Prayers for Melanie -- update

The Good news although there is still some prayer concerns. The first doctor who performed the surgery said there was no cancer in the lymph nodes! The second doctor said it was late stage 2 cancer and things chemo will be good. She is bleeding from the surgery and had to have a blood tranfusion. That was the update yesterday.

Also from yesterday Melanie did some walking, laughed at a silly TV show, was in pain but it was intermentant. The bleeding was light but she has continued to bleed and is in tremendous pain so say a prayer for the bleeding and pain to stop and that she might be able to avoid Chemo...

The last update from 11 hours ago says she is still bleeding its lighter but hasn't stopped yet and she is still in pain. There are signs her colon is working so Praise God for that! She's not getting much rest due to the flurry of activity of the goings on in a hospital. She's not accepting vistors or phone calls. I sure hope someone is feeding her daughters who stay with her so they can avoid the cost etc of the hospital food.

Blanket training pt 2

By the way I wanted to tell everyone I have ZERO intentions of blanket training my child lol.. It was just a discussion topic. I in no way codone or agree with using a switch or the fear of God in an infant or young child.

Where were you

Post your thoughts on the day. Your "I remember when". Did this impact you directly or indirectly, and how. What did you do then? And what will you do now?

I was living with my sister at the time. I woke up and turned on the TV. Of course it was the first thing I saw was the aftermath of the first plane hitting the WTC. I saw the second plane crash before the anchor did. I do believe it was Peter Jennings or Charlie Gibson. First person I called is my "adopted" mom Helene. She was hysterical and crying watching the poor people jumping out of the building. I watched the buildings fall and news reports coming in about the plane over Pennsylvania and the Pentagon. We were all in shock. I was hurt, violated, ready to fight for my country... I missed my son... I called Adam pleading to see him and Adam refused. My boyfriend also broke up with me that day. I just laid on the floor and cried for that piece of me I didn't think anyone could touch. The world proved us wrong and proved we were vulnerable. The days afterward we became the super power because we bonded together! We should all remember the aftermath and remember that 9/11 -- 8 years later is still claiming lives from cancer due to the Asbestos.

Remember the Victims, Remember the Families, Remember all the countries (not just ours) that was effected, Remember the survivors, Remember how you felt and how your life changed.

*NEVER FORGOTTEN!* Don't forget about the Troops that have been fighting for the past 8 years for the cause!**

Duggars are expecting #19

In a mommy group we were discussing how the Duggar's are expecting their 19th child. I have thought a lot of things about them were honorable... So a bit different than me but this is the first I've heard of them using a practice called Blanket Training. What are your thoughts?

This is what was posted

"Blanket training" has been one of the most helpful tools for me! I only wish that I had heard about it before my 7th child came along!! The sweet lady who explained blanket training to me called it her "playpen in a purse"! This concept involves placing your baby or toddler on his/her favorite blanket, explaining to the best of their understanding that they must stay on their blanket, and then demonstrating the consequences of getting off the blanket with a small rod or switch. Simply switch the floor or carpet all around the outside edges of the blanket and firmly but sweetly say, "No, No! Don't touch!" Give your child few favorite toys to keep his attention, and switch the toys out every little bit, and that child will learn to stay on his blanket for quite a long period of time. Begin with just 3 - 5 minutes with very young children, and after practicing every day for several weeks, he will build up his time to play happily on that blanket until he can stay there for an hour or more! What a joy and a help this was to me when I had the older 6 children in school and needed to spend time with them! The joy of this training is that you can fold that blanket up, put it in the diaper bag, and take it easily to a friend's house, or visiting new church members, and your child will sit quietly without disrupting the visit! One of my pet peeves is when folks come to visit and just "unleash" their children to invade every room of your home! What chaos! This blanket training is easily converted to "church training" when you begin taking your young child into the services. Simply fold the blanket and put it on the pew and your child will already understand the limitations and rules!

http://www.ffministry.org/blanket_training.htm

Prayers for Melanie

Melanie's week didn't start out a good one. I spoke and saw Melanie on Friday. By Monday she hit hard times. Today she had surgery and things are looking better.

Updates from her daughter. I am so grateful for them.

