Hope…..Through it All

Camping back to back weekends was interesting (putting it a little lightly) and not something I’ll ever tackle again. 🤪

Fun was had and memories made even in the midst of continued exhaustion and hurricane Elsa! 😬

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Psalm 33:18 ESV

We camped with several other homeschool families. Chatting with and reconnecting with many we haven’t seen in weeks/months was such a blessing. I most loved watching our children play/hang out with friends from early morning until late into the night. Keeping track of everyone was exhausting in itself. Lol

A huge thank you to the teens that helped SO much. From keeping tabs on everyone, the countless walks that I wasn’t up for and LOTS of baby wrangling. You are an incredible blessing and we couldn’t have done it without you!❤

We had a beautiful site near the water so lots of swimming, fishing and kayaking happened right from our site. I spent more time taking mental pictures, soaking in moments instead of grabbing my phone for pics but took a few sweet ones.🥰

Along with recovering from camping, I completed my first Ibrance cycle. My first three full weeks of this med. I’m now on my one week break to let my white blood count recover and give my body a much needed rest. I’ve continued to be very tired, very cold, some pins and needle sensations in my hands and feet, continued joint aches and hands swelling. Continuing to pray that some of these lingering chemo side effects will decrease but most of these will more likely become a fact of life from here forward for me. With these meds likely being a forever part of my life on this side of heaven so too will many of the side effects. Adjusting to a new “normal” life is extremely frustratingly slow for me. I mentally want to do SO much more than my body will physically allow now. Tears of frustration are often shed.😪

BUT………God gives HOPE!

Hope that what I’m doing is working! Hope that I get to spend more time with my family!

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 ESV

Both of my cancer markers, checked through my bloodwork shows huge improvements. Originally done in early March, pre chemo my CEA was 4.3, it is now 0.4.! (under 5 is considered normal so my number was never high for this, but low is great) My CA15-3 was 79, it is now 8.1! (under 30 is where we want it). These both give a small picture of what’s happening but we’re going to take these wins and praise the Lord for them!❤

Since my December diagnoses, I have read several books and researched so many studies in pursuit of complementing the conventional treatment I’ve been receiving. This is often a slow, controversial process as so much of this info directly contradicts other info out there. Wading through and discerning what to follow/try is tricky but gives hope that there is help and healing.

One aspect I’ve focused on has been diet. Getting to a healthy weight and strengthening my body through food is a big part of this journey. I was pursuing other things before chemo started and have plans to add them back in as my energy allows but diet is something I can control even when I’m exhausted and everything else is out of my control.

Aside from off days, enjoying delivered meals and very occasional camping or birthday meals I have faithfully pursued a lower carb, no sugar, intermittent fasting diet. My normal day consists of two meals, lunch and supper, with fasting from 6pmish each night to noon the next day. My meals are focused around lots of low carb veggies (raw & cooked), homegrown meats, some carby veggies, lots of water, kombucha and an occasional keto dessert when I’m really craving a treat. Doing this has brought a healthy, steady weightloss and a hope that I’m helping halt the cancer cells from growing.

HOPE is our youngest’s middle name. Never did we imagine how important that word would become to us the same year as her birth and still continues to be today and as we face the unknown future. But God knew!

Merriam-Webster gives the word ‘hope’ several meanings…

* to cherish a desire with anticipation : to want something to happen or be true

* to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment

* to expect with confidence : TRUST

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
Psalm 62:5 ESV

Join us in our continued pursuit of HOPE!

Desiring, anticipating, expecting, trusting!