Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter day!!!



      I hope everyone has had a wonderful Easter day!  It was definitely a different Easter for us and one I'm sure we'll never forget even though we still have so much to be grateful for and we are so very blessed.  I felt terrible leaving Warren this morning but I really did not want to miss church on Easter Sunday so I made a last minute decision to go to Joel Osteen's church, Lakewood, for the 11am service.  (I figured I may not get the opportunity again, even though I hope I do!)  I'm so glad I went!!!  It was awesome!  It was an ordeal once I found it but I just followed the traffic and then the crowd becuase I had no idea where I was walking too!  (I kept thinking while I was following everyone that you always teach your kids to be a leader and not a follower and here I am not having a clue where the crowd is leading me...I just followed.  he he he....I was thinking surely they're all going to the same place I'm trying to get to.)   All kidding aside, it was really a treat to be there.  It's the largest church in the US and it was completely packed out...all of the way to the top.  (I took the pics below before the service started so you cannot tell how many people were actually there once the service started.)  Worship there was amzaing!  It was pretty powerful being apart of such a large, upbeat congregation.  I wish Warren could've gone but we will definitely go again the next time we have to come back to MDA for check-up's and when he's feeling better. 


Lakewood Church / Houston, TX

 

     Warren is about the same he has been for the last few days.  The pain is getting a little worse and he really doesn't want to eat anything and he's drinking less.  (Don't panic y'all....I'm doing everything I can, even taking a cussing from him for trying to shove it down his throat every few hours.)  I'm sure the doctors will probably decide to give him the feeding tube this week.  (He'll deny it until he's lying in the hospital bed being sedated for it but the scale will tell on Tuesday!)  It will make my life and his a whole lot easier if they would just do it!  (Even though I can't imagine having to put everything in his tube...you do what you gotta do, huh.)  I think he would be a lot happier because I could then stop nagging him all day.  He will only have to keep it for 6 weeks and then they can remove it.  (If he doesn't want to eat or drink now I can just imagine next week and the week after that.)  Yes, he's miserable but he really is still taking it all pretty well.  He looks better than he sounds, I promise!  I think I'm going to get him to stay tomorrow morning after radiation to get IV fluids.  I think he probably needs them and it will probably make him feel better.  (They told us anytime he wants them or thinks he needs them we can just check ourselves in and they'll get him set up.)
     Well, that's our Sunday.  About to finish watching our redbox movies before they are all due back and before the storm starts, make some more bookmarks, and finish off my Easter dessert (Very appropriate for the occasion, Carrot Cake.)  I picked up at the grocery store when I went to pick up my Easter lunch from the deli. (Yuk!...hope I never have to eat that again on Easter!)

Easter Sunday pics of Maison & Aniston back home and Jarred in Des Moines: 

Clearly, I've got to hurry back so that I can start doing Ani's hair again!
What is going on with her hair, y'all???

Happy Easter!!!

 



In scripture, when Jesus was about to be crucified, His disciple Peter denied Him three times. (See Matt. 26). You would think that Jesus would have given up on Peter. But that’s not His nature. When you make a mistake, God doesn’t turn from you, He comes after you!

They crucified Jesus on Friday. Sunday morning, Mary went to the tomb to check on His body. When she arrived, the stone had been rolled away. An angel appeared and said, “Mary, don’t be afraid. Jesus has risen. Now go tell His disciples and Peter that He is alive.” (See Mark 16)

Out of all the people in the world that could have been singled out at this historic moment, the only person specifically named was Peter. It was as if God was saying, “Peter, I’m the God of another chance. When you turn your back on Me, I don’t turn my back on you. When you fall, I come running toward you.”

Today, I believe God is saying to all the people who have fallen or made mistakes, “I’m not only alive but I still love you. Come to Me and let Me make you new.” If that’s you, there’s no better time to surrender your life to Jesus Christ than today.  For more infomation click here: http://www.lakewoodchurch.com/pages/pathway/jesus.aspx#lakewood-video-player

~ Joel and Victoria Osteen

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!!!

