Much Love & Itching!

Well, it's been awhile since I have written but this summer has been busy with the move and all but you can hear all that in the "hope to be" Christmas Letter. ( I can dream) Had appointment in Iowa City today. It's a little different driving from this direction. Takes about the same amount of time,maybe 15 minutes more, but it is worth it when you like the doctor and people there, even if it may seem a little extreme. Hence the title "Much Love".

I have mentioned it before the many people you see when you got to Iowa City as far as just getting checked in. There is the check-in ladies, the lab crew that draw your blood, the lady that meets you to take you vitals and ask questions, the lady that comes and asks you about the medication you are on, the Nurse Practitioner/ Dr in training that comes in and checks you over and asks you questions about how you are actually doing and if you have any questions.They do a little exam and then are done. Next Karen comes in who is the trial drug representative. She goes over the blood work, gets you your next 3 months worth of medication and takes what you have left. Sets up appointments and answers any questions or concerns we may have. When she is done or as she is about done then Dr. Gingrich comes in. So a total of 7 people I go through before I am even really seen by Dr Gingrich and there isn't much left to go over but it is still a joy to visit with him and hear what he has to say about what is going on with me. He is truly a wonderful doctor.

Today Karen in going over my blood work tells me that my white count is up and so is my liver enzymes. They are accounting this probably to the prednazone, which I am on for my poison ivy. I say probably because they are sure it accounts for my white count but not totally the liver. The Tasigna/Nilotinib has a tendency to raise your liver levels and this is something they always watch. I will have my blood recheck in a couple weeks here to check and see how they are doing. The normal range is 0-20 and mine was 53. My white counts was up just a little with ranges from 3.7-10.5 and mine was 13.3 so just a little high. My test results from my last visit still weren't down to the zero where they would like for my leukemia. Depending on how my results are this time (it will take up to 3 weeks to get results) if it hasn't gone done then, they will up my dose from 300mg to 400mg.

Ok, now my poison ivy. So three weeks ago coming this Wednesday it was finally cool enough that I was able to concur my weeds in my front flower bed. This is not a very small flower bed and it had many over grown weeds. I never really knew exactly what all was in the flower bed since we moved in but did recognize some hosteas and so just went with keeping those and the rest went. Well, two days later I have a few patches on my forearms that are itching, the next day some on my legs. I go to Doctors here in Johnston for a first time visit and she says poison ivy. Uhgg! At the time it wasn't that bad, with just some spot like I said, on right forearm and a little on my leg. Well after about another day I had more on both legs and both arms. But it was the weekend and knowing it was poison ivy just got some poison ivy wash and cream from Walgreens and used that 3-4 times a day for some relief. By the end of one and a half weeks I now have it on my both arms, legs and chest and creeping up my next. I start to panic now and am sooo uncomfortable! But, it is Labor Day weekend so end up going into Urgent Care. The doctor there was very nice but was concerned about the medication I was on with my leukemia that she suggested a different poison ivy wash which she said would work better. Well, I think it made it worse because I received NO comfort from it. Now it has been two and a half week and there is now some on my back too. Back to the doctors I go where on Friday of last week I finally am able to get on Prednazone. I am finally starting to get some relief. The cooler the weather the better off I am. I have given into the itches so will probably have some scars but hey. I NEVER thought about having poison ivy in my own flower beds. I hadn't really ever heard of it before so I wasn't even looking for it. Now that I look back we have found a couple small plants. Now I just have to get rid of it. So that is my story and I'm sticking to it. (hahha)

Things are going well here in Johnston, Iowa. The kids are getting involved in school. Making friends is no problem for Hanna and it will come for Nathan. He involved in French club, Jazz Band, and Soccer so some way or another he will make some friends. Craig is staying busy at the New Hope Church with outreach ministry stuff and I am busy here at home with house stuff. I have applied for several jobs but have honestly enjoyed the days home alone but miss the work too.

Some of you may have seen the special on ABC, NBC, and CBS the other night called, Stand up to Cancer. First off, I think it was amazing that all three networks got together to do this second I encourage everyone to donate to this wonderful cause. All the proceeds go to new drug trials and cancer research. We were told today from Dr Gingrich that this test drug I am on, Tasigna/Nilotinib is now on the market and has basically replaced the Gleevex because it is working so well. He also told us that new studies they are doing that he is excited about is that people who have been on the Tasigna and have gone into remission, after a period of time they were taken off of it and 50% of the people started showing signs of leukemia and went back on the Tasigna with still great and fast response. The other 50% who went off it and were able to maintain the normal numbers after 6 months have been able to stay off of it so far. These are encouraging thoughts and words. What once there was no cure for now has a drug that can put you in remission with the possiblities of eventually getting off it too. This is great news but they wouldn't be able to come up with it with out the funding. Go to www.standup2cancer.org and make a donation and help some a life. You never know who might be saving.

