Next week in Colombia

    So many last minute things to get ready for our trip.  Check car, trim hair, travel to DC on Monday and pray the weather is good.
    Today, as I was reflecting on Psalm 46, I again realized that I, as a believer, have the stability and hope that the Lord is with me through everything that goes on in my family's life, in my plans now and in the future, and my personal life as it is now.
    Every day is a new experience and challenge.  Friends and acquaintances around me have lost loved ones recently, or, they are about to be one of those loved ones.  We have no idea when our "time" will come, but, we face the challenge every day to keep going.
    Last time I went for chemo, I was told I had a low fever.  I was surprised, so I asked Chad, my nurse, to take it again.  He said, sure, and it was normal.  Now I realize that putting the thermometer in different places will show a different story, but I went on with it and got chemo.  The thing is, my platelets were "OK", but still just a bit above what they would consider not high enough.  
    Yesterday, 6 days after chemo, I had 2 nose bleeds.  This time I knew what to do.  The unfortunate thing is the first one started in the supermarket.  I had decided to try to have chemo 2 1/2 weeks (instead of 3 weeks) after the last treatment so I would have more time to recuperate before our trip.  It did have its pros and cons, but so far, I am "recuperating" well each day and will not take Eliquis for 2 doses and hope that helps some.
    The interesting thing is that the last treatment I also had nosebleeds soon after the treatments and figure, as I have been reminded, that my platelets get low after a treatment and the combination with taking a blood thinner anyway, can cause this.
    I am also thankful this time "no diarrhea, no constipation"....what's that all about?  Who knows:)  But, I guess God knows:)
    So, I was meditating on Psalm 46.   Even though these days I have many prayers on my heart for my family around me, for friends who need prayer and even this impending trip, I have trouble concentrating on praying.  My mind goes wondering, or skipping or just losing track of thinking.   But, I know that the Lord tells us in His Word, that He is with us all the time, even though we mentally don't have the capacity sometimes to concentrate.  He knows our hearts even though we don't "know" our minds sometimes.  I blame this on chemo brain, but I really have guilt feelings for my mind being so "messed" up with the chemo.  At least I blame it on that and not old age:)
Next week we fly from Washington DC to Bogota to Armenia, all within an 8 hour period, which will include one airport change.  There is no time change since we go south not east or west.  I intend to carry antibacterial wipes to wipe all I can and have my mask ready to ward off "infected looking" people☺
Excuse the length of this entry but, hey, what is blogging about but typing on your PC all your thoughts as best they come out and hope they are understood by any interested readers out there.
    I am ready for some warm weather in beautiful coffee country with beautiful family and friends provided by God who has blessed me with another chance of life this year!  By the way, before I end this, my tumor marker remains at a 8, even though last time, I think it was down to 5 something. Just think that I started this "journey" out with it being in the 4000s!!   It is staying low now for the time being. 
   And not to forget the gratitude I have for my very supportive family and for my loving husband who is a constant and committed support to me.
   We will be celebrating Valentine's Day in Colombia this year💘 

Psalm 46 The Message (MSG)

A Song of the Sons of Korah

46 

1-3 God is a safe place to hide,

    ready to help when we need him.

We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,

    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,

Before the rush and roar of oceans,

    the tremors that shift mountains.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,

    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

4-6 

River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,

    this sacred haunt of the Most High.

God lives here, the streets are safe,

    God at your service from crack of dawn.

Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,

    but Earth does anything he says.

7 

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,

    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

8-10 

Attention, all! See the marvels of God!

    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,

Bans war from pole to pole,

    breaks all the weapons across his knee.

“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,

    loving look at me, your High God,

    above politics, above everything.”

11 

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,

    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Snowy Day "Blogger Thoughts"

    This week has been going by so fast again.   I have recovered from all the obvious side effects from the chemo treatment, 10 days ago,  but of course, that doesn't mean "chemo brain" or whatever low immune system I have isn't still with me.
    I regret that I have never been able to go back to the Y to swim since my cold, then this freezing COLD and now flu germs in the air.
   A few days ago I had the weirdest bout with nose bleeds.  Six within a 12 hour period.  Not fun, but I figured out what to do and haven't had any since.  I made it much more humid in our house, learned about squeezing off the nose for 10 minutes at a time, and applying ice packs to the cheek with the nostril side.  Oh yes, swallowing blood is  not  good...so, leaning over a sink while you bleed is helpful😏  And, I stopped taking my Eliquis for 2 times since my sis told me that that could be making my platelets low which could cause the nose bleed.  Good thoughts from my sis!  It is one thing to have a nose-bleed, it is another thing to have it while you are in Krogers.   So, there I am, fishing around for my tissues in my purse with one hand, using my elbow to steer the cart and walking quickly back to the meat department to ask for a bag of ice, all the while steering the cart with my elbow. 😏
    I have already gotten most all my stuff out that I will pack for Colombia.  I am so excited about the trip, just being "normal" and doing "normal" things helps so much.   I am praying for good traveling weather both ways!  And I am praying for healthy days while we are there:)
    I am so thankful for my family members who step up to help on everything that comes up.  I know I have mentioned it before but it is always close to my heart.
    Today it is snowing but we will have warm temperatures this coming weekend...that is my kind of weather.
     Just a short update  this week💜

