John 11:25-26Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Romans 6:8-11Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Philippians 3:10-12 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (NIV)

1 Peter 1:3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)

4 Weeks Down...2 More to Go!!!

   Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of days.  Been taking a little break from the computer.  We were at the hospital all day yesterday with appointments, too.  Warren is doing ok but could be better.  His side effects are getting a little worse.  He's still taking it all very well but it's getting a little tougher each day.  He has finally stopped fighting me on taking his meds but now asks for them if I haven't given them to him in time.  (That makes things much easier for me.) 
     Every day it seems we've obtained another new medicine to counter another new side effect.  Ugghhh... (Looks like a pharmacy in here now!)  The yuckiest of the side effects right now is the thick mucus he has to spit out every second of every hour now!  Eeeewww!  (I guess it comes with the territory!)  (I know y'all really love these details, too!...that comes with the blog so enjoy!!!)Another couple we talk to daily (from Charleston) told us of a few things that helped him (he finished his last treatments Wednesday but is too sick to fly home right now.) so I went out and bought Musinex.  Let's hope that helps!  He's been sleeping ok this past week but last night he didn't because that stuff got so bad.  (It's just like constant drainage. Yuk!)


Told you it's starting to look like a pharmacy in here!

     So, Warren was eating pretty good but that's getting harder and harder now.  The new pain patch he's wearing has completely taken his appetite away and then the sore throat and tongue doesn't help matters.  A lot of things either burn his mouth or is too thick to get down.  He even says Boosts are too thick now but he manages to drink at least two a day.  He just has to!  I made an awesome soup the other night (if i do say so myself) and he said he just couldn't do it.  It wasn't too thick but there were tiny tiny pieces of veggies in it (I did puree it but they didn't completely puree) so he said he just couldn't eat it.  (Don't worry...I had enough for us both!)  I roasted veggies (carrots, butternut squash, yellow squash, onions, dill, sweet potatoe and zucchini) and then pureed them in my Vitamix Pro 200 Blender (Google Affiliate Ad)  with warm broth and then transferred that to beef broth, chicken broth and a little veggie broth with a can of cream of asparagus and cream of onion.  It was sooo good!  The doctor said if he's going to do soup all of the time he needs to do the creamy soups since it has a little more calories.  (Yay for me!!!  Like I need any more calories!)

Roasted Veggie Soup...So good!!!

  I'm racking my brain today trying to think of things Warren can and will eat so if y'all have any suggestions please comment and let me know!!!  Please!  He can't even do milkshakes or ice cream right now.  It burns his tongue.  Maybe because it's frozen...I don't know.  I can't think of anything other than soup.  And really chicken noodle soup is all he likes.  I went and bought him egg drop soup the other day but he didn't really like it.  He normally love it!

     So, I've been getting pretty bored....this was my project last night. (I made a ton of bookmarks...ha ha ha...something I saw on Pinterest and I really did need one.)  I've gotta think of something new for this week.

                                   

We had visitors today! :)

     So,  we barely made it to radiation this morning!  We normally get up around 5:45, brush our teeth and leave for the hospital and are usually in the waiting room by 6:10 every morning.  Well, this morning Warren turned the alarm off and when I looked back at it it was 6:06 and he is supposed to start radation at 6:20.  Believe it or not we were sitting in that waiting room at 6:18am!!! (And yes, we did brush our teeth.)  Don't ask how that was possible because I still cannot understand how we made it, myself.  I don't even remember which way I drove there.  They do not do "late" for radiation and you do not want to upset the lady that does the radiation for Warren.  (Her handshake alone would scare you!  Not kidding!!!)  She's super sweet, though!
     Warren has been struggling to stay awake now since about 4:30 or 5 this afternoon.  The doctor's gave him a patch to wear for pain management so we put it on this afternoon and it has knocked him out.  They say it takes a slow 8-12 hours to get into his system but he has been like a zombie.  He keeps waking up saying he is not going to use it if it keeps him this way.  He said he'd rather just take the regular pain meds and live with a sore throat.  We'll see! 
     His appointments all went fine today.  He had to meet with the gastroenterologist this morning just in case he ends up needing the feeding tube but they were pleased with his eating habits and said as long as he consumes 2,300 calories a day they will not give it to him.  (I can tell you right now that's going to be tough!...Especially if he ends up sleeping a lot more like he did today.)  I had no idea that the feeding tube was such a big deal.  I mean once it's in it's not a big deal but it's actually a surgery and he would have to stay overnight at the hospital when they do it.  Everyone around here acts like it's really nothing.  (The other patients, I mean.)  I was under the wrong impression!
    Well, we had surprise visitors today!!!  It was kind of exciting!  (Someone we actually knew to talk to in person!!  I am starting to feel a little isolated.)  Our manager and trainer for Colonial Life from Jackson flew into Houston today for work so they stopped by and brought us a nice big goodie basket.  How sweet!  It was so nice visiting with them for a little while.