Hmmmmm?

Guess what! I finally got my test results. Of course I also had a Dr appointment today too. The nurse asked when she took me back if I had any questions or concerns for the Dr and I just said, "I'm waiting for my test results." She said "From today?"I replied, "No, two weeks ago." She just said, "oh" and left. Real helpful. Well, that might all change. My test results said everything was looking good. That my Gleevex was staying in my body like it was suppose too but then why are my numbers going up? For some unknown reason in some people the Gleevex sort of stops working. It stops killing off those pesky mutating chromosomes. They are finding a way to fight through my Gleevex. The good news is that there are still other drugs out there that have worked that we will try. Now don't ask me their names. I couldn't tell you. They are nothing I have heard of before.

While we were in the office with Dr Sangha he called Dr Gingrich in Iowa City and conferred with him. It made me feel good that he has been talking with him. I always felt good about when I saw Dr Gingrich the one time and deep down sort of wished I had continued to see him. Well, my wish may be coming true. There is a drug that they have been doing group studies on that I may take part in. I would need to go to Iowa City however for some of the blood work. So we are going to be making an appointment to visit with Dr Gingrich and get more information about both of the two drugs and decide then which to try. At this point I will continue to stay on the Gleevex.It may not being working completely but it is keeping my white cells down and that is good.

So that is really basically where I am at for now. I do have another appointment to see Dr Sangha in a month. I am not really worried about my counts going up right now. The way we are looking at them is on such a molecular level that it is totally still manageable but good that we are catching it now rather then much later. Dr. Sangha said too that it isn't anything at this time to be worried or panicked about. There are still many options out there for me.

I wrote last time about how my mind was taking over and I was afraid I was feeling symptoms of my leukemia getting worse. For example cramping around my spleen. Well, it really was the chiropractor that helped. And as far as the fasting goes, well that hasn't happened yet either. Maybe one of these days. I know I would probably feel better if I did. I know when I stepped on the scale it would be nice if it said just 10 pounds less. I don't think I mentioned last time that I was getting my flu shot. Well, I got that last Friday and man was that NOT fun! That night my mind started working over time. I hadn't had an anxiety attack like that for quite a while. I felt like I was having an allergic reaction. My eyes were itchy, and my chest was congested. My mind just went into over drive that I wasn't going to be able to breath soon. Needless to say I was fine. However when I got up the next morning my eyes had a lot of goop in them and they were beyond puffy!! It was really scary. My son even said in the morning, "What kind of flu shot did you get mom" My mind will always be like that but I can see the signs, my not breathing (as my husband says) and just the feeling I get in my stomach. I am thankful that I have Craig to go to who can just sit with me and remind me to breath more often then what I have been and that I will be just fine.

This past weekend I was able to finally meet David, whom i wrote about a long time ago, who was diagnosed with AML (Acute Mylogenous Leukemia) shortly after my diagnosis. Just an update on him. He is in complete remission but will continue to be tested on a regular basis. God is good!! I know he thanks many for your prayers and I can look to him as an encouragement. He has had to go through a lot more then I have and look how well things turned out for him.

Also, this evening we, as a family, had the privileged to have dinner with our friend Connie whose daughter had the severe infection in her C2-C3 vertebra, had an emergency surgery,and was put on a respirator and basically had no feeling in her body from the neck down. Her daughter, Suzanna, was taken off the respirator Tuesday and has been able to stay off with out needing to have a trachea put in. And the same day she had some pain in her left arm. These are all wonderful steps and proves what a fighter she is. Of course the doctors and nurses aren't saying a whole lot yet and are thinking that the pain she felt may just be phantom pains but I truly believe it is God working slowing in and through her. Continue to pray for her.

