Fun Times and Serious Times

Prayer Requests and Updates

Friday, I went to the doctor with Dad and Mom to their appointments at two different doctors.  First, we arrived at Dad's appointment.  The doctor came in and come to find out Dad's stress test results, echo-cardiogram and chest x-ray results were not to be found.  After the doctor left the room a couple of times, he returned with some results.  He said, "He doesn't have any heart issues other than having an 83 year old heart."  Somehow Dad got out of the stress test without them taking a chest x-ray.  Therefore, he had to go have one done after his appointment.  Thanking the Lord Dad has no serious heart issues.  He wants him to do some walking to get some exercise.

After Dad's appointment, we went directly to Mom's doctor which is located two floors from Dad's doctor.  The doctor said her second biopsy came back as malignant squamous cell just as the previous one.  The doctor is still baffled as to why she has this type of cancer in her mouth.  For a good laugh, Mom said she must have smoked too many cigars in her younger days.  (Mom has never touched an ounce of alcohol or tobacco products of any sort.  Usually, people that do drink or smoke are more apt to have this inside their mouth.)  She will be referred to another oral surgeon, who specializes in reconstruction of the face/jaw and who also pulls teeth, along with a referral to an oncologist.  Both appointments will be in Grand Rapids.  If she has something done, surgery or radiation therapy, she will be able to come to our house afterward and not have to drive back and forth everyday to Muskegon. 

Mom's options:

1.  Surgery:  at least two teeth pulled and some upper jaw bone removed and reconstructed.  This would include time in the hospital until she can get back to eating.  This would be done in Grand Rapids.  She will be meeting with an oral surgeon to discuss her questions regarding this extensive surgery and recovery time etc. 
2. Radiation Therapy:  Also done in Grand Rapids (other choice would be Muskegon).  This would most likely be 4 times per week for about six to eight weeks.  She will be meeting with an oncologist to discuss her questions regarding the treatment itself as well as side effects and long-term issues as well as quality of life afterward.
3. Do nothing.  She is considering her age and wonders if it may be even better to not do anything regarding this cancer and have Dr. Hengy keep an eye on it, since this is the type of cancer that is slow-growing.  She's also considering her quality of life following either of the above options etc.  Please pray for the doctors to have wisdom in treating her, and wisdom to give her clear and concise answers to her questions and to be able to talk in a way she will understand what is going on.  Also pray for Mom to be able to have strength to go through whatever she does decide to go through and strength and wisdom to make the decisions to come.   

We just want to thank our wonderful friends and family for keeping us all in prayer.  It seems like every week, Mom has been seeing a doctor for one thing or another these past months.  We are also thanking the Lord, her pneumonia is clearing up and she's feeling so much better.  Her strength is getting better as well.  We do ask you continue to pray as we all go through this journey with her and Dad.  I just have to add, I had a very sweet time with Mom and Dad the last few days.  Sweet memories for sure.

Fun Stuff!

Mom had received some photo frames for Christmas and has been waiting the photos to put in them to hang on her freshly painted living room walls.  After deciding how she was going to arrange them, we decided to make templates out of paper and then hang them in place of the pictures to make sure we would hammer the nails in the proper place without making Swiss cheese of the wall.  For her birthday, Keith and I gave her another collage frame and put family photos in that as well.  In order to do that, I had to scan some old photos in order to finish the frame to hang.  We had fun hanging the pictures!  We even had to drive by her old house where she was raised to snap a photo for the collage frame.  

Yay!  The final template is measured!!!

The finished project!!!

 More fun pictures!!!

The house where Mom grew up.

MORE FUN STUFF:

 

My Easter Weekend Adventure

Thursday afternoon, I left Grand Rapids and flew to Washington, D.C. to visit Jess and Andy for the weekend.  Jess picked me up and we headed to Andy's office in the city and picked him up.  They were so gracious to let me stay on their "spare" sofa bed in Andy's office.  Thanks Andy, for sharing your space!

Friday evening, we were invited over to Ben and Candice's for a cookout along with Sam and Veronica.  We had such a great time with delicious food and wonderful evening of fellowship....and a lot of laughs!  Thanks Sam!  : )  Keith called and we got to talk to him briefly.  He was having a good trip.

Saturday, Jess and I went out and shopped for a little bit.  Then, came back and Jess planned her Easter dinner menu.  Then, she and Andy went grocery shopping while I stayed at their apartment.

Unfortunately, because of my daily health issues, I was not able to attend Easter service with Jess and Andy.  However, I was able to watch the live service from Calvary Church in Grand Rapids via the Internet.

Sunday, after they returned from church, we took photos of each other.  Jess talked me into doing this photo challenge through her friend, Allie Lehmann's blog.  The first challenge was to take a portrait of someone. We took each others photos.  Then, we took some pictures of Jess and Andy downstairs in the lobby of their apartment building.  

Jess took this pic of me for submission.

I took this one for submission.  (By the way, we had a fun time with Andy's nice Nikon D-300.

Jess made a delicious ham with brown sugar glaze along with a delicious peach ginger sauce for the top.  She also made roasted potatoes with green beans in a tarragon sauce, and Pepsi Cola salad.  They made homemade pies in their pie maker for dessert.  YUM!  I just have to add, Jess is probably the only person I know that would try something new on guests.  She loves trying new things, especially on the weekends when she has time to make things from scratch.  Easter dinner was definitely another success! 