Thanks, Jimmy & Trent!!!



 From Back Home: 
 Mom said that Aniston told them she really wanted to see the sunset today so she ran them to the beach to watch it.  How sweet!  I can't imagine where she came up with that unless they are talking about that at school right now.  lol...



 

 

 

...And look who I spotted today doing his grocery shopping. 

 

Hope y'all are all ready for him!!!  ;)

A good start to the week!!!

     Hi!  Warren had a pretty good day today.  He's been way more talkative today.  Maybe because we had several doctor's appointments and had to be away from the apartment most of the day so he was forced to get off of the couch and talk.  :)  He loves his radiation oncologist, Dr. Beadle, though, she always makes him laugh so I credit her for some of his good day!  :)  Love her!!  He did have two different radiation treatments today.  They had to make one up so he had it at 6am and 2pm.  Other than being a little tired when we got back he was fine.


Warren and I waiting for his next appointment.

     As far as his pain it is more apparent now but he's handling it really well.  They upped his pain meds to a patch today.  (He's about to put it on now...it take 12 hours to really get into his system and he wears them for 72 hours at a time.)  I'm really proud of how well he's taking everything.  He never just sits around and complains or acts like he feels sorry for himself.  (Well, he does sit around but not the other stuff.)  He's eating way better, too.  Mainly chicken noodle soup, jello and chocolate protein smoothies from Smoothie King.  He really wants to eat other stuff and sometimes thinks he can but then quickly realizes it ain't happening after he tries!  (Yes, I know "ain't" ain't a word!)  Dr. Beadle told him today to not even try anything you have to eat with a fork anymore.  She told him to just stick to liquids.  Last night he actually had a meal from Olive Garden.  He ate stuffed manicotti!  I was impressed!  (I believe he was trying to get in as many calories as possible before the weigh in today!!!)...Don't tell him I told y'all but he also tried to be weighed with heavy stuff in his pockets.  Yep, that nurse is sharp...she quickly realized that and made sure his wallet, cell phone, hat, water bottle and keys were accounted for in his numbers!  he he he... He really only lost about 3 lbs. this past week.  He will argue with me but he's probably lost about 6 or 7 lbs total now since we've been here.  (He'll say 3...have no idea why he's stuck on that number!)  The doctors aren't worried, though, because it's been about 2-3 lbs a week which still isn't a significant amount thus far and not a lot in a short amount of time.  That's when they would worry and probably do the feeding tube.  We are meeting with the doctor tomorrow about the feeding tube but only to just meet with him in case he has to get it in the next week or two.  (We've learned from other patients that the situation can change rapidly...like eating ok one day to not being able to eat at all the next or throwing up or severe pain.  So far so good, though.)
     Well, other than that not much interesting has happened around here.  Let's see...I did get to go sit out by the pool for a couple of hours yesterday and received my first ray of sunshine on my face in quite a while.  (I should mention that I layed out in yoga pants and a zip up jacket!  It's been chilly here the last few days but beautiful!) 

 Oh, and today while waiting for Warren in the waiting area a 3 year old little boy got his head stuck under the arm rest of a chair.  That was hysterical!  His mom, grandfather and I tried every position we could get him and the chair in to get him out.  At one point I looked up and we had a couple of doctor's and nurses that had been walking by watching us and one asked if there was anything he could do.  Bahahahaha....I think probably that was more of a mom's specialty than any doctor there!  (Getting a toddler's head unstuck from an akward position in furniture!)  I laughed all the way out the door.  Of course, that kid was laughing too, therefore I could laugh.
      Also, in the last few days I was able to get my Easter shopping done via the internet and had it shipped to my mom's for the kids baskets.  Thanks, Mom!!! I know you are going to be exhausted after Easter! :)  I probably haven't mentioned as much as I should but we are forever grateful for all of the support we have from everyone!  It's absolutely unbelievable all of the support and prayers that we have received and continue to receive each and every day!!!  We have no doubt that Warren will get through this all and be just fine in months to come and that we will be way stronger and way better people for it!!!
    

Movies & Milkshakes...