Just an update on my family. We all continue to stay VERY busy. (I think that is an understatement) Anyone with kids knows how it is. Both kids are involved in soccer and Craig and I are coaching Nathan's team. This is the first year in many that we have had a U-14 team so that is pretty cool. He has his first game on Saturday and Hanna has her second game Saturday. She won her first game which was really good being's they had never played on their field till that day. So soccer keeps us busy with each having practices twice a week and games on Saturdays'. Last Saturday was our first Bible Quiz match. Our teams did great. Of course both kids are involved in that as well as Craig and myself. One of our junior girls placed first. Then there is the busy Wednesday schedule at church with bell practice, praise band, and choir practice. We had our Ice Cream social last week and that was a wonderful turn out. There was 14 pork tenderloins cooked up, and 38 gallons of ice-cream made and there wasn't much left at the end of the night. So with work on top of all of this,and being a mom, how am I suppose to answer when the Dr asked if I am feeling tired? What do you think!!

Bum, Bum, Bum!!

Once again it has been a while since i have written. I am struggling. Things in the beginning were all going so fast and for the last three months they seem to be at a stand still. I know I talked about plateaus before in regards to my blood being at a plateau. This time it is the action we have been taking and what seems the lack there off that has come to the plateau.

I saw Dr Sangha August 28th for blood draw and to see the Dr. I had forgotten or didn't realize that at my July 27th blood draw they had drawn for the FISH test as well. When I was in this last time he was a little concerned about those test results. My count had gone up. From .06, to .12. So they did another FISH test on the 28th. Dr Sangha just said that it could just be a "bad batch" or a "Bad run" per say. At that moment of my appointment I really didn't worry or think about it. He had told me this could happen. Plus, I was in a MAJOR mood at my last appointment, due to my plateau I was feeling and not feeling like I was getting very good treatment from the Dr and nurse in regards to getting test results and the what not. But something inside me said that Dr Sangha was thinking this was more then just a "Bad Batch." I just wasn't really wanting to hear i t just then. He told me to call a week from Monday and check in with him in regards to the results.

My white count that day and the rest of my results were still looking good. My white count was at 5.3 which is on the low end of normal but good. I asked about if I should be checking into getting flu shots and what not and after some him hawing he said I probably should. Kids at school have already been getting the flu and it is only Sept, the start of a new school year. I need to call Dr. Christiasen about that yet.

So today, I called to get my FISH results. I was impressed this time that the nurse could actually tell me the results this time but wasn't sure if Dr Sangha had seen then yet so said she would check with him. I got a call back about 12:30 and it was actually Dr Sangha. You know it isn't good when the Dr actually calls you back. My FISH has gone up from .12 to .3 now. Now I have to go back in on Thursday morning at 8:30 to have another blood draw. He wants me to not take my Gleevec that morning and see how much Gleevec I have in my system. He says there are some Leukemia's that after a while start to like resist the Gleevec. Then after my blood draw I can take my pills. My number could be going up just because we lowered my Gleevec from 800 to 600. If that is the case it will be an easy fix. If not, then I am not sure what we will have to do. Craig says there are other super Gleevec meds that I can take and try.

So now it is another waiting game. I don't know how long it will take to get this test results back come Thursday but I will get back to you when I know more. My mind of course is struggling not to think bad thoughts but I can trust that my counts are still at a controllable level and still quite low so that is great. We have caught this early. I can tell myself all this one moment but then the next worry like you wouldn't believe. I have to admit, I had a hard time not crying when he first told me my count really was up. It was a good thing I was at work and was extremely busy testing kids all day and didn't have much time to think about it. In fact, I stayed busy up until 7:30 with Hanna's soccer practice and then Nathan's. And by the time I got home I was almost too tired to think too much on it. Tomorrow will be yet another very busy day. Even more busy with more testing at school and then Bible Quizzing, followed by bells practice, Praise team practice, and then Choir. Then before I know it, it will be Thursday morning.

Echo-Echo-Echo

Are you wondering about my title and picture this time? Well, it has to do with my last Dr appointment I had Friday June 26th. First let me say that this was the first time my Dr appointment took two hours! I really wish they would have told me they were running behind. I could have gone and done some of my running around and come back. He did say I was the first healthiest patient he had had all day and this was at 3:30. Not a good day for him I don't think.

