Good afternoon...treatment is all done for today. Feeling great! We've dropped one of the anti-nausea meds because it shot my blood sugar sky high - which is one of its unfortunate side-effects. You know those lovely commercials for medications...when you hear the side-effects, you've got to wonder about it all!
Thank you, Father, for Your lovingkindness to Your children, near & far. We continue to pray for Laura Horn - and for tender-hearted Jim and his lovely wife, Mary who will need energy to tend to details of feeding, housing, and "hostessing" family and friends coming and going while Laura is in the hospital. Thank you that You hear our prayers for those we love and care for. (Thank you, too, that you hear our prayers for those we have difficulties with...work on our hearts!) Help us to be Your hands of love to those we come in contact with throughout our days. In Jesus' precious name...amen!
Love to you all...
Don & Deb
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Good morning...had a wonderful night and we're on our way this morning. The University here has an ice cream store on campus at their "farm". It's called "Babcock's" and my mom told us about it before. I think we'll try and find it today sometime!
Just another prayer request, please...Jim Horn's mother is in the hospital and not doing well at all. She is 97 and not responding to the medication. Please keep Jim and Mary and Jim's mom, Laura, in your prayers. A difficult time for Jim, to be sure.
Love to all,
Deb
Just another prayer request, please...Jim Horn's mother is in the hospital and not doing well at all. She is 97 and not responding to the medication. Please keep Jim and Mary and Jim's mom, Laura, in your prayers. A difficult time for Jim, to be sure.
Love to all,
Deb
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Good evening from Madison...the forecast is 48* here tonight! Don says, "it's a Grand Marais day!". Grand Marais, MN is one of his most favorite spots that he's been to here on earth...cool, breeze off Lake Superior, camping, smoked fish...just wonderful. The breeze here reminded him of GM!
It's been a good day, though we've had many twists & turns. Chemo has gone well...just a "titch" of nausea and I'll take a pill here soon to take care of that. Counts today were wonderful - the white cell count, potassium - all the counts that were so off last week have come around and are fabulous. Which has led today's doctor (another new one in the group...there aren't many more to go before we've met them all!) has decided that we are going to a 4-week rotation instead of our planned 3-week rotation. Disappointing, yes, but their contention is that if all things are better by waiting a week without rendering the treatment ineffective, then we'll wait the extra week. So be it...for now. I'm not giving up the fight for 3-week go arounds just yet. Again, praise, PRAISE to God for the wellness after chemo...thank you, Father!!
And then there's supper...we're in a different hotel than last time and there aren't as many eateries around this one. We drove around & drove around because I just wanted pancakes or bagels...something simple and "settling". Ha!! Finally I said there's a little Italian place close to our hotel called Olivia's and they advertised Italian & Mediterranean. Let's go there. Got inside and belly-dancers and "clickers" came to mind...the music was not Italian. We looked at the menu and the menu, mostly, was not Italian. I looked at the name again - it was Oliva's...no "i" there at all. Our waiter was a young "Mediterranean" man - very nice and helpful. I asked, foolishly thinking the restaurant was Greek, if they had spinach pie. He said that's more Greek - they are Turkish. I asked, again foolishly, if the Greeks & the Turks got along? He said, "Today? A little." Don & I laughed nervously - we are out of our element here!! Don had pizza - very safe! I, wanting pancakes or bagels, hadn't a clue what to have. Our young Turkish waiter suggested a few things - red lentil soup (it was absolutely delicious...made me think of Esau selling his birthright. It was that good!) and my entree was stuffed eggplant (a far cry from pancakes). Again, what marvelous design was at hand...the dish was plainly spiced, but delicious and came with a Turkish white rice - a plus when your tummy is belly-dancing on the inside! It was a wonderful meal and a delightful surprise!! And again - all the day of chemo! Can you imagine???
We're turning in for the night with tired & weary spirits, but a calm & and peace thanking God for His protection and provision...honoring all our prayers, we believe.
Much love,
Don & Deb
It's been a good day, though we've had many twists & turns. Chemo has gone well...just a "titch" of nausea and I'll take a pill here soon to take care of that. Counts today were wonderful - the white cell count, potassium - all the counts that were so off last week have come around and are fabulous. Which has led today's doctor (another new one in the group...there aren't many more to go before we've met them all!) has decided that we are going to a 4-week rotation instead of our planned 3-week rotation. Disappointing, yes, but their contention is that if all things are better by waiting a week without rendering the treatment ineffective, then we'll wait the extra week. So be it...for now. I'm not giving up the fight for 3-week go arounds just yet. Again, praise, PRAISE to God for the wellness after chemo...thank you, Father!!
