When you lose about 2 full months of your life to the hospital, you suddenly don’t understand why it’s getting cold outside.  Why is no one at the beach?  Why CAN’T I wear sleaveless shirts outside?  What do you mean it gets dark at 6 o’clock?  Jackets?  What’s a jacket?

These are just a few questions I’ve been asking myself lately.  It has seriously messed with my brain (and I’m sure Kevin’s) to suddenly be in Fall when you never experienced Summer and you live in a 4 season area of the world!

So, today, I went outside when we were getting Kevin’s bloodwork for his chemo tomorrow, and I was wearing a sleaveless shirt because we were also going to the gym.  And I was cold!  Not just, ooh, that’s a breezy day, cold.  It was, isn’t this a Fall chill cold!  Man, I hate that I missed summer!

Overall though, despite my body’s complete confusion with this 60 degree high weather, it was a good day.  Didn’t do much during the actual day, but this afternoon Kev and I went to get his blood work (the nuse missed a vein and Kevin was none too happy poor guy), and then went to the gym for the first time since this whole thing began.

It was actually pretty therapeutic, and coming from someone who is NOT, and will probably never be a gym person, that’s pretty big.  Lots of hugs from the staffers Kamerin and Dave who are just awesome.  Signed back up, and one of the guys in the weight room was like “Where have you been man??”  Apparently, they’d all been asking what happened to Kev, and I’m sure that made his day.

Kevin wasn’t very pleased with his lack of muscles, but I was proud of him.  We did about a half an hour, and then we were both just done.  It was nice to get things moving again for both of us.

Tomorrow we head for chemo at 9:45, but first we’ll meet with Dr. O’Connor to go over the plans for his weekly treatments.  Praying for smooth transitions through this new area.

I found out today that I did not get the position at Willow Valley, but in happier news, 2 other positions opened up at Willow Valley that would be PERFECT for me.  So, I quickly applied and will be on the phone bugging for them to hire me tomorrow.  The first position is for Recreational Therapy Assistant-helping in activities at the same spot I did before!  The other is a Physical Therapy Aide to assist the residents going to PT.  This would be AMAZING because it’s part time, flexible 4-5 hour work days, and no weekend ands holidays.  Pray pray pray that the doors open for this position.

I’m trying to beat what I think is allergies-needless to say I’m just feeling exhausted.  My back, ankle and heels are just putting my body to shame right now and I pray for rest for myself.  I’ve had back issues before, and plantar fasciitis in my heels as well that I’ve been dealing with for over a year now.  The ankle has been ongoing, and the recent sprain did not help.  I’m just feeling beat up and out of shape-and I am!  Pray I have the energy and willpower to shape up, eat better, and take care of myself.

Also add to your prayers quick shipment for Kevin’s supplies as the wrong thing came in for his ostomy supplies and we need the correct stuff now!  Also pray that these new meds work and that the new formula that is on its way will be a success.

Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.  We praise God to have you in our lives!

This was an attempt at a self portrait-as you can see, it didn’t work!

Many recall, even those in far away Canada, this day two years again when we all heard of a horrific shooting tragedy in the peaceful Amish town of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania.  I remember being at my reception desk at the auto body shop where I was working at the time and just stalking the news reading of the tragedy.

Just as Columbine and 9/11 stopped my heart, this did as well.  I grew up playing with our Amish neighbors, and truly felt for these peaceful people.  But I felt for them more just as we all would from the unbelievable loss they experienced.

It is in their way to forgive without question, and they did despite the difficulty.  Sending my love, thoughts and prayers to all the families who have forgiven, but I am sure still mourn.

http://www.wgal.com/news/17606509/detail.html

A gathering of friends and family to help raise money for Kevin’s medical bills. Tickets are $12.00 and are now aailable. If you require multiple tickets please contact Ken by e-mail at [email protected]

Saturday October 25th from 8pm to 1am

St. Joseph’s Mens Club

1476 Main Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Please email my brother in law Ken at the above email address for all the details, and if you have anything to donate or ways you can help!  Also, pass this information along so we can have an amazing turnout!

THANK YOU!

O Canada!

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

..and P.S.  Thanks for approving Kevin’s permanent disability benefit! (WAHOO!)  You guys rock, EH!

A close friend of ours lost a friend to cancer yesterday: Cindy Miller.  Cindy was an amazing woman and Christian.  Her family, Laverne, Laura, Drew and Riley would appreciate any prayers you could send their way.

Sorry for leaving everyone in the dark, but we were enjoying a much needed 3 day mini-vacation at Ocean City, Maryland!  Unfortunately, our hotel didn’t have a computer to use, so I was down.  Talk about feeling disconnected from the world!

Monday morning Kev and I got up fairly early to head to Ephrata Medical Supply to pick up his esophagostomy supplies before the trip.  No problems there, but it took us far out of our way to head to OC.  Finally, around 11am we were officially on the road headed for OC.

We drove straight to Assateague Island, where, after a few missteps, we purchased some bait, firewood, and headed out for our first time driving right on the beach!  What a blessing to have a beach that will let you do this, as Kevin would not have the energy to make the walk onto the beach.  AND, I wouldn’t have enough arms to carry all our fishing gear!

