Last couple of days

Thursday, December 23,2010

I received a phone call from the Chiropractor’s office telling me that the MRI I had on Monday showed that I have two fractured vertebrae in my back. T6 and T7 are fractured. About two weeks prior I had complained of severe back pain. I knew the ache was something really bad. It hurt just to go over a bump in the road while riding in the car. It hurt terribly to walk with just a “spring in my step”. On one of the days I had to lay in bed non stop from the pain. The Chiropractor’s office suggested that I get checked right away to see if it could be osteoporosis or cancer. Because I have had cancer and have been through a stem-cell transplant in 2004 I am presently at a high risk for cancer.

Sunday Dec 26

I called my friend Valerie Crawford on the way back from Orlando, to tell her the current news. Valerie lives in Oklahoma. She had assisted me in the past when I had cancer. If it were not for her and God I would never have made it through the last time I had cancer. She stayed by my side during the worst part of my life. Valerie was shocked when I told her the news. She said “It must be osteoporosis. You could not have cancer again. God did all these miracles for you. He would not give you cancer!” Valerie told me how because I was considered “post menopausal” from the heavy chemo, and how I never went through hormone therapy, as a result my bones could be effected, and therefore be reacting negatively. The chemotherapy also puts me at a high risk for osteoporosis.

Valerie started to look up the Mayo Clinic website while she was on the phone with me. She read:” Multiple Myeloma. The some of the symptoms are: Fractured spine, fatigue, shingles, loss of appetite, kidney and bladder infections, and pain in the skull.” My heart sank as she read these symptoms over the phone. I had ALL of these symptoms. When I arrived back home from the trip I was very exhausted and my bones where burning and aching quite badly. It was about eleven at night when I arrived and I was in extreme pain.

Monday, Dec 27th

Mary, my sister, had been cleaning all day. She had been organizing one of the rooms she was going to sleep in. She also had been helping me with the boys so much. It now was about 8pm and I was on the computer at the kitchen table. Mary was taking a shower. I had already put the boys to bed. Strangely, I kept on hearing noises that sounded weird from the bathroom but I did not think anything of it. Mary had been singing not that long before this. I did not connect it in my head as to what might be going on. Next thing I know I heard a big crash. I opened up the bathroom door. Mary was having a “grand- mal seizure” It was terrible. My back was hurt and I had to try to lift her because her body had was shaking and hitting on the hard bathroom floor. She was making a horrible moaning noise. She was not breathing and there was some foam and blood coming from her mouth. I kept crying Jesus help. I drastically looked around for cayenne pepper tincture and a big wooden spoon. Mary’s arm was stiffened and outward, and her wrist was bent down going into a muscle spasm. I finally pried her mouth open with a wooden spoon, and I put the tincture of cayenne in her mouth. She was biting on the spoon quite hard. Next I noticed her tooth had been broken and her tongue was bleeding from her biting on it so hard. I called my friend Lori and put it on speaker phone. I told her Mary was having seizures. She started praying. Mary started to “come to” somewhat. She got up and started walking around like drunk person. So, I tried to keep a towel on her and get some clothes on her. Lori called a lady from her church Rebecca who came to my house. I also had called my friend Donna to come over. By this time Mary was laying on the couch. Rebecca arrived after Donna. Rebecca was so helpful. I did not know her at all. She was like a angel. She took Mary to the emergency room for me. I felt so much better with Donna helping me, too. God sent me help not too early but not a second to late, either.

TUE Dec 28, 2010

Mary came back from the hospital after one in the morning. Rebecca said they did a CAT scan on her and there was a spot on her brain. She had it for years but it hadn’t grown. The emergency doctor thought it could be something connected to her seizures. Mary had addressed this concern to doctors before and they did not help her.