And then there's supper...we're in a different hotel than last time and there aren't as many eateries around this one. We drove around & drove around because I just wanted pancakes or bagels...something simple and "settling". Ha!! Finally I said there's a little Italian place close to our hotel called Olivia's and they advertised Italian & Mediterranean. Let's go there. Got inside and belly-dancers and "clickers" came to mind...the music was not Italian. We looked at the menu and the menu, mostly, was not Italian. I looked at the name again - it was Oliva's...no "i" there at all. Our waiter was a young "Mediterranean" man - very nice and helpful. I asked, foolishly thinking the restaurant was Greek, if they had spinach pie. He said that's more Greek - they are Turkish. I asked, again foolishly, if the Greeks & the Turks got along? He said, "Today? A little." Don & I laughed nervously - we are out of our element here!! Don had pizza - very safe! I, wanting pancakes or bagels, hadn't a clue what to have. Our young Turkish waiter suggested a few things - red lentil soup (it was absolutely delicious...made me think of Esau selling his birthright. It was that good!) and my entree was stuffed eggplant (a far cry from pancakes). Again, what marvelous design was at hand...the dish was plainly spiced, but delicious and came with a Turkish white rice - a plus when your tummy is belly-dancing on the inside! It was a wonderful meal and a delightful surprise!! And again - all the day of chemo! Can you imagine???
We're turning in for the night with tired & weary spirits, but a calm & and peace thanking God for His protection and provision...honoring all our prayers, we believe.
Much love,
Don & Deb
Monday, June 28, 2010
Hi there...well, tomorrow is "blast 'em" day after having been delayed last week. The doctor said we'll go ahead no matter what and if white cells are "low", they'll just give me a shot after treatment that will bring the count up. Can you figure this out...he said they can't give the shot before or during the treatment because the treatment & the shot will just fight each other. They'll give the shot right after treatment...so, once the medicine in the shot is in the body it won't go near the chemo drugs? How do the drugs know to do that? I just hope they don't bump into each other while they're flying around doing their work in there. And of course, the overwhelming thought is "oh, good, one more drug to deal with". But it may be the thing that allows treatment to continue so bring it on.
The bills have been coming in right on schedule. Take a guess at the cost of chemo. Take a guess. If you guessed right around eight thousand dollars per weekly treatment, you are close. Our medical coverage is being just wonderful it seems. They are going to cover most everything so far, with the exception of take-home drugs and office visits. We do not have conventional medical insurance. It is a medical share plan where we submit our bills and the cost is "shared" by the members. They have paid most wonderfully in the past - to the tune of around $100,000 for Don & I's medical costs over the last 5 years, so we're anticipating the same thing for this. Certainly a matter of prayer and praise!!
Take care...we constantly give God thanks for your prayers, your love, and your care & concern. We pray that you would allow God to have His way with your life, that you read His word daily, and that you follow and obey for His ways are higher than our ways...God bless you as you work daily to be a blessing to those around you.
Love,
Don & Deb
The bills have been coming in right on schedule. Take a guess at the cost of chemo. Take a guess. If you guessed right around eight thousand dollars per weekly treatment, you are close. Our medical coverage is being just wonderful it seems. They are going to cover most everything so far, with the exception of take-home drugs and office visits. We do not have conventional medical insurance. It is a medical share plan where we submit our bills and the cost is "shared" by the members. They have paid most wonderfully in the past - to the tune of around $100,000 for Don & I's medical costs over the last 5 years, so we're anticipating the same thing for this. Certainly a matter of prayer and praise!!
Take care...we constantly give God thanks for your prayers, your love, and your care & concern. We pray that you would allow God to have His way with your life, that you read His word daily, and that you follow and obey for His ways are higher than our ways...God bless you as you work daily to be a blessing to those around you.
Love,
Don & Deb
Friday, June 25, 2010
Morning!
Have you ever watched "Home Alone" where the young boy is left home alone while his family goes on vacation and he finds unusual things to do? Well, being "home alone" has been unusual and interesting. We've not had burglars like in the movie (whew!), but I've found some fun stuff to do! Don's been gone most of these days and will be gone all day today but I am enjoying the time. I could have cleaned the garage, the basement, washed the curtains, weeded the backyard...I'm saving those for another time! Instead, I've cranked on the music ("rock on" as Mia would say!), read my bible and just enjoyed the "leisure-ness" of reading God's word. I have also gotten the hang of "Suduko". I have tried many times before but could not figure it out - at all. Ha! I finally got it!
I have done a little, very little, cooking for myself. I fixed "fried rice" - something Don has absolutely no interest in. Years ago my sister-in-law, Donna, and I were in charge of Women's Fellowship - I'm talking 30 years or so. We had scheduled a cooking demo for French crepes from a local kitchen shop. They canceled at the last minute but gave us their equipment to use. We hadn't a clue what we were doing, but did it anyway - and enjoyed doing it. So we decided to do another demonstration and this time chose to do Chinese. I bought a little Chinese cookbook - seemed authentic - and we made egg rolls, fried rice, and such for the ladies. The recipes were great. I still have the cookbook and that's where the fried rice came from. Here's the recipe- it's easy and tastes so good!