My reports were good. My white count was actually in the low normal range. Hallelujah! It was 4.9 and the lowest normal level is 4.8. My hemoglobin was still below normal at 11 but that isn't bad either.It is all slowly coming back up. He was not planning on me having the FISH or PCR done for another month but when I had gone into the lab they had it on their orders to draw for both of those. I am to call them later yet this week and find out what the results of these were cause Dr. Sangha said that if these were looking good that he would probably lower my medication from 800 milligrams to 600 or even 400. This would be great! Not that I have really struggled with the medication but it would help releave some of the muscle cramps I have had mostly in my hands now. Some times when doing the littlest of things my fingers and hand will cramp up and get tight. It doesn't really hurt but feel real strange and you don't have much control over it. Also the lower dosage would help with it settling better in my stomach I would think. I will report here on the blog later this week in regards to that.

Dr Sangha also talked about getting be scheduled for and echo cardiogram. Hence forth the picture. This is the part I need you praying about. Anything pertaining to my heart just totally freaks me out! It is one of my major anxiety issues. I have always worried about having some sort of heart failure. I haven't actually worried too much about it for over a year now.Since my panic attachs years ago I have had EKGs and even a stress test and everything has been normal and just fine. But my mind has a way of telling me differntly. For about a week now, but even more so since Fridays appointment, I have been feeling like I am more stressed. I thought it just had to do with the business that has been going on this past monthbut to tell you the truth I dont know exactly why I am feeling this way. I just feel my neck and shoulders are much more tight, I have definetly been clenching down on my teeth much more again and sleep has been a little disturbed. My mind keeps thinking bad thoughts. Here things have been going so well that for a short while now, even before the mention of echo cardiogram was mentioned, I have been wondering what is going to happen. My mind just gets going and thinking things like "things have been going to well, you know something is going to change. It cant all be this easy. You know you are doomed for worse things." I lay in bed and can feel how my breaths are short and how tense I am and know my mind is trying to take over.

My mind tries to make big of even the littlest of discomforts my body has. Like last night my body was a little sore from moving furniture in the basement yesterday and it tries to tell me that this is signs of heart problems. I try to pray my prayer I say all the time my minds starts going, "Do not be anxious about anything , but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God." Philippians 4:6 This usually brings me comfort and eventually sleep but I more then often have to repeat it more then once. I just noticed something about this verse, a part I had been leaving out when I prayed it. The part that says, with thanksgiving. Am I thanking God for these feelings? No, more like thanking him for being there and being able to take away the feelings if I am willing to present them to him. Knowing that God is with me. I so could not get through those times and many others if I didn't know God was there. I don't know yet when my appointment will be. The person scheduling it was going to make it for the same day I went back for my blood draw in a month on July 27th. I will check on that too when I call about my blood results.

Something else my body has had to adapt to with the whole medication and leukemia stuff is my monthly period. For most of my life I have been blessed with a very slow, inactive period. But since about March my flow has been way, way more then I am use to. I am back to worrying about leaking and having to change my pad way more often. (sorry men about this but it is a part of life and what I am going through.) This has been a source of stress as well.

I will be adding a few books that I have read that have been helpful to me that you may find of interest in the book list here on this blog. The one that was really helpful with my anxiety and depression was "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow. This book has a lot of really good stuff in it.

So that is where I am at now with my CML and so thought I would share a little bit about what my family is and has been up too. The big news is that Craig got ordained June 7th at the Annual United Methodist Conference. A lot of family came to Ames to take part in this special occasion and just this last Sunday, June 28 we had an open house for him here out Geneseo U.M.C. We had the pleasure of seeing people we haven't seen for many years like Bob and Jean Cousens. And also meeting Craigs grandma Ferguson's neice and her husband,Merlene and Lyle Neher whom actually dont live too far from us. I am very proud of my husband and all the hard work he has had done. He is my strength and comforter.

We had the pleasure this month to camp for four days with my side of the family in Yankton S.D. It is always so much fun to just sit and relax and be able to visit and be with my folk and sibblings and their families. And of course the kids always enjoy being able to get together for more then just a short few hours and get some good play time in. They are all growing up so fast. The weather was great minus a pretty good storm that went through early one morning and I was very greatful that we weren't tenting it this year but had rented a camper.

Blessing to everyone and remember Prayer Changes Things!

Thanks, I needed that!!

