Update on Mom

Sorry for the delay, but it's been a rough few days. Thank you all SO MUCH for the prayers and uplifting messages. You have no idea how much it means.Truly.

So, let me fill you in and catch you up...
Monday: Mom in a lot of pain, visited with Dr.Helmer-Found out her platelet count was severely low and was told she cannot continue with treatments (chemo) until she and the platelet count became stronger. Without treatments, she was told that she had 6 months to a year. With still trying to figure things out-Dr.Helmer wanted a bone scan done and then come back for the results on Thursday. Doc gave her something amazing (a patch) to take care of the pain.

The past few nights I kept thinking about what the doctor said and how she could not continue treatment until she got stronger. This worried me. Treatments are what have been keeping her alive, as far as medicine goes.
Here's the thing...
Mom has been weak for some time now and not getting any stronger. Not only are her platelets low, but she's also anemic. She has to have blood transfusions a few times a month.
With both of these things, it's like they're fighting one another.
Producing and also destroying- Therefore, no chance of getting stronger, which would lead to no more treatments.
This conclusion was all I could think about last night. I could hardly wait to hear what the Doctor figured out and what the (bone) scan results would show.

So, Thursday was when we received the toughest news yet...
The bone scan showed evidence of the progression of the disease & bones.
Not only has it grown, but it has also gone into the bone marrow.
With this news, Mom asked, "I'm not getting any better, am I?" Doctor Helmer then replied with, "No, but then again, you haven't been on regular treatments either."

This was exactly what I feared. Without her regular treatments, she wasn't going to get better. What next? Where do we go from here?

Well, The Doctor explained the issue of her platelet counts and it allowing her to continue treatments.

First he said, with the way things are progressing now and with the cancer now in her bone marrow- Without treatment, we are now looking at 3-6 months.

My heart sunk as I looked at my mothers face when the doctor said that. Tears began to fill me eyes, my throat tightened. I quickly swallowed back those tears, straightened my spine and remembered that if there were any moment that I needed to be strong, now was the time. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her as the doctor kept talking.
Doctor Helmer then began to talk about other options. Well, the only other option (right now) is to put her back on Chemo.
With that, there are risks due to her platelets being low. These risks involve minor to major bleeding and could even cause a stroke.

At this point, we're forced to do something to get this under control.

"We're going to take the bull by the horns," Dr.Helmer said.
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead and let's see if we can turn this off and add some time"

With all of this said, Mom and the doctor are choosing to go with chemo. Even with the risks involved.
The doctor said that if this didn't work, then we will try something else.

Man, I've never seen my mother so down. The ride home was completely silent. I didn't know what to say...
When we arrived home, mom went straight to her room and shut the door.
I opened the door, in hopes I could comfort her, but then she asked me to leave. She needed some time. Fair enough.
I went to my room and began to pray and seek scripture. I prayed for the right words to say. For strength- Not only for now, but for the next few months. I prayed for peace and for mom not to give up now.

Today we begin chemo. The doctor said that the side effects (if any were to show) would happen 3-5 days after chemo.
Let's pray that there are zero side affects and that her body takes to the chemo. What an amazing miracle that would be, eh?

Friends/Family, please continue to pray with me. Let's be the prayer warriors that we're called to be.

I don't know what else to do but pray.


Philippians 4:6-7

<3.

"She knows how to make an Entrance!"

"She knows how to make an Entrance!" Says my Uncle Nick.

As some of you may know, I've been having some stomach issues for quite some time now. It wasn't until recently that the pain became insanely worse.
I haven't been able to eat much and when I would eat- it would hurt during or after.

Well, I arrived in Austin, Thursday afternoon in horrible pain.
At first I thought it was just stress, anxiety or home sickness.
As the days went on, the pain was getting out of hand.
It wasn't until today that I gave into my mothers worries and made a trip to the ER.

3 hours later, lab work that showed my liver enzymes were elevated, 1 ultrasound and itchy iv later, Turns out I have Gallstones. Goodbye Gallbladder!

"We're going to need you to stay for a few days and have that Gallbladder removed"

Say whaaaaa? Really? I just got here and already off to a great start!
"Welcome Home, Christina!"

"She really knows how to make an entrance!" Says my uncle.

So, I'm here in my hospital room, in my gorgeous hospital gown and eating jello. I hate jello.

Surgery will happen Monday afternoon and I'll be in the hospital until Tuesday.

Craaaaaaaazy, huh?!?

