January 2010

Jan 1, 2010
hi! hope you all had a super 2009 and have an even better 2010. We attended our church's new years eve program, an excellent program done by all, always a highlight. what the year has brought, for some it brought not all good memories, losses, trials, health issues, but all in all, we can still be thankful for what we've gone through and grow through those trials. as well we can't forget all the good memories too. Will & I became first time great aunt & uncle, our neice had a baby boy Dec 22 nd. and was able to be at our gathering for the 26th. at Will's folks so i got to hold the sweet baby boy Landon Michael. Unfortunately due to the weather and bro in law being in hosp. due to a bleeding ulcer, Will's sister and family came out the 27th. so we joined them for a visit at the in laws then as well. We had a wonderful Christmas at my folks, with the whole family making it home, esp. my big sis who came to visit me, and we could laugh, cry and she prayed as we hugged each other, i was truelly uplifted to have her wrap her arms around me, its like all the boo boo's go away then. Wish they lived closer. then the 25th. we went back to the folks to keep them company and eat more of mom's delic. food. On the 24th. i invited my folks, Will's folks and my aunt Katy F. over for supper, KFC, and i think i made 5 salads, and a dessert, basic, but make ahead foods just in case of lack of energy.
On the 24th. Janae put out 9 carrots for the reindeer, a bit of milk in a mug, a couple cookies for the big guy and gave a note for Mr & Mrs. Clause, although we do not celebrate Santa, it was cute anyway, and we put a gift there although she never made it an issue that it came from Santa, just too happy to receive gifts and see how many she could finish in one day. She ended up with a couple sleep overs now over the holidays, a big highlight for her, also since Jodiene went with a friend to AB , the house just almost seemed too empty, so sleep deprevation is definately in, not sure how that goes, empty house should mean great sleep?? could it also be we had two full moons this month?? Even a sleeping pill just didn't cut it, oh well, we'll catch up yet, i'm sure. was thinking i'd have to borrow that little great nephew of mine and be up nights with him, and sleep during the day if his schedule is still slightly off. Look forward to holding him more, babies are so precious.
At last night's program we were reminded once again that God is bigger than All our problems, we love that song, and it is so true, no matter what we're going through he is so much bigger than anything we can even imagine. and Pastor Myron shared why we go through trials, hardships, in our lives, sometimes we ask Why and don't understand, but he gives us trials at times to help others, and be able to feel for those who have gone through or will be going through what we just went through and to be able to help them. I find it kinda neat in a not so neat kinda way, to be able to share my cancer with April and Mari, in a sense we have this bond, and understanding that only people who have ever had to deal with cancer, or had a family or close friend go through it can understand. but God only gives us as much as we can handle. I have learned so much this past couple months, and i think this last week, almost more than the last months, i've been asking lots of questions about Chemo, i'm sure my chemo nurse hopes i'm not back with more questions lol!! na, she's excellent, she pulls up a chair and we chat, especailly on my big chemo days when i am the last to leave. I also am learning about herbals, trying to understand how things work, and why its very important to tell your chemo doc that you want or are taking herbals, as some herbals, do NOT work with chemo, making the chemo do nothing for you, and the herbs neither, while some herbals make chemo work stronger, which can do more damage than good, or doc's need to adjust chemo treatments etc. accordingly. Also asking questions as to why chemo's work or why they're not working, and well each person is unique and cases are unique, so its a matter of finding which chemo your body accepts and will work for you, i'm hoping that they will find soon one that works for me. I had my "big" treatment on tues. and my next one is back to the short one again on the 5th. if my blood is all in order, so thankfull its been good, as to watch someone have to go out of a room after expecting to take chemo that day is very devistating for them, one wants, to take the treatments to get better, who knows what an extra week can do. So after next tues. 5th. my short chemo, i have one "big" chemo on the 19th. then my short one on the 26th. I have a doc apt. 15th. of Jan, that's my portage doc, then Feb 3rd. we talk to chemo doc, in between that i should be having a CT scan so they can tell how much or if the chemo worked, and then re- evaluate from there. Well they have a big binder in the chemo room, its 3 or 4" binder full of chemo's that was last updated in 1998 since then have gone over to computer with a lot more available at finger tips there. So there are endless options just got to find the right one for me. Pray for the doc's as they look into what the next step for me will be, and for our family, its not an easy road at times. I try to be brave and strong for my family, and like wise they're trying to be brave and strong for me as well. thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement, we are truely blessed to have you all in our lives. Hugs, God Bless each one of you in 2010, diane for Will, Brenten, Jodiene & Janae
Please remember to keep these prayer requests as well, and if you'd like to add yourself or a friend, please let me know. thanks
* Pray for our neice Kristine - had her sweet baby boy Landon Michael on the 22nd, pray for recovery,
*Mari - is going to try a "new" route for her of herbal medicine to overcome her cancer, pray that her diet and herbals will be what works for her.
