Monday, November 10, 2014
Six Months Later
Well, I'm really kinda embarrassed that I am writing again on this blog. It has been almost 6 months since I wrote last, that is a good thing or maybe I could have written that we were doing fine.
We really are doing pretty well. There have been a couple of "episodes" of not doing so good but they are not related to cancer. Roy ended up in the hospital last May due to getting overheated when he was mowing the lawn. They did all the tests for a stroke but never concluded that he had one. Then about a two weeks ago he passed out and when he fell he did some damage to his rotator cuff. He has had a MRI and we go to the doctor tomorrow to find out if he only has to do rehab or if there needs to be surgery. Obviously we would ask for prayers for just rehab. So, please as you pray for good test results at M.D. Anderson also ask for not much damage to his shoulder.
We will be going back to Houston for test next Monday and Tuesday. We have been so blessed to have been told not to come back for 6 months!! Roy was excited since he had been "negoitating" for almost a year not to have to go every 3 months. I had mixed emotions. I would be more comfortable thinking that the doctors were more aware of his condition every 3 months but I need to have more faith that things will be ok. Of course the fact that some of the grandkids are in Houston had nothing to do with my wanting to go more often...right!
This has been a busy fall for us. Justin, who plays football at ACU, has had games every week-end since Labor Day. We have traveled to watch him play starting in Atlanta, Georgia and on into Alabama and Louisiana and around the state of Texas. There is one more game this week-end.(I timed the visit to Houston around where he was playing this week-end...close to Houston) This is his senior year and it has been wonderful watching him succeed. We also have been blessed to have friends join us at several of the games. There is no better feeling than watching a grandchild do what they enjoy doing.
So, if you are reading this, please keep us in your prayers. God has a plan for us and we look forward to knowing what it is.
Linda
We really are doing pretty well. There have been a couple of "episodes" of not doing so good but they are not related to cancer. Roy ended up in the hospital last May due to getting overheated when he was mowing the lawn. They did all the tests for a stroke but never concluded that he had one. Then about a two weeks ago he passed out and when he fell he did some damage to his rotator cuff. He has had a MRI and we go to the doctor tomorrow to find out if he only has to do rehab or if there needs to be surgery. Obviously we would ask for prayers for just rehab. So, please as you pray for good test results at M.D. Anderson also ask for not much damage to his shoulder.
We will be going back to Houston for test next Monday and Tuesday. We have been so blessed to have been told not to come back for 6 months!! Roy was excited since he had been "negoitating" for almost a year not to have to go every 3 months. I had mixed emotions. I would be more comfortable thinking that the doctors were more aware of his condition every 3 months but I need to have more faith that things will be ok. Of course the fact that some of the grandkids are in Houston had nothing to do with my wanting to go more often...right!
This has been a busy fall for us. Justin, who plays football at ACU, has had games every week-end since Labor Day. We have traveled to watch him play starting in Atlanta, Georgia and on into Alabama and Louisiana and around the state of Texas. There is one more game this week-end.(I timed the visit to Houston around where he was playing this week-end...close to Houston) This is his senior year and it has been wonderful watching him succeed. We also have been blessed to have friends join us at several of the games. There is no better feeling than watching a grandchild do what they enjoy doing.
So, if you are reading this, please keep us in your prayers. God has a plan for us and we look forward to knowing what it is.
Linda
Monday, May 5, 2014
Houston..we are headed your way
Well, I'm almost embarrassed to even be posting this in our blog, since I only post so sporadically. It has been 3 months and it's time to go back. So, we are headed back to Houston on Friday for tests on Monday and Tuesday.
I'm always fine with what is going on until about the week before we go. Then I start getting very nervous and start "planning" for the worse. What happens to my faith the week before tests??? Have no idea.
We are getting to spend time with the Houston grandchildren while we are down there. Tyler has a ballgame on Friday night and again on Monday night. This will be the first time that we've been able to see him play 2 ballgames. We feel pretty blessed to do that. And, ofcourse, Miss Georgia Kate will be hanging around...I'm hoping she will at least acknowledge us. She has a mind of her own and sometimes we just aren't very important to her. Actually, she is so cute it doesn't bother me. I love just watching her "doing her thing".
