A successful week

This week we are down to 1704!

Last week my hcg didn't drop much.  All last week, I felt tired, drained, just yucky.  I was really worried that the hcg was rising, and felt that my diet might be too limiting.  I had been promised in a blessing that I would know when it was time to make changes to my diet.  So, I went to see Dr. Gary Orchard, a naturopathic physician in Idaho Falls.

He was able to test what my body really needed with diet and supplements.  He took me off of over half of all the supplements I was taking.  He said they were all good things, but some were interfering with each other, and some were for the same thing, so my body was working hard to get rid of the extra ones that it didn't need.  He said it would simplify my life and I would have more energy just being on the ones I need.  He also added in one new supplement. 

He tested my diet and said that my body was beginning to suffer for lack of nutrition.  (This is what I had expected).  Even though I felt much better when I began the carrot juice fast, just eating salads and drinking carrot juice wasn't a complete enough diet.  I felt that I needed more, but I was so scared to add anything in.  I didn't want to feed the cancer or help it to grow in any way.  He said that my body was starting to use up some muscle, and that is one reason I have been feeling so tired and lethargic.  He said to continue with what I have been doing, but add in some beans, 1 egg a day and 2 oz. of fish a day plus berries, lots of kale, and one apple per day. 

I was so excited to eat the 2 oz of fish the first night with my salad, it was heavenly. 

He also gave me a chiropractic adjustment which has made my whole body feel different and better.  One back problem that I've had for over a year was gone immediately.

Within one day, I noticed that I had so much more energy!  Today it has been so noticeable.   It is a night and day difference from last week.

I put off taking my blood test on Tuesday, because I wanted to make these changes.  So, I went in this morning, and my hcg level is at 1704 (last week was 3336.5)  Yeay!

Tonight we finished helping Bob re-clean all the units in our four-plex.  The numerous leaks have been fixed, everything is cleaned up, the walls are re-patched and painted, and now Bob is just working to put new faucets, etc. on.  We have some tenants moving in within the next few days.  Life is looking good.  

A New Favorite Quote

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"

-A quote by Morgan Freeman from the movie "Evan Almighty"

It's raining...it's pouring....

Last Saturday Bob started the day out by coaching Spencer's sixth grade football team.  They lost - 46 to 0.  Argh.

Then he went to the four-plex he has been renovating.  He worked on a few last repairs required from an inspection, and turned the water on to the units.  We were so excited to finish this four plex and get it rented!  After a minute, he realized that something was wrong.  Both upstairs units had burst water pipes, that were flooding into both downstairs units.  So, instead of renting the apartments this week, he is cutting holes in newly painted walls and ceilings, replacing pipes, repairing leaks, and finding new leaks.  Double argh.

After cleaning up the flood mess, he decided to do something fun - watch the BYU-Utah game with our kids.  BYU lost, even with several miraculous chances.  Argh. Argh. Argh.

And last night, our tenants in the tri-plex in Idaho Falls called to say that there was water flooding down the walls from an upstairs unit into their apartment....

bhcg update

This week was 3336.5.  Not a huge decrease, but it is still moving in the right direction.  I'm trying to think of what I may have done differently.  I ran out of a few supplements, but I'm back on them now.   We'll see what next week brings.

This Week's Result

The hcg level dropped again - It is 3665.2 (last week was 5156). 

So relieved!!!

Good news!!!  I took a blood test this morning, and amazingly they had my results by this evening.
the hcg level decreased from 9203 to 5156.  

Now, if you don't mind me rambling for a journal entry....

Last week I really figured out a lot of things for my health, and added 4 new supplements (Dr. Christopher's blood purifying formula, Essaic tea, barley green powder, and Beta Glucan). I've also added beets & ginger to the carrot juice. I had kind friends who gave me "energy healing" sessions,  foot massages, and foot zoning.  I've was able to lay out in the sun for vitamin D almost every day, and our home school group and other friends and family fasted and prayed for me on Sunday.  Everyone is so kind!  I feel so very blessed.

So, last week I felt great, but then I started having some pain & bleeding on Sunday that worried me.  My determination faltered a little bit.

I was eager to get my blood test yesterday, but my doctor's office was closed for Labor day. I was restless and antsy.  So, I worried a lot.  Monday morning I woke up feeling weird and achy at 4:00 in the morning and couldn't go back to sleep.  I was tired and emotional.  I tried going on a walk, but felt too tired. 

Last night I woke up in the night, worried that the cancer was spreading and that I'd made a mistake trying to do natural therapies.  But when I prayed, I felt better. 

I got up early this morning, went in right when my doctor's office opened for the blood test, and asked them if they could put a note on my file to call me as soon as the results were in. 

This was a rough day.  Other times, I've really been able to turn my worries over to Heavenly Father.  When I do that, I feel so much peace.  But today I just worried.  I knew everyone had been praying for me, and I didn't want to let them down.  I thought a lot about having to do chemotherapy.  I cleaned out the garage and washed and detailed two of our vehicles because I just wanted the whole house to be clean if I had to go do chemotherapy.  And today I felt so hungry...I just want a piece of toast! I can honestly say that carrot juice with occasional salads (and tons of supplements) has not been hard up to this point.  But today I felt ready to give up.  I think I was tired.  All my older children were gone this morning, and I went out front with the little ones, laid on the lawn, and fell asleep in the sun. 

I'm so glad the nurse called tonight, instead of waiting until tomorrow morning.  When she called with the result (after hours), my eyes filled with tears of joy. 

Thank you everyone for your prayers and kindness.  Things are going well!  I am determined to continue!  I can do this... and it's working!

Juggling

So, in order to rest and get better, I've cut out lots of things from our schedule.  I've cancelled classes and activities galore.  Yet tonight, when we went over our school year schedule, here were some of the activities (outside of our own home school) that we needed to add to our schedule.

Seminary (Jace and Courtney, Bob teaching early morning)
Violin & Cello lessons
Baptisms at the temple
iFamily (Writing, Theater, Shakespeare, Orchestra, P.E., Cooking, etc.)
Ballet
Piano Lessons
Ballroom
Science
Spanish
Gymnastics
Cub Scouts
11 year old scouts
Activity Days
YM/YW activities

Hmph.  This still seems like so much!  But when I look at each individual child's activities, it really isn't that much.  Thank goodness that Aliysa has her license and we have an old beat up car that gets good gas mileage.  

I'm sure you all can relate...life is busy!  But I'm so glad that there are so many worthwhile activities to be involved in.   How do you juggle your busy family life?