Not much luck fishing Monday evening, but we had a WONDERFUL bonfire and brats that night under a beautiful beach sky.  Afterwards, we checked into our super cheap, but very nice OCEANFRONT room.  I’m bragging because I got an amazing deal on expedia.com for the offseason, and I don’t recall ever staying oceanfront.  Needless to say, it was beautiful to fall asleep to waves crashing just yards away.

Tuesday was spent on the beach most of the day, where we each caught a bluefish!  Unfortunately, I was left to do the filleting (sp?), and me, knives and gutsy fish just don’t mix.  I botched it, so we didn’t get to eat any.  Oh well!

The forecast was looking crummy for the evening, so we called it a night.  This morning, more storms, so we headed home around 10 am.  It was thankfully a quick drive back with no traffic which was so nice.

I got to make some calls on the way home to bug employers about hiring me, leave messages with the doctors and the nutritionists.  This evening we finally got some answers about Kevin’s stomach issues.  He’ll now be on a trifecta of medicine throughout the day to hopefully take care of his stomach issues!

In the next few days, we should be receiving a new shipment of nutrition that is pre-digested.  Hopefully this will mean Kevin’s GI tract has to work less, meaning more comfort for him.  Lots of details to get figured out, so pray it goes smoothly and the side effects are only positive!

I’m feeling more and more apprehension with finding a job.  I made 3 calls regarding the resumes I sent out last week, and am just praying someone bites.  I have thought about a temp agency, but I really need a job with health benefits.  Pray that doors open wide so that not only can I get a job, but I have some good options to choose from to get a job I want, versus one I need.

Tomorrow Kevin and I plan to FINALLY make our first trip back to the gym.  Kevin is feeling very weak, so pray he has energy.  I know this will help him mentally and physically, as, before he was sick, he was a gym nut.  Pray for me as well, as my back, left ankle, and plantar fasciitis in my heels has been acting up horribly.  I know being back at the gym will help in time, but at first it’s gonna kill!

Friday is Kevin’s weekly chemo treatment, but for the first time in Lancaster!  We’re hoping for a smooth transition and to start making this feel more home-like with his cancer.

The social benefit in Winnipeg to raise money for our medical bills is coming up on October 25th.  Big thanks to my mother in law and brother in law for getting this all set up, and to the bunches of people helping!  Wishing lots of love there!  If you want information or details, leave me a message.

Here is the current list of things to pray for:

1) Kevin’s stomach/nutrition issues to be resolved

2) A great job with benefits to open up ASAP

3) Financial means to hold steady as the medical bills continue to flow in, and for the social benefit in Winnipeg to go well

4) My back, heel and feet issues to dissolve

5) Positive thoughts and calm in our life

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=259289&lis=1&kntae259289=0957B62DE28F4D8583078B4CD3920B7B&supId=231592162

Please copy and paste this link to donate towards my sister’s participation in the Heart Walk Lancaster 2008-2009 this Saturday.  Kevin’s father passed away from an angyna attack, and my grandfather also passed away from a heart attack.  It means so much to us to support this organization.  Please donate to help Joni make a big impact here in Lancaster!

As the title said, TS Hanna had NOTHING on the no-named storm that’s smacking us this weekend.  There are officially 3 things that stink to have to do on a day that is nothing but a downpour:

Funeral

Wedding

Moving

Well, after a few hours of organizing and cleaning, me and my WONDERFUL parents and our great friends Shannon and Shawn helped us move things to our amazing friend Mrs. J’s barn, as well as taking things to Salvation Army.  We worked straight from 9 until about 3pm organizing, packing, cleaning and moving and by the end of the day, still had an entire corner of the apartment filled with things to take to my parents.  But it just wasn’t going to happen with the downpour.  So, we finished up, and went home.  I haven’t been that soaked since a high school band competition in the rain!

Anyways….it was good, and it went fairly smoothly.  Thanks for all your help!

As for today…well…another interesting one that turned ok good.

Last night at 11pm, I noticed Kevin was very red.  I took his temperature.  We were told that if he was 100.5 or over after the chemo and blood transfusion, we needed to call the oncologist on call.  Well, his temp was 100.5.  I even double checked, and it was still 100.5  Ugh.

So, I placed a call in with the on-call doctor and we fell asleep.  We woke up around 2am, still with no answer.  So, I took Kev’s temp again, and this time it was 101.3, so I called again, and this time heard back.  The doctor agreed to let us sleep until morning, and then go to the ER to get a urinalysis, chest x-ray and blood work.

We awoke around 5:30 am, and Kev’s temp was 102.2.  We quickly got ready, and headed into the ER…AGAIN.  They did all these things, and finally around 9am, all the blood tests and x-rays came back fine, so they let us go home.  We’ll hear back about the blood cultures in 2 days, but most likely this was just a reaction from the chemo.  Whew!

This afternoon, my wonderful siblings helped me move the last of the items out of the apartment.  It had already started raining, but when we arrived, the rain stopped and held off until we got the truck packed and headed back to my parents.  We only have 1 box left, and the sky opened into a downpour.  It was just PERFECT timing for God to put off the rain to allow us to finish moving out.  So we are finally, OFFICIALLY, moved out!

It’s so exciting and such a relief to be done with this massive chore.

Tomorrow Kev and I will pack up for the beach, and first head to Ephrata to get Kevin’s medical supplies.  Then, provided weather and Kevin’s pain level is tolerable, we’re heading for an overnight trip to OC maryland.  Pray for smooth trip and 2 days of pure peace!

Thank for your continued prayers and support!