Pictures From Home

Well, we're back in Sunny (and WARM) San Diego again. We had some very rough flights....but God got us back home! It never felt so good to be on the ground! :)

We ended up staying an extra day, because our flight for Christmas night was CANCELLED!!! We originally had wanted to stay in Chicago until the 26th, but since the ticket prices doubled, we couldn't afford it. Needless to say, it was nice to stay an extra day!

It was so good to see family and friends, and come back to GBC! Not much has changed, except that Rachel is about 50 pounds heavier! haha I can't talk, I've put on a few myself. :) I have never felt so "at home" at a church...I can't wait to come back for good! Y'all are the sweetest bunch of ladies i've ever known!

Anyways, here are some pictures from our trip:

Grace, since learning that we're having a baby, has been practicing diaper changes with her "Baby Alive" doll....it really wets its diaper! haha She's going to make a great babysitter!

Trying on the pretty ring from James. He always surprises me! After I opened it, he said, "Now you're ACCESSORIZED!"

Grace figured the baby would dance in my belly if she played music for it. This "musical car" played the "Lowrider" song....and it worked! The baby started "dancing" and Grace got such a kick out of it! Who needs expensive toys to have fun??? All you need is a silky mattress to slide down with a slippery pillow! Cheap, inexpensive fun.....right? This is proof that James and I are the "fun cousins"......

We got Sofia and Grace some remote-control trucks for Christmas. (You can guess whose idea THAT was...) The Barbies liked having a set of wheels, and the next thing you know, there's 8 of them stuffed into the jeep! We had countless hours of fun playing with these trucks around the house!

Home....only 12 days away!

We were able to get a flight to Chicago on the 17th, instead of the 18th! I can't wait to come HOME and freeze my butt off!

It's a GIRL!

On Tuesday, I had my 20-week ultrasound. Everything looks normal, and the baby is developing well. (YEY!!!!) Not only am I excited because it is healthy......it's a girl! :D James is already cleaning his shotgun and getting it ready for the boys in the future! haha! He's going to make such a good dad. I'm so happy!

Fast answers to prayer!

I visited Mary today at the hospital. She is doing much better. She is able to get out of bed and speak normally again. (Before, the mass was putting pressure on one of the speech centers of her brain and she had difficulty expressing what she wanted to say). She still has some difficulties with speaking, and has much more recovering to do...So keep praying for her!

The doctors say she's a rare case. They have been giving her chemo treatments through her skull, so it gets to the areas around her brain. These treatments (only 2 so far) have been successful!!! They anticipate her leaving the hospital within 2 weeks!

I had heard on Tuesday that she was not doing well. I've been praying since Tuesday and it looks like God is answering my prayers! (Mine and everyone else's!) :) I love it!!

A prayer request

For all you ladies that read my blog, I have a prayer request!

Mary, a 35 year old mother of two and wife of a Marine Sergeant, has been a patient of mine in the past. About 3 months ago, she was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), which made an ugly turn for the worst. She was a patient on my unit (oncology floor) for OVER a month. During her stay at the Naval Hospital, we managed to put her cancer into a remission.

We then transferred her to UCSD, a large hospital in san diego with greater resources for cancer patients. She recieved a bone marrow transplant there. The transplant was successful, and looking at her blood data, she appeared normal and ready to go home. However, Mary started having trouble speaking and getting out of bed. They found a mass on her brain stem. Leukemia is a beast, but when cancer gets into the nervous system (i.e. the brain/spinal cord) it REALLY is a force to be reckoned with. The prognosis for this usually is not good.

My heart breaks for her family. She hasn't been able to see her children outside her hospital room for months. Her husband doesn't know what to do, and is completely breaking down. Please pray that they will have the strength to get through this situation, and for God to put his hands on Mary's health. I am going to visit her today and try to pray with her.

Sorry for the sad post, but God has the power to change things!

Honey, I'm coming HOME!

I got my leave approved for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! I just got the plane tickets today. James and I will be flying in on the 18th and leaving Christmas night. I'm so excited to come home to clean air and SNOW!

Fiiiiiiiiiiire!

http://www.fox6.com/news/local/default.aspx
If you haven't checked the news lately...wildfires are raging through the San Diego County. Currently, there are 10 massive wildfires sweeping across southern California. Thousands of homes have been evacuated and 100's have been completely destroyed. And today is only the end of DAY 1. So far, these fires are more serious than the wildfires in 2003! There are fires to the North, South and East of La Mesa, where James and I live. One seems to be closing in....is it too late to get renters' insurance??? haha

The Naval hospital has been accepting evacuated patients from surrounding hospitals. Needless to say, I've been a very busy nurse today! Tomorrow will be just as crazy I'm sure!

Please keep us (and the rest of San Diego) in your thoughts and prayers...

I hope it won't be a long night...