God is really doing something big!

Interesting! It has 5 1/2 years since I've written in this blog! Much has happened. We have two adorable grandsons! Yes, grand-parenting is amazing! One boy is 2 1/2 and the other 6 1/2 months. They are so cute at every stage! I love every minute with them, and can't get enough of them! Also, I have a new employer: another religious publisher in town. I started 4 1/2 years ago. I'm not in an editor position as I formerly had in the career I lost, but am doing production editing. I get to work on children's products and that can be fun. Some days I work puzzles, make crafts, and color! I do enjoy that! The main reason I decided to resurrect the blog is to provide updates on the health of husband David and me. The last six months have been crazy! I suffer back pain that seems to have no cure. Surgeons say I'm not ready for surgery, which is fine. I don't want surgery. I've long seen a chiropractor, which offers minimal help. And I've gone through the gamut of injections and other procedures, which has done little. In October I saw a new surgeon to get a fresh perspective. A few days later, on my birthday, I had an MRI on my back. Then after getting back to work that day, I received a call to return to the doctor's office immediately. They said the scan showed something unusual. It turns out they saw a large tumor, probably attached to my right kidney. Now any attention to my back trouble would have to take a back seat. Happy birthday to me! I had surgery December 7 and did well. They removed the tumor and the kidney. After 4 days in the hospital, they released me, and I went to stay at my Mom's, since David was at school during the days. My time at Mom's was fun. I was there about 12 days, I think. And I believe she enjoyed mothering me! I know I enjoyed it. We sometimes plan for me to hang out with her some weekend to return to those days! In January I saw an oncologist and he prescribed my treatment plan: surveillance! No chemo or medical trial, but a watch-and-wait plan. I'll have a scan in July to see if cancer returns. The day after my surgery, David was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma! He had seen a pulmonologist in the spring for his coughing. The doctor thought he had fibrosis from an earlier illness, but no treatment required. Then in October David had pneumonia, which required an X-ray to diagnose it. After he was over it, the doctor had him have another X-ray to confirm the pneumonia was gone. It was, but the scan revealed a couple of unexplained spots. The spots had originated from the melanoma he had had two years ago when he had a mole removed from his back. David has since been seeing an oncologist and been part of an immunotherapy treatment plan, plus had a little radiation. He began infusion right after Christmas and has had it every three weeks. The infusion isn't like chemo to kill the tumors, but chemicals that encourage the body to attack the tumors. He had a scan two weeks ago to see if there has been any improvement. Unfortunately, the answer wasn't cut and dry, but only indicated activity, which is the tumors being attacked. The plan is to keep getting infusions for the next few months until they scan again and make another determination and treatment plan. David has held up well, despite the side effects. The first side effect was a rash, which has been extremely itchy. And his cough is increased and he has many times of extreme exhaustion. He struggles with keeping an appetite. Unfortunately, this has caused him to lose over 25 pounds. I know this is all1 frustrating for him. I'm so thankful for daughter Natalie, son Zach, and daughter-in-law Marie. They have been such great support. And because I was still fragile after surgery (29 staples for the 13-inch zipper-like incision down my middle), Zach and Marie accompanied David to his first appointment. They all have attended some of his subsequent meetings and appointments so this new information is absorbed and comprehended! Whoever heard of a husband and wife being diagnosed with cancer at the same time?! I think it is interesting how my kind of cancer and treatment allows me to be fairly healthy (after surgery) while he's doing treatments. I know God is doing something big! Our job is to wait and watch! We are taking each day one at a time, and letting Him handle it all! He's got this! He knew we'd go through this. Some of my favorite sayings/Scripture are: "In my distress I called to the Lord and He answered me" and "I'll make it because He carries me." So we carry on. Life is a little less hectic, because on some days we just can't do what we want to do. We've missed church and Sunday School, as well as other services and gatherings. I was out of orchestra for a while, and continuing attendance is hit or miss. I had to decline playing in the orchestra in the latest community theater presentation. I just couldn't do it. That was disappointing. But God is with us and He will get us through! He is doing something big!