on the inhaler as my breathing has slowly been going down hill,( but i will need to get back into a routine with that as i'm absolutely terrible to sticking with meds) so we'll see if that makes a difference, i got a prescription for a lymph node drainage, so i will call the nurse today and see when i can get in, as mine are acting up again, so might as well get at them before they get too out of control. Other than that, more blood work for next month, and this last blood work wasn't back yet, so i guess that'll have to wait. Two more weeks till a CT scan and three more till i find what the doc's think next step will be, at times i get anxious about it, but i keep reminding myself, "Be not anxious for nothing but by prayer and suplication make your requests be known to Him." i know there's many people who continue to pray and we thank you for that, it is what makes a huge difference.
Well anyway think i've chatted off your ears enough for today please remember to pray for the people around you.

Pray for Blaine & Tamara as Blaine goes for lazer radiation on his spine
Pray for Agabus & Mari as she is fighting as hard as she can to fight cancer
Pray for Bev C who found out she's got MS and as she waits for more detailed results on which type, pray for her dad Jim R & Elsie who cut his thumb last week, as he heals
so many others from past blogs, please keep me updated

p.s. pic i took last summer up at my sis' cabin, we were on the boat fishing when we saw this bear on a mission along the banks, hoping to catch a fish, so hubby drove as close as we dared to get a good pic, so glad i had my camera along.

Kids can cope day 1 and..... continued

well yesterday after school, little girl & I went off to the kids can cope, we were greeted by staff and then kids had a time of coloring and snacks, and getting to know each other. i was able to make my way into the kitchen which isn't hard for me to do or find and get involved in helping prepare supper and get night lunch organized. Janae found a new but not really new friend, Amy is a girl who goes to her school her dad also has lung/lymphoma cancer so those two girls have been best of buds all weekend. Amy's mom and i hung out in the kitchen and chatted on many similarities in our cases and it was so neat to talk to someone who's in the same shoes, although it still is somewhat diff. as Amy's dad had one lobe removed which i can't have done, There was a total of 9 kids. They had a session with the horses before supper and i believe another group time after supper. After the evening session the kids stayed in the barn lounge area and watched a movie, as weather was a bit too cool for any outdoor activities. Then 9:30 i got the three of us into our beds in a 5th. wheel, 2 of the girls were already there. these kids ages ranged from Janae being youngest (6) to oldest girls going into grade 9. Janae also attached herself to Jillian one of the oldest girls, which was neat to see, she's got older siblings so i guess Jillian was the next best thing. I brought my camera but didn't have opportunity to take any pics, which reminds me, i promised Colby a carrot for tonight's snack, Candace showed me this morning what they did with the horses which i'll go into more details on day 2 ( which is now my continued), it is such a neat program that i think is very important not only to kids but to anyone wether they are kids or adults, teens, dealing with cancer or illness, or even a death, i think these horses may even work for helping heal those struggling with depression. well gotta run, will post more as soon as time allows hopefully with pics.
Well this morning candace explained to me about what they did and did a bit of a session on me with Colby a beautiful 26 or 28 year old Morgan horse, these horses have great hearts who pick up on your inner feelings, even if your really good at covering up, they sense how you feel. I cried as it is so incredibly neat to just put your hands on the horse and close your eyes and just let everything go, it was a very overwhelming time to know that these horses have such intuition to sense and be able to "heal" a hurt soul, and its so neat to hear the horse let out a big breath of air as he exhails the energy he found in me, i'm not really good at explaining it, but its so neat, to hear stories and one of how Colby was being groomed by his owner and his father came along who i'm assuming lost his wife and was grieving, and how Colby didn't want anything to do with Roy, walked over to his dad and put his head into his chest, its just so neat how they sense the need. Candace told me at times horses need to be changed up as some people or kids have a lot of anger or issues that is too much for one horse to handle so they have another horse re place that one, Roycan's Country Haven is a place where they have sessions weekly, not only for kids with cancer but they also do adult sessions. I know when i found out i had cancer, i sat outside on a chair, and its amazing how the dog curled up on my feet and nestled in as well as the cat came and curled up on my lap, its not that they do that all the time or never do it, but its like they have a sense too that something wasn't quite right and they did their best to help one feel better. Anyway, Janae did a session in the barns with the horses for us, and did one with Jodiene, unfortunately my camera doesn't do darker places so an outdoor pic of Colby with Janae feeding him was the best shot i got, after all the kids had a turn at a session with a horse and picked who their partner would be, we all sat down to a wonderfully delicious home made supper of fluffy potatoes, buns, corn, ham, lettuce salad, pickled beets and delic. yellow cucumber pickles, and of course dessert a lemonaide Oreo cake, and the kids had decorated cupcakes. I know i can't remember everyone's names who has a big part of this weekend, Roy, Candace, Don are the main one's who get everything organized then there's the ranch girls who are trained to read and work with the horses daily. An absolutely wonderful program set on by central plains cancer care, if anyone who's dealing with a death, health who'd like to have a session call Don Middleton or email me i'll give you his number or email to see what a program like that can help you.


