Hi everyone,
This is Sean and Kyle trying on their new Halloween costume for this upcoming weekend. They are a character from TV called "flavor-flavor" or short for Flava-fla. They are fun guys to have around the house, even if it was 3am this morning when I took the pic.
I am just about done with week 4 and am looking forward to starting week 5, because then I'll be that much closer to week 6! YEA! Iam doing pretty good. Ihad to give up walking for a while because I began to develop blisters on my feet from the chemo. So the doc said no more walking. Thank goodness my very kind neighbors are picking up my dog, Kiwi, for her nightly walk. I'll probably start again next week, I hope. I am staying pretty close to home, except for the treatments, because on my unperdictable bowels. The mornings are still good for me, but I seem to get pretty tired in the later afternoon and evening, so I have been reading and keeping up with e-mails and such. I am feeling so blessed lately. I have been rained on by so much love and prayers everyday from so many friends and family. It is so heart warming and encouraging. Each day it seems the Lord shows me another blessing associated with my cancer. Today, my 24 year old son Sean, went in for a colonoscopy. Since my diagnose, he mentioned some symptoms he was having. Well, I made him go in and get checked even though his primary doctor brushed it off as "mom being paranoid". Well, sure enough, they found a polyp which they removed. He is doing fine now and glad to be able to eat. You have to fast for one day before you have the test. He apparently has a disposition for creating polyps so the doctor said he has to get checked in 3 more years. If I didn't have this cancer, Sean would not have told me anything, I would not have made the effort to have him checked, and it's a good possibility he would have had cancer in his thirty or forties. God blesses us in so many ways even though some of the blessing don't seem so blessed at the time. We just need to trust Him and know that He loves us always.
Psalm 9:1-2
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all the wonders.
I will be glad and exult in thee. I will sing praise to Thy name O Most High.

Tomorrow is the completion of week 3! YEA! I am still doing ok, however, I do really well in the mornings but as the day progresses, I start to feel tired and by 8-9 I am in bed. Monday I started needing Lomotil everyday and now I use both Lomotil and imodium to keep food in as long as possible. I went to a nutritionist who specializes in cancer patients. She is very good and knowledable. She told me to walk in the morning before treatment because it oxygenates the blood which helps the treatment to kill off the cancer cells. She also has me taking 2 tsp three times a day of Glutamine with 1 tsp of aloe juice to help rebuild the good cells that line the colon. Plus I drink a protein drink everyday with yougart to help with the bacteria balance. I can't eat any raw vegtables right now, whole wheat products, or any other type of fiber like salads, and I have to stay away from most fruits as well. I can eat potatoes, lots of rice, sweet potatoes, white breads, and meats, but she prefers me to eat fish. I can eat cooked vegtables like asparagus, carrots, spinach, and zucchini, and fruits like skinned apples and bananas. And of course 10-12 glasses of liquid to keep me hydrated! This is just for the next three to five weeks to get me past treatment. I'll meet with her again the week after I finish treatment to get the right nutrition going for building my body up for surgery. It's very interesting to me on how the body works with certain foods. Even though I know the next few weeks will be harder and harder, I am feeling very positive because I know I have so many people praying and encouraging me daily. God bless you all and thank you for all your love you have shared.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit

Hi everyone,
I just finished week two of treatment and am still doing ok. Monday I felt great, so I pushed myself a little too much. Tuesday I was tired so I took it easy and the rest of the week went ok. I am starting to feel a little tired once in a while and having some symptoms in my intestines from the radiation, but not too bad. And no, I do not lose my hair with this treatment in case some are wondering. I still walk everyday at least 3.5 miles. That is a must! Mornings seem to be a good time for me so I'm glad I go in for treatment everyday at 9:45am. I am going to a nutritionist who specializes in cancer next Tuesday to help me with my diet. I can't eat stuff like whole wheat bread, raw vegtables, and go light on ruffage, if I can help it. Opposite of what I have been doing for many years. Meat is good, as is pasta, fish and chicken. I drink fruit smoothies everday with bananas. Remember the BRAT diet (banana, rice, apple sause and toast)?? Well, it really works! I do have to keep up with nutrition and vitamins so it's a balancing act not to eat the foods that offer good nutrition while trying to get the nutrition anyway. It's very interesting on how the body functions and how easly it can get off track. I drink smart water everday on my way up to treatment to keep up with the electrolytes. Plus I have to go in with a full bladder to protect the other organs from the radiation. Anyway, thank you all for your continue support, prayers and love you are all showing me. I know I will get through this with God's grace, and so many friends and family encouraging me along the way
Hew 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.

One week down and still feeling fine!! I went for radiation every day last week and I am doing fine so far. I have adjusted to my new bed buddy, the pump! I just put it in the dresser drawer next to me and sleep pretty good. I am still trying to learn how to shower without getting the port wet. It's not as easy as I thought. Oh well! I'll get better as time goes on. Yesterday my friend and I went to a nutrition class sponsored by the Wellness Community. It was very informative and interesting. I learned how much fluid we should be drinking everyday. The formula is your weight divided by two. That is the amout of fluid each of us should drink every day. I need about 16 more oz because of the treatment I'm in. The fluids are a combination of water, juices, soups, etc.. So everyone, drink your fluids!! The other very important part of nutrition is to execise everyday, but we all do that anyway right?? Thank you again for all you prayers and support I receive everyday. I look forward to seeing everyone soon.
Psalms 121: 1&2
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes form the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Good first day of treatment,
I had my pump attached to my port today and started the chemo drip of 5-FU. Then I went to the radiologist and had my first session of radiation. All went very well. Even the PET scan results came back completely clear! Again, thank you all for your prayers and support because they really help every day. God is so good to me!
Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me

Hello to all my friends and family,
Thursday I had the PET scan. I do not have the results, but that is fine....as someone said to me yesterday at the wedding I attended for my cousin, "it is what it is!" and that is true. The picture is of Amy, a very special friend, and I at the wedding. Friday I had the port put in. The surgery went fine. I was a little sore on Saturday, but I still went for my 3.5 mile walk, took Brigitte dress shopping for the upcoming Homecoming dance, and went to the wedding last night. Today I feel more rested and not very sore at all. Tomorrow I will be connected to my new friend, the 5-FU chemo pump. I will carry it around with me for the next 6 weeks. I also start radiation at 3:15 tomorrow and will do that everyday as well. Please keep those prayers coming in. It gives me strength knowing there are so many people praying for me and my family. Yes, it's very scary, but God continues to be by my side.
Matthew 6:33-34
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself, each day has enough trouble of it's own. Amen to that! So I will try not to be anxious and instead hold on to Gods promise that He will take care of me.