No News is Good News!

Things have been busy in the last 3 weeks since I posted!

Thankfully, Fred continues to feel well and there have been times when asked how he's feeling he says, "Great!"  PTL!! He continues to work at the farm and was working fairly frequently at the "house" in the early part of the month until he accomplished the tasks he needed to complete before winter set in.

Here's evidence of the Lords mercy and goodness as he blessed us with fantastic weather to complete the project of filling in the hole.

First came the footing and the wall

Next the gravel

Packing it in

And then the dirt for our back yard!

One last project to accomplish before spring is the removal of a rather large Chinese Elm from the front yard. So for all of you men that didn't get in on the previous work days.....start your chain saws!! :)  

(actually not quite yet!... we will most likely start this project in the new year)

Thanks so much for your love, support, and prayers....we are truly in awe of the power of your prayers in keeping us in HIS comfort and peace!  To God be the glory!

May God bless each of you with an amazingly, blessed Christmas!

THANKSGIVING!

We continue to be amazed by GOD's goodness in our lives!!!  Another year has passed and we had the privilege of gathering as a family at Thanksgiving!  So many scriptures have been pouring into our lives, for which we are deeply thankful!  HE continues to assure us HE knows right where we are and our job is to simply stay the course...and with a course filled with HIS exceedingly abundant peace, why would we choose to go anywhere else??? :)  Hope you all had a beautiful day of Thanksgiving with your families!

Many Hands Make Light Work! :)

So excited to share some pics of our work day on Saturday!  We had about 53 of our dear family and friends show up (that's 106 hands! ;) and did things ever fly! :)  By 3pm (4 hours later) the job was done and we were elated!

Fred is doing real well with the new protocol.  The first week he took smaller doses so his body could adjust and this week he's up to full doses, which is causing some serious detoxing which results in tiredness.  So...he's taking it easy and letting his body rest instead of trying to push and keep working full days.

So here's the pics!

Let's start with the backhoe operator! Love this guy! XO

Loading out the old foundation 

Our truck drivers! XOXO

Pickin up....

breakin up....

 

loadin up...

and loadin up some more!

 Then there were the tree trimmers, grinders, brush haulers and brush whackers.....

Let's see, I think we started with 20, but the final count was closer to 22!

I'll vouch for them, they really did help load that trailer....plus a few more!

And a handy fella that generally cleaned up around there... :)

So we don't want to forget about the walnuts.....

We racked up piles of leaves and walnuts......

and more walnuts.....

A whole truck load of walnuts!!!!  I'm sure glad we had help!

 Then of course we had lunch! Thanks to the kind neighbor who opened his home to us!

So just a brief overview of the day.  We appreciate so much all the support we have been shown.  We continue to stay in our peace and continue in an unreasoning trust by HIS grace!
Love you all!

Living Life...

Sorry for the delay in posting!  We decided early this week that we needed to get in a work day at the "house" so we've been busy planning our strategy for Saturday.  We'll be grinding out stumps, picking up walnuts...didn't make a dent in them the other day :O as well as mowing, and tearing out all the old brick basement walls and hauling it away!

Fred's been filling his days with office work at the farm, as well as running for parts.  At Dr. appt. Monday they took all 32 staples out and Dr. said he could lift as much as 30# but not to overdo! So we decided we better ask for a little help! ;)

Thanks so much for all the messages in support of our faith and hope!
We continue....living life and thanking GOD!

Our Little Boat of HOPE and Answered Prayer

A little over a week ago, the Friday before we left the hospital, we were visited by an Oncologist whose job  was to give us the pathology report.  He told us what he knew about the cancer that was still in Fred’s abdomen and he told us what he would do to treat it and what we could expect from that treatment.  It was a message without HOPE.  As we went to sleep that night, having committed ourselves to the GOD of the Universe, our FATHER, we were at peace.  In the early morning hours Fred awoke and turned to the WORD and GOD opened the scripture to 2Kings 19:6-37, then he called to me and I read it also…GOD had built us a little boat of HOPE, and tucked us inside, and WE purposed in our hearts to stay right there!  We are not filled with fear, because the same LORD who Hezekiah served is our LORD too.  This is what the doctor said.  What is in the abdomen is the same type of cancer that was on Fred’s neck two years.  It’s a poorly differentiated small cell cancer.  There is no cure, only treatment.  That treatment is chemo, and because this type of cancer is aggressive, chemo will have a positive effect on killing it, but it won’t get it all and it will only work once. He said his median life expectancy is 3 months without their chemo and 9 months with their chemo. 

And then the LORD opened HIS WORD to 2Kings 19:6-37…. 