Added prayer requests:
Jim R.: who cut his thumb this week on a saw
Bev C : found out this week she has MS
Don B: fractured his shoulder sunday, pray for healing
Praise the Lord Serena C's cancer has shrunk, but still will need to go for second round of chemo starting this next week for possibly stay for two weeks

hm... loss of name for title

It's been more of a bleaker week, hm... is that a word? anyway, its been cloudy, rainy, a few snow flakes falling in between, so it has been a great week to feel like a bear and hybernate,( now if only i could sleep like a bear these days) but anyway now i'm ready for some sunshine to get motivated once again. It seems to take rainy, cloudy type days to make us truely appreciate the sunshine and warmth we've had. We definately needed the rain we have gotten, i don't know how much but in total now i'm sure we're talking 2- 2 1/2 inches, that although does put a stop now to the farm seeding temperarily, but that's ok, breaks in between are always good, although getting the seeding over and done with is always great too, as that means heading up to the lake for some r & r and of course fishing. Not sure how much time we'll have for that this summer, as it seems almost every weekend something's up, but we'll make time if all else fails.
I figure we needed a bit of sunshine in our lives so i put a pic of a sunflower on my desktop and decided today's a great day to put it on here too, this is as well another seed pkg. given to me by my SS teacher Linda last spring.
Anyway, not a whole lot happening here, just keepin' warm, hybernating, but i should check my freezer to see how the baking is doing, great way to warm up the house on the cooler days, that way once the sun comes out & one feels like being outdoors one has time.
Heading up to or should i say down to my sis' for Mother's day sunday, she's tradionaly held it for who knows how many years now, we celebrate together with dwayne's folks and bro & wife & kids as well, its neat, they're like family to us too. Will need to check on our boy Curtis as well to see if he's heading anywhere for Mothers Day, his mom & dad live in NB so he doesn't get to see them too often, so we've taken him under our wings as well.
Prayer:
-pray for those who have lost a Mom who miss them esp. as we celebrate Mothers Day esp. thinking of our adopted daughter Savannah, it'll be a tough day for her again
-pray for Mari as she continues to fight liver cancer & for her family as they help out as much as they can and try and stay positive and encourage her
-pray for Blaine as he continues his lazer radiation treatments in wpg. for cancer in his hip and on his spine, and for his step dad who has cancer in his abdomin area & prostate
-pray for Jennifer as she waits the results from her CT scan yesterday and as she has a EEG done this week friday on her brain
-pray for April & Dwayne as April trys to regain energy and fights side effects from chemo's, dwayne as he supports her
pray for Breanne as she is in Turkey with her DTS team (discipleship Training Seminar) ministering there
-pray for Serena for healing in her little body from cancer
-pray for David H as he goes through chemo treatments for lung cancer and deals with side effects from treatments
-pray for David J as he takes hormonal treatments for his alphonse disease to shrink the tumor and so the doc's can hopefully able to remove the tumor
-pray for Dave & Tina F as Dave deals with leukemia
-pray for Matt that he will be able to have a bone marrow transplant done soon that it would work and that they will be able to get IV's or port or pic line to work for him
-pray for Pastor Vic as he heals from his hernia operation, stitches came out this week
-pray for Ron & Joanne F as Ron deals with liver cancer
-pray for Isaiah B who is still struggling with swallowing issues and for the doc's as they continue to try and find out what's wrong
-pray for Darlene's mom as she takes chemo treatments for uterin cancer and for the side effects from chemo
-pray for Mrs. Boehlig as she recouperates from her surgery
-pray forSharon I as the doc's re evaluate her situation pray that they will be able to do a liver transplant soon
-pray for Laura G (author of praying through cancer) dealing with another bout of cancer