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































   
   

1-9-2018, chemo and travel thoughts

    Yesterday I saw my oncologist and we discussed trip care, etc.  She mentioned that one of the most germ infested places in the plane, other than the recycled air in the cabin is the little air filter that you can adjust above your seat.  She said I should wipe it down with an antibacterial wipe.  I am sure there are other places on the plane too:)   Another thing she mentioned was that a mask over your face probably won't keep out germs (unless they are coughing in your face) but will keep people at a distance from you:):)
    My next chemo before the trip is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 24, pump off and fluids Friday, Jan.26 and Sunday (Jan.28) at the hospital for another liter of fluids.  Usually my platelets are not high enough after 2 weeks from a treatment, but are after 3 weeks.  This time it will be 2 1/2 weeks. If they are low, I will make the choice to go 6 days later which will interfere with my feeling well for the trip or just not take treatment and it will be a long time between treatments which she really frowns on:(   Hm.  I will just wait and see as I do a lot of these days.
   My doctor is very happy with the way I look and the results of tests.  I wait until tomorrow for the tumor marker number.  For the last 3 treatments, it has been at 8.
   She also mentioned that she doesn't recommend patients on chemo to use suppositories but a stool softener swallowed is better for keeping the intestinal bacteria in place.  That was a new one for me.
    She changed the anti-nausea part of chemo to another drug called Varubi).  It is supposed to last longer than the other ones...I guess she means during the week.  We shall see(?)   Yesterday was particularly unpleasant including nausea and the chemo "funk" (terrible weakness)..but I ate little bits and got through the night with another movie. 
    I find now I am enjoying some of the international movies looking at the English subtitles since I don't understand a word they are saying:)   But it is surprising how much I understand just from the subtitles, the  actions and tones of voice, etc.  Don't ask me names of movies off the top of my head, can't remember those unless I go back and look them up.  Watched in Spanish of course, Hebrew and now French.., have also watched in Russian.
    Now to travel thoughts.  I am thinking a lot about germs, food and water down in Colombia.  Don't get me wrong, my immune system is suppressed so I really do have to be careful as I do here.  I don't want to be rude or make anyone feel embarrassed in my family down there, but I really want to be careful about what I eat, how it is prepared, what I drink, etc.  I am thinking of getting a water testing kit to take with me so I can be careful.  Here I drink the ionized alkaline water (PH balanced #11) from a local health store.  I really don't want friends or relatives to be worried about me not having that down there.
      Also, I want to be careful that I eat only cooked veggies, peeled fruit, no seeds, low fat, nothing fried, no pork or beef,  to wash  hands before handling food and wash the food well.   It would be great to have antibacterial dish washing detergent to use too as well as changing the washing cloth often.
     If there are folks in the house or visitors who may have virus germs (colds, fevers), I would be so grateful for them to let me know so I can wear a mask. 
I am really looking forward to this whole trip.  I really never thought I could go again to see the family and friends.
     We will travel directly to Bogota, Colombia, and change planes for Armenia.  We will get there late but altogether the trip will only take 8 hours.  We don't  have to leave DC until 3 in the afternoon.  Coming back, we will get to DC about 1:30 PM, spend the night in the hotel again having parked our car there for the whole trip.
     My next chemo will be as soon as I get back, Feb. 26.
These are the thoughts for today since I am feeling pretty well considering it is the day after chemo.  However, I know already from experience that Wednesday, Thursday and part of Friday I will still be UTI....(under the influence of chemo:)
How I appreciate all the prayers that are prayed for my well being.  It is so hard to pray sometimes, but as a friend so aptly puts it, "I will prayerfully be thinking of you".
    I continue to be very thankful for family and friends who reach out to me with prayer, food from the kids and friends, foot massages and help from my adoring husband.  I also am thankful for uplifting books and the Bible.

"God Himself is with us,

let us now adore Him

and with awe appear before Him."