Julie's Journey

I am 2 weeks out from my last chemo. Yeah!!!  It has been so nice not having to plan around another round.  I feel pretty good.  No more body aches, nausea, or pill bottles, just to name a few.  It will take several months to get my energy level up, to where it was, so with summer almost here the timing worked out great.  God is Good!

I went to the oncologist Thursday and they did a base line blood test.  I do not have to return for 3 months.  Now I just have to wait patiently for my hair to grow back.  It takes a few months to see any progress with this.

I am so, so grateful for you all and your amazing support through this process.  I have already been able to speak to others who have been diagnosed and encourage them about the journey.  No matter the road your travelling there are always things to be thankful for and HOPE in our God!  Without all you prayer going up for me I am convinced this would have been a much more difficult time.  Many, Many Thanks!!!!

Blessings-Julie

Evening Friends,

I am done with Chemo.  HURRAY!!!! Pretty tired tonight so just a short update.

Last chemo was not as hard as the first 2.  Go figure.  Water, Water, Water!!!!

Special thanks to the kids’ school, Skyview Academy, who have been providing meals since the onset of this chemo.  Words can not express how grateful I am.  YOU ROCK!!!!!

Outside that, others have provided meals, rides, cards- you name it.  You all have been an inspiration to me!!!!!!

I have always loved to serve and help but this just brought my thinking to a whole new level.

To tired for more- Love you all-Julie

Morning Friends,

#7 Chemo today.  Can’t believe we are getting down to the wire.  So thankful!!!  We have had a good last week.  Josh is healing and doing well.  He can play baseball this week so he is very excited!!  Praying for no headaches or body aches this go around.  I did not have any pain in my fingers last chemo so that was great!!!

I appreciate you all!!

Make it a GREAT day no matter the challenges!!!!  Blessings-Julie

Kurt and Josh came home this morning.  Yeah!!  Josh has been able to hold foods down. He is getting around slowly but doing great considering.

Thanks for all your prayers!!

Isaiah 26:3&4  You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

Julie

Yesterday Josh was not feeling well.  I thought he had the flu but it became apparent as the night went on that it was something different.  He ended up at Childrens Hospital where they did surgery to remove his appendix.  All went well.  Kurt flew home and is with him tonight.  I finally got to sleep at 8:30 this morning when they put him in his own room.

He should be coming home tomorrow.  He is having a little trouble keeping things down.  The anti nausea meds have not been so effective.  He has been so brave.  Even after getting sick for the 2nd time he said, “It’s not that bad mom, don’t worry.”

He will probably miss a week of school.  Please pray that he can keep up with his school work.  I am thankful Kurt is home this week now to help with everything!!

Blessings-Julie

Good evening,

It was Spring break for us this week.  A BIG thanks to Kurt’s parents in Minnesota for having the kids for four days this week.  They had a great time!!

My new treatment went OK.  I did have some nerve issues in my fingers but it was only a couple of days.  It’s like your fingers are coming back from being asleep.  That tingling, burning feeling.  Fortunately, it didn’t last long.

I did start to have pain in my joints and bones on Sunday.  The worst lasted about 3 days. It especially affects my knees and legs.  I’m thankful for pain medication!!!

The last few days I have started with headaches.  Not sure if that is from the chemo but they are sharp pains that come and go.

Just keeping it real.  Chemo really does stink!!  I’m thankful that Kurt was able to take time off for the next 2 treatments!

Dad is home and recouping well.  He is still real weak and sleeps a lot but his spirits are up.  As with any major surgery it just takes time!!

Thanks for your prayers for our family!!  I can feel them pulling us through!!  Only 3 more treatments.  Yeah!  Blessing, Julie

Happy Spring Everyone!!

We are having a much better week!  Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.  I had some low times last week but things are much better this week.

Kids are healthy, I feel better and dad is getting out of the hospital tonight.  He ended up having 23 blood transfusions.  Pretty scary times!!!

I was sitting with my dad in the hospital last Tuesday and he was sleeping.  My mom had taken my late Grandma Gladys’ Bible to the hospital so I opened it and the page fell to Psalm 16.  She had titled it “The best is yet to come.”  I love the chapter but my favorite verse is 6, “I have set the Lord always before me.  Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”  I needed those encouraging words!!

Chemo tomorrow is not supposed to be as bad as the last 4.  It is a different medication for the next 4 treatments.  I am almost on the count down.  Yeah!!!!

Hope you all are doing well.  Keep your head up!  Blessings- Julie

Hi All-

What a weekend!  Dad did end up having surgery.  They found 3 more ulsers that were bleeding.  His blood levels have been stable since the surgery yesterday afternoon.  I am so thankful!!!  He is recovering and will be in the hospital for another 6-7 days.  Thank you for your prayers for him.

I have not been nauseous this weekend.  I am tired and that is about it.  This is much improvement over last treatment!

Sarah was at urgent care yesterday with an ear infection so last night was a little rough.  We were also up with Josh 3 times doing asthma treatments last night.

We are hanging in there.  My brother Jeff came out from California this weekend and that really has been a blessing.  Also, Kurt is off work until Friday.

Keeping it positive-Julie

Good Afternoon,

Chemo went really well Thursday.  I am actually not nauseous today.  This is amazing compared to last treatment.  Thank you, Jesus!!

I would like to request prayer for my dad.  They are trying one last treatment today to stop his bleeding.  They have tried several different things to find the bleeding with no success.  If this treatment does not work he will go in for surgery tomorrow.

I know God has a plan so I trust in that but I really would like that not to be surgery!!!

Thanks all-Julie

Hi All-

I truly hope this finds you well.  We have had a trying week here.  My body has been breaking down in a few areas but we have been able to get that under control.  Nothing serious just little things.

My dad went into the hospital on Saturday because he was really weak and just not feeling well.  They found an ulcer that had been bleeding and thought that was the problem.  Monday his blood levels were really low again so they went in on Tuesday and cauterised the ulcer.  Today they realized that it was not only the ulcer but another vessel that was causing all the blood loss.  They went in and closed off that vessel.  He has had 10, yes 10, blood transfusions since Saturday.  He is pretty uncomfortable because he has had the tube in his nose to his stomach since yesterday and it won’t come out until tomorrow.  Please pray for complete healing and peace.

Sarah this week has had a strange itching issue going on all over her body.  I have had her to the doctor and we are managing it as best as possible.  It is normally at night and even she wakes up in the night with it.  Oh, and her head cold is coming back.

On an up note, Kurt came home this morning and will be home for 9 days!!  YEAH!!!  We love Dad home!  I have Chemo in the morning and this is the last of the icky chemo.  The medicine for the last 4 is not supposed to cause nausea.  Muscle aches is the biggest complaint.  Right now I will take that over nausea.  

As you can imagine we are pretty tired!!  We are doing our best to keep it positive and remember all the things there are to be thankful for.

Thanks for listening and your support is HUGE!!  Blessings,  Julie