Fried Rice Cantonese
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. onion, diced
1/2 c. celery, diced
1/2 c. fresh or frozen peas
1/2 c. ham or barbecued pork, diced (I used chicken)
1/2 c. cooked shrimp (not canned) (I omitted this - didn't have it on hand)
3 c. cold cooked rice (I used minute rice...brown rice would be good, too)
2 stalks green onion, diced
2-3 T. soy sauce, or to taste
4 T. oil
Preparation: Make certain all ingredients are diced to the same size as the peas.
Cooking: Heat wok (I used a regular skillet) to very hot. Add 1 tsp. oil and reheat. Stir fry egg for 20 seconds; set aside. Add 1 tsp. oil and stir fry onions & celery for 1 minute; set aside. Add 1 tsp. oil and stir fry peas for 1-2 minutes; set aside. Add 1 T. oil and stir fry ham, pork, or chicken for 2 minutes or until cooked thoroughly if using chicken; set aside. Add 2 T. oil and stir fry rice, breaking up lumps as you fry. Add all other ingredients and season to taste with soy sauce. Mix well & serve. Makes 4-6 servings. (Courtesy of the Chinese Village Cookbook)
Have a great day..."I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13 & 14
Much love,
Debbie
Have you ever watched "Home Alone" where the young boy is left home alone while his family goes on vacation and he finds unusual things to do? Well, being "home alone" has been unusual and interesting. We've not had burglars like in the movie (whew!), but I've found some fun stuff to do! Don's been gone most of these days and will be gone all day today but I am enjoying the time. I could have cleaned the garage, the basement, washed the curtains, weeded the backyard...I'm saving those for another time! Instead, I've cranked on the music ("rock on" as Mia would say!), read my bible and just enjoyed the "leisure-ness" of reading God's word. I have also gotten the hang of "Suduko". I have tried many times before but could not figure it out - at all. Ha! I finally got it!
I have done a little, very little, cooking for myself. I fixed "fried rice" - something Don has absolutely no interest in. Years ago my sister-in-law, Donna, and I were in charge of Women's Fellowship - I'm talking 30 years or so. We had scheduled a cooking demo for French crepes from a local kitchen shop. They canceled at the last minute but gave us their equipment to use. We hadn't a clue what we were doing, but did it anyway - and enjoyed doing it. So we decided to do another demonstration and this time chose to do Chinese. I bought a little Chinese cookbook - seemed authentic - and we made egg rolls, fried rice, and such for the ladies. The recipes were great. I still have the cookbook and that's where the fried rice came from. Here's the recipe- it's easy and tastes so good!
Fried Rice Cantonese
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. onion, diced
1/2 c. celery, diced
1/2 c. fresh or frozen peas
1/2 c. ham or barbecued pork, diced (I used chicken)
1/2 c. cooked shrimp (not canned) (I omitted this - didn't have it on hand)
3 c. cold cooked rice (I used minute rice...brown rice would be good, too)
2 stalks green onion, diced
2-3 T. soy sauce, or to taste
4 T. oil
Preparation: Make certain all ingredients are diced to the same size as the peas.
Cooking: Heat wok (I used a regular skillet) to very hot. Add 1 tsp. oil and reheat. Stir fry egg for 20 seconds; set aside. Add 1 tsp. oil and stir fry onions & celery for 1 minute; set aside. Add 1 tsp. oil and stir fry peas for 1-2 minutes; set aside. Add 1 T. oil and stir fry ham, pork, or chicken for 2 minutes or until cooked thoroughly if using chicken; set aside. Add 2 T. oil and stir fry rice, breaking up lumps as you fry. Add all other ingredients and season to taste with soy sauce. Mix well & serve. Makes 4-6 servings. (Courtesy of the Chinese Village Cookbook)
Have a great day..."I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13 & 14
Much love,
Debbie
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Hi there...guess what? We're home!! Treatment this week has been cancelled. The white count is too low. It was fine just last week, but somewhere in and amongst "life" those little cells starting leaving. And enough of them left that the doctor decided we shouldn't do any treatment without them. He's hoping they come back - by next Tuesday. That's when we'll count them again. More than all that, I am "confined" to the house...the doctor's words were "movie & popcorn" for 3-4 days...all alone. No children, no sick people (they'd really like no people at all around)...but someone has to make the popcorn!!
Oh, life has twists & turns, doesn't it...we are content to be home because it means another week to regain strength.
I'm going to be a good girl for the next few days so my gate-keeper will let me out on Sunday...see some of you then!
Much love,
Don & Deb
Oh, life has twists & turns, doesn't it...we are content to be home because it means another week to regain strength.
I'm going to be a good girl for the next few days so my gate-keeper will let me out on Sunday...see some of you then!
Much love,
Don & Deb
Monday, June 21, 2010
Hello!
We're off to Madison early tomorrow morning for "cycle #2". It's like Morse code - 1 long day (Tuesday) and 2 short ones (Wednesday & Thursday). We're almost ready...I just have a couple more things to do before turning in.
