I almost have forgotten how to blog...
So much has happened since my last blog. I have completed my chemo yippee. The 3rd one made me extremely tired, even more than the others and Brandon got sick and had to join us at the chemo room. Shame he had to wait in the reception for 3 hours.
Then on 25 and 26 March I used my passport for the first time, I went to Lesotho for work, was very tiring but a great experience. Rose my SIL arrived 1 hour after I arrived on the Thursday. It was nice to see her again. On Saturday Rob and Jade arrived and that afternoon we attended Ed's niece' wedding at Atlantic Beach Golf club. Kim really looked stunning and they both looked so happy. It was an absolutely fantastic wedding, we were having a great time. The food was good, the company was great and the music also good, we were dancing our shoes off, until I received a phone call from my sister who was at our house with my parents looking after the kids. Our geyser in our room had burst, but not just burst, the water came through the roof. That was the start of things to come.
We got home to a huge mess, the water had come through the ceiling in our bedroom, the ceiling had to be replaced, as well as the cupboards and the carpets AND our bed. Shame poor Rob, Rose and Jade had to sleep elsewhere and Ed and I had to sleep in Brandon's bed and the boys on the couch. The plumber was at our house at 3 in the morning isolating the water in that room. Sunday we started to unpack and then went to for a braai at my sister's house. Monday night the work started, unpacking everything, it was a blessing in disguise, the big clean up and let me tell you the junk we accumulated over the past 13 years is actually disgusting. Why do we keep all this junk?
Wednesday 1 April was my last chemo, and that one made me sick. I got sick twice after the chemo, I suppose it had to happen some time.
Friday morning the work on the house started, but I was too tired to be bothered, so Ed and the builder had to unpack the rest of the goods. The cupboards were ripped out and the ceiling was replaced. It took about 1 month before everything was sorted out including the bed.
On voting day 22 April, the boys had been playing with their friends and Gareth came in and started couging badly I thought oh no not tonsilitis again, as we were going away the following weekend. He was complaining that he could not breathe and Ed realised that this was an allergic reaction, he is VERY allergic to peanuts. He had just eaten a chocolate, not one with Peanuts in, so we were a bit amazed. We rushed him to the hospital and were there for about 3 hours, he was on oxygen and they gave him an anti-histimine injection. I was very good, I sat with him while he had the injection and actually held his pants down for the doctor. When we got home, Brandon realised that they had some biscuits at one of the neighbours, homemade biscuits, which had peanut butter in them. Shame he probably did not think of asking as this is not normal in our house (for this exact reason). Praise God for Ed been so vigilant, I did not think of anything like that. He was a bit sleepy the next day but all was fine.
3 weeks after my last chemo I received my first Zoladex injection (in the stomach) and started my Tamoxifin tablets (both are hormone blocker). We thought we were on the road to normal-ness. I started to feel more normal and my hair actually started to grow, until..... Sunday 17 May, I got into bed, just after 9 we were all having an early night, but not so lucky. My tummy started to ache, more like wind than cramps, I tried hot water, then eno's, but nothing helped. I also tried some scopex tablets, but still nothing, then I started puking, which did not want to stop. Ed took me to Panorama Medi Clinic, where I was told I had gastro and was giving injections to stop the vomiting and the cramps, which did not help. By Monday morning, I could not keep anything in. That eventually stopped but the pains did not stop. By Tuesday I realised that the pain was not over the stomach area but just under the ribs, which is not normal for gastro. I went to see my GP, don't know how I drove, as I was in so much pain. He said that it could be Gall Bladder and I had to see my general surgeon and that I may be admitted. I went home to pack and off to the hospital. When I got there I was told that my bed was ready for me and was admitted immediately. My temp was sky high and the pain was not bearable. My kids had fun pushing me around in the wheel chair. My doctor saw me and said that he has booked for x-rays that night and a sonar in the morning. The x-rays were fine, but the sonar showed that there were gall stones as well as a thickening of the wall of the gall bladder. I was booked for Theatre for Wed afternoon at 17:30
I went into theatre at about 18:45 and had the op, I was in theatre and recovery for just over 2 hours. Fortunately I was not sick from the anaesthetic and all seemed well due to go home on Friday morning. My doctor had gone away on holiday so I had to see his partner, who said that it is better that I stay in just in case, he does not want to take any chances or anything with chemo etc. Well that night my fever spiked and that was it, I was then only discharged on Tuesday morning. It was very hard for Ed and the boys, shame Ed had to work and sort the kids out as well as running back and forth to the hospital. He survived but with great difficulty. The boys also took strain, but enjoyed visiting the hospital and exploring the hospital and visiting the one admissions lady who I had met at my first op. The chatted to her most evenings.
On Saturday I got extremely depressed and believe me had lots of chats with God, I was in a room on my own. At that point I was feeling God why and said to God that this is not fair, Ed and I need some answers now, I understand that He is moulding us but how much more moulding do we really need. God made it clear to me that I must arrange a function for Breast Cancer, which I felt God say once before, but sort of ignored, God also made it clear to me that I must have this function at Edgemead Primary School. I was taken aback as I was not thinking of such a big function, but God make it very clear that this is what he wants. So on 31 October 2009 at Edgemead Primary School I am arranging a Breast Buddies function. I arranged the venue, but am still looking for the MC and guest speaker. I have emailed someone who I wanted for MC but he has not got back to me as yet. The guest speaker is been arranged by someone else. Just pray it all comes together, this is not going to be small.
Ed also came on that Saturday and told me that he was chatting to someone and they said that they have been sharing with his friends how we have remained focused on God during our whole process, and right there was our answer which we needed. God wants us to continue to be His ambassadors Praise God!!
My brother Kevin has not been well these last few weeks, but thanks to prayers he is doing much better.
While reading through a passage I found the following passage which I thought came at the exact right time for me and for many others. Take heart and read this when times are tough.
"2.Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him"
James 1:2-5
God bless everyone