As many of you have read and maybe know I have been feeling a little down as far as my counts have been going. It just hasn't seem to be going anywhere. I have also been thinking in the back of my mind (where I do some of my worst thinking) that things just weren't going well and that I felt and thought that maybe things were turning for the worst. I really didn't have any reason to be thinking this. There had been a few things that I have noticed physically. For example, I have two bruises right now and for some reason my mind wants to make those bruises evolve into much more and worse thoughts. For heavens sakes! They are just bruises and we all get them and with two kids and being involved in this production of "Godspell" it is to be expected. Nothing more. But my mind just takes things so out of proportion! And it has been those kind of thought that get me to thinking that things really aren't as good as it seems.

In a way this has been kind of good. Sound weird? Well, with things just kind of being "normal" or "mundane" I had forgotten how thankful I am and was not going to God like I should. Studying his word, talking more with him. Even with doing "Godspell" and hearing the parables in Mathew on a nightly bases I seem to have become numb to it all and used the excuse that I was just too busy or tired and that God would understand. Well, thankfully He still loves me even when I am not paying attention like I should be and know when I need a little reminder. So that is just what he did. He gave me a reminder.

Last week I went and had another F.I.S.H. test done and wasn't really looking forward to the results. The last time the results weren't what we had hoped for so why should they be any different this time. So to the Dr's I go. The lab techs call me back and (they are always so pleasant and nice to talk with) and for the first time in four months she didn't get my vein. Actually my vein had rolled I guess. So she had to go digging for my vein (being very apologetic.) But here I was, already not looking forward to hearing my FISH results and then this happens. She thankfully didn't have to poke me again and was able to get what she need with just a little digging. So then I ask the dreaded question as to whether they had my results from my FISH test. So she went back and check and they did have it and then starting talking about about how good it was. In my mind I really thought that it would probably be at like 38%, but then I heard them say something about 6.2. I thought to myself, "surely that isn't my FISH results. That sounds more like my white count." So I said, "Is that my FISH or my white count?" And the nurse replies that it is my FISH. WOW! What a jump!! How amazing!! It had gone from 63.4% to 6.2% in one month. Do you know what this means? It mean (I believe) that I am really close to being in my second stage of remission. At least this is the way Craig and I are interpreting it and will find out more when we see Dr Sanga next week. So in basically three months I am about in my second stage of remission. This is amazing!

Now my white count was about the same as it has been, 3.5 and hemoglobin at 10.3. I am not sure when we will start seeing those numbers start to normalize. If it wont be till I am closer to my third remission or what.

So now I am feeling guilty for ever doubting and having those terrible thoughts. Look at how God has been there with me this whole time but I have lost track or him in my business and normalcy. Why do we let ourselves do that? We have heard it over and over again about how God is always with us but yet it takes things like this to open our eyes and see the truth.

In the past three months I have been attempting (but not doing well at recently) reading the New Testament.I have only gotten as far as Matthew, Mark, and Luke and the thing I am getting out of it the most right now is how often Jesus looked at his disciples shaking his head and saying things like "You Fools. When will you ever learn? Your faith is so little." There is a line in "Godspell" that Jesus says to us when he has left to go pray and comes back and finds us asleep that just always makes me think. He says , "Oh, the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!" Isn't that how it is with us? We have the spirit and the desire and knowing but yet we give in to our human ways. I mean think about it. Jesus was with these disciples. He was real to them. They could see him and touch him, eat, drink and sleep with him but yet their own flesh was weak. All we have is the Bible and the stories to guide us and the just knowing he is always with us and we cant do any better. I challenge each of you along with myself especially this week to make more of an effort to take the time that God deserves. Read his book, meditate on his word and most of all talk with him. I know I will stumble and fall and that my flesh is weak but I also know that I have not been putting my whole heart into it either. Take time with God daily this week and see if you can hear God saying, "Well, done my good and faithful servant. Well, done."

I have a couple prayer request for you to talk with God about. First, we have a member of our congregation whose brother was diagnosis with AML a couple weeks ago. This a the same form of leukemia that I have only my is chronic and his is acute. His name is David. He has had to have his first round of radiation/chemo and I have heard that he is doing well so far. I do not know what his counts are or any of that but ask that you keep him in your prayers. For something that you don't hear much about CML or AML I find it strange that in four months not only myself but someone else has this same thing.