9/6/09

Posted Sep 6, 2009 11:06pm

Today was not a good day for Mom. She started experiencing pain in her upper left arm and weakness on her left side around 8 am this morning. She didn't tell me about it until about 9:30. We headed to the emergency room at 10:30. Her condition detoriated over the course of the day. She eventually was not able to smile or lift her left arm or leg. The doctors ordered a CT scan and an MRI. The MRI indicated that she was not having an acute stroke. It did find a benign growth on the covering of her brain. They told me it was not causing pressure on her brain.
Eventually, at about 9:30 pm Central Time, they admitted her to the hospital and placed her in a private room on the stroke unit. They will be giving her Heparin as a blood thinner and medication for hypertension because her blood pressure has been elevated.
She is in room --- at ------ Hospital. I'm sure she appreciates all your prayers and well wishes, but please do not visit her unless you call me first. My cell phone number is (---) -------- I am limiting her visitors. She is unable to get up from the bed, so she must use a bedpan to use the bathroom. She is exhausted. I would prefer that she rest and focus on getting better, rather than visiting with folks. I hope you all understand that my main concern is her well-being.

9/7/09

Posted 2 days ago

The neurologist has called in a vascular surgeon for consultation. The vascular surgeon has ordered more tests of her carotid artery. He has stated that he feels that the cancer tumor has caused some of the plaque to break off from the artery, and that caused the incident yesterday - which they are now categorizing as a mild stroke.
The vascular surgeon will review the test results and advise us tomorrow as to whether or not she can have the surgery on her colon, or if she must first have surgery on her carotid artery to remove the plaque. So, we are once again in a holding pattern. Once we receive more information tomorrow, I will add an update to let all of you know if she will have surgery on Wednesday.

Surgery time

Posted 1 day ago

Mom's surgery is scheduled for 8:30 AM Central time at Huntsville Hospital. I have been told that we will be in the 1st floor surgical waiting room.
She will be taken back for preparation at 7 AM. Please do not try to visit her before this time, as she may not be able to see people due to the preparations she must go through this evening.
She does feel the love that everyone is expressing for her. She continues to appreciate all your prayers, good thoughts, and well wishes!

9/9/09

Posted 2 hours ago

The surgery went really well today!!!!
Mom came through the surgery with flying colors and no complications. She is now in a private room and has even been able to eat some soup and jello.
The surgeon believes he has removed all of the cancer tumor. We do not yet know the stage of the cancer. That cannot be determined until the pathology results are received (which should be in 2 or 3 days).
The surgeon removed 1 to 1.5 feet of lower intestine. He was happy about the incision because it was smaller than he expected it to be.
Mom will be on aspirin to help remove the plaque in her arteries. Once she recovers from the surgery, she will also be placed on Plavix.
She is currently resting and on pain medication. I would like to renew my request that she not have any visitors - at least for a few days. Once she is feeling up to seeing people, I will let all of you know!
Thank you so much for your prayers. We really felt God's healing power today, and hope that he continues to bless her as she proceeds with her recovery.

William Update

William had an appointment today.
His first well baby appointment.
He is one month and 6 days old. He weighs 10 lbs even and is 22 inches in length.
He started smiling on September 2, 2009. He's been holding his head up really strong just not as steady yet.
He's been obviously doing pretty good with nursing I guess like all things we just hit rough patches.

A Nurturing Moment Calendar

Please Pray

This is our Therapist, our friend, Melanie.

We have been seeing her for over a year. I always have liked the idea of seeing a therapist or psychologist. I have been going to one off and on most of my life.

I wanted to take on some problems head on before they came out like my concerns for Rick coming home with PTSD, my concerns for James regressing which in some ways he did very much, I also wanted proper treatment and diagnosis for James which again I was right. Over the course of a year she has shown care and special attention and gone out of her way for us many times. James looked forward to going every week as did the rest of us.

    On the way back from Kentucky on Tuesday I got a call from Melanie and she told me the bad news that she had Colon Cancer and she would have to refer us to another therapist. On Friday we met with her and she seemed in good spirits. Her daughter who lives in Florida was there packing her office and taking care of her. James and I were both having a rough week so the news hit all of us pretty hard. Last night Melanie wasn't doing so well and was admitted into the hospital. She's due to have surgery on Wednesday. So if we could all pray or keep in our thoughts that the fine line between faith and science become one and guide the surgeons hands that will be operating and the doctors hands that are treating her. I pray that the doctors have the wisdom to give her full recovery and a long lasting life.

Please send your prayers and thoughts to her family and grand children as well who will be providing caring touch to help her through this time. She is always welcomed back in Huntsville by my family as well as others.