I awoke to this beautiful sight every morning. 

 Monday was a day of mixed emotions.  It was the day I departed for home, and also the day that Keith and the Dominican team were making their way home as well.  However, they wouldn't get back until the wee hours of the next morning, 4:30 a.m. or so.  Jess dropped me off at the airport and my flight had been delayed about an hour.  Apparently, they had serious mechanical problems with the original plane, so they had to make a switch of planes.  I didn't end up getting home until around 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, before I left the house, I had left a spare key hidden in my car which was parked inside our garage.  I also made sure by using the key several times before I left to make sure I could get back inside the house.  My very good friend, Pat, had volunteered to pick me up from the airport.  She waited until I got the key and unlocked the door to the house.  I went to unlock the door of the house and it would not unlock!  Oh no!!!  Now what was I going to do?!?  I jimmied the lock with the key several times and still it would not work.  Pat called her husband, Steve, to come.  He also tried it, but ended up going through a window and unlocking the door.  What a fiasco!  So, Steve left.  Pat and I stood at the door for a bit and I showed her the original key and put it in the door.  Then, I put the new key in the door and it worked!!  Pat and I stood there and she said, "That is bizarre!!!"  I had her try it as well, and yes, it did indeed work!  Unbelievable! So, I got inside the house at 9:00 p.m.  I am so grateful that I had Pat pick me up as I had originally planned to just take a taxi.  I would have really been up a creek, if I would have done that.  I most likely would have gone to my neighbor's house.  Sometimes you just have to wonder why things such as this happen.  

All in all, I will have to say I had a wonderful trip to visit Jess and Andy.  I loved just spending time with them.  We didn't really do any sightseeing this time.  I did get a chance to do a little bit of shopping before I left.  I just soaked in every moment I had with them.  It was great!

Keith arrived home the next morning very tired out, of course.  He came in and we talked for some time and then went to sleep.  He took the day to rest and try to regain his energy to prepare to return to school today.  He had an excellent trip.  I don't have photos as yet to post from the trip.  The one day they worked at a house pouring cement, etc.  Well, apparently they were served some juice and that's the culprit that made 5 out of the 7 kids working there sick; Keith also was sick for part of the day, but did feel better in a short time.  He ended up going right back to work the next day.  The kids all worked very hard and did accomplish very much.

Thank you all for praying for Keith and myself while we were both traveling.

A Little Bit of Everything

MARSHA'S ADVENTURE
 

On Thursday, I left for Ludington so I could be there for Mom's doctor appointment on Friday with her ENT.  Friday, we went to the appointment and met this doctor for the first time.  We all were very pleased with the initial visit.  He ordered a second opinion on the pathology report and then ordered a CAT scan for Mom.  She was able to get the CAT scan done immediately following her appointment.  The doctor looked at the area that had been diagnosed as Squamous Cell Carcinoma and said it looks like it's healing nicely.  On Friday, April 13, will be her follow-up appointment with the results of her CAT scan and second pathology report. 

Also, on Friday, Mom started coming down with this horrible upper respiratory infection.  I felt so bad for her! Through the next day, it seemed to be getting worse.  Since the pharmacy was closed, I sent Dad to get some Robutissin DM.  Her symptoms hah improved, thankfully.  Saturday night, Mom and Dad were up in the night with Mom's coughing and just didn't get a good night of sleep.  I decided it would be better for me to come home so she could have her own bed so they could get rest, since Dad was also fighting off his virus as well.  In the meantime, I was literally praying a bubble around me, so I wouldn't catch it!  I came home yesterday (Sunday).

On Saturday, I was able to take my dear Aunt Merna to do her grocery shopping and then to McDonald's so I could briefly use the Internet.  Aunt Merna lives alone in her Senior Citizen apartment highrise.  She has always been such a sweet spirit to others.  Her children all live out of state and has moved to the towers about 2 years ago.  She's also lost her independence in selling her car, so she doesn't drive anymore.  However, she sure does well for a lady that is 89 years old!  Anyway, it was a joy to spend a part of the afternoon with her and to try to encourage her in her life.  Love you, Aunt Merna!  You ARE a blessing!  


KEITH'S ADVENTURE

Keith Dominican Trip 2010

Keith left the house at 4:00 a.m. on Friday.  They arrived in the Dominican approximately 10:30 pm Saturday night after a very long day.  If you are wanting to keep up on their adventure here is their link directly to the Freedom blog:  http://www.partnersnchrist.org/blogs/freedom_chr_2012.html There are two students that will be doing the updates to let parents and friends know about their adventures.  :)

I did receive a short email from Keith that he's having a good time and the weather is HOT! 

I don't have any photos to post as my camera is in the Dominican.  However, when I arrive in the District, I'll borrow one of Jessica's or Andy's cameras.  ;)


ONE FINAL NOTE:
I have learned that our plans are not always God's plans.  It sure didn't turn out like what Mom and I would have had planned for a fun time.  One of these times I get up there, we'll have our good time together.  Thanks to our family and friends who are praying for Mom's skin cancer...and also for Keith while he's away and also for myself with all my health issues.  No matter what, God is so good and for whatever reason somethings don't work out as planned.  God is in control!