Glenn did not have to work this day, and was able to be home all day! I was so sore my back hurt so bad. All my bones where on fire. They hurt inside. I was exhausted from sleeping by Mary the whole night. She had about three little seizures during the night. I wanted to be able to stop her from going into a Grand mal seizure by giving her the tincture. I could not take care of my own boys and Mary. It was perfect timing for Glenn to be home! I felt like fainting but there was so much to do! Of course the house was so dirty and dishes piled up to the sky. The boys and gone through the house and about destroyed about everything. I then got the song by Mercy Me

To everyone who's hurting

To those who've had enough

To all the undeserving

That should cover all of us

Please do not let go

I promise there is hope

Hold fast

Help is on the way

Hold fast

He's come to save the day

What I've learned in my life

One thing greater than my strife

Is His grasp

So hold fast

Will this season ever pass?

Can we stop this ride?

Will we see the sun at last?

Or could this be our lot in life?

Please do not let go

I promise you there's hope

You may think you're all alone

And there's no way that anyone could know

What you're going through

But if you only hear one thing

Just understand that we are all the same

Searching for the truth

The truth of what we're soon to face

Unless someone comes to take our place

Is there anyone?

All we want is to be free

Free from our captivity, Lord

Here He comes

Glenn fed the boys and kept changing all their diapers.

I had phone calls to make about my medical situation. I had to call different offices to get information and schedule appointments. I was placed on hold so many times, told they would call me back and never did. I cannot do this alone, I thought, What am I going to do tomorrow? Glenn will be gone. He needs to go to work. We are barley cutting our bills this month.

In the afternoon I was trying to lay down because my body was in so much pain. Having to lift Mary when she had her seizure in the shower really made my back hurt even worse.

A car pulled up in the yard. Glenn asked me if I invited a group of people over. “No” I said. I looked out the window and it was “Grammie”, and Edith, and her three younger children. Edith and her children had come down from Pennsylvania to stay with Grammie because she was in the hospital on Christmas day for 50% blockage to her heart. Grammie wanted to come over and check on me. Edith came in and did the dishes and asked if there was anything she could do to help. Mary started going into a petite mal seizure. Edith helped me and prayed for Mary. I told Edith I really needed someone to come and help me. I needed to go to my appointment in the morning. Edith said that they would be there in the morning to help. I had some tears running down my checks. What a relief. Help was on the way, all the way from Pennsylvania! It seems like those who need help like Grammie are willing to help, and those that don’t need help don’t help others!

http://baileyandme2.com/2010/05/16/red-letters-giveaway/ great give away!!!

He is enough for me

Glenn left today, out of state for his job. This is the insight I read today from Kay Arthur "Lord, I give you this Day". I thought it was too good not to share.

No matter what you are suffering through, dear child of God the Bible promises that God' grace and strength are sufficient. Through the centuries, the a promise has buoyed up Christian aft Christian in trial after trial. And God has give us another wonderful promise for times of difficulty: "God is faithful , who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [trial, testing] will provide the way of escape also, that you will be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Therefore, when you suffer, you must remember the following:

First, it is not more than you can bear.

Second, God has provided a way of escape. The way of escape is not to run from the trial or circumstance. God uses trial to bring us to Christlike maturity. Every where trials are discussed ---from Romans to James to 1 Peter -- you see this massage. So when you look for "the way of escape," make sure that it si God's way of escape, not your way or your rationalization of His way. He will hold you accountable.

And remember, it is one thing to grit your teeth to bear your trials and say, "well, I guess His grace will be sufficient." It's another thing to say with Paul, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am..I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11, 13)

When you say the latter, you prove that you know His grace is sufficient.

Whatever lies ahed, I know you are with me, Father, offering Your all-suffiecient strength.

God gives a song

I know sometimes there are situations in life when everything around me seems to be going wrong. It isn’t what I wanted or planned for my life, or for my future. I want things to be maybe just a bit easier. Raising twin boys mainly by myself (because my husbands job) is not what I had in mind for my life. After 4 years of wanting children and having beautiful miracles now my husband is hardly home because he works out of state for weeks at a time. Why would God do that to me? I cannot understand the sovereignty of God, but I can say God gives a song! And Guess what? I feel joy because I know it is from God. No, things haven’t changed “But I know He cares for me” and “I sing because I’m happy”.