busy, busy

busy, busy, was last week, but it was so good, so hopefully this week can slow down a bit, my body, breathing is feeling all the excitement from last week, so i figure today transplant tomatoes, rest, then rest again lol!! made a pot of chowder on sat so i think supper is "done", i'm a good one for changing my mind when it comes to meal menu, (my mom does this all the time too, so hm...)
Tomorro i have blood work just here in town, so that's not a major thing and then this weekend is "kids can cope" a program put on by cancer care where the kids will be painting and working with horses, they are special picked horses who love kids, Janae is so looking forward to it. These people also are very much aware of what kids are going through and explain to the kids where mommy or daddy has cancer and let the kids ask questions and its kinda a bit like a kids support group weekend, the kids also help in preparing the meals, clean up as well as grooming and cleaning up after the horses, showing them responsibility for them as well. I think she'll want a horse as a pet after this weekend, then sat we all head up for supper to meet other parents who's lives are touched by cancer as well. As much as having cancer is not a good thing, we are incredibly blessed to have such a supportive family, by this not only do i mean the immediate family/friends but also wether i've gone to my treatments or the fashion show, you meet people who you become somewhat attached to, its like we're a big family, in a sense its kinda neat. Talking to the ladies at the fashion show, getting to know them, what type of cancer they have, how they're doing, little tid bits of advice, just a super support group, so look forward to this weekend as well, meeting new people once again.
gotta add another little girl story, on sat i told hubby something and i said your son, Janae pipes up, mom he's not dad's son he's yours, Jodiene & I are dad's girls and Brenten he's your son, so hm.... guess that's the way it is. She is a very much daddy's girl no doubt, well both girls are for that matter. she makes us laugh every day she's so adorable.
Well i promised a pic, so my sis sent one of the big girl & I at the fashion show, i'm not in my fashion show attire there, but personally i don't think it even looks like me, but maybe it ought to lol!! Most pics she got were blurry, she says i was walkin' too fast, well we were on a mission i say, a big area to cover in a short time period. anyway...
Prayer:
Sharon: is flying to London tomorro to get the doc's to re evaluate her situation, pray for her and the doc's that they can quickly schedule her in for surgery to replace her liver.
Blaine: struggling with pain as he deals with cancer on his hip area and spine
Mari: struggling with pain as well, as dealing with liver cancer
April: may start her 5 year chemo pill possibly this week, these have neausea side effects which could go on for 5 yrs. as she takes them, pray that they will not be too severe. She is still having another treatment every 3 weeks for a year as well added on top.
Matt: as he continues to battle leukemia
Serena: a little 2 yr. old girl who's battling cancer, they were hoping she could go home sat after they ran more tests on her kidneys to see why her bp isn't on track.
Jennifer: has an EEG in saskatoon on friday, and tomorro has a CT scan on her head
Donna's dad David Heide: went for chemo last week, had neausea for a couple days, this week another chemo treatment

continue to pray for the rest, i need to get updates if you have an update please let me know, thanks

p.s. i also need to change my time, as i'm not as early a person as it looks.