We had a nice weekend full of activity. Went to the Mount Royal University open house with Andrew to check it out.  Andrew is thinking of attending this University in the fall. 

Dan and Andrew spent the afternoon putting on winter tires and doing an oil change on Andrew's Lancer.  Good timing because is snowed on Sunday!!

Brad, Jennifer, Clare and Conor brought supper over on Saturday and to watch the "games".  Roughriders lost to the Stampeders.  Flames won against the Capitals.  Tim and Rhonda were over also on Saturday.  It was a wonderful evening.  Good food and good company.

Jeff, Shelly, Kyle and Jaret visited on Sunday evening.  Was great to see you all.

Randy has had a few rough days this week.  More pain and nausea, so because he has not felt very good he has not tried to swallow water.  Has had trouble with his right leg woke up on Thursday with extreme pain shooting from the bottom of his foot to the knee.  He was unable to put weight on it.  It seems to be Phlebitis which affects veins on the skin surface. The condition is rarely serious and usually resolves with local treatment of the inflammation with warm compresses and anti-inflammatory medications but it can be very painful.  It can last from weeks to months.  It is caused by prolonged inactivity (for example, a long airplane or car ride, an extremity immobilized in a cast or splint, being bedridden for an illness or after surgery, a sedentary lifestyle, inactivity with little or no exercise. 



Dear Lord of Mercy and Father of Comfort,
You are the One I turn to for help in moments of weakness and times of need. I ask you to be with your servant in this illness. Psalm 107:20 says that you send out your Word and heal. So then, please send your healing Word to your servant. In the name of Jesus, drive out all infirmity and sickness from his body. Dear Lord, I ask you to turn this weakness into strength, suffering into compassion, sorrow into joy, and pain into comfort for others. May your servant trust in your goodness and hope in your faithfulness, even in the middle of this suffering. Let him be filled with patience and joy in your presence as he waits for your healing touch. Please restore your servant to full health, dear Father. Remove all fear and doubt from his heart by the power of your Holy Spirit, and may you, Lord, be glorified through his life. As you heal and renew your servant, Lord, may he bless and praise you. All of this I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This past week Randy has been struggling with more pain through out his lower back and abdomen. It seems to be sharp shooting pains.  The codeine helps a little. His throat is also quite sore.  Some of it could be a side effect from treatment and also from the feeding tube continually rubbing.  Randy's energy level is low so he spends the days resting because when the fatigue hits he has to lay down.

Tomorrow is week 5- post radiation treatments, still praying for the tumor to shrink so Randy can get some nourishment through food.  As of today still unable to swallow anything.


Prayer for Comfort:

“Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cared for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either he will shield you from suffering or he will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. – St. Francis de Sales

Randy wants to say a big THANK YOU to Aunt Helen, Uncle Lionel and family for the lovely, soft, cozy Saskatchewan Roughriders blanket.  It will be great to have as the weather gets cooler and to cozy up to watch the remainder of the Rider's games.

The last couple of days have been hard for Randy, he has not been feeling very good and has had more pain through his back and abdomen.  Hard to get comfy and sleep.  Hoping tonight will be a sleep good night.

Your continued thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

Love Kim and family.

We can’t escape pain; we can’t escape the essential nature of our lives. But we do have a choice. We can give in and relent, or we can fight, persevere, and create a life worth living, a noble life. Pain is a fact; our evaluation of it is a choice.”  ~ Jacob Held

Update:  Thursday day will be week 4, after Radiation treatments ended.  This is the time the doctors said the side effects could worsen.  Randy is having more pain now and not feeling very good.  Spends more time napping.  The fatigue is overwhelming sometimes so he just has to sleep.  Hopefully we get some sign that the radiation is working soon.



A Prayer for Healing Cancer

 Heavenly Father, I come before you with a solemn heart and in need of your intercession. I pray that the cancer that has come into my life soon fades into a quick remission. I believe in your capacity for miracles, and ask for this on my behalf. As we grow older, I know we become closer to the day you accept us back into your kingdom. I ask that you delay that holy union if it be your will. In your name I pray,

Amen.

We have had a nice quiet week.  Randy has been feeling good, just dealing with minor pains which he is managing with the codeine.  Spends the days with his wife and sons, napping, building models and visiting with friends and family who stop by. 

It's been 3 weeks since the end of radiation treatments.  Could be another 3 or 5 weeks until we know if there will be any shrinkage.  Keep praying for a sign....

On this Friday of Thanksgiving weekend I would like to ask you all to say a prayer of thanks for the time we all have together and to enjoy each moment. 

In Gratitude:

Thank you, Father, for having created us and given us to each other in the human family. Thank you for being with us in all our joys and sorrows, for your comfort in our sadness, your companionship in our loneliness. Thank you for yesterday, today, tomorrow and for the whole of our lives. Thank you for friends, for health and for grace. May we live this and every day conscious of all that has been given to us.

 

Here is a recent picture of Randy and the boys.  Andrew, Dan, Randy and Matthew.  We went out one Sunday for some target shooting.  It was a very nice day spent together doing something they all love.

Love

hears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.

Love never ends.

 

A quick update:  All is going ok.  Randy has been able to sleep better, Yeah!!  He even comes to the bed half way through the night.  Much nice to sleep there then the couch or chair. 
There have been twinges of pain in the lower esophagus this past few days,  he is managing the pain with the codeine.  Hopefully that is a sign of good things to come. 

Had a very nice weekend.  Lots of visitors and gifts of food and friendship.  I am grateful for all the nice things you all are doing for us.  On behalf of the boys and I THANK YOU!!

We are expecting a visit from Randy's aunt and 3 cousins all the way from Saskatchewan this coming Saturday.  Been quite a while since we have gotten together.  Looking forward to the visit.

Keep on praying and sending positive thoughts.

Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. –Joshua J. Marine

God Bless
Kim