Greetings friends -
The word for today is prayer. We have experienced first hand the power of prayer and we thank you for lifting us up and for the blessing of God's perfect response! My search found 96 references to prayer in the Bible and I wanted to share three with you today:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. - Mark 11:24
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. - Matthew 21:22
Speaking of prayer, one of the best known places for prayer is the wailing wall in Jerusalem at the site of the temple and thanks to the Moffat's, Erin's name and prayer request was placed in the wall!! Isn't that awesome??
Erin had a great night last night! It was the last night of chemo for this round...no nausea, they had everything done by midnight and reduced her IV fluids so she had pretty much uninterrupted sleep until 7:00 am. They are telling us they should be able to let us go home shortly after her last chemo push which is at 11:00 am! Then they don't want to see us again until Tuesday in the clinic!!
Erin had an awesome surprise from our friend Amy (she was Amanda's college friend first but has since become part of the family). Amy called Mark Richt (University of Georgia Head Football coach for those of you not from around here) and told him about Erin's situation and last night she came to the hospital with a cool framed autographed photo and personal letter he wrote to Erin encouraging her to "finish the drill"and never give up. Erin was thrilled.... as most of you know she is a true Bulldog fan. Erin's getting quite a photo gallery of the famous and infamous between the new photos of Coach Richt, Matthew McConaughey and of course Drs Moore and Butz. I just want to assure the good doctors that they have retained their place on the window ledge (somehow seems appropriate don't you think??).
On that note I will close for now. We will update when we get home! We thank God for all of you who have so richly blessed us with your love and prayers. Blessings - Bill
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Thurs 3/6
Yeah God, another good day here. Erin walked another 2 miles yesterday and is feeling good. She didn't sleep at all last night because they have her on so many fluids that she has to get up hourly. She is in bad need of some REM time. So, when we go home tomorrow she will probably sleep for 12 hours straight. Yeah, we are still on track to go home after her 11 a.m. chemo. God has been faithful to carry her through this round with little trouble. Her numbers are still good and we will pray that as they drop, she will stay free of side effects.
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar; You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." Ps 139:1-4
Thank you Lord for knowing us so well. Thank you also for sending us such awesome prayer warriors!!
Have a Blessed Day, hugs, janet
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar; You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." Ps 139:1-4
Thank you Lord for knowing us so well. Thank you also for sending us such awesome prayer warriors!!
Have a Blessed Day, hugs, janet
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Wed 3/5
Thanks for the prayers and encouragement! Erin is doing fine, she had a little nausea last night but is o.k. today. She is getting blood as we blog, then we will hopefully go walking. She walked 2 miles yesterday. Today the PA told her she might get to go home FRIDAY! What? I don't dare to dream that big, but Erin is excited. We will see what God has in mind. Her numbers are still good except for the Hct, which is why she is getting blood. Anyway, all is well and we are still taking it one day at a time. Thanks for all the love!! We love you right back!! janet
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tues 3/4
Good Morning!
Erin had a good night, no sleep but no nausea so it's all good. She is currently finishing her breakfast and then we will hopefully go walk. Yesterday she walked her 21 laps in record time. I could barely keep up. All the Drs and PAs keep saying that if her side effects are minimal, she may get to go home next week. We had to hear about 4 people say it before we actually started to believe it. They have made Erin an appt in the clinic for next Tues. Can you stand it?? Home again would be a dream come true. So let's all pray that her side effects are minimal so we can go home. We would have to come to the clinic 2-3 times a week for labs and blood products as needed. They said as long as she can swallow pills and stay away from infection, we can do the rest at home. Wow, thank you Lord. We are blessed and we love sharing all our good news with you!! Thank you for the encouragement and love. Love to you all, janet
Erin had a good night, no sleep but no nausea so it's all good. She is currently finishing her breakfast and then we will hopefully go walk. Yesterday she walked her 21 laps in record time. I could barely keep up. All the Drs and PAs keep saying that if her side effects are minimal, she may get to go home next week. We had to hear about 4 people say it before we actually started to believe it. They have made Erin an appt in the clinic for next Tues. Can you stand it?? Home again would be a dream come true. So let's all pray that her side effects are minimal so we can go home. We would have to come to the clinic 2-3 times a week for labs and blood products as needed. They said as long as she can swallow pills and stay away from infection, we can do the rest at home. Wow, thank you Lord. We are blessed and we love sharing all our good news with you!! Thank you for the encouragement and love. Love to you all, janet
Monday, March 3, 2008
Mon 3/3
Good Morning Prayer Warriors,
We are blessed today to say that Erin's nausea has finally subsided. She is feeling much better today. They started her on some steroids last night and I think it must have helped. We are half way through this round already which is awesome, only 4 more days of chemo. WBCs are 2.4, so the numbers are still o.k., it will take them a couple more days to start crashing.
"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26-27.
Thanks for your prayers. love, janet
We are blessed today to say that Erin's nausea has finally subsided. She is feeling much better today. They started her on some steroids last night and I think it must have helped. We are half way through this round already which is awesome, only 4 more days of chemo. WBCs are 2.4, so the numbers are still o.k., it will take them a couple more days to start crashing.