Well, I'm thankful that I finally know what the issue is and that I'm here with family.

Now that i'm away and I'm sure I will have lots to share- I'll be sure to post often during my Texas Journey.

I love you all soooo much and miss you more than you'll ever know.

Now then. This post wouldn't be complete without CHEERS & JEERS!!

CHEERS: Made it to Texas safe and sound.
JEERS: Cried when I found out I was 2 miles away from the Texas state line.

CHEERS: No one mistakes me for being Asian in TX!!
JEERS: Everyone knows i'm mexican and I've already been asked "Do you speak english?" by some white folks. *ULTIMATE PUNCH TO THE FACE!* idiots.

CHEERS: My mom is awesome at scaring people away
JEERS: She's yelling at the creepy mexican men who stare like it's their job.
"Qué estás mirando?" Yell's the 5 ft, tiny, bald woman. (I love her)

CHEERS: Went to church this morning. It was awesome to hear my brother and sister in law sing.
JEERS: Though the people were nice. I didn't so much dig the church. It made me miss FCC, Pastor Rod and the tight knit, crazy talented musician circle we have. Yeah. I cried (i've got to stop doing that)

Goodbye summer...

Man, I really stink at blogging these days.

I've had so much to say, but so little time to jot.
If anything, the least I could do is supply my usual Cheers & Jeers.
I'll get right on that...

Well, the summer is wrapping up, and not a whole lot went down. Let me just say that this has been a very dull summer.
Dull in the sense that the people who are usually involved in my summers were not around this year, Everyone that's still around Nova- Worked their summer away and The Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre owned me for the majority of my break.

Since this summer is on the bottom of my list. Let me recap summers past and share a few of my favorite Summer time moments...

Let's begin:

Back on blogging track.

It's been FOREVER since my last post.
Forgive me for neglecting my highway of information and happenings in my life.
There is SO much to review.
It's funny, I just went back and read my old blogs... Wow.
SO much has changed. So many different emotions and feelings about everything I ever wrote about.
Crazy how much can change in 10 months, eh?
I won't get into everything in detail, but the least I can do is share the clif notes of the latest 10 months...

Let it begin:
Stepped down from my position with Relevant.
Confessing my love, finally after 5 years.
Health problems.
Crazy doctors leading me to think I had ovarian cancer or if it wasn't that, it was PCOD, which would lead me to difficulties with having babies.
Come to find out it wasn't either of those.
Turns out to be a double uterus. Uncommon,I know. Look it up.
Being extremely hurt by people I trusted.
Putting a lot of trust into the wrong people.
Drama in room 600.
Dreading my job and co-workers.
Loving and becoming deeply attached to my students.
Hired to be in my first professional production.
Pursuing My passion for missions.
Feeling like i'm Slowly losing my best friends to distance.
Renewing friendships.
Disappointments.
Special moments with the ones I love.
Gaining 30 pounds since living in W'burg.
confusion.
Learning what God had to show me and why I was called to W'burg.
Falling out of love.
Saying good bye.
Learning how to love me.
Slowing down.
Controlled.
Growing.
Embracing change and adjustments one more time :)
Talking religion to curious folks who usually want nothing of it.
Moving back to Nova.

There's more, but my list was beginning to sound a bit emo.
If you're interested, pick a topic and I'll write you personally with detail.

All in all, I'm with a thankful heart and Glad to know that God has been with me every step of the way.

Here's to an ending of another chapter.

Let the series continue...

C.S. Lewis Song

If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan
As I wait for hope to come for me
Am I lost or just less found?
On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
is this a soul that stirs in me,
is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cos my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become

For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live,
I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me,Hope is coming for me

Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan
As I wait for hope to come for me

Late 20's.

I'm getting older. It's official- i'm in my late 20's. I can't really believe it. It always seems like a shocker every year, "OMG, I'm soooo old!"
Does it always have the same reaction the older I get?
"Wait til you hit 30" they tell me. Oi! I don't even want to think about that.
The question is, am I content where I am in life? am I happy?
I mean, I'm not married and I don't have any kids, though those are a couple of my desires.
Am I really ok with that?
I think so.
I had the chance for that life 5 years ago and it wasn't right. It wasn't the right person, nor the correct timing.
I'll admit, it's a bit difficult at times when I see friends my age who are just getting married and/or having their first child. Then I think, "That could have been me." I quickly snap out of it, shake my head and erase the thought like an etch-a-sketch.

I can't let my age pressure me. There's no rush.

