10.30.2008 Daytrip

The Man in Blue and I took a daytrip yesterday to a little town in Iowa so we could visit a real Danish windmill, it is the only working Danish windmill in the U.S. This little town is also the largest rural settlement of Danish immigrants in the U.S. It was really neat!

There were a lot of stairs to climb to go all the way to the top, it reminded me of visiting lighthouses when we lived on the East Coast.

We also drove on up to Kimballton, Iowa to see the replica of "the little mermaid" When we were in Italy I had wanted to make it to Copehagen, Denmark to see it in person but since our time there was cut short we didn't make it.

My Man in Blue and me!

Friday Flashback

Another one of my all time favorites from the toddler files and she is still a horse lover today!

I am playing along with Carrie and the gang again this week with Friday Foto Fiesta and it is such fun, come out of lurkderville, start you own blog and join me! I know you are out there reading :)

Thursday Thoughts

I am glad we have insurance.
I am praying for a buyer for our house.
I am thankful for 70 degree weather in late October.
I am thinking I should be doing something way more productive!
And I think I should not be starting every thought with "I"

:)

Papa Smurf update

My dad went back to the doctor yesterday and while they removed the catheter and that was good, what ended up happening was he learned to cath himself. This will be the drill for a while until hopefully things will clear up and work on their own. This is a forward movement in that he is no longer cathed 24/7. He will only cath himself four or so times a day for short periods...again, hopefully, things will progress to work on their own and he will be able to wean off the cathing to void on his own in a short time.

Regarding the treatment for the cancer it has not been nailed down and personally I find this is frustrating...but I am trying to not be, and remind myself we are taking this one day at a time. And right now, for today, he needs to void on his own and that is what we are working on.

Thanks for your continued prayers, emails and words of encouragement!

Friday Flashback

Daddy's little Airman! Just love the look and such an easy time for her to be happy!

I forgot I am playing with the gang over at Candid Carrie this week...it's really fun!!

Thursday Thoughts

I am tired...
I am thirsty.
I am thankful!
I am thinking.
I do not like trichotillomania!

Updates...

Before the surgery...we loved the "blue shoes" they made us think of Papa Smurf!

16 October-Thursday-the surgery went as well as it could, but the results were not as good as we had hoped for. A very long night with little to no rest in the hospital.

17 October-Friday-Removal of catheter and waiting for over 8 hours for him to void with no success. Recathed him and allowed to go home with a scheduled appointment to see the doctor on Tuesday, 21 October.

21 October-Tuesday-doctor appointment with biopsy results confirming the prostate cancer-it is a more aggressive type then originally thought. At this point the doctor feels the lymph nodes are clear but it is unclear as to other areas, i.e. bone, nearby tissue. The catheter is removed and we are hopeful that things will now work. The doctor is concentrating on getting him to the point he can void on his own. Right now the treatment of the prostate cancer itself is on hold as they address the issue of being unable to void without the catheter. Treatment options will be discussed next Tuesday, 28 October.

22 October, back to the ER to be recathed...voiding on his own was not successful.

There are so many other details...suffice to say, it is an uncertain journey ahead, God is in control, of this we are certain. There have been laughs, tears, more laughs and more tears and I am sure there will be more tears and laughs to come. Some of the days ahead will without a doubt be a struggle and we will face them head on. Our faith is strong and we trust in the one who holds the future and we know that our future is eternity.

The dreaded "C" word...

It is with a very heavy heart that I prepare to travel to St Joseph's hospital in KCMO tomorrow for my dad to have prostate surgery...it is not good. We received the "news" yesterday evening and they scheduled the surgery for in the morning. I have to say that when this all broke loose 26 September, I had "that feeling" yesterday's visit to the specialist confirmed what I suspected, prostate cancer.

The verse John 12:28 was in my devotional this a.m.

“Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

It was comforting to know that regardless we will glorify His name to the best of our ability...even in crisis and we know He will sustain us. The road ahead is uncertain and appears bumpy but it is already a comfort to know I will not walk it alone.

Updates will be coming as I am able while away from home.

Sigh...