We have had a busy three months. Between spending Spring Break with 3 out of the 4 kids in Galveston and going to all the ballgames I feel we haven't had much time to worry about cancer! I also got to spend time with my college friends in Abilene. We sponsor an Alzheimer's Dinner, Dance and Auction each year. This year we were truly blessed to raise $90,000. It was the 8th year that we have helped sponsor this event and it's amazing how much it has grown in those 8 years.
I tell myself each time I write that this is only about Roy and his journey, so forgive the personal notes.
We talked last night, had it not been for finding his cancer when we did and having the treatment that he had, we were told that he would not be with me now. It would have been too late. God definitely works in our lives and I just praise Him and thank everyone for all the prayers that I know were lifted for us.
Please keep us in your prayers. When we leave the Dr. office each time, they will tell us they will contact us with tests results. They never do, so this last time I figured out if they don't call, that's good news. Pray we don't get any phone calls from M.D.Anderson. And, pray we can go 6 months before we have to go back!
God is in control and holding our hands.
Linda
I'm always fine with what is going on until about the week before we go. Then I start getting very nervous and start "planning" for the worse. What happens to my faith the week before tests??? Have no idea.
We are getting to spend time with the Houston grandchildren while we are down there. Tyler has a ballgame on Friday night and again on Monday night. This will be the first time that we've been able to see him play 2 ballgames. We feel pretty blessed to do that. And, ofcourse, Miss Georgia Kate will be hanging around...I'm hoping she will at least acknowledge us. She has a mind of her own and sometimes we just aren't very important to her. Actually, she is so cute it doesn't bother me. I love just watching her "doing her thing".
We have had a busy three months. Between spending Spring Break with 3 out of the 4 kids in Galveston and going to all the ballgames I feel we haven't had much time to worry about cancer! I also got to spend time with my college friends in Abilene. We sponsor an Alzheimer's Dinner, Dance and Auction each year. This year we were truly blessed to raise $90,000. It was the 8th year that we have helped sponsor this event and it's amazing how much it has grown in those 8 years.
I tell myself each time I write that this is only about Roy and his journey, so forgive the personal notes.
We talked last night, had it not been for finding his cancer when we did and having the treatment that he had, we were told that he would not be with me now. It would have been too late. God definitely works in our lives and I just praise Him and thank everyone for all the prayers that I know were lifted for us.
Please keep us in your prayers. When we leave the Dr. office each time, they will tell us they will contact us with tests results. They never do, so this last time I figured out if they don't call, that's good news. Pray we don't get any phone calls from M.D.Anderson. And, pray we can go 6 months before we have to go back!
God is in control and holding our hands.
Linda
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Headed South again...
We are leaving tomorrow to head to Houston for another round of petscan/endoscopy on Monday and Tuesday of next week. It does seem like it has been awhile since we were there. That could be because Roy "negotiated" 3 and 1/2 months instead of just 3...what a negotiator!! Guess all those years with AT&T negotiating contracts paid off...not!
We are going early to beable to watch Tyler play basketball on Saturday. The trip works out to where we will see 2 ballgames and get to enjoy watching the Super Bowl with the kids. Always such a joy to spend time with them. It makes the trips to Houston something that I've started looking forward to doing.
As most of you know I just got back from Russia two weeks ago. What a special trip for me to make. Most have heard the stories of forgetting to put the beef in the beef stroganoff and getting to work with 2nd generation children. The teens that I met and Natasha helped years ago brought their children to us for "camp". I'm so proud that the "adult" kids are stepping up and raising their children differently than how they were raised. I know God worked in their lives through Natasha. She has been through some much recently and I worry about her health constantly.
I did have a very heart breaking experience there that I just feel the need to share and ask for prayers. One of the girls that Natasha has worked with over the years house burned. On the night of the Christmas party I went with Natasha to take Christmas gifts to her two children. Little did I realize that Nastya and her family were having to live in a partially burned down house. They had two rooms that she and her husband and two children were living in. In order to get to those rooms I had to walk through the rooms that had burned. I think I walked through the kitchen and maybe an entry way. This is a young woman who one summer gave me a dress (halter..dress...I had to wear a shirt underneath...). I'm not sure she ever understood why I needed a T-shirt also....not a pretty sight on someone my age. But I loved the thought and she loved being able to give it to me.
