Jan. 11 Update

Mom has been home for a little over a week now...getting lots of rest and has been so blessed by friends, family, and neighbors providing meals for them. Tomorrow is her first follow-up appointment, and hopefully she'll have her 2 drains removed. Also, at her appt., she will most likely start to hear about treatments for the ovarian cancer. I ask for continued prayer that God would provide her strength and determination before she even starts the treatment. It's common knowledge that the chemo really takes a toll on the body, and we know it's not easy anticipating all that so I pray that Mom's thoughts would be focused on the positive and all that God has brought her through thus far...going along with a quote that was shared with me today: "If God brings us to it, He will bring us through it!"...thanks, Sheryl!I was reminding Mom today how God has made it so clear to us that His hand has been on everything so early on...even back to Oct. 31 when Mom had her heart attack that ended up being a mild one. There have been so many details that have worked out so perfectly...some might call it "luck", but we know...Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

We praise God for:
-positive reports from the surgical team
-successful surgery
-wonderful support for Dad and I during the surgery (soooo thankful to my mom's brother & his wife AND Mack & Kendra)
-AMAZING staff at Hopkins (so attentive to Mom....and so accomodating to us when we were camped out in Mom's room in the ICU and her hospital room everyday)
-for the nausea that caused us to come to the ER on Christmas Day (Mom's surgeon was "on call" the week of Christmas and "on vacation" the week after Christmas)
-Dad's chickens being taken out later than planned
-Lisa being able to fly up from Florida (for a great price)...she was so instrumental in asking the right questions and getting all kinds of info. from the docs & nurses
-Dad, Dave, and I already being off from school/work during this time
-Dad's last flock of chickens for a while
-Dad having a substitute for his school bus route if needed
-safe traveling back and forth to the hospital
-getting released from the hospital by the weekend as hoped
-incredible support from family, friends, and neighbors