Today has been a most emotional day...it has been trying. I have cried most of the day, yelled at my husband (how could I have done that????), and then, of course, cried some more. I don't know if it's getting ready for Madison that is the trigger or other things, but, whew!, I'm ready to call it a day. Today has just been a struggle, though I am a little more "evened out" now tonight. Thank you, God, for the peace that has come.
It was wonderful being with family tonight to celebrate Mia's birthday! A beautiful night to be outside, though storms threatened off to the west as the evening wore on. Everything just got loaded when the first drops came...yea!!
Talk with you soon...love to you, each one...
Don & Deb
We're off to Madison early tomorrow morning for "cycle #2". It's like Morse code - 1 long day (Tuesday) and 2 short ones (Wednesday & Thursday). We're almost ready...I just have a couple more things to do before turning in.
Today has been a most emotional day...it has been trying. I have cried most of the day, yelled at my husband (how could I have done that????), and then, of course, cried some more. I don't know if it's getting ready for Madison that is the trigger or other things, but, whew!, I'm ready to call it a day. Today has just been a struggle, though I am a little more "evened out" now tonight. Thank you, God, for the peace that has come.
It was wonderful being with family tonight to celebrate Mia's birthday! A beautiful night to be outside, though storms threatened off to the west as the evening wore on. Everything just got loaded when the first drops came...yea!!
Talk with you soon...love to you, each one...
Don & Deb
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Good morning! I can't believe it's been a week since we've last "chatted"!
I realized the other day that it's been nearly 3 months since all "this" began and I was thinking about some of the changes that have taken place. We live much "slower" now - each day is a blessing all by its self. I have been grateful, too, so grateful, that God has chosen not to reveal to us what our days hold - good or bad. How we would fret, if our days held difficulties, wouldn't we? We would just "fritter" away our time stewing. I have not, as of yet, asked much from our doctor what this particular disease might look like down the road - what I might experience in the way of physical things. I have not, as of yet, done much research via the internet or other medical resources as to what may lie ahead. Don't care to - and I'm thankful to those of you who have but not shared with me what you've found. I do, though, have enough medical "awareness" to know the physical life may be challenging as we go along. I am not playing dumb on all this, but not wanting to waste my precious time stewing about things I can do nothing about. We just ask God for grace & patience for each day. He will supply as is our need day by day. Sometimes, hour by hour.
I say all that because our days have been so good. But I think change is on the horizon. I keep saying for as good as I feel and look (!!), I can't be as sick as they say. I just can't be. But I'm noticing some little things...like breathing. I am much more winded these days...the shortness of breath has been creeping in a little bit here and there the past couple of weeks. Don mentioned all the hair in the sink - they are beginning to jump ship! (I didn't mean to leave them behind, I just got distracted when I finished my hair...!) Stamina - ha! That's a precious commodity these days! I am certainly not used to "picking & choosing" what I do in a day or week, but it is sort of coming to that. I am not willing to admit that yet...I refuse to! And I can be stubborn. A little.
Don has just been a tremendous support and helper. He takes care of a lot around the house, besides the outside and work and church and the extras in life...like making a DQ run now and again. Did you know that DQ offers 49-cent cones, too? And they have chocolate & twist besides plain old vanilla!!! We are just enjoying one another so much - but we always have!
One last thing...I saw something last night that just was "over the top" in the joy department! Our little granddaughter, Mia, turned 6 yesterday. We had supper with them at church before VBS (we do a "simple supper" each night...it's wonderful!) and before she headed off to the auditorium, she had her bible with her, opened it up and read - READ - her memory verse! She reads so well - and has started reading on her own from God's word! What a sweet, sweet picture that was...her face up close to the page, her finger moving along with the words - and her sweet little voice saying, "For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) So precious! My heart just leaped for joy! Thank you, Kurt & Jenn, for your example to Mia and Livi and the Godly, loving training that you are raising Mia & Livi with...it's good medicine for Grandpa & Grandma!!
Chemo begins again next Tuesday...but we'll talk again before that.
Blessings to you today...
Much love...and thanks for your kind words of comfort and encouragement. How blessed we are by your expressions of love!
Don & Deb
I realized the other day that it's been nearly 3 months since all "this" began and I was thinking about some of the changes that have taken place. We live much "slower" now - each day is a blessing all by its self. I have been grateful, too, so grateful, that God has chosen not to reveal to us what our days hold - good or bad. How we would fret, if our days held difficulties, wouldn't we? We would just "fritter" away our time stewing. I have not, as of yet, asked much from our doctor what this particular disease might look like down the road - what I might experience in the way of physical things. I have not, as of yet, done much research via the internet or other medical resources as to what may lie ahead. Don't care to - and I'm thankful to those of you who have but not shared with me what you've found. I do, though, have enough medical "awareness" to know the physical life may be challenging as we go along. I am not playing dumb on all this, but not wanting to waste my precious time stewing about things I can do nothing about. We just ask God for grace & patience for each day. He will supply as is our need day by day. Sometimes, hour by hour.
