There's not a lot of news to report this week, but next week will be crucial in lots of ways. Although Bob had a rest from chemo for a couple of weeks until today, his hemoglobin has really dipped so he's continued to be very tired.
He'll be getting three or four pints of blood on Monday afternoon which should give him quite a boost. It would have been so much better if he'd gotten the blood before his chemo today, but that's not what happened.
On Tuesday Bob will see the nephrologist and we'll be talking about whether he'll go on dialysis.
Then my brother Jim arrives from southern California on Wednesday and will be with us for a week.
And Barbie's coming July 4 thru 12!! So we have lots to look forward to. Hopefully Bob will be feeling well enough to enjoy their visits. You can be sure that I will enjoy them with enough enthusiasm to make up for both of us!!
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Friday, 24 June 2011
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Back from Birch Bay
Bob and I returned yesterday afternoon from our three day holiday at Birch Bay. Dear friends gave us the use of their small mobile home (like a cute little cottage) in a large park near the beach. No TV, computer, radio, or phone--so we were blissfully unaware of the final Stanley Cup game in Vancouver and the awful aftermath.
We did lots of reading, sleeping, eating, talking, and a bit of walking, playing games, and sitting at the beach. Such a renewing time. Our reading ran the gamut from the sublime--reading Randy Alcorn's book "Heaven"--to the ridiculous--reading Erma Bombeck's book "A Marriage Made in Heaven OR Too Tired for an Affair"!!!! You get the idea. Her chapter entitled "In Sickness and In Health" was not only hilarious, but prompted some honest sharing about the different ways that Bob and I handle sickness and care-giving and what we both need from one another right now.
This week Bob sees his oncologist and has chemo on Friday. Then on the 28th he sees his nephrologist, the kidney doctor. We're eager to see him and find out how Bob's kidney dysfunction can be addressed, as we have the feeling that his renal failure is what's really causing him to be SO VERY fatigued and is impacting his life even more than the cancer and chemo.
It was wonderful to be together in church this morning on Father's Day and have the energy to stay after and do some visiting with many of our wonderful praying and supportive friends. We miss having our family around on days like this but have the happy prospect of seeing them all this summer.
Here are a few pictures taken in Birch Bay at our friends' cozy hideaway and also at the Semiahmoo Resort where we went for dinner one evening. From our table by the window, we could almost see our condo building in White Rock looking north across the bay. We are so blessed to live in the most beautiful part of the world!!!
We did lots of reading, sleeping, eating, talking, and a bit of walking, playing games, and sitting at the beach. Such a renewing time. Our reading ran the gamut from the sublime--reading Randy Alcorn's book "Heaven"--to the ridiculous--reading Erma Bombeck's book "A Marriage Made in Heaven OR Too Tired for an Affair"!!!! You get the idea. Her chapter entitled "In Sickness and In Health" was not only hilarious, but prompted some honest sharing about the different ways that Bob and I handle sickness and care-giving and what we both need from one another right now.
This week Bob sees his oncologist and has chemo on Friday. Then on the 28th he sees his nephrologist, the kidney doctor. We're eager to see him and find out how Bob's kidney dysfunction can be addressed, as we have the feeling that his renal failure is what's really causing him to be SO VERY fatigued and is impacting his life even more than the cancer and chemo.
It was wonderful to be together in church this morning on Father's Day and have the energy to stay after and do some visiting with many of our wonderful praying and supportive friends. We miss having our family around on days like this but have the happy prospect of seeing them all this summer.
Here are a few pictures taken in Birch Bay at our friends' cozy hideaway and also at the Semiahmoo Resort where we went for dinner one evening. From our table by the window, we could almost see our condo building in White Rock looking north across the bay. We are so blessed to live in the most beautiful part of the world!!!
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Going for a mini-holiday!!
Bob has a break from chemo this week so we're heading down to Birch Bay (just 20 minutes away plus the border crossing wait) for a three-day holiday. Friends have a place there that they've generously offered us, so we're excited about having a little get-away. We're finding that Mondays and Tuesdays following chemo on Fridays are the hardest on Bob, so he's on the "upswing" today.
We'll have lots of time to sit by the bay, read, talk, walk, eat, sleep, and thoroughly enjoy one another. Although we're living one day at a time, we're beginning to make plans and dream about the future, looking forward to visits from a lot of family this summer and MAYBE even taking a couple of short trips away ourselves.
There are ALWAYS so many reasons to be thankful and to recognize the goodness of the Lord!!
We'll have lots of time to sit by the bay, read, talk, walk, eat, sleep, and thoroughly enjoy one another. Although we're living one day at a time, we're beginning to make plans and dream about the future, looking forward to visits from a lot of family this summer and MAYBE even taking a couple of short trips away ourselves.
There are ALWAYS so many reasons to be thankful and to recognize the goodness of the Lord!!
Thursday, 9 June 2011
What's "Fair"?
Just finished receiving the gift of an extended neck-rub from my 'companion on the journey'--to deal with a persistent headache. Gifts are all around me if I but take the time to look for them and be grateful for what they are.
A couple of times the thought has come that what I'm experiencing (Bob) is "not fair." But when I analyze the thought (or take it captive to use a biblical image), what I'm really feeling is that I deserve better than this, and moreover, God owes me something better than I've been given. It robs me of peace and joy and makes me quite dissatisfied. It amazes me how quickly my thoughts will change if I return to a core belief that I have; namely, that God is good and completely trustworthy in how he treats me in life. This quickly leads me to consider a posture of thankfulness and soon I'm no longer thinking things aren't fair.
