Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hello to all my family and friends. Sorry it's been so long since my last update. With Thanksgiving coming near, I would just like to tell each one of you how very blessed and thankful I am to have you in my life and share in my journey. Your love and support that you've given me during these last few months have meant the world to me. God has been so good to bless me with His love and your love.

Things have taken a bit of a turn for me these last few weeks. I've developed severe pain in my lower back and have been on pain patches to help control the pain but it's not working very well. I haven't felt like doing much of anything. My energy is very low and seem to want to sleep a lot. For some reason my vision has become blurred so it's difficult for me to read. Not sure if it's from the disease, the meds, or what. My quality of life certainly is not what it used to be. Please continue to keep me in your prayers for healing if it is God's will. At times like these, we need to ask God 'how', not 'why'. How can He use me through all of this.



"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28 (NIV)



If you'd like to comment on this site feel free. You can also reach me via email me at sewnsew2@verizon.net or by phone at 503-531-9901 (home) or 503-704-6294 (cell).

Much love to all and have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Shirley

Need your special prayers!

I need your special prayers right now!. The platelet transfusions I've been having aren't doing me any good. I have to have a special HLA match now, which there is a shortage of & takes longer to get. It took three days. I had the transfusion last Friday, so I hope it lasts awhile. My platelets were 2, normal being 140-375.

But, if I have any bleeding, that could be a problem! So far, my blood transfusions seem to be lasting. I see my Dr. next Tuesday.

The good thing is, I still continue to feel good, & have no pain!! So, I feel blessed in that sense! I just have to keep the faith & know that God is always with me!

His words make me strong:

"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" Hebrews 13:5

I would like to continue to thank each & every one of you for your support, prayers, cards, e-mails, etc. It means the world to me! Thanks so much!


Love in Christ,

Shirley

Me and my Doctor

When I asked my doctor, (Dr. Mann) if I could post his picture on my blog, he said he was touched that I wanted his picture, and sure, it was okay. So, I thought I would share it with you.

He is a very caring & compassionate person. He has gotten teary-eyed a few times when he talks about me & how much I've been through & how strong I am. He got a little teary-eyed when I gave him a copy of this picture. He said he has to take off a day every once in a while to distance himself from his patients. Well, all of his patients have cancer, so I'm sure it's not easy! But, he copes pretty well!! Plus, he is very knowledgeable!! So, now you know a little bit about my Dr., & why I like him so much!

Love,
Shirley

Week from Hell !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, just tho't I would fill everyone in on what's been happening the last wk. or so...........I had, like I said, a week from hell !!!!!! It all started with such an excruciating pain in my back that I couldn't move! I had x-rays taken, but nothing showed up. Then the Dr. put me on oxycodone, every 6 hrs. It made me dizzy, so bad that I tried to get up & fell. But, it wasn't helping the pain, it was getting worse! I called hospice nurse last Monday & she came out & had me take the oxycodone every hr., for 5 hrs. I got deathly sick, throwing up & was completely out of it. I was that way for 2 days, & had a temp. of 105. Warren & Stacey can vouch for all this. I don't even remember what happened! They were so worried, w/the high temp. & everything. So, finally, I started coming around, & the pain was getting better. That was like on Wednesday. I've been getting a little better each day. I'm still moving kinda slow, but I'm moving!! I've had a lot of set-backs, but I bounce back pretty quickly!! God's been good to me!

I want to thank everyone for your continued prayers & support. It means so much! Would love to hear from you when you get a chance.

Love, Shirley

GOOD NEWS!!!!!!

GOOD NEWS!!!!!!

Just wanted to share with everyone that I'm getting better & better all the time! I'm feeling great, & having less transfusions!! I saw my Dr. last Wednesday, & he was quite impressed with my progress! Whatever the reason, I'll take it! My hospice nurse saysI'm easy! All of these are good things!!!

I'm also getting out more & doing more things, the fun things that I like to do & going to lunch with friends! I'm getting caught up with my scrapbooking & even looking forward to doing some quilting!

I owe all of this to God & his never-ending love. I still need your prayers, & I appreciate all of you who are continuing to pray & support me. Also, thanks to those who are going on to our blog. I hope it's easier for you now, & keep those comments coming!!

"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" Hebrews 13:5

God Bless you all!
Love, Shirley

More visits from long-time friends!

Shortest to tallest...Haleigh 5'5 1/2, Stacey 5'9 (mom), John 6'2 (dad), Matthew 6'2, Jason 6"5 (and still growing??) A GREAT time was had by all. Thanks so much for visiting!! We love you!!

When Death Becomes Birth, by Max Lucado

I printed out this excerpt from 'Come Thirsty', by Max Lucado , and gave it to mom. As you can tell, I really like the writings of Max Lucado. Here he presents a unique perspective of death and life (in that order). I found it to be quite refreshing and exciting. . .

You live one final breath from your own funeral. Which, from God's perspective, is nothing to grieve. He responds to these grave facts with this great news: "The day you die is better than the day you are born" (Eccles. 7:1). Now there is a twist. Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch body burials the same way grandparents monitor delivery-room doors. "He'll be coming through any minute!" They can't wait to see the new arrival. While we're driving hearses and wearing black, they're hanging pink and blue streamers and passing out cigars. We don't grieve when babies enter the world. The hosts of heaven don't weep when we leave it.