I say all that because our days have been so good. But I think change is on the horizon. I keep saying for as good as I feel and look (!!), I can't be as sick as they say. I just can't be. But I'm noticing some little things...like breathing. I am much more winded these days...the shortness of breath has been creeping in a little bit here and there the past couple of weeks. Don mentioned all the hair in the sink - they are beginning to jump ship! (I didn't mean to leave them behind, I just got distracted when I finished my hair...!) Stamina - ha! That's a precious commodity these days! I am certainly not used to "picking & choosing" what I do in a day or week, but it is sort of coming to that. I am not willing to admit that yet...I refuse to! And I can be stubborn. A little.
Don has just been a tremendous support and helper. He takes care of a lot around the house, besides the outside and work and church and the extras in life...like making a DQ run now and again. Did you know that DQ offers 49-cent cones, too? And they have chocolate & twist besides plain old vanilla!!! We are just enjoying one another so much - but we always have!
One last thing...I saw something last night that just was "over the top" in the joy department! Our little granddaughter, Mia, turned 6 yesterday. We had supper with them at church before VBS (we do a "simple supper" each night...it's wonderful!) and before she headed off to the auditorium, she had her bible with her, opened it up and read - READ - her memory verse! She reads so well - and has started reading on her own from God's word! What a sweet, sweet picture that was...her face up close to the page, her finger moving along with the words - and her sweet little voice saying, "For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) So precious! My heart just leaped for joy! Thank you, Kurt & Jenn, for your example to Mia and Livi and the Godly, loving training that you are raising Mia & Livi with...it's good medicine for Grandpa & Grandma!!
Chemo begins again next Tuesday...but we'll talk again before that.
Blessings to you today...
Much love...and thanks for your kind words of comfort and encouragement. How blessed we are by your expressions of love!
Don & Deb
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Hello! Had some lab work done today just to check the white cell count. They will check them 10 days after every chemo treatment to make sure there's enough of them. The little bitty blood test today took so long I was beginning to think they might make me count them by hand!!! The white cells are the things that fight infections and if you don't have enough of them you are more susceptible to "things". If they're low, Madison will call and we'll take precautions (enter BleachMan!!); if they're fine, we party!
No hair loss to speak of yet...I keep wondering with every hair that falls out if this is it...like will my hair unravel...one hair lost and the rest get scared & jump ship? No, I don't think so...but you gotta wonder.
Don & I are both on the mend...his coughing has calmed way down and my sore throat is on the way out. Looking forward to a full weekend starting with City Market on Friday (our son-in-law will be displaying his artwork & photography there each week throughout the summer). Have a great weekend...
Bless the Lord, oh my soul...and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Love,
Don & Deb
No hair loss to speak of yet...I keep wondering with every hair that falls out if this is it...like will my hair unravel...one hair lost and the rest get scared & jump ship? No, I don't think so...but you gotta wonder.
Don & I are both on the mend...his coughing has calmed way down and my sore throat is on the way out. Looking forward to a full weekend starting with City Market on Friday (our son-in-law will be displaying his artwork & photography there each week throughout the summer). Have a great weekend...
Bless the Lord, oh my soul...and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Love,
Don & Deb
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
"Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need. Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead." I am reminded this morning of that part of an old song while watching rain drops fall...it's an overcast & rainy morning but a beautiful morning at that. In fact, it's the kind of morning that begs for something to be baked in the oven! Do you like pineapple upside down cake? We do - with real whipped cream, of course. I found this recipe for "puc" baked in an iron skillet...wonderful. I've just come into "iron skillet" cooking here in the last couple of years or so. And for this recipe, baking in the iron skillet just kind of caramelizes the brown sugar & pineapple...it's one our favorites. Here's the recipe...it's an easy one, too. (It would be great to fix while camping, if you do that sort of thing.)
Iron Skillet Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Topping:
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. cold butter (do not substitute marg.)
1 large can pineapple slices, tidbits or crushed pineapple (I used the crushed), drained, reserving juice
Maraschino cherries, if desired
Cake:
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter, melted (again, no substitutes)
1 c. sugar
2 whole eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. pineapple juice from pineapple, adding milk as needed to make 3/4 c. total liquid
For the topping: Lightly rub the bottom of a 12-inch iron skillet with a little oil. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over bottom of skillet then top with chunks of cold butter distributed evenly. On top of brown sugar-butter layer, evenly distribute pineapple and Maraschino cherries. Set aside while making batter.