I also ask prayers for my friend of mines sister who I have known since I was in Jr High who has fought, with much diligence, Neurofibromatosis, Type II since 1988. Since then she has had 50 surgeries/procedures. Neurofibromatosis is the development of symmetric, non-malignant brain tumors in the region of the cranial nerve. Her face is misshapen from tumors and surgeries and she has lost her hearing for most of this time until she had her ABI (Auditory Brainstem Implant) put in 2006 and was able to hear "sounds" but not words. At her last visit her doctors, who were very good to her during this whole thing, told her, "Sorry, we wish we could have done more." Basically there is no more they can do for her. She was not expected to see her 18th birthday and she is now 33. She has never known life without pain. She tolerates it with medication. She says she know where she is going, just not in a hurry!! We use to joke and call her the "Energizer Bunny" how she just keeps going. Anyway, her name is Dorisa and I would really like your prayers for her and her family.

One last thing. I had asked for prayers for my brother Todd in the past and he is doing exceptionally well. He had his surgery and it went even better then they expected. I have talked with him a few times since and he sounds so good. He is even getting back to work. They thought at first he would have to have another surgery down the road but it is looking like they will not have to do that either. Praise the Lord. God is Good!!

Thank you all for your wonderful prayers and keeping us up lifted. Thank you also for the comments some of you have made. I keep them all. God Bless.

Phase One

Went to the Dr Sangha's on my own Thursday for my visit. It has been a month since I have been on my Gleevec. As you know my numbers have gone down drastically. Well, they continue too. My white count was 4,200. I did ask how low my count could go and he said without any hesitation 1,000 some. I am officially in the first stage of remission. (HIP HIP HOORAY!!) I will continue to go in once a week for my blood check and in two weeks I will have the FISH test (that I mentioned in previous updates) to see how close I am to being in the 2nd stage. I asked him when I may be in complete remission and he thought possibly in 3 months. HOLY COW!! Now normal remission has been about 12-18 months. We account my fast improvement on the high dose of Gleevec, Dr Sangha started me out on then maybe usual, and because of all your prayers. I will remain on the high dosage of my Gleevec until I am in complete remission. I however no longer have to take my Allopurinol. (Yeah! One less pill.)

I am still feeling quite good. My night sweats haven't been so bad, and my leg cramps have decresed, I haven't been as cold but still am wearing my three layers. Plus, it helps that the temperature outside is finally above freezing. As Craig mentioned in the last blog, it's hard not to feel quilty for feeling so good and things going so well. The advancements they have made with Leukemia is just amazing. Thank God for the Doctors and Scientist and their knowledge to figure all this stuff out.

Continue to pray for my advancements and for the doctors and scientists who work on finding a cure for this. I pray that all of you that may yourself be struggling with some form of cancer or have a loved one with cancer not to give up hope. If you need someone to pray for you let me know and Craig and I would love to add you to our list. Don't keep it from people. Talk about it and have others pray for you. God can and does work miracles. Don't give up HOPE.

Before I wrap this up I would like to update you on my brother Todd. His past surgery did not go quite as well as we would have liked. They were not able to help him out at the time due to too much infection in the bone and tissue. He will have to have two more operations in the near future which he is not looking forward to. I ask you please keep him in your prayers.

The Count Down Is On

Take a guess. I dare you. Come on guess. What do you think my white blood cell count was today when I had it drawn. Come on, do it for me. Make a sick woman happy! ( OK, I have to use this sickness to get me something. The puppy thing hasn't worked too well. JUST KIDDING people!) OK, I will tell you. Your not going to believe it. I didn't believe it. I think Craig was shocked too when I told him. The kids came with me this time. They didn't have much choice since Craig was gone for the day but I thought it was good for them to see where mom has to go once a week. I think they were surprised at how little of time we were there. I think they were bummed they couldn't watch more of their TV show. The TV was working much better today.

OK, so have I dragged this on long enough? Do you want to know? OK, OK I'll tell you. Sheeesh! Wait for it... wait for it... drum roll please...brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...25,800. (Yeah! Whistles! Shouts!) Just a reminder what normal is (OK no normal jokes) the range is 4.800-10.800. If I keep this up I will be below normal next week! (Again, no normal jokes) If you remember last week my hemoglobin was below normal and the nurse thought I might need a blood transfusion but the doctor said,"she's young." So I didn't. I assumed this time it would be even lower but it was the same as last week so was still good with that. My platelets down to normal. (Yeah, something is normal)