He's home... :)

Lunch Buddies

These two were my lunch guest today...we had angel hair pasta with Ragu traditional tomato basil sauce (the new microwave pouch is really quick and easy) along with tossed salad and garlic toast. Lil'Blue also had grill cheese w/BBQ sauce with her pasta lunch, cause she was "starving" after church.
Isn't it cute, she still plays at the table!
Peek-a-Boo to you too, lil'Blue
She also uses a napkin and cleans her plate, good girl!

Ughhhhh

Will the basement ever be ready? That is the question that plagues me right now...it just seems the more I do or try to do down there the less I think I am accomplishing. Well, it's another day tomorrow and hopefully more progress. Atleast there is a pretty new lighthouse curtain hung. I just think until all the boxes are gone it isn't going to get much better then it is.

It's been a somewhat productive day, could of done much more, could have done less.

All the trees are now mulched. The front yard area still will need "something" just not really sure what that "something" is yet. Carpet will be installed on Tuesday and then I think we are "going to market" ready or not. While I know the market is slow right now I just know there is a buyer out there waiting for MY house!

Friday Flashback

The good ole days...when a little wooden man wood keep her happy at home for hours at a time...aaaah, to have her young again, okay, maybe not!

Some of the blogs I read participate in this on Fridays, today I am "playing" too...Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

Thursday Thoughts

Today's thoughts are courtesy of "Frizzy"

4 Things I did today:

• Took a shower
• Ate yogurt
• Mowed the grass
• Mulched a tree

4 Random facts about me:

• I have never had a cavity
• I was the Prom Queen my senior year
• I like iced coffee
• I have social anxiety (undiagnosed)

4 Things on my to do list for today:

• Mulch the trees (got ONE done, two to go)
• Scramble the AWANA teams (DONE)
• Work on the basement (did a little)
• Cut the grass (DONE)

4 of my guilty pleasures:

• Panera Bread
• Reading
• Computer Time
• Dark Chocolate

4 Bloggers I am Tagging...ummm, well, I don't really "know" four bloggers, so I will skip this one...but I do lurk on some blogs and enjoy reading them...

Comforting thoughts...

I am finding comfort in these verses...

Hebrews 13:8

"I am the same yesterday, today, and forever."

This verse reminds me that He has not changed and I can count on Him to still be there and be faithful to me.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

This verse reminds me to not try and figure things out because His ways are just not my ways and I must just rely on His ways not mine...I do not understand so many things going on right now, I don't need to; I do understand that God is in control and that works for me.

AirFlow

In a word, that means a lot...however, in that same word there is much that is unknown and timelines that are sketchy so that word while providing hope still has no real answers, but soon...the journey home has begun for the Man in Blue and for that I am so very thankful!

Of course it is bittersweet because our reunion will be so very short and then off he will go to our future home but we will savour each moment of togetherness and look forward to another reunion in LA for a "gathering" which will be my first trip to California so that will be exciting! But we still have to work all that out and that is for another day, that is not today!

Weekend

Wow, what a weekend, lots accomplished...painting, cleaning, packing, shopping (lil'blue, needed a new jacket) ordering (senior pictures) and I am glad it is over...it was productive, but I think I need a break. The "list" is getting shorter. WOOHOO!! But there are still some larger projects that remain. The lawn is the biggest thing left along with mulching the trees, also doing a little something to "spruce up" the front area, and re-weatherproofing the deck. For the most part, the inside is ready, still waiting for carpet installation, which should happen this week, hopefully on Wednesday and just a little more cleaning (windows, mainly) and a bit more organizing in the basement so it is not so cluttered, but there is just a lot of "stuff" down there. Trust me I am soooo ready for a break from it all, "Calgon, take me away!" LOL

Even though today is OUR day, since he is there and I am here it is a low key remembrance! But! I'm still happy to have been asked and say YES all those days ago!

Future Bear Cat in the HOUSE!!!

It's official, lil'blue HAS been accepted to NWMSU!! While this is all so very exciting, it also brings us another step closer to her not being with us anymore. I have so many mixed emotions about all this I can't really put anything into words right now except to say she is in God's hands and I pray that she remains faithful to her roots and trust Him to meet all her needs.

Friday Flashback

This just makes me smile....

Thursday Thoughts

I am from Missouri.
I like tootsie roll pops.
I hope I will always be teachable.
I am trying to take it one day at a time.
The days are growing shorter and getting cooler.