Dan’s Victory

February 24, 2009

It has been a good week. Have been able to work a little outside - each day doing a little - raking cut up/fallen branches from our fir trees, another day putting half of the piles in a wheel barrel with a pitchfork; finishing another day; repairing the tin roof on my wood shed - it was leaking. Today I went to the fitness center and was able again to do my exercises 3 reps of 25 instead of the 2 reps I had been doing since, I think, November. I have been walking slowly on our treadmill, but have increased the speed a little to 2.0 mph. I know that is slow, but I started at 1.6. Have had a few nights of not-to-good-of sleep, as I have woken up sometime between 11pm and 2am (depends on which day) and did some computer work since I was having trouble going back to sleep. But I only was doing that for about 2-3 hours and was then able to go back to sleep (on the couch, so as not to bother Jane). I had another blood draw on Tuesday, but couldn’t find out the results of the bone marrow biopsy - my doctor is on vacation and I won’t see him until March 3.

So it has been some pretty good days. A few days I took a nap, and a few days I stayed too busy and never took the nap - as I probably should! That’s life isn’t it!

God bless you as you serve Him!

Dan

Psalm 130:5
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

The Pumpkin

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff– including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

Feb. 19, 2010, Friday
I had to have another platelet infusion last Thursday and a red blood infusion last Saturday, but on Tuesday when I saw the doctor the numbers had gone up a little bit: red blood from 2.5 to 3.13 (low is 4.25), platelets from 13 real low to 47 which is still low (low being 150), and white blood cells from 3.8 to 5.5  (low is 4.3) so there I am up in the normal range!!!!

I also had a bone marrow biopsy and bone core taken out of my hip on Thursday, and on Monday or Tuesday they will be able to tell me how much the caner is dropping - I don’t expect it to be going up!

Oh, Jane has decided to retire from teaching a year early so she can spend more time with me! That is good news - a pinch on our finances, but God is in control of that and as she and I felt that is what God wanted, then all will be well!

Have been feeling pretty good. Had been having no chemo, by pill or by infusion since the doctor said it all has been pretty hard on my body having to go through a platelet and red blood cell transfusion on both January and February.

Now I am back on the pill chemos - dexamethasone and revlimid. Half the revlimid as I was taking before so we’ll see what is next in another week or so.

Remember God loves you very much, and will give you strength and courage as you are faithful to Him!

Dan

I was sent the following from one of my nieces. Thought you might enjoy it.

AMAZING SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES:

1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.

3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU’LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.

6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN’T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN’T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

7. IF YOU CAN’T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU’VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.??DAILY THOUGHT:??SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

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From C. S. Lewis

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

Feb. 13, 2010, Saturday

It has been almost half a month since I have added to these postings. I have been busy with taxes and more napping, I guess. But I am still here trying to get my weight up and take care of myself: seeing the doctor, etc.

Since the last time I wrote the transfusions did work, and the blood counts did go up a little. But it was temporary. I went to Dr. McCroskey this week Thursday, Feb. 11, and, as usual, they took some samples of my blood to see how my blook was doing. The day previous I had started feeling again a bit light headed after I would lean down, and then stand back up again. The blood counts had changed again. The red blood cells had gone up slightly, but were still below the bottom number of where they should be, the white blood cells had dropped again, and the platelets were again way down to where they had been before I had the transfusions. So that same day, Thursday, I had another platelet transfusion, and am scheduled today for another red blood transfusion. It is 6 a.m. and I am to be there at 8:30 a.m. Again it will take about 4 to 5 hours, but I will have some company, as Dave and Phyllis, were planning on visiting for a couple days. I had asked you to pray for him as he had had a quadruple bypass last month. He had healed very well and will be going back to ministry - pastoring 2 churches - on Tuesday and they wanted to get away for the weekend. When they had asked to come up, this transfusion was not yet scheduled. So Dave said he wanted to come with me, and we will both have books we want to read. Phyllis and Jane will have some time together too then.
I sure am glad that God is in control and knows what I need and what He wants through this. I am doing well emotionally or whatever you would call it. So it is all all right! God has His way, and His way is perfect. I know He loves me and is caring for me. So how can I have anything other than a good attitude! He is in control!

Have a wonderful, blessed day!
Dan

Day 275
Responding Well from Daily Devotions: Sonrise Bible
Eph. 4:31-32 - Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, ever as God in Christ forgave you.

Difficult though it may be, we are to trade our negative behavior (and attitude) for positive character (and attitude). When God commands us to do something, He likewise equips us for the task. Therefore bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking (including those directed at God) are choices we make and not uncontrollable emotions. I have found, at least in my life, that these negative characteristics are a result of person insecurities, selfish ambitions, and my own guilt. Furthermore, it is one thing to be negatively adverse to situations and circumstances, but quite another to be negatively adverse to those we are commanded to love. To these we respond with one’s best wisdom, patience, and understanding. We are to respond to each other as Christ responds to us. Does He not respond with long-suffering, kindness, grace, and mercy? Should not we respond in kind? (And shouldn’t our attitude about our situations be the same: having confidence that that is exactly how God is treating us - with long-suffering,  kindness, grace and mercy?)

The parts of this quotation in parenthesis are my additions, not the authors.