Sunday, January 1, 2012

Headed to ski!

We are so excited, because we are headed to go skiing with our church! We are waiting at the airport now to board our flight. We both love to ski and are ready to hit the slopes and spend time with our family and church family.

This week/ weekend has been great with many emotions in between. One of my mom's friends, Ms. Paula, came down for my appointment with mom and it was great spending some time with her. Josh and I have had a great time spending some time together. We traveled around Houston doing some shopping for our new house. We hope to be in really soon. JHill Construction is amazing! We cannot say thank you enough for what they have been able to help us with.

I know Josh has updated you all, but every time I have an ultrasound, I of course get nervous. I have faith that everything will be good, but days leading up to it, I have a knot in my stomach. It took a long time for them to do my ultrasound. Because my "mass" has already been removed by biopsy, they have only been monitoring my lymph nodes that looked suspicious and came back cancerous. These lymph nodes are up under my armpit-- You can't see them and you can't feel them. It's crazy- they only show up on ultrasound. But this ultrasound go-round, they did a full ultrasound of my left breast as well, and there was nothing suspicious there- praise God!! I was praying that the lymph nodes under my armpit had shrunk, but the report was that they looked the same as last time. My doctor says that as long as there is no growth, the chemo is doing what it is supposed to do, but of course I was wanting it to shrink! Like Josh said though, the doctor we met with this time said that he didn't know how much more they could shrink anyways because they were already so small....regardless, no cancer is growing in my body right now!!!!! That is enough reason to celebrate!!!

Right now, I am on a journey. The one thing I am assured of is that I know the end of the story- healed, whole, restored. God is making a way before me and I am walking that path. By His stripes, I am healed.

Chemo went great on Thursday and I haven't taken any of my nausea or pain medicine thus far. I forgot to take them and figured I would go without just to see, and I feel great! 9 of 16 treatments down...ahh!! so excited.

One of my dear friends, Kelly, had a birthday Thursday , and her husband surprised her with an overnight trip to Houston on Thursday night!!!!! I can't tell you how excited I was. I got to top off the day with seeing one of my best friends in the entire world. Some people say they have great friends, but I am always thinking, you have no idea the friends I have. They literally are the best in the entire world. The fervent prayers, laughs, hugs, calls, texts, belief, faith, fun....the list could go on and on. When I say I have the BEST army to fight this war with, I mean I have the BEST. That is all there is to it.

Last night at church, a lady prayed for me and she reiterated something I am already doing. She said, "Just keep praying and saying out loud "Thank you for healing me and thank you for making me whole." I am healed.. I am whole.... I am healed... I am whole. Thank you Jesus for making me whole and healing my body. Thank you for bearing my sickness on the cross so I can live an abundant life. I want to be a vessel you can trust. Use me. Thank you for healing me so I can declare your great works and healing power.
"Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth." Jeremiah 33:6


Here are some pics from round 9!



Here is a pic of me and Kel a few months ago and then on Thursday when we got to spend some time together:) Can't get over my hair!! When it is as thin as it is now, it is hard to remember it being like this!








Here is another picture of my amazing friends and mom when they came to Houston for my first doctor's appointments and chemo.

3 comments:

Ginny Evans said...

So thrilled you all are going on this trip! Be safe, have fun and know you are being covered in prayer. God is so good and HIS mercies are new every morning! You are such an inspiration and blessing to all of us! You and Josh are amazing! Love you!

The Lewis' said...

Wow I know you will have so much fun. I'm glad you guys are going and having some down time from everything. Aly I know that we don't know each other real well, but I just want to say I am so proud of you. You are an encouragement to me and so many. I feel an overwhelming emotion when I read your words, but I am smiling at the same time. You are such a blessing! See you soon.
In Christ, Helen

Ginny said...

I stumbled across your blog today and know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I can tell by your positive attitude and belief in God, you will beat your cancer.

I will be celebrating my one year cancerversary this month and know I would not have been able to get through it without my family, friends and church my positive attitude and belief in God and just plain will to kick cancers butt.

I will be praying for you and am now a follower so I can keep up with your progress.

Ginny
Www.ginnybrumback.blogspot.com