Verse 1:

Why should I feel discouraged,

Why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely

And long for Heav'n and home,

When Jesus is my portion?

My constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I'm happy,

I sing because I'm free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

Verse 2:

"Let not your heart be troubled,"

His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness,

I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth

But one step I may see:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

Verse 3:

Whenever I am tempted,

Whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing,

When hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him,

From care He sets me free:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He cares for me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He cares for me.

Singing little boy

My little Walker, who is 10 months old was singing, AAAAAAA dropping the A sound high then low. Sometimes his voice cracked. A wise lady from church told me that I would learn how God feels about me through my children. Wow!! My little Walkers annoying AAAAA singing was beautiful to me and made me smile. That is how God feels about me when I sing!! Even though I don't sound good to others He still loves to hear my voice and it makes God smile! So make a joyful noise unto the Lord, even if you don't think it sounds good, it puts a smile on God's face.

Why am I not blogging more??? Well I guess I am just not commited like I would like to be! We moved to a different part of town in Sarasota FL. I am so blessed to have a house that has more then one room. I am so behind on all my "chores". Boxes, boxes, boxes.... I dread another move, although I would like to have our own place that we own someday. Glenn has been gone about 11 days now working in Alabama on cell phone towers. All that to say I've been busy!

The boys are 10 months now!!! Wow, they are doing good. Walker is somewhat under weight, he is healthy though! I am so thankful for that. I think of friens who have to take their children to the doctor every week. What a bless that I do not have to!

I had something great happen to me. A girl from PA wrote me a letter and is going to help me finish writing my story Lord willing! I cannot wait to post some more of God's miracles that he has done for me!

Orange juice

Fresh Florida orange juice, yummy. Nothing like Fresh squeezed juice straight from the orange. As you can see the orange doesn't look as pretty as one you buy from the store. Organic fresh picked oranges are a little dirty! The Grapefruit looks really ugly here. I love fresh picked Florida lemons the best! I don't have a lemon tree though.

Goats milk

I am blessed to have someone down the road from me who sells goats milk. I get FRESH raw goats milk and give it to both the boys. Walker is smaller then Wesely. He didn't seem to be growing much. The goats milk really helped him. It is the closest thing to breast milk. Formula is not. I use formula too, because I cannot get enough goats milk to feed the twins.
My friend Lori, trades me FRESH raw cows milk from her farm. It is the BEST cows milk ever. It taste so good. I love to make Keifer with the cows milk. It really helps keep a healthy colon.

Today

Today, is a day is hectic. Glenn is home. When he is here he has to catch up on things that he cannot do because he is gone for weeks at a time. Right now he is at the dentist getting some fillings done. Yesterday he had to work on my car. I am really thankful he is home! I am praying that he can get a family friendly job!

The boys are doing so good. They both have runny noses.The twins are getting into everything! Wesley is so proud of himself, he can pull himself up and stand. He yells when he is standing like he is now the King of the Mountian". Walker is tough too. Many times he pins his big brother in the crib. It is so fun to watch both of them when they laugh at eachother. Our little oneroom apartment is getting a little cramped for the boys. It is very hard for me carrying them up and down the steps. I have a very sore neck. Since I was young I had neck pains.

Florida weather is sooooo nice today! Lovely day. I cannot wait to get my stroller I ordered. I sold my old on on craigs list. I used the money I made towards a new one.

Faith Joy (Part One)

It was dark out in Tennessee, when my sister and I drove to the Healing Prayer Room. We both did not know what to expect. I had asked a friend if she knew anyone who knew how to pray, not just anyone, but someone who was a prayer warrior. (My sister Mary was having seizures and I wanted to get help for her.) Yes, I know of someone. she replied. "Two elderly ladies that pray. I have gone there myself." I decided to go. What could it hurt? If we didn’t like it we would just cross it off our list of things we tried.