Doug -( my cousin's husband) recovering from stomach cancer
*Sharon - Josh (son) is a match (donor) for her now waiting for a surgery date on the liver transplant in Toronto, possibly in April if she can stay healthy enough till then, as that's when Josh is done school
*April - ah, my April, had a bald is beautiful party, she is such a brave warrier in her cancer treatments as well, she finished her first treatment and if blood work is good, she will have next treatment jan 11th. i believe.
*Will's cousin Ashley still waiting on results from bioptsy, apt for Jan for results,
"Please pray for Gerry and Debbie's marrige. They are Christians. Debbie and Gerry still need a lot of prayer. Debbie is still very deceived and confused and not yet turning back to her husband, though talking to him and telling him how she misses him also very hard for children involved as well.
* Isaiah Beatty He is a little 3 year old boy, who has issues with eating....he had the tendancy when eating to choke alot, and has had 4 surgeries in the last year to try and correct the problem. Isaiah is the son of one of the singers of the Palmetto State quartet
*another prayer request from a friend came to me this week i'd ask you to add
for M_______, She is struggling intensely, believing there is no hope for her in God, and is suicidal
Jan 2, 2010
hi! me once again, just thought i ought to let you know maybe in a more detailed way of what i'm struggling with. Dr's vs. herbalists/naturalpaths is my latest struggles. but first of all sleep, lack there of, i crawl into bed feeling like i've packed iceicles around myself, thankfully hubby is toasty. Then wake up mid night so hot i can't sleep, but i was taking eveningprimrose for night sweats and then i was told my body needs to de toxify and need to sweat out all the toxins out of my body, but well after a couple sleepless hot nights, Dr. Hubby & I have decided it is better to get a good nights' sleep than to be up half the night due to "heat" and sleeplessness and be a happy, not crabby emotional mom and be able to function and be there for my family, and well the rest of the family thinks they need heated blankets as the house it too cold, lol!! as i've got the furnace set to 60 now for nights.
There is so much advice and so many herbal and natural ways of "suposedly" getting cancer free, which are never specific enough in my eyes, but all the while very tempting as they sound great, and maybe should be considered ah, that is until i look at what you can and can't eat, no meats, no dairy, no sugars, no this and no that, i can do something like this for about two weeks, do i or do i even want to tackle such an extreme for me to even try for my lifetime?? I also believe everything in moderation, now over christmas when you've got all that del. choc and sweets that just need to be eaten there's a lot of moderation happening NOT. i have tried asparagas, which was a cure for cancer in two weeks, i think i had it almost a month, but zip happend here, well at least it was healthy but in my eyes yuk!! and then there's the doc's ways of chemo and radiation. Now both are not 100% guarentees either. One can spend hundreds, thousands or more into herbals trying to find out which herbal/natural remedy may cure or even work for you, even if someone with cancer has been cured by that herbal/natural remedy but at the same doc's need to find that specific chemo blend that will work for your case specifically chemo and radiation, so in both cases, it is trial and error. I've done a lot of research into herbals, and have taken some, and have some waiting for doc's approval to add to my chemo, but it is a big struggle, knowing what is it God wants me to take and do, i need to be shown a straight answer to what I need to do and where he wants me to go and what he needs me to take to get back to "health". i also want to add i do appreciate advice, no matter herbal/ doc's /naturals as it makes one think, sometimes yes, gets confusing as well, but we have great research via computer to look into all the diff. ways, and to be able to rely on God what is right for me is the whole key in all of this.
I in my devotions this morning read and this is exactly what i needed to hear. what instead of thinking about my cancer, my brain would be totally consumed with God's thoughts. What would my life look like if He made a total takeover? What impact would it make on my life if I were recognized as having been with Jesus?
God, i didn't sign up to have cancer, some days are ok, but some days are tough. Yet, I will consider this whole cancer deal worth it, if in the end I look more like You, sound more like You. It is worth it if somehow I can honor you by going through this experience whatever the outcome. Make me more like you, Jesus. Help me to see this illness from your perspective, so I am trusting you. I can't see down the road so i'm gratefull you know the beginning from the end and all in between. Even days i think i'm holding on to you, i realize its your grip on me that's keeping me together, Thanks for your unmistakeable Grace. I hope this also can help someone else who's struggling with any illness, wether its physical, mentally or whatever is going on in your life, letting God be in real control of every move, action, word we speak, letting us be more like Him.