Your prayers are being answered people. Do you see that?! Do you see how powerful prayer is! You don't have to lay your hands on someone. You don't have to visit with them. You don't even have talk with them. Just pray! Don't get me wrong. Those other things are wonderful and needed too in every way. The cards, the emails, the talks have all been a wonderful support but where would I be without your petitions to God for my health? It says it over and over in the bible: "How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you." Isaiah 30:19. Or how about, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" James 5:16 Prayers are Powerful and Effective. AMEN!! I am living proof. Keep praying. Make it a daily habit. Not only for me but for your families, your co-workers, friends, local rescue people and even the president of the United States. See a car stalled on the side of the road or an accident. Say a prayer. Hear of someone on the radio or news that is going through a hard time. Pray for them. If a car cuts you off and seems to be in a hurry, pray for them. You don't know what they may be going through. We all need prayer. I truly challenge you to get on a daily routine of praying. Do it before you get out of bed in the morning. Do it on your way to work. It is not just a meal time and bed time thing. God asks us to be in conversation with him at all times. Just talk with him. You will find you will be blessed in doing so.

January 15- Blood Results

Today I went for my blood draw at the clinic but with the temperatures starting out the day at a -28 I told the lab tech that getting my blood may be a little difficult. I went for the first time on my own. We didn't have school for the second day in a row and to be honest I got caught up playing Super Cow on the computer and was a little late for my appointment. Craig was busy writing his sermon and lost track of time as well so it was just easier if I went alone.

It wasn't as scary this time, going to "The Cancer Center." I knew where I was going and what was going to happen this time. The people there are very nice, friendly, and helpful. I didn't have to hardly wait which was good cause their TV reception was terrible. Guess it was cold too. I told the lab tech that I would like to have a copy of the results and she said she could do that with a little hesitation. They only took one vile this time. Whoo Hoo!!

The lab tech had me sit in the waiting room, still no good TV reception but it was only for a few minutes. She came out holding my test results and proceeded to tell me that my white count was down considerable to 104.0, and my platelets were down to 432 ( I am almost normal there) but that my hemoglobin was below normal at 8.2 (Normal being 12-16) and she would have to talk with Dr Sangha and check with him if he wanted me to have a transfusion. I don't know why but the word transfusion kinda scares me. She left and I was in the process of trying to call Craig when Dr Sangha came out and said everything looked good and yes my hemoglobin was low but that I was young and it should be OK for now. Then he left. I got my test results and I left too.

I called Craig back to tell him what was going on and Craig remembered Dr Sangha saying that he usually waited till the hemoglobin got down to 7 before he starting doing transfusions. That made me feel some better.

OK, now for those of you that REALLY know me, you know that I am a very warm blooded person. Even in the winter time I can usually get away with one layer and keeping the house at a comfortable 65. Well, this past week especially I have been down right COLD and it stinks but now I know why. I don't have any blood circulating through me to keep me warm. I now have to join the ranks with my sister-in-law, co-worker and many others that I have teased for years about them being so cold and put the extra layers on. Sorry ladies for all that teasing. It is true, you will now see me wearing three layers on top and pants with the possible long johns on underneath, a pair of thick socks and great grandma Ferguson's slippers on.

So for now that is our update where we are at now. I did think the Dr was going to be checking my Uric Acid levels too but don't see that on my test results so will have to call about that tomorrow too. Also after my blood draw I did some running around. First, to pick up my prescription of Cymbalta. For those of you that don't know about two years ago I had a panic attack and found out that after several more similar attacks that I was struggling with Depression. This is something I think should be talked about more. It is nothing to be ashamed of. If you think you may be struggling with depression I highly suggest that you talk with your doctor about. There is nothing wrong with being on medication if it helps. Anyway, for the first time when I picked up my prescription it didn't cost me anything. Our deductible was met and for the rest of the year it wont cost me anything. Pray about this as we are still struggling to understand our insurance. Especially for Craig.

After I picked up my prescription I went to Walmart to pick up a few things and as I was there Dr Sangha's office called to tell me that a Dr Singrich, or something like that, from Iowa City was going to be following me. OK, I have no idea what this means he will be following me and not sure I want to go there. Dr Sangha's nurse was gone already and this lady was just relaying the message. I said I would call the nurse Friday. Then I can check on my uric acid too.

Then later in the night I received a a call from the American Red Cross asking if I could donate blood. Poor lady if she only knew I was the one in need of blood. After politely informing her that I had been recently diagnosed with Leukemia I asked her to take me off their list.

Well, now you know what we know. I want to say, "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for all your cards, and emails. I have truly been amazed and blessed by all of them and even from people I don't even know. It has been a big encouragement."