For the cake: Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the melted butter and sugar until smooth. Continue creaming with a mixer, adding eggs, one at a time, and stirring until mixture is lemon colored. Add vanilla and mix well. With mixer running, alternately add flour mixture and juice liquid. Beat with mixer on medium speed for three minutes. Pour prepared cake mixture carefully over brown-sugar-pineapple topping in bottom of skillet. Spread to an even depth all over, and carefully place in pre-heated 350* oven on a middle rack. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a clean toothpick or butter knife inserted in middle of cake comes out clean. Remove from oven. Let cake sit on top of stove for 5 minutes, then run a knife quickly around edge of cake to loosen. Invert carefully on a plate large enough to hold entire cake. Let it stand for a minute before carefully lifting skillet off. Remember, the handle is hot, hot, hot!!
It has just come out of the oven and does it ever smell good!!
Showers of blessing...Don & I have been playing "volleyball" with a virus that just won't go away. In fact, we had a little chat the other night because it just seems we keep passing this thing back & forth. Just seems that the pressures of life are ever-present...and we think living with the big "C" is taking a toll. So, we've decided that we will enjoy life, putting aside the feeling of "waiting for the other shoe to drop". Life has taken on a slower pace and we are not used to a slower pace, not at all! And truly, we don't want to get used to it, either! For the past couple of months, all has been cancer-focused. Ick. We'd like to get back to living-focused and the cancer be a side-line. God has blessed us with life. For that we are just grateful! So I baked a pineapple upside down cake to celebrate!! Don will be thrilled when he comes home!
Have a great day...
Love you,
Deb
Iron Skillet Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Topping:
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. cold butter (do not substitute marg.)
1 large can pineapple slices, tidbits or crushed pineapple (I used the crushed), drained, reserving juice
Maraschino cherries, if desired
Cake:
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter, melted (again, no substitutes)
1 c. sugar
2 whole eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. pineapple juice from pineapple, adding milk as needed to make 3/4 c. total liquid
For the topping: Lightly rub the bottom of a 12-inch iron skillet with a little oil. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over bottom of skillet then top with chunks of cold butter distributed evenly. On top of brown sugar-butter layer, evenly distribute pineapple and Maraschino cherries. Set aside while making batter.
For the cake: Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the melted butter and sugar until smooth. Continue creaming with a mixer, adding eggs, one at a time, and stirring until mixture is lemon colored. Add vanilla and mix well. With mixer running, alternately add flour mixture and juice liquid. Beat with mixer on medium speed for three minutes. Pour prepared cake mixture carefully over brown-sugar-pineapple topping in bottom of skillet. Spread to an even depth all over, and carefully place in pre-heated 350* oven on a middle rack. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a clean toothpick or butter knife inserted in middle of cake comes out clean. Remove from oven. Let cake sit on top of stove for 5 minutes, then run a knife quickly around edge of cake to loosen. Invert carefully on a plate large enough to hold entire cake. Let it stand for a minute before carefully lifting skillet off. Remember, the handle is hot, hot, hot!!
It has just come out of the oven and does it ever smell good!!
Showers of blessing...Don & I have been playing "volleyball" with a virus that just won't go away. In fact, we had a little chat the other night because it just seems we keep passing this thing back & forth. Just seems that the pressures of life are ever-present...and we think living with the big "C" is taking a toll. So, we've decided that we will enjoy life, putting aside the feeling of "waiting for the other shoe to drop". Life has taken on a slower pace and we are not used to a slower pace, not at all! And truly, we don't want to get used to it, either! For the past couple of months, all has been cancer-focused. Ick. We'd like to get back to living-focused and the cancer be a side-line. God has blessed us with life. For that we are just grateful! So I baked a pineapple upside down cake to celebrate!! Don will be thrilled when he comes home!
Have a great day...
Love you,
Deb
Friday, June 4, 2010
Good morning...had a good night and all is well this morning. I just wanted to add a "p.s." to yesterday's comments about when the nurse is bringing in the chemo drugs - and I'm silently protesting those chemicals. That all changes once I'm hooked up. THEN I'm shouting "BLAST 'EM GOD - BLAST EVERY LAST LITTLE CELL, every last little booger You can find...just BLAST 'EM!!! Seek & destroy!!!"
Drinking lots of fluids (and in the words of one of my nurses..."pee-pee-ing all day & night") is how we get rid of the destroyed cells. They get flushed out of my system that way. So drinking I am - don't want those nasty things hanging around for any reason!
May the God of all creation bless you today - and may you be aware of His presence in your life and the work He is trying to accomplish through you. Is He trying to bring you closer to Him? Is He attempting to work out something in your life? Is He trying to get your attention? May you be ever so aware, through reading His word and prayer, of His working in your life.
Love to you all,
Don & Deb
Drinking lots of fluids (and in the words of one of my nurses..."pee-pee-ing all day & night") is how we get rid of the destroyed cells. They get flushed out of my system that way. So drinking I am - don't want those nasty things hanging around for any reason!
May the God of all creation bless you today - and may you be aware of His presence in your life and the work He is trying to accomplish through you. Is He trying to bring you closer to Him? Is He attempting to work out something in your life? Is He trying to get your attention? May you be ever so aware, through reading His word and prayer, of His working in your life.
