Yes, I am still kicking

Finally....Time for me to get back to blogging once in a while. Life has been a real circus for us lately including some clowns along the way. At times I even feel like I am balancing on the high wire but thankfully there are some great moments in between. I am grateful for my daughters for blogging for me and keeping you all updated. I told them to stay "upbeat" and yes I knew they would probably humiliate me at times but that is the price I pay for giving birth to a few clowns myself.

As of Monday I am now attached 24/7 to a cute little contraption that is sucking the blood right out of me. No really, my stitches and staples did not do the job that they were intended to do and I am having to deal with a "hole in my gut" I now have a sponge that is placed in the wound that is attached to a 6ft. long hose which is then attached to a noisy little computerized vacuum that draws the fluid out of the wound. I go in to the hospital 3 times a week to change sponges and check for progress. The whole wound is hermetically sealed so no bacteria can get into the area. This "wound VAC" is supposed to help heal twice as fast as just leaving the wound alone. So far it seems to be doing some good. No fun and some real pain but hey, no pain to gain right? Hopefully this will only take about a month or so because the Dr. is really anxious to get me on Chemotherapy. Chemo does prevent healing so it will be best to wait until more healing is done. I still do get very worn out easily and wish I could just have enough energy to do something around the house other than walking a hole in the carpet from pacing. Ben and my children have been fantastic at taking care of everything that needs to be done and the ward has been super with great meals. Even my good friend Shirley has had to learn how to pack a wound and has done so without complaining, thanks Shirls. I owe you big time. I am looking forward to taking my turns again at bringing in meals to others. Serving others is so much easier than receiving help. Maybe I should call those missionaries that have come home and have them cook for us because I remember some of them helping me in the kitchen back in the mission field and they were pretty creative at times.

Thanks again to all of you who have called, sent cards, brought food, visited and have been so kind in helping us and also thank you so much for all the prayers. We have truly felt loved. Where in the world would we be without family and friends?