Answered Prayers

Grandma went in to talk to her oncologist today. They talked about how Grandma is done with treatments and she didn't want to take this pill that would hopefully retard the growth of the tumors. It wouldn't have shrunk them, but it would hopefully slow the growth. Well Grandma has a friend who is on said pill and the side effects are not worth it. As I have said before, it's the quality, not quantity, at this point. She was, however, open to any experimental drugs that might be out there. As she said, if it will help someone down the road survive to spend more time with their families, she is willing to try it.

Grandma and the oncologist talked about what to expect. I won't go into detail, but she knew what was ahead of her as she left the doctor's office.

When Grandma got home, there was a message on her answering machine from the receptionist, Donna, at the oncologist's office, asking her to please call Dr Bruno as soon as she got home. So Grandma called and they put her straight through to the doctor. Dr. Bruno answered the phone with the question, "Barb, do you believe in angels?". "Yes", Grandma replied. "When you left this afternoon, "something" kept telling me that I needed to look into this more, that this couldn't be the end for you. So, I went and got all of the scans and looked them all over again. The radiologist was wrong, Barb. They were reading the original scan, not the recent one. Your tumors have, in fact, shrunk by 25-50%. Would you be willing to start chemo again on Wednesday so we can beat this thing?" Did she really have to ask that?!?!? OF COURSE SHE WOULD DO IT!!!

My grandmother, with a new sense of hope, will be restarting her chemo on Wednesday. One of my wise aunts once told me, "When God answers prayers and gives you a miracle, you never ask why, you just simply say THANK YOU." THANK YOU, GOD. THANK YOU to EVERYONE who has said even just one prayer for my grandma Barb. THANK YOU for just this little ray of hope. THANK YOU for more time, even if it is only a couple of months.

THANK YOU!!!!!

Chances

I had the chance to go see my ailing Great Uncle today. However, upon my arrival, he was being prepped for surgery. One which they aren't so sure he is strong enough to survive. I guess we will know in just a few hours. I do think that God had a plan. I don't think that I would want to remember the sick Uncle Melvin if, God forbid, something happens. So... I am thankful, yet again, that there is a Higher Power at work here that knows better than I.

My "little" brother in law

I give him a hard time because he is younger than me by a whopping three months. I tell him to respect his elders. I enjoy making him laugh. I love his Johnny Bravo. I love his wife more than she will ever know. I love the unborn baby in her tummy. I love that my "little" brother in law is allowing me the opportunity to be an aunt again. I have always loved him like he was one of my own siblings. We have had several wonderful, deep talks throughout the years. We have had some pretty heated arguements too. The arguements have always ended with one or the both of us crying and trying to call the other one back through a busy signal because the other one is dialing too (something I wish my dear husband would try just once). He is unarguably my favorite in law.

So, although small and missing several things I love about you, here is to you, my Joshy!! I love you and thank you for all that you are for me and my children. Thank you for making me think about things just a little deeper. A little sillier. A little more..... like I want to think.

Faith

My parents, grandparents, and aunt and uncles all gave me the best gift as a child that anyone could have ever asked for; Knowledge of God. We went to church EVERY Sunday. Our big ole family took up at least half of the small country congregation. Grandpa and Grandma ALWAYS sat in the same pew. Week after week, they were there. Grandpa would sleep through half of the service. No, that's a lie. Through MOST of the service. When he would start snoring, Grandma would give him a little jab in the side and he would stop. He wouldn't move, wouldn't open an eye, and really, his breathing pattern never changed.... but.... the man could recite the entire sermon to you during our Sunday meals in the North Room of their house. EVERY SUNDAY. Like clockwork. Big, yummy meals that I have only recently been told by my mom that Grandpa would get up at 5 am to start cooking for all of us.

I can even remember trying to take a little nap in my pew. My mom would get so mad at me. My brother, too. And we would agrue that Grandpa could sleep and Grandma didn't get mad, why couldn't we?? She would answer simply: When you can stay awake and tell me what the sermon was about, I will let you try and sleep through it and tell me what it was about, like Grandpa can. We never got the chance to try and sleep through church.... we couldn't even tell her what the sermon was about most days.

It's these stories and this Faith in God that gets me through life to this day. Without the trust that I have in God and my family, I wouldn't be half the person I am today. I am strong. And I know Who is in control.... not me..... Him. Makes things a lot easier to take when I remember that I just have to lay it all at His feet, and Thy will is done.

Amen.

Day #1

I am so thankful that I made it through today. I didn't have a single cigarette. I knew I could do it. And I did. Was it easy? No. However, I feel very empowered at this point, like I could do anything and conquer anything. Once this is all over, it's on to conquering Grandma's sickness. She isn't doing well at all this time around. I'm going to help her. I WILL do this, too. I have to. No options. If she passes without my trying to help her get better, I will never forgive myself. If she passes even though I was there to help, I will at least know that WE gave it our all. She will NOT do this alone.

Long story short, I am thankful for battles won. Granted it's just the battle, not the war. But each victory is wonderful in and of itself!

LB

My Great Grandma Boyle's initials were LB. My grandma and great aunts used to call her Lard Butt. LB really stood for Lorraine Boyle. And now, those initials, and the mean nickname hit home. LB today isn't my Great Grandma's initials, it's my favorite store in the whole world. The one place I can shop where they all know exactly how I feel and how desperately I want to look as good as those tiny ass size two's even though I will NEVER, even in a casket, be that small.

So, today I am thankful for retail therapy and NORMAL people who KNOW how I feel! Pretty comes in all shapes and sizes. Thank God I am not the only person in the world that knows that!

Family

I know I say this a lot, but I honestly have the coolest (and one of the largest) families in the world. I really mean that. Today, after a rather crappy morning, I went to the grocery store to get some snacks for Addison's class and a gift for her teacher. They had some gorgeous mum plants on sale. I hope she likes purple mums. They really are beautiful. I almost bought one for myself to brighten my own day. However.... it turned out it wasn't needed. As I was walking out of the grocery store, I noticed a Peterbilt pickup in the parking lot. I thought about going back in and decided against it, as the kids were already all buckled in. As Fate would have it, as I was backing out.... sure enough.... there was my Uncle Mike. I LOVE UNCLE MIKE!!!! I rolled down the window and hollared at him and we chatted for a couple of minutes. I love my uncles. They ALWAYS brighten my life. ALWAYS. There is never a dull moment when one (or all) of them are around! Thank God for little surprises like Uncle Mike at my new grocery store raving about their meat and produce!! I told you it was AWESOME!! ;)