This post has been really hard to put out there because we have HIS amazing peace abiding in our hearts.  It’s been hard to write it all out, the prognosis wants to keep coming up and smacking us in the face, but we are looking with anticipation of the miracle our LORD has the power to perform.  

We have been waiting for the LORD to tell us what to do next.  Last Saturday night we got our answer.  HE has been very clear to us and has directed us in another way.  We will begin incorporating a new protocol within the week.  We feel this new protocol has great potential, but it’s just our little part, it’s that little something we can be doing while HE does HIS will…and we are good with whatever comes!

So now I would just ask you to step in FAITH into our little boat of HOPE, with a prayer to GOD that HIS will would be done and that we would have the grace to accept it.  I think soon our little boat of HOPE will become a ship of FAITH as GOD grows it to hold us all.  And no matter how big the waves, we will all feel safe in HIS presence.

I asked Fred to share a closing thought, and this is what he said… “All I want to say is that there’s nothing like HOPE!  You can’t put a value on HOPE, it’s just amazing!  We praise GOD for JESUS!”

IN STRONG HOPE,  Fred & Brenda

Weight Gain!!!

Exciting news!!!  Fred has gained 5 lbs!!!

Today, one week and 3 days after surgery, he spent a couple hours at the farm in the office....I think! ;)

It's another beautiful, crisp, autumn day! We plan to spend some time in town at the "house."
Actually the "house" looks like this...

We have a little walnut grove on our property, so picking up walnuts and soaking in the oxygen is what's on tap for this afternoon! :) Well...I'm planning to pick up walnuts... Fred might need to be the site manager! :)

Praising the LORD for each step forward!!!

New Day...New Hope

Thanks for the extra prayers and support through your comments, emails and text messages!

Ready to face another day!  Plan to spend some time outside in the sun soaking up the brilliant yellow color bouncing off the golden trees in our yard! :)

Waiting

Our days are passed by doing daily stuff, following our protocol at home, and waiting....this part can kind of get to the mind!
Please pray that we can submit to the waiting.
Actually, we must be in the right place because the enemy has ramped it up a notch!
Covet your prayers!

Day 5 - HOME!!!!

Day 4 - FOOD!!!

Another gift!!!

Dr. came in and said Fred's bowel was awake enough and he could order anything he wanted!!! But just to go slow on the quantity, stop when his body tells him it's full!!!  Soooooo here he is... he just finished placing his order...an egg omelet and hot chocolate!

If all goes through without difficulty, he will soon be heading home!!!  Possibly as soon as tomorrow!!! :) We are VERY HAPPY and THANKFUL!!!  GOD IS SO GOOD!  Thanks for continuing with us in prayer for his healing and recovery!

Special Blessing on the LORD'S DAY

Praise the LORD!!!  HE has blessed us again with the evidence that HE has healed Fred's intestinal blockage.  Not only are all liquids going in without difficulty....but as of this morning... things are moving out as well!!! :)

Please join us in thanking and praising GOD for this very special blessing on this VERY special day...HIS day!  We look forward to a day of WORSHIP!

Day 3

The Dr. came in and...he said the NG tube could be clamped for 6-8 hours and Fred could start on clear liquids!!!  So we ordered up some chicken broth to start off his day, then took to the halls to do a couple laps.  Was up in the chair for the next 6 hours.  At 2:30 the nurse came in to see how much residual fluids were left in the stomach, then went to call the Dr.  At about 3PM the NG tube came out!!!  Fred was very relieved!

The rest of the day has been spent sampling little amounts of clear liquids so he doesn't overdo it.  Thankfully he has not had any nausea and his bowel sounds are getting stronger, which means his digestive tract is "waking up" as the Dr says.

Praising GOD for HIS peace and love that surrounds us! So thankful for all the love and prayers that bring us these blessings!

p.s. last night the aide came in & said "I have something for you." I said, "For Fred?" and she said, "No, for you!" It was a bed!!!  Soooo I'm looking forward to my second night in a bed! ;)

Day 2

We started the day off by doing 3 laps around the halls before nine o'clock!!!  When he got back he thought he'd try a couple hours in the chair.  Well, that turned into 5 hours!  He really tolerated things well today!

Dr. has said as soon as there is indication that things are starting to move in the colon, he will get to have the NG removed and begin clear liquids.  So prayers for this would be appreciated.  He also mentioned that belching was a good indicator that things were starting to move in the right direction.  Fred hadn't done any yet but within the next half hour, he belched twice.  Amazing the things that delight us! And by the end of the day the count was 3 that I heard!

Dr. Wieland came in and removed the dressing and the site looks real good. The incision is only 6 inches long, all nicely stapled back together.