I looked around her "home" and realized how very blessed we are here...no insurance...no money to build a new home..please keep her in your prayers that somehow that situation will change and the two little children will have a kitchen and bathroom for comfort.
Getting back to Roy and I. Pray for clean tests and good negoitations for the next time!!
God is in control and holding our hands.
We are going early to beable to watch Tyler play basketball on Saturday. The trip works out to where we will see 2 ballgames and get to enjoy watching the Super Bowl with the kids. Always such a joy to spend time with them. It makes the trips to Houston something that I've started looking forward to doing.
As most of you know I just got back from Russia two weeks ago. What a special trip for me to make. Most have heard the stories of forgetting to put the beef in the beef stroganoff and getting to work with 2nd generation children. The teens that I met and Natasha helped years ago brought their children to us for "camp". I'm so proud that the "adult" kids are stepping up and raising their children differently than how they were raised. I know God worked in their lives through Natasha. She has been through some much recently and I worry about her health constantly.
I did have a very heart breaking experience there that I just feel the need to share and ask for prayers. One of the girls that Natasha has worked with over the years house burned. On the night of the Christmas party I went with Natasha to take Christmas gifts to her two children. Little did I realize that Nastya and her family were having to live in a partially burned down house. They had two rooms that she and her husband and two children were living in. In order to get to those rooms I had to walk through the rooms that had burned. I think I walked through the kitchen and maybe an entry way. This is a young woman who one summer gave me a dress (halter..dress...I had to wear a shirt underneath...). I'm not sure she ever understood why I needed a T-shirt also....not a pretty sight on someone my age. But I loved the thought and she loved being able to give it to me.
I looked around her "home" and realized how very blessed we are here...no insurance...no money to build a new home..please keep her in your prayers that somehow that situation will change and the two little children will have a kitchen and bathroom for comfort.
Getting back to Roy and I. Pray for clean tests and good negoitations for the next time!!
God is in control and holding our hands.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Whew...finally
Well, this has taken a lot longer to post than I expected. When we come home from M.D.Anderson we usually know the results of the petscan/endoscopy. They always do a biopsy of the tissue around the area that they had found the cancer. We are told they will let us know by the end of the week what the results of the biopsy is. Ofcourse, they never do.
This time the only way we knew there was nothing showing was to see when we are to go back. They post our next appointments on our M.D.Anderson page. So, now I'm pretty comfortable with there being no cancer.
Roy was campaigning for a 6 month interval...didn't work. Although, he managed to get it to 3 1/2 months. Tried for 4 months but they compromised with what we have. I'm fine with however long they feel we can wait. Since Ryan and family have moved to the Houston area, I would go monthly...using that as an excuse!!
We have really been traveling recently. Came home yesterday from Las Cruces, New Mexico. I leave Friday to go to Austin for a Christmas shopping week-end with my college friends. After that, we will travel to San Antonio and then to Houston for the last football games of the season. There again, we feel so blessed that we have been able to follow the football team and watch Justin play. He has played through a lot of pain. We are very proud of him.
So, please keep the prayers going. Our doctor told us they will monitor him more closely until 2 years from the end of his treatment. That will be July 13, 2014. Then maybe Roy will get his way...and finally get a 6 month interval..
God is in control and holding our hands.
Linda
This time the only way we knew there was nothing showing was to see when we are to go back. They post our next appointments on our M.D.Anderson page. So, now I'm pretty comfortable with there being no cancer.
Roy was campaigning for a 6 month interval...didn't work. Although, he managed to get it to 3 1/2 months. Tried for 4 months but they compromised with what we have. I'm fine with however long they feel we can wait. Since Ryan and family have moved to the Houston area, I would go monthly...using that as an excuse!!
We have really been traveling recently. Came home yesterday from Las Cruces, New Mexico. I leave Friday to go to Austin for a Christmas shopping week-end with my college friends. After that, we will travel to San Antonio and then to Houston for the last football games of the season. There again, we feel so blessed that we have been able to follow the football team and watch Justin play. He has played through a lot of pain. We are very proud of him.