Thanks for putting up once again with my long babblings, once i can babble on, i tend to sleep better as well, knowing i've got God and all of you helping fighting the battle.
diane
Jan 13, 2010
hi! i just finished reading a book on healing yourself, and what type of diet to go on as well as what types of "herbs" pills (40/day) to take for a year in order to "cure" yourself, now that works out to aprox. $ 22,000.00 for a year, that of which we don't have , and i have an incredible hard time swollowing 3 pills let alone 40. so anyway, friends of ours were over before Christmas and we talked about costs of things, teeth, medications etc. and then we talked about what we wouldn't give in order for us to be "cured" if money could buy you your health you would go for it, yes absolutely if one knew this is what would do it, one would spend it in a flash, a lot of prayer needs to go into this, is this the direction God wants me to take? A friend of mine also found out there's a chemosensativity test they can do that they take a bioptsy and do testing on it to see which chemo's work and will not work, the results are done in Toronto and are back in 4 -5 days, now i really like this idea, and will check with my doc or chemo doc, i'd take another bioptsy any day like i had in order to get this done, unfortunately it is not covered by medicare and costs $2500.00 . i think if every cancer patient could have this test done before they started chemo there wouldn't be as many deaths and doc's would have a lot easier time knowing what type of chemo and or radiaton treatment to give you, but the way things go now, its a trial and error which really sucks when it comes to your taking chemo and its not working so doc's need to find another chemo combination that will hopefully work for you.
Another friend asked me does one say Happy New Year to someone who's ill. for me personally i say yes, absolutely, just because i have an illness that does not mean it can't be a Happy year for me, it will be a tough one no doubt, and there's a lot of uncertainties, but why dwell on negativities, if your a negative person or are around negative people it tends to be a strain on your health, and why would you want to be negative and sad, we have so much going for us, i just have to listen and look at my family every day and see i am so blessed, also blessed with so many of friends like you to share in my journey. Little girl helps a lot in that department too, not a day goes by she comes up with something funny, silly or just plain absolutely cute.
After writing my last email, i have been thinking a lot about the "easy" way in the Staples commercial they had last year, you just hit the easy button and presto, makes one think a bit Jesus didn't take any easy way out, he knew what was going to happen to him, he would suffer a lot and be crucified & nailed on the cross to die for our sins, so we could be saved, if we ask of him. he didn't punch any easy button, he went through it for us. So when times get a bit tough, just think of Jesus and what he went through for us, what we go through is just a teansy tiny little bit of all the pain and suffering he went through, but if we have to go through some pain and suffering it is also to share in his Glory (Heaven) someday. "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance; perserverance, charactor, and character, hope". Romans 5: 3-4
This week friday i go see my doc, so i've got a few things to check with him, my red count i think is getting low once again, so this is affecting my breathing again either that or i've got a cold in my lungs, which is a posibility, see what doc knows friday.
Next week Tues i go for my "big" treatment, thankfully the last long one till i guess doc's figure out where to go from here, my final treatment the 26th. although with last week's blood count being very low, i'm hoping and praying that it will have come up enough, i'm trying to get enough rest in, eating healthy. So if you want to know how to pray for me this week, pray that my white blood count is good enough for my last two treatments. Thanks, you guys are awesome i love each one of you, hugs, diane for Will, Brenten, Jodiene & Janae
Please also remember:
*My sis Brenda & Carl, Jarod & Jennifer on a missions trip for two weeks
*Friends of ours Abe & Pearl on a couple missions trips for a month
* Pray for our neice Kristine - as she raises and cares for her baby Landon Michael
*Mari - as she continues to fight cancer, choosing a natuaral way of helping her.
Doug -( my cousin's husband) continuing to battle stomach cancer
*Sharon - Josh (son) is a match (donor) for her now waiting for a surgery date on the liver transplant in Toronto, possibly in April if she can stay healthy enough till then, as that's when Josh is done school
*April - just had another treatment today, a bit naseated and tired today.