It was a delight to have our grandchildren pay us a visit! As well as the others who offered encouragement!
Well I think that's it for today.

Day 1

Today, after "dangling" (as the nurses call it)  he got up and walked 2 laps around the hall!  The surgeon came in and told us that the portion of small bowel that was removed was only 6 inches!  Because it was so tightly concentrated in that small area, that was all that needed to be removed.  The other area of tumor growth is not something that can simply be cut out.  So our focus needs to stay on getting Fred healed so he is strong enough to fight! He worked on that by taking another walk before bed, doing one lap around the hall. :)

Post-Op Updates

Fred had a good night of rest.  His pain is being managed very well by the medication.  His lungs are clear, his color is good, and he still has an NG tube.  He was left on O2 from surgery according to Dr. Wieland's orders to help keep his body oxygenated which aids in the healing process.

Dr. says recovery takes 4-5 days in the hospital and 3-6 weeks at home.  My goal is to give an update at the end of each hospital day.  So that's all for now until this evening.  And for those of you who know me real well, "the end of the day" isn't until midnight! ;) ....but I'll do my best to get it in before that!

It's Done!

The surgery started a little later than what was scheduled, but was done quicker than what we expected!  The blessing is that Fred's small bowel is now repaired.  The blockage has been removed and the Dr. stated it was a very straight forward operation.  He could see exactly what needed to be done... and did it.  The blockage was due to a cancer that was growing inside his small bowel and pinching off the passage.  He also found another area of tumor growth so he did a biopsy of both.  We are extremely thankful that the blockage was small, could be removed, and that we can anticipate a full recovery of his digestive tract.  The other area we will deal with later.

We are praising GOD for his tender mercy and faithfulness...

Thank you all for your support in prayers and love....we continue to feel an amazing peace as HE covers us with HIS love through each of you.

Thanks!

Some of you said you were having difficulty leaving comments on the blog, so I've tried to check everything and it appears that it should work...we'll see.

 We just want to thank each and everyone of you who have offered your support of love and prayers! The many emails and text messages have been so encouraging!  Please forgive me if I haven't answered yours yet, I'll try to keep up as best I can.

Sounds like the surgery has been bumped up to 10AM.  I'll post as soon as I can after we get the results, it will probably be mid to late afternoon.

Resting in HIS peace

Fred & Brenda

SURGERY

We have seen both the GI Dr. and the Surgeon today and they both agree that exploratory surgery is the next step, to which Fred and I have agreed also... he can't go on living like he has the past couple weeks. We are very blessed to have Dr's we feel very comfortable with and trust...leaving all the rest to GOD!

We continue to look to HIM with unreasoning trust....

Good Results on Friday...but We're Back in the Hospital

Our hearts are so thankful that the colonoscopy on Friday concluded there was nothing wrong in the colon but, after the weekend, we're back in.
Fred got sick again late this morning so after a phone call to the Dr.'s office we came down for an appointment which led to his being admitted to St. Jo.
An NG tube is soon to be put in for suctioning the stomach contents and help relieve the pressure.  Last week after this was done it relieved his pain fairly quickly, so we hope for the same results!
We plead for prayer! And thanks so much for all the support we have been shown! We feel HIS love through each kind deed and word of encouragement!  GOD is good!

It's Time to Blog...

Fishing at our pond in July

2011 has been a year of changes! 

The first change came when Reuben asked me to inquire of a friend of ours whether she would be interested in selling her house in Strawn.  Long story short she was, and at the end of June he moved out into his own place.  But prior to that, the Lord brought about an opportunity in May for Fred & I to purchase a piece of property in the little Village of Forrest! The first weekend of June Reuben was baptized and then the 16th a delightful change came when we welcomed Kyson into Seth & Renee's little family.  We started "day"dreaming about house plans, but not too much until Caleb came around in August with his engagement to Shannon!  We thought we would start in earnest preparing the ground to build in the spring, after the wedding, but Sunday night Fred got sick and it was apparent we needed to see the Dr.

Monday, October 10th he was admitted to St. Joseph's for a small bowel obstruction.  After starting the fluids to flush his system, the pain returned.  With no change during the night, an NG tube was put in place at 6AM Tuesday morning, the pain subsided fairly soon and then we waited... and PTL things started moving @ 4:25 that evening.  The next 24 hrs kept showing improvements, the NG tube was removed around 11AM and at 4:30 the doc came in and said we could be discharged but that we needed to schedule a colonoscopy for Friday.  So with great delight we were headed out of the hospital parking lot about 6PM. We had a good night and today has been free of pain.  He's started his flush again in prep for the colonoscopy which is scheduled for 12:30 tomorrow.