"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26-27.
Thanks for your prayers. love, janet
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Sunday 3/2
Good Sabbath, Today is so pretty outside, we are thankful for the window to enjoy it. Erin has been feeling very nauseous these last 24 hours. They have her on a scopolamine patch, the kind you wear when you go on a cruise for seasickness. It doesn't seem to be helping. She is allergic to 3 of the main antinausea meds so her choices are limited. She still stays on Zofran around the clock but it just doesn't work by itself. Anyway, she is battling it all in good humour, she keeps threatening to throw up on me, like she thinks I'm scared!! Ha!
We have a praise for some good news this morning. Her spinal tap came out clean again!! Thank you Lord! I should also list the lack of rash as another praise since they thought it was the chemo that gave it to her last time and she hasn't developed it this time. Must be the M&M therapy from the alternative Drs Moore and Butz.
Please pray for an end to the nausea and the energy to walk and eat. Also for no repeat of the mouth sores. Her counts should start dropping in the next few days and that is when her mouth is in danger. We just had a lovely visit from Erin's cousins from Fl. They were in town for the weekend and came to hug her neck. God has been so good to provide everthing we need when we need it most. We are so blessed by you all!!
"The rigtheous cry out and the Lord delivers them out of all their troubles! "Ps 34:17
Thanks for "crying out" on Erin's behalf. janet
We have a praise for some good news this morning. Her spinal tap came out clean again!! Thank you Lord! I should also list the lack of rash as another praise since they thought it was the chemo that gave it to her last time and she hasn't developed it this time. Must be the M&M therapy from the alternative Drs Moore and Butz.
Please pray for an end to the nausea and the energy to walk and eat. Also for no repeat of the mouth sores. Her counts should start dropping in the next few days and that is when her mouth is in danger. We just had a lovely visit from Erin's cousins from Fl. They were in town for the weekend and came to hug her neck. God has been so good to provide everthing we need when we need it most. We are so blessed by you all!!
"The rigtheous cry out and the Lord delivers them out of all their troubles! "Ps 34:17
Thanks for "crying out" on Erin's behalf. janet
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Saturday Morning
Good Morning Friends,
This is the day that the Lord has made....and it looks like it's going to be beautiful!! The doctor told us last night that Erin's WBC was 3.3 (back in the normal range finally) and that the results on the genetics from her bone marrow biopsy showed no abnormalities in the chromosomes which is also good news! While we won't ever know if there were abnormalities before at least we can see that after round one of chemo things look good!
Erin had her spinal tap late yesterday afternoon. It went well except for a brief intermission where Erin had a bout of nausea. Since then the nausea seems to have subsided a bit although she still has a stomach ache. She was able to eat a good dinner and get a few hours of sleep in between visits by the staff to start/stop meds and take vitals. Last night was a relatively light night for the chemo. This round of chemo is similar to the first in that day 1, 3, and 5 are heavy dose days (3 drugs - all given overnight) with lighter doses on days 2, 4, and 6-8 (2 drugs given over a short duration). As it works out, I will be staying with Erin on the light nights and Janet will be with her on the heavy nights....like you all keep saying....God knows what He is doing!!
One other note, we just received Erin's birthday present from Aunt Deb....and we just have to say that Aunt Deb you have outdone yourself this time! Erin is thrilled....(well most of the Blonshine's really)....to have an autographed picture of Matthew McConaughey with a personal note to Erin wishing her well. We'll put it up right next to the picture of Dr. Butz and Dr. Moore....what a contrast!!! ( I just mean...you know....a crack professional medical team...next to a thespian).
We thank God for this day and for all the blessings that he is pouring out on us through all of you!
Bill
This is the day that the Lord has made....and it looks like it's going to be beautiful!! The doctor told us last night that Erin's WBC was 3.3 (back in the normal range finally) and that the results on the genetics from her bone marrow biopsy showed no abnormalities in the chromosomes which is also good news! While we won't ever know if there were abnormalities before at least we can see that after round one of chemo things look good!
Erin had her spinal tap late yesterday afternoon. It went well except for a brief intermission where Erin had a bout of nausea. Since then the nausea seems to have subsided a bit although she still has a stomach ache. She was able to eat a good dinner and get a few hours of sleep in between visits by the staff to start/stop meds and take vitals. Last night was a relatively light night for the chemo. This round of chemo is similar to the first in that day 1, 3, and 5 are heavy dose days (3 drugs - all given overnight) with lighter doses on days 2, 4, and 6-8 (2 drugs given over a short duration). As it works out, I will be staying with Erin on the light nights and Janet will be with her on the heavy nights....like you all keep saying....God knows what He is doing!!
One other note, we just received Erin's birthday present from Aunt Deb....and we just have to say that Aunt Deb you have outdone yourself this time! Erin is thrilled....(well most of the Blonshine's really)....to have an autographed picture of Matthew McConaughey with a personal note to Erin wishing her well. We'll put it up right next to the picture of Dr. Butz and Dr. Moore....what a contrast!!! ( I just mean...you know....a crack professional medical team...next to a thespian).
We thank God for this day and for all the blessings that he is pouring out on us through all of you!
Bill