We pulled into the parking lot of the church. I looked around and there wasn’t that many cars. When we walked in there was a lady to greet us. She had us fill out a card. I could hear music resonating from the auditorium. When I entered the room there was but a handful of people there. Soft music played by the girl on the keyboard, her angelic voice filled the almost empty room. A lady spoke. At this time we ask that you would not focus on your problems but focus on Jesus. I closed my eyes and rested, listening to the singing. I felt so peaceful I wanted to fall asleep. I had no idea how long I was sitting there.
Would you like to come to the prayer room? I heard a voice say from behind me. Yes, I replied. Would you like to go separate or together? She asked looking at my sister and I. It’s up to you Mary I said. Whatever you are comfortable with. We are coming here for her. I’d like you to go with me Mary replied.
We followed two older ladies to the prayer room. Sue was older lady in her late 60’s but was so vibrant and full of life. Doris was in her late 50’s. I’ll never forget her voice. It was so soft and peaceful. Doris asked Mary and I about our beliefs in God. Then she read some scripture. Sue read scripture verses too that came to mind. I felt surprisingly comfortable talking to them. I am here because my sister needs prayer. She is having seizures and I would like someone to pray for her. I did most of the talking. Mary would put a comment in once in awhile. It seemed like I was getting all the attention. I wasn’t wanting to talk about me. I wanted help for my sister! The ladies prayed for Mary and I that Mary would use her artistic abilities and that I would write a book to help others. I could not believe my ears! I thought to myself. How did they know that Mary was good at art? Mary hardly talked. As for me, I did horrible at English in school. My speech gives it away. How did she know that I have been told countless times to write a book.
On the ride home Mary and I talked to each other. What did you think? I asked Mary. I was so glad I went she replied. I want to go again. I felt like God had been speaking to me about the same things they prayed for. I was excited inside, I went in so discouraged about life and now I have excitement of what God is going to do through our prayers.
There is something special about Doris, and Sue praying for with us. Little did I know that there would be more then something special, something so amazing that it would be a miracle happen to me.
Next Tuesday rolled around. We were excited about going to the prayers room. Mary and I sat down and listened to the soft music and prayed. This time we both agreed that we should go in the prayer room separate. I let Mary go first. Almost a hour went by and I didn’t even seem to notice. It was my turn to go in and talk.
I would like for you to pray that I can have a baby. I went to the doctors before I was married and they said I could not have children. I got rechecked again and they said that I could not. My mind went back to 2004. I had traveled the US to the top hospitals. My body was full of cancer from my neck down. I had been to Cancer Treatment Center of America, Mayo Clinic and then I went to the University of Michigan. When I got to the UofM The doctor there said I was the wrost cancer patient he had ever seen. I was surprised how this news did not scare me when he said it. I knew only God knew my time. It was the treatment that scared me. I could hardly breath at times because of the baseball size tumor in my chest. I had tumors down my neck on my slpeen in my growing area etc. I was given about a 10% chance of success at first. It was the Chemotherapy that killed my repductive system. I went through more then any other normal cancer paitent. ………….
Doras prayed for me. She prayed a long prayer. Tears rolled down my checks. She prayed that God would speak to me. When she done the older lady Sue looked at Doras with a questioning face. “You forgot to pray for Anna to have a child.” She said. Doras looked at me and said “Anna, did you hear anything from God?” My face must have been glowing even though there was tears running down my cheeks. “Yes, I did” I said in somwhat a a surprised voice. I felt like maybe this is how Moses felt in the Bible when he saw God face to face. I was in awe. “What did he say?” Doras asked. “Faith Joy” I repiled. “What do you think this means?” Doras said. “I am going to have a baby.” I said with confidence “ and her name is going to be “Faith Joy!!”.
On, the ride home to Woodbury I told Mary with a smile on my face that I was going ot have a baby and her name was going to be Faith Joy. I couldn’t wait to get home to tell Glenn.
To be continued!!!