So, please keep the prayers going. Our doctor told us they will monitor him more closely until 2 years from the end of his treatment. That will be July 13, 2014. Then maybe Roy will get his way...and finally get a 6 month interval..
God is in control and holding our hands.
Linda
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Groaning to the glory of the Lord
We are in the midst of a series at our church that has been a very inspirational to me. It is taken from Romans 8 and although there are times I feel I'm "passed" the worse of this journey, I'm afraid that it might not be the case. I always get like this before we go for Roy's next endoscopy/petscan. I know that God does not promise a life filled with no hard ache, sadness, drama and I know that when those times come I look to Him to take my hand and guide me through to the happier glory filled days.
We leave this Friday to head for Houston. This trip has some really high points and then we go to M.D.Anderson...not such a high point. Ryan and family have moved to Brookshire, which is a suburb of Houston. He accepted a job as the Deputy Superintendent of the Brookshire/Royal school district. It has taken me some time to come to a peace about the grandkids, Tyler and Georgia Kate, not being as close as Temple. But I'm so forunate to have friends who say to me "get over it, mine live out of state". What would I do without them?? Ok, I'm not commenting anymore about that. But, we are going to stay with Ryan and Holly on Friday and Saturday night. Tyler will have his first soccer game Saturday morning. We will also get to celebrate GK's birthday. She turns 2 Oct. 22nd. We are looking forward to both events and just being with them.
I also planned the M.D.Anderson testing on the Monday/Tuesday after ACU plays football on Saturday against Houston Baptist. I'm may not be the smartest person around but I can figure out how to get the most out of a week-end! Justin has had a rough year this year in football. The first game of the season he broke his hand. He has had a cast on it and played anyway. He looked like it was a stub of a hand...really wierd. We flew to Illinois for the Illinois State game and he had a wonderful game statiscally (13 tackles...yeah!). The next week in practice tore his minicus and had surgery about 10 days ago. Praying that he will be released this week to play while we are in Houston. Ryan will get to see him play if that happens plus friends that are dear to us, Tom and Mitzi (who I know are just "dying" to watch ACU play football). We then start traveling to watch him play, back to Abilene, Las Crucas, NM, San Antonio and then back to Houston.
When one doesn't know what the future can bring, we make the most of the present. For us that is traveling to see Justin play ball and watching as many grandkids activities as we can.
So, please keep us in your prayers over the next couple of days. Prayers that we will have safe travels and clean endoscopy/petscan.
And, thanks to Rick Atchley for listening to the Spirit of the Lord speaking through you and to me. If you, my friends, have a chance to listen to the messages we are having, please do so. Website is www.thehills.org (I think)
God is in control and holding our hands
Linda
We leave this Friday to head for Houston. This trip has some really high points and then we go to M.D.Anderson...not such a high point. Ryan and family have moved to Brookshire, which is a suburb of Houston. He accepted a job as the Deputy Superintendent of the Brookshire/Royal school district. It has taken me some time to come to a peace about the grandkids, Tyler and Georgia Kate, not being as close as Temple. But I'm so forunate to have friends who say to me "get over it, mine live out of state". What would I do without them?? Ok, I'm not commenting anymore about that. But, we are going to stay with Ryan and Holly on Friday and Saturday night. Tyler will have his first soccer game Saturday morning. We will also get to celebrate GK's birthday. She turns 2 Oct. 22nd. We are looking forward to both events and just being with them.
I also planned the M.D.Anderson testing on the Monday/Tuesday after ACU plays football on Saturday against Houston Baptist. I'm may not be the smartest person around but I can figure out how to get the most out of a week-end! Justin has had a rough year this year in football. The first game of the season he broke his hand. He has had a cast on it and played anyway. He looked like it was a stub of a hand...really wierd. We flew to Illinois for the Illinois State game and he had a wonderful game statiscally (13 tackles...yeah!). The next week in practice tore his minicus and had surgery about 10 days ago. Praying that he will be released this week to play while we are in Houston. Ryan will get to see him play if that happens plus friends that are dear to us, Tom and Mitzi (who I know are just "dying" to watch ACU play football). We then start traveling to watch him play, back to Abilene, Las Crucas, NM, San Antonio and then back to Houston.
