Busy days

Well, time has been flying by quickly. There is never a dull moment around here. Helen is doing better every day. She has been awake and moving around more and more each day. The pain medications are keeping the pain under control. We go for our first post operation doctor visit tomorrow, so I will keep you updated.

Emily had an exciting day yesterday. She was running in athletics and felt something in her left knee pop, then lots of pain. She was not able to walk on it at all. I got a call from the school nurse that she was in the clinic with an ice pack. When I got her home, I called the doctor and they were able to see us that evening. Then we had to hunt all over town to find a store that had some crutches. She proceeded to decorate them with red and green ribbons. I joked with her that the crutches now looked like candy canes. I took her in for x-rays this morning before school. By the time I got home from taking her to school, the doctor's office had called. No serious damage that would require an orthopedic specialist. Thank God!

I again wanted to thank everyone for the generous donations. We have had so many people offering to help. Thank you all and God bless you!

~Daily Prayer~ (well this one was good timing!)

You saw how the Lord your God carried you, just as one carries a child, all the way that you traveled until you reached this place.

~Deuteronomy 1:31

Thank you, O Lord, for being my companion throughout the day. Though many things are pulling me in many directions, I know you will keep me on course to do what is truly important. Thank you as well for listening to me and counseling me when I need to verbally unwind or when I need advice. This I pray. Amen.

Spanning the often murky waters of daily life, faith forms a sturdy bridge so that we can cross holding tightly to the rope of courage in one hand and God in the other.

It's Finally Happened!

Today has probably been one of the greatest days of my life. We have been waiting for those test results anxiously almost all week. I had my phone on the whole day yesterday and today. I text my dad any chance I got. I'd been waiting for this text for what seemed like forever. It finally came today in choir. I was excited when I felt my phone vibrate. I opened my phone secretly and looked at the message from my dad. This is what it said: Just got results. Only residual traces of tumor-all removed! Praise God! I read this, I shut my phone, put it back in my pocket, and asked Mrs. Maitlen if I could call my dad to talk to him. I only talked to him for about five minuets. It was unbelievably true. As I hung up the phone all I could think to myself was, wow. After so long my prayers have been answered. MY MOM IS CANCER FREE!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! As the realization finally sunk in, all I could do was cry. As I sat in my seat people were asking me what was wrong and why was I crying. My response to this was I was just so freaking happy!!!!! Of course I jumped up and told them! I was immedeatly swarmed by so many people trying to all hug me at once! It was so overwhelming! I told all my teachers and they were so happy for me! I have yet to spread the word to everyone, though they will soon find out. I'm sure rumors are spreading rapidly. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. All of my prayers have been answered. I'm so grateful! I cannot even express it in enough words...

She's Home!

Helen was released from the hospital this morning. She really looked good this morning! She was so much more alert than yesterday. It is amazing what a good night's rest can do, and she was able to sleep most of the night (aside from the nurses coming in for their rounds every few hours).

When we walked in the door at home, we were greeted by our cat Melody. As soon as I got Helen situated in bed, Melody had to jump up and say "Hi". She was so happy to see Helen, she was purring very loudly and wanted to curl up right under her chin. Of course that was not possible, and Melody has been removed from the room so Helen can continue to rest and regain her strength.

Still no pathology reports, much to Emily's dismay. She says the waiting is driving her crazy (I texted her at lunch).

I wanted to send out very big Thank you's to everyone for helping us out in this difficult time. We have gotten so many offers to help! Thank you all for your kindness and generosity.

~Daily Prayer~ (Failures)

No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

~Proverbs 28:13

O God, teach us to know that failure is as much a part of life as success-and whether is shall be evil or good depends upon the way we meet it-if we face it listlessly and faint-heartedly, angrily or vengefully, then indeed is it evil...but if we let our failures stand as guideposts and as warnings-as beacons and as guardians-then is honest failure far better than stolen success, and but a part of that great training which God gives us to make us men and women. The race is not to the swift-nor the battle to the strong, O God. Amen.

~W.E.B. Du Bois, Heal Your Soul, Heal the World

When failures come, learn from them, for if you do. you won't be a failure.

She's Doing Great!

Mom is doing really well. She could have come home tonight if she had wanted to. Well, she wanted to, but she didn't feel well enough. She keeps getting dizzy when she tries to walk. The swelling in her lip is gone! Yeah! We are still waiting on some test results, and she will get to come home tomorrow! 

~Daily Prayer~

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:12

Help us live with mystery, O God, for within each question is the possibility of growth, wisdom, and a deeper faith. For with you, we find courage to ask the questions, trusting that sometime, maybe without even noticing it, we will discover the answers.

A Long Day

Mom is doing great. I fell asleep next to her on the chair in her room. My dad took a picture of us. I'll try to put that up sometime. I'm going to go see her after school.

M&M is sleeping with dad tonight. She kept rolling over and hitting me in the face! It's funny now, but it wasn't last night! Haha. Well I'm going to bed. It's been a long day.

Recovery

When I first got to see Helen, she told me it had only been 5 minutes since she had last seen me. That's the longest 5 minutes I've ever had! I did not get to meet with Dr. Heistein, so I did not get an update directly from him. We had stepped out momentarily and missed him coming out. The operating room nurse had called me and told me that Helen would be out in about an hour, so I thought I had time to spare. Dr. Heistein must have finished early - a good sign if you ask me (no complications).

We are in her room now resting and recovering.  Her spirits are good, she is just tired. I am now praying for a speedy recovery. 

The Worst Has Yet To Come

Well my mom got out of surgery around one. She's doing great! She went to the recovery room, and my dad got to go see her first. Then I switched with him. She wasn't quite fully awake yet, but she was awake and talking to me. I had to repeat a few things though. She wasn't in any pain, yet. As they were about to move her they had to disconnect all of her drainage tubes. They pulled them off and she didn't even feel it. Her lip is swollen where her breathing tube was, but she was still talking. Right now we are waiting for her to be moved out of the recovery room so all of us can see her and not just me and my dad. My grandma and aunt went to pick up M&M before she got home. They will bring her up here so she can see her. Even though she is out of surgery, the worst has yet to come. I know she will be in a lot of pain these next few days. I can't wait until she comes home. Hopefully there will be no complications and she will be able to come home on time. I will keep you guys updated.