Thursday, July 29, 2010

Losing that crown of silver

Well... that silver crown that has been growing out... is now falling out!
So we thought we would share it with you!!!
Just having a little fun!
Blessings, Lorna

Amy at the STP

Good Morning!!

Thank you to Sharon van Dijk, who took this photo of Amy at the STP with our good friend, Mike Strain, in front of her!

Jessica is still training and ran 15 Km in 2 hours and 7 minutes on the weekend!!! Yahoo Jessica!!

What a blessing to have such amazing daughters, and thank you again to those who gave to Amy for Wellspring Foundation and Jessica for Team in Training!!

Have a blessed Day!
Lorna

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

at the bottom!

Greetings Dear Ones!

After 19 days since my last day of chemo.... my white blood counts have hit the bottom!
Well... they say each round of chemo will have "bottom" at a higher place than the one before!
So... '.2' was the 'bottom' the first time.... '.9' second time and seems to be '1.7' this time! But my platelettes are 470!! and my hemoglobin is 102!! So, no blood transfusion needed this time! The Doctor says my next round of chemo should start monday, August 9th!

All is well.... just a little weary! And teary! Our Dear Fitzes leave for Edmonton, then Africa in days!

Blessings! The Leukemia Mamma!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Nurse Annette


Oh.... I just have to share this with you!!!

This amazing and lovely Lady (with glasses drawn onto her protective eye covering) is a delight to my heart! The nurses have to "gown up" whenever they administer the chemo!! This is the 'outfit'!!

Annette is a great nurse! AND a great Mother of Three Adorable Daughters!! Yes, we have some things in common!!

Birthday Lunch!


I am so grateful for my little iPhone camera!!! I am just not feeling strong enough to get my big camera out!!! But, still being able to capture little moments is really important to me!

Last saturday... several of us gathered on Heather's patio to celebrate her birthday!!
Here are a few captured moments! Blessings to each of you! May you savor the moments of beauty in your own lives!

My Roommate Goes Home!!


Yesterday was a joyful day!

My Roommate ~ Cathy, from VGH, is finally able to go home to Prince George!! ~ After a 100 day wait since her Bone Marrow Transplant!!

Cathy has been such a blessing to me! I have learned lots, not only from her experience with Leukemia, but Cathy is also a retired nurse. What a privilege it has been to walk the journey together!! I was there the day Cathy received her BMT... and even took photos for them!

This is the "Going Home Shot" yesterday (notice the same haircut), as well as the day I left VGH, ( April 20th) when we both still had hair!

Christmas in July

Hello Dear Ones!!

I am home today and downloaded my iPhone images... So, I HAVE to share these with you!!!

I graduated from High School with Lori Riel ... way back when.... and every Christmas we have done dinner with her, and my family! As I was so sick over Christmas, pretty much till the diagnosis came... and Lori teaches grade 1-2 and did not want to pass on germs... we could not do our dinner!!

Last week, we finally got it all arranged and had "Christmas in July"in her newly decorated home!! How FUN! It was wonderful!! Here are the images!!!!

Wonderful Visit


Hello Dear Ones!

Wednesday was a "home day" with a highlight!! My friend of over 35 years, Diane Ayer, who moved away in 1984 and whom I have seen just once since ~ came to see me!!

What a rich wonderful visit! 24 years have passed too quickly! I "found" Diane about 4 years ago and it has been wonderful to be in contact since! So Rich telling the stories of God's abundance to me.... especially bringing me "my Rob" !!

Rob came home, so we nabbed him to take this shot in our garden!! Such smiles of Joy!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Amy Home today


Hello Dear Ones!!
Amy has been away riding the Seattle to Portland (STP), Cycling Fundraiser for Wellspring Foundation! Thanks to every one who supported her!!! She comes home today!!

Jessica is still training for her run in October and ran 12 miles in one hour and 43 minutes on saturday!! Wow! Girls to be proud of !

I am just slowly watching my counts come down... and going into VGH every second day! Not too exciting! But, I have had some lovely visits with my 'drivers'! I was offered the 'scenic' route home on wednesday around Stanley Park!! Beautiful!! My first time since the diagnosis!

We had friends visiting from out of town and yesterday they met us at the hospital and we sat in the cafe downstairs and had a bite to eat and a great visit! Kevin and Ingrid Mapson (Palejko).
So rich and wonderful!! God is good!

Feeling better than I should and glad to be celebrating life!! Rob picked 19 lbs of raspberries on saturday ( but caught no fish) ! So, we have berries for making jam in the freezer! Summer warmth but not too hot is lovely! Thankful for so many good things!

This path in Oregon was where I was last summer... a year ago!! I sure could not be hiking up it now.... but I can treasure those happy memories with my friend, Donna!! Canon Beach and Ecola Park!!!

Blessings to each of you!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Finished Chemo ~ for this round!

Hello Dear Ones!
I guess with going in 5 days in a row for chemo it has been a little crazy!
Sat was my last day.
I was just really sick on thursday and the heat made it that much more intense... so when the breeze and cooler temp arrived friday I wanted to dance and celebrate!!
(Not that I can dance right now)!

Sat my numbers were still high enough that I could go to church on sunday which was really nice! I sure know if I have stood too long as I get shaky... but overall this round of chemo was "light". I am in this week for blood work mon/wed/fri. So, back to waiting for my numbers to drop and then come back again.

Thanks for standing with us!
Lorna, the Leukemia Mamma!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Warm Days


Hello Dear Ones! Summer has come!! Oh may you savor the warmth and beauty of the SUN! And may great strength be yours this day. I am on day three of chemo. I feel stronger than ever! I still shake my head and just say "thank You, Lord!" My head hurts after the chemo, but I am doing well. Thank you again for your prayers! You have blessed me!

My reading this morning took me to Psalm 59:9-10
"God is my stronghold. My God in His loving-kindness will let me look triumphantly on my foes. Do not slay them, lest my people forget."

Remembering what God has done... is the strongest assurance to trust him with 'new foes'. May you be reminded each day of God's miraculous interventions in our lives. He is Good!

Lorna ~ the Leukemia Mamma!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

chemo starts again

Yesterday Mom had her final lumbar puncture! It is so good to have those done as the doctors seemed to have a hard time getting at Mom's spine and the anticipation of them was quite stressful for Mom. Mom's doctor yesterday was competent, she did a great job and Mom was able to relax. Rob was with her.

Everything seems to be looking good. Mom's WBC counts have come back up so she is starting chemo again on Tuesday. She will go in Tuesday to Saturday to receive chemo, and then she will have a week off (with follow up appointments).

Mom has been feeling great lately. She is very tired today, but is looking forward to going to a wedding this afternoon for some dear friends and going to church tomorrow.

Amy

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Pouring Rain

Last summer I was hired to do a wedding in Salem Oregon.
The day was overcast... we finished all the portraits first, in dry weather. Just as the garden wedding was to start, a torrential downpour began! Complete with thunder and lightning. It lasted for the duration of the wedding and reception!

This image of the gazebo was taken during the tussle of moving the ceremony from the garden to the tent. You have to really look to see the sheets of rain coming down, yet the gazebo looks so peaceful!

Oh may we have peace, no matter what is going on!
Jesus said to us in John 14:27; "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

Peace to each of you, Lorna