*Will's cousin Ashley still waiting on results from bioptsy
Jan 21, 2010
hi! not a whole lot different around here, feeling more tired and blah, but other wise doing good. this next week is a busy one for our family, Janae is having her tonsils and adenoids removed on monday 25th. in Neepawa hospital, and Will will be staying with her, she will need to stay night so they should be home tues. afternoon, if surgery goes all well. Janae will need to stay home from school for about two weeks, that i'm sure will be very difficult for her. Tues (26)Jodiene will take me for my last chemo treatment, my short one so i ought to be home right around or shortly after lunch. Then thurs. 28th. i go for a CT scan to see how and if the chemo worked and then Feb 3rd. i talk to my onochologist (oops on the sp??) Dr. Harding and we will go over results from CT scan on how chemo did and what the next step will be.
This week i was privelidged to have my Aunt Lydia & cousin Cindi come and spend most of my chemo treatment with me, time goes a lot faster and one doesn't even think about what's happening when you've got company, sure appreciated it, as it was my long treatment day, my folks and sis Shirl also came and spent the day, so we ended up getting our own room, to laugh, chat and catch up. Every once in a while i drive my IV pole into the chemo room for refueling and Debbie my chemo nurse chatted about how good it was to hear laughter coming from our room, they could hear us partially, so i'm sure we made them laugh at our laughs, so that's a good thing. I was fortunate to have my chemo treatment, my blood count was up thankfully, after the scare last week, being so close, so i need to just get in more rest and eat healthy, which by the way, i'm really trying, but i so need help, i'm going more vegetarian to hopefully help in "curing" my cancer and am desperate for recipes, one can only eat broccoli,carrots,cauliflower, peppers, onions, kale, spinach, etc. etc. only so and so many ways, and i'm not a person who likes just salt & pepper on my food, i like variety and a taste, if you've got a recipe hey!! send it along this way. I am to be eating more raw veggies, and yep, only so and so many ways to eat those too. My neighbor is helping me get "healthy" she called the next day and told me about her devotions, she didn't want to be too pushy, well that day when i read my devotions i had to chuckle, my devotions said you can't do it all, don't deny others the opportunity to minister to you the gifts God has given them. I've asked God for signs of different things what i should do or where to go, and the other day it hit me, i have a hard time swollowing pills (herbals) and i realized hey!! maybe God does not want me taking these, sometimes hind site is what do they say 20 20 or something like that.
Tues. 3 people got sent home because their white blood counts were too low, even with the average, i've been so fortunate to have been able to have all my treatments, i believe it's all your prayers that help pull me through, thanks from the bottom of my heart for your prayers Will, diane, Brenten, jodiene & janae
p.s. How is everyone by the way? Send me a note, how's your weather? What have you been up to this winter? any thing new?? i love to hear from you all.
Prayer & Praise: if you'd like to add more or update one's i've had listed, please let me know.
* Our Haitian friends suffering due to the earthquakes, my friend Helena Peters who is hoping to be able to go back to Haiti to help in March or possibly sooner.
* My Uncle Johnny Wiebe had a pace maker put in on tues. in BC
*My sis Brenda & Carl, Jarod & Jennifer on a missions trip in Costa Rica
*Friends of ours Abe & Pearl on a couple missions trips for a month (Texas, & Costa Rica)
* Pray for our neice Kristine - as she raises and cares for her baby Landon Michael
*Mari - as she continues to fight cancer, choosing a natuaral way of helping her, having a mix of good days and more diffucult ones.
Doug -( my cousin's husband) continuing to battle stomach cancer
*Sharon - Josh (son) is a match (donor) for her now waiting for a surgery date on the liver transplant in Toronto, possibly in April if she can stay healthy enough till then, as that's when Josh is done school
*April - April being a mom and "needing" to do mom things, needing rests to recouperate for next treatment first week in Feb.
*Will's cousin Ashley - received results from her bioptsy and no cancer was found Praise God!!
* Janae having her tonsils and adenoid surgery on the 25th. of Jan. in Neepawa, Will is staying night with her.
Jan 28, 2010
hi! got a couple funny ones to share with you, today i went for my CT scans, the guy Steve who did the scans told me that yesterday a guy had been on laying on the scanner and well when they put dye through there are some side effects that people can have they last a second or two (metalic taste, warm feeling, garlic taste, and last but not least you feel like you just peed your pants) well anyway, guess which one that guy had, yeppers he felt like he peed his pants, so he jumped off the scanner bed lol!! i'm sure he didn't think it was funny, and sorry if it was you!! but, ah, maybe my sense of humor is dry, but i thought it was funny, watch next time i'll have that feeling lol!! Any way, after my CT scan i asked him if he could see what the guys who read the scans saw on his screen, he said yep, i asked if i could see them, he sure sure, so i saw all my scans, they were mud to me, but anyway, he showed me the one of my liver, kidneys, etc. stomach and i said to him, and you can tell i ate, yep he said and you've got gas in your stomach !!!! at least it was in my stomache. lol!! See yeppers, got a dry sense of humor, think its a Friesen humor?? right guys? wayne? dwayne? darryl? help!!
