Home Again - November 30 - December 9

No matter how long I am in the hospital, I am always glad to be home and back in my recliner. And I always eat better and eat more at home, as well as sleep better, because my sleep is uninterrupted. Without a fever, I felt better. Also, my improved hemoglobin helped me feel better.

This time at home, I noticed that my strength improved. I was able to dress standing up, rather than sitting on the bench in the bathroom, as I had been doing. Climbing the stairs was easier than it had been. This may be temporary, because chemo always seems to wipe me out, but it was good progress.

Hope and I decided that it was time for her to get a different computer, so I helped her find one, ordered it for her, and will help her set it up when she is here for Christmas. We are excited that she is planning to visit us for a long Christmas weekend.

As always, my only assignment during this time at home was to prepare for my next round of chemo, which means working on getting stronger. This includes getting lots of protein in my diet and resting as much as I can. While this is not always easy, it is important!

One of my Ukrainian friends wanted
to see a picture of me "thin",
so we took a picture to show him 

My youngest sister shared a song with me. I had heard it before several times, but it was a good reminder for me and encouraged me. The song is "Peace Be Still" by Hope Darst.

Here is a link to her singing it with the lyrics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsIpGiz3SfQ&feature=emb_logo

And here are the excellent lyrics:

I don't wanna be afraid
Every time I face the waves
I don't wanna be afraid
I don't wanna be afraid
And I don't wanna fear the storm
Just because I hear it roar
I don't wanna fear the storm
I don't wanna fear the storm

Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
'Til I'm dancing in the deep
Peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can't see
I will trust the voice that speaks

I'm not gonna be afraid
'Cause these waves are only waves
I'm not gonna be afraid
No, I'm not gonna be afraid
And I'm not gonna fear the storm
You are greater than it's roar
Oh, I'm not gonna fear the storm
No, I'm not gonna fear at all

Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
'Til I'm dancing in the deep
Peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can't see
I will trust the voice that speaks

Peace, peace over me
You speak peace
Let faith rise up
Oh, heart believe faith rise up in me
And let faith rise up
Oh, heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
Let faith rise up
Oh, heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
Let faith rise up
Oh, heart believe
Let faith rise up in me

Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
'Til I'm dancing in the deep
Oh, peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can't see
I will trust the voice that speaks

Peace, peace over me
I hear You speaking
Peace, peace over me
Oh, peace
Over me
You speak peace
You speak peace
Over me
You speak peace
You speak peace
You speak peace

Denise and I are so thankful for the peace of God that has been with us and ruled in our hearts during this time.

On Wednesday morning my doctor's nurse called, letting us know that if we came in, they could run labs on the urine in my nephrostomy bag, and then if those labs looked good, maybe they would be able to cap the nephrostomy tomorrow. Once at we were at the hospital, she decided to draw blood for labs as well, so that we did not need to come in at 7 AM on Thursday. That was a good plan!

Tomorrow is round 4 of chemo. Hard to believe that we are now half way done with chemo (counting recovery time). God has been good to us!