God is working in me and my life in over time right now. That's my focus. And for that, I am Happy with where He has me right now.

So, here's to the big 2-8. Another year in my walk. Thanking Him for this life so far.

CHEERS!

THEN:

NOW:


















CHEERS & JEERS:

CHEERS: Going back to Fairfax for a few days, for the bday weekend.
JEERS: Feeling a difference in friendships. Close ones. Different vibes.
There's distance in the air and I can not make it leave, and I don't like it one bit.

CHEERS: Getting to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a while, at the bday lunch.
JEERS: Not getting a chance to talk with everyone.

CHEERS: Not being alone on my bday. Celebrating with Todd, Matt & Sarah.
JEERS: Birthday on a monday. Lame.

CHEERS: Hanging out with Todd today.
JEERS: Embarrassing myself in conversation. My face is still red.

CHEERS: Worship this morning at Relevant, The people at Relevant, RELEVANT, RELEVANT, RELEVANT!
No JEERS necessary.

I love Surprises!

This weekend has been completely random...but in a good way.

My friend, Ali B. came for a surprise visit.

She arrived around 6pm, I showed her around the place, sat down and caught up, and then ... word vomit. Not sure where it came from.
It went a little something like this- Conversation, conversation,this and that, "HEY! Wanna go to Busch Gardens?"
Best.idea.ever.
She was so stoked. We purchased our discount tickets and were on our way to the last weekend of Howl-O-Scream.
We had a solid time. It is agreed that rides at night are waaay better than riding during the day.
It gives you a little more thrill - You can't see anything, you don't know where the next drop is, You see shooting stars while hanging at the top.
And then you have the TURKEY LEGS.
Man, those legs are good and quite enjoyable (just don't think about what you're eating)
I don't know what it is about turkey legs. People are drawn to them and can't stop starring at you when you're eating one.It also strikes up a good conversation when you're in line. You almost want to offer them a bite.
Just be sure not to eat one before a big ride. It doesn't settle so well. My tummy was all over the place. Yet, I managed. Everything stayed down. Yummers.
All in all, Howl-O-Scream did it's job. I jumped, I screamed, I almost punched the werewolf that jumped out at me...I had a super time.

We spent our Saturday in CW (colonial w-burg)
It was homecoming weekend for W&M and downtown was packed with alumni.

On our way there, I noticed the car next to us - pointing,laughing and trying to tell me something, along with some gesture they were making with their hands.
I looked closer,rolled down my window and said...
Nothing. I didn't say anything.
They spoke up first and said "We're going to get you next weekend, it's on!" while saying that, everyone in their car shot up the gun signal.
I then realized, they weren't out to get me. They looked too clean cut to start any ruckus.
It was just a bunch of Texas Tech'ers responding to my Texas Longhorn on my jeep.
We then shared some laughs and some cut downs- All at the red light.
Ali was a bit shocked that ANY car would stop and talk like that. In NOVA you wouldn't dare see such a thing. Heh.
So, back to CW...
We walked around, window shopped and had lunch at The Cheese Shop.
Again, I heard so much about this place and yet I walked out thinking it was just "ok"
Meh, that's just me.
Now, one place I do love is Aroma's.
Such a neat environment.
We spent our afternoon there. Had a laptop party,exchanged music,online advice-shoe shopped and drank some coffee.
It was quite relaxing and cliche.
After while, Ali B. had to leave me.
I very much enjoyed her company and the surprise. Thanks Al :)

Now it's time to get back to work. I have tons to do and A lot to show.

Back on track I say, back on track.





CHEERS & JEERS:

CHEERS: Howl-O-Scream = great fun
JEERS: Not so much fun watching all the middle school'ers make out EVERYWHERE. Yuckers.

CHEERS: Mariachi's singing to me during dinner at a superb Mexican restaurant.
JEERS: Missing the ranchero's my pops used to sing.

CHEERS: Dinner with stacy at the Chinese joint.
JEERS: Eating frog legs and getting sick afterwards. JEERS #2: Our waitress asked me if I was Asian. HA! it never fails. EVER.

CHEERS: Work week has been the best since I started a month ago
JEERS: Finding out shady things about my co-workers and Principal...Shaaaaaaaaaaady.

CHEERS: Getting a hug from Ali B.
JEERS: People around here don't hug. I need hugs :(

CHEERS: Halloween coming up, trick or treaters to treat!
JEERS: Nay. I will be on the road, heading back from my voice lesson. Hopefully the zombie dear won't attack.