Anyway, back to scanning, well my CT scan apt was for 9 am and was on time as usuall, and they weren't as usual, anyway, i got changed for the scan and he was trying to find my blood work report, which hadn't been done since Nov or so for it, so anyway, i had to then get re dressed go for blood work and come back for 1pm. so we stayed in Portage and took our time shopping, of course i was to fast 4 hrs. before scan, but since i hadn't had anything to eat since last night i was feeling a tad weak and hungry so Jodiene & I went for lunch, i just helped nibble her food as i didn't want to have to come back another day for the scan again, so anyway will have a great supper, Jodiene's cookin' her spagehti bake, delic. yep its got veggies - onions, peppers and tomato sauce. I have not followed a complete vegan or vegetarian diet this week, my diet has consisited of variety, i just try and incorporate more veggies into my diet, which i think is much healthier and better for me right now anyway, raw veggies and chemo doesn't go well together, one's digestive system doesn't work too well after chemo treatments and veggies are difficult to digest, and by going on a straight raw veggie diet, i got really weak, so i NEED my Meat, i just try and make sure there's lots of veggies there too. On days after chemo not even veggies taste good, so it takes a lot to get anything to taste like it should, other than amazingly when one goes to someone's house with someone else's cooking, not sure how that works, but oh, tastes so good then. although not every day is the same, one day food can taste pretty good, next day just blah, that's just the way it is for some unknown reason. Anyway, my scan results will be in tomorro, but i won't get them till next week, Dr. Kinnear said he'd call me with results so when we talk to Dr. Harding on wed. then we can at least know of some extra questions to ask. Boy do we have an awesome Cancer team here in Portage, i can't say enough how wonderful they all are, including Dr. Kinnear who puts up with my blonde moments like this week, i've had this buzzing in my head so he tells me to stick out my tongue so i do then he tells me to look into his light well, i open my mouth, stick out my tongue say aye and look into the light lol!! boy oh, boy some days. Its a good thing one has these days too, as things could get pretty blue, i get so tired of chemo, taking chemo and just plain tired of being tired, i need days like that to spruce things up a bit. Boy, you probably think if that's what she calls sprucing up i don't know about that girl, ah, don't worry i'm "normal" lol!! Well anyway, hope your week and weekend are supburb, i'm looking forward to tomorro to see my great nephew again, shower for him & mommy and hang out with the "girls", my sis in law coming out for the weekend, so many things to be thankful for.
p.s. if CT scan came back chemo was working then i'll be back on chemo Feb. 9 & 16 and one more set of treatments after that, if they didn't work then i'll be on a break, or taking radiation or a new chemo.
Thanks for your continued prayers, that's what keeps us going, diane for Will, Brenten, Jodiene & Janae
Prayer & Praise: if you'd like to add more or update one's i've had listed, please let me know.
* Our Haitian friends suffering due to the earthquakes, my friend Helena Peters who is thankful the haitian children will be coming to her at the Galilean Children's Home - anyone wishing to go volunteer (nothing needed except for personal hygene) for 3 month or so just call 606 787 4697
* My Uncle Johnny Wiebe had a pace maker put in in BC doing very well.
*My sis Brenda & Carl, Jarod & Jennifer on a missions trip in Costa Rica coming home this week
*Friends of ours Abe & Pearl on a couple missions trips for a month (Texas, & Costa Rica)
* Pray for our neice Kristine - as she raises and cares for her baby Landon Michael
*Mari - as she continues to fight cancer, choosing a natuaral way of helping her, having a mix of good days and more diffucult ones.
Doug -( my cousin's husband) continuing to battle stomach cancer
*Sharon - Josh (son) is a match (donor) for her now waiting for a surgery date on the liver transplant in Toronto, possibly in April if she can stay healthy enough till then, as that's when Josh is done school
*April - April having her next chemo treatment Feb 3, Feb 9th. heart test.
*Will's cousin Ashley - received results from her bioptsy and no cancer was found Praise God!!
* Janae - having her tonsils and adenoids out now Feb 22nd. because of the weather (snow storm) we had this last monday, she's ok with it, so that's good.