May 21, 2009

• Some Great News!

  I JUST KNEW things would work out regarding my care, here at home!

  JoAnn bought another plane ticket to return to our house before my 5th round of chemo, when they stop the chemo drugs I’m on and give a new one for four rounds.  She will stay until the end of August.  She’s been a wonderful sister-in-law to me (always has been!) and has assured me that just because I gave her and her daughter a home in my smaller house (before Jesse and I became acquainted years ago), she is not doing this for us because she feels she owes us, nor have we made her feel obligated.  She feels God leading her to come back and help our family.

  She helps care for her two granddaughters while their mother works nights (requiring their mom to sleep days) and couldn’t figure out how to be *here* and *there* AND take care of everyone.  She bought a ticket for herself and the 2yo granddaughter.  The older child (remember Aolani from last summer???) will come later, when school is over in a few weeks.  Aolani’s father lives here and will get to see her this summer – a great thing for Aolani.  Either JoAnn’s friend, Karen, or my brother-in-law, James, will bring Aolani here in a few weeks and JoAnn will return at the end of August (with both girls) to Tacoma.  The friend, Karen, has also had breast cancer and has been a support to me and my brother-in-law and I had the opportunity to get much closer, after he stayed with us for 2 months last year.  Any of them are welcome in my home!

                                       

  In the meantime, a long time friend of the family (whose daughter eventually married into the family) will be here while JoAnn goes back to Tacoma to take care of some personal business – for about 10 days.  Marie has also done home health care and is very patient and nice.  She recently returned to Oklahoma to help care for her father, but he hasn’t started his cancer therapy yet.  She is available because she can’t find a job doing home health care, or much of anything else, here.  I think *she thinks* she is helping us for free, but we WILL pay her something.   AND, we are paying for JoAnn’s plane tickets and some of her Tacoma expenses.  My brother-in-law, James, paid for this trip’s ticket.  WONDERFUL IN-LAWS!!!!!  Fortunately, we have been blessed in many ways, and we have the ability to pay SOME compensation and this is definitely a medical emergency.  We will only ask Marie to come between the hours of 9:30 and 4-ish.  I can be alone before and after those times, and Jesse can make his lawn cutting days shorter to be home a little earlier than usual. 

  I’m sure my surgery and that post surgical care will, also, fall into place when the time comes – probably around Labor Day.

                                      

  God has been so wonderful to send JoAnn and to give us the ability to pay a bit for her and Marie’s time and care.  The girls will enjoy seeing their Tacoma cousins again – last year was tons of fun for them.  We are looking into getting a swing set for the backyard and a smaller pool than we had originally decided to put in the backyard.  Something smaller will be safer.

  Stephanie has mentioned, several times, that her younger sisters could come to her apartment for a sleep over and then swim in her apartment’s pool!  She wants them to have *some type* of a normal and fun summer.  She said this has been “traumatic” for her and she can’t imagine how little children (6 – 9 years old) feel about their mom being so whooped and lying around all the time in her nightgowns!!! 

  Like I said, watching God unfold His plan, and me not worrying about (but KNOWING that) He would faithfully provide for our family, has been such a wonder to behold.

                                                

  The church we have attended for a few years (Jesse and the pastor are friends) has said they want to help with meals and Jesse told them the interim week coming up (when JoAnn is gone) would be a good time.  Rissy and I can pull things together, but knowing we don’t *have to* (on a weak day of mine) is also comforting.  Another church we’ve attended (the ones who helped when I had pneumonia in 2007) also have called several times to see if we need help. 

  I know we reap what we sow, and Jesse and I have always reached out to others in need; but, to see God being so faithful to us makes me stand in awe!

                                                

  One more piece of great news . . . JoAnn just got back with Chirper from the vet (nails needed trimming) and he has gained 4 more ounces from last month when he went for a nail trim!  The cat that wasn’t supposed to live 2 weeks after we received him is fine and thriving!!!  I’m praising God all over the place today!

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 1:51 pm
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