Love to you all,
Don & Deb
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Dear loved ones,
We are home! All went well today!! It is absolutely amazing to me how much chemical & how many drugs your body can handle - and you still seem "normal" on the outside! Don says, after all these drugs, you'd think I'd be green or something. It is kind of scary when the nurses "gown up" to give you the chemo drugs - and the chemo drugs are all sealed in "hazardous: use caution" sealed bags...with bright orange "hazardous" stickers on them. I look at the nurse in amazement and I'm yelling on the inside of my head - NO! You can't be serious - that bag says "hazardous"! You can't be hooking that up to me...but she doesn't hear me, of course (at least she doesn't acknowledge anything...) and away we go. So today we've completed the first cycle. I have 2 more to go before testing to see if it's working. Dr. says we'll do 6 cycles all together if things are working as they should...which will bring us up to nearly Christmas, I think.
We are grateful to God for allowing this first cycle to be smooth and mostly uneventful. We are so thankful that He has honored the prayers of many. We are realistic to know that not all treatments may be as smooth - maybe none of the rest will be at all. And we will have confidence in our God especially then. We feel "spoiled" by all the gentleness of this...does that make sense? Oh, but are we grateful!!!!!
Don is out mowing the lawn and I just wanted to give a quick update. Oh - one more thing...I got another wig. The clinic in Madison has a "friends" program that gives to all cancer patients one wig, one scarf, and one turban. The little lady volunteer came in with a couple of wigs, tried the first one and she declared it "perfect". I'm not sure we were looking at the same wig, but "perfect" won out and it came home with us. As did a couple of scarves and a night cap. I guess without hair your head gets cold at night...don't know about that just yet. So much yet to learn and know - glad it doesn't come all at once.
Our prayer is that we remain faithful through not only the easy times, like now, but when the road gets difficult - as it may one day - we live faithfully...and victoriously!!!!
Bless you, each one...
Much love,
Don & Deb
We are home! All went well today!! It is absolutely amazing to me how much chemical & how many drugs your body can handle - and you still seem "normal" on the outside! Don says, after all these drugs, you'd think I'd be green or something. It is kind of scary when the nurses "gown up" to give you the chemo drugs - and the chemo drugs are all sealed in "hazardous: use caution" sealed bags...with bright orange "hazardous" stickers on them. I look at the nurse in amazement and I'm yelling on the inside of my head - NO! You can't be serious - that bag says "hazardous"! You can't be hooking that up to me...but she doesn't hear me, of course (at least she doesn't acknowledge anything...) and away we go. So today we've completed the first cycle. I have 2 more to go before testing to see if it's working. Dr. says we'll do 6 cycles all together if things are working as they should...which will bring us up to nearly Christmas, I think.
We are grateful to God for allowing this first cycle to be smooth and mostly uneventful. We are so thankful that He has honored the prayers of many. We are realistic to know that not all treatments may be as smooth - maybe none of the rest will be at all. And we will have confidence in our God especially then. We feel "spoiled" by all the gentleness of this...does that make sense? Oh, but are we grateful!!!!!
Don is out mowing the lawn and I just wanted to give a quick update. Oh - one more thing...I got another wig. The clinic in Madison has a "friends" program that gives to all cancer patients one wig, one scarf, and one turban. The little lady volunteer came in with a couple of wigs, tried the first one and she declared it "perfect". I'm not sure we were looking at the same wig, but "perfect" won out and it came home with us. As did a couple of scarves and a night cap. I guess without hair your head gets cold at night...don't know about that just yet. So much yet to learn and know - glad it doesn't come all at once.
Our prayer is that we remain faithful through not only the easy times, like now, but when the road gets difficult - as it may one day - we live faithfully...and victoriously!!!!
Bless you, each one...
Much love,
Don & Deb
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
All is well this afternoon after treatment! A much shorter time involved, just about 2 hours today, so we're already back at the hotel and Don is headed for the pool & spa for a time and then we'll probably turn in for the evening...such a night-life! Treatment tomorrow will be the same as today and we will head home right after treatment, probably getting in about 5 or so tomorrow afternoon, Lord willing.
Take care...and love to you all,
Don & Deb
Take care...and love to you all,
Don & Deb
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
What a hoot!! I just had to write one more time tonight to tell you about our dinner this evening. Mexican!! Yes - that's right...Mexican! Homemade guacamole, pico de gallo, chips & salsa (even a taste of the hot one), charro beans (Brad & Linda, I haven't had good charro beans since the Rio Bravo "dinner out" nights! These were good, very good and brought back such good memories...). Who'd a thunk it...the night after chemo, eating Mexican!! Thank you, dear God, for putting the "frosting on the cake"!!
We've chuckled our way through dinner...and now are turning in for the night, resting our little heads once again in the care of the Father.
Good night and God bless you, each one...
Love,
Don & Deb
We've chuckled our way through dinner...and now are turning in for the night, resting our little heads once again in the care of the Father.
Good night and God bless you, each one...