On another level though, it isn't fair. This isn't what God had planned for us, and deep within we know or sense this somehow. Our whole world--despite all its beauty--is broken, sick and 'fallen.' And I, along with many who suffer, protest against the effects of sin on God's design. I look forward to the day when all will be set right and all will be "fair," if we want to use that language.
Bob
A couple of times the thought has come that what I'm experiencing (Bob) is "not fair." But when I analyze the thought (or take it captive to use a biblical image), what I'm really feeling is that I deserve better than this, and moreover, God owes me something better than I've been given. It robs me of peace and joy and makes me quite dissatisfied. It amazes me how quickly my thoughts will change if I return to a core belief that I have; namely, that God is good and completely trustworthy in how he treats me in life. This quickly leads me to consider a posture of thankfulness and soon I'm no longer thinking things aren't fair.
On another level though, it isn't fair. This isn't what God had planned for us, and deep within we know or sense this somehow. Our whole world--despite all its beauty--is broken, sick and 'fallen.' And I, along with many who suffer, protest against the effects of sin on God's design. I look forward to the day when all will be set right and all will be "fair," if we want to use that language.
Bob
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Feeling pretty tired but not much nausea
Since Bob's chemo on Friday he's felt mostly tired with very little nausea, for which we are very grateful. We even went to the beach last evening and had a picnic with a better view than any restaurant could offer!!
Yesterday we began reading a new book--"One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp--an absolutely wonderful read for anyone wanting to "live fully right where you are"!!
And although Bob wasn't strong enough to go to church with me this morning, he sat down at the piano tonight and filled the house with songs of thanksgiving and praise, ending with the hymn "Be Still My Soul".
Yesterday we began reading a new book--"One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp--an absolutely wonderful read for anyone wanting to "live fully right where you are"!!
And although Bob wasn't strong enough to go to church with me this morning, he sat down at the piano tonight and filled the house with songs of thanksgiving and praise, ending with the hymn "Be Still My Soul".
Friday, 3 June 2011
Getting ready for more chemo
This has been a busy, but very good week. Having the boys here was wonderful. We had some great conversations and it was important for them to enter our world and to see how well we're doing. They brought a lot of joy to our lives and we're looking forward to seeing them again with their families this summer.
Our long-time friends Chris and Lyle Hopwood came for
lunch yesterday and picked Tim up so that they could get him to the airport in
Abbotsford later in the afternoon. Bob had an appointment with his
oncologist mid-afternoon so we couldn't drive Tim to the airport.
For those of you who don't know, Chris Hopwood was Bob's secretary at
CBC for over twelve years and she and Lyle were like an aunt and uncle
to our kids.
The oncologist said that the second chemo drug that they've been
waiting to become available has finally arrived, and so this afternoon Bob
will get two different chemo drugs, and may suffer more
side-effects. He's armed with anti-nausea medication, etc and we're
praying that he won't get too sick.
The oncologist was encouraged that Bob has gained about eight pounds
in the past four weeks and also that his lower back pain has
decreased somewhat. She says that after another cycle of chemo, they
may be able to determine whether the chemo is helping to at least halt
the growth.
Bob's cancer is considered incurable, so they don't expect it to
shrink, however God can do anything!! Bob's hemoglobin is a bit low, but he doesn't need a transfusion yet. His anemia is certainly contributing a lot to his fatigue.
We have begun reading a new book together and are looking forward to
enjoying one another's company in the days ahead. The weather's supposed to warm up this week, so we're hoping to get out on the patio, since we may not be out and about very much.
This morning Bob prepared the most delicious breakfast and served it to beautifully to me before we had devotions together. What a perfect way to begin the day. God is SO GOOD!!
lunch yesterday and picked Tim up so that they could get him to the airport in
Abbotsford later in the afternoon. Bob had an appointment with his
oncologist mid-afternoon so we couldn't drive Tim to the airport.
For those of you who don't know, Chris Hopwood was Bob's secretary at
CBC for over twelve years and she and Lyle were like an aunt and uncle
to our kids.
The oncologist said that the second chemo drug that they've been
waiting to become available has finally arrived, and so this afternoon Bob
will get two different chemo drugs, and may suffer more
side-effects. He's armed with anti-nausea medication, etc and we're
praying that he won't get too sick.
in the past four weeks and also that his lower back pain has
decreased somewhat. She says that after another cycle of chemo, they
may be able to determine whether the chemo is helping to at least halt
the growth.
Bob's cancer is considered incurable, so they don't expect it to
shrink, however God can do anything!! Bob's hemoglobin is a bit low, but he doesn't need a transfusion yet. His anemia is certainly contributing a lot to his fatigue.
We have begun reading a new book together and are looking forward to
enjoying one another's company in the days ahead. The weather's supposed to warm up this week, so we're hoping to get out on the patio, since we may not be out and about very much.
This morning Bob prepared the most delicious breakfast and served it to beautifully to me before we had devotions together. What a perfect way to begin the day. God is SO GOOD!!
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
David and Tim here
We've just spent a wonderful few days with David and Tim. Bob's just driving David to to airport right now and Tim will be with us until tomorrow afternoon. The brothers really enjoyed being together and went for walks at the beach and out for breakfast, and of course hung out with us as you'll see from the pictures. Family is such a blessing and a real "treasure" at all times, but particularly "in times like these".
Bob has felt amazingly well while Vi, David, and Tim have been here. He sees his oncologist tomorrow afternoon and has chemo again on Friday.
Sunday was a very special day for us. Bob was able to be in church and following the morning service, the pastors, elders, and a few dozen other dear friends gathered around us and anointed Bob and prayed for God's healing touch in his life. It was a very sacred time.
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