When one doesn't know what the future can bring, we make the most of the present. For us that is traveling to see Justin play ball and watching as many grandkids activities as we can.
So, please keep us in your prayers over the next couple of days. Prayers that we will have safe travels and clean endoscopy/petscan.
And, thanks to Rick Atchley for listening to the Spirit of the Lord speaking through you and to me. If you, my friends, have a chance to listen to the messages we are having, please do so. Website is www.thehills.org (I think)
God is in control and holding our hands
Linda
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Good for another ....3 months!
All the tests that Roy had done in Houston were clear of cancer cells ...Praise the Lord!!!
So, the prayer for a extended period of time before we go back was not answered. And, that's ok. The oncologist is not comfortable waiting 6 months. We were told for the next year he really needs to be tested every 3 months. So, it's really going to work out fine because they are willing to schedule the next round of tests on the Monday/Tuesday after Justin plays football for ACU against some Houston school the Saturday night before testing. We will only make a trip to do all of it. Ofcourse, he plays again down in the Houston area later in the season but we've got the road memorized....Buckee's...Cooper Farms are getting to know us personally.
We thought we were getting to get away and back on the road early on Tuesday. He had a endoscopy scheduled for 10am...needed to be at the endoscopy center at 9 for prep. They called on Monday and asked if he could come at 7am for a 8am test. That sounded great...for him. I'm not much of a morning person so I let him go at 7 to be prepped...I showed up at 8 and they hadn't even called him back...oops. So it all ended up being about the same time as it was initially scheduled. If you've ever been through multiple testing you know that can happen. We did get to leave earlier because the oncologist worked us in an hour before the initial time. So, it all worked out in the end...there you go!!
Thank you for the prayers. Please keep them coming. Each time he has his tests done and I'm waiting...I look around and thank God that he looks good and feels good in comparison to some of the patients waiting to be seen.
I'm not really very political and don't want to use this as a forum for politics BUT....I am so tired on reading on Facebook those who think Wendy Davis is "the best thing since sliced bread.". If you do...call me and let me tell you how I feel about abortions after 20 weeks...non surgical facilities for abortions...good grief....what little child do you know that you wouldn't want to be alive and well and a part of your life????.....so sorry...would delete this if I weren't so mad about it all...
God is in control and holding our hands.
Linda
So, the prayer for a extended period of time before we go back was not answered. And, that's ok. The oncologist is not comfortable waiting 6 months. We were told for the next year he really needs to be tested every 3 months. So, it's really going to work out fine because they are willing to schedule the next round of tests on the Monday/Tuesday after Justin plays football for ACU against some Houston school the Saturday night before testing. We will only make a trip to do all of it. Ofcourse, he plays again down in the Houston area later in the season but we've got the road memorized....Buckee's...Cooper Farms are getting to know us personally.
We thought we were getting to get away and back on the road early on Tuesday. He had a endoscopy scheduled for 10am...needed to be at the endoscopy center at 9 for prep. They called on Monday and asked if he could come at 7am for a 8am test. That sounded great...for him. I'm not much of a morning person so I let him go at 7 to be prepped...I showed up at 8 and they hadn't even called him back...oops. So it all ended up being about the same time as it was initially scheduled. If you've ever been through multiple testing you know that can happen. We did get to leave earlier because the oncologist worked us in an hour before the initial time. So, it all worked out in the end...there you go!!
Thank you for the prayers. Please keep them coming. Each time he has his tests done and I'm waiting...I look around and thank God that he looks good and feels good in comparison to some of the patients waiting to be seen.
I'm not really very political and don't want to use this as a forum for politics BUT....I am so tired on reading on Facebook those who think Wendy Davis is "the best thing since sliced bread.". If you do...call me and let me tell you how I feel about abortions after 20 weeks...non surgical facilities for abortions...good grief....what little child do you know that you wouldn't want to be alive and well and a part of your life????.....so sorry...would delete this if I weren't so mad about it all...
God is in control and holding our hands.
Linda
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)