     Nothing much to blog about here this weekend.  I guess that's a good thing when it comes to Warren.  He has actually been trying to eat a little more.  Guess what he asked for yesterday???  KFC!!!  I know, KFC, really?  Out of all things I would've never expected that request so I ran out immediately to go find one before he changed his mind.  Found it and he ate half of his lunch, which was great!  I've tried milkshakes everyday from somewhere different and he's just not digging those.  He said they're too sweet.  (Whatever! That's 3 more lbs added to me over the wekend!...I'm seriuosly starting to work-out, run, something tomorrow!!!  I can't possibly just sit on this couch daily and blog and read blogs and drink his milkshakes that he won't drink!)  I have figured something out while being here...maybe we should sell our house and buy a condo or something similar.  Forget the bigger house!  I think our life would be so much easier.  It would take no time to get it good and cleaned each week!  Also, getting rid of half of what we have!  I love having 4 plates, 4 cups, 4 bowls, etc.  Yeah, I have to keep washing them but it sure beats cleaning 12 of everything and takes way less time!  I did unpack our suitcases last night...yes, just now.  Three weeks into it and I'm just unpacking our suitcases.  Give me a little slack...we did go home the first two weekends so we were kind of still living out of our suitcases.  Anyhow, we did bring entirely too many clothes!  The walk-in closet looks like we've lived here for two years.  It's insane!  I wear the same three pairs of pants everyday, too.  I dread packing it all back up.  Today is freezing, too, by-the-way.  I find that weird that everyone at home is laying out today or working in the yard and said it's hot and it's freezing and cloudy in Texas!  That just doesn't seem right.  
     So, Warren is getting better at taking his meds.  He's not fighting me on it as much anymore but then again I've learned not even to ask him, I just go hand it all to him with a drink.  I dont' even ask if he's in pain or feels nauseous, just give it to him.  He has eaten pretty good today, too.  The Campbell's old fashioned chicken noodle soup is definitely his #1 choice but he has eaten other things today, as well.

 I made chocolate pudding out of avocados earlier...it's in the fridge chilling right now.  It's actually good so I think that will be a good snack if he'll eat it.  He is eating a lot of jello, too.

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

   

     Oh, yesterday I ran to the grocery and when I was leaving I noticed they had a lottery ticket vending machine.  How cool is that!  Well, it's probably not a good thing to make it so accessible to some but I couldn't resist buying one.  (Which I'm sure is their point!)  I thought it was pretty neat, though.  I bet the future will have pretty much everything in a vending machine!  (Think people...what else could you vend?...could be the next best business!)

 Speaking of vending, I rented a few redbox movies, too, and I couldn't have gotten that more wrong if I tried!  How do you pick 3 of 3 horrible movies???  Warren doesn't even trust me anymore to rent a movie unless he sends me for a specific one!  The first one we put in wasn't even in English!!!  How does that happen in America???  It was in French! 



 

                                                                                                                                                                                          Look how stinkin cute this Little Miss is!!! Maison texted me this pic from the dressing room yesterday while they were doing a little shopping with Meme. We miss them so much!!!

 

 

Hope y'all had a great weekend! 

 

Tomorrow Warren has radiation and Chemo.  Round 4!!!

 

P.S.

And Jarred just made it back to Des Moines safely.  They drove to Gulfport last Sunday (16 hours), to New Orleans on Tuesday then to Panama City Beach on Thursday and stayed in Oxford last night (or stopped for a while) on their way back to Iowa today. 

 "You know you're old if that sounds exhausting!!!"

If you want to Subscribe to this feed...

     FYI...I've had people asking me how to leave comments or subscribe to this blog.  I'm new at all of this, too, but I think if you scroll all of the way to the bottom of the page there is something at the bottom that says "Subscribe To:     "... (on my computer it's blank next to that...I don't know why or if it's something I need to input) but if you will click on "Subscribe To:  or in the blank spot next to it another screen will pop up and you can Subscribe to this blog.  I really am not completely sure what that means other than I think maybe you'll get emails when I post a new blog post.  Or maybe you have to have a google account and you'll see the news feed.  I'm not really sure but I'll let you know when I figure it out. You can just try that.   LOL.... (I guess I need to become a better blogger, huh?)
     To leave a comment you do have to have a google account and you just click on the pencil at the bottom of each new post and you can leave a comment.  :)   If you want a Google account just go to gmail.com and set one up.  Somewhere in there you can set your profile up so that when you do leave a comment or use your account for other stuff you can set a picture up or an image.
    
Hope that helps!!!  I'm still learning all of this, too!