Oh, but many of us weep at the thought of death. Do you? Do you dread your death? And is your dread of death robbing your joy of life?
Jesus came to "deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying" (Heb. 2:15).

Your death may surprise you and sadden others, but heaven knows no untimely death: "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed" (Ps. 139:16).

Dread of death ends when you know heaven is your true home. In all my air travels I've never seen one passenger weep when the plane landed. Never. No one clings to the armrests and begs, "Don't make me leave. Don't make me leave. Let me stay and eat more peanuts." We're willing to exit because the plane has no permanent mailing address. Nor does this world. "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior" (Phil. 3:20).

Why don't you do this: give God your death. Imagine your last breath, envision your final minutes, and offer them to him. Deliberately. Regularly. "Lord, I receive your work on the cross and in your resurrection. I entrust you with my departure from earth." With Christ as your friend and heaven as your home, the day of death becomes sweeter than the day of birth.

Thought we'd just add in a few fun pic's to the mix. Mom had another platelet transfusion today - without any complications. Each day is a gift from God no matter what our circumstances. We are very blessed!!

Some of you mentioned you were having trouble with the blog so it is now open to all readers - you don't need to be on an invite list or sign in. If you would like to read or leave a comment, however, you would just need to follow the instructions on how to sign up for a google account. It's fairly simple. Please feel free to contact me if you're having any problems with this at sbuoy@aol.com.

More pic's to come...please feel free to leave comments.

Luv to all,
Stacey

Just bein' silly!

Strikin' a Pose

Deborah and Mable

These are two beautiful young women that we sponsor from Uganda. They stayed with us for a few days during their
1-year U.S. tour to raise money and get sponsors for the 1000's of needy Ugandan children.

Another family member...Chloe!

Wish I could sleep that peacefully!!

The Gals!!

My Beautiful family...
Sandy (neice), me, Barb (sis), and Stacey (daughter)
Visiting from Nothern CA in June '08
We love you and miss you!!!

Hi everyone, it's me, Shirley

I'm glad to be home & out of the hospital after 4 days! But, the antibiotics they were giving me have helped my arm considerably!! See the Dr. Monday, & hopefully, I will be able to go off the IV antibiotics, & on to oral ones. I'm feeling better & actually having less transfusions now, which is a very good thing!

I just want to tell everyone how much I love hearing from you & appreciate all your comments. I don't know what I would do w/o the support of my friends & my family! (especially my daughter, Stacey) She has been my rock, I don't know what I would do w/o her! I am so blessed! She is doing such a good job w/the blog, & she writes more eloquently than I do, that's why she writes them & not me!! ha So, keep those comments coming.... I love 'em!!!!!!!!!

GOD Bless you all,
Love,Shirley

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me" Phillipians 4:13

Back home!!

Mom is home from the hospital. She came home yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and her arm is doing much better. She had an infection called cellulitis, which is an infection of the subcutaneous tissue of the skin. Sometimes bacteria can enter the skin thru a cut or bug bite and can spread throughout the body and lymph system if not detected and treated quickly. I'm sure mom was predisposed to this because of her lymphedema and low immune system. We will continue giving her antibiotics thru her PICC every 8 hours and then she will start with oral antibiotics next week. Mom is in really good spirits and made friends with all the nurses during her hospital stay, but after 4 days...she is VERY glad to be home!!

Thank you all for continuing this journey with us. I will post as often as I can to keep you all informed. A special thanks to all of you for your visits, calls, emails and prayers.

May God richly bless each one of you,
Stacey

Another Happy Couple - 24 years and counting...

Daughter Leslie and Son-in Law Curt

Back in the Hospital

Hello everyone,

Once again, thank you so much for all your prayers. Mom has been feeling great lately and we are blessed for those good days she has. Unfortunately, today wasn't one of them. Late last night, her arm with the lymphodema became very red, hot and swollen and she had a high fever. As it turns out, she developed an infection in her arm and her Dr. admitted her into the Kaiser Sunnyside hospital this morning. We aren't sure, at this point, how long she will be there - probably until they can find a way to treat the infection.

Like I said, we cherish her good days and we'll take as many of those as God will give us. We are so fortunate for all your love and support. Please feel free to leave comments on our blog. I'll continue to keep you posted on mom's health.


Blessing to all,
Stacey

Birthday Dinner

We had dinner at Stanford's Restaurant

Stacey, Warren, Shirley, Leslie and Curt (camera shy)

actually he is the one behind the camera.

Who is that good-looking couple??

50 years and counting..... WOW!!

My Birthday - July 17, 2008

Guess they couldn't fit 71

candles on my b-day cake!

Hey Mom!

Mom, I want you to know how much I love you. This last month has been so difficult for all of us, but I feel that it's brought us closer together and closer to God. I pray that we all learn to live each day as our last, with love and passion, no matter our circumstances.

Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.
Isaiah 57:1-2 (NLT)

In "A Gentle Thunder", Max Lucado questions those scriptures in Isaiah ... Could death be God's grace? As horrible as the grave may be, could it be God's protection from the future? I thought that was beautiful and wanted to share it with you.

Bisou, Bisou
Stace

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