Love,
Don & Deb
Hallelujah!!! What a blessing today has been! Treatment is over for today and all has gone so well...not even a hint of nausea!!! Everything has gone well...from the lab work (all numbers are "normal") to the chemo (procedure took about 5 1/2 hours) to Don - he's feeling better (extremely relieved, though tired, but much better). Thank you all for your prayers on our behalf...oh, thank you so much.
We want to express our thanks to you, specifically, but we know that in doing so, we run the risk of forgetting something or someone. We don't want to take away any "heavenly reward" either...nor do we know of those that have prayed unceasingly, encouraged others along in this journey, and been used by God in perhaps a less "tangible" way that what we mention here - less tangible maybe, but important without a doubt.
We thank our dear friend and "brother" for visiting with Don (& I) today...it made this first day, full of unknowns, seem less scary. God was with us today - and your being here "in the flesh" helped us see that in a very tangible way...love you! We thank the anonymous soul or souls who have treated us to a 2-night stay here in Madison. We've asked who you are but they will not say, the rascals! What a blessing - thank you. God knows who you are and we have thanked you over & over to Him! Thank you, again, to the many who have prayed, written, prepared care packages, called, cried, and prayed with us & for us time and again for this first day of chemo. All is so good! Who could have ever counted on all these blessings through such a dire & disastrous time...except for God's children???? YOU ALL are a huge part of His blessings to us (and yet, there are so many blessings we aren't even aware of)...thank you again. We believe He has answered your prayers and petitions for our welfare today...He is just marvelous and we give Him praise for His loving kindness to us all! Amen!!
While we're "thanking"...might as well continue! We thank others for the monetary gifts for gas and whatever the expense might be...we thank you for the numerous visits at home at the drop of a hat, for food that has been brought over - and delivered (via Schwann's!)...the cards, clippings, Scriptures sent, phone calls, e-mails, hugs, tears...and all this is NOT because we are so special...really, we are not - you know that...it IS because God is so good and you all have availed yourself to be used by Him. We pray we, in turn, are a blessing to those around us through this journey. Being grumpy gets you nowhere...someone said "there is no future in being difficult"! How true!
I hope all this "thanking" doesn't sound mushy or gushy or fake (it is not, by any means)...it is just simply that we are overwhelmed by the love & care of so many. We should not be, should we, because God tells us He cares for the sparrow...why would we think He wouldn't overwhelm us with the love & care of those near & dear to us? We never thought He wouldn't...guess we just had not thought of it. We pray that you have been deeply & dearly blessed in your life...pressed down, good measure, and running over. Open your eyes - look around and taste & see that the Lord is good!
His grace & mercy to you...
Love you all,
Don & Deb
We want to express our thanks to you, specifically, but we know that in doing so, we run the risk of forgetting something or someone. We don't want to take away any "heavenly reward" either...nor do we know of those that have prayed unceasingly, encouraged others along in this journey, and been used by God in perhaps a less "tangible" way that what we mention here - less tangible maybe, but important without a doubt.
We thank our dear friend and "brother" for visiting with Don (& I) today...it made this first day, full of unknowns, seem less scary. God was with us today - and your being here "in the flesh" helped us see that in a very tangible way...love you! We thank the anonymous soul or souls who have treated us to a 2-night stay here in Madison. We've asked who you are but they will not say, the rascals! What a blessing - thank you. God knows who you are and we have thanked you over & over to Him! Thank you, again, to the many who have prayed, written, prepared care packages, called, cried, and prayed with us & for us time and again for this first day of chemo. All is so good! Who could have ever counted on all these blessings through such a dire & disastrous time...except for God's children???? YOU ALL are a huge part of His blessings to us (and yet, there are so many blessings we aren't even aware of)...thank you again. We believe He has answered your prayers and petitions for our welfare today...He is just marvelous and we give Him praise for His loving kindness to us all! Amen!!
While we're "thanking"...might as well continue! We thank others for the monetary gifts for gas and whatever the expense might be...we thank you for the numerous visits at home at the drop of a hat, for food that has been brought over - and delivered (via Schwann's!)...the cards, clippings, Scriptures sent, phone calls, e-mails, hugs, tears...and all this is NOT because we are so special...really, we are not - you know that...it IS because God is so good and you all have availed yourself to be used by Him. We pray we, in turn, are a blessing to those around us through this journey. Being grumpy gets you nowhere...someone said "there is no future in being difficult"! How true!
I hope all this "thanking" doesn't sound mushy or gushy or fake (it is not, by any means)...it is just simply that we are overwhelmed by the love & care of so many. We should not be, should we, because God tells us He cares for the sparrow...why would we think He wouldn't overwhelm us with the love & care of those near & dear to us? We never thought He wouldn't...guess we just had not thought of it. We pray that you have been deeply & dearly blessed in your life...pressed down, good measure, and running over. Open your eyes - look around and taste & see that the Lord is good!
His grace & mercy to you...
Love you all,
Don & Deb
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